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katjam007 Registered User
Posts: 11
(10/13/03 9:58 am) Reply
Re: There's really no place to hypothesize about the show re
Quote:Ok, has Marcie and Al's relationship signaled the end of ...
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growth for Al?
I think the writers thought it had. True love and marriage seem to be the death knell of a couple, for some reason. I think its because soaps are basically romance novels on television (no slam to romance novels because that's what I write). It's all about hooking up. There are a couple of peripheral stories, but the core of soaps is to get him with her. So once Al was with Marcie, where were they to go? Marriage, babies, then all the convential soap claptrap that would force them apart, all in the name of conflict, because without conflict there's no story. Of course there are tons of ways to introduce conflict into Marcal after they're married, but apparently tptb weren't seeing it or didn't want to see it. That's why we're reading in the soap mag interviews how the story has been rejuvenated by Al's death. The great thing for us is that now they can tell this romance right, and give it the attention it deserves.
We're also all in agreement that we want to see more from Marcie. During her and Al's romance she has been portrayed as goody-goody for the most part. She never judges him, is always there for him, is his staunchest supporter and believes in him when no one else does. And Al SOOO needed that at that point. Also, and this does happen in r/l with some women, Marcie was getting lost in Al. Yes she had her peace stance that she was fighting for, but I could see her eventually losing her identity and being seen only as the other half of Al. One thing the death/funeral scenes showed the other characters (which the audience already knew anyway) was Marcie's strength. Bo mentioning that he didn't know she had such a beautiful voice. Asa telling her she had spunk (or gumption or whatever he said). Viki sitting down with her and offering her condolences and empathy. Now that she was separate from Al, they could see her for who she really is.
With this new s/l, we'll see more of that. She'll have to resist this new guy, deal with whatever ramifications come with the "danger" she's in or whatever this mission stuff is, not to mention her growing, inexplicable attraction to this man when Al is supposed to be her one true love. As with NM, I can't wait to see what KB does with all of this.
Re: There's really no place to hypothesize about the show re
Kat, you r correct. There are definately glimmers of hope in OLTL showing through. I think if we are all honest and realistic we know that the chances of another soap being canceled in the next couple of years is strong due to viewership being down. We can only hope it is not one of ours. While I am sure viewership being down is due to various things. And we see that tptb are trying to do some stuff (bringing back Al and placing the PC cast everywhere, for starters)to regain/retain viewers my questions are:
A. What would bring viewers back to daytime?
B. What would keep viewers watching?
I am thinking of posting this at the Diner too and maybe making a list to send to tptb, so they can find out what we really want.
Keeper of the Wing at St. Anne's for the Nuts for Nathaniel
DNMF#2
Smitten Kitten
Posts: 536
(10/13/03 6:57 pm) Reply
There's lots of room for growth
Alot of the character that were brought back are not as beloved as NM's... I wouldn't worry about that happening to our boy.. Keep being vocal about our love of this guy, and we will not be seeing Al falling off any baloncies anytime soon. Keep the mags interested in him... so offliners are into it too... And Max? Here's a character that hasn't had a good storyline in a decade. Why did they bother to bring Al and Gabrielle? Where is the Max and Gabrielle reunion payoff? This was an accumulation of years of the character of Max being tossed around.
I don't think "chemistry" is what its ever really been about. Some couples match and some don't... and many would feel Marcal doesn't match... but what really counts, which isn't really chemistyr in my book, made it something to behold. If the actors involved can see the character they are supposed to be in love with as that person... it will be there.
I think its funny that Jen is never in a great "chemical" reaction relationship... (and NO I don't FEEL her with Joe or Rex either) yet Al did create the relationship fuzzies in the audience... NM couldnt' make chemistry with Jessica Morris... all by himself. NM has had "chemistry" with every woman in his orbit (with the exception of JM's Jen, but even then.. I FELT Al's side of things)... I say its the actor.. being a great actor, that simple.. and the chemistry with Brier is that Brier has that level of imagination along with Marston... I just don't know if its chemistry.. or acting
Char
Ladyeevil Keeper of the Wing at St. Anne's for the Nuts for Nathaniel
DNMF#2
Smitten Kitten
Posts: 548
(10/14/03 7:53 pm) Reply
I've been LOOKING for you guys...
Kathy, I'm so glad you enjoy this!!! I've pulled my hair out with all my ideas, and either people don't touch it because they don't want to offend me, or because they think I'm out there, or something... or they are GREAT NM fans, who aren't familiar with the Knoller style.. like Jen/Whitetiger... I only wish she knew that everytime she writes something, its AMAZING stuff, and she has talent for seeing to the heart of matters. I think that a fictional character can be as intriguing as a real one, and sometimes MORE SO. I hope you get that.
After my years of analyzing T&B versus TNT... I still remember all the things I wrote, and I watched each and every thought come to life on my screen. For that I will always respect STK and OTWB... because we knew our stuff and to see the Knoll what it is today.. and I swear I sometimes regret I didn't continue the ride. But for some reason, I quit caring. I came back to it because of TSJ and an honest respect of KDP, but I'm still overcoming years of... whatever. I got intersted back in this canvas because Al made me take notice of it. He's tied to the family that got me started on this show (even my Blair interest was a Max thing back when Mia was playing her)... so Al is someone I care about from the get go.. and then you add NM playing him with such heart... well, it was destined I'd be a fan..
I think about people who wouldn't get why I find so much interest in fiction, let alone a soap, but.. it seems obvious to me... constant input to consider.. that's a soap.. and fiction? Well, take a theory of lit class, and one would have an appreciation for universals... I love analyzing life and all its possibilities, as much as fictiional men can be intriguing.. I only wish soaps had the respect they deserve despite the bad....
Char
Ladyeevil Keeper of the Wing at St. Anne's for the Nuts for Nathaniel
DNMF#2
Smitten Kitten
Posts: 549
(10/14/03 7:56 pm) Reply
I agree about the drawback of soaps
Its a constant input though... and when its good its like the beautiful weed in a garden that flowered... you don't see it coming.. that's the surprise.. like Marcal...
No one PLANNED it.. it bloomed in a desert.
Char
Ladyeevil Keeper of the Wing at St. Anne's for the Nuts for Nathaniel
DNMF#2
Smitten Kitten
Posts: 550
(10/14/03 8:01 pm) Reply
MSTO5.. OMG.. I've posed the same questions...
Quote:A. What would bring viewers back to daytime? B. keep them
You have reality shows that don't require concentration.. and people having informatiion overload... who has the time and inclination to invest in a fictional world in this day and age.
Truth be told.. I think its a dying breed... like theatre. The best thing they can do is cater to the audience who does give a hoot... and they will turn others onto it. It will never get the ratings that will turn a quick buck, but its still worth something.. like the company that could easily go out of business because of 911 and the fall of the dotcoms... but profit is being made, so why toss it? Make the most out of it. Blondi says to let the actors take pay cuts etc.. I dont know the reality of that.. but I believe its about a love of the medium.. and if it could get some respect, then maybe, just maybe... actors would want to be a part of it to get it on their resume... and not be a lifer like ES... and viewers would appreciate the nature of the actor's commitment.. that its not for life.
Char
Ladyeevil Keeper of the Wing at St. Anne's for the Nuts for Nathaniel
DNMF#2
Smitten Kitten
Posts: 551
(10/14/03 8:05 pm) Reply
Re: There's really no place to hypothesize about the show re
Quote:I think the writers thought it had.
(true love ended Al's growth)
OMG again.. I've written about this... I mean, look at JDP... never had a good story that was truly invested in for almost 10 years.. all since LUNA.
I can't help but believe us Marcalers are changing soap history, and maybe its not during a time of soap heyday.. but its substantial all the same. I can't BEGIN to explain my thrill of being on the Marcal ride.. because its something we haven't seen the likes of, nor will we again...
Char
katjam007 Registered User
Posts: 17
(10/15/03 6:24 am) Reply
Re: There's really no place to hypothesize about the show re
I think the timing is everything- since there's a lag in viewership of soaps, then tptb paid more attention to the fan outcry than they would have. Its like- Yes, people are actually watching this show! Hello?????
re: actors and soaps: this hits on one of my pet peeves, and again I can relate to it through my writing. Although romance novels constitute over 50% of mass market sales, the romance genre is greatly maligned, not only by literary circles but sometimes within its own genre. And I think with soaps its the same thing. There are a few actors who don't mind being lifers- its a job, they get paid well, their family life is fairly stable--but most I bet see it as a stepping stone to something "better." Even Kathy Brier said she underestimated the difficulty of acting in soaps and the caliber of the actors who portray the characters. And some actors seem to sleepwalk through their roles, just biding time until they can breakout into something bigger...tv, film, whatever. But NM doesn't do that. Who knows what he actually thinks of the medium, but since its his second soap he can't hate it. Plus he's giving his all everytime he's on the screen. And I think its smart for him to do other projects, because doing the same thing over and over gets stale. I write a variety of stuff, not just novels, because you can get into a rut and the quality of work suffers. I think Kathy pulling dual duty on Broadway and tv can only strengthen her as an actress, and probably as a person.
But I think with better s/l's and tptb being more in tune with the viewers, soaps might have a chance to gain some respect...if that's even on the agenda. My personal opinion is that reality tv is going to be played out soon, or its going to go so far off the deep end that it will be like the gladiators and the colosseums, only instead of cheering them on live we'll be "cheering" from our living rooms. I think there's a movie based on a Stephen King book or story about a game show where there are live executions. I don't think that's too far fetched. Sorry to take a nosedive into the depressing, but those are my thoughts. Give me my love in the afternoon anyday over shock junk.
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