OLTL- What is going on over there?

[2shane8]

I couldn't disagree more with the original post. This has been MY SHOW since 1988, and I dropped it from July to November, but I'm extremely impressed with things right now.

I agree with the previous poster who said KDP better get a prenom, and I'll go one step further and say she needs to be in the final nominees list. She did her usual superb work with material that was made to destroy her character, and a lot of what she did was subtle, and very difficult for a soap. During Todd's execution, for example, Blair felt sick with despair, and we FELT that, even though as the story was written, she should have looked like a [!@#$%^&*]. She may have to a lot of people, but we could still feel Blair's undying love for Todd, and this was an example of an actress triumphing over shoddy writing for her character.

Whether the show is perfect or not, the fact is that someone has listened to fans. Things are changing. If you don't like what Nora and Lindsay are doing, fine: don't watch. However, I love seeing them on my screen, and it's not like I don't know their backgrounds and life stories. I just consider that they have been living their lives mostly off screen, and now they are back on the screen a couple of days a week, and I am very happy about this. There is absolutely no denying that air time for John McBain and Antonio Vega has decreased. They are on about two-thirds as much as they were a year ago. Spencer is done, which is what a lot of people wanted. Cat Hickland is back on contract. HBS was saved from the chopping block.

Viki is utilized, and yes, I hate it when she is only used to prop, but the fact of the matter is, the character is the matriarch of the leading family, and she has ties to just about everyone in town due to her standing. So, it's natural that she is going to prop and support at times, because she is tied to leading characters on the show, such as Natalie, Jessica, Todd, et. al. And when you have a gem like Erika Slezak, she can sort of reel you in even when she is just support, because of all that she stands for. However, a leading storyline is a necessity, and I think that what they are doing with Viki-Clint-Dorian counts as a storyline. They are pros, they have history, they have chemistry ... it's not like it's the most original concept, but I don't really feel like seeing these characters in some groundbreaking storyline about saving the rain forest or cracking security codes at Bank of America.

OLTL is finally about to have a second Super Couple to go along with their long-tortured Todd & Blair (who are far from over) in the form of Jessica and Nash. This is a couple that has energy, spark, and chemistry to spare, and the actors are both very easy to look at and talented to boot. Marcie & Michael could be a third super couple if the writers continue to WRITE for them after the Tommy stuff. However, here is another example of people in charge listening! M&M were nothing more than bit players at the dawn of last year, but now they are about to have a huge front-burner storyline which has been building over the fall and winter months. Kathy Brier will surely amaze, just as she did at the denouement of the Killing Club fiasco.

To me, OLTL has always been about a diverse cast of characters living their exciting lives in this town of Llanview, and the uniquely talented cast who has brought them to life. OLTL has never really "looked" like any of the other soaps. There is something about this show that has always been a little different, and that is why I have loved it for so long. With renewed focus on Dorian, Clint, Viki, Todd, Blair, Nora, Bo, Lindsay, Marty, and great new blood like Nash, Jessica, Rex, Michael, and Marcy, I feel very much like I am watching the show I have loved all of these years.

Things are looking up, and while there is still much room for improvement, I am grateful that change is being made, and I don't fast forward too much these days.

[2shane8]

sorry about these damned double posts

[juniorz1]

That's not saying much, considering the other 2 ABC soaps.

Thanks for posting 2shane! I was waiting to hear your thoughts. Don't get me wrong, I do think improvements are being made to the show. But damn it when I tune in to OLTL, I want One Life To Live and I just don't feel the current regime is giving us that. What I really wanted to emphasize was the lack of colorful characters and atypical storytelling, two of the main trademarks of the series. It's a lot of doom and gloom and has been for a long while. I remember Higley did get on a roll in May of 2005, but hasn't been able to recapture that since.