Why?

We've seen inside the Chancellor estate for decades. A few years back we were privy to the grounds (I believe when Jill was racing there to stop Billy's wedding to Mac)...

Why would there be a mail slot in the front door?

Julianne Moore confirmed for appearance on 'As the World Turns’

By Lynette Rice

A spokeswoman for Julianne Moore confirmed an EW exclusive report that the co-star of A Single Man will make an appearance on As the World Turns, the CBS soap that helped to launch her career in Hollywood. Moore's appearance will be a walk-on, her spokeswoman said. She'll greet her character's parents and wish them well. Moore could tape her episode as early as this Wednesday.

The Oscar-nominated actress got her start on ATWT in 1985 by playing half-sisters Frannie and Sabrina Hughes – a depiction that earned her a Daytime Emmy in 1988, the year she left the show. ATWT will end its 54-year-run in September.

Source: http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2010/03/01/julianne-moore-as-the-world-turns/

Noah Newman Dyslexic?

It became clear on the January 26, 2010 episode that Noah Newman really isn't the best reader. He was reading an email from Eden aloud. Interesting acting choice – wonder if it came from Kevin Schmidt or a director.

Oh, Don’t Tell Me…

How laugh out loud funny was it when Amber answered Mrs. Chancellor's door to see an Asian-American man and said, "Oh, don't tell me you're Tucker McCall."?

Slow Burn

I had a lot of hopes, recently, for some developments that seemed to be brewing. For some stories there is still hope. Others, I fear, have been blown.

 

Neil hasn't really had much of a romantic life lately. And, you know what? That's okay. In real life not every person jumps from one relationship to another. In fact, many people take a break in between relationships to take stock of themselves and do a little self-examination. Neil is a great guy. He hasn't had the best run in the romance department. Very few viewers enjoyed his relationship with Karen (I did, but I am well aware that I am in the minority). Then there was Tyra… well, thankfully it seemed like the writers cut their losses on that story and they should be lauded for that decision. Over the past two weeks or so we've seen Neil and Ashley in the same orbit. That made sense. It seemed organic and interesting.

 

I was SO hoping for a slow burn with Neil and Ashley. (Actually, I had been hoping for a bit of Neil and Nina, but that is off topic, eh?) I liked how they countered one another. I liked that she grounded him a bit, especially where Malcolm was concerned. What I liked the most was that they seemed to have a true friendship. It occurred to me that down the road that friendship might develop into something more. I was unpleasantly surprised the other day when Ashley kissed Neil. It just seemed too quick and too out of character. It almost seemed like the writers knew that Eric Braeden's Victor was back so they rushed to create a conflict (and there are plenty of conflicts there already, I believe!). This hurried plot seemed a little too As the World Turns for my liking.

 

I might get kicked for saying this, but I felt very similarly about the Tucker/JoJo story and reveal. Why not play it out a little longer. Why hurry to the conclusion that A) JoJo isn't the real heir and B) Tucker is the Chancellor child? Most viewers guessed that JoJo couldn't be Katherine's baby. However, it could have been a lot of fun to make the characters wait a little longer for the news. The comedy aspect of JoJo at the estate was pretty good and could have really been delicious. It reminded of the days when Esther used to sneak in Tiny (Chloe's father) --- those fish out water/bull in the China Shop scenes can really do a lot to counter the heaviness of other plots.

 

If the powers that be were unhappy with William Russ' portrayal of Tucker (I wasn't, I only wished he'd been offered a haircut) why not wait to allow his replacement the chance to play the reveal/rage/revenge, etc? Again, I worry that this plot was truncated due to the return of Victor. Victor now will likely be pitted against Neil on both the personal and the professional fronts. I'll wait to see if that plays out, but I am not thrilled to see these two go against one another. I've always like the relationship and mutual respect they've had had for one another. (There has always been an underlying conflict in that Neil would never really be able to soar under Victor because he isn't blood, but that has always been tempered by respect.)

 

I have high hopes that when Amelia Heinle returns we'll see the relationship between Victoria and Billy develop (at a good pace!). In fact, I'd like to see where things go with Mac (can we please, PLEASE, have a new actress in this pivotal role?) and J.T. I hope that both of those stories move at a more sensible pace. Why hurry?

 

It made sense for Billy and Heather to sleep together so quickly. Hurrying made sense, to me at least, in the Sharon/Adam storyline. I just don't think it always make sense.

Billy and Heather

Billy and Heather slept together on Tuesday's episode. The set-up was pretty simple. He met up with her in the club restaurant and had questions about Adam. (Initially Billy was looking for Paul, but he had been conveniently called away leaving Heather to dine alone.)

 

While conversing Billy used the euphemism 'get in bed together' referring to their (Billy's and Heather's) conspiracy against Adam. Heather, in an over-the-top flirtatious manner, responded that if they were going to be in bed together they ought to go somewhere more private. Cut to a hotel suite (Heather's I presume… does she live there?) where the two begin by making a few calls to get information on Adam. Their time together quickly morphs into a pretty passionate roll atop the satin sheets. We next see them after the deed has been done. Billy, uncharacteristically seems to be basking in the afterglow while Heather pops up, heads for the shower and pretty much tells him to show himself out. The gender roles seem to have been reversed (especially since Billy is the one we would expect to 'dash') and Heather seems sated.

 

This is precisely the kind of occurrence that gives naysayers reason to talk trash about soaps; two characters just jumping into bed together. In fact, those two characters had shared very few scenes before, if any. It is easy to see why this sort of thing could be a tad upsetting. Billy's character has been known to get around. We've seen him with a few different women in the past year. Heather, on the other hand, hasn't been shown to be promiscuous.

 

That having been said, I thought the scenario really rang true. I liked it. I thought it was character driven, moved plot, and was pretty realistic.

 

Heather has been nursing a broken heart and a bruised ego since her relationship with Adam crashed and burned. She not only realized, too late, that Adam was a liar and a cheat, she also found out that he had cheated on her with a man. It makes sense that she might be acting out and seeking sexual validation from a good looking man with the reputation of a Lothario.

 

Billy has also had his heart broken. Although his situation is a little harder to grasp (a lot could be written about this incarnation of Mac) we get that he is unanchored and searching for something to identify with (the magazine, etc.) Plus, it makes sense that Billy would sleep with a hot girl who throws herself at him. We've seen it before. We almost saw it with Victoria, in fact. The slow-burn with Victoria (likely due to Heinle's maternity leave) was definitely a nice tease. It would be great to see a very slow build-up to some sort of a relationship (friendship would be really refreshing) between Billy and Victoria… but I digress.

 

Many real people, in real life, have sex with relative strangers. It might not be the total norm. It might not be the best choice. Maybe it is immoral. But… it happens. It happens a lot. Different people commit the act of casual sex for a litany of reasons.

 

Billy and Heather (is the darker hair her 'winter' look?) falling into bed so quickly makes sense.

Survey Says

During Monday's episode (which I usually watch at dinner time) there was a crawl at the bottom asking viewers to complete an online survey. (Click on the word survey if you'd like to participate) I promptly took the survey and was happy to add my opinions. I was also surprised to see that the survey was from the Nielsen Entertainment Company. I am assuming this is the same Nielsen that we've all heard of. If so, it is great to be able to participate in a way that gets my opinions heard, as I've never seen or heard mention of anyone who possesses one of the mythical 'Nielsen Boxes'.

Some people have complained that the survey was slow or long. When I took it I had no problems whatsoever. I would encourage anyone who cares about the show to offer his or her opinions by taking the survey.