Reflections by Jill - A Weekly Commentary for OLTL

Since the One Life to Live Fan Club Luncheon was held last Saturday, this is the week where I give you my recap of that great annual event. I am only going to say a few words about last week’s shows and we’ll get back to the Fan Feedback section next week as well. Just briefly, I think Clint is dumber than ever when it comes to Dorian. How could he believe she didn’t hire the stalker? I am horrified that Antonio got his badge back so easily. He’s in no frame of mind to be a cop. I was disgusted by Spencer’s untimely and inappropriate proposal to Blair and I loved David and Viki talking about Dorian and Clint when David suggested that he and Viki “give it a go” together and she just gave him her “look” and he said to her, “Your lips say no, but your eyes say (hesitate) no, too! And of course, being the David that he is, attending a big bash at The Palace, he finished the conversation by asking Viki, “Can I buy you a free drink?” And regarding that big formal Gala at the Palace, couldn’t Cristian have found a real shirt to wear? And why did Evangeline think that he cleaned up so well when he was wearing a tee shirt?

OKAY, now on to the Fan Club Luncheon!

I always enjoy this event so much. It’s a great opportunity to see the stars of the show in person and candid and it’s always a wonderful opportunity to get together with friends from all over the country to whom we only speak with our fingers the other 364 days of the year. I’m so happy that so many of them come for this event.

It started out as usual, with check-in and a walk around the room to see what items of memorabilia from the show were going to be raffled off. There were lots of photos, tee shirts, a few fun things, but nothing I couldn’t live without. Of course if you were a guy who wanted a pair of Antonio’s jeans, or a girl who was a size “minus zero” and wanted some of the actresses’ jeans, you were in luck.

Next, they opened up the ballroom and we found our tables to enjoy lunch. And let me just say that this year I think most people really did enjoy lunch. There were lots of comments about the lunch that was served last year, or I should say the lack of what most people consider a proper lunch, but this year was much improved, so no complaints.

They proceeded after lunch with the raffling off of the items up for bid and there were many happy fans, including one at my table who won one of John McBain’s black long sleeved tee shirts. Well, did you think I was going to say it was any other color?

OK, now this next happening was really a riot. For those of you who have endured reading my drivel for the last few years, you may remember that a couple of years ago when the Luncheon was at another hotel, my group was at a table right by the door where the stars were hanging out before they were introduced and I told you that Robin Strasser was the only cast member who popped out of that door, snuck up to our table and just put her arm around my shoulders and started chatting with all of us.

Well, it’s hard to believe, but this year, we were at the Marriott Marquis hotel and strangely enough, my group was again near the door where the stars where waiting and as we were all engrossed in chatting around the table, I KID YOU NOT, an arm comes around my shoulders AGAIN and Robin’s face appears to the right of mine. I nearly died laughing, as did my friends who were with me the last time this happened.

Anyway, Robin was her usual adorable non-Dorian self and was as thrilled to see all of us, as we were to be up close with her. She offered to autograph the “One Voice” CD’s for anyone who had them so they wouldn’t have to wait on line to have them signed later and she personalized every autograph. She even sat on the lap of a woman at our table to take a picture, but she insisted that the woman give her $20.00, which she proceeded to tuck in the top of her blouse and later on she brought the woman a copy of the CD. Of everyone in the cast, I am always most amazed at Robin Strasser. Her transformation into Dorian is incredible. In person, she prettier, younger, thinner, sweeter and soft in a way Dorian could only dream about. And to top it off, she invited the fans to meet her in Central Park to join her when she walks her dog. Never let it be said that she’s not fan-friendly.