| "Reflections by Jill" - A Weekly Commentary on One Life to Live | |
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REFLECTIONS BY JILL….I was just wondering…could the writers have spent any LESS time planning that memorial service for Ben? I don’t think so. Not that I was expecting much knowing the way the character of Ben has been treated lately…but somehow it never makes me feel good to be right when they give me what I expect instead of what I want…when they do such a poor job of honoring someone who was of major importance to the person I think is the most valuable character on the show. Ben’s memorial service, if you can call it that, was like an afterthought. When I saw that they brought Reverend Andrew back to do the service, I was hopeful that we would at least see a real funeral service to give the poor guy a decent sendoff…BUT NO! Why did they even bother to bring Andrew back if they weren’t even going to take the time or spend the money to drag out the church set? Believe me, I was very glad to see Robert Krimmer…I think Andrew belongs in Llanview having a life…but couldn’t they have given him more to say than “Let’s head over to St. James?” Why do we only get to see Andrew when someone gets married or dies but we have to look at Paul Cramer all the time?
I also thought that all the things that were going on during that show took away from the memorial service. It was bad enough that if you blinked your eyes you missed the whole thing, but several things bothered me. I thought it was terrible that Natalie wasn’t there. She knew there was a memorial service that day…she called to say she was sorry she couldn’t make it. Give me a break…they had her running off with Paul at just the time she should be with her mother…right after Viki’s heart transplant surgery and just when she had to do one of the hardest things in her life…say goodbye to Ben. Ben was very decent to Natalie when no one else was…she should have been there. Then we have Nora squeezing in every last bit of work she can before she drags herself off to Llanfair for the service. I think it might have been nice if she thought about the fact that Ben was Sam’s brother and now they were both dead. Nora should have been a lot more concerned about what was going on with her good friend Viki and a lot more introspective about loved ones who were gone. Instead she was working with Kevin to lock Todd up again (even though she did hesitate) and making plans for dinner out after the service. It just didn’t seem right.
And leave it to Roxy to add a bit of comic relief when she arrived breathless at Viki’s door thinking she was late and said, “Did I miss the damn funeral?” At least she was able to lighten Viki’s heart a little bit when she showed how much she cared about Natalie.
And Kevin…boy, he sure showed his true colors. He is so far removed from the “old” Kevin that I don’t even recognize him any more. Even when Nora reminded him more than once that it would rip his mother apart for him to go after Todd…especially on that day…somehow he just couldn’t get himself to care enough about what it would do to Viki. Ben was his good friend…did he forget that? There’s no doubt that Todd would have been around the next day or the day after that for them to arrest him, but Kevin, being the big selfish baby that he is, had to get his revenge on Todd even though it was the last thing his broken hearted mother needed to hear on that night. I have to say that no matter what Todd has done…Kevin is definitely the worse of the two. And as for Kelly…don’t even get me started on her. She couldn’t have cared less about being there for Viki and her family. Her only concern was to keep her butt covered and keep that baby at any cost. I can only hold on to the hope that at the very moment that Kevin thinks he has all but thrown away the key to Todd’s jail cell, Todd says one sentence that puts Kevin in his place for good and that would be, “Kevin, your baby boy is not really your baby boy and unless you drop all the charges against me, everyone else will know about Ace and you’ll lose him.” Knowing where Ace came from gives Todd all he needs to bring Kevin to his knees.
Oh, and let’s not forget Asa. I hate it when he calls his “son” by the name “Ben Buchanan.” If Asa hadn’t spent so many years hating and trying to destroy Ben DAVIDSON, he might have had a life with his son that would give him comfort to remember. Instead, he’s home sulking alone in his bourbon and branch. Poor Asa…NOT!
Boy, Roxy and Rex sure were lucky that no one got hurt in that community center fire. Leave it to Asa to do Nigel a favor and pay their fines in return for Nigel coming back to work for him. Somehow, as crazy as Asa sometimes seems these days, he still thinks of #1 first, doesn’t he? It’s going to be interesting to see Nigel dealing with Asa’s recent bouts of confusion. Poor Nigel…he falls in love with a crazy woman and his life has never been more exciting…what a hoot.
And what about Miss Margaret? She sure is the woman scorned…and wait until she blows the whistle on Todd and the currently blissful Blair finds out she slept with her “reformed” man? As crazy as Todd is…and as many sneaky things as he’s done recently…I still felt bad that he got arrested the way he did…and poor Blair…she’s probably wondering if she’ll ever learn that trusting Todd is a dangerous proposition. Did Little Miss Margaret remind you a bit of Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction? Now there’s a woman whose elevator definitely does not go to the top floor if she believed Todd loved her. She was all ready to pledge her life to him and his kids and when he admitted that he only used her I was waiting for her to scratch his eyes out. He’s risking some brand new scars on that pretty new face of his. Hey, when she offered to take in and love his kids I knew she was a bit “off.” Has she met Starr?
And let’s all bid a fond farewell to Kathryn Fitzgerald. She wasn’t around long, but it seemed like years that we had to endure her obnoxious personality. She was never really needed to come between John and Natalie…Natalie is doing a great job all by herself of messing up her chances for a good life. Haven’t we seen enough of the Natalie who doesn’t believe anyone loves her and she doesn’t belong anywhere? Been there…done that. Let’s move on and let her realize she’s worthy of a good life with a decent guy. They’ve been moving her backwards and it is just plain annoying.
Let’s just spend a minute on Lindsay and Rex. I was so disgusted when she told him she was addicted to him but had to let him go. Oh Lindsay, please wake up and get some dignity. Your daughter found hers…surely you could give it a try. Was anyone silly enough to believe she’d really given up Rex like she told Jen she had? I suppose she wanted Rex to believe she was just casually hanging around the docks by his apartment sunning herself in the middle of the night. I also wondered if she might be getting tired of making love (and I use the term very loosely) up against the wood pilings down on the docks. She probably hasn’t gotten all the splinters out of her bottom from the time she found herself in the same situation a while back with Troy MacIver. Sorry, I couldn’t resist. I don’t think she’s ever been more pathetic. I wonder how Catherine Hickland likes playing Lindsay in these situations.
In closing, I guess I have to say that Viki had one line that said it all for me regarding the loss of Ben. She said it all with her reference to the Tin Man from The Wizard Of Oz when she declared, “I know I have a heart because I can feel it breaking.” Me, too, Viki….me, too.
See ya next week...
Jill Berry
FAN
FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS
Lin writes: “Oh how I am eating my words of a few weeks ago about how Todd should find another love interest. I, too, have been sucked back into the Manning universe but, aacck, another fire in Llanview? Their fire department really works. I also agree with you about the dearth of romance. But what I really miss is the dearth of good sex! Remember the days when the long progress of a romance (or the short progress of a one night stand) would end in the payoff of a good sweaty, hair-mussing roll in the hay? I recall some scenes between Antonio and the girl that used to be the LPD receptionist that were real barnburners. Now all we get is a somewhat passionate kiss, maybe some double entendre, fall on the couch/floor/bed and cut to a "Victoria's Secret" commercial that is sexier that the show. I ask you, what is the point of having a big build up with Michael Easton (one of the sexiest, most appealing actors on daytime) if we don't get to see some sort of, uh, climactic finale. Does anyone remember that he played an artist's model on "Ally McBeal" and was very energetic? I love romance as much as the next person, but a girl's got "needs.”
Dear Lin: If my typing becomes unrecognizable, it’s because I can’t stop laughing long enough to keep my hands steady on the keys….Oops! You are hysterical and I sure can’t say I disagree with you for a minute. There sure is nothing like watching a good old fashioned soap romp to take your mind off the six o’clock news, is there? Well, I guess there is…but you get my drift…lol! They do always seem to cut to the commercials too quickly, don’t they? We should write to the sponsors and tell them that we’d buy more Wisk and Beano if they cut the commercials a bit and let the show give us more of the juicy stuff. I can’t disagree with you about Michael Easton…I am expecting that when he finally gets to “do the deed” with some lucky girl, all of our circuits will be blown…oh, and the ones on our tv sets, too. As for Michael’s stint on Ally McBeal…yes I remember it well. I still have visions in my head of him with his pants down…literally. For those of you who didn’t see him on Ally McBeal a couple of years ago…poor you!
Kathye writes: “Most of the time I will read your comments and I find the comments O.K. or I agree with them. But I think the comments you make about Michael and Marcie are too much! I like to see them together in scenes and I DO MISS THEM when they are not on. I don't feel that they have been shoved down my throat! I do feel that we haven't seen them in the best light they can be seen in. There are so many ways this couple can be taken. Jill, you talk about Michael having this BIG EGO! You know…who cares? The fans of Al and Marcie wanted to see their story continue and that is what the writers were trying to do. It is true that they didn't have the greatest storyline for the last month. But I loved the Valentine's Day story and if they explore the Killing Club Book storyline that could be a great story! True Marcie was very, very funny last week! I just hope that the writers will give Marcie and Michael a really good storylines, which I know the couple is capable of performing. I am tired of only watching the show once or twice a week.”
Dear Kathye: I am happy to discuss differing opinions, which is why I am printing your email. Of course you are entitled to your opinion and I understand your devotion to Michael and Marcie. If you’ve been reading my column for any length of time, you know that I have an unshakable devotion to another couple that is no longer together on the show and I certainly feel strongly about them and the storylines they were given. I’ve sure taken a lot of beatings about Ben and Viki…as well as a lot of support. That’s just the way it is…you take the flack and love your favorites anyway. I do maintain that Michael was shoved down our throats. Before he miraculously had Al’s spirit pumped into him, he was a nasty, egotistical young doctor who had no niceties about him. He had no bedside manner and he had no contacts with his family…and didn’t care about either. I just couldn’t accept him all of a sudden being a “nice guy.” And by the way, he wasn’t the sweetest of guys the other day when he ripped Marcie’s book apart, was he? Oh yes, he apologized, but it didn’t cut it for me after he inconsiderately criticized the whole book. As far as you only watching the show once or twice a week…I think you lose something when you watch that way. I think that those of us who watch the entire show and get involved with other storylines possibly learn to have more patience until our favorites get center stage again. Just my humble opinion.
Amy writes: “Although I usually agree with most of your opinions, I have to say I disagree with your thoughts about Antonio being a male stripper. I think the man has an incredible body and he can personally strip for me any day! Have you seen those bulging biceps?! I agree that David and Ron are good looking but they have nothing on Antonio! There is something about those eyes a girl could get lost in! Before my mind wanders, I must address the reader who wrote about the new Duke and the age difference between him and Kevin's portrayer, Dan Gauthier. On the ABC bio on Dan Gauthier, it says he is in his 40's, so the age isn't so off as they may think. I think Dan has a baby face myself, so it will be weird to watch, but believable in age.”
Dear Amy: I’m glad you enjoy watching Antonio strip. Like I said to the reader above, if you watch the whole show, you’ll find there’s something for everybody and sometimes where you least expect to find it. And yes, I sure have seen Antonio’s bulging biceps…lol. I was big fan of Antonio and Jessica when a lot of people couldn’t stand them together…He just doesn’t excite me as a stripper…I think sometimes he can be very sexy though. It’s like I always say…whatever floats your boat. Antonio floats yours…Ben floats mine…hands down. Too bad he can’t float my boat from the grave…or can he? Regarding Kevin and Duke…yes Dan is in his 40’s, but I guess if you look at it from the standpoint that Kevin is really supposed to be in his late 20’s or maybe early 30’s at the most, it doesn’t stand to reason that Duke would look like he’s his dad’s younger brother instead of his son…whatever their ages are in real life.
Mary writes: “I just wanted to let you know that I totally agree with you about the Ben Viki situation. I was a big fan of theirs and when I found out that Life With Bonnie was canceled I thought for sure Mark would come back to the show. Then I find out that they are killing him off. If that's all they were going to do they should have done that during Valentine’s episode when he came back to life only to go back into a coma. I think it will be very hard for the show to find a male to get into a relationship with Viki that the fans will approve of. I do have one question though, what ever happened to the actor that came on the show as the governor? I forget the actor's name but he played Mac on Knots Landing. He was supposed to be involved with Viki and Dorian was trying to get him for herself, then he disappeared.... Any ideas?”
Dear Mary: I don’t know the truth about whether or not TPTB at One Life To Live had any idea that Life With Bonnie would be renewed when they decided to kill Ben. It’s my personal opinion (which is off most of the time…lol) that they just got tired of waiting to find out the fate of LWB and decided to go ahead and do away with Ben. I wouldn’t be surprised if they gave themselves a slap on the head when they heard about the cancellation but in all honesty, I don’t really think Mark Derwin was ready to pick up and come back to New York the minute his show was cancelled. I think there’s always a good chance that somewhere down the line he might be ready to come back if and when they offer him the opportunity again…and of course, we all know that someone (Asa?) has the real Ben hidden away for some reason we have yet to find out….RIGHT? The actor you are referring to who was supposed to be involved with Viki and Dorian, was Kevin Dobson, who played Governor Harrison Brooks. I’m not sure exactly what happened in that situation, but for about 99.9999% of the fans, there was absolutely no chemistry between the governor and Viki and the storyline fizzled.
© Copyright by Katherine Thurston, 2004
