From: rose@cecily.UUCP (Rose M. Delckum)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv.soaps
Subject: DOOL: TAN: My Letter
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 17:50:57 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: The New Alaska Riviera
X-Newsreader: Arn V1.00 beta rel2


Okay folks, I decided to jump on the bandwagon and write a letter
to NBC.  I plan to send it to Warren Littlefield (Umm...the hard
drive crashed again....I don't suppose anyone could email me his
address?)  Well, it was really hard.  I tried really hard to be
calm and polite, and not to say things like 'what idiot came up
with these idiotic ideas?!?!?' and 'who is Crystal Chappell
sleeping with anyway?!?!?!'.  As a result, I personally think the
letter sucks.  I was trying to get my feelings out in a dignified
way, and I don't think it worked.  So, I figured I'd post it and
beg for input.  Should I scrap it and avoid making a fool of
myself?  (I know, too late! :-)  I do it every day!)  Start over?
Keep some, lose some?  There's at least one place where I need a
word, any ideas?  Help!

Roserooni

================================================================

Dear ?, 

[who should I address this to?  Warren Littlefield?]

I would first like to apologize if this letter sounds somewhat
awkward.  I just have so many ideas and feelings that I am trying
to communicate, I don't know if I can do it effectively.

I remember when I was in high school, everyone I knew watched
Days of our Lives.  Having been raised in a very 'intellectual'
atmosphere, I thought they were pretty silly for watching
something as dumb as a soap opera.  But I spent several days with
a friens while my parents were out of town, and she made me watch
it with her.  I found myself interested against my will.  This
was back around 1985, when Bo and Hope were getting ready to
marry.  I tuned in occasionally when my folks weren't around, but
that was pretty much it.  In the fall of 1986 I went off to
college.  We were in th emountains, and I had one of the few
television sets in the dorm that could get a clear signal.  So,
my room became the place everyone watched Days.  I was hooked.  I
had a class from 1:30-2:30 (Days aired from 1:00-2:00) and would
watch the beginning of each show and have someone fill me in on
the ending.  Then, I came up with the brilliant idea of having my
parents tape the show.  I would go home for the weekend and spend
about 4 hours parked in front of the tv catching up on Days.  

I'm not sure exactly what attracted me to the show.  Early on, I
was fascinated by Steve and Kayla, who were just getting started.
They were a beautiful, romantic couple, and in watching them I
saw the development of a true friendship and a strong love.  I
was also attracted by the angst in Adrienne and Justin's
relationship, and all the melodrama.  And, of course, I was
always hysterical when Calliope, Tom and Ethan hit the screen.  I
liked the new characters who were introduced also.  The Devereaux
clan was classy, yet slimy.  And Anjelica was a joy to watch.
Nick and Eve's evolving relationship was completely mesmerizing.
The acting during this period was uniformly excellent, and the
stories were magical, full of romance, intrigue, suspense, and
humor.  

I was forced to quit watching in 1988 when my parents vcr broke
down.  It was hard at first, but I survived.  Then, in 1989, I
visited a friend while she was watching and was hooked again.
This was during the 'Phantom' period, and I was just fascinated
by the whole idea.  I grew up on old movies from the 30's and
40's, and this whole storyline had the same feel as the movies I
loved.  We had a new vcr, so I started taping again.  George
Jenesky's Nick became my hero, like watching a modern Errol Flynn
or Cary Grant.  The story had style, jazz, romance, music,
dancing, all the elements I loved.  But I noticed that there
seemed to be something wrong.  Characters were acting, well, out
of character.  Steve had a wife and didn't tell Kayla?  Tjis was
totally wrong for him!  Kayla didn't trust Steve with Marina?
What happened to the strong bond of love and trust I remembered?
Emilio was on a lot at this time, and he was the first character
I remember actively getting on my nerves.  Then April slept with
Mike, and I kept wondering who I should be rooting for.  The show
seemed to be turning more toward lust and sex, and less toward
love and romance.  I hung in there, but things got more muddled
and confused.  I watched every episode during the Cruise of
Deception and the whole Jencon storyline, and have yet to figure
out what was going on.  Characters acted completely bizarre.  It
was like watching familiar actors in new roles.  Suddenly Nick
was psychotic and didn't love Eve?  Jennifer ran off without
telling her family to marry a man she never met to help someone
she hadn't spoken to for 10 years?  Frankie wasn't a runaway, but
a rich kid?  Bo was sleeping with Emmy and falling in love with
Carly after about a month of mourning for Hope?  It took less
time for Shane and KAyla to get together.  I was confused.  What
happened to the elements of love, trust, romance, humor, and
family and friendship that I had loved?  

I quit watching regularly when George Jenesky left, and tuned in
occasionally to watch sickly as Charlotte Ross's Eve was
destroyed.  When she left, I quit.  Watching left me with a sick
feeling.  I admit, I now watch occasionally, but it's not out of
love of the show, it's more like driving by an accident and
slowing down to look at it.  The sheer awfulness of the show
today attracts yet repulses me.  Actors like Crystal Chappell and
Robert Kelker Kelly and Lisa Rinna, who are mediocre at best, get
front burner stories.  Yet there are still some excellent cast
members left.  John Aniston is largely ignored, as is Susan
Seaforth Hayes.  We never see any of the Hortons except Jennifer.
Tom and Alice have been reduced to delivering homilies to
Jennifer and Jack.  Matt Ashford's Jack has been reduced from a
complex character to a whiny, greedy buffoon.  Missy Reeves'
Jennifer is a harpy who alternates between criticizing her
husband and supporting him.  Patsy Pease's Kimberly has been
completely totally destroyed, as well as embarrassing any
audience members who are mentally ill or know anyone who is.
Stories are started and dropped or changed to accomodate the
whims of the latest headwriter, who seems to be a new person
every week, and none of whem seem to know anything about the show
or characters they are writing.  Many current stories are
degrading, offensive, and downright disgusting.  Lawrence Alamain
raped Jennifer Horton, yet this is being glossed over in favor of
showcasing him as Carly's great romance.  The storyline with
Kimberly's MPD took what is a truly terrifying and serious
disorder and reduced it to a chance to have Patsy Pease parade
around in skimpy clothes and act like a slut.  Lisa Rinna's
portrayal of a junkie is pathetically unconvincing.  But now I
hear that the people who are in charge feel they can't come up
with a story for Susan Seaforth Hayes, who is arguably one of the
few decent actors left on the show.  Why is this?  Maybe it's the
same reason they can't come up with a storyline for Richard
Biggs' Marcus, who is black?  Are we expected to believe that the
writers can't come up with a story for a woman who is over thirty
years old?  Just like they can't create a black female character,
or any other minority character?  The only black character left
on the show is Abe Carver, and although he is supposed to be the
ranking police officer, he is rarely seen and when he is he is
often taking orders from Roman Brady, his white subordinate.

In closing, I would like to say that I am a viewer am constantly
amazed at the level of [I need a word here--synonym for
'garbage'] that the writers constantly put on my tv screen.  I am
also offended by the racism and sexism and now ageism displayed
by the people in charge.  To be honest, I don't know if I will
continue watching.  It's hard to tear one's eyes from the sight
of a grisly accident, no matter how bad you feel about actually
watching it.  But I will take care to make note of the sponsors,
and write to them and let them know exactly what it is their
money is supporting.

Thank you



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"You can blow out a candle        |      Rose Delckum
 But you can't blow out a fire,   |      rose@cecily.UUCP
 Once the flames begin to catch   |      rose%cecily@uunet.uu.net    
 The wind will blow them higher"  |      uunet!coplex!cecily!rose
             --Peter Gabriel      |
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