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FAN FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS

Catherine writes: “Thought I'd weigh in with the others on characters and story lines on One Life. Firstly, Jessica. Say it ain't so. Nothing can excuse her ill treatment of Nash or her selfish and ego-driven choices. She should be sitting squarely on the high road, with her loving family around her. Instead, she risks everything to demean herself. I have always loved the Jessica character, but I truly hate her lately.

Next, Viki and Charlie. What a mess. Ben was always my favorite, too, but what can you do? I have to echo another fan's letter to you and say (dripping with sarcasm) that nothing says romance like a barely sober alcoholic. Gee-awd! I have 23+ years of sobriety myself and, trust me when I say, nothing could be more treacherous or doomed to failure than that scenario. Now Moe, from the diner, what a doll he is! Hey, Viki, he slipped by your radar. Perhaps Noelle will get lucky. Oh, yes, the new Michael. Way to go! What a fantastic actor he is to take such possession of that very loved character!”

Dear Catherine: I couldn’t agree with you more about Jessica. She has been a huge disappointment to me lately, or I guess I should say that what the writers have done to her is a huge disappointment to me. There is way too much Tess going on and not enough Jessica. Lots of people agree with you about Viki and Charlie and the fact that he is so new in his sobriety. I guess they want us to suspend our disbelief that he could have a setback after ten months, go on a bender and then be okay.

I, too, love Moe and Noelle. We need more characters like them around to balance out the loonies like Todd and Ramsey. I also love the new Michael. Lots of people agree on that casting decision, but some don’t, as you’ll read below. Hey, to each his own.

Julie writes: “Perhaps you haven't heard a lot from the Michael fans because a lot of us have simply stopped watching. I have tried and tried to stay with the show, but as competent a job as Chris Stack is doing, he just isn't Michael to me. I also resent having invested in the Michael/Marcie/Tommy storyline, only to have the emotional high point played out by some stranger. I hold no ill will towards Stack; he's an actor doing a job. But TPTB fired his predecessor without first giving him his day in court. There was no reason the network couldn't let Marston play out this storyline until the results of his court hearing were announced and then make a decision about his status with the show. I know that Chris Stack has won over some fans, and good for him. But for me, Nathaniel Marston will always be Michael, and Chris Stack will always be that stranger that people keep calling Michael.”

Dear Julie: I would like to be able to agree with you about walking away from the show because you are unhappy with a recast, but I just can’t. I certainly know what it’s like to love a character so much that you can’t stand it when they leave. I feel that way about Ben (big surprise). However, I have to tell you that in the beginning I hated the thought of even the possibility of a recast but I say from my heart today that if TPTB could find a suitable recast for Ben who could capture even half of the magic Ben and Viki had, I’d welcome the chance to give him a shot. Obviously, you didn’t like enough of the rest of the show to keep watching in spite of the loss of Nathaniel. You are certainly entitled to your opinion but I must say that since this was not the first time that Nathaniel was in trouble, I was not surprised that he was not given more consideration by TPTB.

Charlotte writes: “Having watched OLTL for 30 years, there have been actors and actresses I could do without, as well as various storylines. I have thoroughly enjoyed the new Michael; he makes the role so much more believable. However, I am so done with Marcie and John. One does get tired of Marcie's tears. John's part in this is overdone too. His strong hand approach, along with always feeling his outlook is the only right one, gets to be a bore. Viki, Dorian and Nora are extremely good, really very believable and enjoyable. Perhaps Viki's sons could come back, as well as Tina Lord.”

Dear Charlotte: I’m kind of done with Marcie, too, and I don’t know how they can get her back to any kind of normal life at this point, but they’re sure going to try. I can’t say I agree about John. I have always loved this character. He’s got that hero/savior thing going on and I know some people don’t agree with me, but I can’t help it; I love John and I love when tiny bits of his “not so dark side” show through. I love Viki and Nora together. They are great girlfriends and who doesn’t love a good bout between Viki and Dorian? One of my biggest wishes for the show is to have Viki’s sons back in Llanview. Kevin and Joey were always characters that I loved and I especially loved Tim Gibbs as Kevin and Nathan Filion as Joey. Oooh, they were delicious.