McTavish Faces Fury of Fans: Writer of All My Children Infuriates Fans of the Show
Longtime fans of all my children have taken to calling this trend of not utilizing veteran actors as putting them in the "Backburner Cafe". Rarely on AMC do you see Palmer, Opal, or Myrtle. In fact, a good portion of the cast is under-used.
In June of this year, two veteran contract performers, Jill Larson (Opal) and Tonya Pinkins (Livia Frye), were released from their contracts to make way for the summer surge of young flesh. Both actresses are now on recurring status, but may continue to make appearances on the show in the future. This is bound to make other vets on the show apprehensive about their own contracts, such as Ray MacDonnell (Joe Martin) or James Mitchell (Palmer Cortlandt), who have little to no screen-time as it is.
Many viewers feel that headwriter Megan McTavish is to blame for not utilizing seasoned pros who could contribute richly to the canvas of the storyline. In the world of soap operas, McTavish is a pariah. She is accused of everything, from writing only silly plot-driven stories rather than character-driven ones, rewriting the history of the characters on her whims.
More recently, outrage was cried from fans in a major backlash against McTavish's handling of a storyline involving Erica Kane (Susan Lucci). In the shows infancy, a storyline where Erica got pregnant by her husband. Erica was a model and didn't want to ruin her body and career for a baby, so she secretly had an abortion. At the time, and even today, this is still a hot-button issue. The character was always clear that she wanted the abortion because she wanted to model.
Fast forward to this year, McTavish had Erica giving other reasons never mentioned on the show. In addition, she wrote that the ground-breaking abortion story that drew fans to All My Children never happened at all. Instead, Erica's embryo was stolen by the doctor who performed her "abortion" and implanted inside the man's own wife and is now all grown up as a late twenties man named Josh. McTavish stands by her decision and in interviews denied that she had changed or altered the history of the show.
Rumors abound as to whether she will be able to hang onto her job as headwriter. Ratings have slid, fan have written nasty letters. Megan McTavish is not a popular person right now. Until the producers of AMC release a statement about her further employee, the rumors are just that...and wishful thinking from its faithful audience.
Now with Larson and Pinkins released from their contracts, it's unlikely that McTavish has any plans to use any of the veterans in the tapestry of the show, other than quick cameos to prop up another character's storyline. One big reason that fans continue to watch a soap opera year after year is because they see these characters grow and evolve through the years.
The vets so important to a soap opera, not because of their age, or demographics they draw in but because the veterans carry the history of the show. They are the keepers of the history. Blending them into current storylines with the younger actors keeps the soap feeling true, intact and keeps the history going. Society does not run on young people alone, the "more experienced" members of society carry it's history and experiences with them. The blending is what keeps us all together.
Published by Jaclyn
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6 Comments
Post a CommentI have been watching AMC for over 30 years and the story line sucks. I can't believe that they are bring David back in to mess things up. I hate this show now!
CONTINUED: And keep in mind AMC, the fans are the ones who keep this show on the air! So you sure better get back to your roots of family and romance or I see alot of fans tuning out!
CONTINUED: And why would they get rid of Reggie anyway? The actor playing him was fantastic. Then there's Tonya Pinkins, one of the all time BEST actresses ever on this show. Now she's on reoccuring too even though her characters son is back in town. No family time there! And since she's been in PV it's never been explained where her husband Tom is. I'd especially like to know this.
Now, the heart breaking decision to have Zach and Dixie have a fake affair just to get them out of a possible prision sentence for killing Madden. Kendall and Zach finally get married for real and she barely survives a comma just for this to happen? We fans have waited such a long time to see some romantic scenes with them. This for me might be what gets me to stop watching after 32 years. Their chemistry is fantastic plus with Kendall's new baby, it is a very sweet thing to see the three of them together. This show is avoiding the two main reasons (family and romance) the fans tune in. And keep in m
Not using the veterans of this show is an outrage. For example, Jeff Martin comes back to town after 25 years or more and not even one family dinner? Ridiculous! Especially for the Martin family, one of the main families the show was based on! I can guess that one of the reasons is that the character of Ruth, the mother, has been recast in the past and not seen in years. Well, just recast her. It's already been done once or simply contact the last actress who played her to see the family together. Also, they FINALLY get Erica and Jack married but for what? Their rarely even in a scene together much less at home together with his adopted son Reggie or his step daughter Lilly. The two main reasons for them buying a house together was for them to blend their families and give them a place for them all to be together! The character of Reggie is now gone or at least on reoccuring and Lilly is married and living with Johnathan. Oh well, there goes another family scene opportunity. And why w
Was it Megan McTavish's idea to now have the floating cameras? Watching All My Children now makes me sea sick! If they continue to use this sort of camera-work, I will stop watching the show... Tis is after 30 years of dedication!
Why they would keep a writer that has taken AMC down to the depths of hell is beyond the viewer's belief. It was said the team before McTavish was fired for having David and Anna's baby die, well what about the sick and dark and horrible storyline where though hated, Greg Maddon was buried alive. It was terrible for anyone watching and it must have been taken from 83 Hours a book about a woman who had been buried alive. It is ridiculous to have all these newbies that noone gives a damn about, bring on the Veterans. Good God, Agnes Nixon stand up and take your show back, fire the one who was hired to bring AMC down, she has done one hell of a job. She has ruined every character on the show. She gets her kicks from sick and twisted storylines. A suggestion is that she should be locked up because she is a danger to have as a writer. It shows how sick and mental and dark her true character is. She wouldn't know a storyline of her own if it was looking her in the face. Fire her and bring