One Life to Live OLTL: The Prospect Park Era (old production thread)

[Vee]

I just don't know why people are ever shocked when this [!@#$%^&*] happens. TSJ has been assisting OLTL with lying for PR purposes since the silly execution story back in 2006. I couldn't believe people were shocked or offended by that; that's the same kind of bait and switch soaps have been pulling since the Salem Strangler "murdered" Marlena on a Friday on DAYS. I knew the day he died that Victor would be back alive and well before the end of the ABC show - he was too massive and important - and untapped - a character in the show's core mythos to waste. And I know he'll be back now.

[Antoyne]

TSJ has been lying for the show since he started in 2003 actually, when he wouldn't admit he was Todd.

[hsfolk]

and technically he wasn't lying, he wasn't Todd

[acbuddy3]

I agree with you. That picture on Instagram already has 25,000 likes. Jamey Giddens tweeted something very smart (shocker!) that said that even if a tenth of JWOWW's 3.2 million Twitter followers watch the show, OLTL will be alright.

Hopefully, people like JWOWW and Corbin Bleu will be able to help bring attention to the show, because that is what the show needs right now.

[cassadine1991]

Jared Kaplan ‏@JaredKaplan21s

Props to Martin and Tim, our incredible art director and production designer, featured in that video. They've done an incredible job.

[Gemini Lass]

I'm just sorry that I won't be able to see it. Can't imagine sitting in an office chair for an hour, although I have missed it very much.

[Errol]

You don't have internet at home? I'd imagine that's how you're chatting here and if that's the case, you can watch All My Children or One Life to Live anytime of day after they are released by Hulu. If history serves, it'll follow the Coronation Street model, which I believe hosts shows up to 16 episodes after airdate.

[Darn]

Sitting in an office chair for an hour? Try 8. Literally millions of people do it every day.

[BreakingDownTheWalls]

I won't be able to watch, either. My internet is not fast enough to be watching TV shows.

[cassadine1991]

http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2013/03/one-life-to-lives-erika-slezak-deems-abc-soaps-replacements-real-rubbish.html

[marceline]

But my question is: what's the benefit to doing that? His return for the finale was kept a secret because it was supposed to entice people to start watching the new OLTL. It was a cliffhanger just like JR's shooting people on AMC.

This is a different situation. PP needs as many eyes as possible right out of gate so I don't understand why they would bring TSJ back and not say anything. Like it or not, the guy has fans. (Yes, really, he does.) It would make more sense to say he's back so people who were dissatisfied with OLTL's ending would be more inclined to watch. For me this isn't about thinking he wouldn't lie, to quote the great doctor Gregory House "Everybody lies." I simply don't see what's in it for PP to keep such a major return under wraps unless as Vee says, they are saving the announcement for closer to the premiere date.

Victor's return was supposed to get people to watch OLTL 2.0 so it doesn't make sense to me that PP wouldn't use Victor's return to get people to watch OLTL 2.0.

[Chris B]

Considering it was the cliffhanger, I think it should be obvious to viewers that they'll pick this story up. I don't think announcing Trevor would do anything but confuse viewers. That opens up so many questions and if there is a set picture of him, that could lead to leaks about how the story is going to be. I imagine it's going to be very secretive and he might not be there long term, so I'm completely fine with them keeping it quiet.

[marceline]

But there are questions NOW. That's my point. And why would there be a set picture of him? PP has been very good about controlling the images that have been released.

Truly, I'm not trying to be difficult and I promise that I'm not being a stan but I don't understand the reasoning. What is the benefit to keeping TSJ's return a secret? How is the show better off if people don't know he's back? With AMC we had a question about who JR shot but the whole point of OLTL's cliffhanger was the reveal that Victor is alive so if Victor is back on OLTL 2.0 why keep that a secret? What objective/goal/strategy does that serve?

[Vee]

They kept Victor a secret for the cliffhanger. I don't see why they wouldn't now. I think the show itself and the PR resultant from that (as for AMC) is enough to draw the eyeballs they need at the outset.

I'm not saying Trevor St. John isn't a draw to fans - I think he is. But I don't think there's any actor at OLTL, including Roger Howarth, who could singlehandedly yoke a massive glut of lapsed existing OLTL viewers back that aren't already there or waiting in the wings over the next several weeks to be wooed with general promotion. I think they'll come back for the show but stay for their favorites, which I expect will include a to-be-revealed TSJ. So in that case, why not continue to keep the secret?

[marceline]

Okay. I guess all we can do is wait and watch.