Photo: Courtesy of CBS
Hell has officially frozen over, so expect to skate home tonight, gays: Uber popular super couple Noah Mayer (played by Jake Silbermann, above right) and Luke Synder (played by Van Hansis, above center) finally did the nasty on the conservative TeleNext/P&G soap opera, As The World Turns. But, if viewers blinked yesterday, they might have missed the most anticipated sex scene in recent daytime-TV memory.
Having first passionately kissed on August 17, 2007, Nuke skyrocketed to popularity as the first male couple on soaps. Immediately thereafter, however, an unofficial kissing ban was put into effect regarding any sexual contact involving the chaste couple.
After a relentless and highly publicized kissing campaign spearheaded by loyal fans, ATWT finally relented to the gay pressure. 211 days later, Noah and Luke locked lips again without any warning or fanfare. Likewise, on January 12, Nuke reunited with a sloppy kiss before cutting to a commercial break. After ads for dish soap and feminine hygiene products aired, the couple stepped out of the shower glowing from their tender lovemaking. “I know we did wait for a long time, but it was worth it,” Noah cooed to Luke. But was it worth it for the fans -- especially those who weren't alerted and therefore missed the big moment?
Regardless of being kept in the dark regarding this daytime milestone, Welovesoaps.com’s passionate founder Roger Newcomb, who was heavily involved in the Nuke kissing campaign (which grabbed the attention of CNN, the AP and The LA Times), tells Popnog that he’s thrilled Luke and Noah sealed the deal regardless of the lack of marketing involved.
“Nuke fans have been campaigning non-stop. They’ve sent letters, called the show, contacted the press throughout the past year,” he states. “So, we’re all happy they finally had sex. But we still have a way to go. For example, Nuke isn’t on the next day’s episode, so anyone hearing the buzz today who tunes in tomorrow won’t see them. Yes, the show didn’t publicize the smooch that ended the kissing ban, but at the end of the day, I’m happy they didn’t promote it. As a soap fan, these two moments were genuine surprises, which rarely happen on daytime anymore,” Newcomb adds.
Soap Opera Digest and Soap Opera Weekly’s editorial director Lynn Leahey tells us that her magazines were not made aware of the “historic sex scene,” just like she wasn’t informed of the kiss last spring:
“It’s very unusual not to be made aware of such a huge plot point. It’s also not unheard of because some times there are major twists that need to be kept under wraps for shock value [like characters coming back from the dead]. Conversely though, we’re constantly being pitched when their straight couples kiss, have sex, marry and/or divorce. This was a very special and important moment, so it would have been have been beneficial to the show had we been given some warning. We would have cooperated and not revealed Nuke were having sex, but alerted fans to watch on that day for a big moment if that’s what they requested from us.”
What’s unfortunate about the show’s decision to not promote the sex scene -- which happened off camera -- is that Leahey says had she known, Digest and Weekly both would have given the moment valuable real estate on their covers (World Turns rarely scores cover stories).
Daytimeconfidential.com’s outspoken Jamey Giddens offers another take on the hot-button situation:
“Much like their head scratching decision not to promote the couple's long-awaited second kiss, the move not to promote Nuke's first time making love reeks of fear and self-loathing on the part of As The World Turns and Proctor and Gamble/TeleNext in regards to the story they chose to tell,” Giddens blasts. “I am beginning to wonder why they even bothered having Luke come out in the first place. Steven Carrington's gay storyline on Dynasty almost 30 years ago took more chances than P&G is willing to take with Nuke, in comparison to the societal climate then and now. As for the actual off-screen sex that transpired, it is really sad that a committed, college-aged couple didn't warrant a tender, onscreen love scene, but the show's randy, pubescent step-cousins Parker and Liberty have been going at it for months. What kind of message does that send? Incestuous, irresponsible teen sex is okay, but there is something shameful about a committed gay couple having sex?”
With World Turns’ ratings in the toilet (they’ve lost almost half a million viewers since Nuke were celibate) and up for renewal soon, it seems TeleNext/P&G are using the gays to keep their show on the air.
Hopefully now that means treating their homosexual couple with the
same amount of respect, screen time, and promotional efforts as their
heterosexual lovers warrant.
Missed the big moment? See it here!
-- NELSON BRANCO
Previously > Hot, heavy, and matrimonial with Eden Riegel & Tamara Braun.
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