Ben

What Dion says is right: Ken's success is measured by his several years of being a supporting character, and a few when he was on the back burner. Ken's last story was with Stephanie Beacham's character, and it showed that he still had life left in him. Interestingly, Ken isn't really a problem, but I find Deirdre to be at a lose end story wise. She could do with being written out.

But, back to Karl & Susan, and I think there's plenty of life left in them, but I don't see them as an official adopting couple, b/c that doesn't really suit their characters; they take in people who are simply at a lose end, and that's fine, but that's not all they're about. Plus, the waif and strays don't all have to be troubled teens, they could be angsty adults.

There's still story to be told with Karl's career. He could apply for a promotion, but face competition from Doug, which would allow for development of their rivalry that randomly disappeared - I like Doug, so more screen time for him is a good thing. Would Karl get the promotion? What happens if he does or doesn't? They could also use it as a platform to be a little political, and have Karl conflicted over management style decisions and patient care (there's always some RSR who ends up in hospital, so plenty of scope to merge the two stories).

I don't think it's plausible for Karl to cheat again, but I think there's room for Susan to fall for another guy. Like an emotional affair or intellectual affair, where she doesn't realize how the friendship/her feelings are developing, but when she does it's a big shock. She'd never cheat on Karl, but she could be slightly tempted. How would the Kennedys deal with this? What would it mean for their marriage? The other guy could be a journalist, or someone who's a story for her and is troubled, or someone whose connected to another RSR.

The thing is though, Neighbours wouldn't do stories like this now, b/c this isn't the kind of the show it is any more, and they no longer view K&S as characters that drive their own stories. They see them as supporting players who are there to prop the teens, or someone else, but never to have their own story. At best, they may get to be a part of a big story, like the surrogacy that usually involves other characters and isn't really about them. If they weren't so popular, or holding the show together, I really think under Susan Bower, these two would be gone, simply b/c she doesn't seem to view them as viable leading characters, unlike Paul and Lyn, who constantly get their own major storylines.

I do think this is actually a problem, as it means K&S will stop being developed, and they'll slowly become like Lou. It simply isn't enough to have them support the latest troubled teen, b/c it's a waste, and that translates on screen, and makes it seem like they're spare parts and kinda boring. But, Bower treats them as filler characters, and that's the way it will continue. If we're very lucky, one or the other may get thrown a story that will be rushed and last 2 weeks - e.g. Susan's cyber stalker.

Lyn will be fine, as story is always generated for her, even if her character has lost all dignity these last few years. When you look at where Lyn was before she left, and where she is now, it's quite sad to see how far she's fallen. Lyn also has Summer, Charlie, Oscar, and her connection to Paul.

Libby has a raft of material that has yet to be tapped, but they really need to develop her character, and not let her go stale. Toadie is still fresh, b/c they've give him stories that have developed his and explored areas that haven't been touched before.

As long as Tom Oliver stays on that ridiculous recurring contract, Lou will never get anything substantial to do.

ETA: I preferred the show when they had a bigger cast, as it meant more storylines. But, I read that the writers prefer a smaller cast, which is why that's what we've got now. IMO, it's too small. And the writings no better with a small cast than with a larger cast, even though you'd think they'd have more time to plot the stories more carefully seeing as they only have about 4 storylines going on, compared to when they had double that one point.

I voted 20s, but really I'd be happy with any age so long as it isn't teenage. Unless it was upping Chris from recurring to permanent.

Logically, everyone who doesn't want more teens should really vote for the 20s, as that is in second place and in with more of a chance of toppling the teens.

The problem with the official site is that it is housed by a load of 12 year olds and those with a brain of a 12 year old, so all opinion is screwed towards their view, and most of the time it's not the majority of opinion. But, Susan Bower takes that site seriously, maybe b/c it's the official site, or maybe b/c their opinion supported her insane decisions over the last 2 years. Probably the latter, considering this is the same site that she uses to publicly declare that Australia loves the teens and the Aussie fans want more, when that couldn't be further from the truth. In all honesty that site probably only counts for 5% of the Neighbours audience, and anyone with half a brain would see that ratings went up during adult centred weeks/eps, compared to those with the teens.

Teens do have their place, but they have a good group with Summer/Andrew/Tash/Chris, and Callum & Sophie who are entering that phase; they don't need any more.

Neighbours pips TEN Evening News

The first week of official ratings is a bit like playing musical chairs as everyone scrambles to see where the numbers are falling in the morning. For some there are sighs of relief, for others it’s a hell of a way to wake up to the day.

But in its third week TEN Evening News has now been pipped at the post by the programme it replaced.

On Tuesday night Neighbours pulled 311,000 on ELEVEN.

TEN Evening News was just 310,000. It’s only a 1,000 difference, but in television’s numbers game a win is a win. At least in this case the network can be upbeat about the way the soap is performing on a digital channel.

TEN Evening News was strongest with Mal Walden in Melbourne on 97,000 viewers. Sandra Sully had 66,000 watching in Sydney. 6pm With George Negus was 382,00.

The network continues to remind us that such significant change to their 6 – 7 hour will take time to bed in, and they are right. Hopefully for their sake the shareholders are listening.

James Sutton to leave 'Emmerdale'

Emmerdale star James Sutton is to leave the soap in the spring, it has been announced.

The actor has played the role of mechanic Ryan Lamb on the Yorkshire-based serial since 2009 but is now bowing out to pursue new projects.

In a statement released on Emmerdale's website, Sutton commented: "I've massively enjoyed the last two years playing Ryan and been blessed to have worked with a group of such talented and supportive actors.

"I feel that Ryan's storylines have drawn to a natural conclusion and, although I'll be sad to say goodbye, I'm excited about what the future holds."

He added: "Having trained in theatre I'm looking forward to getting back to my roots and exploring new opportunities."

Meanwhile, Emmerdale's executive producer Steve November said: "James has been a much valued member of the cast and we wish him all the best for the future."

Ryan was introduced to the soap in June 2009 and soon became embroiled in the drama surrounding the Wylde clan, who have all since departed the village.

Sutton's screen mother Kim Thomson (Faye) is also leaving Emmerdale this year.

No big surprise there, then. This means that everyone associated with the Wyldes will now be gone... except for Declan.

Even though day-to-day episodes are OK, there really isn't much going on, with a lot of stories that don't seem to have much impact, while several characters are pointless, or are not doing much of anything. The Henshall thing is seriously clichéd; the Alicia/Justin custody battle has gone nowhere; the Barton drug story petered out on a whimper; Lisa's rape started off well, but has developed into nothing; this Cain/Charity/Jai story has been dragged out with little movement, fizzing-out along the way - I can't believe this is the story they wanted to tell a year ago, but shelved due to Charlie Webb's maternity leave; why was Debbie needed so badly that they couldn't use any of her initial scenes off screen? She's not done anything! And that fire was the worst blaze out of all the soaps I watch - even Neighbours did a better job!

I don't no if all this mediocrity is down to GB's death, but something needs changing fast.

Kym opens up about health battle

NEIGHBOURS star Kym Valentine has broken her silence on the illness that led to her stay in a private Melbourne hospital last month.

Valentine revealed she was suffering "emotional and physical" ailments after a horror run of illness in recent years.

The Ramsay St favourite -- now looking fit and healthy -- has chopped off her trademark long locks to mark a fresh start for 2011.

Valentine, 33, took three months off work last year before checking herself into the clinic.

"In the past I had a series of private emotional and physical issues that led to a decline in my health, which are still too raw to talk about," she said.

"However right now I feel great and I'm so excited to be back at work. I'm very grateful to the producers for allowing me time off to get healthy again and this year is already looking fantastic."

Valentine, who started as Libby Kennedy on the show in 1994, returned to work on the Neighbours set last week and decided to change her look.

"I've had my hair long forever, and thought 'Well, it's a new year, I feel like a new me. So why not a new 'do?' " she said.

It has been a tough few years for Valentine, who in 2008 had pneumonia, and then suffered a collapsed lung on a flight from the US to Melbourne.

She took a month off, and revealed she had been sick on and off for two years because she was stressed and run down. Last July Valentine spent a week in hospital with another lung problem.

Source: Herald Sun

I stopped watching for a bit. How did that end, anyway?

It was forgotten about - literally dropped from the writer's minds. I think the last we saw of Abi, was when Nathan threatened her with his assumption that she was shagging Ryan. After that, she was never seen again. And Ryan forgot she existed.

Kim Thomson to leave 'Emmerdale'

Emmerdale star Kim Thomson has confirmed that she is to leave the soap at the end of her current contract.

The actress will film her final scenes for the Yorkshire serial within the next couple of months after playing the role of Faye Lamb since early 2009.

Speaking of her decision to bow out, Thomson told Take It Easy: "I'm sad of course because I've loved working with everyone here, but I found it so hard being away from home. It's just too far from London.

"I've got friends I literally haven't seen for two years because I get home at weekends and there's only a 24-hour window to fit everyone in. That's been hard, but I've had an amazing time here and been so lucky with storylines - I'll be sad to go.

"I can't say anything about how I leave because the producers want to keep that under wraps for now. I'm sure, as with most Emmerdale exits, it will be dramatic."

Asked what she will miss most about Emmerdale, Thomson replied: "I think, as with everything, you miss the people. They're a lovely crowd, great crew and actors and it's been a pleasure working with them.

"It's also been great fun to do something where it's all a bit heightened and you get to go around slapping other women - and there was a lot of slapping. I've enjoyed being the slappee and the slapper!"

Faye's most memorable storyline saw her involved in a long-running love triangle with her bigamist husband Mark Wylde (Maxwell Caulfield) and his second wife Natasha (Amanda Donohoe).

More recently, she has been stirring up trouble for Charity Dingle's (Emma Atkins) marriage after growing increasingly frustrated by her close relationship with Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson).

I'll miss Faye, but lets face it, they've wasted her for the last year.

I probably would have John and Moira reunite, but only after a long road.

Initially I was going to have Moira/Faye get together but I don't think Faye would be with Moira after she was with Ryan. But I do think that Faye should explore her sexuality and I could see her in a lesbian storyline, as a real story, not just a tease -- I don't know about you but I have always gotten that vibe from her.

The one element that I liked about their story is the Eve angle. So much of that went unexplored and a lot of development could come out from that without resorting to sleeping around with every available girl in the village. Plus, it's too much to have both John and Moira sleeping around with everyone, as the same story beats will be presented, and it'll come across a bit repetitive. I'm not sure how believable it would be with John, as so far he's never come across as a big drowning-of-sorrows kinda guy, and is actually quite controlled, whereas Moira, I could see it happening, but do I want to see yet another woman taken down this path? Not really. Wait... I think you said that John could have a sex addiction, which could make it more believable. Like, he could have sought counselling for it years ago, and this could be a relapse - his usual controlled manner can be explained as a result of his therapy. OK, now I like this.

I've never gotten that vibe from Faye, but I could see it happening. Where's Zoe Tate when you need her? I wish they'd bring her back, as she was my fave character for so many years. I miss Zoe. Have you noticed how you seem to have a lot of sexuality/sexual stories happening all at once? Nikhil revealing he's bi/experimented w/ guys, John and Moira sleeping around, Faye exploring her sapphic side, Layla pimping out ex-stripper David for money...

I think Faye needs a new character to enter the show, a man who'd be her prince - figuratively and literally. I really want her to be lady of the manor, and I could also see Ella feeling threatened by that, as she's currently the lady of Home Farm. Speaking of, I did like your idea to give Ella a mental health past, but I wasn't a fan of her killing herself in a botched suicide. I think there's a lot that can be explored and developed with her, and killing her off would curtail all of that possibility.

The reason I mentioned Lizzie was because I thought the show was starting to hint at it, and also because Lizzie seems to have no purpose. A story about a blind woman struggling to overcome a rape would be interesting and I think it would be a test of the woman who plays her.

I guess I was trying to recreate some past dramatic stories, most of which I enjoyed on Emmerdale, about covered up murders.

It's true, Lizzie has zero purpose. But, if the writing wasn't there, it could come across as bad taste and tacky victimizing the blind girl. It would be interesting if done right.

Oh Carl, what about Victoria?

As for the Kings, I'd write them all out, that includes Nicola and especially Rodney.

The strongest point I felt was the Ashley story, which is very Emmerdale FARM to me.

I keeping forgetting about Victoria! And so it seems does Carl - and the show. I think there's scope for Victoria in the Eric/Val talk show story, as that would definitely need more purpose, and involving Victoria and Amy would do that. I think Victoria could get a taste for acting or something, and they could explore the dark side to achieving that. The off-shot could be that Amy is out for celebrity and fame, while Victoria is wanting something more real and substantial, like an actual career. It's easier for Amy to achieve 15 minutes of fame, while Victoria struggles to get noticed, and thus falls into sinister hands.

The David story is weird but then so are the characters. I just get that sense from David and Leyla and always have, that they would be more suited to somewhat odd stories about sex and so on than about most of what the show has given them. I can also see Leyla doing that type of thing, since she has run up debts before. She slept with Nathan, or almost slept with him, for money, I believe.

This is why I went with the David & Layla story, b/c they are quite weird characters, while being quite ordinary at the same time. I did have a WTF!? moment when you made David an ex-stripper, but I can see that they are characters that would suit the more OTT crazy stories that Emmerdale used to do. Not sure how easily David would agree to being an escort, considering the drama that blackmailing chick with that DVD, created. And Layla would have to be pretty desperate... I'd also probably keep Alicia around as well, as I quite like her, and she's hot, too.

I'd get rid of Mia and Scarlett, as the latter has out stayed her welcome, and the former is too dull and ill defined - a wet match has more spark than her.

Carl, that's all quite interesting - I do like most of it, but there are parts that aren't quite right.

Like, Robert Sugden being bi and having a past relationship with Nikhil. I like the idea of Nikhil being bi and having experienced something similar to Debbie, but not with Robert.

I'm in favour of any story that ships Jackson/Hazel/Aaron out of town that doesn't involve some tragic suicide.

Love the idea of Eric buying a TV network and Val having her own talk show (as long as it's nothing like the horror that was Jack & Jen's In The House on Days).

Don't like the Lisa murders Derek story, as not only would it be another murder cover-up, but I don't want to see Lisa taken down that route. And I don't believe Zak would ever leave his family under any circumstances. And I'm not so sure about Lizzie being raped, either - something about violating a blind woman doesn't sit right.

Would you have John & Moira reunited in the end?

And you don't seem to have any real story for Faye!

More ratings for the week of Jan 17.

Mon: 315,000

Tues: 319,000

Wed: 321,000

Thurs: 284,000

Fri: 224,000

Jan 24.

Mon: 330,000

It also seems that Eleven's audience share dips considerably at the weekend when Neighbours doesn't air...

Also, Ten's new News hour shows from 6pm premièred to just 606,000 and 537,000 respectively.

Re: Sonya's story... It does look interesting, and I'm intrigued to see how it all plays out, but it is a shame that certain facts look like they will be forgotten, like Callum's aunt in Ballarat who he went to stay with after his Nan was hospitalized before Toadie adopted him. What's frustrating is that this all happened in the last 3 years, the same length of time Susan Bower has been with the show, making it her original story development after she axed the East Timor story, so she should be able to remember her own recent history!

I wonder if it might have been different if they had used other characters for reactions. Carl, Andy, Ryan, and Katie wouldn't react if everyone in the world was turned into a cockroach, so why were they put in the middle of a fire? The woman who plays Brenda seemed to go wildly over the top just to compensate.

Like?

I guess they threw those characters into the mix, b/c they're men, and it's the whole Action Man complex that they were going for - young guys saving damsels from a nasty fire. You'll notice that they were all women that needed saving (Chas, Katie, Gennie, Betty, Viv). Brenda was a little OTT, but in her later scenes, I thought she was spot on. Actually, her little storyline with Terry before the fire, was the first time I actually liked her character. Now, I bet she'll sail off on that cruise she's been harping on about, in order to get away from it all.

Apparently Deena Payne said that the show told her they weren't able to get the actors who played Donna and Scott back for her funeral (I'm not sure if they mentioned Adele Silva or not since they must have known they were bringing her back). Deena contacted the actors and they told her the show never even asked.

Deena also said she contacted AS, too, and all of them said they weren't asked. Ironically, AS is returning at a later date, so why they couldn't have brought her back for her mother's funeral, is crazy. They didn't want to, that's why. Cleansing the show of Viv is a lot harder to do when you bring back her kids to mourn.

From what I've read, even Kathy, who was let go after criticizing the show to the press, got a better exit, didn't she?

From what I remember, Kathy was serenaded by some singer. It was quaint and nice.

The only bright side of all of this is that is proves deaths don't equal great soap drama. I can understand why people disliked the Vic fire but I never understood the idea there, or with Lucas' reveal, that everything would have been more exciting if someone had been killed. Viv/Terry, along with the empty deaths of Steph/Malachy on Hollyoaks and Ashley and Molly on Corrie, show just how little impact soap deaths can have IMO. It's all forgotten in a week or less, on one show after another.

I think it was Sylph, that once said that he liked that all characters can be killed off no matter what their standing (or something to that effect), but I think this is proof of what can happen when shows kill off vets in a hollow story. If there was more apprehension when dealing with vets, then at least we wouldn't have to get disrespectful exits like this. Whose going to remember this fire? Or that Viv & Terry died in it? The plane crash happened in 1993 and it's still remembered to this day, even the bus crash that killed Butch, or the Storm, are more memorable than this fire. Ever since that shoddy house explosion in 2006, the disasters have been poor and hollow.

There was a time when death had shockwaves. Now, death is a quick fix for short term drama. Neighbours killed off Ringo at the hands of Steph, who had been on the show for 11 years, just so they could heap more misery and sadness onto her character, giving her one of the grimiest endings I've seen on the show. Steph had already been taken down, why the need to go further? Why not let Ringo & Donna leave together? But this is the direction all soaps are/have taken; it's like they're all high, always going for the quick hit, then they come down, and it's time for the next hit. This is a slow death.

No funeral? I guess they really hated her character (or her). LOL!

Not just no funeral, but no burial in the village cemetery next to her husband, Vic's, grave, of which she's lived for nearly 2 decades! They hate her. They're eradicating her from ED history, so they must do.

I knew this was going to be a bad exit for Viv, b/c this story is about Andy/Katie/PsychoCop, and nothing else. The fire merely presented an easy way to get rid of Viv without actually having to write for her. And this story with A/K/PC isn't that great anyway, considering it's rushed, with little to no time to care about Henshall, or growing to care about him and Katie as a couple.

The show seems to have a select set of characters that they're interested in writing for, while others are constantly backburned, like Nikhill (who probably won't get another story for months), Jai (whose stuck in this super slow story with Charity & Cain), Faye, Victoria, Declan, Debbie, Ryan, Gennie, Brenda, Diane, Laural, Ashley... Granted, the majority of the cast do seem to be involved in something, even if that something is small and secondary to everything else that's going on. And a lot of that is very direction-less. Where are they taking Eric/Val/Amy? The Bartons? Zak/Lisa/Derek? Paddy/Rhona/Marlon? Declan's Family?

Is it really just the sensitivity of James dying or is the swap that's the problem? A combo of both?

It's the baby switch. Or rather, it's the fact that a dead baby was switched with a living baby, leaving one family to horrifically grieve unnecessarily. If it had been a run of the mill switch with two living babies, then no controversy and no fuss, but b/c one died, that seems to have been taken as a step too far, and one that has hit a lot of mothers hard (whether they've experienced SIDS or not).

Amongst all the outrage, you have a lot of people who don't watch the show, but have read all the tabloid press, listened to the radio, etc. and formed an opinion based on that, and have decided the switch was bad, and that no mother would ever do that. These people don't know Ronnie's character, and just feel the story is horrible. Someone said to me today, that they don't watch EE, but read about the story and feel the baby switch was going too far. These opinions are pointless, IMO, and shouldn't be taken into any consideration by TPTB, b/c they don't watch the show and have no investment in any of it, so why give them the time of day?

Yes, the story is harrowing and confronting, but so has a lot of other stories in EE, like their domestic violence story, or stories about rape, murder, and more violence, yet no-one seems to mind those!? Some people seem to find it too confronting, and wrongly feel like a negative stereotype will be born from Ronnie's actions, when it is clear that Ronnie's actions are not of a normal mother having lost her baby to SIDS. I'm also certain that if Ronnie had stolen some random baby from an off screen couple, there wouldn't be any outrage at all.

Maybe they shouldn't have written it straight, and instead left it so we didn't know the baby switch had taken place. Simply have Ronnie go to check on her baby, then at the end, have Alfie & Kat discover their baby is dead. Basically, keep it as it was but don't show Ronnie discovering her baby dead, and switching him with A&K's. Her strange behaviour could be attributed to PND, which would allow for the switch to be a shocking curve ball.

Thanks Amello.

She was Filipino! Now I remember, sort of. I liked her. You'd think I'd remember a name like, Dee De La Cruz. LOL.

Some of that Eric/Elizabeth/Michael story rings a bell. Do you want Eric to be a murderer or not? Would it change his character if he was?

I think Andy & Katie are played out. I think they suit being friends that still have a connection, but one that isn't romantic. Andy needs to move on, and find happiness with someone else.

Okay I'll weigh in too. Perhaps my standards have dropped but I find the show much more watchable now than I have done in over 18 months. I no longer feel as though the foundation of the show has crumbled beyond repair because the balance has changed and I'm now watching stories that interest me as opposed to teen romance nonsense 90% of the time.

I just want to add that I do agree with this, and that the show is much more enjoyable to watch these days than it has been - it has definitely improved. I don't want to confuse people when I say that, after my last post, but for me, even with the improved drama, the show is still lacking in other Neighbours qualities, which separates it from other shows, like H&A. In their bid to improve and be modern, they've gone down the path of simply focusing on misery to create drama, instead of also using humour and happiness to create those warm magic moments that Neighbours did so well. Otherwise, characters become like Steph, where their lives revolve around one miserable climax after another. There's also a coldness that arrived with Parkers, and has stayed ever since.

I wonder if the show will go PG for random episodes? That way the overall show will still be G rated, with the added bonus of writing PG material for singular episodes.

I loved the slap down that Chas gave Eve, and that Eve fought back. But, Chas being nasty to Ashley and Andy left a bad taste for me. That was unnecessary, and Charity doesn't help.

I love that the Eric story from 1993 has been brought back up, after long been forgotten. But, I'm confused. I thought Elizabeth was the Thai bride that Eric married (actually, I can't remember if they did), who mysteriously disappeared. But, she isn't, and I vaguely remember Elizabeth, and I'm now confused as to what actually happened to the Thai bride, and why Eric wanted Elizabeth dead. I do remember that he was going to kill her, but the plane crash did that for him - or did he kill her and place her body amongst the wreckage to make it look like the plane crash did it?

Does anyone else think Katie's new beau, the cop, will turn out to be some sort of psycho stalker, and Andy will have to eventually save her? I bet they'll use this to prop an Andy/Katie reunion of some sorts, with Katie having to apologize for not believing him.

I think it's because they don't consider Vanessa an important character (what should have been a long story with Harry was cut short very abruptly), so instead we just hear that they were fighting.

They do seem to have gone backwards with Vanessa. Like, the Harry story was popular, so they've shelved it and everyone involved, when really, it was just Harry. They've made the point of putting her with Max, and I think it's a cop out not to follow that through when she's needed. Otherwise, just split them up, and move her out of his orbit, that way, whenever Max does something, we won't be wondering where her reaction is, and instead we'll get Lauren's take on things.

Stacey's suicide bid worked for drama (since that was how Bradley died)

I got that straight away. What bugged me was how Stacey got there in such a hurried fashion. After Janine tries to frame Stacey by stabbing herself, she sees blood on her hand, remembers Bradley falling from the roof, and decides to throw herself off that same roof!? Why? She wasn't suicidal 5 minutes before Janine showed up, so why the sudden need to kill herself at that point? Seems it was just thrown in to ramp up the sensational drama, with no thought to story or where the character was psychologically at.

If you look at the episode, Dot is crippled by loneliness, Carol is still screwed up, Jean tries to kill herself, Janine is weeping in the hospital abandoned by everyone after a weird quasi-suicide bid. Yet it just seemed true to the characters.

This is true; it all felt very in character. I did like how CB played Janine as if she was still sane, as her actions could've easily been played as if she had slipped into psycho territory. I like that she's kept her sanity.

My belated two cents worth on the recent eps.

I'm with Sylph and James on the Xmas Day ep, as I didn't enjoy that, but I never actually thought I would, as I haven't been invested in any of the J/R/S triangle, due to its plotiness and lack of depth (it didn't help that I read the leaked ending in a tabloid a couple of months ago). The episode felt too OTT for me, and there was a lot going on, which meant a lot of things weren't properly developed enough. Janine stabbing herself would've been enough, without Stacey climbing onto the roof, suddenly feeling suicidal for 5 minutes. B/c it was so rushed, Max didn't seem to have any concern for her mental health, even though the girl was inches from throwing herself off a building! Then there was Janine, staggering across the Square for about 30 minutes, bleeding, but never actually collapsing, even though she would've lost quite a bit of blood, considering she removed the towel for full bloody effect. Janine should've lost consciousness long before the paramedics arrived, or at least felt faint. However, I did like the ending with Max watching the plane, and Stacey looking out the window and onto the London skyline; I liked how Stax came full circle, and I liked how Ryan got dashed by Stacey. The final dialogue between Stacey/Jean was one of the best moments in the whole episode. But, I'm unsure if Stacey should have got away with murder, or if she should've gone to prison.

Boxing Day: I was really disappointed that all we got was those pesky Max/Lauren scenes, after the monumental decision Max made on Xmas day. He packed a bag with the intention of leaving the country, and his entire family (3 kids and a g/f) to be with Stacey, and all we get is a couple of scenes with Lauren!? Where were Vanessa, or Abi? We've seen months of Lauren's POV, and I believe it would've been more interesting to get Abi's take on things, and how she felt seeing Max chase after Stacey again, and potentially ruining yet another relationship with Vanessa (who Abi likes). Vanessa should've been there ready to talk about what he did, b/c that puts major questions on their relationship, and where they both stand - he was leaving her for another woman! The follow through on this show sucks so much. On a brighter note, I did like Pat slapping Ryan, and the scenes with Patrick/Denise/Kim/Dot, Bianca/Phil, Ryan/Janine/Pat/Ricky. I think Ryan & Janine have a lot of potential to be like one of those destructive couples, where they do really bad things to each other (like trying to murder one another), but deep down, love each other, and will do anything for the other. We just need to see more scenes that demonstrate the latter, and for Ryan to realize that he and Janine are a match made in Hell. Sort of like a Mr. & Mrs. Smith-esque couple. It would only work if the writing was there, and I don't think it is, especially for Ryan's character.

Monday: I loved this ep so much more than the last two. The scenes with Kat/Ronnie/Jean were so well acted by GW, and that last scene was quite harrowing. I'm even suspending by disbelief over Kat & Ronnie's insta-friendship. I loved the scenes at Dot's place, and Kim is so awesome. Sad that P/K/D have left Dot's to stay with the Beales, as the potential of that set-up wasn't explored long enough. I wish we had seen more of Denise; she's so neglected. The weird Carol/Connor thing is back on, and still without any further exploration of Carol's motivation - she mothers him, she sleeps with him...

Steph's story represents the good and the bad. Its destroyed her character, and ruined several others in the process, but it has given us some awesome scenes after the revelation. These have shown that the show can write good dramatic material, but, it's all tainted by the fact that the story should never have happened in the first place. I guess, a lot of people (and me included) would've suspended our disbelief, if the execution had been right, and if the plot hadn't of ruined Steph and Toadie, and to a degree, Libby as well (she would never have left a heavily pregnant Steph collapsed on the floor).

I have no problem with Karl, and I don't see why anyone should. Steph killed Ringo - a young man that Karl treated like a son - while over the alcohol limit. There are extenuating circumstances, like Steph having PND, but it's understandable that Karl would want some kind of justice.

When I look back at where Steph is now, it saddens me, b/c the character has fallen so far from where she once was. It's all misery after misery for her, and that's sad and disappointing. There have been some good scenes between Steph & Libby, and all the referencing of the past, and acknowledging how one-sided their friendship has become (Steph doing more for Libby), the scene where Steph gave Dan their baby, was written so simply and beautifully, and Sonya, being the only character in this mess, to stay true to her self - she's a diamond, and one I'm glad they've made permanent. Sadly, the good does not outweigh the bad. And even the good is bad in itself, b/c you have to forget that they would never being acting like that in the first place, and simply enjoy the well written dramatic material for what it is.

And here's the thing: 2009 was dreck, and really killed the shows rep in Oz. So, any good in 2010 was always going to be an improvement. Steph's story and the character of Sam Fitzgerald both symbolise the limits of Bower's writing and storytelling capabilities. She's all about good and evil, and struggles with grey; plot over character - that's her style. Sam was an awesomely multifaceted character under the previous regime, but Bower made her evil; Steph's story could've been written with character, but instead it was all about plot - dark plots.

Neighbours is not about darkness, but about human kindness, love and good humour. Dark stories have there place when told with the right balance, and with the right characters, but when the show is flooded with misery and nastiness, it's difficult to appreciate the good dark stories, like Paul blackmailing Rebecca to stay married. That story has so many layers, and as dark as it is, one that probably gets written off as more of the same. But I love its potential, and appreciate it for what it is; Jane Hall & Stefan Dennis sell the material, too, which is a bonus.

Maybe it will be brilliantly written and produced, but ultimately, it will be a grim exit for a character that deserves some kind of positive exit. Why must Janice been reduced to fearing for her safety? Why can't she leave on a semi-happy note? Why must everything be dark? (And I love dark stories when there in the right place, and when the show has varying shades.)

Molly's funeral was disappointing, and I lost interest. Sally running out wasn't right, and I can't help being reminded of her numerous adulterous affairs, which I wonder why Kevin doesn't mention. Also, I hated the reaction Rita got, when everyone found out she was trapped under the rubble, and no-one cared to go see if she was OK. Instead, Steve cuts in to toast to the death bed wedding! And Nick goes into the pub, leaving the old people to run across the street to get help!? Insensitive and ridiculous.

All the good is tainted by all the mistakes that hack, Susan Bower, constantly churns out. That article is spot on, when Jenny Lewis says that the only way the show will move forward, is when Bower is willing to acknowledge her own mistakes. Every bit of negativity that is thrown at the show, Bower will put on a disillusioned positive spin, like it's all not really happening.

Basically, she has zero clue as to what the show is about, and where its heart lies, and without this basic knowledge, she's constantly screwing the show over. Her version of family friendly is childish, immature, mediocre and twee; her desire to be edgy is character destroying. She doesn't want the show to be daggy, but daggy is what the show is about, and if you're ashamed of that, then she has no business being Exec Producer. Of course, she's too stubborn to step down, and FrematleMedia are too stupid to fire her, and hire someone with the love that this show deserves.

As for ratings, well, that depends on the country. The Australian ratings have taken a battering these last few months, sinking to an all time low of 350,000 (I think it was), but the UK ratings have improved a lot, and have been pulling in highs of 1.65m for event episodes, and stabilizing at around 1.48m. This is a sign that the quality has improved, but also representing that the shows Oz reputation is shattered beyond repair(?)

That Janice spoiler is so grim and unnecessary. I really wanted a positive end to the character, and have it tie into her short-term desire to be a nurse (which was a good career move for her - I loved those hospital scenes she did during her training, when she met that patient), and not have that period be for nothing.

And, I won't care for Lloyd's involvement, either. What a mess.

Jenny Lewis: We need GOOD Neighbours

Neighbours will return in 2011, but whether the viewers will is another question altogether.

Jenny Lewis, a former Neighbours writer and editor, believes that the show could yet rediscover its spark: but only if the powers that be acknowledge where it all went wrong.

At the end of its 25th year, Neighbours is pulling its lowest-ever figures and will soon take up residence at Ten's secondary channel, Eleven. Instead of tackling the glaringly obvious cause of the show's illness, FremantleMedia are killing it, cutting costs and production values so drastically that the UK's Channel 5 will surely have grounds to escape their long-term contract with the show.

So why did this once proud icon fall from grace so spectacularly in the first place?

Well, we could commentate forever but, first and foremost, some catastrophic personnel decisions led to the storytelling becoming plagued with cynicism, unenlightenment and insincerity. This new tone is in stark contrast to the foundations Neighbours was built on. It was built on love. (And yes, I know it sounds corny, but Neighbours was always out-and-proud corny, so stay with me!)

Original script producer Ray Kolle and his team generated stories and characters that attracted tens of millions of viewers the world over, and he agrees the show's success was due to its love affair with the audience.

"I think the viewers loved Neighbours because we did, and we always tried to bring out the best in our characters."

Looking back, it's obvious the Neighbours characters were drawn with a very loving hand. The makers gave them a variety of colours in their palettes and didn't put them through anything they weren't prepared to add to the sum of their parts. The characters had good sides and bad – and lots in between – but their actions were always motivated and the prices they paid were relative.

This was a good-hearted character-driven show, with themes about the preciousness of friendship and family. The audience forgave Neighbours' shortcomings – and let's face it, there were plenty – because the picture it painted of the world they lived in was profoundly gratifying. It was a love-fest.

Now retired, Kolle feels Neighbours has lost the love and says, with a palpable sadness: "I stopped watching because I couldn't bear to see just how badly the characters were being treated."

Storytelling is about putting your characters under pressure, and how they cope defines who they are. In Kolle's day, the outcomes validated the viewers' faith in humanity, but now their worst fears are realised. Instead of bringing out the best, the makers take a more misanthropic (and certainly misogynist) approach, readily sacrificing their characters' integrity to get "wow" moments or plot twists.

The result is a showcase of the rotten side of human nature – betrayal, selfishness, bad parenting, duplicity, blackmail and hypocrisy are the norm – which wouldn't be so bad if we weren't also asked not only to forgive and forget, but to sympathise with and barrack for these unprincipled lumps, even when they kill someone. This striking misinterpretation of right and wrong clashes with the show's original value systems, and leaves a very bad taste in the mouth. It's certainly not what the audience signed up for.

That's not to cast any aspersions on the actors. They are beyond wonderful, and it's testament to their skill and genuine warmth (not to mention Jan Russ's exquisite casting before she was replaced last year) that the often murky subtext is rescued.

But certainly the cast are casualties of this rough patch. Janet Andrewartha's performances are at times breathtaking. Jackie Woodburne could be Australian's answer to Sally Field, but instead she's relegated to the sidelines. The fact that Margot Robbie (Donna Freedman) and Ian Smith (Harold Bishop) were denied Logies last year, even though she was a clear standout and his portrayal of one of the most loved Australian characters of all time would have otherwise made him the sentimental favourite, shows that the viewers are reluctant to reward Neighbours' current outlook on life.

Previews for upcoming stories when Neighbours moves to Eleven indicate that this outlook isn't about to change anytime soon. It's more of the same plot-driven stuff – destruction, revenge, forbidden trysts, accidents and tragedy – which, if not told with emotional truth, dissolves like fairy floss rather than filling an audience up.

The purpose of this piece is not to kick a dog when it's down, but to bring home the point that there's life in the old dog yet. And I don't mean the life support provided by Channel 5. The heart creator Reg Watson and Ray Kolle gave the show is still beating in there somewhere and, if it's nurtured and restyled to suit the 21st century, Neighbours could yet enjoy a renaissance.

Everyone scoffs when I say that, but Packed to the Rafters (not to mention MasterChef) enjoys great success because of the very same essence Neighbours was founded on: people are basically good, and love is the glue that holds the world together. And because we need those messages validated now more than ever, there's no reason this magical show couldn't reclaim its fame. It just needs to be loved.

It's time the big guns made some smart changes.

Jenny Lewis is a television screenwriter with two decades' experience as a writer, editor and author. Her website is www.jennylewis.com.au.

James: As awesome as that promo looks, it does symbolise everything that is wrong with the show.

I'm really enjoying the earthquake storyline so far. I know people hated the fact that none of the major characters died, but I could care less. It's been done really well. The only boring part is Dana/Meg telling each other stories while being trapped (that's the only part I keep FFing). Michael/Vanessa and the Richards/Deschanel clan is really great.

I was one of those people, but the fact that it was all produced really well (the best soap quake I've seen) is a saving grace. It's just a shame they couldn't keep that momentum after it all ended. Also, the time line really screwed with the other stories, and confessed the hell out of Vanessa's pregnancy - in RT she should've been, like 5/6 months gone, but they decided to keep the 2 month earthquake as one day so they could match when Vanessa & Tyus didn't do the deed. And ITA, those Dana/Meg scenes were boring.

The cruise part of the story is even better than the stuff on land. NBC packaged those episodes into a condensed one hour primetime event which was effectively done well.

Francsesca wasnt so bad at first but she eventually gets annoying

I preferred the earthquake to the tsunami, as I felt that played too much on the Poseidon Adventure, and I knew how it was all gonna play out. The Cole/Caitlin/Francesca/Philip stuff was good though. The quake wasn't as predictable, and I generally prefer quake drama to capsized ships.

Francesca was awesome. Nothing about her was annoying; in fact, she made a lot of other characters interesting, like AJ, Caitlin, and brought out a side to Antonio we hadn't seen. I loved their history, and the jealousy that Francesca had towards Gabi after seeing that tape.

If I'm going to post anything today, it's that I never ever want to see Lynn return, ever! I can't explain how much I detested that character. It didn't help that I never liked the actor either, so everything about Lynn sucked. She was miserable and dreary, with a droll vocal tone to match. She was truly one the worst character ever, on this show - IMO - I had hoped that the cardboard fair ground would've squashed her flat, but sadly it didn't. I'd happily take the Ferreiras and Shirley the Cat Lady over her any day. In fact, I'd compromise and except Sonia's recurring return, if it meant never seeing Lynn, again.