James Harmon Brown & Barbara Esensten: The Verdict

[brimike]

Exactly. And when scenes are just written over and over and over again, with the same six people talking about the same things, it can only mean one thing - the writers don't know what to do with them. And I just don't think that the same writers who started this intensely paced out story with major beats for a month or two for all the characters, both individually and as couples (IN THE BEGINNING) planned on their Act Two being "boring repetition". It just doesn't add up. And when it doesn't add up, I immediately assume something happened behind the scenes. Somebody pulled the rug out from under them, and unfortunately for the show, there didn't seem to be a "Plan B"

[marceline]

That's the funny part for me. One of the things people cite to crucify B&E is the Crash story but every time someone mentions it I just want to say "Don't know. Don't care. Wasn't watching then."

[dragonflies]

I would say why I think we're getting this sextet of suck crap, but I'd be jumped on for it

[brimike]

Awwww, don't say that! I *LOVE* these lively debates. I think they're so interesting. I'd love to hear what you think, Zendall Fan!

[Ryan]

You know Angie, there is a show that airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10PM/EST where you could voice your opinion

[dragonflies]

Okay Bob Guiney said back in December in an article that they were testing Greenlee with ALL the guys, this is why I feel the sextet of suck is happening. So it's all cause of REAL Greenlee's return......

Of course this is only my opinion, but I know I'll get jumped on

[brimike]

I won't jump on you for it. It makes a lot of sense.

I'm sure the mandate was "Put Greenlee front and center and play her with all the guys". And with no storyline in place, we got the sextet from hell, just rotating who was with whom.

The whole thing was one huge clusterf--k and at first, it was all Sabine's fault, and now it's all E&B's fault. Thing is, I really loved Greenlee post-crash (and I'm talking about the character, not the Rebecca vs. Sabine thing). I thought there was so much stuff to play - the anger, the guilt, the pain, falling in love with Aiden and not feeling worthy - just lots of meaty material. I absolutely adored drunk Greenlee rattling off everyone's sins in Pine Valley, and how they were all forgiven. But not her. GOOD STUFF. And it would have spawned YEARS of good Kendall/Greenlee stuff. But then Rebecca returned, and CLEARLY they were told to make them "best friends and sisters" again. (Pardon me while I puke)

I don't blame Rebecca. I don't blame E&B. I don't blame Julie. I blame the folks at the top for listening to what eight people in a room said. I'm sure they said "I hate Greenlee". Well, duh. You're SUPPOSED to hate Greenlee at that point of the story. And then root for her to get her act together and overcome it, and become a BETTER PERSON. But no. Panic sets in that somebody might be "unlikable" at some point in the story, and suddenly everyone's left in the dark with no flashlight.

Sounds just like Frons.

[dragonflies]

Pretty much, that sums it up

Oh I know you won't jump on me

[Adam]

B&E said the storyline would last a year when they first were talking about CRASH, it was obvious it was re-written to accommodate the return of Rebecca Budig.

Why Frons invests so much time and energy into0 Kenlee, I'll never know.

[dragonflies]

Adam it's gotta be his wet dream or something, cause it makes NO sense.

[Adam]

The sextet really has been an issue during B&E's whole tenure, so I don't place the blame solely on Rebecca Budig's return, however it certainly factors into the writing or lack thereof for the sextet since Rebecca stepped back into the role. Its been the selected 6 since July 25th, 2007 IMO.

[dragonflies]

I kind of agree Adam, but the couple switching didn't happen till her return.

[DevotedToAMC]

I agree with you, Angie. Sometimes, he gets out of line

[Y&RWorldTurner]

You know what the funny thing about that is? B&E didn't even plan it, I believe it was Michael Conforti and Victor Miller who were interim Co-HW's after McTavish's mess (surprise) that decided it was time to make Annie evil. B&E sure milked it to their benefit when the officially took over though. I shutter to think what their first year at GL would've been like without Annie's transformation. Also, that story would've been nothing had Cynthia Watros not been such a sensational actress, I don't think a weaker actress could've carried GL in 1997 with that storyline the way Watros did. She was on like every episode of the show that year, but I wasn't tired of her, I wanted to see what her next move would be. That was great plotting on B&E's part, something they seemed to loose afterwards. To this day, whenever I think of something positive they did, it was Annie's tour-de-force transformation in 1997 that enters my mind at #1.

[Khan]

That's the problem. Even when they start out great, B&E seem to lose interest and enthusiasm after about a year. It's as if they actually do come in on one big, fantastic pitch, but have no idea what to do for the follow-up.