An Inside Look
From: Ms. X
To: Lynn Marie Latham
Subject: Writing
I wanted to thank you for the great opportunity you gave me when you hired me to join your writing staff. I'm sorry that I vented for so long about how I hated my job while I rang you up at the Gap, but offering me a job was above and beyond your call of duty. Thank you so much. I look forward to working with you. I'm going to spend this weekend reading up on character histories and watching old clips on YouTube.
From: Ms. X
To: Lynn Marie Latham
Re: Writing
Well...if you think that a knowledge of the show's history isn't important, I won't bother. But from what I did read up on, I think there's a great character to work with: Jill. She's unbelievably complex and when I saw Jess Walton on line for coffee this morning, I was blown away by how stunning she is. I was thinking that we could do something great with the fallout of her fiance's death. I'm seeing lots of dramatic monologues and a grief-induced public breakdown. Maybe we can find a way to bring her son back from Hong Kong to help her recover?
From: Ms. X
To: Lynn Marie Latham
Re: Writing
I guess I see what you're saying about Noah being a better character than Jill, but doesn't it count as plagiarism if we lift plots from Family Circus and have him act out the role of Jeffy?
From: Ms. X
To: Lynn Marie Latham
Re: Writing
I'm sorry that I'm bothering you with so many "inane questions", but...a few weeks ago, at William's memorial, Jeffrey mentioned that the two were never close, but now you have Jeffrey talking about their secret signals and how William mailed him a package. I'm a little confused.
From: Ms. X
To: Lynn Marie Latham
Re: Writing
William was the District Attorney? He dated Ashley, and Jill, and married Gloria? And he found out she tainted the Jabot cream? And he was also played by Ted Shackelford?
From: Ms. X
To: Lynn Marie Latham
Re: Writing
Yes, the same Ted Shackelford who plays Jeffrey. Since, you know...they're twins.
From: Ms. X
To: Lynn Marie Latham
Re: Writing
No, I don't think it would be a good idea to have Brad become a warden at the prison Phyllis is currently serving time in. I realize it would be fun for you to have your two favorites in the same space at all times, but it would make no sense for Brad to suddenly become a prison warden.
Also, I'm worried about Michelle Stafford. Don't you think she could use some time off? She seems completely listless and exhausted.
From: Ms. X
To: Lynn Marie Latham
Re: Writing
What does Victoria see in JT?
From: Ms. X
To: Lynn Marie Latham
Re: Writing
Right, I get that every woman's dream is to date a dreamy boy who plays guitar and makes good mixtapes, but don't you see Victoria with someone mature, and assertive, and capable of going toe-to-toe with her? I was watching some clips of Heather Tom in the role, and she seemed like a real spitfire, I just can't reconcile her version of Victoria with this mealy mouthed one.
From: Ms. X
To: Lynn Marie Latham
Re: Writing
I'm sorry, you have my word that I won't watch anymore old clips.
From: Ms. X
To: Lynn Marie Latham
Re: Writing
Sorry, one more question: is anything ever going to happen with David Chow and the fact that he tried to drive Dru crazy? It's kind of weird to me that he's in a romance with Nikki when his prior bad behavior has never been redeemed.
From: Ms. X
To: Lynn Marie Latham
Re: Writing
Yes, he actually did that. With Carmen's lookalike cousin Ines.
From: Ms. X
To: Lynn Marie Latham
Re: Writing
I swear to you, I'm not making that up.
From: Ms. X
To: Lynn Marie Latham
Re: Writing
I know that you gave me a really great opportunity, but I'm not very comfortable with your request to throw holy water on Peter Bergman. I'm not sure what he actually did to you in this life or a past life, but I think taking your anger out on the character of Jack is enough without needing to resort to stalking the man and calling him devilish. And even if that was healthy, legal or in appropriate in any way, is it really a writer's job?
From: Ms. X
To: Lynn Marie Latham
Re: Writing
Do I really need to carry my stuff to and from work in an I ♥ Don Diamont tote bag?
From: Ms. X
To: Lynn Marie Latham
Re: Writing
The very thought of an Amber/Brad/Gloria love triangle is enough to send me into a catatonic state after a severe fit of projectile vomiting coupled with suicidal thoughts.
From: Ms. X
To: Lynn Marie Latham
Re: Writing
Yes, that means it's a bad idea.
LMAO! the plot holes on Y$R make me think of a slice of baby swiss cheese--very thin and barely holding together--and stinky, too. brad is george, and a murderer, but he's walking around free of investigation and pontificating on other people's morals while chasing other men's wives. nick has amnesia and couldn't remember marrying his wife, but during the trial he got a memory back, is somehow in love with her again, but not seeking any kind of therapy to try to get the rest of his memories. and there are still lingering questions like, is daniel still in therapy for his porn problem, or is he "cured"? is a brain tumor really excuse enough to forgive a psychopath? shouldn't maggie be tired of questioning the same people every time a dead body pops up? wasn't neil off the wagon? why isn't john's ghost haunting his wife for her misdeeds? if there are surveillance cameras all over jabot, why isn't there footage of gloria tainting the cream? why would william send his brother (with whom he was not close) clues about gloria's misdeeds before he confronted her--because he couldn't have done it when he was paralyzed.
i've got lots more questions, but no time. i guess that's how writing soaps works--too many plot points leaves stories hanging.
Posted by: Titian | September 26, 2007 at 10:53 PM
LMAO! Very very funny, as usual.
Still more enjoyable than most of the soaps...it's still at the point where the imbalance is novel and amusing and not say...ten years past that point like on soaps whose names rhyme with Feneral Shmospital.
Posted by: smirks | September 26, 2007 at 11:24 PM
God help me, but I actually like Brad. He's the only character on the show that points out that all of the Newmans are assholes.
Otherwise, spot on... especially with the Family Circus reference. That Noah is just riveting whenever he's on screen.
Is David Chow working at Newman with Neil? I mean Nia Peeples is a fun throwback to Fame and all, but Dru just died... and the man who made their lives hell is hittin' it with Nikki. Don't you think he'd... I don't know... do SOMETHING?
I hate this show almost as much as I hate Sharon's hair.
Almost.
Posted by: Danny | September 27, 2007 at 03:19 AM
AAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Bloody brilliant!
Except for the part when you put the idea of an "Amber/Brad/Gloria love triangle" out for the universe to hear.
Posted by: minirth | September 27, 2007 at 01:23 PM