Same-sex Soap Wars: My Acronym is Better Than Your *Acronym
June 2, 2009 by admin
Filed under Entertainment, TV
I have noticed since daytime television began to commit more and more to same-sex storylines, there has been a strange undercurrent of competition between fan groups. Just as some melodramatic version of Yankees/Red Sox, devotees are showing a blind loyalty more often reserved for hometown sporting teams. Since I began writing the weekly OTALIA recaps for AfterEllen.com and including entries in this blog pertaining to Guiding Light’s foray into the same-sex super couple, I have received more correspondence that questions my intelligence and my allegiance than any angry Right-winger has ever questioned my patriotism. And I am baffled.
Don’t get me wrong; I feel a little honest competition between entities and their fans is healthy. I grew up where college football is a second religion, and I spent a few years in the Ipswich Town stands, a real-life example of Lena Heady’s “Luce” yelling, “You’re a WANKER #9!” That was probably the nicest thing my mates and I yelled. Ask my partner and she will tell you my competitive streak emerges in regard to just about anything from playing board games to working out. Though I will admit, in all my willingness to oppose, an emulous comparison of daytime drama pairings never entered my mind. Perhaps this is because history has shown so little priority placed on same-sex partnering by the media as a whole. The fact that daytime, a historically conservative hierarchy, seems to be the only genre willing to move forward with substantial life-issue storylines involving LGBT experiences is something I consider progress worthy of guarded praise not competitive mud slinging.
I have researched and written a couple of pieces chronicling daytime’s commitment to homosexual themed storylines starting with Part 1, Before BAM (Bianca and Maggie) and Part 2, BAM, the Greatest Story Never Told. Part 3, After BAM to the Present, is in the works now. I hate to be trite, but we HAVE come a long way, baby. I am not saying that we shouldn’t voice our concerns or criticize the networks, the writers, the producers, or anyone else that portrays our stories with little regard other than a ratings point or two. We should not hesitate to question all media executives in regard to the pace, the courage, and/or the commitment to the forward movement of these portrayals. I believe as members of the community represented on screen it is our responsibility.
That being said, from a fan’s perspective, I agree that no two storylines are created equal; some of it you buy into, some of it you don’t. It’s all personal preference as with anything else in life. I have a close friend who prefers a good pair of athletic shoes as her choice of daily footwear; me, I believe athletic shoes are only for the gym and the playing field. She prefers cowboy boots as formal wear; me, a classic pair of calf-popping, peep-toed pumps with a great silhouette and a designer label is a must. Now, because we choose to support a different fashion pair, do I call her a pseudo-leather, shit-kicking, no label-loving, slob? Hell no! I love her; she is my friend. (Sorry, hon, it was just an example.) Then why do we do this to ourselves over inane soap opera storylines that may one day dwell only in the annals of history? I have asked this question a hundred times over the last few years and have pondered it exponentially more. I never get a good answer.
So, I say we just come out from behind the protective cover of message boards and trade magazines and suit it up on the field. Why not? If there is going to be a competition why not make it a real one? We could hold the Same-Sex Super Bowl at the sunny location of our choosing. All My Children would host a three-way play-off with BAMfans, Liancafans, and Breesefans. After all, AMC started this mess. Hey BAMfans, find that old Maggie jersey, strap on the pads, and start smacking someone. The winner will face off against OTALIA and their purple people eaters. Guiding Light may be canceled by then, but that’s all right, so have all the other storylines. It doesn’t matter; bitter loyalty seems to have no expiration date. Sound asinine? That’s because it is.
There is no one storyline or one fan group is any more avant-garde than the other. They have all been progressive and groundbreaking in and of themselves. Within these four story arcs, there is the first same-sex kiss in daytime television, the first same-sex love triangle, the first same-sex (relatively) long-term committed relationship, the first same-sex love scene that allowed more than hand-holding and a quick kiss, the first same-sex marriage, and the first same-sex storyline that openly addresses the consequences of religion and children in the relationship. Amazing. And they were all propelled forward by groups of people with an identity to each and a tenaciousness to see it through. Bravo. Why would anyone want to cheapen these accomplishments by veiled, snide references and sophomoric innuendo?
When it comes right down to it, it’s all about personal choice, comfort, and fit. One storyline could be my soft place to fall, but to another it may be just another rock and a hard spot. Just like my friend’s and my footwear preferences; we both may not make the same choices for a myriad of reasons, but we respect the choices each has made.
I know my curiosity regarding the competitive phenomenon doesn’t apply to everyone, but hey, if the shoe fits…
I have really been under a rock… I wasn’t aware of any battles being fought over various storylines. I’m sorry to read that your intelligence and/or allegiance have been questioned; that’s a bummer. I think all the storylines have moved us forward, whether or not we as individuals are aware of that progress.
One little picky linguistic question: Would you happen to mean a ‘portmanteau’ as opposed to an ‘acronym’? I guessed that you’re referring to name mash-ups. If I’m mistaken, please please delete my comment! Feel free to delete it anyway!
HUGS!
I say the dumbest things… please delete my comment and ignore me in the future. Thanks.
Nice piece. I agree, all storylines have their good points (some more than others) and all have their flaws. However, when the fans of the same-sex pairing du jour start telling the previous same-sex pairing’s fans to “get over themselves, their time is come and gone,” I have a big problem. I also have a problem when the so-called leaders of one fan-base take cheap shots at the other fan-bases through the media, just because they have an inside connection and usually always get their hit and run emails and letters published.
Petty jealousies and bad taste seems to run amuck with some of these groups.
Thanks for addressing this issue.
Oh, and if there were a game to determine who would be the best? BAM would most certainly come out on top, but then tie with Otalia, in the end.
*MJ, You are correct that portmanteau is the literal term for some of these fan group references. I thought about this and used acronym twice as a tool to show yet another way these groups are the same, or at least similar. And if you have ever seen Liz Hendrickson, you would know that BAM could have never been called “Baggie”! Thus the acronym.
“When it comes right down to it, it’s all about personal choice, comfort, and fit…..”
Well said Mindschmootz.
I do hope that the Nuke fans can get a draw in there somewhere – as they too deserve a place at the table and in the “same-sex” soap super bowl. Lord knows those fans had some angst of their own to deal with.
Seriously though – the bottom line is – Opinions are like Assholes – and in a cyber age everyone has them and shows them off. EVERYONE!
I say bring on dialogue. I can’t believe I am about to reference a McCain but the younger one is right. (someone slap me) If the Republican Party doesn’t stop holding on to the same old stubborn ways nothing will get done. Same holds true here.
If people don’t discuss maturely and with consideration for others we as a nation OR we as fans will never see the forest from the trees. Politics and Soap Operas – same idea holds.
In the case of what you are referencing though “no matter what kind of footwear you prefer” aren’t we all, at the end of the day, really on the same page as people – we want to see all kinds of versions of our story told.
Personally much of the last season of the L word ticked me off to no end but I could appreciate it for what it was doing – telling “unique” stories. Might not be my story but they were stories that were ‘mine adjacent” simple because they were same-sex pairings so I could take from it what I needed and toss the rest aside.
The larger soap related part though is that the disagreements about fandoms has been going on long before I started watching soaps in the 90′s and long before soaps included same sex pairings.
For instance – I remember being a diehard Carly and Bo fan but knew friends in the neighborhood (alas this was before the internet) who were diehard Bo and Hope fans and couldn’t understand my love for Bo with Carly. With the dawn of the internet those conversations are not limited anymore to water coolers at the office or middle school playgrounds. It’s the world… especially with the dawn of fandoms helpfully providing access to the entire story of a single couple online… all can come to the table.
Wow – you ended up really sending my mind on a roller coaster on that blog. I guess it was more thought provoking then I realized at first.
WELL DONE!
PH, If you can’t say something nice, come sit next to me. That is a verrrry interesting comment you posted.
Having not been a “fan” of anything except the Osmonds when I was 9-ish (no calculating, please), I don’t know what to expect of fandom. Some of it seems a little, um, weird.
I loved this blog. It’s a shame that instead of embracing the wonderful Otalia story some seem to want to do all they can to tear it down. There’s room for more than one same sex story on daytime TV. I would think that people would want to see as much representation as possible.
God bless you for stating the obvious! I won’t comment on the shoes, that is entirely out of my league and I side with the sneaker side.
You may not like what you see, it’s all a matter of taste, but to publicly rip a story is just uncalled for. Sadly, people will be people but hopefully, your blogs can open some eyes!
Thanks again. You are the BOMB!
Once again, you are my hero!
It would be a boring world if we all liked the same thing. I guess the main problem I have with the “fan wars” is the attitude, out with the old and in with the new. The new stuff may be better or bolder or whatever, or maybe not, but never forget your roots. It’s the old stuff that opened the door for the new stuff. This BAMfan has her Maggie jersey ready and waiting.
Much lpve darlin!