All My Children

[Rane018]

all i know is that as i flipped channels i saw kendall and maggie in bathing suits fawning over a little boy who then broke out into a dance routine and i quickly clicked the remote...

"We're forgetting about the troll.
Let's pay attention to the troll." Tara, Triangle

[Consolata]

The preview for Monday's epi looks promising. Maggie: I really like you. Bianca's all frustrated and asks Maggie to tell her what she wants.

dear God, I'm here..I'm here.

[The Shadowcat]

It's not promising. It's all a lie. It's a farce to tease the fans to keep watching. They're bringing on Maggie's new boyfriend this month. Do you really think they'll have anything "promising" happen between her and Bianca now?



I'm tired of being dragged along by these shows. It's been so disappointing.

Asked by agents if he had anything else to tell them, Cusack responded: "Yes, I've got monkeys in my pants." -CNN

[bgfilly]

ive officially stopped watching im sick of being played for a fool

[chelehel74]

Hey gang -



After Monday episode airs there will be an e-mail letter available for anyone interested to forward to the Powers at AMC and ABC.



With all the positive press this potential storyline has gotten we are trying to hit them hard about what suspect will end as a "just friends" conversation.



I to am sick of being jerked around but we all feel to not try and give it one hard push to motivate them to not go far with this guy thing would be a sad waste of the time and enjoyment we have gained from these two characters and the actors who play them.



So if anyone is interested after the episodes airs on Monday drop by the liz board at

pub41.ezboard.com/felizab...forumfrm14



Copy and paste the letter to PTB into an e-mail and send away.

thanks,

chele

[Arat Sevol Wolliw]

I'm mad, i shouldn't be, I knew it was gonna end like this. I mean, hello, we are talking about lesbians on TV right? Heaven forbid they actually find love an happiness. I dunno, I guess I should be kinda glad they at least ended the storyline instead of letting it disappear until everyone's 'forgotten' about it.

No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue, I could not foresee this thing happening to you.

[Rane018]

i for one am not surprised at all maggie finally told binks she likes guys... what a waste of air time.

"We're forgetting about the troll.
Let's pay attention to the troll." Tara, Triangle

[justastraightdog]

Well, maybe they just learned a lesson from The Show That Shall Not Be Named:



1) The subtext and teasers phase. You get some nice inexpensive publicity and you can test the waters. But don't overdo it, if it takes too long, you may frustrate your viewers - ratings drop ahead. Therefore you have to make a decision: Either no or...



2) ...Yes! It's text! It's gay love - on tv! And all hell will break lose now. Be prepared for great publicity and a instant ratings boost. But after that, there's...



3) ...the "not that there's anything wrong with it..." phase when the story sinks in. You will lose more old viewers than you can win new ones during this. But this is expected and it's nothing to worry about, because...



4) ...there's a long-term pay-off. The new viewers are highly reliable and devoted. You can count on them, they give you time to fix other problems of the show, develope new strategies and find even more new viewers. At TSTSNBN for instance, these fans prevented the usual erosion in season 5 and made the 2.3 million per episode deal for season 6 and 7 possible. But you have to be careful, because...



5) ...these fans aren't devoted to your show in general, but only to a particular storyline. They will go with you through thick and thin - as long as they get what they want. And herein lies the problem: to know "what they want" seems to be something very difficult. If even a known gay-friendly and assumed to be brilliant author and producer like J. Whedon can make a terrible miscalculation in this regard, which finally led to the cancellation of his show and the loss of a previously rock solid franchise - how can one assume that a bunch of underpaid soap-opera writers won't do the same mistake? Yes, the majority of experts who have found a home on the so-called "Kittenboard" - a website that is well known for its most insightful analysis of TSTSNBN's past, present and non-existing future - came to the conclusion that the show's downfall wasn't caused by incompetency but rather by sadism. And while this could be good news - it's easier to detect and weed out sadistic tendencies amongst your writers than to fight their incompetency - it's not widely accepted amongst tv producers. Which is understandable, they can live with a blathering idiot in their ranks - but with a criminal sadist?





So, what's to learn?



There's a lot to win but even more to lose. The lesson from TSTSNBN is clear enough: There's a price that has to be payed for the initial success, and it's most likely the ultimate price: cancellation. Unfortunately, there aren't any other shows to learn any lessons from, so that there's only one possible conclusion: Don't go that way!





Thank you, Mr. Whedon. We appreciate your ongoing effords to make this conclusion as inescapable as possible. And congratulations for setting such a good example for other tv producers. It's always enlightening to see a genius's influence at work. And we are very thankful that this won't go away after all your shows and your production company did. You can be very proud of your work, its aftereffects will stay with us for a long time.

_______________________________
Though here at journey's end I lie in darkness buried deep, beyond all towers strong and high, beyond all mountains steep,
above all shadows rides the Sun and Stars for ever dwell: I will not say the Day is done, nor bid the Stars farewell.

[Consolata]

I just watched my tape and yeh we all knew that this was going to be the 'just friends' convo but on the brightside we got to see them talking it out. It felt real and Eden and Elizabeth were great. I had a uncanny similar conversation with my bestfriend (who considered herself straight) and we got together and got married and lived life together for almost 7 years. There's still hope for BAM. I may be the odd ball, but I can see them getting together in the future. This is soaps. Daytime Drama. Keyword is drama. Here's hoping that if they don't get together, Bianca will get a girlfriend sometimes soon. Cheers!

dear God, I'm here..I'm here.

[chelehel74]

I agree - I thought the door would slam shut but in performance and even dialogue the line was walked yet again.



Two things stood out for me in general about the scenes...

1) what a fine pair of actresses these two are. I have known this but never has there been a better example then today. They played all the complications and not just the words. There was still tons of subtext especcially from Liz.



2) I felt as if they played the "I love you to much to just have this all be a test game". Which is why I feel there is still a chance. By this I mean the comment Maggie said about having so many questions. Bianca replied with "we'll figure it out together" and played it with such hop ein her voice. Maggie (I felt) then grew worried about being wrong about everything and pushed her away with the "But I like guys".



I find it interesting that they plugged this episode not just on-air but also on the official site. A part of me wants to believe that it was a test to see how the ratings ended.



I can only hope that after the new guy (Henry) thing doesn't work they play the drama card yet again and try and have Maggie go after Bianca this time.



thoughts folks?

chele

[The Shadowcat]

Consolata, the key word here is DAYTIME. This is daytime drama. It is the substandard of all that is on television. Now, I'm not saying that all soaps are crap. I grew up watching AMC. I have love for a few of the characters. I can still remember when Kelly Rippa first appeared, and was all punkey and cute. I absolutely loved SMG as Kendall. But for all my hours of watching, I have learned at least one thing. Soaps are fluff. They are not really meant to be deep. For the most part, they're about who's sleeping with whom, who's trying to kill whom, finacial takeovers of cosmetics companies, and an occasional real world issue thrown in for a spot of credibility. It's fluffy drama. It's meant to pull you in, even if only with the absurdity of the plotlines.



Bianca's coming out story was excellent. It was one of those real world issues I mentioned. I honestly think it's the best story they've ever had on that show, that I've seen. Unfortunately, I don't think that they've had a winning storyline since. Bianca is the most misused character on the show, IMO.



I wanted Bianca to get the girl. I, too, love Maggie and Bianca together. But TPTB have made it very clear that this is not going to happen. They're planning on starting a new story for Maggie this month, but there's been little mention of anything with Bianca. Eden's contract is up in July. Frankly, I hope that Eden leaves. She has too much talent to waste in a role that she loves, but knows is going nowhere. I'm not interested in watching anyone else play Bianca. To me Eden was the best they could ever find for that role.



As for today's piece of crap... I'm glad it happened. I am relieved that they quit dancing around the issue and teasing the fans. Maggie's blunt "I like guys" was very strong and clear. Bianca saw that. And she accepts it now. She can put it behind her and fall for the next straight girl. (Come on, you know it's going to happen! There's no way they'd ever let her get some.) It was fun while it lasted, but now it's over. BAM is no more. They pulled you in with a false hope of something kind, and sweet, and BAM! It's gone. BAM is right. It BAMed me right between the eyes. I'm ready to put this baby to bed, and never look back.

"It was a toss-up between pizzas and the car, and they knew how to operate pizzas," Bellmore said. - Reuters

[tommo]

Just weighing in here, as I used to watch AMC when I was in the US and enjoyed Bianca's plotlines a lot. I like what you said about daytime soaps, Pat. And in contrast and comparison, we don't actually have a lot of English daytime soaps over here. The soaps we do have with gay characters in them tend to take a much more realistic look at the issue, I think. I've been impressed (albeit in a huh? kind of way) with the lesbian characters that we have had over here. But I think a lot of that has to do with the timeslot.



Again, I think it's a shame that a tv show has missed the opportunity to do something positive with a relationship between two women. And yeah, it's fluff. And yes, it's daytime drama which isn't high on the list of sophistication. But dammit, if not now, then when?

"You think I smell like a mermaid?"
"No, I think it's haddock...or carp...Do us a favour dear Nan and put your glove back on."
~ Titty Saunders and Nancy Boy French

[DaffyQDuck]

I was just reading last weeks TV Guide before tossing it & found this: On Soaps by Michael Logan--The Worst of 2002--Rip-off of the year: AMC teased & titillated us mercilessly with the flirtatious sparks between openly gay Bianca & her buddy Maggie, but the show--once famous for its boldness--didn't have the guts to put them in a real romance, even though the fans are begging for it. C'mon, AMC! These two have more chemistry than any boy-girl duo in soaps!

It wasn't our world anymore, they made it theirs and they had fun - Willow

[urnofosiris]

Well at least that TVguide commentary is nice. We don't get AMC in the Netherlands, unlike the other major US soaps. After reading this I don't really mind. Too bad they did not go for it as judging from that nice interview with the two actresses they are very supportive of their characters and would have been of a relationship between them. I haven't seen them in action so to speak but by looking at the pics I can well believe they have chemistry, that is a precious thing to waste.

[Repost Moderator]

Originally posted by rocu2dmax





www.elizabeth-hendrickson...ssingB.jpg





Rachel

RIEGEL REBEL!!



BAM FAN!!

[willow4tara2gether4eva]

I never have watched more then a few minutes of AMC (I tend to watch Days of our lives if at home... ) but I am going to have to catch this show now. I honestly didn't now there was a lesbian character on it!



Has any american soap operas ever had other GLBT characters on it before (actual characters as opposed to subtext), or is this a first? I know foriegn soapies have, since I have lived overseas and seen it, but I am not sure about american ones.

[urnofosiris]

Well Dynasty was a soap wasn't it? Not daytime and it aired back in the Cretaceous period, but they did have a gay character: Steven Carrington, of course he also got married to a woman (and not before he came out, as I remember, he came out and went back in, hum), so no points there for consistency. He did have two of his male lovers die rather dramatically as I recall, so that fits a bit better . However Dynasty got briefly revived somewhere back in the Stone Age and they had the original actor play Steven again (some reverse plastic surgery, hee) and this time he stayed gay and was living with his boyfriend and neither died, but then he wasn't a lesbian so that could explain it.

Hum, well at least they had a gay character back then which is more than can be said for today's soaps apparently. There could be more. I don't know, my access to US soaps is somewhat limited due to me never even having been there and all.

-------------------------


Coffee, Food, Kisses and Gay Love........Get it while you are hot

Edited by: DrG at: 1/18/03 2:59:45 pm

[tommo]

Oh G, see now, you're raking up my embarrassing past. Dynasty. Heh.



Steven's boyfriend was called Luke and I'm right in thinking he was played by Bill Campbell, who also played the gay Doctor Jon Fielding in Tales of the City and the sequels to that. However, I'm kind of sure that Luke died in the Moldavian Massacre what with the whole Royal Wedding and....



Oh god. I exposed myself.



Yes, I used to love Dynasty, okay? There. It's all out now.



Added: Yeah, Luke was shot and killed at the wedding. Ho hum.



Going away now...

She's the cutest of the Kittens with her tits as warm as mittens and her firm yet supple...tight embrace...

[urnofosiris]

Ah yes, you are right, he got shot and killed by Moldavian terrorists, just one of those things that happen in life, like magical bullets that travel at odd angles, ah well, guess now we know what used to watch as well. Don't be ashamed dear, I loved Dynasty as well and I turned out perfectly ok.

-------------------------


Coffee, Food, Kisses and Gay Love........Get it while you are hot

[chelehel74]

Was that the first actor to play him or during the second because I seem to remember their being Two?



But that was nighttime soap not daytime. Bianca was indeed the first MAJOR contract player to be made a gay character. One Life to Life had a friend of one of the regulars and years ago AMC did a gay storyline with Donna Pescow as the object of the woman's affection but the gay character again wasn't a regular.



What sucks about this is even the press is noting they should do it...



The show is a wreck lately with them building up the under 25 cast. Firing tons of actors and bringing in new peeps with no acting experience while ignoring the talent they already have. It's like they are trying to copy the Days of Our Lives model instead of focusing on there strengths that already exist.



And now instead of a rating grabbing gay romance they are copying realtity tv and doing a "sexiest man in the US" plot line where viewers can submit real men to be the winner.



Whatever happen to good story telling...

[justastraightdog]

"The show is a wreck lately with them building up the under 25 cast. Firing tons of actors and bringing in new peeps with no acting experience while ignoring the talent they already have. It's like they are trying to copy the Days of Our Lives model instead of focusing on there strengths that already exist."



Hey, that's off-topic here, it belongs to another board. Oops, wait, you're talking about AMC, don't you? Sorry, my fault... it just sounded too familiar.



"Whatever happen to good story telling..."



Not enough talent scouts who are visiting the Pens, maybe?

_______________________________
Though here at journey's end I lie in darkness buried deep, beyond all towers strong and high, beyond all mountains steep,
above all shadows rides the Sun and Stars for ever dwell: I will not say the Day is done, nor bid the Stars farewell.

[theatremouse]

ugh, not only is this tremendously dissappointing, but this henry dude couldnt have any less charisma if he were made of cardboard.

funny though, that he thought binks and maggie were together........yet for some reason i cant stop watching......

grumble.

Willow: It's horrible! That's me as a vampire? I'm so evil and... skanky. And I think I'm kinda gay.

[Kendahl897]

I'd be curious to know if AMC's ratings arrow is heading in the same direction as another show I used to watch. I also wonder how many letters AMC is going to get this week after the Maria/Aidan pairing last week?

[chelehel74]

Some of us at the BAM board have heard rumors that there might be a reason to tune in by summer.



We are hearing AMC may finally bring Bianca out of the celibate lesbian role and from recent jealous looks we are thinking they might just have heard us.



So don't give up on them yet...

chele

[xita]

See how many chances do you give someone. That's more than 3 strikes from this show. If I ever watch this show, bianca better be sticking her tongue down some nice girl's mouth, oh yeah a gay girl who can love her back. That would be nice.

-----------------
Baby you make my love come down

Oh you make my love come down

Make it come all the way down -
Evelyn Champagne King

[BytrSuite]

AMC is such BS. If Bianca ever actually gets a real gf I think I'll drop dead from shock. Run, Eden, run!



I had to post because they are having this party for two days now and I swear they have been playing the same Kylie song throughout the scenes. It's pretty damn funny. Heh, I think it's "Come into my world" but I'm not sure.



ETA: lol, damn, halfway through they finally changed the song.

________
"Oh, good, my dog found the chainsaw."

Edited by: BytrSuite at: 2/25/03 10:32:08 am

[engtchr]

I just started watching this show this week since I'm on Feb. break from school, and there appeared to be a few "looks" from Maggie to Bianca during this long-drawn-out party. What's up w/ her not even acknowledging Bianca? Is she trying to prove to herself she doesn't like Bianca? I have read some past history between the two, but I'm still confused. Can anyone help me out? Thanks!

[Paigeosity]

The whole thing is completely stupid. The t.v. guide guy even said it and watches t.v for a living AMC is just for the tease and not the fun kind either grrr. And that guy, as I refer to him as I will not say his name, and Maggie have no chemistry at all.

Edited by: Warduke at: 2/26/03 8:37:36 am

[NoveltyAct]

Was that possibly, remotely, *flirting* going on today between Bianca and the hot European chick?



As for Maggie, well--I'd watch her story only because it means she gets screentime and the actress is interesting. But also, the guy they're pairing her with is Asian, and not brought onto the show by way of some long-ago wartime affair between an American soldier and a Vietnamese woman--which has gotta be a first. Um...go, racial diversity?



You know what I'd like to see happen? Bianca has a lovely, cute, angst-free relationship with the hot European woman, and then Maggie can get all jealous and have issues. And the Asian guy turns out to have a really cool gay sister.

---------------


You cannot find peace...by avoiding life. ('The Hours')

[chelehel74]

Way to go Novelty Act: From what I've been hearing you might be close. Not on Henry becoming another gay character but on the rest. The show is suddenly writing Bianca as a strong confident lesbian and they aren't playing the dance around the issue any more. The older woman Lena (who is up to no good) is flirting with Bianca and Bianca is flirting back. And Bianca and Erica are evening speaking of it in a "Erica isn't going to interfer way" even though in this ladies case she should.



They are playing this little Lena/Bianca thing up quite well and they are also appearing to be setting the ground work for a jealous Maggie. From the way they played the Maggie avoids Bianca at the party someone is already jealous and trying to hard to prove herself.



If I had to bet money I would think they will have a BAM! celebration over at the new BAM website by August/September. It has been rumored that Frons has given in to the BAMcampaign and the media attention it has been given in the soap press. I guess we will see.



Also rumored that OLTL or GH might be developing young male gay characters for debut in summer/fall of this year. The GH one might just be a Quartermine nephew.