Quote:I know it's not feasible to make soaps more like real life. Where would be the escapism that we all seek when we tune in to a soap? I know that the plots have to be more interesting than the lives of us mere mortals. But I would like to know what kind of real workplace, no matter how upscale, has employees that dress the way some of these people do. I wonder if the scribes that work at SOD dress the way the employees of "Restless Style" do? I have watched several episodes of "the Hills" and some of that show takes place in the offices of "Teen Vogue". Those people don't dress like the people that work at "Jabot", and they are a real fashion icon. I think it would be refreshing to see business women dressing professionally without showing to much T&A. Also, I don't think women who stay at home taking care of babies all day care so much about all the women that are having babies on the soaps and what a tough go they are having!! Actually you are incorrect, soaps can be made more real all they have to do is to take a page from the Brit's book. Shows like Coronation Street and Eastenders are two good examples. They are based on working class people and have run true to this for many years and I personal enjoy it.Time to bring our soaps back to the real world

Quote:Quote:I know it's not feasible to make soaps more like real life. Where would be the escapism that we all seek when we tune in to a soap? I know that the plots have to be more interesting than the lives of us mere mortals. But I would like to know what kind of real workplace, no matter how upscale, has employees that dress the way some of these people do. I wonder if the scribes that work at SOD dress the way the employees of "Restless Style" do? I have watched several episodes of "the Hills" and some of that show takes place in the offices of "Teen Vogue". Those people don't dress like the people that work at "Jabot", and they are a real fashion icon. I think it would be refreshing to see business women dressing professionally without showing to much T&A. Also, I don't think women who stay at home taking care of babies all day care so much about all the women that are having babies on the soaps and what a tough go they are having!! Actually you are incorrect, soaps can be made more real all they have to do is to take a page from the Brit's book. Shows like Coronation Street and Eastenders are two good examples. They are based on working class people and have run true to this for many years and I personal enjoy it.Time to bring our soaps back to the real world I think I would enjoy seeing a soap that was reality based.(and I don't mean a reality show, with cameras following people around) I mean real stories, not kids becoming famous artist, or girls becoming cosmetic divas, or construction workers becoming CEO's, all without any experience. Even the unwed teenage mother storyline is glamourized, because the teen is from a rich and prominent family, with all kinds of options. (I think you find more unwed teenage mothers in more dire circumstances and with their choices a lot more limited.) I guess TPTB do all kinds of research and surveys to find out what attracts viewers. I did check out Coronation Street on their website and I am going to try to watch a full episode soon.

Glad to hear you checked Coronation Street out, I think you will quite the difference and I think you will enjoy it.And I couldn't agree with your statement more we need more common folk on our soaps and not just for the high class bimbo's to turn their noses up but one with stories that have a lot more substance.Wouldn't you agree.

Actually you are incorrect, soaps can be made more real all they have to do is to take a page from the Brit's book. Shows like Coronation Street and Eastenders are two good examples. They are based on working class people and have run true to this for many years and I personal enjoy it.Time to bring our soaps back to the real world I wish we had soaps here like Eastenders. That's a soap I think most people would relate too.

Quote: Actually you are incorrect, soaps can be made more real all they have to do is to take a page from the Brit's book. Shows like Coronation Street and Eastenders are two good examples. They are based on working class people and have run true to this for many years and I personal enjoy it.Time to bring our soaps back to the real world I wish we had soaps here like Eastenders. That's a soap I think most people would relate too. I hope you include Coronation Street in that as well because I know I can relate to it as well being of common folk.

My big pet peeve is that characters who are middle-class or lower are always wearing clothes they couldn't afford. I read the magazines and whenever someone writes in and asks about an outfit, it always cost hundreds of dollars. Then TPTB gripe that there's no budget for splashy weddings, etc.Here's a thought, why not partner up with Target - or some other affordable clothes store - and dress people in clothes their character could actually afford. Just think of the money you could save! In the credits, mention that the clothes were provided by . . . (You know, like they used to) and most of your clothes would be free. That makes way more sense (IMO) than firing "expensive" veterns from the show in an effort to meet budget. ATWT could have dressed Martha Byrne in my second-hand clothes and I still would have been happier. (No, I'm not bitter )

Quote:My big pet peeve is that characters who are middle-class or lower are always wearing clothes they couldn't afford. I read the magazines and whenever someone writes in and asks about an outfit, it always cost hundreds of dollars. Then TPTB gripe that there's no budget for splashy weddings, etc.Here's a thought, why not partner up with Target - or some other affordable clothes store - and dress people in clothes their character could actually afford. Just think of the money you could save! In the credits, mention that the clothes were provided by . . . (You know, like they used to) and most of your clothes would be free. That makes way more sense (IMO) than firing "expensive" veterns from the show in an effort to meet budget. ATWT could have dressed Martha Byrne in my second-hand clothes and I still would have been happier. (No, I'm not bitter ) I don't know what soap you are watching but I referred to Coronation Street which deals with lower to middle class people and trust me they wear the clothes that suit their situation and are not flashy at all. Most of the British soaps deal with regular people being regular working grunts. The U. S. soaps tend to be a lot more flashy and you really can not tell the grunts from the prima donna's and I think we need to bring some reality back to our soaps.

I think one of the first things I noticed when I caught a few episodes of the "EastEnders" and "Hollyoaks" was that the characters dressed like people that you see everyday. When a comment was made about how some of the teens were dressed on "Hollyoaks" I could totally relate to the moms because my kids dressed the same way. Plus the sets of the homes looked lived in and not like showplaces. I think "Coronation Street" is the best of all. (but I can only watch it online)

Quote:I think one of the first things I noticed when I caught a few episodes of the "EastEnders" and "Hollyoaks" was that the characters dressed like people that you see everyday. When a comment was made about how some of the teens were dressed on "Hollyoaks" I could totally relate to the moms because my kids dressed the same way. Plus the sets of the homes looked lived in and not like showplaces. I think "Coronation Street" is the best of all. (but I can only watch it online) I am glad you like Coronation Street been watching it for a number of years I love the down to earth people. And the story lines always come to an end in a timely fashion without over doing it or flogging the dead horse that is already dead.

Quote:I don't know what soap you are watching but I referred to Coronation Street . . . {Edited} I was referring to all 8 US soaps. I think I "replied" to your post because it was last; I was simply responding to the original question of making soaps more real. I have never seen any of the "imports" but if they are dressing accurately - good for them! I wish our soaps would. Your comment about not telling the grunts from the prima donnas is exactly my point. I recycle all my old SOD, so I can't find a specific example, but if you read "Star Style" people are often writing in about where to get the outfit ____ wore on ___ and the answer is usually a high end department store where the outfit costs hundreds of dollars. Most of the time said character is struggling financially, why would they be wearing an outfit that costs more than most people's rent?

Quote:Quote:I don't know what soap you are watching but I referred to Coronation Street . . . {Edited} I was referring to all 8 US soaps. I think I "replied" to your post because it was last; I was simply responding to the original question of making soaps more real. I have never seen any of the "imports" but if they are dressing accurately - good for them! I wish our soaps would. Your comment about not telling the grunts from the prima donnas is exactly my point. I recycle all my old SOD, so I can't find a specific example, but if you read "Star Style" people are often writing in about where to get the outfit ____ wore on ___ and the answer is usually a high end department store where the outfit costs hundreds of dollars. Most of the time said character is struggling financially, why would they be wearing an outfit that costs more than most people's rent? If you want to check it out Coronation Street has a Web site I use to catch up on ones I have missed. In my bookmark it's called Program: Coronation Street.You might enjoy it.

Although the last thing I need is another TV show to watch, it sounds interesting. I may have to check it out. Thanks for the suggestion!

Glad to help, and I hope you enjoy.

I would like soaps to be more realistic and is one of the reasons I'm down to a soap; I'm beginning to tune back in to AMC slowly not really getting too vested but I am enjoying several of their stories esp the Angie/Jesse storyline...

I find soaps not reflecting the society I live in "today" for the most part too out of touch with reality...as a biracial American "most" soaps are just rich Caucasians. Soaps do not showcase diversity with characters in top tier storyline under the sweeps umbrella...I'm still waiting for Kent's Lainey to get in a storyline now that she' bumped down to re-curring and rarily recurs, I guess not..her fans wonder why new characters are being fastfowarded past her when they never used her (or Minae's Kelly)

The exception Y&Rs the Winters and AMC who brought in the Hubbards an African family for ABC soaps. As a 35+ viewer I find that is what has turned me off is that they are so "unrealistic" and my main gripe portraying (esp) women to forgive the unforgiveable...some things are dealbreakers, you can't bounce back from and the next few weeks or so all is well...this is quite unrealistic..some friendships/relationships end and if they don't, they should. Its an opportunity to showcase core values. One being that certain actions have extreme consequences...since an hr a day five days a wk is being aired, why not spend "some" of that time for reinforcing basic values that I can impove on, for the common good..."some" people can be reminded eg if you sleep with my daughter we are done....no bouncing back from that...
I realize this can't play out all the time, but some of the time
Some mothers would "remain" estranged from their daughter they would never forgive her but next week mum is all forgiving... show me the "real world" not some poorly scribed fantasy...I enjoy European/Spanish soaps more for some reason...its not that the offer me different stories but its all in the way their stories unfold how they "tell" them is fresh not stale drama the execution is more intriguing and not so forumula...:D

Where is Det Cruz?

I can't stop laughing this is really funny but oh so true and I never thought of it until right now....

Thank you I'm all for some different programming; I love soaps its an American tradition but I just feel some soaps are letting me down, just are not offering old plots in a new way it may look good on their story-board but the execution is poor.

I am assuming that you either haven't seen Coronation Street or planning to watch it at some point. I really think you will enjoy the reality of it.