The Awful Truth: Why GH Sucks!

Okay, I know that's harsh. And I'm not really a fan of the show but I was back in the day. But, Kids, this show sucks and the numbers keep going down and down and there's no reason for it. Well, there's one reason. One big reason.  The Production Team. Valentini and Company are killing this show- the last of a dying breed. And although I'm not shedding any tears, it's a shame really. Talent, history, and dedicated fans are being cheated out of what time they have left.

Now, I'm not speaking for the fans. I'm just giving an opinion, one many will disagree with, I'm sure. But it's just my opinion. Also, after perusing boards for insight and the enormous response to the "Nimnuts Sucks" piece, I think there's a lot of agreement. So, I'll present that caveat. I'm not speaking for anyone but me. And, it seems, a multitude of others.  But not everyone.

I know that  Valentini gets a lot of credit from many. And he's done some things people like. The corporate bigwigs like his budget cutting techniques. They like his strong arm with the loudmouths and keeping people in line. And they like that he's the lightening rod for their screwups. There are fans who like his show that switched focus and cut the mob crap and brought back Vets. I know that's true and I give him kudos for that. But it's not what he does but how he does it that's the problem.

I feel I can speak about this as I've now seen it happen twice. Sure, he'll bring back Vets you love. But he'll isolate them and use them with newbies or dayplayers for the majority of their time there. Why? They're expensive. He'll bring them on as plot points. Why? Because brief appearances by expensive actors give you the most bang you can get for your buck, in his mind. Not the audience, but in his mind. He can say "Look, it's Frisco!" and you see him for ten minutes and he's gone.

He did this on OLTL. He brought back Cord but I never saw him with Blair or hardly with Clint or Bo. I saw him with Tina, which was great, but not nearly enough. I saw Tina with Todd twice maybe, one group scene, and that's it. He brought back Todd and left him in a damn chair for three weeks. That was fun...only not.

Look, it's nice to get them back. We love that. But you can't have everything. I know it's been a while, but, again, Buddy, listen to the logic of the man on the street who has to hustle for every penny. As my father the siding salesman said, "If you want to make money, you have to spend money. Shit gives you shit".  Get it? If you want the ratings to maintain, you better get out the checkbook. If you don't have the cash, cut elsewhere. Or don't go there. But the momentary, stunt returns are a tease and only build resentment.

Related to that point is the inevitable focus on the newbie. I know, I know. Soaps have to have the new characters to bring in the new audience. I get that. But even in the end? Now, let's get real. Do you really think this show has enough time on ABC to make Sabrina a major player? Really?  Here's some advice from a bad mistake you made before- Baz.  Baz. Enough said.

Cut the losses. You know how to do with as you did with this Trey kid. But you don't do it enough. I've seen nothing but resentment and anger over this broad. Cut her. Backburner her. I don't know what and, really, I don't care. But do something. I fear you're making Alderson into some new character and she'll be the new best friend of Sabrina and it will be the show centering on the two most hated people. That should be nice for the fans. That should go over about as big as Rex and Gigi getting an entire wedding episode and much of the focus when our fucking show was ending in a moment.  Like anyone cared about that but you all. In general, the fans were appalled. You should have left that troll dead. Didn't need her at all. God, I hope FF reads this and gets nuts and goes on one of her tirades. I miss them. It was the only good thing about her. I hope she shows and gives me the finger and tells me to fuck myself. That would be so funny!!!

But I digress.

I think Frank is trying. I really do. The problem here is that it's obvious that his heart's not in it. It's a job and he's trying to do it. But it's not working. I saw him trying to work OLTL. I know he loved it and it was obvious. I detested most of his choices but he loved it. He had a vision and some stupid ideas, IMO, but I never doubted his dedication to the show. Here, not so much. I doubt it means much more to him than a paycheck. Now, I'm not faulting him for doing his job. There's nothing wrong with doing a job to best of his abilities. Not everyone loves their current position but you do it and that's it. But you don't let everyone know that. And they do. The consumers know it, Frank. I'm not even a fan and I know. You tipped your hand and now many don't trust you or like you.

The OLTL Trio Disaster proved it. You cared more about recreating your show in this platform than keeping this show true to itself. Now, I'll admit I cheered you on for it because I was a OLTL fan. But it didn't work. You had a lot of warnings it was going south. You should have cut your losses, released the characters, and not made a stink. It's tacky. You should have toned down the focus to begin with, IMO, and made it an easier progression. And Alderson was a disaster. You have to realize that. Easton was okay and Howarth was seemingly fine, except with the actor, but Alderson was a bomb. You needed to let go. And you didn't. And you're still not.

Okay, I know people insist he's coming back but I don't. I'll fess up and take my hits publicly if I'm wrong. But Howarth is walking on you. He's not holding out for a new character. He's not fighting. For him, from what I've seen, he ran. And fast. So, he's gone. In his last scene, I swear I heard him yell "Howarth Out!" as he exited stage whatever and highfived anyone who was around, doing a Rocky-like jig of triumph to be free.  It was embarrassing for you and your show.  Hell, he was gleeful.  Probably he was thinking about getting back to his true love- Slezak. I see the two of them whispering sweet nothings on the set as he sobs about how he was lost without her loving embrace. Those two really are too much in love for words. It makes me blush!!

But I digress. I loves me that romance.

Forcing Alderson into a square peg is a bad idea. I don't see the love here, Frank. But, again, I'm not speaking for everyone. Yet if someone wants to point me to the "we love Alderson on GH" boards, I'll be happy to oblige.  I've just never seen one.

You need to show you care about GH. The audience can feel it if you don't give a crap. And it feels like it. Hell, I don't even watch or care and I can feel it.  There are many reasons for this.  Mostly because you're letting Nimnuts run wild. He's a mess. He's recycling OLTL stories. Hell, he's even using the scripts. He ain't called Re-Ron for nothing! My God, this is bad. You need to drag him back and make him earn that paycheck. I know, he's pouting because he lost his Two Todds Opus.  I'm sorry, that makes me giddy!!! I'm so excited about that. I hear PP is making it just go away and bringing back SNV lickety split! It's a wonderful gift to the fans. And speaking for a few, we thank you.  It was a clusterfuck- excuse the pun.

But that's all I can say. You're killing your show, Buddy. You need to regroup, refocus, and let go. You lost OLTL. It's gone. Maybe you'll get it back one day- God, I hope not- but it's over. Like Howarth, it's out of your grasp. You have a whole other show with a talented cast and a rich history. Don't throw it away because you can't get over the one that got away. It's stupid.

That's one thing I know you're not, Frank, and that's stupid. You're misguided and wrong and, I think, angry and resentful.  And it's a shade of limelight that makes you look petty and bitter.

Think about it. But, as a OLTL fan, GH's loss is our gain. So, it's working for me!!I'll take the line from Howarth. ADDISON OUT!!! And I'm about to dance around the living room right now, in a jig of freedom. I never have to even watch GH edits on Youtube again. And it feels great.

Is it April 29th yet?