From: shagan@gandalf.rutgers.edu (Susan R. Hagan)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv.soaps
Subject: Re: DOOL: Fab. Friday
Date: 12 Jan 93 22:03:35 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

mjheal@bnr.ca (MJ Heal) writes:

>In article <Jan.12.11.59.30.1993.23416@gandalf.rutgers.edu>, shagan@gandalf.rutgers.edu (Susan R. Hagan) writes:

>|> Whose barn was he in?  How does he know that he didn't just rip
>|> off some crazy old lady's life savings?  I don't object to the
>|> situation, but I definately object to the way Jack handled it.

>	We don't know someone owned the barn, just like we don't know
>	that someone does not own the barn.  

Jack has got a very complicated situation on his hands.  I would 
just like the writers to give Jack the complexity to go along with
it.  Not this "Whoopie there's money falling from the sky!" crap.

Jack had a need to feel successful, like he could make something
happen.  He considers finding someone else's money to be his 
success?  This is something that he made happen that he can be proud
of?  He didn't do anything?

I don't even mind them stretching reality, god knows they do it
often enough, but they're not even begining to approach reality
on this one.

I don't even mind the dishonesty of it so much as his reaction to 
the situation.  Maybe if he had devised a plan to get his money
back from the Hawkins, evil and devious as it might be, then he
could take credit and feel successful.  But not for this.

>|> Why doesn't he work and earn money, credit, and respect, rather
>|> than moping about not having any and then scheming and cutting
>|> corners to get it.

>	That would be too boring!!

And Jack's storyline's haven't been boring all along?

Jack never learns his lesson.  Thats my point.  If one scheme doesn't
work, then try another one.  If cutting one corner doesn't work, then
cut another one.  I think it is very boring to watch a character go
from one crisis to the next and not learn anything or develop. It was
fine for Lucy Ricardo, but this isn't a sitcom.  If they are trying to
bring this off as That Zany Jack his Nutty Adventures, it isn't
working.  Maybe they should add a laugh track.  I think its pathetic.

>	Sure Jack could do all those things you suggested.  And he
>	would be included in the same category as all those other
>	boring perfect male soap characters.

He could be daring and unpredictable without being stupid.  What about
Mike Horton?  He was a riot.  He was funny, unpredictable, imaginative,
passionate, daring, and ... intelligent.  All rolled into one?  Not the
least bit boring.

>	I like Jack cause he isn't perfect.  That sometimes his morals
>	are questionable.  His intentions may be good, but his methods
>	are a little unorthadox (to say the least).

I'm not even really bothered by his morals.  I mean, I like Lawrence and
look at his morals.  I'm really bothered by Jack's lack of common sense,
an I'm really bothered by how childish and selfish he is.  You might say 
that his intentions are good because he's doing this all for Jennifer and
Abby, but he's doing it for himself.  Jenn and Abby are fine.  Jenn is
making enough money for the whole family.  If Jack were really unselfish
he wouldn't be willing to risk everything his family has, and everything
they don't have so HE can have HIS precious paper back.  He doesn't want
to support Jenn and Abby because they need supporting.  He wants to do it
for his ego - no matter what the cost.  

I don't think those are good intentions at all.  I think those are very
selfish intentions.  He even tells Jenn that he's doing everything for
her, but he doesn't listen when she says that she doesn't need what he
wants for her.  Because he isn't really doing it for her at all.

>	If we compared all the characters on DAYS to real life people
>	I don't think any of them match up.  And the ones that are

I don't want them to be like real everyday people, but I would like Jack
to be a little more intelligent and a little more humble.  His ridiculous
ego is really getting on my nerves.  

>	Sure I would like Jack to be straight with Jennifer.  But I
>	also realize that if he was straight ALL THE TIME,  there
>	would be NO storyline at all!!

How do you know?  When has he *ever* been straight with her?  He lies
to her all the time.  The housekeeping, the book, and now this money?
It's so old!!!  If Jack and Jenn can't have a decent storyline that doesn't
involve Jack keeping yet another secret from Jenn, maybe its time for
these two to hang it up.

>	I can't sit her and defend Jack's ethics (he does have some

You don't have to.  Like I said, its really not his ethics that I mind,
it just the monotony. 

>	though).  But I can certainly sit in front of my tv screen and
>	totally enjoy Jack's character.

I'm glad for you.  And I'm glad for me and my FF button.



-- 
Susan R. Hagan (shagan@gandalf.rutgers.edu) 
Publications Coordinator - User Services
Rutgers University Computing Services
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv.soaps