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CBS Executive VP Angelica McDaniel Chats On Y&R's Ratings Rise Under Chuck Pratt Jr., B&B's Transgender Storyline & Changes For Daytime Emmy Voting Process!
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
Late last week, the Television Academy presented the Daytime Programming Peer Group Celebration, at an exclusive cocktail reception honoring the Daytime Community at the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Many stars and executives from your favorite daytime dramas were in attendance.
CBS Entertainment Executive Vice President, Daytime Programs and Syndicated Program Development, and new mom, Angelica McDaniel, who is a Governor from ATAS who represents the Daytime Peer Group, took to the red carpet and spoke with On-Air On-Soaps!
Angelica discussed with us the daytime soaps under her jurisdiction: The Young and the Restless and the Bold and the Beautiful including: her thoughts on the rise in ratings under executive producer and Genoa City head writer, Chuck Pratt Jr., B&B’s efforts in telling the groundbreaking transgender storyline, some changes the Daytime Emmys are hoping to implement with the voting process to make it a more honorable race, and a tease for what’s to come on the CBS Daytime programming block come November Sweeps. Here’s what Angelica shared.
Tell us about the cocktail reception tonight. Usually this soiree happens a few days before the Daytime Emmys. How come it is happening in August?
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
ANGELICA: In the last few years, this event actually happened leading up to the Daytime Emmys. NATAS had changed the date of the Daytime Emmys this year, and they had some other celebrations around that time, and so they thought this would a great year to honor the daytime nominees close to the Primetime Emmys, which are in September. A lot of people in daytime work in primetime, and a lot of people from prime work in daytime, so it’s nice to all celebrate closer together.
Recently, you held some meetings where actors and producers got together to take a look at rule changes that they may want to see implement in the Daytime Emmy voting process, and to review how this year’s telecast was received. What was the takeaway from that?
Courtesy/Reuters/NATAS
ANGELICA: Every year post-Daytime Emmy celebration, there is a gathering where many in the industry do come together, and they address a lot of their concerns, and a lot of things they would like to see worked on. I have to say, this year was one of the most positive meetings we have had in quite some time, and that was really great to see. I think we can all agree that the award show itself was produced much better. The show was about adding the integrity back into daytime and what we do, and celebrating it and bringing a return to glamour to it. Now it’s about: how do we maintain that integrity next year? It’s also talking about some of the things we should address. One of the big hot topics, and this maybe controversial for me to say, is about the soaps. There are only four left on the air and we want to celebrate them, but getting a Daytime Emmy nomination is an honor. So, it’s not a situation where everyone should get a trophy. This isn’t first grade soccer. It’s really about how NATAS looked at their rules and maybe makes some adjustments, so it’s not that everyone gets a nomination in every category, every time.
The Young and the Restless has been close to 5 million total viewers weekly, and is has increased it’s viewership under Chuck Pratt Jr.’s head writing of the series. While Chuck has been a polarizing figure in daytime with the fans, there is no denying that people are tuning-in. What can you say about Pratt’s performance with the series thus far?
Courtesy/CW
ANGELICA: So, over 20 million people watch CBS Daytime every day. All of our shows are up 8% from last year, and that includes Y&R. Last year when Chuck did come onboard, there were a lot of people who got their feathers ruffled, and a lot of people were very outspoken about it. At the end of the day, I maintain what I said then which was: if you are watching something on the screen today you have to remember that this one story isn’t the end all, be all of the show. It’s really a journey – it’s a marathon, not a race. Keep watching the story, because little things are going to continue to unfold. One of the great things about Chuck is that he is obsessed with this show. He thinks about it 24/7. Chuck is not just telling a story that will be for just the next four weeks. He is really working for the long term and sharing his vision. Chuck has a long term plan and you are starting to see things play out on-air. Listen, there is always going to be stories that people don’t like, but for every person that doesn’t like that story, there is another person who loves it. You can’t please everyone all of the time. We just have to tell great story, and if you tell great story, people will tune-in. That is what we are seeing with The Young and the Restless.
Chuck is infamous for his use of disasters and catastrophes as ratings grabbers for the soaps he has the writing reins of, which has also been given some pushback from fans. However, his February Sweeps “Flirt with Disaster” stories and others have not hurt the ratings one bit.
Courtesy/CBS
ANGELICA: Right! And it’s also about taking that big shocking moment in story to get people who only watch Y&R once a week to suddenly watching twice a week, because that is what matters. That is what keeps these shows on the air, and people did tune-in as you see by the ratings and their numbers. We have more around the corner and more reasons for you to tune-in, and to keep tuning-in.
Your other daytime drama, The Bold and the Beautiful has made some significant strides for daytime television, with the telling of the transgender storyline featuring Karla Mosley as Maya Avant. This show has been really thinking out-of-the-box of late and forward thinking, while remaining a classic soap as well. What are your thoughts on the efforts they have put forth to tell this important story in our culture at this time?
ANGELICA: The great thing about the executive producer and head writer of the show, Brad Bell, is that this was definitely his vision for story, and it was before we knew about Caitlyn Jenner. It wasn’t about just trying to be a trend. It really was a pioneering move. The Bold and the Beautiful is the only television linear show, whether that’s network or cable, to feature a trans character under contract. We are also the only show to feature a trans wedding with a character who is not transgender. B&B is breaking barriers. We are not telling the story for shock factors, and we are not trying to preach to people. We are telling a love story that is a contemporary tale. I applaud The Bold and the Beautiful for being so responsible for their storytelling. We worked really closely with GLAAD, because it’s really important to us that we do tell a responsible story, but also one that is really intriguing, and that has twists and turns.
What have you thought of veteran television, motion picture, and stage actors: Obba Babatunde’ and Anna Maria Horsford’s performances as Maya’s parents, Julius and Vivienne? Truly inspired casting!
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
ANGELICA: Hopefully, these two will receive some nominations at the Daytime Emmys next year! They have been so great.
November Sweeps will be here before you know it. What can you say in a broad stoke for CBS Daytime fans?
ANGELICA: We have just started putting all of that in motion, so I don’t want to tip anything. Definitely watch The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful. It will be very interesting! And while you are doing that … don’t forget to check out: The Price is Right, Let’s Make a Deal, and The Talk! (Laughs)
So, what did you think of Angelica’s thoughts on the ratings performance of Y&R under the writing regime from Chuck Pratt Jr.? The performance of the transgender storyline under Brad Bell? Do you tune-in for the disaster stories no matter whether you agree with the story device, or not? What do you hope happens for November Sweeps on the CBS Daytime soaps? And, do you think with only four soaps left on the air, that not every show should get nominated in the the drama series categories such as: Outstanding Drama, Writing, and Directing? Share your thoughts below!
Y&R- CONGRATS for bringing in Pratt !!
Y&R/CBS was very smart to fire Shelly Altman and Jean Passanante and bring in Pratt..
Under Shelly Altman and Jean Passanante Y&R had a it’s lowest drop under the Queens of Snooze. Pratt has brought new life to Y&R.
The very worst thing to come from the firing of Shelly Altman and Jean Passanante is that GH dragged them both in.
Did they realize that two near brought Y&R down to its lowest.
Y&R Suit #1;;
Hey guys, Did you see the two throwaways we put out to curb have been picked up, yup they are gone.
Y&R Suit #2;;
Congrats! our plan worked well..
We knew GH would pick up our throwaways.
They think if they came from the #1 soap they have to be good!
aha haa! the dumbasses ! gotcha!
Y&R Suit #1;;
haaa aahhaaa !! We really stuck it to GH..
GH is no longer a worry for us!
Shelly Altman and Jean Passanante will bring it down damned near like the secret weapons of destruction those two are ahha!
Good work guys!!
Y&R Suit #3;;
Hi guys, good going!
Y&R never had a hard ratings drop as with Jean and Shelly at the helm..
Poor o’l Jean was let go/fired from every soap she was with but one and she was with that one to cancellation..
Those two managed to be the only ones to ever cause Y&R a hard drop and loss of high numbers/viewers!
Now GH has them aaahaa that’s grand! It is just too good!
Yup-
Y&R/CBS was smart to fire them.
GH/ABC was dumb to bring them in.
Good work guys, good work!
Have you casted the roles of Suits 1, 2 and 3?
ahha! It a secret 🙂
And the months long decline in ratings to record breaking lows for GH under Ron Carlivati and not terminating him sooner was what? A wise decision? You cant have it both ways, Su. The GH brass ought to be ashamed and embarrassed that Ron was allowed, and given free reign, to decimate the show and bring it to the brink of cancellation. I cant wait for Altman and Passanante’s work to air, and I hope there is a major bloodbath on the show, with easily 15 expendable characters meeting their ends. You like bloodbaths, Su. Stay tuned!! 🙂
I dont think it will be a blood bath with these two women. GH fans wanted more stories, love stories. We’ll see. I will give them a chance BUT these two women wrote the “Music Box” story over on Y&R and Jeanne Cooper could be heard cackling from the heavens above! One of the worst stories EVER!
she makes a point about “it should be an honor”. This past Emmy’s was the best one in years and it felt like a celebration of daytime and not an infomercial for Vegas or other random junk Tough when it’s 4 soaps but thats the reality.
Now just hoping Y&R will tell some groundbreaking stories like The B&B has.
YR hasn’t been must see TV for me since Pratt arrived. It is too much focus on all things Newman and a big FU if you like some of the other families. Victor always winning and never paying for his evil deeds makes me hate the character and the writing for him. Long term couples are broken up with major beats to their stories missing. I don’t like to guess what happened off screen to them and then not get a follow up for over two weeks yet have to see the same endless conversations with other characters. I am about to take a break from the show because the storylines they focus on have no interest to me.
It may not be a U.S. soap, but credit for a groundbreaking transgender story goes to Britains Coronation Street…Hailey had problems and some bigotry but she ended up marrying Roy Cropper and thats the first transgender/wedding ive ever watched…that was way back in the 1990s…they had their ups and downs…Hailey died on the show 2 years ago…B&B cant even come close to Corries…Meanwhile, im sick of hearing people talk about Bruce/Caitlin as if he is the first transgender(just because he is a celeb)…there have been numerous ones for decades!!!
That was almost two years ago..it was January 2014 jimh..and now Kathy Beale iback in EastEnders..even bringing back people from the dead on the U.K. soaps is a MAJOR event and not a bi-monthly occurence it’s not done as a gimmick…LOL..
B&B is good classic yet timely soap. I’m overall happy there.
I detest Y&R under Pratt. There have been 5 rapes since he took over.!! Add to it that Victor, despite being complicit in Phyllis being repeatedly raped, gets off Scott free yet again. He is irredeemable at this point. It also infuriates me how Pratt writes Sharon. She has been thru the ringer. As a parent I was livid about how badly she was beaten up during Faith’s custody battle. Bi-Polar disorder is highly treatable yet Pratt wants her “crazy”. It also infuriates me that Michael and Lauren are backburnered yet Summer,Kyle,Abby are shoved down our throats. They are played by very weak unlikable actors.
hi Scoma60,,
Pratt so far has had little to with bipolar Sharon.
Her burning down houses, near destroying Newman Enterprises, Changing DNA results and other crimes she has commit were not written by Pratt..
A good deal of it was written by the Jean and Shelly team, the new GH writers.
Sharon will forever be bipolar all the writers need do is take her off her pills for crazy drama.
I like Pratt..
He has really lived up the boring soap, he has done well.
As for the ”younger” being up front, well it is the ”Young” And The Restless and it seems that is the direction the higher-ups want Y&R to go, focusing on the young, it seems that way.
Victor will never pay by law he does however pay for his dastardly deeds by his children/family walking away from him etc ..
Anyways, Y&R has become much better..
“I like Pratt..
He has really lived up the boring soap, he has done well.”
I agree the soap needed some energy but Pratt could have still done it without the disasters and catastrophes and dopplegangers and silly murder mysteries and legacy characters acting out of character. That apparently works for a lot of the newer viewers, and you like it su0000, but a lot of it is a big turn off for those of us who are long time viewers. Like it’s already been said here, quality and consistency is being sacrificed for ratings and it doesn’t have to be.
Yes, we all know you love Pratt – you gush about him on other boards under other names.
Again, r u on his payroll or part of CBS Publicity?
Good post su0000! Y&R was un-watchable with e ladies who are now writing or about to write for GH. God help them!
Younger actors and storylines are usually featured during the summer.
I used to enjoy Victor but his character has become a glorified criminal. He needs some redemption. What happened to his seizure disorder & nothing is ever mentioned about him having to take heart transplant meds daily for the rest of his life. And he keeps drinking in front of Nikki.
EB did not care for the heart transplant story so it is never mentioned PB did not care for the Keemo story so he is never mentioned. However Sharon Case gets thrown under the bus time and time again and never complains. I stopped watching simply because of the antics going on off screen I guess social media is to blame for that. Remember Guiding Light Reva had a clone and then walked thru a painting into time Zimmer just laughed and kept going to work! OLTL had Eterna and the Buchanan’s going back in time. Can’t take soap operas too seriously it is not the soap I started watching but times change viewers change !
In this interview as with all others, ratings are the only thing that matters. Quality means absolutely nothing. Y&R has never been in worse creative shape than it is now, but the ratings are up, so that’s all that matters to the suits. Once the viewers realize that there is no Oz behind the curtains, the ratings will fall and the spin will be interesting to hear.
ICAM!! The ratings are starting to drop Little by little not like GH where they are falling every week. McDaniel needs to get her Head out of the clouds, PRATT ruffled more then just feathers she knew why the Fans have been out spoken He Made All my children unwatchable for Many people and he is doing it again on Y&R which is Sad!! The killer story along with the Two jack’s hasn’t helped much sure the numbers have been good but they are slowly falling.
Angelica keep singing pratts praises um don’t you know he destroyed all my children
AMC was taken off the air for financial reasons by ABC and 2 years after Pratt was no longer with AMC.. 2 years is long time gone.
Pratt did a lot of damage to AMC — Adam killing Stuart, that ridiculous tornado with Zach going all Lion King with Bianca’s newborn daughter Gabrielle, Zach making out with Reese on the eve of her wedding to Bianca — and while he may not have been the headwriter when the show ended his tenure helped erode the viewership to a point of no return.
Nonetheless, it was Pratt whose out-of-character storytelling wrecked the fabric of the show and pushed it past the point of recovery. Most soaps don’t die acutely, su; it takes a while for the damage to set in and become fatal. Pratt was not alone in killing AMC, and the show had been weakened by the time he got there, but his reign was the one that rendered the show unsaveable.
Which is why Sony, CBS, and Ms. McDaniel should be worried, even if the ratings are up for the moment. The kind of “storytelling” Pratt does is something I liken to strip-mining. You can do stunt stories with high jaw-drop factor and goose the ratings, but you can only do it for so long; the damage you do to the underlying structure by rearranging the personalities of long-term characters makes many people lose interest, and at that point, no amount of stunt storytelling will get them back.
Do the ratings take into account recorded programs and how much is fast forwarded? There are probably sites where people rave about the recent storylines for Young and the Restless, but, in general, the writing has been abysmal. There is a lack of centering and stability. Even soaps require some of those attributes to balance the absurdities. Perhaps it is really the actors that become more important than the scripts, and viewers are willing to wait and wish that things will improve. In answer to one of your questions, I record and fast forward the ads and distasteful parts which have been many. Watching has become a habit over many years, but it doesn’t mean I think things have improved; quite the opposite.
Depends. Live+Same Day rating figures are the first to be released by Nielsen nowadays. There are Live+3 and Live+7 as well.
Love Chuck Pratt ‘s writing ! can’t get enough of these stories with the disasters , catastrophes , action and adventure . We need to see that as well with the bold and the beautiful : an earthquake could take place with the whole cast in mortal peril , a tornado could hit as well , a cruise ship disaster ( think of the Poseidon adventure ) could also take place , explosions , fires , car crashes , any type of accident ! it would be nice if the Bold and the beautiful could tell a serial killer story which would leave many characters dead . you could call the serial killer ” the fashion slasher ” ! Bold and Beautiful needs to step out of its comfort zone !
Phelps & Pratt have made Y&R virtually unwatchable to long time fans. The destruction done won’t be easy to fix once they are shown the door. As they say: Short term gain will result in long term pain.
“Y & R” is not but a train wreck under the poison pen of Pratt – nothing but plagiarized, regurgitated, plot-driven nonsense. It’s just going to keep getting worse and worse…I can’t make it through an entire episode, it’s just that un-watchable and ludicrous!!
FYI – “Y & R” ratings are beginning to tumble and will continue to do so with this horrible, predictable writing.
First of all, Jean and Shelly probably didn’t have half the power Chuck does to write independent of network tinkering. He’s the boss of his stories and I would be dollars to donuts has a huge amount of latitude to write his stories. That doesn’t mean Jean and Shelly aren’t at fault but they didn’t kill off legacy characters and destroy the show; they set up Chuck’s best story (Adam/Gabe), kept Chelsea interesting and established nuPhi. Chuck tells stories in a way that works: he has an umbrella story, sensationalism, not a lot of little stories and keeps the vets pretty much front and center. There’s consistency. I can only watch about once a week if that because it’s not my cup of tea but I do think he’s honed in on a formula that works and that James Reilly perfected. One of Ron Carlivati’s biggest failings was that he told six week telanovela stories and (love them or hate them) the show looked and felt different every few weeks. Viewers never knew who to invest in because they would disappear for weeks at a time. Soap viewers want to deeply invest in a core group especially with dwindling budgets, no location shoots etc. Soaps need to go back to melodramatic, teary eyed story telling..Starting to see that with Days and it might save the show…I know I’m watching every day since Griffley took over
VERY well written Tony.
As it pertains to Y&R, I hope Angelica is just giving her usual PR schtick. She did after all gush about the past 2 HW, calling Altman and Passanante her “A” team.
I think Y&R is horrid under Pratt! Even the actors do little to sell the material as anything more than the crass, satirical mumbo jumbo that it is. Jamey Giddens, of DC Confidential, recently posted a screen grab of the soap comedy spoof, Soapdish, and wrote, “this was a documentary”. The “Soapdish” model is Pratt’s, Y&R. In reference to what some of AM says in the intv…
“if you are watching something on the screen today you have to remember that this one story isn’t the end all, be all of the show. It’s really a journey –
Really Angelica? This show has been a mess for several years now! From what I’ve seen, it IS the end all, be all of the show! IF this has been your stance all along, Mrs. McDaniel, why have you helped facilitate the change in HW, 3 times now in the last 3 years? And why were you micromanaging the writing process under other regimes? Clearing you weren’t FEELING the “Journey”. Guess what? Neither are we!
“Last year when Chuck did come onboard, there were a lot of people who got their feathers ruffled”
Yes, because we are ALL too familiar with his track record. Unlike you, we don’t drink PR kook-aid and blow smoke like a 5 alarm fire.
“One of the great things about Chuck is that he is obsessed with this show. He thinks about it 24/7”
Obsession and thinking about something 24/7 doesn’t equate to stellar work. You can’t pull talent from someone where there is none. Obsession be damned! If satire was the model for Y&R YOU Mrs. McDaniel, was going for, then I guess kudos to you, it’s been a success. Look how well it’s turned out for GH. And yes, their ratings also went up initially.
“We just have to tell great story, and if you tell great story, people will tune-in. That is what we are seeing with The Young and the Restless.”
Let us not forget, the last 2 HW also hit highs. Some not seen in 6-7 years. It didn’t mean anything in the end where their job was concerned. And evidently AM didn’t trust either team, as its been heavily reported she micromanaged the heck out the writing process. Perhaps our criticisms have been aimed in the wrong direction. Sounds like AM has done her share of swinging the axe at the show. From a writing process at least.
I know McDaniel has done great things for the network. But Y&R continues to struggle creatively, and she needs to accept her part in it. From Y&R standpoint, she blows A LOT of hot air. Interestingly enough, she’s been awfully quiet about Pratt’s Y&R on her twitter page. Even when ratings have been good, she does little to tweet out the positive press. She was a FAR more vocal supporter of the other two teams on Twitter. An interesting observation I’ve seen many on twitter comment on.
Pratt is doing very well.
I like him, his writing does not put me to sleep, that is good thing.
Altman and Passanante near comatosed me with their never ending boring go nowhere stories.
3 of the soap, ALL, have recently had a turn over.
New writers, new ideals.
Time will tell after these switchings, if better or not.
Y&R is indeed better.
DOOL seems indeed better.
Now, will GH be better?? (I doubt it under Altman and Passanante, nope)
By the end of 2016, we know if all the switchings were for the better or worse.
You represent a trend I keep seeing with viewers as it pertains to their enjoyment of Y&R under Pratt. “His writing doesn’t put me to sleep” “it’s not as boring as it was last year.” No where in these statements does it ever point to WHY it’s good. When people are critical of Y&R I often see them detail their reasons for why they feel that way. I don’t see that on the flip side. Tell me su0000, why is the show good? Do you think the show is well written and smart? What storylines in particular? Be specific. I’m genuinely curious.
Interesting….so, su…haha….I hope that your adorable Pratt will bring the Adam/Gabe storyline to a satisfying end. Perhaps the fact that Victor is fighting Chelsea and Gabe tooth and nail to prevent her from moving to France, will be the incentive for Gabe to come forth and face the music….no matter the ‘tonal’ consequences…LOL.
I think we are given hints here and there. The fact that Victor keeps referring to Gabe as an outsider is a dead giveaway. And, the words must burn a hole in Gabe’s gut.
So, what are the chances that everything comes to light?
Great Post Chris ICAM!!
What is Billy Miller’s status is he coming back to y&r he definitely would be a up grade to the show.
Y&R fans, keep your fingers crossed, Billy Miller is being wasted over at GH. How much longer is his contract? The reality is he supposedly likes it there because of his “Outs” and his relationship with Kelly Monaco. We’ll see. I do know that he will NEVER return there until Steve Burton’s lap dog, Jill Farren Phelps is gone!
I agree, Timmm. Honestly? I do not see the reason for Dylan; I really don’t. When he showed up in GC, getting his sea legs, as it were…the superfluity of the character was soon realized. TPTB ad to do something drastic; that would appeal(or so they thought) to the viewer. So, the-Dylan-being-Nikki-and-Paul’s-son-story was created, just to give us a sense that he belonged. NOT!!!!
Dylan is here, there, and everywhere. His omnipresent person which seems to seep through into everyone’s life is irrational. I am glad I’m not the only one who feels this way. It’s a joke!!!!
Well, Y&R is #1 so I guess they dont see a problem and dont listen to the fans. Dylan is a horrible character. If you remember a character on Y&R named Ryder, Dylan reminds me of him EXCEPT the guy who played Ryder was not STEVE BURTON and the guy who played Ryder wasnt in Phelps back pocket! I love Steve but its cringe worthy to watch the show work so hard to get him over! Next he’ll be Mayor of Genoa City!
@Timmm.
LOL…yeah, either Mayor or Psul will cede his Chief of Police Title to Dylan.
And, yes, I do remember Ryder. He was Daisy’s brother, right?
I totally agree. I do the same thing as well. I watch out of habit, hoping it will improve. So far, it hasn’t. I fast forward through a lot of it.
Most days I have it on when I am on the computer and Tivo will record it for watching after the kids go to bed. This used to work pretty good, but now (sadly) I will start a pre-recorded show and end up deleting it about 15 minutes in. This show is becoming complete trash.
“Listen, there is always going to be stories that people don’t like, but for every person that doesn’t like that story, there is another person who loves it.” Well DUH! The same can be said about one’s garbage or the latest one-star movie.
Pratt does not care about good storytelling. He only wants shock and awe and wash, rinse, repeat. So how many WOMEN have fallen off cliffs now? Drucilla, Skye, and now supposedly Hilary. Wow! How original. Someone’s baby has been miscarried and someone else’s is about to be kidnapped. Hmm, where have I heard THIS one before.
How about you stop being obsessed with the show and start writing it the way it SHOULD be … the way the creator envisioned it? This is not some nighttime cable show. I want shock and awe, I turn to my premium shows. I watch soaps, and have for over 30 years because I like character development and a little escape from my mundane life. I don’t need complete character assassinations like what has happened on Y&R. I don’t even recognize Neil Winters anymore and Nick Newman has become a petulant manchild.
You said it. They care only about ratings and maybe all the new viewers to the show don’t understand the history or notice all the recycled garbage we do. I’m just waiting…I can see it panning out now. Sharon is going to steal Sage’s baby. Never mind that Sharon had TWO of her own babies stolen from her fresh out of her uterus, never mind that she has NO baby bump and Sage is completely out to there, but somehow, Magic Chuck will find a way to make it “logical” that Sharon can steal Sage’s baby and pass it off as his own. And he’ll turn it into ratings gold even though it doesn’t align with Sharon’s compassionate side. Let’s just focus on her being crazy, because crazy women is what Chuck likes to focus on. It just gets more and more ridiculous.
**her own
All I want is for Adam to be cleared of killing Delia. I still think that Austin discovered that fake Jack or Harding killed her and Adam was used as the fall guy.
The writers on B & B need to get real !! Here we go again with Ridge. First he gives Katie a pretend engagement ring, and now, Caroline a pretend wedding. I thought when he came back from Paris that he had grown up, however, it has turned out to be quite the opposite. Grow up Ridge !!! Need more Bill and Katie as well.
This summer beginning on July 21, Netflix streams the return of WWE: Unreal for its third season. The behind the scenes docudrama series gives fans a glimpse of life in WWE and inside the writers room, as injuries, last-minute pivots, and career-defining decisions reshape WWE’s biggest event of the year, WrestleMania 42.
WWE Unreal is taking fans deeper than ever inside World Wrestling Entertainment’s creative process, The hit docuseries will once again pull back the curtain on some of the biggest moments, boldest decisions, and unforgettable storytelling with some of the WWE’s greatest legends who’ve shaped the industry and new stars who are emerging as prominent parts of the future.
In the new season of ‘Unreal’ which consists of 5 episodes at 50 minutes each: John Cena says goodbye, a fan favorite returns, and the next generation of Superstars rise to the occasion.
Photo: WWE
The cast and WWE superstars featured include: the aforementioned Cena, plus Cody Rhodes, Liv Morgan, CM Punk, AJ Lee, Trick Williams, Lash Legend, Stephanie Vaquer, Oba Femi, Bron Breakker, Chelsea Green, Matt Cardona, Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.
As previously reported AJ Lee revealed on General Hospital star Maurice Benard’s (Sonny Corinthos) mental health series, State of Mind, that she was part of the cast of WWE: Unreal.
WWE: Unreal production credits include: Directors/Showrunners: Chris Weaver and Erik Powers Executive Producers: Peyton Manning, Jamie Horowitz, Ross Ketover, Keith Cossrow, Ken Rodgers, Jessica Boddy, Lee Fitting, Ben Houser, Marc Pomarico Sr. Producers: Harley Glantz, Brian Decker, Michael Flynn Producers: John Galiani, Dan Gati, Jeremy Lundblad Production Companies: Omaha Productions, NFL Films, Skydance Sports, WWE.
So, what do you think of the loglines for the new season of WWE: Unreal? Who are you most excited to see featured in the behind the scenes drama from the list of WWE superstars and the twists and turns leading into this past April’s WrestleMania 42? Let us know via the comment section below.
If you have ever tuned-in to the soap opera genre over the last 50 years, and witnessed some of the greatest romances, drama, classic and outlandish storylines of all-time, you would have seen Deidre Hall smack dab in the middle of it as longtime Salem heroine, Dr. Marlena Evans.
It was 50 years on this date, June 21, 1976 that Hall first appeared on DAYS on NBC which was its home for 57 years before it moved to its current streaming platform on Peacock in September of 2022.
In Hall’s first episode she was introduced as a psychiatrist treating Mickey Horton (John Clarke) at Bayview Sanitarium after he suffered a complete mental breakdown. Mickey learned that his brother Bill Horton (Edward Mallory) was the biological son of Mike Horton (Wesley Eure) with his wife Laura (Susan Flannery) and that he had been lied to for years and years. From that moment on, the rest is television and soap opera history. Days of Our Lives put Hall front and center.
Photo: NBC
There were so many heartbreaking and shocking story twists involving the beloved Marlena. One of the first was the historic crib death of baby DJ (Don Jr.) in 1980, Marlena’s infant son with Don Craig (Jed Allan). The story had never been told on daytime television and Hall’s performances received accolades from TV critics to fans when Deidre received thousands of letters from grieving mothers who had gone through the same thing in their own lives.
DAYS also brought Deidre’s twin sister, Andrea Hall Lovell to the show as her on-screen sister Samantha, who had a grudge and even locked Marlena up in a sanitarium and took her place! Fast-forward and in 1982, DAYS launched the Salem Strangler story where everyone believed Marlena was his next victim, only it turned out to be Samatha. Jake Kositchek (played by Jack Coleman) was revealed to be the actual serial killer.
Later, Deidre would assume the role of Marlena’s look-alike, Hattie Adams in 2004, once played by her sister, Andrea. Over the years, Hattie has come back to Salem and caused trouble giving Hall a chance to play a different type of character, then the always upstanding Marlena.
Photo: JPI
THE LOVES OF MARLENA
Deidre Hall struck gold with all her leading men: from the late Jed Allan, to Wayne Northrop as Roman Brady, and of course, her enduring love story with the late John Black played by the iconic Drake Hogestyn. In fact, Marlena’s 1986 wedding to John (who was believed to be Roman at the time) remains a favorite of fans to this day.
TOP MARLENA STORYLINES OF ALL-TIME
While the list is long, here are several that were some of the memorable during Deidre’s five decades in Salem!
The Possession (1994- 1995)
Considered one of the most ambiguous, outlandish and unforgettable story arcs in soap opera history, then Days of Our Lives head writer, James Reilly went there! Marlena was possessed by the devil! That included; the demonic eyes, hissing at father John (Black) the priest, morphing into creatures, and the classic levitating in her bed! It became a cultural phenomenon and cemented Deidre Hall’s status as a daytime television legend. Just ask Ryan Gosling!
Photo:JPI
The Affair with John Black (1993)
John and Marlena’s forbidden love could not be denied and they had passionate affair, while she was still married to the real Roman. Problem was her daughter, Sami (Alison Sweeney) caught her mother having sex with John on a desk that changed Sami forever.
The Salem Stalker Mystery (2003-2004)
In a shocker, Marlena was revealed to be a serial killer who bumped off several Salem favorites residents who were all alive on the island of Melaswen (spelled “New Salem” backward). Turns out, she was manipulated and gaslighted by Andre DiMera (Thaao Penghlis) to do the “killings” and had no memory of her actions.
The Pier Scene (1991)
This remains Michael Fairman TV’s all-time favorite Deidre Hall moment, which featured some of the best acting in the storied careers of both Hall and Drake Hogestyn.
In the story, a presumed-dead Marlena returns after four years. One foggy night on the pier, John is alone, and Marlena steps out of the fog to reveal herself, and is reunited with the love of her life. You can watch it any year, any decade, and in any moment, and it will have you reaching for the hankies again and again. (best music score fo a soap scene of all-time too!)
Photo: NBC
Kristen’s Secret Room Reveal (1997)
Marlena was caught in Kristen Blake’s (Eileen Davidson) elaborate web of lies, when she was held hostage in a secret wine cellar/room until John managed to track her down, leading to an iconic on-screen reunion. The classic catfight between Hall and Eileen Davidson was one for the ages.
It should be noted that Maison Blanche, Queen of the Night, Possession, Aremid and Lady in a Cage were all a part of classic DAYS storyline and all featured Hall at the epicenter of it from 1993-1996.
THE RECENT YEARS OF MARLENA
In recent years, DAYS brought back the possession 2.0 storyline under then head writer Ron Carlivati in 2021 where the devil leapt back in Marlena after taking advantage of a frail Doug Williams (the late Bill Hayes)
In 2025, viewers watched the end of the love story of John and Marlena, as John succumbed to injuries sustained in an explosion saving a vial of medication needed to bring Bo (Peter Reckell) back to life. Marlena has been a widow on-screen since June of 2025 as Hall as portrayed the good doctor struggling with her grief and to move on with her life since his death.
Photo: JPI
One story that never goes away is Stefano DiMera’s (the late Joe Mascolo) obsession with Marlena, his “Queen of the Night.” Even in death, Stefano is toying with her from the great beyond with the mysterious chess set and the missing “pawn,” that he had gifted John and Marlena in his will. The mystery is currently unfolding on all-new episodes of Days of Our Lives.
Tune-in to Days of our Lives on the Monday, June 22 episode as Marlena looks back at her 50 years in Salem.
Share your congratulations to Deidre Hall for this incredible 50-year milestone as Dr. Marlena Evans on Days of Our Lives in the comment section. Then let us know, what is your all-time favorite storyline or moment in the life of Marlena over the past 5 decades? And, just for kicks, and to celebrate this amazing milestone, here is Marlena levitating below circa Christmas Eve 1994.
General Hospital
Maurice Benard Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’ Writers; Teases Upcoming Sonny Scenes with Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric
With the highly-anticipated returns of Finola Hughes (Anna Devane) on this week’s June 24 episode of General Hospital, Steve Burton’s (Jason Morgan) upcoming return on July 13, which also serves as the ABC daytime drama’s 16,000 episode, things are about to fire on all cylinders in the story, as noted today by series star, Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos).
On Father’s Day, the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning actor and mental health activist took to his Instagram and expressed in a video that he has some unbelievable upcoming senes with the aforementioned Burton and Hughes. Add to that Nazneen Contractor (Justine Turner) and Rick Hearst (Ric Lansing), where Benard gave credit where credit is due to the GH writing team, which is led by co-head writers, Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten..
In this video, Benard said, “I just want to get on here and say that I did some work with Steve Burton, Finola Hughes, Rick Hearst, Nazneen Contractor, and they’re all just fantastic. Truly fantastic. But, I want to say the writing was just exceptional. It truly was. It was exceptional. So, thankful for that kind of writing. I know writers don’t get the credit a lot, but I just want to say to the General Hospital writing team, keep rolling!”
GENERAL HOSPITAL PREVIEW
So now the question becomes, with a major tease like that, what is about to go down between Sonny, Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric? Will we finally get to the end of the line for Sidwell (Carlo Rota), as previously teased by the GH co-head writers? Will we learn what happened to Jason and Anna, fully? Will Justine and Sonny becomes closer or stop their liaisons? And what of Ric? Will he be true blue to his brother or double-cross him? There is a lot at stake as we move further into the summer and one that looks like it could be one of the more exciting ones in years!
FINOLA HUGHES CONFIRMED AMAZING SCENES WITH MAURICE BENARD
As a punctuation point to his video, Benard also shared this written message in the post: “I just did some wonderful scenes with Steve Burton, Rick Hearst, Finola Hughes and Nazneen Contractor and and unbelievable writing, freaking amazing scenes that you will see in the near future on General Hospital.” In fact, Finola Hughes jumped in the post comment thread and responded, “I loved our scenes so much xxx”
Fans will most likely see all the scenes Benard referred to later in July, since GH tapes approximately six weeks ahead of air.
So, are you excited to see what Maurice is talking about? Are you hyped for what’s to come on GH? Any clue on what you think will go down between the main characters on the soap with the returns of Anna Devane and Jason Morgan to the mix? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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