Since numerous readers emailed me about the May 26 cover of Soap Opera Digest, I figured I should post about it. Yes, Joshua Morrow is back once again for the fourth time if five weeks, and five out of seven. I'm not even sure what to say at this point. I do find it interesting that out all the SOD cover "regulars," only Tamara Braun received an Emmy nomination (for her work on DAYS). Most of the cover darlings did not even get pre-nommed by their own shows despite some excellent work last year. Perhaps their cast mates felt they were recognized enough. Either way, there is a lot more going on in daytime that Phyllis/Nick/Sharon. I like these characters and the actors who play them, but it's a big disservice to the entire industry to put them on the cover of the top soap print publication every week.
AMERICAN IDOL is the number one primetime show by far, but they are not on the cover of TV Guide every week. In fact, lower rated shows like 30 ROCK or THE OFFICE tend to get covers which helps create buzz. I'd like to see a little more love thrown in the direction of ONE LIFE TO LIVE, GUIDING LIGHT, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL and AS THE WORLD TURNS. And not just when an actor is fired. How about some positive press?
I completely agree with this. TVGuide regularly features shows which need a boost - not just those where they apparently have good contacts. I'm sure that the magazines figure that, since Y&R, Days and GH lead the ratings, they have the most viewers who would want to read the magazines. So short sighted. The mags should realize that, if the industry crumbles completely, so do they.
ReplyDeleteI mostly agree with you, I really do! But...
ReplyDelete1. I do find it interesting that out all the SOD cover "regulars," only Tamara Braun received an Emmy nomination (for her work on DAYS).That's a bit of a low blow, maybe. Do you really feel these Emmys have credibility? Really? No Y&R or OLTL for best show in 2008? Really?
Your own text says that Morrow/Case might be neglected for POLITICAL reasons (enough exposure), and not on the merits of their work. That, ALONE, is a repudiation of the Emmys. A political game that diminishes much of the merit of the awards.
2. It's a big disservice to the entire industry to put them on the cover of the top soap print publication every week.I hear you! But I have to believe there is SOME research in behind this strategy. If they really AREN'T EVEN EXPLORING, then I'd agree.
Although, there is another possibility. With Source Interlink in bankruptcy, there may be ZERO CUSHION for experimentation. It may be that the Y&R covers gives SOD a PREDICTABLE number of sales each week...and at this point they're banking on PREDICTABILITY. That lets them reduce costs on print runs, give firm guarantees to advertisers.... I think what we're seeing is a magazine that cannot afford even a few thousand dollars variance.
It is a 'safe' strategy that you see in many organisms under threat. Resort to habitual behavior.
3. AMERICAN IDOL is the number one primetime show by far, but they are not on the cover of TV Guide every week. But TV Guide Magazine is a failing magazine, on the precipice of bankruptcy, just sold off by its parent company. Now, without even the "channel" revenue, they have to live off print sales alone. You can see them trying to build their new website (which is great!), obviously banking on some internet strategy.
That said, American Idol covers would NOT sell TV Guide. Why? Because they young-female fan base that ESPECIALLY loves Idol (and sends those 60 million texts each week) doesn't buy magazines...and especially not that magazine that their grandmother used to buy. All the supermarket magazines are, sadly, relics of an older generation. Yup--SOD & SOW too.
Mark, I wouldn't consider it a low blow, at least not by me. Perhaps by their cast mates. I have spoken with and worked with soap actors and I find they generally have a lot of the same opinions about the shows, the writing, the backstage drama, etc. that fans have. It's definitely political but if fans are thinking this about SOD covers, the actors probably are too.
ReplyDeleteThe entertainment magazines that cover TV "DO" tend to put young skewing people on the cover. EW had a full Adam Lambert cover last week. Because he is a hot commodity at the moment. Not a hot commodity 10 years ago. 30 ROCK, THE OFFICE, etc are more young skewing shows. The equivalent would maybe be having David Caruso on the cover every week or Marg Helgenberger.
I do agree that the mags probably feel like they can't experiment. Y&R will sell X number of magazines and they can't afford to switch it up. But if that was the case, why does it have to be recycled pictures and recycled headlines week after week. I honestly think people in the check out line who may be casually interested in SOD would not necessarily notice there is a new issue week to week if the covers all look the same.
It's true of so many things in the soap print industry. Look at how many polls revolve around the same characters? I've lost count of the number of SID polls that feature Sonny and Carly. It's like the mags latch on to a certain soap or characters(s) and then develop tunnel vision.
ReplyDeleteOn a shallow note, at least he's pretty to look at :-D
All of the Soap Opera magazines are having a hard time selling their magazines I actually heard the business that publishes them is going bankrupt so on one hand I can see them always featuring certain actors from the number one soap but considering the fact that they have always done that and are going bankrupt you think they would try something new.
ReplyDeleteMark, I wouldn't consider it a low blow, at least not by me. Perhaps by their cast mates. I have spoken with and worked with soap actors and I find they generally have a lot of the same opinions about the shows, the writing, the backstage drama, etc. that fans have. It's definitely political but if fans are thinking this about SOD covers, the actors probably are too.I hope the term "low blow" didn't insult. I just didn't want to accept the sense that "you're pretty enough and popular enough to get covers, but you're not talented enough to get an Emmy".
ReplyDeleteBut I admit that I never thought that part of the outrageous (IMO) non-nomination of Morrow and Case (especially the year Cassie died, but also since) had to do with jealousy. So, you have definitely opened my eyes to that possibility.
Regardless...even as Y&R fan (SO I should love the covers, right?) ... I decided that I will not renew my SOD subscription this year. There are many reasons for that...but mostly it is a rejection of the "spoiler culture" these magazines promote, untimely delivery, few feature interviews, little up front truth (e.g., tell us what REALLY happened with Hinsey, with Rowell, etc.), virtually no EP/HW interviews, virtually no detailed historical pieces.
It is a terrible time to be in this soap mag industry.
All print mags are suffering. I was reading an article the other day about Entertainment Weekly being down 17% in ad sales of late. But they continue to try new things, shake up the look of the magazine and introduce new features both in print and online.
ReplyDeleteIf I were the soap print press, I'd bring the majority of spoilers/previews to their websites so they could be as timely as possible and focus the print editions on real journalism about the industry.
Mostly I just wish they weren't all a variation of the same thing, and had their own voice.