News

Soap Smarts: How Daytime Dramas Are Using Ingenuity To Get Back Into Production During COVID-19

July 10, 2020

Photo: JPI

Daytime dramas seldom get the credit they deserve, and now they should be getting further credit for being the first back into production as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage on, and trying to implement new ways to keep their trademarks love scenes, intimate moments and two-person scenes somehow looking in tact; even though it will be far from how it was done in the past.

In the story from the Associated Press The Bold and the Beautiful EP, and head writer, Brad Bell – who’s soap was the first one back into the studio – commented on how the show is utilizing mannequins, or real-life significant others to help pull off close contact love scenes and how it is rather groundbreaking. “We feel almost like television pioneers all these years later because we’re the first ones out, blazing new ways of producing the shows with the current safety standards, and we’re getting the job done. It’s very exciting.”

When B&B scripts written pre-coronavirus were reviewed in preparation for shooting during the pandemic now, originally all the cinches and smooches were cut. But Bell found a solution whereby a remote actor recites lines as their on-camera scene partner responds in a “low, intimate voice” and engages in “beautiful, yearning eye contact” with an off-camera doll.

As far as the soapy embrace or lip-lock, B&B cast member Katrina Bowden (Flo) has had her husband and musician Ben Jorgensen stand in for her on-screen love interest, Darin Brooks (Wyatt) since returning to taping new episodes.

Photo: JPI

Days of our Lives EP Ken Corday noted to AP: The “learning curve” is steep. Before the pandemic, “we were producing eight, one-hour episodes a week. That’s basically 40 or 50 scenes a day. That’s going to be basically impossible to reopen, so to speak, at that pace. We’re going to have to be more careful. So will there be five shows a week, or more? Yet to be determined. It will certainly cost more.”

B&B and now Y&R which heads back into production next week, and the others soaps, will be using the company called Reel Health, which launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to serve the entertainment industry, and hires medically trained workers to monitor sets and enforce protocols developed by a company epidemiologist and in accordance with industry and government standards,

Alicia Rodis, a veteran intimacy coordinator who helped the actors guild develop guidelines for taping scenes of romance and simulated sex. shared: “Finding ways to put romance on the screen is inevitable and necessary. At the end of the day, intimacy isn’t going anywhere. Physical intimacy is a part of the human experience. And we’re going to have to find a way to be able to continue to tell these stories, even in extraordinary circumstances.”

So, what do you think of how soaps are tackling taping episodes in the new normal to give their fans a sense of all that they love from their favorite daytime dramas during COVID-19? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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News

B&B’s Don Diamont Granted Restraining Order Against Alleged Stalker

June 15, 2021

The Bold and the Beautiful’s Don Diamont (Bill Spencer) was granted a temporary restraining order in L.A. County Superior Court against 37-year-old Quincy Adams; who Diamont says has been harassing him and his family since back in January.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Diamont alleges that Adams took to YouTube saying Don was a Satanist and responsible for COVID, 9/11, and the Iraq war. In addition, Adams claimed to be connected to him some way from birth.

It was then that Don grew increasingly concerned when the man shared online that he knew where Diamont and his family lived.

Then came June 2nd, when Adams showed up at their front gate and Don received a call from his wife, Cindy. The police handled Adams from there, but Don was very worried that Adams might harm him, or his family, so he was granted the temporary restraining order against him.

We wish Don and his family nothing but safety in the days ahead.

So what do you think about the claims and actions of Adams on Diamont? Comment below.

Guiding Light

Soap Veteran Executive Producer Jill Farren Phelps Virtual Interview on Tap

June 15, 2021

In a very special conversation, don’t miss one of soaps longtime executive producer ‘s Jill Farren Phelps appearance on an upcoming livestream on The Locher Room.

Jill joins host and former ATWT and GL publicist, Alan Locher on Wednesday, June 23rd at 3 p.m. EST / 12 p.m. PST.

As soap fans know Jill has helmed Another World, General Hospital, Guiding Light, One Life to Live, Santa Barbara and The Young and the Restless.

She has also been nominated for 15 Daytime Emmy Awards and took home 11 Emmys for her work.

While Phelps has been a polarizing figure on the soaps, look for the good, and the bad decisions under her tenures at the soaps to be discussed and more.

Here is the link to watch it live

So, what would you want to ask Jill? What was her best decisions and worst decisions as EP of the soaps? Let us know via the comment section below.

Breaking News

‘The Talk’ Renewed for its 12th Season

June 14, 2021

After its controversial 11th season and following the departure of original cast member, Sharon Osbourne, there had been chatter that maybe the The Talk would come to an end.

However, news today from CBS has that it has renewed its top daytime talker, and the series will live to see another day for its upcoming 12th season this fall.

Having debuted in October 2010, the show now features Carrie Ann Inaba (who also serves as the show’s moderator), Sheryl Underwood, Amanda Kloots, and Elaine Welteroth as it primary co-hosts.

As with previous amalgamations of the co-hosts, the women discuss the latest headlines, current events, and human-interest stories of the day.

The series put out this tweet on their pick-up sharing: “JUST ANNOUNCED! #TheTalk has been officially renewed for another year on @CBSreturning for a 12th season in 2021-2022! More fun, more topics, more talk!”

So, glad The Talk is continuing on, or did you think it was time for it to go? Comment below.