the "down low" storyline on Passions
the "down low" storyline on Passions
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/03
the "down low" storyline on Passions#1
Posted: 5/22/07 at 11:26am
It's a preposterously silly soap opera, by even the loose standards of the genre ... but at least until now, the PASSIONS Down Low story is remarkably groundbreaking and honest. Haven't seen it every day -- and the rest of the show is cheese whiz -- but whenever I catch it, despite its repetitions and hoary stalls, it has played very fair. Yesterday when Chad confessed to the friend, with full tilt denial and shame, this over-the-top campfest was, for a few moments, surprisingly real. So far they have avoided some if not all of the more melodramatic turns (the blackmail is tired), and have done something no soap has done: shown a man besotted sexually with another man. And a black man. And a major character. Whoa.
re: the 'down low' storyline on Passions#2
Posted: 5/22/07 at 12:02pm
"Passions" Rules! In addition to the DL storyline, they also recently dealt with the death of the partner of a Lesbian on the show.
As Noah presses Chad to tell Whitney the truth about his relationship with Vincent, Paloma urges Whitney to find out what Vincent's big secret is.
Fancy and Esme watch through a video monitor as Sheridan, dressed as a nun, forces herself on Luis in the prison infirmary. Though Luis says that his future is with Fancy, Sheridan offers to help him escape, and leave Harmony with her for good.
Ethan and Theresa come face-to-face with the half-man/half-woman, when they trap it in the Crane mausoleum. The half-man/half-woman declares that Ethan should be with him/her, not Theresa.
Tuesday, May 22
Theresa – certain she and Ethan are going to die – tells him that he is Little Ethan’s father!
Paloma overhears Chad and Noah talking about Chad’s affair.
Endora has her first sleepover.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/03
re: the 'down low' storyline on Passions#2
Posted: 5/22/07 at 12:31pm
Jimmy, you seem the expert on this show. Don't you agree the actor playing Chad is playing this with great restraint and reality? What's his name, has he been a major character on the show? I assumed so, which is what makes this plotline remarkably fresh and daring. I wish I found the Vincent as compelling as Chad does ...but I suppose his inherent sleaziness is part of the point.
Today, it's rather obvious they will strain to arrest Chad for a murder attempt (based on what, a third party confession?)
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/12/06
re: the 'down low' storyline on Passions#3
Posted: 5/22/07 at 12:47pm
I hate the term "down low." But it is great subject matter for daytime. Last week Chad said he was going to kill himself. It was an amazing moment on the show. It kind of shocked me, and made me think of how hard that whole closet thing is.
Chad looks so much better with his haircut......
re: the 'down low' storyline on Passions#4
Posted: 5/23/07 at 3:18am
Wait wait wait wait wait--I haven't watched Passions in a while. Chad is gay now? What?!
...is Fox next...?
joey
re: the 'down low' storyline on Passions#5
Posted: 5/23/07 at 8:21am
From the "Passions" website (where you can also see a week's worth of episodes for free):
Chad Harris played by Charles Divins
Chad is a talented music producer and songwriter, but he put that career on hold to become an executive at Crane Industries. He grew up with foster parents in Los Angeles and moved to Harmony hoping to track down his real parents. Once in Harmony, he found love with Whitney Russell. Their romance was derailed when they were led to believe they were half-brother and sister! Eventually, Chad learned his parents are actually Alistair Crane and Liz Sanbourne, meaning he and Whitney are not related by blood. The couple recently married, and they share a son, Miles. However, Chad's secret affair threatens their newfound happiness...
Charles Divins as Chad Harris
Charles Divins plays Chad Harris, the sexy and street-smart music producer and composer who learned he is the illegitimate child of wealthy Alistair Crane and Liz Sanbourne. Chad recently proposed to Whitney Russell, the love of his life and the mother of his baby, Miles.
Divins came to PASSIONS at the height of a prestigious modeling career. He has graced the pages of many high fashion and contemporary magazines such as GQ, Gear, Cosmopolitan and Glamour. Additionally, Divins is known for being prominently featured in many Tommy Hilfiger clothing and accessory ad campaigns. He has appeared in a sexy Nissan Maxima commercial and numerous music videos for artists such as Olivia and Kimberly Locke. Divins had a recurring role on the UPN comedy series, "Half & Half." In 2004, Divins became a national spokesperson for The American Heart Association to educate the African American community about heart disease. He produced his own calendar for the year 2005, proceeds of which go to the AHA.
Divins takes pride in his amateur photography and plays the bass guitar in his spare time. His birthday is January 29.
Preview
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/03
re: the 'down low' storyline on Passions#6
Posted: 5/23/07 at 8:34amThey stalled yesterday, in classic style, but at least they gave us an "over-hearage," when Poloma walked in on the words "my affair with Vincent..." "So that's Chad's SECRET!" When in doubt, let someone overhear two people discussing a secret in full voice and lavish detail in the spacious foyer of a mansion. So ... contrivance soaring ... at least we have a spreading stain. After weeks of water treading, two new characters know about the Down Low nasties.
re: the 'down low' storyline on Passions#7
Posted: 5/23/07 at 10:05amI love that phrase "over hearage," Auggie. The soaps do that all the time. And you're right that it's usually two people talking in a large empty room. How they are never able to notice that somebody has walked through the door behind them has always been a mystery to me.
re: the 'down low' storyline on Passions#8
Posted: 5/23/07 at 12:54pmOh, I thought the over hearage usually happened when the eavesdropper was hiding behind a potted plant or was in a transparent disguise (most often a surgical mask). Yosemite Sam is less gullible than most soap characters.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/03
re: the 'down low' storyline on Passions#9
Posted: 5/26/07 at 10:12am
Well, if ya'll like the phrase "overhearage," Friday's show had a "bumpinto" that made a helluva tag: Whitney goes to a gay bar to meet her supposedly homophobic husband (oooh, the irony!), and with Teresa, who's loaded with major problems of her own spends the entire hour checking out all the gay men in town (hysterical observations about people she thought straight along with "who knew that Harmony had so many gay people?" very groundbreaking and strangely subversive for soaps..)
But you want groundbreaking? Then, we had Chad and Vincent come to blows (!) in the storage room/kitchen, only to start some sweaty boinking (another soap term) as Whitney appeared. The shot of those two black men, shirtless, goin' at each other on a table was startling... and Whitney's double take makes Michelle Williams in BROKEBACK look (literally) pale. Stay tuned!
re: the 'down low' storyline on Passions#10
Posted: 6/16/07 at 11:23pm
Talk Soup is having a field day with Chad's storyline. The host's quips are very funny.
To quote Chad, "I found myself back at that same gay bar looking for Vincent. We hooked up and had sex. But like I said, I'm not gay."
My reaction, "OMG"!!
On another note, I thought "Passions" wasn't going off the air. But according to Talk Soup it was ending its run this summer.
re: the 'down low' storyline on Passions#11
Posted: 6/17/07 at 2:23am
"Passions" will end it's run on NBC with a cliff-hanger on September 7th. On September 17th, a ninth season of new episodes will begin airing exclusively on Direct TV four days a week. The story will pick up where it left off on NBC. Much of the cast will make the move but it looks like Chad, Whitney, Miguel and Fox have not yet signed up.
For more details, go to www.nbc.com/passions
Passions
Joined: 12/31/69
re: the 'down low' storyline on Passions#12
Posted: 6/17/07 at 8:07am
The Soup made wonderful hash of this campfest this week. I liked when "Chad" got caught checking out a guy and explained "He looked like someone I used to work with...when I was a DJ in West Hollywood!"
re: the 'down low' storyline on Passions#13
Posted: 6/17/07 at 8:26am
JoeKV, I'm glad I'm not the only one who saw this on Talk Soup. I got quite a chuckle of the proceedings, especially since they kept replaying, "...but I'm not gay."
And then to be followed by Chelsea Handlers show, provided my evening with a lot of laughs.
re: the 'down low' storyline on Passions#14
Posted: 6/17/07 at 11:45am
Jared is livid when he finds his wife with Ethan. Theresa covers by telling him Ethan was comforting her after she found out about Chad cheating on Whitney. After Jared reclaims his wife, Ivy tells Ethan to stay away from Theresa for his own good.
Just as the computer is about to show Fancy and Sheridan a DNA match, the blackmailer causes all the hospital computers to crash. Sam chases the blackmailer through the hospital, but he gives Harmony's top cop the slip by escaping into an air vent. Later, he drops in on one of the hospital doctors...
Fox undergoes another "treatment" for his equally fake illness. Meanwhile, Kay wants Tabitha to teach her to use her magic. If she can cure Fox, she can go back to Miguel!
Luis calls from prison to make sure Fancy is safe. Sheridan's blood boils when Luis asks her to look out for Fancy.
Sneak Peeks
Monday, June 18
Fancy and Sheridan race to find the identity of the Blackmailer.
Spike digs a grave for Jessica!
Kay casts a spell that makes Tabitha’s house shake.
Tuesday, June 19
Jared warns Ethan to steer clear of Theresa.
Fancy and Sheridan discover the Blackmailer has killed a doctor.
Spike is going to bury Jessica alive!
Wednesday, June 20
Ethan is being followed.
Kay casts a spell to find Jessica and releases a demon elf!
Julian realizes he might have been better off staying with Ivy.
Thursday, June 21
Gwen returns to Harmony.
Kay makes a deal with the demon elf to find Jessica.
Ivy and Julian find their way back to each other.
Friday, June 22
Theresa could be losing her hold on Ethan.
Jessica panics when she realizes she and her baby are going to die.
Valerie tells Eve that her son wants to meet with her and Julian.
VCR Alerts
Tuesday, June 19
Spike is going to bury Jessica alive!
Thursday, June 21
Kay makes a deal with a demon elf!
Wednesday, June 27
Spike escapes from jail.
Thursday, June 28
Tabitha takes Endora to good witch school.
re: the 'down low' storyline on Passions#15
Posted: 6/17/07 at 12:39pm
As with all Passions storylines, the down low one has been stretched well past its limit. It's almost painful to watch.
However, I adore whenever "The Soup" takes a jibe at it.
Videos
