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SOD: Austin Peck on JER: "His writing was maddening and genius!"
Topic Started: Jan 28 2012, 12:56 AM (6,169 Views)
Kenny
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Dreamy
Jan 29 2012, 01:43 AM
JER was wonderful at creating new & unpredictable s/l's but they were too long and not moving fast enough.
JER wrote his stories in "chapters." For John and Marlena, Chapter 1 was the affair, Chapter 2 was Maison Blanche, Chapter 3 was Possession, Chapter 4 was Aremid, Chapter 5 was Lady In A Cage and Chapter 6 was The Secret Room. So, while the J&M love story took years and years to play out, there was always something new happening and that kept it fresh and exciting. It wasn't like today where stories drag on for months and then fizzle out without a payoff. Something was always happening. There was always a new obstacle to overcome; a new fresh hell the characters found themselves in. Also, while the "mini-arcs" I listed above were all interconnected, they were sort of self-contained in that they each had their own climaxes and payoffs. That's how JER was able to tell long-term stories and still keep them interesting and exciting along the way.
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blueskies
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Cupcake06
Jan 28 2012, 03:17 PM
Days4Life
Jan 28 2012, 02:31 PM
Although the pace of JER's stories was absolutely maddening at times, I don't think I ever FF'd through scenes. You never knew what you would miss if you did. Yes, there were lots of false cliffhangers but somehow he kept you engaged and always thinking "this could be it!"...the reveal/payoff, etc.

I do remember being sympathetic to the actors, because it did seem like they repeated the same dialogue day after day after day. But when something big did happen, oh the craziness and excitement of it all!
True. I was pretty much always entertained when watching Passions, no matter how fucked up some of the stuff was.
Lmao, that's pretty much how I felt too.

I barely remember JERs first stint on days, but I really loved his second stint right up to the point we got to melaswen and everyone was alive. I was highly annoyed by that, seemed like it dragged on forever then, plus quite honestly I didn't really care abt most of the dead characters. Except Alice and Jack of course.
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Mitchapalooza
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^ My face watching DAYS

I loved almost everything Jim Reilly wrote on DAYS during both of his runs (I was a BIG fan of the Salem Stalker story, minus Melaswen of course) and he kept me enthralled with DAYS after Sheri Anderson left, right throughout the 90's.

The show was MILES better under him than it has been under MarDar and any headwriter after him.

Sure the show was outlandish from time to time and his dialouge (though was that more the scriptwriters than anything else?) was maddening and very lacking...but the man knew how to construct a beautiful storyline that could encompass the entire cast and provide for months if not years, of story, with HUGE payoffs that did not dissapoint in the least.

No matter how annoyed you were at the pace, he always make the journey worth it in the end with his amazing cliffhangers and payoffs. This man also knew how to write COUPLES and how to construct rootable characters and he is the MASTER at writing villainey characters...he has produced (IMO) the best villains in daytime history (Vivian, Kristen, Kate, Sami ect). Also the show was WONDERFULLY produced under him...it was lit so well during his years, it felt very regal, very rich.

I miss that DAYS...I miss when things actually happened on this show that MATTERED! It really makes me sick to think how far this show has gone since the end of the 90's.

And I know this will be unpopular to say...but he WAS this shows BEST headwriter IMO...at least in my opinion and with what I have watched since the late 80's.
Edited by Mitchapalooza, Jan 30 2012, 12:08 PM.
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Mitchapalooza
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^ My face watching DAYS

PhoenixRising05
Jan 29 2012, 02:42 AM
Kenny
Jan 28 2012, 11:07 AM
Sindacco
(time=1327765028
Thank you so much for posting this clip! I remember watching this back in 1994 (or was it 1993?) but I haven't seen any of it since. So much good stuff with John interrupting the wedding, Stefano revealing John's betrayal of Kristen, John shooting at the car, the explosion, Stefano's "death," Kristen going ballistic and vowing to never forgive him, etc.
This was when I liked JER. For me, he went downhill right after Maison Blanche. Things just started progressing more and more toward the absurd. The show lost that serious, gothic tone slowly and by the time late 1996 hit, it was all but gone. It's almost like the Possession story made JER feel like he constantly had to top himself with something more and more wacky. 1995-1997 is when all the things Peck is talking about really came into play. I actually think the stuff with JER and Sheri Anderson working together and JER's first year on his own is probably the best stuff ever on Days. Even Buried Alive came off far more seriously than the Possession did.

I will say that Aremid and Paris weren't bad. Take out the stupid goggles and People Of The Night stuff and I would've liked it better. I liked Aremid alot but I always had this feeling there was more that could've been done there (perhaps because they hinted at more...I think that was setup for a potential spinoff as was rumored at the time). Other than those two stories, the rest was just shoddy writing IMO. Everything was based on characters being dumbed down and stupid misunderstandings. It's a shame JER never stuck with the kind of tone and style he had early on because I think I and many others would look back far more fondly on his reign. Then again, I'm not sure Days would be here if he hadn't done what he did.
TOTALLY agree....JER was at his best from 1993 to the VERY early start of 1996....but he was still great in 1997 with the end to the Kristen/John/Marlena saga and when everything was finally exposed (IMO that was one of DAYS finest moments and they almost unseated Y&R that week).

The headwriting duo of Sheri & Jim was a match made in heaven IMO...the show was SOOOOOOOO good when they were co-writing. 1987 to 1995 was such an AMAZING period of story for DAYS...the reason today why I am still watching (had the show not hooked me in to well during that time).
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Kenny
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Mitchapalooza
Jan 30 2012, 12:00 PM
Sure the show was outlandish from time to time and his dialouge (though was that more the scriptwriters than anything else?)
I don't think it was the scriptwriters fault. While the headwriters aren't the ones who write the scripts (usually), they can give directives to the writers below them -- breakdown writers, script writers, etc. That's why all of Reilly's shows had such similar dialogue (characters repeating themselves, explaining the plot to viewers over and over, etc). The good thing about that, though, is that you were never left wondering what the characters motivations were or why they did the crazy things they did. We could use a little of that on the show today.
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esp13
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Stuff like this is always going to be a matter of personal preference. I can understand what Kenny and others are saying about how JER could tell a story, but when I watch the clips I just want to slap the characters for being stupid and laugh at them for how Serious.Everthing.Was. I was watching Possession clips and it's Christmas time in Salem but I think everybody needed Prozac. And the actors said every line like the weight of the world was on them.

I'm not sure any other show has quite the split personality that Days has. The two "Golden Eras" are really the mid to late 80's and the 1993-1999 JER period (in terms of ratings, fans, outside attention, etc.). Yet those two eras are like two different shows. If you watch an episode from like 1986 and an episode from 1995, you'd swear you were watching two different shows. A few characters might look familiar, but they wouldn't act familiar. And while I completely understand (and agree) that the changes Days made in the 1990s probably saved it, I think we've been on one big long track of trying to reconcile those two eras ever since. And the problem is, they can't be reconciled. So, what we've had is a constant back and forth with no consistency in storytelling.

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Kenny
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Quote:
 
when I watch the clips I just want to slap the characters for being stupid and laugh at them for how Serious.Everthing.Was. I was watching Possession clips and it's Christmas time in Salem but I think everybody needed Prozac. And the actors said every line like the weight of the world was on them.
LoL, I liked that. It made everything seem super dramatic and important. Story points were played to the hilt. The stakes were high and it felt like all hell could break loose any moment. Was it campy at times? Yes. But I'll take the 90's melodrama any day over the shit we're getting now where nothing is played up at all and there's no real suspense or urgency in any of the stories.
Quote:
 
I'm not sure any other show has quite the split personality that Days has. The two "Golden Eras" are really the mid to late 80's and the 1993-1999 JER period (in terms of ratings, fans, outside attention, etc.). Yet those two eras are like two different shows. If you watch an episode from like 1986 and an episode from 1995, you'd swear you were watching two different shows. A few characters might look familiar, but they wouldn't act familiar. And while I completely understand (and agree) that the changes Days made in the 1990s probably saved it, I think we've been on one big long track of trying to reconcile those two eras ever since. And the problem is, they can't be reconciled. So, what we've had is a constant back and forth with no consistency in storytelling.
I agree with this.
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lysie


You know who could reconcile those eras? Sheri Anderson. She wrote during both of them. I tend to think we give her too much credit, but when it comes to this I think she's probably the only would who even stands a chance of doing that.
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granolagirl
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#SorryNotSorry

lysie
Jan 30 2012, 01:41 PM
You know who could reconcile those eras? Sheri Anderson. She wrote during both of them. I tend to think we give her too much credit, but when it comes to this I think she's probably the only would who even stands a chance of doing that.
Yeah, I wouldn't have watched the JER era if there weren't supercouple throughlines, and those started with Sheri Anderson. It was entertaining enough, and definitely addictive, but if I didn't have a long term couple with rooting value to obsess care about, it wouldn't have held my interest. That's just me as a viewer, but I guess I represent another segment of the audience that they were able to hold on to during those years.
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esp13
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granolagirl
Jan 30 2012, 01:47 PM
lysie
Jan 30 2012, 01:41 PM
You know who could reconcile those eras? Sheri Anderson. She wrote during both of them. I tend to think we give her too much credit, but when it comes to this I think she's probably the only would who even stands a chance of doing that.
Yeah, I wouldn't have watched the JER era if there weren't supercouple throughlines, and those started with Sheri Anderson. It was entertaining enough, and definitely addictive, but if I didn't have a long term couple with rooting value to obsess care about, it wouldn't have held my interest. That's just me as a viewer, but I guess I represent another segment of the audience that they were able to hold on to during those years.
Interesting about Sheri and the supercouple through line. I hadn't thought about it that way, but I guess it is there. And I wasn't suggesting that you couldn't like both eras. Obviously many people do like both. All I was trying to say is that I feel like everything since 2006 has been some kind of ping pong game between the two eras, done by writers who couldn't do either properly. One year they vow to go back to basics (read '80's), the next year it's all about plot and secrets (read '90's). Then it's back to the other, then trying to balance the two (never done well).

I feel like we'd all be better off if we could find a writer who came up with a third way. I have no idea what it is, but the ping ponging between trying to imitate or recreate one era vs. trying to imitate or recreate another has become maddening.
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granolagirl
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#SorryNotSorry

Well I really don't love the JER era, so I've tried to figure out what made me watch so intently. ;) I remember actually feeling a sense of relief when I actually stopped watching, which was after SSM started writing.

I couldn't agree more about all of the boomeranging around and trying to recreate different eras. Even more than trying to recapture a particular character or couple's popularity from the past, trying to recreate an entire era is nothing but a fool's errand.
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Mason


I say forget both the 80s and 90s (since every attempt at replicating them has flopped, anyway), and try finding a writer who wants to harken back to DAYS's true golden age (IMO, of course) -- the William J. Bell years. If nothing else, at least it would be uncharted rip-off territory for this show.
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Graham
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Was there a favorite as to who would be revealed as the SSK among the various boards back then?
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Mitchapalooza
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^ My face watching DAYS

lysie
Jan 30 2012, 01:41 PM
You know who could reconcile those eras? Sheri Anderson. She wrote during both of them. I tend to think we give her too much credit, but when it comes to this I think she's probably the only would who even stands a chance of doing that.
I totally agree...Sheri Anderson I think is the only writer alive at the moment that understands these two versions of DAYS and had success writing both (along with JER when they were co-writers).

And yes. SA is given a lot of credit, but IMO it is deserved, her years HW and being on the writing team were arguably among DAYS best...interviews she has given still lead me to believe that SHE is the person who can right this ship and get this show back to its former glory.
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Mitchapalooza
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^ My face watching DAYS

Mason
Jan 30 2012, 02:55 PM
I say forget both the 80s and 90s (since every attempt at replicating them has flopped, anyway), and try finding a writer who wants to harken back to DAYS's true golden age (IMO, of course) -- the William J. Bell years. If nothing else, at least it would be uncharted rip-off territory for this show.
Why not a good mix of all 3...DAYS best "era's" were 1.) Bill Bell years 2.) 80's Supercouple years and 3.) Reilly 1993 to 1997...a good mix of all this (done properly) could be what DAYS needs...I don't know.

I certainly feel like the last 3 years have been the show's absolute WORST years in its history though...so we need to step the fuck away from all of that.

Just get a fucking competent headwriter....its been one clunker after another (Sheffer, Higley x 2, MarDar, end of Reilly #2)

Edited by Mitchapalooza, Jan 30 2012, 04:07 PM.
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Queen B
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I watched days in the 90's while JER was headwriter and I LOVED all of it. My inspiration to be a writer myself has come from him, While these days a lot of people try to compare the show to Passions and its shitty writing, I actually see a lot of similarities between the two shows from DAYS in the 90's and Passions' early years.. obviously JER did a better job on days though.
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Kirk
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Captain Kirk

Just about everyone seemed to enjoy the Brash and Cwikly(however you spell her weird last name) years. I wish DAYS could somehow get both of them back as the main script writers, to coincide with the Cullitons, and have Sheri HW the show. If only it were that simple.
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Mitchapalooza
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^ My face watching DAYS

Kirk
Jan 30 2012, 04:22 PM
Just about everyone seemed to enjoy the Brash and Cwikly(however you spell her weird last name) years. I wish DAYS could somehow get both of them back as the main script writers, to coincide with the Cullitons, and have Sheri HW the show. If only it were that simple.
I totally agree about B&C...they were a breath of fresh air after the horribleness of SSM and Langan...and all the shittyness after them (Higley x 2, Reilly's 2nd run, Sheffer, MarDar) only exclamated how good they were.

Also as for the whole Reilly's DAYS vs Reilly's PASSIONS;

Reilly 1st run @ DAYS >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Reilly's 1st 2 years @ PSNS (not even comparing after those 1st two years, cause I mean GMAFB...not even worth it)

PASSIONS first 2-3 yrs were marginably good IMO....but compared to what Reilly did at DAYS in the years before PASSIONS...they looked like utter trash IMO.
Edited by Mitchapalooza, Jan 30 2012, 04:33 PM.
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OldDaysFankat


Mitchapalooza
Jan 30 2012, 04:04 PM
Mason
Jan 30 2012, 02:55 PM
I say forget both the 80s and 90s (since every attempt at replicating them has flopped, anyway), and try finding a writer who wants to harken back to DAYS's true golden age (IMO, of course) -- the William J. Bell years. If nothing else, at least it would be uncharted rip-off territory for this show.
Why not a good mix of all 3...DAYS best "era's" were 1.) Bill Bell years 2.) 80's Supercouple years and 3.) Reilly 1993 to 1997...a good mix of all this (done properly) could be what DAYS needs...I don't know.

I certainly feel like the last 3 years have been the show's absolute WORST years in its history though...so we need to step the fuck away from all of that.

Just get a fucking competent headwriter....its been one clunker after another (Sheffer, Higley x 2, MarDar, end of Reilly #2)

I don't think the last 3 years were the worst. I do think from spring 2010 up to 2011 the show was on a downward spiral but prior to that I think Days sticking to classic soap staples with some camp helped them. I can say I never missed Steve, Kayla, John, or Marlena. Not every story worked they never all do but I think sticking to some fundamentals helped.

But I think a show cant be everything so stick with a tone and write fot it. This show is trying to be a Bill Bell type show and Mardar are not Bill Bell who's shows were all rooted in strong characterization first and plot second but he did have plot. Mardars characterizations for a few has improved, Sami, Will, Marlena, Bo, Hope where some have gotten worse like Jennifer, Maggie, Victor,Lexie some have shown no improvement even with changes like EJ, Melanie, Abby, Rafe, Daniel, Quinn and those the show just doesn't seem to care about like Nicole,Brady, John, Jack, Austin, Carrie, Madison, Chad, Gabby and then Kate and Stefano who are really not much different than they were under Higley.

I actually think OLTL'S style would work well for days. Good pace, camp, some comedy, OTT plot twists grounded in family .JMO
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Queen B
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Mitchapalooza
Jan 30 2012, 04:32 PM
Kirk
Jan 30 2012, 04:22 PM
Just about everyone seemed to enjoy the Brash and Cwikly(however you spell her weird last name) years. I wish DAYS could somehow get both of them back as the main script writers, to coincide with the Cullitons, and have Sheri HW the show. If only it were that simple.
I totally agree about B&C...they were a breath of fresh air after the horribleness of SSM and Langan...and all the shittyness after them (Higley x 2, Reilly's 2nd run, Sheffer, MarDar) only exclamated how good they were.

Also as for the whole Reilly DAYS vs Reilly's PASSIONS;

Reilly 1st run @ DAYS >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Reilly's 1st 2 years @ PSNS (not even comparing after those 1st two years, cause I mean GMAFB!)
I just mean there were some similarities, JER actually rewrote a lot of storylines from DAYS on to Passions..

Sami on death row (DOOL)
Theresa on death row (PSSNS)

Carly buried alive (DOOL)
Sheridan buried alive (PSSNS)

And heres another good example.. Sami doing all those crazy things to keep her sister Carrie and Austin apart including drugging Austin into getting her pregnant and revealing it on their wedding day. The EXACT same thing happened on Passions with Kay/Charity/Miguel, it even played out the same way with Kay's mother siding with Charity over Kay, Just like Marlena siding with Carrie over Sami which caused a lot of tension. Its crazy how similar the stories were.. but I often felt like Passions was a parody of Days
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