News
TV Guide: Was OLTL too gay for America? New statement from ABC!
Courtesy/ABC
TV Guide Magazine in this week’s issue spotlights and examines the ongoing controversy of the abrupt and shocking ending and exit of One Life to Live’s Kish storyline. As everyone knows by now actors, Brett Claywell, and Scott Evans last airdates are next week. Key journalists who were interviewed for the feature included, AfterElton’s, Michael Jensen and Daytime Confidential’s Jamey Giddens, as well as actor, Claywell, and ABC Daytime Rep, Jori Petersen. A main contention through the report is could the same-sex wedding-athon played into the public’s turn-off of the entire gay storyline, as just to much? Of note are some very telling excerpts from Petersen and Claywell that you can read below.
Jori Petersen on why ABC canned canned Kish: “The Kish story did not have the appeal we hoped it would. We are going to spend our time on stories that have a more favorable reaction from our audience. We are sunsetting the storyline but Kish will remain in Llanview. The door is open.”
Brett Claywell on if the same-sex marriage shows could have turned America on Kish: “From the beginning, Scott and I were uneasy about that big gay political wedding. We were telling a slow, subtle love story about two guys who just happened to be gay. We didn’t want to make it in-your-face, which is what the wedding was. It pulled us away from what we were trying to do. We wanted to exist separately from that. It was too much and, in a way, Scott and I became the sacrificial lambs.”
In a metaphor for the start of the school year and their upcoming anniversary in November, Days of our Lives revealed its “Class of Season 62,” with a very clever yearbook montage on their social media handles, welcoming new cast members, while paying respect to the veterans and “class”-iying the other characters in Salem.
The official Days of our Lives Instagram account shared on the posting, “The Class of Salem Season 62 has arrived. Familiar faces, new names and plenty of personality. Flip through our yearbook for a peek at this year’s class.”
Let’s take a look at how they broke it all down: The Salem Yearbook starts with saying “another unforgettable season,” with some group pics, and then we dovetail into Salem’s new class which features: Sydney Malakeh (Sydney DiMera), Brandon Butler (Mason Whitfield), Angelica Nero (Victoria Kiriakis), Cole Gersmeyer (Thomas DiMera) and Lorelei Olivia Mote (Rachel Black).
Photo: Days of our Lives
Next up, are the likes of: Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez), John-Paul Lavoisier (Philip Kiriakis), Tyler Joseph Andrews (Theo Carver) and LeeAnn Hopkins (Joy Wesley). Then, in the “Drama Club” section are: Dan Feuerriegel (EJ DiMera) and AnnaLynne Cipriani (Cat Greene).
Following the ‘Recess” section with some group snaps, comes “Homeroom Highlights” with: Abigail Klein (Stephanie Johnson), Eric Martsolf (Brady Black), Rob Scott Wilson (Alex Kiriakis), Lamon Archey (Eli Grant) and Sal Stowers (Lani Price Grant).
The “Salem Spectator” section features: Conner Floyd (Chad DiMera), Greg Rikaart (Leo Stark), Stowers again, and Ashely Puzemis (Holly Jonas). In the “Afternoon Sweets” section look for: Paul Telfer (Xander Kiriakis) and Linsey Godfey (Sarah Horton), Emily O’ Brien (Gwen Rizchech), Stacy Haiduk (Kristen DiMera/Susan Banks), Brandon Beemer (Shawn Brady), plus Jackée Harry (Paulina Price).
Towards the end of the yearbook, veteran performers such as: Mary Beth Evans (Kayla Johnson), Stephen Nichols (Steve Johnson), Lauren Koslow (Kate Roberts) and Josh Taylor (Roman Brady) are featured, plus Deidre Hall (Marlena Evans), James Reynolds (Abe Carver) and Matthew Ashford (Jack Deveraux), Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie Williams) and Suzanne Rogers (Maggie Kiraikis) with her on-screen daughter, Linsey Godfrey.
The Salem Yearbook comes to a conclusion noting “Big things happening in Salem” and to tune-in on Peacock, where we also find Jacob Martinez (Javi Hernandez), Maggie Carney (Rita Lesley), and a host of other favorites previewing what’s to come this fall.
So, what do you think of the Days of our Lives Class of Season 62? Looking forward to seeing what happens in Salem? Did you like the yearbook concept for promotional tune-in? Let us know via the comment section below.
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There is nothing more soap fans love better than when their favorite daytime drama updates their opening title sequence to showcase all the new characters, replace long-held images of the cast and delete those who are no longer airing on the series.
Now comes word from the B&B app (Bold and Beautiful TV) that there is a brand new opening title sequence as the show heads towards its 40th anniversary celebration next year on March 23, 2027.
The new title sequence uses previously seen images mixed with brand new images and begins with series long-running stars, John McCook (Eric), then Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke), Thorsten Kaye (Ridge), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy), Tanner Novlan (Finn), then comes Lawrence-Saint Victor (Carter), Annika Noelle (Hope), Scott Clifton (Liam) and Rebecca Budig (Taylor).
Next up, the Spencer clan with Don Diamont (Bill), Heather Tom (Katie), Crew Morrow (Will), Sydney Bullock (Dylan), Delon de Metz (Zende), Brayan Nicoletti (R.J.) Laneya Grace (Electra), then Lawrence Saint-Victor, Murielle Hilaire (Daphne), Harrison Cone (Deke), Sean Kanan (Deacon), Kimberlin Brown (Sheila), a shot of Tanner Novlan as Finn, another of Jacqueline MacInnes Wood as Steffy, Naomi Matsuda (Li), Jennifer Gareis (Donna), a shirtless Scott Clifton, Annika Noelle, Darin Brooks (Wyatt) and Denise Richards (Shauna).
In the final set up, look for more shots of Heather Tom, Murielle Hilaire, Katherine Kelly Lang, Laneya Grace, Brayan Nicoletti, Crew Morrow, and at the end of the opening sequence, previously seen title sequence shots of Bill, Katie Ridge, Brooke and Eric, round out the conclusion,
You can check it out in the post below.
Then, let us know, glad to see The Bold and the Beautiful are updating their opening title sequence that includes the current main cast? Let us know what you thought of it, and how you would stack up B&B’s opening title sequence with your other favorite soaps. Share your thoughts in the comment section.
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General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Bluesy Burke Marks 1 Year as Charlotte Cassadine: ‘It’s The Best Gift I’ve Ever Received’
Today, September 8 makes it one year since Bluesy Burke’s first appearance as General Hospital’s Charlotte Cassadine, the daughter of Lulu Spencer (Alexa Havins) and Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart).
To mark the one year anniversary of her time on-screen, Burke took to her Instagram with a post and photo of herself along with her GH co-stars including: Alexa Havins, Asher Antonyzyn (Danny Morgan) and Finn Carr (Rocco Falconeri).
Burke captioned the photo, “1 year on General Hospital. I truly can’t believe it. Time really flies!! I am so grateful I get to be apart of this amazing family. I feel as though I’ve grown so much over this past year and I’ve met some of my best friends. Thank you so much Frank Valentini (executive producer, GH) and Mark Teschner (casting director, GH) for taking a chance on me. It’s the best gift i’ve ever received.”
Photo: ABC
Several other of Burke’s GH co-stars jumped into the comment thread with their congrats including: Laura Wright (Carly Spencer), Sawandi Wilson (Isaiah Gannon) and Kayden Brenna Tokarski (Scout Cain).
Back in 2025, General Hospital head writers, Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte said of their plans for Charlotte and recasting Scarlett Fernandez in the part, “Charlotte returns to the canvas and assumes a pivotal role. She’s very useful to anyone who wants something from Valentin – and she knows it. She isn’t afraid to exploit her relationship with her father to get what she wants. She’ll draw closer to Danny and Rocco as we develop General Hospital’s next generation.”
Currently, Charlotte is about to be in a whole lotta trouble, after she was the person who discovered it was Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) who was floating in the pool at the Metro Court. Both she and Danny ran from the scene of the crime. Later, Charlotte realized her bracelet was gone which ended up on Brennan’s wrist before Drew (Cameron Mathison) and Ava (Maura West) buried the body.
Something tells us the body will be found and Charlotte may be looked upon as a prime suspect in a murder case, even though she didn’t do it!
Share your congrats to Bluesy Burke for her one-year milestone as General Hospital’s Charlotte Cassadine via the comment section below, and if you think Charlotte will land in hot water.
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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Anna Breaks Down in Front of Jason and Britt After Shots Are Fired
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Claywell speaks like he has a messiahnic complex. That’s annoying, and he’s not a “sacrificial lamb”. Claywell is now comparing himself to Jesus Christ? Wow, how delusional can he get? But at least this kish melodrama w/in the melodrama is finally fizzing out.
They kish fans are kishinitas? LOL! That’s pretty bad. So are the Nuke fans Nukettes? With all this publicity and his far better acting over Evans, Claywell should be able to secure a nom. They’re voting now right? Good timing is everything.
And BRAVO to tvg’s Michael Logan for actually having the balls to call out Carlivati’s bad storytelling as a major factor to the kish storyline dropping in ratings and the kish axings! If Wheeler’s regime had axed Otalia, or Goutman had extricated Nuke, many soap journalists would be carrying their pitchforks and torches demanding that Goutman or Wheeler to be sent to the guillotine. So bravo to Logan for that critique! No one has critiqued Carlivati for botching up Kish and the hate crime w/ Nick and Dorian’s race to the mayor’s office by fooling the lgbtq voters that she’s a lesbian.
And afterelton are self-satisfying hypocrites. Who the hell is Michael Jenson to speak for GAY people? Of course he makes this abt a homophobia issue.
Jensen and his partner host this 2 gay guys running commentary and of course show preference for out actors. They’ll complain abt Jodie Foster sharing her life as a mother and speaking abt her stalker to the media, so they’ll turn that around and say if Foster can speak abt that, why doesn’t she speak abt her being allegedly a lesbian? Who the hell are they to say how Jodie Foster should lead her life. Yes celebrities will be speculated on and even outed, but she does not have to come out or talk about her sexual orientation if she chooses not to.
And Jensen knows nothing abt soaps. They only follow soaps w/ gay characters, so his narrow perspective lends nothing to the article. At least Giddens knows his shit.
sorry, but if you don’t know what you’re talking about don’t talk.
I am glad to see that there is only one real and authoritative source on the OLTL Kish scenario. It has become clear that none of the rest of us knows what we are talking about.
This could have been a really good story for One Life to Live seems years ago they attempted this subject but shyed away from it. The only soap that comes to my mind that has had a gay male storyline for a long time has been As The World Turns so good for them for keeping a gay male couple pretty much a front burner story for a good while!!
ATWT had their moments w/ Nuke, GL had their moments w/ Otalia. And Claywell saved kish, but even Claywell admits in this interview that he had reservations abt the mass same sex marriages. Carlivati was making too political a statement w/ Dorian pretending to be a lesbian to win the lgbtq vote, Nick, a character no one cares abt being in a hate crime and then the mass same sex marriages. But none of these lgbtq arcs compare w/ AMC’s original coming out storyline for Bianca.
If Reigel submitted this ep instead of Bianca confronting Erica abt her planting the drugs on Frankie, then maybe reigel would have beaten Finnigan. And Lucci could have won her 2nd Emmy with this scene IMO.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkMfrNX7q6g
I think Lucci’s fantastic in this clip. It’s so Erica Kane to make it abt her, and all of Lucci’s acting choices here are excellent like when Bianca asks when it’s going to be ok for her to have a gf, and Erica shrugs her head. Reigel’s great too, no other lgbtq char compares to Bianca.
Dialogue is full of gems. Bianca says she wants a rel like straight people and Erica says “Bianca don’t be that way.” I LOL bec it was so realistic since many parents would actually say that! The hesitation, queasiness and “I don’t wanna hear it” attitude of Erica was so on point.
Reigel’s delivery of the lines “it’s never gonna be ok for me to have a sexual rel, a sexual rel w/ a woman,” and “get over this gay thing” were really great. Erica saying “You have your whole life ahead of you…..” and Bianca countering “…….to meet a woman” was great dialogue. Lucci saying “You think every disagreement we have is bec of your sexual orientation, and it isn’t.” SO GREAT! And everytime Bianca throws it in Erica’s face that she’s a lesbian, Erica says “Will you please stop saying that.” So true of so many parents.
The writing is so organic, so character driven unlike the preachy, political kish crap. Hendrickson was so great as Frankie also, w/c shows she can act when given the rt material, since her acting as Chloe is crappy on MAB’s version of Y&R. She even looks like Frances Mcdormand in some angles.
AMC got it right. They hired a newbie w/ tremendous acting chops who could hold her own w/ La Lucci. Agnes Nixon’s writing was excellent. And it wasn’t about making a political statement. It was plain old solid soap writing at its finest. The scene I put is one of daytime’s best, if not the best.
I really really HATE ABC for dumping Kyle and Oliver and will NEVER watch OLTL again ever.
Awwwww, got his feelings hurt. keep continue condemning yourself.
I don’t think that’s what he was trying to get at.
It doesn’t matter, OLTL hit new record lows with ratings after Kish and the BGW storyline, proving that Kish wasn’t actually the cause of their slope.
I agree with you Brad, I will never watch OLTL ever again just because of their stupidity for dumping Kish! Unless they put Kish back on the show! 😉
i agree for dumping scott evans and brett claywell and a’m still watching one life to live as soon next year come april 2011 they will bring scott evans and brett claywell as acotr of kyle leiws and oliver fish their daughter seirra rose to bring them back a’m still keep on watching oltl all way to next year to put scott evans and brett claywell on-screen and to return to the show oltl