DC #332: ABC Brendabot or Kung Fu Barbie

Okay, be honest...you guys *HATE* me right?? LOL

I'm too scared to listen to the show right now - I'm at work and I don't want my coworkers to see me burst into tears!!

Daisy Clover this was taped awhile back! LOL It wasn't planned but yeah...not much Sam love on this eppy!

Daisyclover, think of it this way...

Since those of us on the podcast are Liason fans and are reacting/venting about the fact that JaSam is a go it means that your beloved couple is on its way back together. Besides, I don't think Jamey said anything in the podcast that he hasn't already said in his various posts about the topic on the blog lol.

Dōmo arigatō, Sam's a Brenda-Robotto.

Since those of us on the podcast are Liason fans and are reacting/venting about the fact that JaSam is a go it means that your beloved couple is on its way back together.

Oh the irony Luke!! I wanted JaSam back together for so long and now that it might happen - I have very mixed feelings about it, lol

Oh there's no "might" to it. Frons has spoken. JaSam is being reunited.

I'm sure you're right Jamey, but I just can't wrap my mind around it yet... Like I said, very very mixed feelings. For now, I'll be staying put on Denial Island about all of this...

It seems like I was one ABC Podcast late... LOL!

I hate Liason BUT I also HATE Jasam. Ugg they both suck! Yea LOOK AT MY ICON!! LOOK AT MY ICON!! LOOK AT MY GOD DAM ICON!!! Courtney was way better than lizabitch! Courtney ruled loved her! Still hoping that Helena has her kidnapped somewhere
But woot woot Liason are done THANK GOD OH MIGHTY WE ARE FREE AT LAST!!!!!!!!!!!! I havent cheered this much since Emily and Georgie were killed.

But i agree Spixie rule!! And Reese oh gosh that horribale character still gives me nightmares. Im a girl but i will admit that women was not the prettiest pea in the pod.

AJ and Jason both should have left Courtney on that stripper pole. She couldn't even drop it like it was lukewarm she was so boring!

Loved this podcast

Jamey will u marry me? You have got to be the funniest person ever!!!!!!!!

I hope JASPAM crashes n burns so LIASON can be together forever.

Help me out here so I understand...what makes someone a BOT? What is the difference between pimping and someone just being put in a front burner story? And what makes a pairing the "money couple".

I seriously think Jamey that we define those words totally differently.

You list off all these people who really have nothing in common. Angel was nowhere near an action adventure character. Hannah was law and order as was reese - again not a tag you would use with Sam or Brenda.

Pimping vs. writing a front burner story. I consider it pimping when the character is being built up through the destruction one or more other characters, when that character is randomly linked to a bunch of stories that dont make sense just to increase the airtime, and when other characters are used to reinforce the wonderfulness of the character being pimped. None of those things really have anything to do with Sam. In fact, the totally fit Scuzziebutt for the last year. Scuzzie was built up by making Sam and Lucky behave horrifically thus justifying Jiz's actions. BOOM we had Sic sex, the park ambush, Amelia coming to town to discuss Sam's newly invented past, and of course the jake napping all at the same time. SILLY. scuzzie was tie to the storylines of nik, nadine, LuSam, Scrubs etc. so that she could advise these folks and they could thank her for being wonderful. THAT to me is pimping, not giving one of your leads a little more air time and a front burner story.

Money couple I would define as one that brings in the ratings and the magic everytime they are on. Jiz had A Night of Ugly Sex (ANUS) (LOL) in 2006. All this time - where the hell is the ratings and the buzz. Meanwhile JaSam hasnt been together in all that time and SOD, ABC, SOW etc. are still getting inundated with JaSam stuff - even after Jake getting kidnapped.

Oh an by the way, how come you believe that Luke and Laura are "magic" since that would mean in your mind that he came back from RAPE and you said you loved our girl Tam's Carly so she came back from drugging an alcohol but Sam can never come back from watching Jake get kidnapped. HUH? Your bias is showing again I think ;0)

I think its funny that you guys loved the scene on OLTL with Viki at Victor Lord's grave. I turned the show on during that scene and turned the tv off. To me that scene was really stupid, Viki has dealt with 3 half siblings she never knew about, Victor sleeping with her best friend, the secrect room, Eterna, Victor brain washing her to forget about Megan and her child abuse. But Tess coming out for the second time is what makes her lash out at her father, that scene seemed forced and just another opportunity for Erika Slezack to over act.

I cannot bring myself to listen to this one...I just keep reminding myself that you all are lashing out because you are hurt and angry.

Meanwhile, regardless of what any of the naysayers are throwing at me, I'm still on cloud nine because my fave is ROCKIN' IT.

So bring on your "crotch cricket" references - yeah you Jamey (LOL), and whatever else you've got because that easybake oven known as Elizablech is about to get knocked right off her high horse, and I am soooo looking forward to her getting trampled in the process. Mwahahahahaha. }:)

(Wow, that last part sounded really evil. Perhaps I am channeling Tess today. Woohoo!)
________________________________________________
***Hey Lizard, it's called karma. Look it up***

... that easybake oven known as Elizablech....

ROTFL!

It's simple "pimping" is when the head of your network's daytime division tells his writing staff, you have to write a reunion for Jason and Sam back together. This isn't fan fic, it's what happened.

As for the Brenda Bot, LMAO, they WROTE IT IN THE DIALOGUE!!! How many times have they compared Sam to Brenda? It wasn't a coincidence.

Jamey, you're reaction to thinking about Jonathan Jackson coming back as Lucky is my sentiments exactly!

Luke, I know exactly what pimped character from another ABC soap you're talking about. I just mentioned her yesterday and how I saw some of the same similaries in how Liz fans are reacting to Sam to how I felt about THAT other character from THAT other soap!

Sam has been pimped from the day when KM came on the show. I don't blame Kelly Monaco for leaving because of the hatchet job done by Frons and the writers. Sam is overplay, imo, and needs a long break, just like Sonny, Jason, Carly, the mob, Lulu, Johnny, and the Zacrazies. I was hoping that this was the day that it would be behind-the-scenes changes to get rid of Frons and Guza and get somebody who loves the show and wants to save it. But it is the same crap over and over again and the ratings for GH is slide faster than Carly's draws.

siomonstuart2003

Jamey, I also agree with you that may people watch daytime shows for the writing and the acting. If the writing and acting is good, many fans will stick with it and if it is a great payoff with Marty getting back at Todd, some will stick with it. I think that the network execs is taking the fans for granted and many feel that they don't care about them, so why watch when they don't think that the fans are putting money in their pocketbooks. I just don't think this industry will last long with tiic still in charge of the genre and the ratings is still in the freefall.

siomonstuart2003

So "pimping" is only when the head of daytime tells a writer who to write for. Basically you are saying that the only character ever "pimped" has been Kelly since as far as I know that specific situation has only been RUMORED to have happened here. So okay I will accept that as your definition. My definition is different, and given the number of characters that people say have been "pimped" I dont think your definition holds.

And someone is a BOT because Carly said she was Brenda-esque a couple of times. Well then it has to be true, and since edward has called half the town degenerates then I guess thats true too. Carly has called Scuzziebutt any number of names are those true too? Would that make those characters DegenerateBots, Slutbots and Bitchbots? LOL

Laugh of the day - Easybake oven Elizablech. That is AWESOME.

Just got through listening to the podcast. Thanks Jamey, as an Elizabeth fan I am trying to make sense of what has happened on GH.

What upset me the most is that Elizabeth was said to have a story that would let her shine. Robert Guza said so, Rebecca Herbst said so and then I turned on the TV to watch it and it was there. This story was Sam's but it was promised as Elizabeth's big moment.

When you spoke then it made sense out of what I was seeing on my screen. I still hate it, mostly for RH and the character of Elizabeth.

Basically you are saying that the only character ever "pimped" has been Kelly since as far as I know that specific situation has only been RUMORED to have happened here.
***
It's about as much a "rumor" as Todd sleeping with Marty. It happened. LOL And who said it was only Sam? ABC pimps tons of characters, Ryan, Greenlee, Michael McBain, all because Frons "thinks" they are the draws at his shows.

And someone is a BOT because Carly said she was Brenda-esque a couple of times
***
And when she is introduced and promptly put in three Brenda-esque storylines. Frons has even talked about her resemblance to Marcil! LMAO You act like people just came up with this out of thin air.

Just finished the podcast- it's not as if anything on the soaps these days are anything short of pimping. Nothing seems to be following character motivations these days....for too long that is. AT least Y&R doesn't make me feel that way.

I think the days of couple fandom are coming to an end- pretty soon everyone's couple will recant their feelings for one another and will be thrown in story line that will prove inconvenient. The only thing you can count on is solid acting from actors that will convey otherwise- their history, connection, and rise above what's on the page- which proves reason enough to tune in.

Okay now I get it. If Frons likes a particular actor (and by extention their character) then its pimping. But if the head writer prefers one actor and/or character over another that is not pimping? And are you saying that all the people you mention, those that Frons "thinks" highly off -- that Frons is wrong about all of them and they arent really draws at all? Shouldnt he have a voice given his position. And didnt you say on the podcast that you know KeMo is popular? Wouldnt that make Frons right - that she is a "draw"? Plus what about back when Jiz was first starting (or re-starting) from A.N.U.S. how do you explain the character of Sam getting trashed in favor of Scuzzie. Was that "pimping" or no? I am also not sure why "pimping" is such a bad thing. If Frons says to Guza I want you to reunite JaSam and Guza wrote it correctly, it would be great, and if he writes it poorly, then it will be shit. Doesnt a lot of the problem with some of these Frons "favs" fall back on poor writing? Oh and can you give us the 411 on why Frons isnt fond of Rebecca H/why he thinks she isnt a "draw".

As for bot-ness - again Kelly and the character of Sam does give the show an action adventure type character that it wouldnt have had otherwise post VM having left. And kelly is petite, dark-haired and charasmatic, like VM, but thats like saying all soap villians are bots from the soaps original villian. Or all heroic action guys are simply bots of the guys before them. Is Sonny simply a Frank Smith bot? or since some would call him an anti-hero would he be a LukeSpencer-bot? Does a bot have to be a look alike? if so hannah would be a bot like you said, but angel looked nothing like VM. Is it in the pairings? Carly does some action adventure and she was paired early on with Jason, Sonny and now Jax. Is she a bot? If you are a bot when you are brought on, but through talent and charisma you turn the role into something more, do you lose bot status? In otherwords, is it once a bot always a bot? I am just trying to get into your train of thought here.

Face it, Sam is MONEY honey :

Were we watching the same thing when Laura came back? I say the "Magic" between Luke and Laura was still there. I still think in the end Luke and Laura will be together and Tracy will be left in the dust. I am sorry but Luke and Tracy are a bad joke.

I am 19, and Genie Francis was the one that got me into GH, and being a Luke and Laura fan. I saw her in the movie the note, and I did my research and found that she was on GH. I then went to youtube and watched clips. I noticed some clips, and realized that I watched her return in 2006 and then stopped watching when she left. I remember seeing things for them on TV and being intrested but I never gave it a second thought. For me being so young and a luke and laura fan, is funny. I only tune into GH when she is on. I am looking forward to her being in the sequel the note. My points is that their are still many fans that are true to luke and Laura and I have chatted with a few. I find it funny what you guys said, because there are many of us that still believe in the endgame of Luke and Laura.

In away I feel cheated out because when I watch old clips from the 80's to the 90's, I wish that I could have been alive or old enough. GH was amazing back then, and I love how it was about the hospital too.I don't like any of the mob stuff, at all. I want Guza to be fired, and to bring someone in that can respect the history of the show, and come in like Gloria did. She knew what the fans wanted and she went for it, and got the show to number 1, and GH wouldn't be here, I think if it wasn't for Luke and Laura, and Gloria.

Sam wasn't trashed, all of her behavior was in character. She was a shameless whore, con, grifter who slept around and did unspeakable things from episode one! LOL Frons does pimp many popular characters, Sam is one of them, but when he forces them down peoples throats at the expense of storyline, then it becomes plot driven as opposed to character driven, which is what daytime should be. It's the difference between an idea being born in the mind of a writer and it being born after a focus group meeting. As for Sam being a Brenda bot, if it walks like a bot, talks like a bot, it's a bot. She's a Brenda Bot, almost a textbook definition of one. Sam isn't money, she's a bounced check. Liz is the future of this show.

I sorta had the same experience as Tina did growing up, getting addicted to my soaps. When I was young and my parents were still alive, there was only one Portuguese station in my area and it didn't give during the day. My mother loved soaps, we watched all those Mexican soaps together (though I havn't watched one since she passed, I could only do that with her) and she put on ABC, she liked what she saw. My mom eventually went to work and gave it up, but I continued. Hence my soap addiction. I think at one time or another, I watched all the soaps that are on the air now. I also use to AW and SB.

I agree with Tina that the kidnapping was a snorefest. There was so little meat to that story, it was on only every other day!

Sam wasn't trashed, all of her behavior was in character

Oh Jamey, you had me going there for awhile! LOL! You *know* the writing changed for Sam during that period You are *such* a provocateur!

**********************************
DaisyClover (aka SamBot #1)

First of all, Luke, I hope you're feeling better by now. Second, this podcast left me feeling more depressed than ever about the state of our beloved shows. How loud do the fans have to scream before anything changes? Or will the silence (of everyone tuning out) finally get the most attention? AMC is virtually unwatchable right now except for David Hayward. That's one thing TIIC got right bringing him baack to PV. Bianca has been dethroned as the Saint of PV (having your Brother-In-Law's kid w/o telling your sister will do that to you) and Angie has ascended the throne. Jesse gets to live with BOTH his wives! And he didn't even have to move to Utah or star on Big Love! I don't know that I would be that forgiving to invite The Other Woman to move in with my husband and me, when we've just been reunited after 20+ years apart, even if she IS dying!

GH has resorted to recycling scripts to save money. Wake me when the Scrubs wedding airs. Or when Maurice Benard goes on vacation. Liason had more heat between them in that church scene than JaSam ever will in 50 hot tub scenes. Sam SHOULD become a PI. Her first case could be finding this Livvie person in the Other Port Charles, where the vampires are, and why she looks so much like Sam, and why Detective Garcia looks remarkedly like Frank Scanlon! Maybe Stan isn't really dead either, but is posing as some guy named Jamal Hey, Brenda never did THAT!

Over on OLTL, I wasn't really into "Jedy" (Jess and Brody) at first, but after today's (12/9) scenes, I can kinda see it. It beats her taking another spin on the Vega Brothers. And imagine the stories they'll get to tell their grandkids. "Grandpa and I met in the nuthouse"!

Viki confronting Victor has been done before, both when he was dead and alive, so I agree that scene in the crypt was redundant. TODD is the one who should confront him and have a mental breakdown, now, IMO. The only recycling I liked was reusing the Bon Jour set by explaining that Charlie built na exact replica of it in Llanview. Although I'm not sure I buy that Carlotta would so willingly go along with having a virtual stranger rebuild her diner based on a place she'd never seen, or that it would be so exact. But I can play along, even though I'll miss the old diner set. They have that new set and Todd's new house, so something in OLTL's set budget had to go, which I imagine is why Todd's old penthouse is gone. Maybe they'll get a new hospital set next time.

Overall, a great podcast, Brendabots or not!