Gays of our Lives (April 28, 2009)

Unlike a lot of other shows, such as As The World Turns, which gives away far too much in their spoilers (as an example, I use the upcoming return of Col. Mayer, which should not have been revealed two months before the story is to begin, not to mention there are already details about what the story will be about leaking), Y&R is notoriously tight-fisted about spoilers.   The show did not release the reveal about Rafe or how it would play out and I don't expect them to be forthcoming with the rest of the details of the storyline either.  That's not a bad thing though, except if you need details about spoilers for the column, like I do!

Maybe, but not necessarily.  I think having chemistry with someone is far different than acting ability.  There are lots and lots of actors out there, very talented ones, who, if you put them in a scene together, they just don't click or connect or mesh no matter how talented they may be.  So no, I think you can have loads of chemistry with an actor, but when it comes to being able to emote, you just fall short.  And in soaps, which depends on much on romantic pairings, it can keep a less than talented actor their job.  As someone who has watched a lot of soaps, there are a lot of performers who have skated by on their chemistry with a certain actor or the spark of a certain pairing, which can hide a lot of bad acting.   For example, Genie Francis grew to be a talented actress, but in the early days of Luke and Laura, it was the chemistry between the actors that drove that pairing, not the acting skills of Ms. Francis.  And having watched every episode of Luke and Noah's story, I feel the same way, especially when I think back on the first year or so of the pairing, when the acting was downright painful to watch at times.   Certain episodes of L/N's story which should be standouts were ruined because of spotty performances.  In the end though, whether Branco is right or not about JS is one person's opinion (and as I noted, I didn't completely agree with him and felt he was a bit harsh), but I certainly agree him on the difference between chemistry and acting ability.

Given that Aiden has no family in Pine Valley, it's shocking he is still on that show.  He's beautiful, but I think his acting is as woeful as when he's started.  IMO, he's been lucky that he's been paired with a number of talented leading ladies.  But as I said in another post, a certain look and clicking with a certain actor can keep you employed.

I'm loving the chimpmunk stuff.  I think it's a total hoot.  I've never seen anything like it in daytime and it's very well done, I think.  And Greg Rikkart is doing some great work in the storyline.  As for Rafe, I do have fresh news on Rafe and the gay storyline, but I'll save that for the next GOOL.

As for Christian and cut scenes, shows cut scenes all the time for any number of reasons, usually for length.  I know a recent scene of his was cut, but so were other scenes with other actors to be fair to the show.  As for Christian, he will have more to do in the coming weeks and months and I'll have the details on that in the next GOOL.   Though I'll just say right now I'm not thrilled with what the show plans to do.

I will have to disagree on Y&R's writing.  Sans the the last year and half of Lynn Marie Lantham's stint as head writer almost two years back, Y&R has always had a pretty solid writing team.  Not always the best but still solid for the most part.  Not every storyline is a winner, but what show has all stellar storylines playing out at the same time?  The Kevin and the Chipmunk s/l is different.  I didn't know how to take it at first and last week it really got out of hand.  However, this week I finally saw its purpose to show us Kevin's fractured psyche.  Also perhaps make us feel more sorry for him and sorta gloss over many of the bad things he (and his family) have done over the years. 

I really am not liking most of the storylines on Brothers and Sisters.  I was never a fan of Justin/Rebecca as a couple.  I totally saw it coming as soon as there was an inkling she wasn't a Walker and had hoped they wouldn't go there.  Throwing the totally unlikeable, scheming, evil Ryan into the mix doesn't help the situation much.  Holly has had little to do this season; she is the one that really brings the drama into the Walker den.  Totally need more of her.  Kitty and Robert's marital issues are unappealing because I am not a fan of Robert and Kitty is not high up on my list either.  I will say her emotional affair with the single dad is the most interesting thing I've found about her since season 1.  If it gets rid of Robert then all the better.  What's going on with Saul and his new beau?  Kevin and Scotty got no real s/l this season.  Sarah has been all over the place.  Something definitely hasn't been clicking this season.   

Once upon a time I died.  And like my namesake I got better.

I love DHK.   He's a soap actor I've enjoyed since he was on Ryan's Hope back in the day.  But his return is just a reminder of what a horrible mistake the show made by making Col Mayer a raging psychopath, not to mention killing off Noah's mother who was played by the fabulous Robin Mattson, one of daytime's best actresses.  Whenever I think of the delicious story potential of having a diva bitch Cheri going up against Lily, especially if Cheri decided to go after Holden with Luke and Noah caught in the middle of the mess, it's one of the reasons why ATWT irritates me so with their plot, plot, plot style of writing and tendency to always go for the obvious.   But more than that, enough of the daddy issue stories.

We've had Col. Mayer twice, Damian twice, Brian Wheatley and now Col. Mayer again.  And also, another story where someone is trying to kill Luke.  Granted, since birth, Luke's life has constantly been at risk and he has escaped death more times just about anybody on ATWT, but the show is just being lazy.   The show continues to write Luke as a classic soap heroine always being victimized by evil.  And well, the presence of Col. Mayer brings out all the qualities in Noah that makes me despise the character, so there's that.

I'm looking forward to this, mostly because I feel pretty certain we'll see Col, Mayer facing off against Damian, something I was hoping would happen as soon as I heard Damian was coming back.

To be honest, that's all I really care about.  Hopefully Damian can stay semi-reformed enough to be siding with the boys against whatever machinations the colonel has planned.  And since Noah clearly has some (still unspoken) daddy issues tied up in his views of Damian, it could do more to cement Damian as a father-substitute, which could have interesting implications.

I doubt the show would go there, but I'd love to see Damian actually wind up closer to Noah than Luke even after Luke puts aside his bloodlust, since it would lead to some interesting dynamics between the boys as well as amongst the whole broader Snyder/Walsh/Grimaldi/Mayer nexus.

...perhaps because I'm a gay man of a certain age, I've had my fill of angsty, dramatic coming out scenes; yes, my own coming out was angsty and dramatic, but now that I'm older and more confident in who I am, it was nice to see that represented on TV, especially on a soap opera. To me, it was a great message: here's this handsome, smart, successful, personable man, who's so confident and self-aware that he can just off-handedly come out to another person, with no fear or shame in who he is.

Angsty, dramatic coming out stories will probably be necessary for the forseeable future; but, at the same, it's a sign of growth in our culture that "coming out" can also be portrayed so casually, almost routine.

And I'm sure we'll learn a great deal more about Rafe in the coming weeks.