‘Loving’ Not Living Up To Expectations by Connie Passalacqua
ABC premiered “ Loving" last June with every hope that the show, created and controlled by a triumvirate of top daytime production talents, would quickly gain the high ratings associated with their past triumphs. Nine months later, however, the show languishes near the bottom of the ratings. This has been a great disappointment to the admirers of co-creator Agnes Nixon (headwriter of “ All My Children”), co-creator and headwriter Doug Marland (former headwriter of "Guiding Light”) and producer Joe Stuart (who previously produced “One Life to Live"). The show's key problem since the beginning is its lack of original story lines — just what you wouldn’t expect from Marland and Miss Nixon, who in the past have' proven to be the two most innovative storytellers in the soap business.
Many of Loving's" plot lines have been recycled from the writers' past shows. For example, the story centering on the split personality of Lily Slater (Jennifer Ashe) resembled Miss Nixon’s Vicki/Nicki plot line on “One Life to Live" of more than a decade ago The current love triangle between Stacey Donovan (Lauren-Marie Taylor), Tony Pirelli (Richard McWilliams) and Lorna Forbes (Susan Walters), in which a pregnant Loma has separated the other two (true) lovers is reminiscent of Marland’s Morgan-Kelly-Nola triangle on “Guiding Light” three years ago.
Despite this major handicap. “ Loving’ has many commendable aspects. The production values are first-rate Its costumes, designed by Bob Anton and its sets, designed by Boyd Dumbrose are the best of all the daytime shows. The show has brought to public attention the work of several excellent actors new to both soaps and television James Kiberd’s portrayal of Mike Donovan is reminiscent of the work of the early Marlon Brando. Perry Stephens has grown in his role as Lily ’s confused boyfriend. Jack Forbes. It’s too bad, however, that the show saw fit to dismiss its two most talented actresses — Shannon Eubans. who played the classy Ann Forbes, and Patricia Kalember. who played the intelligent Merrill Vochek — because of supposed lack of story line for each actor
By
Paul Raven ·
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