Jack's Back! Matthew Ashford Returns to Days of Our Lives as Jack Devereaux!

Soaps In Depth is reporting that Matthew Ashford will be returning to Days of Our Lives as Jack Devereaux. According to SID:

"He will be bringing the character...back to Days of Our Lives later this month." 

I'm not entirely sure if they mean he'll begin filming in a month or we'll actually see him on air then.

To read SID's report, click here.

No doubt DAYS fans will be excited over this news. While Ashford is a soap vet, with stints at General Hospital, One Life to Live and Search For Tomorrow, his signature role is redeemed rapist/funny rapscallion Jack on DAYS - arguably one of the most popular characters in the shows long history.

What stories would you like to see for Jack? I'm sure he'll reconnect with his daughter Abby and the love of his life Jennifer. Certainly there's a Jack/Jennifer/Daniel love triangle coming. This might be an unpopular opinion, but I'd love for them to give Jack/Jennifer a break for awhile. While they were brilliant back in the day, I've felt that they've gotten a little tired in later years. It's the same dynamic over and over again: Jack's irresponsible and Jennifer nags him. I'd love to see Jack in a new relationship, with a different kind of woman. Your thoughts?

-Melanie/SoapOperaBabble/daisyclover

Martha Madison To Temporarily Replace Rebecca Herbst On General Hospital!

According to various sources, Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth, General Hospital) has fallen ill with viral meningitis. Martha Madison (ex-Belle, Days of Our Lives) will temporarily replace Herbst in the role. Madison's first airdate will be June 8th.

To read more, check out SID's post Here

Hope Becky gets well soon! And good luck to Martha! Wonder if we'll be seeing any Belle (Kirsten Storms), nuBelle (Martha) and Shawn (Jason Cook) interactions??

-Melanie/SoapOperaBabble/daisyclover

The Miss Funny Girls

Have you watched this yet? Not really sure what to make of it yet, but the girls all look like they're having fun! Welcome to The Miss Funny Girls. I spotted Rachel Melvin (ex-Chelsea, DOOL) and Shayna Rose (ex-Stephanie, DOOL) in this vid, and I read on twitter than Martha Madison (ex-Belle, DOOL) and Lindsay Gareth (and probably a few others) are also part of the group.

I'm intrigued to see what they come up with next.

Follow The Miss Funny Girls on twitter and subscribe to their YouTube page here.

Are Twitter and Facebook Replacing Traditional Soap Website Campaigns?

We at Denial Island Blog are curious. Where are the big online Save our Soap campaigns?

With all the rumours flying around about the potential cancellation of either One Life to Live or All My Children (or both), it's interesting that even though many bemoan the fate of soaps, not many in the soap media website world seem to be doing anything aggressively proactive about it. Who's marshaling the troops? Soap fans are the most passionate and supportive people out there!

After much research, we're left scratching our heads. Are none of our favourite soap media websites, who only exist because soaps do, taking up the challenge to the soap PTB with a Save Our Soaps campaign? They're encouraging fans to write in, but why haven't they been the ones organizing a structured, balls to the walls offensive? They have a huge number of soap fan readers/listeners that they can mobilize, and the contacts/sources to design really effective operations. They should be Campaign Central, spearheading the fight!

Instead, it appears the mantle is being taken up by more entrepreneurial soap fans, who set up numerous twitter and facebook accounts everyday in order to tap into and garner support for their fave soap, fired actor or most hated head writer. On that note, here are a few of our faves:

Twitter:
@BringBackCane - a twitter account set up when the US soap Young & the Restless favorite Daniel Goddard (Cane Ashby, Y&R) was rumored fired in January 2011. Outcome? SUCCESSFUL

@FireFrons - pretty self explanatory, but for our non-US soapers, Brian Frons is the President of ABC Daytime and is notorious for meddling in the ABC soaps and not in a good way. Outcome? IN PROGRESS

@Shit_Ken_C_Says - Days of our Lives Executive Producer Ken Corday routinely gives interviews about DOOL spoilers (usually around sweeps time) seemingly without giving any thought to what he's saying and who it might offend; which it usually does. Outcome? JUST PLAIN FUNNY

@Save_ATWT - created in response to the now cancelled US soap As The World Turns. Outcome? :(

@FireDenaHigley - after killing two soaps to the point of difficult (yet not impossible) return, and now on her third, this twitter account about the current Head Writer of DOOL speaks for itself. Outcome? IN PROGRESS (but looking bleak)

@savejackandjenn - created to bring actor Matthew Ashford (ex-Jack, DOOL) back to DOOL after Melissa Reeves (Jennifer, DOOL) signed to return mid-2010. Outcome? IN PROGRESS

Facebook: click the links to learn more about each group.

• Save ABC's Soaps
• Soap Savers Inc
• Save One Life to Live and All My Children 
• Save One Life to Live from being cancelled

From what we’ve heard, fans’ efforts have been working! They’ve overwhelmed ABC with support for their shows with emails, phone calls and letters! Could you imagine what would have happened if the soap media organizations had not only encouraged fans to mobilize, but actually designed campaigns themselves?

Maybe what it really is, is websites are being usurped - it takes seconds to write a tweet or update a facebook status or start a facebook page to rally troops. Heck, it was probably faster to write this blog post (and that's taken 3 days). Maybe the soap sites think someone else will do it? Or maybe, soap websites just can't be bothered? Or maybe they don't think the status of soaps situation is serious enough to warrant such a big campaign? Denial Island Bloggers don't believe that for a second - anyone who takes any interest in the soapworld knows that the future of daytime soaps is not looking rosy.

So we want to know: do you guys think soap media sites/pods should be doing more to spearhead the Save Our Soaps campaigns? Or do you think keeping us up-to-date on the gossip and encouraging us to mobilize is more than enough?

NB: To the soap websites, we're not trying to have a go at you, honest. Ok, maybe just a little bit :P but really, it's just to spur you into action!

P.S. If anyone wants to let us know about or advertise any Soap Saving campaigns, please leave the info in the comment box!

Tom Casiello Leaving Young and the Restless!

Emmy winning writer Tom Casiello has announced he's leaving The Young and the Restless. After a long and successful career in soaps, he's decided to move on. Read his touching good-bye message here.

Casiello has been with Y&R since 2009 and held writing positions at ATWT, OLTL, and Days, as well as interning at Another World. He was also a contributor to Sam Ford's "The Survival of Soap Opera" (review coming soon!). During the 2008 writers strike, Casiello became a fan favorite in the soap community after starting a blog discussing soaps and his experiences as a writer and a fan.

That's when I discovered Casiello - his blog and subsequent interviews on various podcasts allowed fans to get a glimpse at what goes on behind the scenes at their favorite shows. No juicy gossip or snarky b*tching, just an explanation of things from the perspective of a soap industry insider. He humanized TPTB (shaming me into not calling them "TIIC" anymore), making it clear that everyone wants what's best for our shows. During one interview, Casiello explained a story decision that was made for Days' Hope (I've forgotten the exact story/plot), and while I still didn't like it, I finally understand why it was done and that TPTB weren't "dumb" for doing it but in fact had a good reason for going in that direction. While the details of that interview are vague, one thing has stayed with me - that I should try to see things from TPTB's perspective instead of demonizing them.

Through his blog posts, interviews, tweets and facebook comments Casiello has proven himself to be not only a talented writer, but a thoughtful, kind and fair minded human being. Casiello has a love of the genre and a genuine affection and respect for the fans, and that was appreciated by all of us. While I'll be sad to see him leave the daytime soap world, I wish him much success in his future endeavors!

**Btw, one particularly awesome blog post of Casiello's was Soap-Opera Writing 101. If you want to write for soaps or are just curious about the process, I highly recommend you check this out. It's a step by step example of how it's done (using an aired Sami/EJ scene as a guide). Read it here.

Update: Since this was posted, it has been announced that Tom Casiello has been hired as part of the WWE writing team. Good Luck Tom!
-Melanie/SoapOperaBabble/daisyclover

Random Thoughts 4/11: Days of Our Lives

Some guy with an accent: "The DiMeras have a jail cell in their basement"
Vivian: "Well who doesn't?!"
Gold.

I have to say that Galen Gering is Rockin' It as Bad Rafe! Creepy, yet Hot! I don't like the story, but Galen has been unfailingly entertaining!

Ari did a great job reacting to Fay's death. I can't stand Nicole, but Ari is a terrific (and underrated) actress. But is it wrong that I giggled when Nicole and Taylor first found out Fay died? Arianne just kind of threw herself into Natalia. She almost knocked her down, lol! Fay's death was pretty amusing all around actually. I thought Taylor calling Brandon was a nice touch.

I have a strange fascination with Natalia Livingston as Taylor and the EJaylor stuff - it's the whole train wreck thing I guess. Anti-Chemistry 101. 

But I have to ask: What's up with Taylor's self-righteous attitude towards the DiMeras and Kiriakis'? As if the Walkers are any better? A psychotic rapist father, a money grubbing, child kidnapping, ex-porn star sister, and a brother that wasn't exactly Mr. Clean. Where does she get off passing judgment on anyone else's family??

*sigh* Just when I'm starting to like Philip (hot new haircut, sweetness towards Chloe) he's gonna leave :(

I've barely been watching DAYS over the last couple of years. I've watched the show since I was a kid, but in the last several years it's turned into a show I don't recognize. But I'm trying to hang in there! Got a lot of catching up to do, so forgive me if I'm hazy on characters and stories!

So, what did you guys think of the show? Love It? Hate It?

-Melanie/SoapOperaBabble/daisyclover

Results of the Sydnapping Poll

Surprise, surprise! You all thought the Sydnapping went on for far too long as well, with 78% of the vote!! 5% thought it went on for the perfect amount of time (really?), another 5% thought it could've gone longer (you're just pulling my chain, surely?) and 10% don't care.  By the end of the storyline, I think most of us just didn't care either haha.

This week's poll will be up shortly! Keep an eye out :)

So Many Soaps, So Little Time

Okay, I have a major dilemma soap peeps! While I would love to watch all the soaps every day (even the crappy ones), having a FT job and going to school makes it impossible. I have to decide which soaps I’m going to watch and which ones I’ll be dropping for now. This is so hard because I have a long & tortured history with each show. I know I’m going to keep watching EastEnders on YouTube, but other than that, I’m not sure. I’d love to hear your comments on the shows – what you like, what you hate. Here’s a list of shows w/ Pros and Cons. Help me decide, lol!


Pros: Pratt is GONE. David is one of my favorite villains. A mostly great cast.

Cons: Too many actors who still haven’t learned to act. Yet another Colby recast that isn’t working. Jesse and Angie are the only couple I’m invested in. The memory of Ryrica is burned into my brain forever.


Pros: Great cast. The show is ending soon – okay, that’s not a “Pro” but it’s a good reason to watch.

Cons: The Mick/James story – WTF?? Martha needs to come back as Lily…seriously. One weird trauma after another for Luke and Noah. I haven’t watched in a loooong time, and I haven’t really missed it.


Pros: The always fabulous Susan Flannery! Half the cast is great. Usually very entertaining. Only a half hour long.

Cons: I don’t care what they tell me, Ridge is not desirable and women would never fight over him…ever. The Logan women. Pretty kids that can’t act. Being constantly reminded of the dangers of plastic surgery (Hunter – WHY???)


Pros: Nostalgia – Of the shows still on the air, this is the one I’ve been watching the longest. Victor’s zingers. Hope/Bo/Carly triangle. Drool-worthy men. The possibility they’ll someday bring back my beloved Billy Warlock (Frankie).

Cons: Melanie Layton makes me want to stuff my ears with cotton and stick a hot poker in my eye. Bye-Bye Vets. Younger actors that can’t act. Dialogue that's painful to listen to. Did I mention Melanie Layton?


Pros: JaSam! Sam! Kelly Monaco! Terrific cast, a show with the fewest “weak” links in terms of actors. Younger actors that can actually act. The possibility they’ll someday bring back my beloved Billy Warlock (AJ). When GH is good, it’s really good.
(*note: for JaSam fans out there, I recommend JaSam Radio on BlogTalk Radio. You can listen live and participate in the chat room or listen to the shows later. It’s a lot of fun :) Their twitter is @JaSamRadio1 )

Cons: When GH is bad, it’s really bad. The blatant disrespect TPTB have for women: female characters, actresses and viewers. Plot holes you can drive a truck through. Missed opportunities and constantly wasting wonderful actors. I'm so tired of Sonny's Magic P*nis and Super Sperm. Elizabeth Webber probably won’t be killed off anytime soon.


Pros: FAB cast of veterans that are actually used. My massive crush on Brian Kerwin. Ripple-effect storytelling. It’s usually last in the ratings – not a “Pro” but I feel like I should support it.

Cons: Too many violent creeps/rapists running around town in the past few years. Todd, the degenerate pig, is their “romantic lead” and I’m supposed to believe women would fight over him?? Ron Campivati’s writing just goes too far for me sometimes. I haven’t watched in awhile and I only miss it a little.

Pros: They use vets! Doug Davidson is Killing It! No matter what, there are usually two stories that have me riveted (right now it’s Patty/Emily and Adam vs. Everyone). The possibility they’ll someday bring back my beloved Billy Warlock (Ben) – yeah okay, that one’s a stretch, lol.

Cons: A few younger actors that can’t act (though they seem to be fixing that). Some of the couples and characters are Snoreville!

*************************

Tough decision. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the shows!!

-Melanie/SoapOperaBabble/daisyclover1938 (and various other aliases)

The Great Melanie Debate

This weekend something unique is happening.   SoapOperaBabble (Melanie S) and I do not see eye-to-eye about the character of Melanie Layton (portrayed by Molly Burnett) on Days of our Lives.

When Melanie L first came onto our screens in 2008, neither Melanie S nor myself were fans.  In fact, we wished Melanie L had been killed instead of her "then" father Trent Robbins (Roscoe Born).  Slowly over time (and I, unlike Melanie S, watch DOOL regularly), I have come to appreciate Melanie L's wit and charm; putting simply, I like her more and don't grit my teeth when she's onscreen.  Melanie S on the other hand, quite simply, can't stand her.  Needless to say, we have quite interesting (read: hilarious) discussions about her when we skype chat/IM/email.

Now that we have the blog, we've decided to have a debate about Melanie L and then post (some) it on here. Only now a few of our Twitter friends are planning to join us.  On the pro-Melanie L side is myself (Denial Island), 411 on Soaps' Peter and Soap Opera Source's William; joining Melanie S on the anti- side is 411 on Soaps' Gigi (Gigi4462).  On the fence is our good friend over at One View on Llanview who also watches DOOL, Nicole (Disneysoapfan).

Stay tuned for the debate - you wont have to wait long, last I heard we were holding it this coming weekend (March 6-7)!  So until then, please post any comments or YouTube clips you think may help either argument, and lookout for some pre-debate tweets by searching #GreatMelanieDebate on Twitter!

PS. Isn't it annoying when the soap characters you *hate* share the same name as you? :P Mel!!