Jump to content

March 3-7, 2008


Toups

Recommended Posts

  • Members

I've seen several people on various boards suggest recently that having AMC as the lead-in is dragging OLTL and GH down.

Up until recently I felt that OLTL and GH would rise or fall on their own merits; if people wanted to watch those shows then they would watch, regardless of the state of AMC.

However I've read many people state that if their TV is on ABC at 1:00 for AMC then chances are they will leave it there and it will be on ABC at 2:00 and 3:00. However if they don't bother tuning into AMC then chances are their TV will not be tuned to ABC at 2:00 and 3:00 for OLTL and GH. If they watched Y&R instead of AMC then chances are they will stick with the CBS line-up for that day.

I'm starting to believe AMC has become a complete liability to the line-up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 183
  • Created
  • Last Reply
  • Members

I don't subscribe to the lead in theory much. Because AMC is now higher than OLTL and GH has always been higher than both but I wholeheartedly agree that AMC has an unusually toxic effect on the whole lineup. AMC was the shining star of daytime and Susan Lucci could arguably be called the queen of soaps. (I said 'arguably' so don't jump on me folks!) She's easily daytime's most recognizable star to people who don't watch soaps. I've often thought of AMC as a "gateway" soap a sort of bridge that could turn non soap watchers into soap watchers. Now unfortunately... you know how certain poisons accumulate in certain organs faster? Like carbon monoxide displaces oxygen and mercury accumulates in the brain, all the garbage at ABC has settled in most acutely at AMC. Everything wrong with ABC can be seen most clearly at AMC. And I think it has "poisoned" the rest of the body. I mean really, what else could we call that pole dancing crap besides poison?

JMHO.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

At first I was surprised OLTL had sunk down to last. The show, even under scab writing, is much better than it was under Higley. They were getting tons of publicity for the lead story. However, the whole canvas does have a number of problems, as does that lead story. .

Starr and Cole consumating should have been some type of couple payoff, but it wasn't. Starr and Cole may be getting a 'super-couple' treatment, and they fit the formula almost too nicely, but they just are NOT a super couple. Cole simply just isn't popular enough to carry this story or that load. They've orphaned the character, stuck him with idol Easton and Nora, even teased him with Langston - and he should be a figure tied in Llanview history. Still, my feeling upon hearing this story spoiled was 'does that mean Starr is stuck with Cole for ANOTHER year?' (I know Frons loves Starr and COle, but I'd think even a random sampling of the viewing audience might indicate it's not everything it could and should be.)

The angle that had any appeal for me was Todd vs. Starr, but even that is minimal. Todd running from Ramsey and beating up teens? Sounds more like must-miss than must see. Starr has been watered down for so long, this feud doesn't have the zing it would have four years ago. KA's youthful appearance only adds an ick factor reminiscent of Higley's OLTL. My real issue is that Cole is just so not worth the feud. (Now, Travis might have been...even Markko MIGHT have been, but he's been blanded as well.) Sticking John's nose into it only made certain I would avoid it. It's not like he has a dog in the fight.

I don't mind a good teen story, but the teen stories are creeping up earlier and earlier, and I don't see much of interest in this teen scene -- especially since they've made the character I would have the most sympathy with into a total jerk(Todd). Blair's a dupe, and Nora irrelevant. Not even the BE story could make me tune in these days...so why am I surprised others didn't?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

A serious cry for alcohol counseling? 'Cuz, you know, B&E have to be hitting the bottle hard to think that was compelling entertainment.

I don't think AMC is a liability to the ABCD lineup. I think Brian Frons is the liability.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I completely agree!!

I'm just sick of Frons' pets and bringing stuff that his pets do in real life to the show. Rebecca Bugid mentions in an interview she pole dances, suddenly GREENLEE suggests pole dancing. Koinkydink? I think not <_<

Cameron Mathison was on Dancing with the Stars, and suddenly we get Maksim from DWTS on the show.

Yet they wouldn't even let Lucci off a year or so ago when she wanted to do DWTS(but they pretty much gave Cam, the sun, the moon and the stars) <_<

So you're right, Frons is the liability. Doesn't help he keeps hiring hacks for AMC. I fear if they're not gone soon AMC will be cancelled in less than a year

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

True, I think OLTL is hiring pretty people now instead of actors who will take control of the part. ET, Clint Ritchie, Roger Howarth, REG, all left for their own reasons. They were not fired. REG may be different but it sounds like it was contract. That one is iffy though.

Now, I will say that I am pissed about Dan G. It's no because the part could not be recast, it is because it reflects so much about what is wrong with OLTL. Dan G. got canned by Frank because he told the truth. Now we can all points fingers at Frons, and he is a huge huge problem, but canning Dan was Frank. So why does that stink? Because it had nothing to do with viewers -- in fact viewers loved him in the part; it had nothing to do with the character; it really had nothing to do with the actor -- from everything I read he was a great cast member and is sorely missed. It was entirely Frank getting his little panties in a knot.

That is what is wrong with OLTL. That show does not give one flip about the viewers and that attitude has not changed one bit. I don't blame RC, but I also don't think the show has improved under his pen and it won't because it has fundamental flaws that one writer can not fix.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Vee, I'm going to respectfully disagree with you on one point, and it is not even a total disagreement. I agree with much of what you said about newbies. I disagree about the introduction of one newby. I think Jared is way overexposed and was introduced poorly, very poorly. Giving him a family, also a newbie family, was a big mistake IMO. I think it hurt the character of Charlie also because instead of it being a sweet love story between Viki and Charlie, the story is now about the Newbie Family and Charlie's relationship to Jared. Jared is the star of the story, not Charlie and not Viki. Also -- and again I admit I don't watch now -- it's seemed Jared was always smarter than other characters. IMO, OLTL blew it with this character. This is another one that I don't blame RC for. OLTL just doesn't learn that you can't create this newbie and cram him down people's throat. Jared had some appeal at first, but I think his overexposure and his Spencer-like brilliance and heroics were a mistake.

By the way, I agree totally with you about overzealous soap columnist. Nelson Bracco has not done RC any favors. LOL.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Just to add insult to injury where Dan G was concerned. When news of Dan's firing hit and fans started to campaign for him, (at the urging of his castmates) TIIC shoved him out the door SOONER. That's right. They moved up his exit date. Talk about getting panties in a knot. Frank not only took out his anger on Dan, he took it out on Dan's fans for daring to state what we wanted. And after reading how Frank refuses to allow Forbes March to cut his hair, I'm pretty convinced the guy's been taking lessons from Frons on how to be a controlling douchebag.

And I know somebody's going to jump on me for this, but on the subject of contract negotiations I think that Martha Byrne has done her fellow actors and their fans a tremendous services by spilling some of the details of her contract negotiations. How many times have we seen actors slandered for being "demanding" or acting like "divas" during their contract negs after receiving a "generous" offer? How many times do we read rumors that "actor x" was demanding storyline approval or "the sun, the moon and the stars?" Or worse yet, how many actors - like Dan G. - have been kicked to the curb because of "focus group feedback" when really it was managerial spite? I completely understand the need and desire to keep contract negotiations confidential but I hope more actors start speaking out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.



  • Recent Posts

    • There's some irony in Philip being forgiven, because it forces everyone to admit that Victor was wrong to change his will.  Everyone, eventually including Xander, (I presume), seems to think it was wrong for Victor to divide his estate in Xander's favor.  I appreciated Stephanie forgiving Philip, because she's got no skin in that game.  But, Belle's line about Philip missing Xander because he misses Bo did not ring true.  I think Philip would be sad if Bo dies, but I think he's more concerned currently about Xander. I am enjoying this EJ mystery so much that I am hereby taking a vow not to read spoilers.  I am also vowing — for the last time — to stop harping on this, but: the concept of a “sepsis treatment” remains absurd. Hospitals prevent sepsis through vigilant infection control; once sepsis sets in, it causes multiple organ failures. Treatment involves supporting each failing organ individually. The notion that a single medication could magically reverse organ failure is medically laughable. However, I like the contrast of Kim going through cancer, which is incurable in their universe.  Kayla's comment on the health of both of her siblings was both heartbreaking and an interesting twist.  MBE is also totally underrated.  She is carrying the weight of so many stories.   And, I like the use of Kayla as an audience surrogate.  She's arguably the most "real" person in Salem. Kayla isn't psychic, she wasn't SORASed, she's not a billionaire, and she doesn't have a bionic eye.  So, I enjoy that we get her perspective of the nuttiness that surrounds her. However, I don't get what gives her the authority to turn down EJ's offer.  I understand that they need a hospital figurehead to show us scenes of the competition to buy the hospital.  But, unless the entire administration has been let go, the Chief of Staff wouldn't make those choices.
    • But why worry about something that might not happen? Right now, most things revolve around the Duprees. We have no idea if or how long that will continue. For now, it's working.
    • The Duprees not having any staff is a bugbear for me. They've included the background staff at the Country Club but no one at the Dupree home. Even just an extra bringing in a tray of food/drinks or responding to a request from Anita would suffice.
    • Shut up, Dante and Lois.  I actually don't mind this particular soap trope, but in the context of this storyline, it just feels forced and unnecessary. If anything, this Dante/Gio tension needed to begin months ago. Plus, this storyline, in general, isn't doing Lois any favors either.  Emma comforting Gio was really sweet though. It's definitely time for the two of them to have their first kiss. And, Joss playing Secret Agent Barbie will just never work.
    • Note to makeup - Smitty’s eyebrows, bad clamshell look.  

      Please register in order to view this content

    • Okay I can buy that when Brook Lynn was a teen.  Now she knows the child is a boy one would think she'd be slightly suspicious.  Then again, Gio looks nothing like either of them so maybe not lol.
    • I've been behind & just got caught up & the last 3 days were amazing!
    • Yeah.  The hot, poor bad boy with a chip on his shoulder but with a heart of gold was a common soap trope in the 80s 

      Please register in order to view this content

    • That's been an issue with me... the lack of a cohesive 'Have Not' crowd that has focus other than Leslie/Eva.   I would beef up Jan, Mona, Laura, Joey, and few other male characters.. and not just be out to overthrow the Duprees.. but co-existing and broadening the scope of the show since the show is called Beyond the Gates. I think the set up the show has with everything revolving around the Duprees will become predictable especially if they always win.   It would be like Victor Newman on Y & R for 40+ years.. always winning, hardly ever losing.   With MVJ/Guza.. both trained under that mindset... I fear that will happen.   I've always heard from a performer that is playing a character like Leslie/Dana that you have to find the victim/hurt beneath the surface in order to play a villain/villainess... and I think that's why I enjoy watching her.. because she brings so much more to the part than what the writers put on the page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy