Can Buck Winthrop Save Daytime Soaps?

Delusions of Grandeur Author Has Bold Plans For Re-Vitalizing Failing Soap Genre.

Los Angeles, Ca/October 15/ Buck Winthrop, author of the soap opera themed debut novel "Delusions of Grandeur" has a bold declaration for the ailing soap opera industry. "You have all gotten lazy and I can do it better."

Winthrop, a former talent agent and publicist released what he calls "Valley of The Dolls of Soaps" in May to positive buzz and reviews. The story, about a TV soap writer's obession with an actress on his show, the fictional "Harbor Hills" is according the author based on Another World and Guiding Light circa 1981 with a little General Hospital thrown in. The heroine of the story--Alexandra Bass--is based on the life of Jennifer Cooke who played Morgan Nelson on Guiding Light. In true soap opera fashion, Cooke left acting in 1985 and is now heiress to the billion dollar Celestial Seasonings tea empire as wife of founder Mo Siegel.

"The entire soap opera industry is to blame for te current state of affairs," says Winthrop. "One bad decision after another has been made and the result has been a swift downward spiral for the genre."

Winthrop calls the hiring of actress Ellen Wheeler as Executive Producer of Guiding Light 'daytimes darkest moment.' "You can chart that iconic shows fall from the second she stepped foot on the Guiding Light set. But in keeping with the head scratching decisons of daytime, I am certain she will show up on another show at any time with a salary increase."

"The other major problem is this newfound concept of co-head writers--or worse yet--a team of head writers. You need a strong singular focus to tell a story. The idea that two or three are better than one is just absurd. Unfocused light burns no fires and what we have on many soaps is storytellng that is all over the place. My message to the powers that be would be that if your headwriter is not srong enough alone then they should be let go sooner than later."

Winthrop is also critical of the old fashioned way soap operas are written. "Besides the watered down headwriting, we have another set of writers breaking down (or plotting) the story and yet another team creating the scripts with the dialogue we hear on the screen. Ouch. That gives the term 'lost in translation' a whole new meaning."

While Winthrop's Hollywood agents and his new producing partner shop 'Delusions of Grandeur' around tinseltown as a prime time series or film, the ambitious author has plans to join the writing team and eventually assume the headwiting duties of one of the LA. based soaps. "I am in a unique position because I have an exciting new vision. Great stories, and the fresh energy needed to breathe life into these tired worn out shows."