acquiring service if a soap channel were provided, we need you to fill out a coupon listing: your name, address, and whatever cable/satellite provider in your area you might subscribe to for a soap channel. Then we need those folks to put a note on their coupon saying "I do not currently have service, but I would consider subscribing for a soap channel." (In many areas, cable/satellite services are so competitive for new customers, it is as important to get coupons from those who currently do not have cable/satellite as from those who do.)
6. When completed, please mail the coupon(s) to the address indicated on the bottom of the coupon: New Home for Soaps c/o Cassandra Crisp. Cassandra is a member of the Sudz.TV leadership council, and she opened a P.O. Box specifically for purposes of this campaign. Each day Cassandra collects the coupons and catalogs them on an Excel spreadsheet. City collates the coupons first by Cable/Satellite Provider listed, and then by State, then. At the conclusion of the campaign, we will deliver the actual coupons to all cable/satellite providers from areas where we have coupons.
7. We have commitments from some media already to cover the Coupon Campaign as soon as we reach a certain number of coupons. For example, when we hit the 10,000-coupon mark, media like Globe and others will start to take pictures of the actual coupons and do stories about the campaign. That means more publicity about saving our soaps and more coupons will be mailed in. Disney, advertisers, cable/satellite providers, production companies, and potential investors will be watching as the media attention continues to roll out. When we get a large concentration of coupons from a certain area, print and TV media in that area will be contacted with press releases and given an opportunity to do stories about the demand for soaps in that particular area. For example, if we get a few thousand coupons from Pittsburgh, we start contacting Pittsburgh area media to cover the story. It is a process designed to build on itself as it gains momentum.
8. The initial plan is for the campaign to continue for 6-8 weeks or until we reach enough coupons to demonstrate what Disney has told advertisers and media about 'no demand for soaps' is untrue. We are determined to prove in full view of the media the demand for scripted soap opera is still strong, and soap fans have not been properly counted by the antiquated Nielsen system. The rule of thumb is every piece of mail represents about 1,000 viewers. If we start getting thousands of coupons, and we are already on our way, then that will literally represent millions of soap viewers who have been overlooked by the Nielsen's, Disney, and advertisers. We are not going about this quietly, and there will be rumors and agendas thrown in our paths every step of the way to thwart the efforts. For example, on the day before the Emmys last week, 'Save Our Soaps' was on the front page of the Wall Street Journal weekend edition. One day later a very damaging rumor came out designed to discourage soap fans from continuing by alleging Disney was refusing to sell the soaps. To anyone who knows how business is conducted, there are so many holes and outrageous speculation in that rumor it is ridiculous, but those who do not want to see soaps saved, can always find a well-meaning blogger to do their bidding, and then the internet erupts with rumors, disheartening soap fans at a time when we should be excited. For the first time in a measurable way, we can unite online & offline fans in a simple, inexpensive positive way to save our soaps.
9. There are many websites with excellent ideas about how to get involved in the Coupon Campaign and how to get word out about it. Here are a couple places with good solid ideas and information: Sudz.TV; Soap Fans United; and the Facebook Group Fight 4 Our ABC Soaps Movement. This Facebook group has a whole section devoted to ideas for distributing the coupons, and they are even completing and mailing coupons for those who are not able to complete and mail their own coupons. Just let them know if you need help or if you know someone who needs help.
10. We are aware of the Canadian Postal Service Strike and the problems Canadian viewers may have sending in coupons. We are aware you have never had SOAPnet, and we want to find a way to help Canadian viewers get whatever new soap channel we have in the U.S. We want a new soap channel to air in Canada as well. We will tally the Canadian Coupons, and distribute them to the Canadian Cable/Satellite providers the same as we are doing here in the States.
I'm going to leave you with a quote from Robin Strasser's Twitter, "Don't Quit Before the Miracle!" Please send in your coupons, and be a part of the miracle!
SOAPILEAKS: This week’s hottest news, interviews, and gossip!
All My Children, TheOnlineNetwork.com — Who did JR Shoot?
—Emmy winner Jacob Young, who blew everyone away with his tour-de-force performance during the final week of AMC (get that Emmy reel together, Jacob, before ABC erases their archives!), tells Soap Opera Weekly that he had mixed feelings about the final shows. On one hand, he wished he could have been a part of the party scenes with the entire cast instead of talking to himself with a gun and a bottle of booze inside a wall (me? I’d have preferred that!); on the other hand, show-stealing Young realizes the acting opportunity he was afforded was brilliant. He says, “If you asked me if I wished he’d had a happy ending, yeah, I mean, that’s always nice, and it makes everybody feel good, but with the way it ended, it suited him, and I think JR will go down as a very memorable character in the over 40 years of AMC.” I’d say!
By the way, I have insider information as to whom JR shot: and it’s Soap Nazi Brian Frons, who was visiting the set on the final tape date! Ha!
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS — Triangle Malfunction!
--Who else is finding the once sweet romance between Hope and Liam is malfunctioning at a rapid speed due to Steffy’s interloping and the contrived virgin element in this sexual equation? Also, it’s a tad creepy that Steffy’s former love and Liam’s father, Bill, is pushing the Forrester, er, Marone siren towards his sexually frustrated son. Ugh. But hey, this is B&B. This week, there’s a wedding showdown when Hope finds out Bill sent Liam and Steffy to Aspen, where the show shot on location. After dating for two seconds, Bill pushes Liam to wed Steffy! Will Hope save the day in time? Who cares? Give me more Brooke and Stephanie, damn it. Oh, and Jacob Young.
—In story 411, Eric surprises Stephanie with a romantic dinner. Shocking.
—There may be a few cast changes in the works, report moles. Stay tuned. Guess who?
Days of our Lives, NBC – Great Scott: Adonis Extraordinaire Stays!
—There is a God! My favorite sudsy magazine, Soap Opera Digest, has learned that after protracted negotiations, James Scott has signed a new, one-year deal to stay on DAYS until April, 2013. Let’s pray DAYS writes in more shirtless scenes for the sexiest man on soaps. It’s been a while. Hey, since DiMera’s prodigal son is now running for mayor, I say a sex scandal should be in the works. And I hope it involves Will. After all, EJ is a Republican, right? All joking aside, is it just me or can Sami blow his campaign out of the water by reporting that EJ “raped” her?! Bam!
—Ever since its reboot last week, DAYS has quickly become daytime’s second smartest soap (One Life holds the number-one spot). Ripped-from-the-headline stories, fierce acting, thoughtful/visceral writing, and a wonderful and intelligent addition to Salem in the form of Sarah Brown as Madison James, has me glued to my tube every day. But who would have ever thought that DAYS’s must-see TV would involve Matt Ashford, Missy Reeves, and Kate Mansi? I say that because DAYS has long screwed up the romance between Jack and Jennifer, so I didn’t expect much. But, boy, the acting between the three actors is off the charts… and enveloping. It’s like watching a play! Bravo/Brava!
—DAYS is casting a new love interest for Lexie. Predictably, the revamped serial is looking for an African American actor to play a doctor. Why not just bring back one of Abe’s sons? Or does he just have one? Can’t remember — and don’t really care.
—In story 411, Abby disowns Jack; Alice apparently was going to write Maggie an important l
etter (you know that Maggie is getting some new family member(s), right?); and Teri Seymour comes to Salem to host an on-air debate between EJ and Abe. Also, John and Marlena consider a divorce!
—I demand a Chad and Melanie pairing, STAT, DAYS!
—Two-time Emmy winner Crystal Chappell is genuinely happy DAYS is doing well creatively with their reboot. But, she says, “I don’t agree with how they did it. I would have gone about it differently. Having said that, I don’t want to see another soap canceled so I applaud the show’s efforts, for sure.” Hey, she has two Emmy Awards for a reason, right? As for her future soap plans, other than filming Venice: Season Three and writing The Grove, her new web soap, she says, “I can see myself retiring on Y&R. I would love to work the Bells. They produce classic, intelligent soap.” For more, tune into Uncensored for another full-length, eye-opening (er, lip-opening interview) this Friday. Also, find out who the gay icon is casting on The Grove! Yep, I’m playing a hair model! And so is @B_Dawg!
—Surprise: For the umpteenth time Kristian Alfonso won’t be attending the Day of Days fan event this November. Probably because she can’t hawk