I am no Woodward and Bernstein. Heck, I am not even Geraldo Rivera’s belly lint, but Spin’s Vixenella knows agenda-driven media bias when it splatters in her face. What is Spin’s Vixenella ranting about now? The soap industry “press,” a multi-billion dollar a year business with numerous publications dedicated to covering all things soap opera. Are any of them more than a propaganda arm for the networks? Today, Spin’s Vixenella is not so sure, and she wants some answers.

Nearly two decades ago, Spin’s Vixenella made Soap Opera Digest (SOD) her soap magazine of choice and has long maintained a subscription. SOD always appeared to have the most reliable, timely soap news coupled with some hard-hitting opinion pieces, and periodically a few serious features aimed at analyzing soaps and their societal impact.

As it turns out, the online versions of SOD and Soap Opera Weekly (SOW) are owned by the same media conglomerate, Source Interlink Media, LLC. The two magazines share an interactive website where soap fans are encouraged to actively provide their thoughts and opinions by participating in polls and posting comments. Naturally, all this fan participation brings visitors daily to their website, increasing their ad revenue, filling their corporate coffers, etc.

On June 10, 2008, Spin’s Vixenella stumbled upon a SOD/SOW online instant poll asking "Who Is The Right Man for General Hospital’s Maxie?” Firmly convinced Damien Spinelli is the only “right” choice for Miss Maxie Jones, The Vixenella was naturally intrigued and took a closer look at the poll. At once, both shocked and appalled, Spin’s Vixenella questioned the poll’s construct and its biased “choices.” You guessed it, before daybreak on June 11, the tireless Vixenella fired off an email to the SOD/SOW Online Editor.

Dear SOD/SOW Online Editor:

I am a long-time subscriber to SOD magazine. As a General Hospital fan, I am confused and offended by your online instant “Snap Poll” asking "Who Is The Right Man for Maxie?"

The choices SOD has provided are:

1. Spinelli
2. Johnny
3. Matt Hunter (Jason Cook, Shelle Reunion)

While I believe choices #1 and #2 are legitimate, I am troubled by choice #3 for a variety of reasons, not the least of which, this is a character who has not yet been introduced to the GH audience. How can I make an informed choice about Maxie’s “Mr. Right,” if I know nothing about the character whatsoever? Upon what information should I base my decision? At this point, I only know this character's name. For all I know, he is a psycho, serial killer, mob boss puppy-kicker, in which case I would not believe him to be the "right man" for Maxie.

In addition, what message does your “Snap Poll” send to fans of actors currently on GH who have actually had interaction with the Maxie character? In essence, your poll asks whether a new character, sight unseen, would be better for Maxie than two popular characters who are already on the canvas. I personally find that offensive to both Spinelli and Johnny fans and to the actors who labor tirelessly in these roles. It seems insulting to them as actors and to their fans for SOD to ask in essence, wouldn't "somebody ... anybody" be better for Maxie than either of them?

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