From: starkid@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Lance Sanders)
Subject: GL: The Writers --- Hang 'Em High!
Organization: EnviraForm
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 00:07:36 GMT


   Just caught up with a week and a half of tapes. When I got to the part 
where Mimbo the Super Cracker and the GL writers dumped on every computer-
literate soap watcher in North America, via the virtually impossible ease 
with which she altered the DNA results, I turned off the machines and went 
out for a bike ride. It actually pissed me off. All of the excellent acting 
from McKinsey, the crescendo in the Mallet/Cooper storyline, Fiona's intro, 
and then THAT bulls__t????!! 

   The fact that Mimbo (great nickname) decided to mess in Nick's life, 
even after hearing him tell Roger how much he detested people who took 
those kinds of liberties, is not out-of-bounds. It's consistent with her 
character; she's a self-centered bitch. Her father nicknamed her accurately 
("Princess"). And with about 15 min. worth of extra shots and dialog, she 
could have mounted a believable attack on the hospital's computer security 
system. Would have been a nice spin on her character. But having her walk 
in, boot up, type in a program name, then Nick's name, and change the 
results by simply typing in the word "negative", shows enormous disrespect 
for the viewers. 

   As the Net forms a S.W.A.T. team to storm GL's NY studios...


Subject: GL:  DNA and a reality check
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 22:36:27 -0500
szafrans@copper.ucs.indiana.edu (Pamela Kay)

>I just have a few rather scathing comments....where the heck do
>these writers come from?  Do the producers *not* have 
>technical consultants??  geeeeezzzzzzzz..
[excellent test descriptions deleted]

   No joke. They could have PHONED a consultant and come up w/ a nice faux 
computer screen and tactics for Mimbo.



Subject: GL: Mindy Lewis ... Computer Cracker?
Date: 5 Apr 92 18:31:14 GMT
dooley@helios.physics.utoronto.ca (Kevin Dooley)
 
>This is even worse than how nobody in Springfield seems to have locks on 
>their doors. 

   At least that could be interpreted as an inside running joke. The test 
results access cannot. 



Subject: Re: GL: Mindy the super Cracker/Lock-picker
Date: 7 Apr 92 01:27:43 GMT
dooley@aurora.physics.utoronto.ca (Lois-Anna)

>You know, if they felt it was absolutely necessary for Mimbo to change the 
>results, they should've at least shown us a series of unlikely coincidences 
>that a) got her into the room, b) gave her some clues about how to use the 
>computer, c) ensure no lab techs would discover her tampering, etc.  But 
>no, she just wanders in, types Nick's name, and changes "positive" to 
>"negative".  Pretty intelligence-insulting to the viewer, I'd say. 


   That stunt really got me thinking about something someone in the 
business told me. Last year, I sent two stream-of-consciousness concept 
pieces (on AMC and GL) to Soap Opera Weekly, and got back a letter from the 
managing editor within a week. He said they were well-written and 
hilarious, but he couldn't run them "because they would confuse the 
readers". I pointed out in the original, and in a subsequent cover letter, 
that soap viewer cores were more sophisticated than they realized (and 
cited the Net (and some posts) as an example), but he wouldn't budge. 

   Maybe the guy was right. Maybe NetViewers are a minority. Hey, GL is 
consistently ranked 6th out of 11 soaps...does that seem right given the 
competition?? Hmmmm?



Subject: GL: let's complain to the writers
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 18:31:56 GMT
admn@quads.uchicago.edu (Bonnie J. Black)

>>               Guiding Light
>>               CBS TV
>>               51 West 52nd St.
>>               New York, NY 10019
>>
>
>Thanks, Jo, for supplying the address.  It would be great if everyone who 
>was insulted by this development were to blast them by mail. I was also 
>thinking that there might be value in letting them know that we're 
>discussing them here.  Would anyone object to my printing out all the 
>relevant postings? 

   Excellent idea. They need to be taken to task over this one.


>It seems to me that the only way that I can accept the ridiculous situation 
>that the writers have written for us this time is to console myself with 
>the thought that the little bitch will really have to pay for what she's 
>done eventually.  It will be a pleasure to watch her go down after she's 
>committed such a vile act. 

   Yup. Alex is going to go TOTALLY off on the "super-Cracker" when she 
discovers the switch; won't be much left for the Nick-ster to bop. :)) And 
I pity Billy coming to  "Miiiiiiiindy's" rescue. ;) 

                      [Mr. T accent: ON]

        I pity the fool that tries to help Melinda Sue!
        I pity Kimberley Sims for going along with that travesty!
        I pity the writer(s) responsible for that sham of a computer
        break-in!
        I pity the writing assistants!
        I pity Pam Long's replacement! I pity the fool! I pity the fool who 
        utters her name on the Net!

                        [T accent: OFF]



Subject: Re: GL: Mindy the super Cracker/Lock-picker
Date: 7 Apr 92 15:20:00 GMT
TANTS@DTPVX2.NCIFCRF.GOV ("Tants, Rebecca E.")

>I need the addresses for both the show and for all the soap magazines.  I'm 
>gonna make a BIG stink about this one.  Hell, I'll work volenteer as a 
>technical consultant if they'd just ASK these damn questions in advance.  

   Go get 'em, Rebecca. I'm going to fire off a letter tonight. The (and 
I'm being kind) "oversight" was too central to a major storyline not to 
warrant an  *** ON-AIR *** redress. 

---------
Lance "There goes the neighborhood" Sanders
starkid@ddsw1.MCS.COM / GE Mail: L.Sanders6 / Vox: (312) 667-5958