| OLTL Writers Vs. OLTL Fans - An Explosive Combination! | |
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Since the announcement of the new writers coming to OLTL, it seems I have received more email than ever from disappointed fans. Although the negative comments during the Niki/Viki storyline still tops the charts. But now I'm hearing fans complaining about the new storylines they are hearing about from the new writers, or they are still complaining about the "Gary Tomlin" era of bad writing. Either way, it seems a lot of fans have been unhappy for quite sometime, and soon there may be a whole lot more.
Right before the Holidays I started a new weekly feature on this site called the OLTL FANS HOT SPOT, in which I asked fans to write in with their comments on the show. It has been very successful so far, and I appreciate all of those whom have written in so far. One fan wrote me this week with a "guest-commentary" I especially wanted to share with everyone. Plus, excerpts from other fan email regarding the OLTL writers and storylines.
Alana H. of San Diego
writes:
"Simply
put, the new writers are taking the easy way out! If they were truly good
writers, and had these wonderfully creative minds like everyone raves about,
then they should have no problem coming up with fresh ideas with all the current
characters. But instead, all I'm hearing is they want to return to the past.
They want to return to their so-called "glory times" of days gone by. Basically
they want to write storylines which focus mainly on the characters they created
themselves! They are already expressing they have no loyalties to the newer
characters on the show. Heads are already rolling from what I'm hearing, and I
guarantee it's such characters such as Jen, Lindsay, Rae, Seth (which has
already been confirmed) and next will probably be characters like Sam, Al and
Liz. Which is really too bad, because if given the right material these
characters could have really shined!
But instead these actors will probably have to pay the price for basically what comes down to is bad writing. Are we as fans suppose to love each and every character on the show? Of course not. We all have our preferences, it's only human nature. But what really gets under my skin is the outright vicious "bashing" of characters and fans alike. My goal in writing this commentary was to be as unbiased as possible, but I do have to make an exception for some fans. I have been to many forums on the Internet, and for the life of me I cannot understand the anger of some fans. Is it necessary to call certain characters bad names? Is it necessary to crucify other fans for liking a certain character they don't like? What is wrong with some people should be my biggest question. It's a soap opera folks! It is probably the most cowardly act I could name, in my opinion, to hide behind a "screen name" on the Internet. Okay so you don't like Jen, or Sam, or Troy and Nora, or Todd with Blair, or Todd with Tea, or who ever else, but is it necessary to speak evil of something just because you don't happen to like it yourself? Let the fans who do like these characters or these couples to enjoy the show, after all, nothing in soap land last forever anyway, right? And if you think for one minute you are making one bit of difference to TPTB simply because you bash other fans, you couldn't be more wrong. Instead all you do is show a lack of self-confidence and maturity. I can already see the gloating and the "I told you so's" when certain characters are given the ax this year. There will be fans everywhere claiming victory to the demise of characters they don't like, but it is only out of pure spite and almost to a revenge like attitude in which they will celebrate in.
I wanted to share my opinion with all of you because as a fellow fan I'm so tired of the negative disregard to others just because of opposite opinions. So I'm asking those of you whom are probably already planning their "victory dance" to stop and think about the words you choose. Just because human nature tells us to gloat, it doesn't mean we have to. We all have the ability to choose to be positive human beings, and to not give into evil and hateful words and actions. I'm not very hopefully with these new writers, because again, I repeat, they merely taking the easy way out. The return of all the Buchanans, the return of Angel Square, the return of "supercouples", such as Bo and Nora, this my friends and fellow fans is what we get to look forward to. Old storylines and characters revisited simply because it was easier."
Wow, mighty powerful words Alana! Thank you so much for your opinion, and I think your words will touch many.
Here are some excerpts of other fan emails
I have recently received:
"This
used to be my favorite soap; what has happened to the writers for the past 6
months?" "One Life to Live needs a complete
overhaul. I pity the actors who have to play out the ridiculous storylines that
they are given." "I am bored with the show, and
disappointed. If it does not improve in February, I may just have to go find
another place to spend my One Life." "Whoever was responsible for hiring
and then retaining Gary Tomlin and his team of hack writers needs to turn in his
or her resignation. I am a long time viewer and I have stuck with this show
through good and bad but I think I have reached my limit."
"I have been a viewer of OLTL for over 35 years. Needless to say, I have
curtailed my viewing because I find a LOT of the show un-watchable. I have
better things to do with my time than be aggravated and bored by a show rather
than engrossed." "The more depth you can give
characters will hook the viewers again. Shallow, bad comedy and retread plot
points do not." "I hoped Josh Griffith would make a difference but it seems that he's just
carrying on the same shallow stories that Gary Tomlin assaulted our intelligence
with for 2 long years. Good bye, OLTL!" "I don't know if anything can return the show to what it was pre Gary." "I'm not surprised at all the
negative comments. I've been watching for years and I'm also fed up! I've never
seen such pathetic writing."
Now it's your turn, if you have something you'd like to share about the new writers and/or executive producer, please let me know and I'll be sharing more opinions in future articles.
You have two
options for submissions, use the ONLINE form below, or
E-MAIL.
