From: berninge@iron.ecn.purdue.edu (James A Berninger)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv
Subject: Re: Melrose Place (08/19)
Date: 21 Aug 92 17:24:58 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network

In article <14451@mindlink.bc.ca> Gordon_Wong@mindlink.bc.ca (Gordon Wong) writes:
>Comments regarding Melrose Place (08/19/92):
>
>What a yawner of a series ... the characters on the show doesn't seem to be
>going nowhere fast and the storylines seem so thin:

I happen to *like* this series.  True, some of the storylines are
pretty thin, but I like the characters (well, most of them,
anyway).

>[1] On last night's show, Michael who was anxious about being a father,
>    dropped a chest of drawers on his foot, while trying to make room for
>    the crib. Come on ... the baby is not scheduled for arrival for another
>    8 months. What was the purpose of moving the drawers anyways?
He was excited about the new arrival and wanted to get things ready.
Besides, he's an intern and doesn't have a whole lot of free time on
his hands -- take advantage of what time you can get.  If he waits
too long, it'll be too late, and he wasn't about to let Jane do
anything remotely physical.

BTW, I noticed that the foot the dresser was supposedly dropped on
wasn't anywhere *near* the dresser at the time.  Pretty lame acting,
no pun intended.  :-)

>[2] The characters are going nowhere fast:
>    [a] Sandy, who was only good for screaming in her screen test and not
>        speaking, will be always hoping while she waitresses her life away
>        at Shooters.
Part of her character -- eternally hopeful, and exceedingly
annoying.  One of the characters I don't like.

>    [b] Billy will always struggle to become a writer. The newspaper he was
>        writing for (for a very short time) went under. He was driving a
>        taxi, but he doesn't seem to be doing that anymore. Last night, he
>        was a furniture salesman for a day. Man of many jobs?
Yes, because he's trying to get by on his own and make it as a
writer.  As a taxi driver, he has the opportunity to set his own
hours, and could feasibly try the salesman thing without interfering
with his other job(s).

>    [c] Rhonda is happy being an aerobics teacher. She turned down her
>        chance at stardom in a previous show.
What's wrong with that?

>    [d] Matt? What does he do anyways? Supposedly he was supposed to be a
>        gay character ... seems like everyone knows except him. However, he
>        seems especially chummy with Rhonda.
Excuse me.  Just because he's gay doesn't mean he has to hate girls.
He spends most of his time at The "Halfway House", and we saw him at
work at least once.

>    [e] Jake? Repairman at a motorcycle shop. What storylines can they build
>        from that?
For example, a biker chick comes in for repairs, money missing from
the shop, the shop is vandalized, just to name a few.

>[3] Other comments:
>    [a] They sure have a lot of barbecues by the pool, don't they?
>    [b] The only real story left is will Alison fall in love with Billy and
>        that's about it. They will probably tease us till the last show ...
>        and the last show may be nearer than we think. How's the show doing
>        in the ratings?
Pretty well -- according to Entertainment Weekly, the olympics
knocked MP out of the top 30, and during the Democratic convention
it was in the top 10.  And there are quite a few stories left that
could be told -- I've listed a few, not to mention the possibilities
of a miscarriage for Jane, a romantic interest for Matt, a part in a
commercial for Sandy, a vacation and get-away for Michael and Jane,
the list goes on...

>Anybody else feel this way about Melrose Place?
I'm sure they do, but not everyone.

Jim Berninger                   ______ "This is no 'Whoops!'  This is
B0 w- c- g k s- e r- p          \    /  an 'Aaaaaaaauuuuuggggghhhh!'"
berninge@cn.ecn.purdue.edu       \  /   - Harvey ("Arnold") Fierstein
Green Lantern Fan, Extraordinaire \/      "Torch Song Trilogy"