Florida Today from Cocoa, Florida • Page 34

4E FLORIDA TODAY, Monday, August 6, 2001 Counseling helps whip depression Are daytime soaps washed up? Depression, From IE Soaps, From IE On the Web http:soapdigest.com help, he says. Shame prevents many people from asking for assistance. "When people get depressed, one of the most common things to do is to launch into a tremendous amount of self-criticism. "What is wrong with me? I can't do anything. I'm a loser.

I'm Preston says. "I think the key is recognizing this is a human condition, a disorder that's very common, and rather than responding with criticism, if a person can understand it for what it is and adopt an attitude of compassion toward themselves, that's the key." "Changing your patterns of thinking really does take some time and take some effort, and if you don't really monitor that on a daily basis, you're not going to get anywhere with self-help books," Riessays. Among Preston's suggestions: It's critical for depressed people and their friends, family and health care providers to take depression seriously, Preston says, and to get treatment. But only about a fifth of people with significant depression ever get it i ,1 'v I DOES YOim BUBMESS NEED NEW FLOORING LQCADE CVBIOET I LE It also introduced the character of Antonio Dominguez, the Latino fashion designer. ABC has also tried using the structure of telenovelas on the show "Port Charles." In contrast to American soaps, where different story lines weave in and out and can take years to finish, telenovela stories begin and end over the course of two months.

"What we've heard over the years is, 1 just don't have the time to invest in another daytime show. I'm afraid I'm going to get hooked and have to watch the show for three said Felicia Behr, senior vice president for daytime programming at ABC Many shows, including NBC's "Days of Our Lives," have emphasized story lines with troubled teens in an effort to entice young viewers, even if those characters have mysteriously aged a decade in a year or two. That's especially true in summer, when school's out NBC's Tassions" is designed exclusively for young people. It frequently repeats plot points, to the point of annoyance for those who watch regularly, because NBC doesn't want casual viewers to get lost, said Carolyn Hinsey, executive editor of Soap Opera Digest "The perception that it takes five days a week and one hour a day to stay committed and get the total experience, I think, scares people away," said Sheraton Ka-louria, NBC daytime president Some of the wilder plots on cles creative talent some producers and writers may just have gotten lazy. "I think they take the audience for granted a little," said Stephanie Sloane, editor of Soap Opera Digest.

"Some shows expect the audience to stay with you no matter what you put on the air." None of the networks have any new soaps in development. There were 11 soaps on the air 10 years ago, one more than there are now. Some experts predict further contraction in the next few years. "It will be survival of the fittest" Johnson said, "the way it's never been in this industry be1 fore." After a period of trend-hopping, where some soaps tried to squeeze in outrageous topics as a way of emulating talk shows, Johnson believes daytime dramas are getting back to their tug-at-your-heartstrings roots. People don't want to see their lives reflected back at them they want to see their dreams, she said.

"We can't keep blaming O.J. anymore," she said. "It's a few years back now. If we haven't recovered, it isn't because of O.J., it's because we're not giving the audience what it wants." CBS Paulo Benedeti, right, and Tracy Melchior appear in a scene from the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful." Seeking a new audience, CBS introduced Benedeti's character, Latino fashion designer Antonio Dominguez, into the soap's all-white cast. We Specialize in Commercial Flooring Replacement CALL 254-2491 For Free Estimate Consultation 21 Years Serving The Space Const to Pi Wf iff Aft 1 13 IP 8" I 0ftr, Wei 8 ci's character on "All My Children" has been reacting to the news that her daughter is a lesbian.

Behr said ABC executives didn't do that specifically to reach out to a homosexual audience, but it has helped. Networks have to tread carefully not to upset older audiences of long-running shows. "The Guiding Light" on CBS, for instance, began on radio in 1937. In an industry that often recy- Tassions," with the lifelike dojl and a bride killed by a poisoned ring, should resonate with viewers of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," he said. NBC also sent six teenage characters on a Puerto Rican trip reminiscent of "Temptation Island." The median age of "Passions" viewers is 36, the youngest of the 10 network soap operas, Mind-Share said.

In recent months, Susan Luc- Milestones Chssnpiosiishlp Prof B0MI1G SATUHDAY AUGUST II, 2001 MELOOUnriE AUDITORIUM A I I A SEVEN FIGHTS 44 rounds $25 $35 seats all reserved Pipe Furniture BUY WHOLESALE 0 from the Factory! (f) We Ship Nationwide (f) 1 sSfeft and Gail Koenn; Neha Longani of Melbourne High School and daughter of Hans and Madhu Longani; Sujinun Ovathanasin of Rockledge High School and daughter of Suphot and Ladda Ovathanasin; Lindsay Parker of Astronaut High School and daughter of Raymond and Catherine Parker, and Erica Young of Cocoa Beach JrVSr. High School and daughter of Michael and Shirley Young. Joy Duveax of Cocoa is a recipient of the NACME Scholarships. Kristin M. Tennyson recently graduated from Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y., with a bachelor's degree.

She is the daughter of Ellen M. Montgomery of Melbourne. Compiled by Dottie Ross Florida Today tute of Technology in Orlando: Phillip Bellaire and Michael Boucherit, both of Melbourne, and graduating seniors from Palm Bay High School; Nicholas Bryant of Palm Bay, a graduating senior from Palm Bay High School and Gary Myers of Palm Bay. Joanna Savage, a recent honor graduate of Palm Bay High School, received a full academic scholarship from the Fifty Plus and Bridging Inc. organization.

She is attending Brevard Community College. The Florida USA Merit Scholarship recipients are: Vanessa Grauert of Merritt Island High School and daughter of Rudy and Victoria Grauert; Matthew Koenn of Cocoa Beach Jr.Sr. High School and son of Robert Mary Beth Dumstorf of Melbourne received a bachelor's degree from Centre College in Danville, Ky. Dumstorf also received an award for being the most outstanding French major. She received the Jeffery Scott and Ann Rose McBride French Prize.

Dumstorf is the daughter of George and Stephanie Dumstorf of Melbourne and is a graduate of Eau Gallie High School. Karen Dumstorf of Melbourne was named to the dean's list with a 4.0 GPA at the University of Kentucky, Lexington. She is the daughter of George and Stephanie Dumstorf of Melbourne and is a graduate of Eau Gallie High School. Four local students are recipients of a 2001 dean's partial tuition scholarship to DeVry Insti LITE ROCK 3.3 Mitch Valentine Rina Anouncer Free Prizes Free Parking Beer Sodas Snacks Entertainment Between Matches with Ace of Hearts D.J. 's 625 E.

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