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REFLECTIONS BY JILL….
Has anyone noticed that OLTL is getting just a little bit dark lately? It seems like everything we complained about in the era of Jill Farren Phelps is coming back at us with Gary Tomlin. I don’t see nearly as much humor in the show as I was getting used to. As a matter of fact, I don’t remember seeing any in weeks. All of the storylines have gotten very dark and we’ve even got a great big new dark one. The only thing I have found any lightness in at all was last week when we got a few good scenes out of Rae and Hank. I’ve wanted these two to get together ever since I gave up on TPTB having the sense to bring John Sykes back (and I mean in front of the camera). Rae and Hank have good chemistry and I’d love to see them carrying on a bit while Asa waits with baited breath for his 100th divorce. Hearing Hank admit that he wanted to be with Rae and missed the boat was great…Hank is usually so closed up and that admission said a lot.
So…everything else I can think of is very dark these days…See if you agree with me.
Keri/Antonio/Liz – Ok…this storyline never sat well with me from the beginning. I didn’t have an easy time digesting the fact that Keri would carry a baby for her mother, but when it was confirmed that the baby was Antonio’s, I had to draw the line. This has a huge “eech factor”…..as in nauseating. I have had a problem with Liz from the beginning. I can’t warm up to her and I still find her a bit selfish. I understand her point when she says Keri could never live with knowing it was Antonio’s baby…but I also see Antonio’s point in not wanting any secrets between himself and Keri and this would be one WHOPPER of a secret to keep. This all just confirms to me that OLTL cannot have one romance on the show that even starts out normally. Was it necessary to bring on Keri’s mother to have this kind of storyline when we were just starting to enjoy the romance of Keri and Antonio? God knows we’ve been starved for something normal between any couple and we just can’t get it. And now that Hank knows the truth about the baby’s parentage, will it be more than a day or two before RJ is lurking around some corner and finds out the truth as well? I don’t see anything good coming out of this at all. Let’s nip it in the bud.
Jen/Cris/Natalie/Al – This storyline belongs in a bad teen “B” movie. Jen has gotten vengeful to the point of ridiculous. She’s mean and hurtful and is way over the edge when it comes to touching reality. I had to laugh…how well did she think it would go over with the priest, who now knows she’s pregnant, when she asked if she could take all her pre-marriage classes in one day? Uh, Jen, maybe you should have been taking those classes about a year ago…when you still had a normal head on your shoulders. Too bad the priest thinks the baby is Cristian’s…he’d really have a dilemma there…if his heart could take it. And what about Carlotta agreeing with Jen? Well, we know that having her nose way too far in both of her sons’ business, Carlotta has totally lost her mind. Most days I want to slap her…when in the past I adored her character. There’s another example of “dark” for you. And what about Jen using that poor girl, Marcy, in her dirty work? That girl is so hungry for acceptance that she’d do anything and Jen is feeding right off of that….disgusting.
But good news has arrived…I did read that this wedding between Jen and Cris will not happen. I guess old Al finds out the truth and blows Jen out of the water. Will Natalie wind up with Cris? I would love to think so, but Natalie is a bit preoccupied with our latest example of DARKNESS!
OK…Mitch Lawrence, Michael Lazarus…who the heck are you? Since twins are the current rage on our show, maybe he’s Mitch’s twin. Who the heck knows…but one thing I will say…whoever he may be, he is already creeping me out. I’ve always like Roscoe Born…I watched him for a while as Mitch Lawrence and he was wonderful on Ryan’s Hope and Santa Barbara…always mysterious and sometimes creepy, like now. I hope he doesn’t draw Natalie in too far. He seems to want to hurt Viki…what else is new? Natalie is such a vulnerable girl right now…thanks to Jen…and most of the time I think of her as tough enough to see right through someone like Mitch/Michael…but right now it seems she could be sucked in. I hope Cris and Viki keep a good hold on her.
Lindsay is sure up to her old tricks…torturing Troy seems to agree with her. I have to say that I have enjoyed it because it has given us some great acting between Catherine Hickland and Ty Treadway. Lindsay shines when she’s got a juicy secret. But enough already…what actually happened to Joanna and what did Troy do to her? Spill it already.
Of course, it’s wonderful to have Viki back. I always miss Erika so much when she takes her long summer vacations. But it’s just not the same. I’m happy to see her reunited with her girls who are so very important to her in her life. I’m happy she’s working on finding out what happened when they were born and that Erika will have a great storyline going on. However, it’s so blatant that Ben is missing. I have to say that it was more than obvious and more than inexcusable that no time at all was spent on talking about Ben other than a few “How’s Ben” remarks from family members. It is totally unrealistic for Viki to be going through all of this, even though she has Bo, and never stop to say “I wish Ben were here”…or “Ben, I miss you so much.” That would be the realistic way to write this story. I totally expected Viki to be sitting alone at night in the library or in her bedroom staring at a picture of she and Ben and just touching his face…or calling on the phone to see how he’s doing. What’s wrong with this picture? Even if Mark Derwin never returns to the show…and I dread that thought…his character has been given no dignity. We all know that GT wanted to kill Ben off and thank goodness the powers that dole out his paycheck refused to let him do it. Someone up there is thinking with a real brain at least. We need more realism in Viki’s life where Ben is concerned. They didn’t even show her telling anyone how hard it had to be for her to leave him behind in Switzerland and we all know that had to be true. Well, I could go on all day about this…but you get the picture.
On a lighter Mark Derwin note….he is doing so well on “Life With Bonnie.” I never thought I’d be such a fan, but every week it gets better. Mark gets a good amount of airtime and Bonnie sure dresses him better than OLTL did…lol. He looks great…he look like he’s having a lot of fun…and we see him laugh…for real…the show is really good and the chemistry gets better all the time. If you haven’t seen it, give it a shot!
See ya
next week...
Jill Berry
FAN
FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS
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Patti writes: “Well, Jill, I'm another die-hard Bo & Nora fan. I have watched the ABC soaps since 1968 and have never more enjoyed watching a relationship bloom and blossom with so many dimensions as Bo & Nora. They were funny, sexy, heavy, light, and absolutely hilarious at times! And what other couple as EVER danced so well together??? I love seeing the clips from their wedding when they're replayed - was that one hoot of a wedding or what? Speak up, Bo & Nora fans! I know there must be more of you out there... what do you think Jill? Any hope?”
Dear Patti: The Bo and Nora fans speak up all over the Internet. They are
a very high profile group who love their couple and are still waiting for the
day they are reunited. I used to really like Bo and Nora…but right now, I’m not
sure Nora belongs with anyone. She has exhausted all the good men in Llanview
and she needs to get a grip on her own life and just be a lawyer for a while.
Just my opinion. She sure doesn’t go well with Troy and she ruined he
relationship with Sam. I do remember the dancing and loved watching Nora and Bo
cut up the dance floor.
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Lee writes: “Hi Jill. Could you please explain to me how Lindsay gets away with all the nasty things she does. I know it is just a soap, but it seems all the women on this show are to scheming for me. The only nice ones are Viki and I can't think of another one. I am very disappointed in Carlotta. I have three sons and they are great guys but I would never interfere as she does. Is Todd back for good? I have been watching the show since Viki's sister died. I can't remember her name and also are Natalie and Jessica twins? Is the actress who plays Jessica really leaving?”
Dear Lee: I completely agree about Lindsay…having her in jail for a while
really made me happy, but I guess she can’t be Lindsay if they keep her locked
up. I think Todd is back for a while…yes. I’ve been watching on and off since
the beginning, too and Viki’s sister was Meredith. Yes, Natalie and Jess are
really twins and Erin Torpey, who play Jessica, is really leaving the show. I
hear she may be replaced…don’t quote me on that one.
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Geoff writes: “Hey. I really enjoy your column. I have a question. Who is Mitch Laurence? I've heard the name before but don't know his history with the show. Thanks for the info.”
Dear Geoff: Mitch Lawrence was a cult leader who was on the show many years
ago. He enticed many young women into the cult, including Allison Perkins and
Viki’s younger sister, Tina. Viki worked very hard to get people away from him
and he hated her, as you can see even now. I don’t know the whole story, but I
do know that he is supposed to be dead and that Dorian killed him. I’m sure
we’ll get more info as this storyline goes on.
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© Copyright by Katherine Thurston, 2002
