As The What? Turns

I am really getting into ATWT lately, despite the misgivings about follow-through noted below. However, just as the Rose and Paul wedding story is builiding to a climax, we were "treated" to two pre-Thanksgiving episodes in which "Butterball" turkeys were mentioned at least four times--an obvious and awkward attempt at in-show endorsement of the brand.

Toward the end of Tuesday's episode, Ben returned to Jessica's apartment and mentioned something about having to fight to get the last "Butterball" in the grocery store. Although Ben was in fact carrying a turkey that appeared to be a "Butterball," his comment was off-hand enough for me to think that perhaps the actor was improvising.

However, Wednesday's episode opened with Emma cooking a turkey with her granddaughter Faith, and saying "Isn't that the biggest Butterball you've ever seen?"
(Or something close to that.) Later, when the Jessica and Ben's dinner was served, Lisa asked, "Is that a Butterball?"
At the Snyder's someone exclaimed: "It's a Butterball!"

I realize that soaps air on commercial television. (Indeed, they are called soap operas because they were often sponsored or produced by detergent/soap companies). But why the heavy-handed product endorsement of turkeys one day before Thanksgiving? "Butterball" turkey commercials have been running constantly for weeks during ATWT. Plus, frozen turkeys take a long time to thaw safely and then cook to the proper internal temperature. Anyone who didn't have a turkey by the end of Wednesday's ATWT episode would have been in real trouble.

Also, for the sake of character integrity, I find it hard to believe that farm woman Emma Snyder would have anything other than a fresh turkey in her oven. Would she serve a frozen turkey that has been injected with vegetable oil and who knows what else? Doubtful.

Soap Opera Digest's December 2nd issue has a list of things to be thankful for on each soap. ATWT gets pretty high marks for integrating characters and storylines, strong romances and friendships as well as casting coups.

The one "turkey" noted is the horrible (and thankfully played out) Bonnie/Marshall/Sarah storyline. I pretty much agree with SOD's assessment, except I have mentioned the show's failure to use of veterans and lack of follow-through--something SOD criticizes One Life to Live about.