AMC: Joanna Cohen blogs the show & its cancellation

[dragonflies]

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/16/losing-all-my-children/?hp

[Scotty]

Read more:

http://opinionator.b...ll-my-children/

[NYC123]

Thanks!

Interesting read. Seemed like she enjoyed her time at AMC and learned a lot. To bad it was with some BAD HW like Megan McTavich. B&E and Pratt.

[R Sinclair]

I remember when her name first came up in the credits. I also remember saying I enjoyed a couple of her speeches she gave to Zach and Tad -- which immediately had one of the SON brain trust PM me! "Are YOU Joanna Cohen? How else could you like her stuff? She's AWFUL!"

[Khan]

How many times I gotta remind you, R, not to air our dirty laundry for the whole damn board to read?!

[LeClerc]

Thanks for posting this ! Love this kind of stuff.

I remember being very impressed by Cohen's early scripts as well, which happened to be during one of the lowest points in AMC's history (summer of '06 shaky cam/"film look" starting, ConFusion opening, Josh and Babe stranded on an island together...). She included a lot of historical references without it seeming forced AND at a time when the show seemed to want to make a clean break with its history.

I remember a few of us were pretty disappointed with the quality of her first script back (which I think was Jesse confronting Papel, who had kidnapped Colby and Frankie, at an airplane hangar). But, given the pressure she was under, it makes sense now.

[Gray Bunny]

I'm just amazed that people can actually remember and recall who wrote what on which day.

[SFK]

I know what you mean, I'm the same way, those credits were always a blur to me. But there are different kinds of fans. I was more into catching actor friends as Under-5's.

[Gray Bunny]

Oh I hear ya. Just like how I remember everything that happened on DAYS month-by-month from 1995-1997, but everything 2005 up to now is a big blur.

[Skin]

The only AMC script writer I remember actively enjoying was Marla Kanelos.

[R Sinclair]

Oh, Khanny... I would never sully the sanctity of our private inboxing. Oh, if these lesser-thans only knew!

I'm surprised you didn't enjoy the even more dreadful Amanda L. Beall. She was a HavinsBabe sympathizer.

[Skin]

I am almost certain Beall was known more for her Kenlee and general Kendell love, then she was for her reported Babe preference. Some of her biggest writing contributions came in the form of Kendell and Greenlee's biggest moments. Beall loved that entire triangle Ryan, Greenlee and Kendell. Chip Hayes was probably the biggest "Havins/Babe lover" he was the originator of Josh's infamous line about her being a walking miracle.

Marla always brought out the deeper and more vulnerable sides to AMC's characters, which is why I loved her.

[Khan]

For me, it's difficult to pinpoint a favorite AMC scriptwriter since Wisner Washam had no hard-and-fast rules about who did what on staff and seemed to work hard at keeping all scripts and dialogue consistent.

[dragonflies]

That doesn't shock me at all.

I always thought he was one of the weakest writers the show had

[R Sinclair]

Based on... what? You once said you liked Amanda L. Beall because, according to you, she knew how to write Zendall... so, I'm just curious -- if not looking for confirmation -- as to whether or not your judgment is based on his treatment of the Cancer Couple.