02.27.09
Soap Opera Weekly: Blogging With Mala
When it comes to my critical pieces in the magazine lately, I’ve been, well, critical. There’s a lot to go off on when it comes to soaps these days and finding things that make me all warm and fuzzy proves to be a harder task than finding something that makes me all fork-stabby. But fear not! For this blog entry is completely devoted to things soap-related that make me smile. (And I promise the only time I’m mentioning cute men holding babies is right now. See? Done!)
First off, there’s today’s DAYS OF OUR LIVES. I heart John Aniston. Sure, Victor’s a misogynistic old grouch, but damn he’s funny. I love Philip (and we all know I love Philip), but watching his cantankerous father cut a few strips from his emo “wah, I gave up Stephanie” hide was priceless.
Then there’s Mick Hazen. The AS THE WORLD TURNS teen made me smile this week when he was previewing some of Parker’s upcoming story (check out the March 17 issue, hitting stands next Friday!). He’s so on-the-ball. He makes me wish I was that together when I was not-quite-16. He’s a good egg!
But, wait, let’s move from smiles to straight-up belly laughs. ATWT’s Trent Dawson(Henry), who shares my penchant for total geekdom, dished the recent New York Comic Con with me and we eventually did get to the subject of Henry and Vienna, but only after we discussed broadswords, people in costumes, and Watchmen. Then there’s Alley Mills, (Pam, BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL), who is a total treat when setting up her character’s latest wacky antics. When she takes in-character swipes at Rick and Donna, it’s hysterical. Last, but not least, I got to chat with Bryan Genesse, who returns on March 12 as B&B’s Rocco Carner. A lot of our conversation made it intoWeekly’s March 17 issue, and there’s plenty more fodder where that came from. He was a hoot, telling tales about B&B in the ’80s and co-star Ronn Moss (Ridge).
And as long as I’m in flashback mode, here’s the #1 thing that made me happy this week: I found GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Decker and Dawn clips on YouTube! Decker and Dawn were my Nuke, my Zendall, my LL2, etc. Their love story was the first one on soaps I really remember being suckered in by. And from 1989-’91 Decker (Michael Watson) was SO my guy. I think I’ve mentioned before that I used to cut the fingers off my gloves, right? And up until recently, the only clip that existed of D&D was this one, where Dawn runs off after her wedding to Ned: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11n_zZWcS1I
Now, there’s more! Yay! Here are a few choice examples…
Decker and Dawn on the run, wearing atrocious outfits:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgZKQWX7-oM
Decker pouring his heart out to a hospitalized Dawn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdfrGrLF4zk
The obligatory montage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GOmqDaRhac
originally posted on soapoperaweekly.com
02.20.09
Soap Opera Weekly: Blogging With Mala
Sometimes, there’s an actor that just wins hearts across the board. Critics and fans alike cotton to them, and they take their gloriously dysfunctional character to a level where you can’t help but feel for them. GL’s Tom Pelphrey (ex-Jonathan) was one such find and I’m sure it’s no surprise if I suggest that Y&R’s nuBilly, Billy Miller is another. To say it less formally…dude, this guy ROCKS. I have not been able to tear my eyes away from him during the fallout from Delia’s birth. He’s so compelling and I bet ALL MY CHILDREN is just kicking themselves for killing off his prior incarnation, Richie Novak. And if they aren’t? They should be!
Whether he’s swaggering around in player mode or completely sloshed or absolutely bewildered by a baby girl who could probably fit in the palm of his hand, Miller’s Billy Abbott is Must See TV. And pitting him against Jill’s “golden boy,” Cane makes it all the more riveting. I mean, let’s just be shallow for a second here. Miller and Daniel Goddard arguing…? What’s more fun than one charismatic, good-looking guy in a well-written scene? TWO charismatic, good-looking guys in a well-written scene! Goddard’s no slouch and when Cane went OFF on Chloe, Billy, and Lily for all their lies and insisted Delia was still his child no matter what, I was sold. Watching Y&R these days is like Christmas and my birthday rolled into one! Except for the part where I can’t choose between Jill’s sons. I am so torn!
Kinda like my predicament with B&B’s Rick and Ridge. I can’t choose. I feel for them both. I’m like Brooke — without the multiple marriages, illegitimate children and steam room sex romps, that is! But seriously, I really enjoy both Kyle Lowder and Ronn Moss and their showdowns are the best part of the show for me right now. Oh, wait, I’m lying. Anytime Susan Flannery (Stephanie) gets to go off is awesome, too. I could watch the snarky insults fly all day long.
originally posted on soapoperaweekly.com
02.17.09
Soap Opera Weekly: Blogging With Mala
Most people who are soap fans watch soaps on their day off. Given that I watch soaps for a living, the logical conclusion would be that the last thing I do on my day off is watch them, right? Then could someone explain to me why I was sitting on my couch between the hours of 10 and 11 AM yesterday glued to GUIDING LIGHT?
Oh my God, folks. I couldn’t look away. From start to finish … a finish which, by the way, actually had me on the verge of bawling. Dangit, John Driscoll, way to knock it out of the park with a helluva exit line. In fact, he had me the whole episode, managing to retain Coop’s purity of spirit and his trademark snarky Cooper humor while growing progressively weaker and weaker. ::sniffle:: I’m getting all maudlin just thinking about it.
Coop’s death arc isn’t the only thing to tune in for right now. Obviously, there’s Phillip’s return. And while I’m glad Phillip is back and glad to see Grant Aleksander, it’s the repercussions for the other characters that’s the most compelling aspect of it for me. Olivia and Natalia, who really are one of THE best couples in daytime right now (please don’t screw it up, GL, PLEASE; you’re already doing a better job with The Gay than AMC and ATWT) are pulled even closer together by their desire to protect Emma. And it has spurred Olivia to really analyze how she feels about Nat — and even confess said feelings to Bill. (I may have run around my living room making an ‘eeeeee’ noise at that point.)
Then there’s Bill and Lizzie, who are one of my favorite couples in daytime, and who’ve pretty much spent the better part of a year in Screwedville. Were they even happy for five minutes before they were torn apart? I doubt it. In any case, Phillip being back plays beautifully on Lizzie’s trust issues and brings out the protective streak in Bill that is so often obscured by his self-destructive streak. And watching Marcy Rylan and Daniel Cosgrove … oh, man. They’re such organic, honest actors that a viewer gets to laugh and wince in the context of one scene. I want Bill and Lizzie back together so badly I can almost taste it.
Seriously, when GL is good, it’s so good. And entirely undeserving of its low Nielsen ratings. It makes me want to throw my arms around its legs and cry, “Don’t goooooooo!” because I cannot imagine a soap world without this show in it.
I know a lot of people have criticism for the “Peapacking” of GL, but the one amazing thing about the stripped down sets and the handheld cameras is that it strips away the artifice and glitz of a soap and leaves you with what should be the most important thing: the actors (and characters) who tell the story. And GL has a crop that is so talented, so amazing. They make magic every day without makeup, without fancy lighting. We, as viewers, are pulled into a world far more intimate and personal because of it. It’s like eavesdropping on real people, being a part of their loves and their losses.
And, sure, it makes me sound like a stalker, but I don’t want to stop listening in on Olivia and Natalia. I don’t want to stop watching Bill and Lizzie’s push-pull courtship. And I want to come along for the ride as the Coopers mourn one of their own.
Even on my day off.
(P.S. I watched B&B and ATWT, too, but skipped GH. Make of that what you will. LOL.)
originally posted on soapoperaweekly.com
02.11.09
Abandon all hope, all ye who cross the street here.
I had the pleasure of starting the day off mighty steamed…because I nearly got steamrolled by an SUV on 47th Avenue. I shook my fist at the car and a sympathetic passerby got to hear my futile yell of, “Learn how to drive!” at the closed windows. This set off a huge, huge internal rant, wherein I plodded all the way to the 7 train platform thinking all kinds of filthy invective things towards people who can’t drive. ‘Cause here’s the thing: this is NOT the first time I have nearly been plowed over in that very same intersection.
It’s like the Bermuda Triangle of Sucktastic Driving. People see a green light, they decide it’s okay to turn even if someone is walking. Never mind the little ol’ concept of PEDESTRIAN RIGHT OF WAY. Which, translated into normal human speak means, “Those little creatures who aren’t in the giant metal box on wheels get to finish crossing the street; you don’t get to mow them over.” Yet, there’s moments where I am literally just inches from a car’s front bumper and the only reason they’ve stopped is because they FINALLY realize they’re going to make impact. I don’t get it.
Do people here just not understand basic traffic laws? I mean, I don’t want to play the “foreign drivers” card, but is that it? Hell, my mom and dad are foreign drivers and I’m pretty sure they know you shouldn’t nearly hit a pedestrian while making a turn. Drivers in Queens are like bike riders in Manhattan… they just seem to have no rhyme or reason.
Gah.
And people wonder why I’ll never drive in the city… it’s because walking is dangerous enough!
02.05.09
Happy birthday to me!
Nearly forgot to mark the occasion, but I turned 31 today. Yippee! Whoopee! Etcetera.
No real plans except for a cozy dinner on Restaurant Row at The Joshua Tree with some friends and then drinks right next door.
The real celebration comes when I hit New York Comic Con all weekend. Geeker joy! Eeee!
02.04.09
Soap Opera Weekly: Blogging With Mala
Between the poor showing for Carly’s “gala” for Michael, an airborne toxin that seems to only strike every fourth person, and a pathetically underpopulated hospital, it’s been hard to drum up any kind of excitement or sense of urgency while watching GENERAL HOSPITAL. Gone are the nailbitingly tense days of the Metro Court hostage crisis of Ought Seven or the 2006 virus story that actually jeopardized multiple people and featured staffers and laymen alike actually wearing surgical masks. But just when I thought I was going to need to bailout of GH’s numbing biotoxin story, the show delivered me a stimulus package in the form of Johnny and Maxie.
You want tension? You want excitement? I found that when Brandon Barash’s Johnny started eyeing Maxie like a three course meal as they discussed their respective flaws. And their kiss? That was a nice surprise! Now I admittedly am not a huge “Spixie” supporter and think Spinelli works best as Maxie’s friend — and in small doses. I also haven’t seen the charm in Lulu for quite some time. So a Johnny/Maxie pair-up doesn’t just inject some vigor into my viewing habits, it serves the bonus purpose of putting together a pairing that actually intrigues me. Maxie never catches a break, and I love her self-awareness in that respect. What I haven’t liked is her idea that Spinelli, computer dork extraordinaire, is somehow her redemption. Johnny, who is searching for redemption himself and looking in all the wrong places, seems to be more up her alley. Who’s to say this dysfunctional duo can’t try and redeem themselves together? And if redemption’s not on the horizon, well, I am not opposed to more sharing of beers, confessions, and illicit kisses.
Speaking of illicit kisses, another liplock that caught my eye this week was that of AS THE WORLD TURNS’ Matt and Alison. Yowza! Way to welcome back Eric William Morris, who won many a fan’s heart during his last go-round as Casey’s ne’er do well cellmate. Explain to me why Ali is kissing Matt to make Casey jealous when she should realistically be kissing him because it’s fun. Much like Spixie, “AliCase,” is a pair I like best as friends. After all the relationship trauma they’ve been through — and the fact that a lot of it for both of them involves Emily — isn’t it better for them to be involved with people that don’t have nearly as much inter-Oakdale baggage? Pairing Alison with Matt and Casey with Jade would go a long way towards breaking the Stewart woman/Hughes man curse!
originally posted on soapoperaweekly.com
02.01.09
Calling a spade a spade when you know who crafted the tool.
Is it hard to call a spade a spade when you know the person who crafted the tool? You betcha. I write critical commentary for a living, and keeping a certain objective distance can be incredibly difficult when you have what some would regard as a personal relationship with the subject being analyzed. If you’re too positive, you’re “fangirling” or you’re “biased.” If you’re negative, it can be seen as a betrayal of the source material and the creators of said material.
Sometimes, I feel awful being “mean” in reviews. Even though I know that being “nice,” would be a disservice. I really do feel that honest criticism is better than sugarcoating. Because blowing sunshine up someone’s ass is not going to lead to improvement; all it does is validate patterns that may not actually be working. Holding back may keep a professional relationship from growing rocky, may be the “”safe” choice, but sometimes you have to take a walk on the critical wild side.
Why the pondering of this issue right now? Because I hit the blog circuit to read reviews of Suzanne Brockmann’s latest novel, Dark of Night, and it seems that an overwhelming sentiment therein is that negative reviews are biased, that readers disappointed with her work are “whiners” or “bitter,” and those readers who are being overwhelmingly positive are the ones with a valid interpretation. Kinda funny, actually, in that it’s the polar opposite to what would happen in my industry. Where negative commentary is seen as on-the-nose and accurate and anytime you’re glowing and bathing someone in praise, it’s suspect.
Don’t get me wrong, I love being able to be complimentary. And I do have a lot of passionate, positive critical pieces to that effect. But that doesn’t mean I devalue calling a spade a spade. If something doesn’t sit right with me, if something feels “off,” with my favorite author or my favorite TV show, I think it’s just as important to articulate why. Sometimes, the greatest satisfaction can come from dissatisfaction. Because it’s constructive. It says, “Hey, listen, you’re not perfect. Let’s work on it, okay?”
