So how do we deal with this?

I can see why you'd feel that leaving the show behind is the right thing to do. The Holdens were what pulled you in and now TPTB are just yanking that away. It seems as though they feel that it doesn't matter to lose a few older viewers if they can make gains in the teen audience. Even though I'm relatively young, I think even I am slightly out of the range of the audience that they are shooting for. you think for one second that if all the teens were doing was clamouring for more marcal and more Nathaniel/Al that they would hesitate for even a second of keeping marcal and Al on the canvas. But of course, marcal is probably not what the teens are feeling(though I do give props to the few teens that do get marcal, our girl Brittany included, because they know what a true love story looks like). Unfortunately for them they are risking losing more than a few loyal viewers from what I've seen and too me that is not something that they should be so willing to lose.

Though I would love to be able to say goodbye to OLTL and ABC I don't think I will be able to. There are still people on the show that I would like to support, Kathy as well as a couple others. Also, I have always seen myself as a dedicated viewer. Once I start watching a show I usually stick it out until the end. Though, I will admit that OLTL without Marcal and without Al will not be the same in my mind but I will still continue to watch but with less involvement on my part.

and to answer your question about being in it for the long haul, I think you already know my answer, OF COURSE. I will be here right by your side char. If we are successful in keeping Al on the canvas then I will watch that. If Nathaniel moves on and does another soap, I will tune in to see any scenes that he's in but not let myself get drawn in to another soap since that's the last thing that I need. If he goes on to do movies then I will go and see them, even if the movie itself isn't great, his performance alone will be enough in my mind to make it a worthy experience.

Jen

aka whitetiger or Eevil Awakening
-On the outside I may look like a sweet little cat but beware because underneath it all is a ferocious tiger ready to pounce at a moments notice.

Jen's World - Nathaniel Marston
(My page about NM)

-"I have tons of practice handling people's dark sides. I enjoy the challenge and bad boys can be very sexy."
Greenlee, AMC

LOTR-The Two Towers, DVD release countdown: 2 days
LOTR-The Return of the King, movie release countdown: 3 months, 23 days