CBS daytime honcho on Luke and Noah: "I understand why this makes people scream..."
In his Soap News column in the new issue of TV Guide, Michael Logan writes extensively about the Luke and Noah no-kissing controversy. Although "As the World Turns" executive producer Chris Goutman has been banned from speaking to the press about the storyline, Logan did talk to CBS daytime chief Barbara Bloom.
Bloom said: "I can assure you there is no homophobia on the part of the network nor are we pandering to any group. We have not censored ATWT or asked them to hold back in any way."
She doesn't say WHY for the love of God they are holding back but said: "I really hope the show will continue to evolve the Luke and Noah story, and that they culminate their relationship the way all couples in love do."
Logan brings up all the beyond annoying missed opportunities for a same-sex kiss: under the mistletoe on the Christmas episode and on Valentine's Day when EVERY other couple on the show kissed except for Luke and Noah.
"I understand why this makes people scream," Bloom admits. "The only thing you're going to get out of me is that the pacing is slower with Luke and Noah than with other romances on ATWT. That's good storytelling. We';re in the business of getting people to watch more."
Listen Barbara Bloom, let Luke and Noah kiss every now and then like friggen normal people and we will indeed watch more. You are testing the patience of many of your viewers with your "good storytelling."
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Greg Hernandez has covered the entertainment industry for the Daily News since 2001. He's considered a bit odd by some for his obsession with box office numbers, has been known to camp out near the kitchen at premieres for first crack at the hors d'oeurves, and Greg's never seen a red carpet he didn't want to stroll down.
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That's not "good storytelling" as she says. It's "we put the bate, we attracted the fish to the net, but there's no way we are gonna give them food". People is patient. Gay people, even more. But ultimately, they get bored if you lie. And as long as this story is about brotherhood, our tickets said "partners love", so it's a lie.
ultimately, they threw out this story to boost ratings, but didn't think that the gay community had evolved enough to not accept any old representation. that's what this is about. they assumed we would just go with whatever crumbs they tossed on the floor, and thank them for it. that we did not, is probably a surprise to them. at this point- do you really care what happens with these characters ?
Chris Goutman is banned from talking to the press about this storyline?
Clearly there IS a story there, then! Who bans the exec producer of a tv show from talking to the press?
Any comment at this point from Barbara Bloom and Jeannie Tharrington of P&G are dishonest media spin. This situation has nothing to do with pacing. Nuke kissed twice, six months ago, before they were even a couple. Now that they are in a committed relationship, they never kiss on screen? It is P&G dictated censorship pure and simple
I don't know if many are calling for a boycott, but viewers are leaving. The story mentions Proctor and Gamble, where usually they just say ATWT. And he correctly calls the AFA right-wing. CBS has distanced themselves from the show and the ban all along but this is the first time that Bloom has said, 'we' (We're in the business of getting people to watch more.) The word that's missing from this story is exploitation (of gay people) when he said they are "milking it for all it's worth." that comes down to the same thing, just wish he had said exploitation because that's what it is.