TVSquad

I agree with you Allison. This new way of filming is absolutely horrifying.

GL has been going downhill for several years now. I've been watching the show for over 25 years and when they pushed the Bauer family to the background and started focusing on the younger people and the Santos family and all these individual new characters and all that other stuff, it really got lost. They're also not casting people right now, which is something they used to do brilliantly.

I hope they get a new producer and go back to the regular way of filming the show. Though at this point, I wonder if this was a last chance attempt to get the ratings up and if it doesn't happen CBS will just drop the show after all these years instead.

Reply

I think all soaps go through ups and downs; storylines that work and those that don't. I wasn't a fan of the Santos family stuff either, but I loved most of the Tammy/Jonathan romance (as demented as it seemed). Right now, as I wrote, I just think the physical production is ruining whatever storytelling they're attempting.

Reply

To be honest when I watch GL now I feel like I'm watching a snuff film. All of these odd close-ups of the actors' faces, the shaky camera, the horrible lighting.

Some of this might be overlooked if the stories were good or at least made sense. But they don't. Characters change motivation on a daily basis. The show right now is more about the aesthetic than the storytelling and that should never be the case on any type of show but especially a soap which is ALL about the characters.

Reply

For me its the filming. Maybe if I was watching it on a 9 inch screen it wouldn't be so awful-looking. However, on my 42" plasma, it looks like bad porn without the juicy bits. I have no problem with where they are shooting or how; just with the crappy cameras they have chosen to use. They need to go.

Reply

I don't like soap in general but I like this. To me it makes the story more believable. I HATE all the other shows but this one I am watching at least three times a week now. And yes, I feel a little weird admitting this.

Reply

It's growing on me, even though it feels claustophobic at times. Any idea if the rating are improving?

Reply

I have been watching GL since I was 3 and I have to say I totally disagree with this article. I love everything about the new episodes. It's very real. I like the new song, the outside shots and real life situations.

Reply

I have to admit I'm not a GL fan. But, I've caught it a couple times and I really hate the shooting style. As someone else said, the weird closeups are horrifying. Additionally, a lot of the actors aren't exactly facially expressive like night time actors. So when they do close ups on overtly pancaked faces, the close ups are hideous but there always seems a disconnect from the way the lines are said and the emotion the actor doesn't show. I don't think this shooting style exactly fits daytime soaps, or their acting style. I also preferred the old way. Call me sentimental but it always seemed cozier. And as Allison said, since they aren't focusing on the inside of people's homes, I am more aware of the outdoor surroundings, and pay less attention to the words -

Reply

GL is a family tradition for me and I despise this new approach. The thing I notice most is how some of the actors just aren't up to par. I think the "realistic" style requires spot-on acting to work. As it stands now I find myself stopping to watch the scenes involving vets (or Marcy Rylan, who is fabulous enough to carry even this crap), but skipping pretty much everything else.

Reply

I've only seen bits, but there's no problem with on location stuff but why does the camera have to be THISCLOSE. Can't they just take a step back? It's very distracting.

Reply

I don't like the new approach either. The odd off center closeups, the shots from the floor to the actors' necks, the jerky shots, and the shots that are taken from a mile away where you can barely identify the actor. There are virtually no shots anymore with both actors in the shot, it's one actor and a bad angle of the back of another. It resembles like the setups when you have one actor playing "twins". Everyone looks like they are taking to themselves. iAnd last but not least, there is the music. Long sections of loud music with no dialoge. Is it really that much cheaper to pay music rights than to pay their writers? I feel like I'm watching Baywatch.

Reply

I have watched GL forever. This new video approach is terrible but even worse are the story lines. Olivia gets Gus's heart? Ava is telling people she's pregnant with Bill's baby? Harley morgages her home for Cyrus then signs her name to pay for Gus's funeral even though she's broke? Dina manages, with half a brain and no place to put the other half, to take everything Alan owns? Trite,ridiculous,dumb, unrealistic. I could accept the video if the writing improved! As is, we see too much action outdoors (and who hangs outside all winter?) and not enough plot lines anyplace.....................................

Reply

I actually stopped watching GL, however, I tuned in once again to check if there was any improvement. The color is still bad, the sound is not good, the music with no dialogue is much too long, would prefer more indoor programs. Not reality to see everyone outside all the time.

Hope someone also agrees with me.

Reply

I believe there are to many closeups, to much jumping around to one outside scene to another and the voice quality on my televisions is bad. After watching As The World Turns, I have to turn up my volume but it is distorted. I find the show hard to concentrate on since the change.

Reply

I hate it. I have been watching for 20 years and I'm getting completely bored. It is so obvious it is all about money,no wardrobes at all they all look like they have been shopping at thrift stores

Reply

I have to admit that i agree somewhat about the dislike of the new shooting on this show!! Sometimes it is interesting to see the actors outdoors, but at other times, it can be very distracting!!
Also i wish Harley would get herself 2 gether, and i want to see the real REVA again!!! Also Alan finally got what he deserved, but it has become very boring, and so has Dina!! I hope that they get this show back on it's feet before long, or i may have to take a break from it again, like i did several yrs ago when Reva went off the show !!!

Reply

Also, i want to add, does anyone want to see Frank and Natalia get 2 gether???? He needs someone, and she will 2 if she is going to stay on the show!!!

Reply

This show has become so boring it just doesn't have anything interesting going on with it. Maybe it should go off the air. I tune in everyday thinking that maybe there will be some interesting storylines but am mistaken. Pull the plug on the light !!

Reply

Yes, i 2 miss kim, but 2 day, i saw the up coming events!!! Is REVA coming back alive to do her life story about her, on the show!!! Cool, maybe it will get exciting!!!

Reply