From: bridges@mala.bc.ca
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv.soaps
Subject: Re: AMC: Character glut
Date: 21 Jan 93 08:51:46 -0700
Organization: Malaspina College

In article <1993Jan20.194235.3033@zeus.ieee.org>, sbookey@ep.ieee.org (Seth Bookey) writes:
> 
> It seems to me that AMC is missing something vital.  The old
> favorites are still okay, but the newer characters are lacking.
> In general, I really am not compelled by the Maricks, Gloria, 
> Galen, Steven, the Fryes, Lucas, Mimi, or even Nat and Trevor!
> 
> Personally, I think it's time Steven and Galen were exiled
> for good.  The only reason to even see Steven was so that
> Tad could be examined by someone other than Joe.  The Carter
> Jones stuff was good, but NewNat's scenes with him were
> far better than anything he did with Galen.  Time to go, and
> take An Li with them. 
> 
> I am glad that AMC has people of color, but they are so
> boring.  I wish they would hire the old Pat Baxter and bring
> in a new Angela.  Debbie Morgan's not been anyplace since
> Generations was cancelled, has she.  Bring her back with a
> pubescent Frankie.  The woman who played Angela's mother was
> great.  I'll never forget (10 years ago) how she rolled her
> eyes when Angela said she was pregnant, and then announced that
> she was secretly married to Jesse.  The commitment to showing
> People of Color is great, but I say they should get rid of
> Mimi and Lucas and bring back the Baxters.
> 
> Gloria was given the Barnabas Collins treatment--a villain who is
> so well liked they make the villain sympathetic.   At least
> Barnabas' was a little more drawn out.  The rape was just a little
> too catalytic.  At least the triangle has had time to develop.
> 
> I see no reason to have Dmitri and Edmund on the show past this
> May.  Let's give Erica a rest and keep her off men for a three-month
> period.  Fifteen men in 20 years?  Enough for now.  Edmund is a 
> hunk, but unnecessary now that Angelique and Helga are long gone.
> 
> The introduction of Jack's mystery woman so far, sucks.  The lesson
> here is that he obsessed with Lorraine not because she's who she is,
> but because he's bored and depressed.  And so are we, no?
> 
> Here are some other old characters I would love to see returned, either
> as recasts or the original actors.
> 
> Skye--Time to spar with Hayley for Daddy's affections.
> Ross--Time to spar with everyone.  His dalliance with Natalie
>        was one of my favorite storylines.
> Joey--Well, perhaps not. 
> Langley--Where the devil is this man? 
> Cecily--She could be paired up with Joey, Tad, Charlie, a new Brian.
> Trask--Brian's older brother. Why not?  He had all of Brian's resentment
>  	without all the "cool" posturing.
> Lanie--Kill off David and bring the grieving young widow back to PV.
> Mark--Kill off Ellen.  Erica could lean on Mark while swearing off men.
> 
> Moreover, I think it's time a new family was introduced.  Perhaps
> a lower-middle-class hispanic family, with the mother as a nurse, 
> the father laid off from wherever, and a few young adult kids.  They
> can be blended in as if they were always there--like she and Ruth have
> worked together for years.  One of the sons could be gay and always 
> running off to Llanview to hang out with Billy and Rick.  One of
> the daughters could get into some ill-fated romance with some one.
> 
> The introduction of the Chandler family nine years ago really perked
> things up.  Perhaps a new family that reflects reality could do the
> trick.  Maybe the woman who played Mrs. Gonzalez (the woman who rented
> rooms to Jenny in NYC) could be the grandmother.
> 
> What do you all think?
> 
> 
> Seth
I have to agree, Seth (tho not necessarily about Skye).  I miss Debbie
Morgan's dimples but most I all I miss Billy Clyde. Yeah I know he's
dead, but stranger things have happened.  Maybe we could break up
Big Bird and Tyrone too.
Doug