Another great ATWT rant post from SZ
"So I loathe the ABCD line-up (even though I've been a GH addict for far too long...blame Robert & Holly *sniff*), and I've always taken refuge that CBS produces real soaps, not the slapped together ish that the other networks produce.
However, over the course of the last few years ATWT seems to be following the ABCD (particularly GH) model of soap telling. Sure, they are still better, primarily because they don't leave quite as many holes, but the character destruction, degradation of women, and writing the show around the writers faves has become more and more obvious.
I liked Sheffer's vision of the show (for the most part), but I do think he's responsible for the beginning of this ish. It was under Sheffer that Tom, Margo, Ben, John Dixon and Lucinda became supporting characters. It was under Sheffer that favoritist began, and it was under Sheffer that character destruction began. But, even though Sheffer started this train it's Passante who's making the show into a train wreck. Sure, Sheffer had issues, but at least he threw a bone to the fans of the lesser used actresses and actors. Passante doesn't even really bother to do that.
Under JP we've got trials and tribution of Jennifer Munson. While I think Jenn sucks massive cow nipples, JF is a good actress and the character is tied into a core family and so should have a storyline and should receive air-time. However, the character should not have the whole damn show built around her. I stopped watching the show when Jenn became the central character. (I just tuned back in to see dead Dusty :)). The only other show that caters so much to one freakin character is GH with Carly (and the other sucky six).
Under JP we got the total destruction of Craig. Sure, Sheffer didn't help things with the whole Craig paid people to kidnap Lucy so he could rescue her, but he was still portrayed a loving father. A man, who while he often did fecked up things for his kid and was kind of twisted about the way he showed it, really loved his kids, and wanted them to be happy (it's just his definition of happiness that kind of sucked). Under JP, we got crazy ass Craig who ran Rosanna off the road so that she wouldn't blab about the baby switch.
Under JP, we've got Paul lying to his sister about her baby for no really good reason. We've got Emily going fecking nuts, Will & Gwen being schmoopsy with each other, Dusty as Sonny-lite (down to raising another man's (who he conveniently hated) kid), and Carly working as a damn stripper.
JP creates stories that are almost as women unfriendly as the show that shall not be named. The only woman who is really doing something proactive is Carly. And look what she's resorted to. Margo doesn't get to work on cases, Lucinda's never seen working, Meg is treated like dirt, Sierra has been MIA, Barbara's reacting to her kids, and Lily doesn't really have a story in my eyes.
It sucks. ATWT sucks. And I never thought I see the day when ATWT had reached ABCD line-up status. "
This is from Emma who's a fixture on SZ
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