Gay characters on soaps

[IcyOne]

I'm not feeling the idea of a gay character(s) on Y&R honestly. It works for personable, domesticated shows like ATWT and GL, but I just don't think Y&R that kind of a show. Same thing at ABC. Gay characters work at AMC and probably could at OLTL too, but not at GH. Y&R and GH just have too much of an cold, steel, alpha, business ambiance to support it.

[Khan]

I disagree. In fact, if any show is capable of telling a story where a longtime, veteran character suddenly discovers feelings for someone of the same sex (long a "dream" of mine, as far as the old soap storyline wish list goes), it has to be Y&R. They're intimate, if sterile emotionally; and they can take their time telling stories of a delicate nature, whereas fans of certain, other soaps will s**t bricks if a story runs past two weeks.

[sactownfan]

Khan: I guess you don't watch GL. The Otalia story just reached a great climax of a standard wedding where one of the two people getting married actually loves a third. This time though, it was two women, Olivia and Natalia. Olivia has been on GL for over ten years, having been involved with Josh, Alan, Phillip, Bill, Frank and Buzz, and though unrequited, fell in love with Gus, which is where the Otalia story began over a year ago.

I wish the best for Y&R, and hope they do a fantastic job. But if you want to see your long-time wish be granted, go to cbs.com and watch last week's shows. I think you might be pleasantly surprised.

(p.s. - Even if you have never watched GL, I think you can still enjoy it. I caught up on all 5 episodes on my DVR, while a long-term houseguest worked on his computer. He'd never seen the show, doesn't watch soaps, but a key climactic moment, something caught my eye. I turned to see my pal, with his arms raised in victory, that's how quickly he got involved.)

[Marc]

I don't know if I agree. Sure Sonny would make Luke (Synder) cry, but Spinelli is a gay character if I ever saw one.

[brimike]

Oh God - he know not what he hath wrought. LOL!

[Khan]

I don't watch GL?!?! You wanna back that train up?

FYI, I have followed, if not always literally watched, GL since I was three years old (and probably before then, since my mother and grandmother are fans as well). How long has that been? Since 1982, to be exact. And yes, I am aware of what's going on with Olivia and Natalia. Of course, I also know a lot of people didn't give two s****s about either one of 'em until they went lesbo on 'em. But that's neither here nor there.

No, he don't. ;-)

[sactownfan]

Khan: Sorry, not a regular poster/reader here. So didn't mean to offend you, if I did. (I tried to go back and read some of your posts via your name header, but apparently am doing it wrong.)

From your last post, obviously you are a dedicated GL viewer. But off my previous comments, do you not like the Otalia story? Yes, I absolutely agree that Natalia was never a character that did much for the audience, prior to this story.

But Olivia? Yes, she's not exactly the most "likable" character on GL. But ten years is enough to make her "long-term" in my book. One of the many things I love about Otalia is that we have watched Olivia gradually change. She's acted selfless a number of times because of her love for Natalia. (Has she ever done that before with anyone besides Emma? Even her love for Ava seemed more about schemes. She certainly pushed Bill on Ava over her real love for Remy.)

Anyhow, I'd really like to hear your thoughts. To me, Otalia has been handled so differently than Rianca and Nuke, and unlike any other "gay" story I can think of on daytime.

And as I saw on someone else's posts: I'm a newbie (at least as a poster!) Go easy on me.

[DRW50]

I think the old school Y&R knew how to tell these types of stories but I don't know about today's Y&R. Their stories are more dark, more about vendettas and conflict. They don't try to sell any potential couples, they shove them together (Kevin/Amber, Billy/Mac 3.0, Victor/Ashley 15.0, Noah/Eden). The only couple they have on the show who sell romance are Katherine and Murphy. I know being gay isn't about romance, it's about who you are, but even those potential psychological stories have been flawed in execution, like rushing Kevin's breakdown and turning Sharon's mental problems into her sleeping around all the time.

Natalia I agree with but I think Olivia has always been a popular character. They just kept putting her in horrible stories once her past with Jeffrey was revealed.

[All My Shadows]

Mhmhmhmhmhmhmhmhmhmhm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If ATWT's Luke wasn't gay, he'd either be absentee like Aaron or in hideous storylines like Casey.

[Khan]

Nah, you didn't offend. It's cool. I was just being an ass. Like always. ;-)

Are Otalia more...well-rounded than Rinks, or Nuke? Possibly. Do I applaud GL for taking such a bold, creative step, especially when the show is in danger of going away forever? Definitely. Do I wish the story revolved around more "dynamic" characters, whose union would bring about a major shakeup the entire canvas over? Hell to the yeah! (But then, we'd have to go into my Amanda Spaulding/India von Halkein fanwank, and this is neither the time nor the place.)

Point taken. Nevertheless, Olivia coming out as a lesbian does not have the same impact as, say, ATWT's Emily Stewart coming out. Olivia's been on the show for ten years, but Emily is an established member of a core family. That is what I meant before in regards to my "dream storyline".

And I agree that her love for Natalia has brought a rare, softer, more self-sacrificing side to Olivia's personality. Her telling Natalia to go ahead with the wedding to Frank, despite the fact that she loved her, was something the "Olivia of old" probably wouldn't have done.

I just wish their scenes were written with more grace than a "very special Blossom".

[DRW50]

I think it depends on the character. Parker has had big story for years, even though he's straight. So did Will, before he became Gwen's purse.

I would have loved this story for Emily when she was younger. Now she's been so degraded for so many years, I'm afraid she'd just be "saved" by Dusty and go back to chasing him.

I can see Melanie Smith in a lesbian story.

[Khan]

Says who???

I'd love to see Melanie Smith in anything. No, really. Where has girlfriend been keepin' herself these days?

[DRW50]

The last time I saw her was Curb Your Enthusiasm. I loved her Emily. I had such a crush on her. I've come to respect KMH and see her as Emily but I wish Melanie was on something.

[MarkH]

Why is it a problem that characters don't have rooting value till they're gay? I think that's actually kind of encouraging. (A) It gives them an unusual story arc, initially defined by sexuality. Of course that is something interesting and different. ( It gives them a new fanbase, made up of people finally happy to see folks like themselves on screen.

I see no -- ZERO -- problem with this.

Natalia might not have been loved before Otalia...but if GL survived, Natalia would be loved ever after. Wasn't it Sara Bibel who called her the new Maureen Bauer?

[Y&RWorldTurner]

UGH, that right there makes me wish I was blind.

I don't know what Ms. Bibel is smoking....