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REFLECTIONS BY JILL….
I’ve been noticing lately how many different kinds of relationship we have going on these days on One Life To Live and how, in spite of the fact that some are weirder than weird, they are working very well for the show, while others seem to be disasters waiting to happen.
Here is the weirdest one, and by far, my favorite….
Max and Roxy – Am I mistaken, or wasn’t there a commentary writer a few months back who felt that as long as we had to endure Max’s presence, we should lock him up somewhere and see as little of him as possible? Oh yeah, THAT WAS ME!! I couldn’t stand the sight of the character or the sound of a word out of his mouth…but these days, I admit it…he’s a keeper…and in great part due to my favorite Casino Cutie, Roxy. These two are creating mass hysteria on the screen and have become my favorite couple to root for…well, after “you know who and you know who” of course. The dumber Roxy plays (or the shrewder)….the madder Max gets…and the more I love these two. Here are just a few of her little quips that put me away last week.
Calling Al “Legs” even after she knew he was Max’s son.
Bringing Max a special breakfast from the donut shop and letting him know that it was a special breakfast because she splurged for the full assortment of donuts. I found it to be as important a factor in their marriage as Roxy did (LOL) when she told Max, “Hey, I think it’s important to know what my husband likes in his donuts. I like chocolate glaze myself.” I’ll bet Max wrote that down on his calendar for Roxy’s birthday…right after he told her to take her “fried dough” and get out of his house.
Refusing to take Max’s check to get out of the marriage and saying, “You know Maximillion, I’m like one of those cute little Rotweilers…I sink my teeth in and never let go.”
Who could forget that sparkly pillow on the couch that said, “I got mine in Vegas?”
As you know, there were tons more Roxy-isms, but the best part of hearing her spout these ridiculous things is the expression on Max’s face when she does. He’d probably rather be strapped to Dr. Troy’s wheel than live another day with Roxy. And when she “spiced up” her half of The Break Bar with that new “ROXY’S” sign…that just about did it for my stomach muscles…the pain from laughing was too much. I do have to say that the Break Bar is one boring place to look at. She could spice it up a bit. It’s so bright and I can’t see young people wanting to hang out there. It has no ambiance, no soft lighting and dance floor…what’s up with that? Maybe that’s why it’s never very crowded. It needs a little Roxy.
Ok, you heard it here first. By the end of this year, Max and Roxy are going to be a real couple. Maybe she’ll tame down a bit…or maybe he’ll loosen up a bit…or maybe he’ll be falling off a cliff and she’ll save his life and he’ll owe her his devotion forever…but I mean it…this is one wacky couple that is going to grow together. OH, and if you believe that one, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. (All kidding aside, I’d love to see this relationship work out….James DePaiva has come alive again in his scenes with Ilene Kristen and she spices up every set she walks on to.) I can only imagine the fireworks we’re in for with “Legs” moving in with them.
Speaking of Legs…
Al just might turn out to be further down on my “Get Rid Of Him” list than he was a few weeks ago. Although I don’t believe that Al single-handedly drove Max to drink enough to stumble into the “Chapel of Love” with the new Mrs. Holden, I do like the fact that Al realizes just how hard he bashed his father, who was only trying to keep him from making the same mistakes in life that he has made. I loved the look on Roxy’s face last Friday when Al showed up saying he was moving in. I’m betting that there’s nothing in any of those papers Max drunkenly signed that preclude his son from sharing his home. Roxy will probably have a fit as Al tries everything in his power to get her to move out of his poor daddy’s house.
This one makes me cringe a bit because I don’t really want to see it happen, but I cannot deny the chemistry…sick as it may be….you got it…
Bo and Gabrielle – I can say this. TPTB did a great service to Fiona Hutchison and James DePaiva by separating them and putting them in completely ridiculous relationships with other characters. It gave them new life and the chance to give some depth and credibility to their characters. It sure is true of Ms. Hutchison. Although I am sure Gabby will have to fight like a bulldog to resist the next caper that comes along, for now she’s doing a great job of being a decent Llanviewite….whether it be in her inability to lie to Bo, or in her dealing with Viki/Niki like a lady (even though she knows Viki is acting insane) or in her concern for her son.
Now as for Bo…I don’t really understand him, especially after Viki/Niki warned him against getting involved with someone as shifty as Gabrielle. All he could say in response was, “It wouldn’t be the first time.” Does that mean he’s just going to accept that he makes stupid choices? Who knows? But what about that kiss last Friday? Are we moving on to the next phase of this strange but satisfying relationship? The spoilers say that Bo will have a new woman in his life this summer. Will it be Gabby…or will it be someone new who will give Gabby a reason to revert to her old self to keep what she thinks is hers? Personally, I just can’t wait to see Gabby working at the Banner and having her new boss explain to everyone why she gave her the job.
Well, here’s one that just doesn’t work…no matter how hard they try…
Nora and Troy – I’ll tell you…I’ve heard and read all the arguments from all the “Nora” camps…Nora and Bo…Nora and Troy…Nora and Sam. I have heard it on pretty good authority that there will never be another “Nora and Bo” and it sure looks like the path for Nora and Sam’s long lost love is getting longer and longer and less likely to result in a lifelong relationship. I just can’t get my mind wrapped around Nora and Troy and now we will have to put up with Nora being jealous of a young woman in Troy’s life…..duh….his sister! Ah, more secrets from the MacIver camp…can’t wait. I just know that Troy has some deep secret buried somewhere in Africa that will send them on some silly location shoot to dig up some old rock or something that will change everyone’s lives. You know what I’m talking about….more stupid storylines.
At any rate, Nora and Troy are quickly falling in the same category as this other couple who just can’t get the fire going…..
Jen and Cris – Tell me PTB…how many things do you have to try with this couple before you realize it’s not working. You took the stress out of their lives…you took Al out of their lives…you took Lindsay out of their lives…they have a summer ahead of them to do nothing but frolic in the sun and we are all dreading every upcoming minute of it. It’s more than obvious that there is chemistry between Natalie and Cris and even if they just stay friends, Cris and Jen still don’t pull off the romantic relationship. The biggest problem they have is Natalie’s friendship with Cris. Now don’t get me wrong, I think at Jen’s age, or even at my age, having someone always hanging on your boyfriend with their problems can be a bit tedious and I don’t think I’d love it too much either, but Jen is just plain nasty sometimes and Natalie craves affection and someone to care so much that she welcomes it from Cris whom she knows gives it so honestly. Nip this one in the bud…although it’s way past the bud stage…just NIP IT!
Last but not least…we have…
Sam and Blair – Is this going to happen? I just don’t see it…sorry. And there is so much conflicting information going around about Roger Howarth. His representative, who says he cleaned out his dressing room after the live week says he’s going….Gary Tomlin says he will be around for quite a while. Who knows the truth?
I can see Sam and Blair as great friends. I can see Sam being there for her, of course, as her lawyer. He certainly does have a way with Starr, which is a feat in itself. But a romance? I need a lot more time to digest this one if it’s going to happen.
In closing I’d like to bring up something that I read recently in Soap Opera Digest. It was part of a lead article about Bo and Hope from Days of our Lives and the fact that Bo turned out to be the father of baby Zack after all. People wondered how, after all the hoopla about John being the baby’s father, etc., Bo could turn out to be the real father and he and Hope could rejoice in that and continue their lifelong, loving relationship. After all that has happened to these main characters…these core couples, Bo and Hope and John and Marlena, who have endured for so many years when others have come and gone…Executive Producer Ken Corday’s answer to the question was, “It’s simple, we listen to our fans.” I’d say it’s pretty simple, too. The Days fans were in an uproar over these couples being separated. I hope Gary Tomlin was reading that article as he was about to concoct some other ridiculous ways for Niki Smith to mess with Viki and Ben and make fools of everyone else in Llanview who knows and loves them. Yes, Niki is tremendously funny sometimes…that’s about all she is. Her behavior is ridiculous and keeping her around to make trouble is getting in the way of great storylines for Ben and Viki…Ben, Asa and Renee…Viki and Natalie. Come on Gary, listen to your fans!
See ya next week......
Jill Berry
FAN FEEDBACK AND
QUESTIONS
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Jewell writes: “I love your column! When my OLTL newsletter arrives, it's the first thing I read. I usually agree with your take on the actors, the storylines, GT, etc., as well as your thoughts on the parts of the show you are dissatisfied with. Judging from some of your recent commentaries, there seem to be quite a few things you'd like changed just now. However, in your May 20, 2002, "REFLECTIONS.....," when writing about OLTL winning the Emmy for Best Daytime Drama, you said, "...it was wonderful...it was so well deserved...!" I cannot agree with you this time! One Life To Live receiving this award, was shocking, unbelievable, and almost absurd! The show had only a few, if any, nominations in the other Emmy categories, and yet it is considered good enough to be the NUMBER ONE Daytime Drama??! How can this be? To me, this hints of something fishy going on, and makes me wonder if these Emmys are given out on some kind of political grounds, i.e. who knows who, who owes who, etc., etc. So, would you please elaborate on your statement that the Emmy was "well deserved"? Because I respect your opinions, I would really like to read your justification for OLTL's deservedness of this Emmy Award.”
Dear Jewell: Thank you for the lovely
compliment. I’m so glad you enjoy my column. Regarding my comments on the Emmy
being well deserved, my opinion is that One Life To Live has a wonderful,
strong cast of actors whose talents equal, and many times far surpass any other
in daytime. It was a crime that none of them were nominated for acting
awards…yes it is all political and if I completely understood it myself, I would
try to explain it in a better way…but I can’t. I say that the “Best Drama” Emmy
was well deserved because we have a great cast of great actors on our show who
on most days make more than the best of some “not so good” storylines….and last
year there were enough well-acted storylines, in my opinion, to put OLTL
in that category. Seeing our show in that category was such a shock because of
the injustice in the nominating process, and not a reflection on the talent of
the actors and if there was one award to be won that gave them all a pat on the
back….I say they deserved it. Yes, there are always things I’m dissatisfied
with, but as a loyal reader, I’m sure you know that when something good deserves
to be said, I’ll say it right away. Gary Tomlin has gotten as may compliments
from me as criticisms….well, almost as many…hehe.
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Stacey writes: “Do you agree that recent storylines in soaps have been totally unrealistic and have a negative effect on young people? Give your opinion.”
Dear Stacey: Are you a schoolteacher? That sounds like the wording on a lot of tests I remember taking….asking a question and then saying, “Show your work”….or, “Explain in detail.” Well, ok…I think that a lot of storylines on soaps are unrealistic. Of course they are. I think it’s what draws many of us to watch them…the escape, the fantasy. As far as young people go, I think at a certain age they can be very impressionable and many times on soaps we refer to the “teens” when they are not really teens. After all, Jessica, Jen, Cristian, Natalie, Al…all of these young people are about 20 or 21 years of age. Chad and Cris tend bar and are even older, so I do believe that when young teenagers watch them in certain situations that might be sexual, etc., there can be a negative effect on them, but I think that varies with the maturity of the person. I’ve been watching soaps since I was 12 and don’t remember anything I saw young people doing on the screen driving me to try something I wasn’t ready for. I think it’s fine for parents to monitor what their kids watch because of course, you do see a lot more on television now than when I was a teenager…whether it be on soaps or any other kind of programming.
© Copyright by Katherine Thurston, 2002
