SOCIAL ACTION

While soaps bill - and pride - themselves on being Love In the Afternoon, the medium has also been used to tell socially relevant, educational stories that genuinely enriched the lives of their viewers.

The granddaddy of them all is Bert Bauer's cervical cancer scare on Guiding Light in 1962, penned by Agnes Nixon.

Thirty years later, on an Agnes Nixon created show, writer Michael Malone spun the tale of Marty's gang-rape on One Life to Live.

Malone told Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama's Greatest Moments, "It was a graphic, honest, intensely emotional, extensively researched portrayal of the too-often unreported crime of college rape, in this case a gang rape by three fraternity men. The victim was Marty, a fellow student who already knew them, who had previously had sex with one of them, and who was intoxicated at the time of the rape. The “message” of the story was that none of these circumstances mitigate against the fact that rape is rape and rape is a major crime."



What are your memories of this storyline? Please tell us in the Comments below or write me directly at AlinaAdams@gmail.com.

Also looking for feedback for possible publication on:

DARK SHADOWS: Barnabas/Maggie/Josette
PC: Kevin mourns Eve
AMC: Laura's death
OLTL: Bo and Nora's wedding
DOOL: "Roman" sees a presumed dead Marlena alive on the pier
Y&R: David's KILLER plastic surgery, the masquerade ball and death by garbage chute
DOOL: Eileen Davidson plays five different roles - and lives to tell about it!
GL: Olivia and Natalia's romance
Y&R: Dru/Neil/Malcolm and Lily's paternity reveal
EON: Draper's Great Train Escape

CROWD-SOURCING COUPLES

As Holly and Reva toast (with water) to All The Bums They've Loved Before, and lament the dilemma of being caught between two men, Mindy offers a novel idea... Why not let her Twitter followers pick their soul-mates? After all, if there's one thing we've learned in the age of social media, it's that there is wisdom in crowds.

So what do you think? Should Reva choose Josh or Jeffrey? Does Holly belong with Roger or Ed? Tweet your vote to Mindy at: http://twitter.com/#!/MindyLewisBauer (registration is FREE!).

ANOTHER WORLD TODAY EPISODE #116-2

"Carl was trying to protect everyone!"

"Why?" Alice asked sensibly.

Her calm in the face of Rachel's irritation throwing the other woman momentarily off-balance. "What - what do you mean?"

"Why?" Alice repeated. "What reason did Carl have for allying with Spencer in the first place? Carl hates the man. Justine, Ryan, Grant, it's a very well-known list."

"All richly warranted," Rachel reminded.

"While I can see how you naturally would agree that Spencer deserves the blame for Carl having an affair with his wife, that's neither here nor there right now. My point is, Carl wanted to keep his family from becoming targets in retaliation for putting Donna in a position to expose the compound. Why couldn't he have taken the necessary steps on his own, why involve Spencer?"

"Because this is all Spencer's fault in the first place!" Rachel felt stunned Alice failed to recognize it. "If he hadn't tried to blackmail me with Donna's file, Lucas would have had nothing to plant on Cecile's body and tip off the authorities."

"Well, in that case, Carl is completely innocent — "

"I never said that. Stop twisting my words, I'm warning you!"

"Carl still could have taken care of the situation on his own. He didn't need Spencer. Yet he insisted on involving him nonetheless."

"Spencer stood to benefit as much as anyone. Why shouldn't he assume some of the risks?"

"Did you know what those risks would be?" Alice asked Rachel.

Who considered lying, but ultimately chose to own up. "Yes."

***

The kid gloves come off as Rachel and Alice step up to defend their respective husbands, Frankie shocks Cass with her stance on Charlie, Lila refuses to buy Matt and Jeanne's whirlwind romance, Steven calls Jen out on GQ, and Lorna offers Sarah some very personal advice.

All at: http://www.anotherworldtoday.com/2011/2011_116p2.html

IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT (BUT AREN'T THEY ALL?)

It was a dark and stormy night when vampire Barnabas Collins arrived in Collinswood and made the acquaintance of waitress Maggie Evans - who happened to bear a striking resemblance to Barnabas' lost love, Josette.

Actress Kathryn Leigh Scott, who contributed a favorite Dark Shadows moment to Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama's Greatest Moments had the following to say about the paranormal soap opera (that's about to become a major motion picture with Johnny Depp), but I think it applies equally to all daytime dramas: The situations were often absurd, but we played everything with an intense honesty.

Were you a fan of this ABC soap? Please send us your favorite memories of Barnabas, Maggie, and all the rest to either AlinaAdams@gmail.com or in the Comments, below!

ANOTHER WORLD TODAY EPISODE #116-1 (And Soap Opera 451's 2,500th post!!!)

"Talking to Fowler, it reminded you of Lori Ann and Dean, and how, if he gets a mind to, he could just take off with her and we'd never see — "

"No!" Frankie interrupted. "No, not at all, no. I trust Dean. And I think he trusts us, too. We're going to make this work, all of us, we're committed to it."

"Oh." Cass felt lost again. "Then what's wrong, Frankie?"

"What's wrong with you?" she flipped the question and indicated his now equally empty glass. "Why the self-medication?"

"Oh," Cass pondered the nearly melted ice-cubes. "That."

"That."

"I asked you first."

"Seriously, Winthrop? How many years of law school and that's the best you can do?"

"I'm just a humble private investigator these days. And your mood definitely bears investigating." Cass put down his tumbler and eased the dishes out of Frankie's grip — she'd been holding it like a shield between them as soon as he began asking questions. He took both her hands in his. "You're scaring me, Mary Frances."

"I don't mean to, I....I just don't know how to even begin."

***

Frankie balks at filling Cass in regarding Jamie's accusation, Rachel and Carl, Lucas and Felicia, Donna and Matt and Spencer and Alice struggle to deal with the consequences of Jeanne's televised bombshell, while Grant rails at Morgan over Marley's condition.

All at: http://www.anotherworldtoday.com/2011/2011_116p1.html

AROUND THE LANE

When I contacted Lane Davies (Mason, SB; Replacement Ridge, B&B; Cameron, GH) about contributing his top Santa Barbara scene to Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama's Greatest Moments, he replied, "I am sadly under-qualified to make a judgment like that. I'd put some of the early Santa Barbara episodes against the best of them, though. The Dobsons were really cooking, and we had one of the best casts in daytime, if I do say so myself."

He did ultimately pick one, which you can read about (and watch) when Soap Opera 451 is released this September 2011 as an enhanced e-book exclusively on Amazon.

But, in the meantime, I turn the floor over to Santa Barbara fans: What do you think was Lane's best moment as Mason, worthy of being included in a time capsule celebrating the best of daytime?

Please let us know in the Comments below, or e-mail me at AlinaAdams@gmail.com.

SOAP ORPHANS

First, thank you to all the Carjack fans who took the time to write me yesterday with their favorite memories of ATWT's front-burner couple. We hope you enjoy the tribute we've got planned for them in Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama's Greatest Moments.

Second, thank you to the fans of AMC, AW, ATWT, DOOL, GH, GL, OLTL and Y&R who contributed the moments you think deserve to be immortalized in soaps' first enhanced e-book. (I'll be taking last-minute contributions through the end of July, so if you've got a scene you want included, as they say in daytime, "Speak now or forever hold your peace." E-mail me at AlinaAdams@gmail.com.)

What we are low on, however, are suggestions from B&B, Ryan's Hope, Santa Barbara, Loving/The City, Capitol, The Doctors, Search for Tomorrow, and Passions.

I know those shows have their fans. Now is the time to make your voices heard!

ANOTHER WORLD TODAY EPISODE #115-2



"Thank you for this," Cass said sincerely.

"Oh, no, thank you, darling. I told you over the 4th, I need something to bring the old Felicia back front and center. Now all we require is Wally and..."

Cass smiled fondly. "I like to believe, whenever you and I gear up to do something we really shouldn't, he's there, cheering us on."

"I wonder what Wally would think of us now? We've both certainly made some wrong turns these past few years."

"Which we are both in the process of correcting. You and Lucas, me and Frankie, I feel like we're finally back on track. After the years of ill-timed disruptions."

"You don't seem sure," Felicia observed.

"Has Lucas filled you in on what he was up to all the time he was gone?" Cass asked abruptly.

"Most of it. He was held prisoner by Donna for years. And then he made a deal for his freedom, which at least allowed him to move around. He came to Lorna. I know they became very close. I suppose that's one blessing out of this entire thing."

"Frankie never talks about anything that happened while she was missing. I know she was in the hospital initially, but she lived for close to a decade as Mary Ordway. She must have had a life, a job, colleagues, friends..."

"Men," Felicia prompted gently.

***

Cass wonders about Frankie's past, while his wife gets an earful from Jamie regarding their children's present, Grant and Lila commiserate over misreading another's signals - or are they? Allie asks a question Amanda can't answer, while Jeanne publicly lays out the threat to Carl and Rachel, Spencer and Alice, Lucas and Felicia, and Donna... and makes a life-changing accusation.

All at: http://www.anotherworldtoday.com/2011/2011_115p2.html

CARJACK-ED!

As the World Turns' Carly and Jack fans! It's now your turn to tell us why this couple belongs in Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama's Greatest Moments!

(The YouTube video below only highlights some of them:)



Share your memories and thoughts below, or e-mail me at AlinaAdams@gmail.com.

BARR NONE

Julia Barr won an Emmy for the below scene, when All My Children's Brooke learns that her daughter, Laura, has been hit by a car and is brain-dead.



Was this one of Daytime Drama's Greatest Moments? Tell us in the Comments below or by e-mailing me at AlinaAdams@gmail.com.

Other scenes needing fan memories for Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama's Greatest Moments:

OLTL: Nora & Bo's first wedding
DOOL: "Roman" sees a presumed dead Marlena alive on the pier
Y&R: David's KILLER plastic surgery, the masquerade ball and death by garbage chute
DOOL: Eileen Davidson plays five different roles - and lives to tell about it!
GL: Olivia and Natalia's romance
Y&R: Dru/Neil/Malcolm and Lily's paternity reveal
EON: Draper's Great Train Escape

COVER UP

The cover for my upcoming book, Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama's Greatest Moments is here!

Thank you to everyone who contributed your ideas! Tell me what you think, below:


Meanwhile, I continue to spread the word about enhanced e-books (if anything, Prospect Park's acquisition of All My Children and One Life to Live for continuation on the web confirms that the future of soaps is digital) at: http://wwwthouhtfulreflections.blogspot.com/2011/07/some-people-march-to-beat-of-their-own.html please stop by and offer your take on the issue!

ANOTHER WORLD TODAY EPISODE #115-1

"Carl," Rachel said slowly. "The primary reason I agreed to let you send Elizabeth and Cory to boarding school was because you convinced me they'd be physically safer away from us. Otherwise, frankly, I'm not certain that the problems Amanda and I've had since she so suddenly hit her teens weren't triggered by our being apart during her key, formative years. I'm not sure I did the right thing, allowing Mac to convince me it would be best for her. And I am very, very hesitant to repeat the experiment with a girl as... challenging as Elizabeth. However, you persuaded me their safety needs to come first. Has the situation changed?"

"Unfortunately not," he admitted.

"Then why the change in plans?"

"I've reconsidered," he repeated, as if that should settle matters without further question.

"Truth, please," Rachel said simply, not accusing him, merely making it clear she wasn't keen on purchasing the current offering as is.

Carl sighed, for a moment looking so devastated, Rachel felt sorry she'd ever started on this particular train of thought.

As if he were delivering the most horrible news in the world, Carl said, "I spoke to a few of the admissions officers at the top schools I'd selected. All of them... they said, that is, they implied...."

"What?" Rachel demanded.

***

Carl receives crushing news about his children, Morgan forces Marley to face a devastating truth, Kevin hits a surprising nerve with Frankie, Matt fights to stay a step ahead of Jeanne, and Jamie struggles with what's best for Kirkland.

All at: http://www.anotherworldtoday.com/2011/2011_115p1.html

MAZEL TOV! (AND LITTLE RICHARD, TOO!)

The lovely and talented Hillary Bailey Smith has graciously offered to give Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama's Greatest Moments an interview regarding Bo and Nora's (first) wedding on One Life to Live.



Got questions you'd like me to ask Hillary and/or thoughts on one of Daytime's liveliest weddings ever? Leave a comment below (if you can - I know Blogger periodically acts up) or e-mail me directly at AlinaAdams@gmail.com.

Also looking for fan memories for possible publication on:

DOOL: "Roman" sees a presumed dead Marlena alive on the pier
Y&R: David's KILLER plastic surgery, the masquerade ball and death by garbage chute
DOOL: Eileen Davidson plays five different roles - and lives to tell about it!
GL: Olivia and Natalia's romance
Y&R: Dru/Neil/Malcolm and Lily's paternity reveal
EON: Draper's Great Train Escape

ANOTHER WORLD TODAY EPISODE #114-2

Jamie reminded, "I know what it's like to live with something eating away at you and I can see...I can see that's what's happening with you now. I don't want you to live like that. I won't stand by and allow you to live like that."

Kirkland shook his head, working to keep from giving in. "There's nothing you can do."

"I can listen. Give it a shot, son. Bottling whatever it is up hasn't helped you so far. And you know you can tell me anything. Anything. No matter what."

"Charlie and I..." Kirkland began after a silence so protracted Jamie had begun second-guessing his entire approach. "We were hanging out in my room the other day, when you were still at the hospital with Lorna. We weren't doing anything... Mostly because, I — I didn't want to."

"Didn't want to what?" Jamie asked, not because he couldn't guess, but needing to make sure he and Kirkland were on the same page.

"You know... fool around. Charlie wanted to and I didn't and... it... got... weird."

"Weird?"

"She got weird. Charlie. She was mad that I didn't want to. I told her I'd just seen Grant and made him sign the adoption papers that morning, you know? My head was in a million different places. But, Charlie, she didn't believe me."

Jamie tried to keep his face neutral despite the uneasy feeling growing in the pit of his stomach. "Kirkland, what happened?"

"She got mad. She started yelling, she shoved me, she said I'd led her on just to mess with her, but I didn't!" Kirkland paused to take an unsteady breath. "Then she called me a fag. What... what do you think of that?" He asked, suddenly casual, while desperation beamed from his eyes.

***

Jamie pushes his own demons aside to try and get through to Kirkland, while Lila attempts to set Charlie straight on the same subject, Amanda and Kevin hit an impasse on a familiar issue, Lorna warns Morgan against falling back on old habits, and Donna gives Matt her answer regarding Jeanne's threats.

All at: http://www.anotherworldtoday.com/2011/2011_114p2.html

WHO CAN THAT BE KNOCKING AT (MINDY'S) DOOR?

This week, http://twitter.com/#!/MindyLewisBauer is taking interactivity to a new level.

On Tuesday, July 12, Mindy heard a knock at her door.

And now you get to tell me who she finds there. Majority rules and whoever gets the most votes, that's the story I'll write... a.k.a. Your Wish Is My Command.

Go to: http://twitter.com/#!/MindyLewisBauer to decide who can that be, knocking at Mindy's door!

(UN)DEAD AGAIN

Marlena (Deidre Hall) and John (Drake Hogestyn) return to Days of Our Lives on Monday, September 26 (the first day time-slot competitor All My Children won't be regularly on the air since 1970 - but I'm sure the timing is just a coincidence.)

For Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama's Greatest Moments, a soap expert (you'll have to check out the book to learn exactly who) nominated Marlena's original return to Salem in 1991 (back when John still thought he was Roman - and was kind of dressed like the guys on Miami Vice; pre-Basic Black) as an example of the genre at the top of its game.

Do you agree? Watch the clip below and tell us your memories of that heralded reappearance either in the Comments section below or e-mail me at AlinaAdams@gmail.com!

SOAPS FOR A CAUSE

Stars for Schools helps bring awareness to the 56 million kids and their teachers who need more than a barren classroom to survive.

They need school supplies.

That’s where ClassWish comes in.

ClassWish helps get kids the tools they need to thrive.

Days of Our Lives has generously agreed to participate with their two top stars: Joe Mascolo (Stefano) and James Scott (EJ).

The prize: A lucky Days fan will fly to LA, get a VIP tour of the Days studio, then go onto the set, meet Mascolo and Scott, have their picture taken with them, and then appear together with them full-page in Soap Opera Digest.

To enter, go to: http://StarsForSchools.org.

ANOTHER WORLD TODAY EPISODE #114-1

"How are things panning out with Kirkland?" Sarah asked.

Grant sighed. "Another one who's labeled me personal non-grata."

"He'll come around, too," again with that confidence of youth. Grant had to admit, it was kind of pleasant to have around. The constant pessimism of age had its drawbacks.

"I'm taking your advice. I'm giving him space."

"My advice?" Sarah giggled. "Boy, you must be really desperate."

"You made a lot of sense the other day. And, like you said, you probably get where he's coming from much better than I do."

"Was that a diss about me being your son's age? You see me as some dumb kid?"

"Quite the contrary, it was a reference to your wisdom — despite; maybe even because of — your youth."

"You, Senator, clearly didn't get the requisite Old Fogies Know Best memo."

"Thank you," Grant said archly. "Don't know how you meant that, but I'm choosing to take it as a compliment."

Sarah laughed then, almost shyly asked, "Listen, do you... would you... Do you think you'd mind if maybe I stopped by here every once in a while? To, you know, just kind of hang out or something?"

***

Sarah tries to bolster Grant's spirits, Jamie resolves to find out what's bothering Kirkland, Frankie and Cass fail to see eye-to-eye on Lila, Allie lashes out at Jen only to receive her own back in kind, Carl gets a chance to heed Rachel's wishes, and Matt allows Donna (and you) to make a key decision regarding their future.

All at: http://www.anotherworldtoday.com/2011/2011_114p1.html

GUIDING LIGHT: BAUER BBQ 2011

It was the first ever, interactive Guiding Light Bauer BBQ! Were you on the guest list? Find out who was!

And join Mindy for the final fireworks as she looks around all the families, couples, and lonely-hearts in attendance and muses:

Everyone looks, if not exactly happy with their overall lives, happy in the moment, being here, together, on a gorgeous 4th of July night. And, you know what? I can't help feeling proud that it was the Bauer BBQ that is responsible, once again, for creating this perfect moment. Even if it is only a moment. Even if tomorrow we all go back to our tough lives. Even if we never have it again. At least, we had it once...

Catch up with all the BBQ action at: http://twitter.com/#!/MindyLewisBauer and make sure to sign up if you want to receive your invitation next year! (Remember, tweets are posted newest to oldest, so you need to go back a few days and read from bottom to top to follow all the action!)

EVOLUTION

The big news is out about All My Children and One Life to Live transferring to the web once their ABC runs end in September 2011 and January 2012, respectively.

Prospect Park is promising a multimedia platform and ten hours of content a week, the same as it was on broadcast TV.

We wish them all the luck in the world and can't wait to see what they come up with.

We also like to think that perhaps www.AnotherWorldToday.com and Mindy's Twitter were the first steps of this revolutionary movement to keep soaps alive on the web.

Original 2009 Another World Today press release, here: http://www.soapoperanetwork.com/news/item/843-another-world-finds-new-life-online

ANOTHER WORLD TODAY EPISODE #113-2

"Ever since Amanda told me about her marriage," Rachel began her toast, successfully hiding her ongoing displeasure regarding the haphazard manner in which she'd been filled in. "I've been thinking about what I could say to congratulate them, and to welcome Kevin into our family."

There was a smatter of laughter about that. Everyone for their own reasons.

"I started thinking about Amanda and what an amazing gift she was to her father and I. How long and how eagerly we'd waited for her, how thrilled we were when we finally had the daughter we'd both dreamed of."

The hint of a smirk Amanda had assumed in preemptive defense as soon as her mother began speaking slipped away, and she blinked, first in surprise, then to keep back the tears. Any mention or reminder of Mac always made her cry. She didn't even use an Apple computer, and had banned them from Brava, because it was too evocative.

Kevin took her hand and squeezed it comfortingly. She rested her head on his shoulder.

"And then," Rachel said. "I thought about Kevin. And everything his grandmother was forced to endure before he reappeared in her life." She smiled at Alice. "I suspect Alice would say he was worth it."

Alice looked at Kevin, who didn't appear so sure, and, without hesitation, nodded firmly.

"Amanda and Kevin are proof that good things come to those who wait. Not just for their families, but for each other. No one here this afternoon," Rachel swept her gaze from Cass and Frankie to Felicia and Lucas to Jamie and Lorna to Alice and Spencer before finally settling, with a warm, grateful look, on her own husband. "Has had an easy course to chart throughout their lives. But, I think they'll agree, we are all precisely where we should be now."

***

Rachel offers her tentative blessing to Amanda and Kevin's marriage, then makes a surprising request of her own husband. Felicia turns to Cass for aid only he can offer, Jamie introduces his daughter to Alice while attempting to discern what's bothering his son, Dean makes a confession to Lorna, Sarah delivers Grant's message to Marley, and Jeanne lays out her position to a flabbergasted Matt.

All at: http://www.anotherworldtoday.com/2011/2011_113p2.html

MORE FROM MY SUPER-SECRET PLAN TO SAVE DAYTIME!

This time at Perfect-Romance.com, edited by Mala Bhattachrjee of Soap Opera Weekly.

Look! What’s that over there? It’s a video! It’s a book! It’s a…Vook! Well, technically not, since Vook is a registered trademark, like Kleenex or Xerox, and should not be used in place of a generic product name. But it sounded better than, “It’s an Enhanced Electronic Book!” Although an Enhanced Electronic Book is precisely what I’m talking about....

As someone who is currently in the process of digitizing and enhancing my entire backlist from Avon, Dell, and Berkley, I am constantly struggling — trying to come up with enhancements to my romance and mystery novels that are actual enhancements, rather than informational adjuncts or a visual repetition of something already offered in the text.

To read the entire article go to: http://perfect-romance.com/2011/07/05/vooking-at-enhanced-ebooks/ and make sure you leave a comment!

Part #1 of said super-secret plan, here: http://www.cncbooks.com/blog/2011/06/25/won%E2%80%99t-somebody-think-of-the-children/

IT'S THE BAUER BBQ!

Come one, come all to the first interactive Bauer BBQ - where you get to mingle with the people of Springfield, ask them questions, and be privy to all their secrets! - going on now, only at: http://twitter.com/#!/MindyLewisBauer (registrations is free!)

ANOTHER WORLD TODAY EPISODE #113-1

John's face darkened. "I think about my son every minute of every day. I don't need a special occasion to have my memory jogged."

"I didn't think you did," Donna softened her tone. "But, if there is any way I can make today any less painful for you..."

"No," John shook his head. "I meant what I said at Gregory's funeral. I don't want it to become less painful. Less painful means I'm starting to forget."

"Less painful," Donna spoke from personal experience. "Means you can look back on the good times with your lost child and actually enjoy the memory for its own sake. It's what Gregory would have wanted, you know that."

"What would Vicky have wanted?" John challenged. "For you? You're such an expert on the subject. Tell me. Would Vicky have wanted you to be living the life you're living now?"

"I... I don't understand what you're implying."

"Then let me spell it out for you: I told you how I feel, Donna. I offered you a chance at happiness. With me. No, I'm not Michael. I don't love you the way he did. And, believe it or not, that's a good thing. I love you in my own way. I'm not trying to change you back into the teen-age girl I fell in love with. I'm not forcing you to jump through hoops to become the woman I'd prefer you to be. Because I know the woman you really are better than anyone. Even you've admitted that much. I love the real Donna. The one you're still struggling to make peace with. Don't you think that Vicky would've wanted that for you? Love — an honest love, with no faking it, after all these years, finally — instead of rattling around alone inside your mansion, your only living daughter rejecting you, your grandchildren wanting nothing to do with you?"

***

John offers Donna an alternate version of the future while, at Rachel's annual 4th of July bash, Jeanne does the same for a stunned Matt. Also at the party, Kevin and Amanda make their first official appearance as newlyweds forcing Jen, Allie and GQ to sort out what that means for them, Steven wonders what's bothering Kirkland, Lorna makes a final overture to Felicia, as does Lila to Cass and Frankie, and Elizabeth does her best to avoid a repeat of last year.

All at: http://www.anotherworldtoday.com/2011/2011_113p1.html

A happy and safe 4th of July to all!