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REFLECTIONS BY JILL….
We’ve decided to leave last week’s article up for a while longer, and since we received so much mail about Mark Derwin’s departure, as well as everyone else on the show, I decided to address some of the mail from the happy and some very unhappy fans. It seems that no one gets enough of what they want on the show…of course, neither do I… and isn’t that the way life is anyway?
Below are comments from some very loyal fans:
Melody writes: “I have to agree with you, lately the writers are boring us to tears. They have Antonio walking around like a dog with a bone concerning RJ. You'd think considering he's his future father-in-law he'd cut him some slack and Troy and Nora OH PLEASE!!! I want to know who is dressing this woman. They are not too flattering at all they make her look older than she is. I do believe Natalie and Chris belong together; he and Jen are BORING!!! Jess and this new Seth UGH!!!!!! I thought Blair and Troy had some chemistry when she was trying to seduce him. She needs a man in her life and Asa and Rae, OH MY GOD…send that woman to another show I can't take her anymore.”
Dear Melody: Gee girl, tell us what you
really think…lol! I don’t think Antonio and RJ are ever going to make peace. RJ
can’t stop being a criminal and Antonio can’t stop the steam from coming out of
his nose and ears whenever he sees RJ or hears his name. I agree about Nora’s
wardrobe. They are trying to make her look cooler, but it’s not working. That
whole relationship is not working. I like Nat and Cris together, but I think Jen
is getting feisty and finally she’s watchable…well, a little bit. Rae has always
been one of my favorites…I don’t know what’s happened to her lately. I am
anxious to see what’s going to happen with this new woman in town…I supposed
she’s Joanna, Troy’s supposedly dead wife?
______________
Dockery writes:
”How can the
writers always get Lindsay to look like the good "Guy"? She is dirty to the
core. She really didn't save Mollie's life, and now she has been paroled. I have
stopped watching the show because of Lindsey, Chris and Jen, Niki/Viki, Todd and
the little Missy, Star. She is entirely too grown and sassy.”
Dear Dockery: Lindsay sure does always find a way to worm herself
out of trouble. I didn’t really see how she saved Molly’s life either, and for
sure, I figured a good deed like that might reduce her sentence…not set her
free. I wonder if the governor even has a clue as far as what Lindsay’s life of
crime has been like. Oh well, now she has sworn to lead a clean life…that has
lasted 2 seconds….and she’s on her way to Africa…Bon Voyage, Linz!
______________
Alexis writes: “Hey Jill…I Just want to say that Gary Tomlin is an Idiot. As you know I've been watching OLTL for almost a year now and what the heck is going on Jill? Now that Jen knows that Cristian and Natalie are falling in love with each other she turns evil….what the heck she's going to do, make them pay for betraying her? And what’s up with Antonio I feel bad for the guy really. One thing that I do like in the show right now is Max and Roxy it's so hilarious because they’re both trying to get the other to break down. What have you heard Jill about Cris and Natalie? Are they going to become a couple?”
Dear Alexis: You’re a riot. You’ve only been watching for a year and
you have the same complaints as those of us who have been watching for a
lifetime. You’re pretty sharp. I have no idea whether Natalie and Cris will wind
up together. I am a bit annoyed at how much Rex keeps sticking his nose into
that situation and I do wish that Cris would catch Jen in the act with Al. That
girl has lost her mind. Her problem is that she’s trying to be too much like her
mommy…oh boy, has she got years to go to come close to her mom’s talents. And if
I were here, I wouldn’t mess with Al’s emotions….there is one sick boy…which
she’s probably going to find out the hard way.
______________
Joseph writes: “Ben was nice - but do you
realize that my wife and I still haven't gotten over Joe Riley? And his sons
should have his name! He was the love of Viki's life!”
Dear Joseph: May I first say that I think it is the COOLEST THING
that you watch OLTL with your wife. And guess what? I agree with you…Joe
Riley was the love of Viki’s life, up until the day she met Ben Davidson. Like
you and your wife, I totally adored Viki and Joe. Ben reminds me a lot of
him…funny, charming and very handsome. I have heard Erika Slezak say many times
that Ben is her favorite husband, but she also says that if Joe had never died,
they would still be together and very happy. I agree. Joe was wonderful and when
I see old clips of the show I always hope to see him.
______________
MDNODOC001 writes: “Is it true that Ben
won't be killed off but instead he'll be sent to another country where he'll
recuperate and return to his loving Viki? If so, how long will he be in absentia
and what will Viki be doing until then? Will she be joining him in Switzerland
or will she remain in Llanview?”
Dear MDNODOC001: It is true…Ben was not killed off. He was very
close to being fatally wounded and after being shot in the head, he is in a deep
coma from which the doctors do not think he will recover. He was moved to a
rehabilitation facility in Switzerland and Viki will be there with him for now,
having therapy for her own problems with her old therapist at a clinic
nearby. How long Ben will be gone is anyone’s guess. Mark Derwin has begun
working on a nighttime sitcom called “Life With Bonnie” and he is supposedly
shooting 13 shows. The success of the show, I assume, will have a lot to do with
whether or not we ever see Ben again…whether it be on a limited basis or back
full time. Last week I posted lots of addresses where you can write to the
executives about bringing him back to OLTL. Please make your thoughts
heard.
______________
OK…now in deference to several fans of Todd Manning who wrote to me last week after I really annoyed them (I always seem to), I would like to give them equal time to swat me, which I think is only fair. What I do want them to know is that I have nothing personal against Roger Howarth…I’ve never even met the guy at a fan event. He, as a person in real life, has nothing to do with how I feel about the character he plays on the show. This is my column, where I air my thoughts and express the thoughts of others. I try always to be fair and when you think I’m not…you have every right to say so. With that in mind….here’s your chance:
CalicoK444 writes: “Dear Jill, I am completely perplexed by this week's attack against Roger Howarth. You didn't like the writing for Ben and Viki? Fine. Why blame Roger Howarth? The writing for Todd was just as bad! I find this trend of making certain actors SCAPEGOATS for bad writing really disturbing. You ask, "Who cares" if Howarth comes back. Well, I DO. I happen to enjoy the actor and the character of Todd Manning. And I do NOT think Tomlin has focused too much on him. And guess what: I DON'T care if Mark Derwin and Ben leave Llanview forever. And I DIDN'T like Ben and Viki (does that make ME an "alien" too?). Different strokes, Jill. But even though I don't like Ben or Derwin, I have NEVER blamed Mark Derwin for the terrible writing for Todd. I put the blame where it belongs...on the writers.”
Dear Calico: If you read my column on a
regular basis, then you’d know that I don’t ever blame an actor for another
actor’s lack of storyline. I always blame The Powers That Be and I very often
accuse the writers of being lazy and unimaginative. Obviously the writing for
Todd is bad…we agree on that, but to tape a ridiculous amount of scenes where
nothing happens just to keep Roger on the screen through the summer is
ridiculous and I did blame the writers for that. I don’t make actors
scapegoats. Some are in better favor with their superiors than others, in my
opinion, and RH is one of them. After the summer we’ve had to endure “somewhere
in the South Pacific”, I wish I could print the reams of letters I’ve received
in which most people respond to this story line and keeping Roger around with,
“WHO CARES?” Oh and by the way, lots of my readers are not Ben fans. It makes
no difference to me.
______________
Becky writes: “I must say that I am amazed that you can blame RH for Bens crappysend off. I mean come on now how can you blame him when from everything I have read he never left the show. I admit that I have never liked Ben, and call me cruel but I could care less that he is in a coma. My greatest wish is that Viki move on and find someone a little more exciting, no wait, how about at least someone with a personality. I also think him leaving will benefit the show because it will give airtime to more interesting characters. By the way I have nothing against Mark Derwin and wish him the best of luck!! Also let me add how you print all the pro Ben letters and I think it is great that you found it in your heart to support one of One Life To Live most dull characters. At least we know he has one fan!!”
Dear Becky: Boy, you guys sound smart, but do
you read? I have gone over many articles and have never blamed Roger for Mark’s
treatment on the show. My only point is that he gets a lot of airtime for very
little storyline. If you don’t believe that after this past summer, you should
go back and find one step forward that came out of all those ridiculous beach
scenes. You’re right…maybe Viki should move on and find someone with a little
more personality…maybe like her brother’s???? I understand why we can’t see
eye-to-eye on these characters…You cannot get behind a nice, decent guy as a
leading man and I certainly can’t get behind a former rapist as one. Guess we
better agree to disagree.
______________
Kelly writes: “Thanks for providing the addresses for TPTB and the soap mags. I've used them to write in support of Roger Howarth, and to urge them to keep 'Todd Manning' on the canvas for a long time to come. I've also expressed my dislike of the Viki/Ben pairing, and of the Ben character in general. I wouldn't have bothered if you hadn't bashed Roger Howarth, so on behalf of Todd fans everywhere, thanks!”
Dear Kelly: No need to thank me. It was my
pleasure to provide the addresses for anyone who wanted to write about anything
they like. Glad you found the information useful. Hope you didn’t wear out your
fingers too much though, because with or without our letters, there will always
be an open door for Roger at OLTL. You never have to worry about that.
______________
Before I close for tonight, I would like to share with you a post from one of the “Todd” message boards. This is a public message board and I am only sharing a section of this post because the rest was too vulgar and would probably not be allowed on this website. In case you’re wondering…I am “the old BLENDIE HEN”…Blendie being the posters cute way of nicknaming the Ben and Blondie fans.
“The old BLENDIE HEN could pull her head out of her ass and be HAPPY for her man, Mark Derwin!!!! Mark got a prime time job, something MOST soap actors would KILL for. If Roger had gotten a prime time job, we would be sad, but damned if any of US would expect him to give it up. Good grief. And another thing, I couldn't stand the SIGHT of Ben pre-Tomlin. I'm not even a Vicki fan, and I was cringing and gagging all over the place when he was doing her on the basement FLOOR, pool tables, hot tubs. It was cheap, sickening, TAWDRY and UN VICKI like as hell. Her daughter is on the run from the LAW and all she can do is gush over her BOY TOY? GMAFB. Tomlin made the run of the mill fan see the good in Mark Derwin, like it or not. Blame Roger, yeah, just like a hen. You show me a Blendie Hen, and I'll show YOU a fricking Todd hater, they don't think much of Blair and don't get them started on DORIAN. Oh well, what does Roger Howarth have? Nothing that a hen like THAT would know and appreciate. Apologies to Phil who enjoyed B&B…if Phil ever got hold of one of THOSE hens, there'd be feathers everywhere and enough chicken BLOOD for TEN Santeria sabbaths. LOL!!”
To the poster: Wherever you read that I was not happy for Mark and am hoping for him to fail…it wasn’t here. And you really need to get your facts straight. Most Ben and Viki fans I know think Blair is great…a wonderful actress and a great asset to the show. As far as Dorian goes, most Viki fans feel there is something missing in Viki’s life without Dorian to deal with…I feel the same way. You say you’re not a Viki fan so maybe that’s got something to do with all this. I was sorry Robin Strasser went back to Passions and was not invited back to OLTL. I don’t understand your need to say the things you do, especially with the language you use to say them, but it does explain one thing to me. It explains why the few times I’ve heard comments from Roger Howarth’s mouth, he was not proud to have fans such as yourself who post hateful messages.
Enough said, I think. I wish everyone a great week…keep watching…I will!
See ya
next week...
Jill Berry
© Copyright by Katherine Thurston, 2002
