Save The Quartermaines

 

You’re not going to hear a long sermon from me about the tragedy of Emily’s death. I could barely stand her since she became an adult. I’m not two faced enough to spout off rapturous praise of the dearly departed. Nor do I want to get in on the exciting speculation about what Emily is now that she is undead or what this might lead to. I have a feeling that will be addressed much better than I could do it and probably sooner rather than later. No. I want to talk to you about the imminent demise of the Quartermaine Family.  To quote Daytime Confidential: (picture courtesy of DC) 

“AJ was snuffed out by a pillow during sweeps in 2005. Justice was killed off, crammed in a car trunk and then didn't even receive an on screen funeral at the end of sweeps in 2006. Then Ned Ashton, his ex wife Lois Cerillo, and daughter Brooklyn (all important members of the Q family) were written off the show. In February of 2007, during sweeps, TPTB killed off Alan Quartermaine with a heart attack. In September of 2007 they wrote Dillon Q off the canvas. Later that fall during November sweeps they killed off Emily Q, rather than recasting her.  Fan uproar "saved" Alan and TPTB brought him back as a ghost to haunt Tracy Q but even with Alan still on screen TPTB did nothing for the 30th Anniversary of Alan and Monica this fall. Adding insult to injury, TPTB didn't even have Edward or Monica make an appearance at the naming of a foundation in Alan's memory during the 2007 sweeps that they used to kill off his daughter Emily.”

Preach it brother wheeze! I don’t know how “saved” Alan has been in view of the fact that it’s been months since his spirit has appeared as Tracy’s conscience but I am firmly in support of bringing this sequence of events to a halt. Monica, Tracy and Edward are the only Quartermaines left. Something has got to be done to save this core family and it has to be done FAST.

Is there a point to decimating the clan? To what advantage are they being removed from the canvas? Does it enhance the show at all? Does it move forward any plot? Create growth or development for the three characters left on the canvas? Not at this point, it does not. So I have to wonder why TPTB at ABC are taking this road. If it is unintentional then it needs to be brought to their attention. If it is intentional then they need to stop and think about what the hell they are doing. Lay down the crack pipe, get off the bong, put up the scripts, ok?

HOW will losing one of the core families improve General Hospital? Anyone?

**crickets chirping**

That’s what I thought. I have been so consumed by this concern that I am practically useless trying to comment on the aftermath of The Lip Gloss Princess’s death. I see Edward’s reaction to the news—and thanks whoever decided it wasn’t needed to show Skye telling Edward his favorite grandchild is dead, why! Who needed that kind of drama and history on a soap opera anyway, huh?—and am under whelmed. Not by the performance but by the lack of one being required. Why do I get the feeling that this is only a small step from saying good bye to Justus in an off screen memorial? Wouldn’t it have been more realistic if EQ would have broken down? I’ve seen him more upset over chef’s refusal to serve a meal late!

What we got was terrific but it just didn’t seem proportional to the monumental loss this should have been. Sure we got a two day memorial service (and wasn’t it nice to see that country chapel set revived again? Snort.) But seeing as how this is the death knell for a prominent family that has anchored General Hospital for over 25 years… well I’m just thinking there should have been more thought and emotion, that’s all.

Leslie Charleson is really bringing the understated emotion. It’s like she is in so much pain she has gone numb which is ironic considering that is exactly the reaction I had to 90% of Nic and Emily’s romance. It is like she is in shock and that seems appropriate. I was beyond touched by the brief nod to history of Lesley Webber’s reaching out to Monica as I was by Tracy’s tearful apology for not treating Emily well. They were strong, emotional moments that I appreciated very much. A nod to the long term fans, no doubt to shut us the hell up about history.

This just can not be all to prop a lame strangler story, to lead to more violence and criminal centric fodder? And to tell us with a straight face that this is going to be the greatest love story of all time is like trying to sell us the Brooklyn Bridge. Excuse me, the greatest love story of all time? From the people who brought us destiny couples like Sonny “I shot my wife in the head while she was giving birth to my child” Corinthos and Carly “I don’t want you but no other woman can have you” Jacks and Jason “my brother never had a woman I couldn’t bag” Morgan and Kick Ass Courtney with the kung fu grip?

Oh, please! I have no confidence in TPTB to know a love story if it bit them in the ass. Magic love dreams and cathartic orange juice taught me one thing: we can’t trust General Hospital PTB to know romantic from asthmatic. They both involve gasping for air, after all, don’t they? (That’s a slam back on the way Emily use to snort for air and gasp all those slurpy sounds during her love scenes—EW!) These are the same people who thought they could start a “fairy tale” romance with a back door adulterous affair that caused the death of Emily’s first, first true love: Zander Smith. Or was that her second, first true love?

Whatever; you can not build a world class love story on the corpse of a cock-holed lover. Then there was the Courtney affair that spawned Spencer and (EW—gagging) VictEm’s distasteful dalliance with Sonny. There is just no way to make this the greatest love story ever told. Sure I remember that Luke and Laura began behind Scott’s back, but except for the rape that was not actually much of an “affair”. The sex was basically limited to one rape and one night stand until after she was divorced— Luke and Laura are and always will be the EXCEPTION that proved the rule--just saying.

I have to admit that I got great satisfaction from Sonny telling Kate the straight up deal. He was too old for Emily and they never should have been together. Also out standing in the aftermath of Emily’s death is Monica telling Sonny that her family’s destruction can be laid soundly at his door. Right on, Monica. Your family would be intact if Sonny had not given in to his passions and bedded Jason’s woman Carly on a carpet of broken glass. That one misguided libidinous act has caused the annihilation of The Quartermaine family. 

I wish that I could believe that these admissions on Sonny’s part were an admission on the writers and behind the scenes personnel as well. I said this in my All My Children and One Life to Live piece a few days ago, the idea that they could revolve the soaps around a few people (and everyone else had to lose to these characters) was not a good one. One Life to Live has been moving away from that premise and really working on balancing the canvas. The fans have noticed. All My Children is just insisting on continuing the monopolization of the screen by a select few. The fans have noticed. General Hospital is at a point where they have seen that interest in hospital based storylines are strong enough to carry an entire prime time series. (Well 13 episodes anyway) They have shown some sound progress in diversifying they just haven’t copped to the fact that the veteran characters and core families are the key. The fans have noticed.

Make no mistake: the fans are noticing! Around the net, people are outraged by the violence and mindless worship of criminality that has been General Hospital’s forte since 1991 and which culminated in the death of Emily. I read an article today by a man I’d never heard of before (sorry), Jack Myers- Ed Martin’s Watercooler TV, who said in this article about Monica: “I didn't think the current GH writers had it in them to give so powerful a scene to a character in whom they have shown so little interest for so long a time. For this, I applaud them. I hope they will continue to take advantage of this new (or, rather, reborn) Monica. She's like a mad hornet, ready to attack anyone who crosses her. As she rises from the ruins of her family I'd like to see the writers once again make her a powerful central figure and involve her in a significant new romance. Maybe it's time for her first husband, Jeff Webber (father of current beleaguered heroine Elizabeth), to return to Port Charles and rekindle their relationship. Or, wouldn't it be a kick if she began dating Sonny's father Mike, who is not involved with the underworld in any way? Heck, I'd be happy to see her go to dinner with Trevor Lansing, another enemy of Sonny's.” 

Salem2005 at TV Fan Online Forums writes: “You know, it's really these small moments that I live for and the reason I still watch GH… When we get a great scene with historic characters actually interacting and talking about the past. That scene rocked! The Vets are so talented on this show...I just don't get why they won't use them more. Yes, they are older actors...but once again, look at OLTL and how much better that show is now because they use their historic characters like Dorian and Vicki in real storylines. I haven't watched Young and the Restless in a long time, but last time I did, Victor and Nikki and Jack and Jill and all their historic characters were still always front and center. I just don't get what GH has against the older veteran actors....they bring so much talent to the table.” Emphasis on “the reason I still watch” is mine, not Salem's but I don’t think she will mind! There are literally HUNDREDS of fans who still watch only for these moments and I think THAT is a FACT that TPTB NEEDS to recognize. 

Our very on Eye On Soaps' The Gourmez says, “It’s wonderful to see Leslie, Monica, Ned, Dillon, Bobbie, and Mac.  I just wish we could see them more often--say, once a week?  Nah, that would never work; it’d cut into the screen time for Carly when she breaks nail and runs to Jason for comfort.  I loved watching Bobbie console Monica through the loss of a child.  Each woman has had enough tragedy to fill Charles’ port, yet they keep on living.  I want to watch Monica heal and move on and it saddens me that we probably won’t see her again until someone else croaks.” And A Cynic Soaps Up author Kate Brown asks, “GH is having difficulties staying in the top five rated soaps. Will new viewers keep watching when they realize gunfire is an everyday occurrence in Port Charles? Will old viewers stayed tuned in when once again the months between sweeps feel like filler?”

Are “the powers that be” at General Hospital going to get it or are they turning a deliberately blind eye? Sadly enough only time will tell. We have been lulled into thinking that they were going to feature appropriate stories for veteran actors and set them in the hospital before. Such as during the virus sweeps catastrophe, bringing Robert and then Anna back only to ignore and misuse them while they were here. As well as all the spoilers and rumors that turned out to be so much litter box filler, like an anniversary episode for Alan and Monica’s 30 years together, Monica fighting Ford for the Chief of Staff position, Monica getting a younger romantic interest or having a “Kiss Me Goodbye” storyline, Monica getting a moment with ghost Alan… which I feel that was probably that moment at the Q’s when she got a chill and looked like she smelled her fart and was trying to figure out what she ate that could smell like that!

I’ve sent out the message on all my groups asking for their opinion and I’d like to hear from you as well.  I'm looking for commentary about Emily's death, the destruction of the Quartermaines, Monica's powerful reaction and where the fans hope to see the Q's and the show go from here to be used in this Eye On Soaps column in the month of December.   So, send me a note and tell me how you feel, please?

I’m not going to let this go. It means too much to me so I will end by requesting that you write to your favorite actor c/o the studio. Yes, snail mail is required. Support the veteran actors, support building General Hospital back from what must surely be the brink of cancellation. Write.