Bernard's "World" View: In Defense of Christopher Goutman
Several days ago, I posted an entry about the fallout from the death of Dr. Reid Oliver (Eric Sheffer Stevens) on As The World Turns. There were three central ideas in that piece. First, despite the very legitimate complaints that any given fan might have, ATWT is providing great human drama here at the end of its run. Second, Reid’s tragic passing and donation of his heart to Chris (Daniel Cosgrove) encapsulated that goal mainly by thrusting the Hughes’— the show’s core family since its very debut— front and center toward its conclusion. Third, given the soap opera wrapped production months ago, the idea of kicking a dead horse with unrelenting criticism isn’t going to make it win the Kentucky Derby.
I have not budged one iota from any of those positions and I am about to incur the wrath of a whole lot more of you by making what I know will be a very controversial statement to many: I believe that in these final days, executive producer Christopher Goutman has made mostly the right decisions.
Before I go on, let’s wrestle with my aforementioned post briefly. A number of readers agreed with my take on matters; just as many, if not more, took great issue against it. Some of those latter responses were the same old, predictable hoo-hash of rote complaints and used the occasion to voice an almost now-cliche litany of grievances against Goutman, CBS and the rest of the usual suspects. On the other hand, some of the dissents were very eloquent, one of the most notable from DC reader chip88.
As I read through them, I was struck by two emotional threads that connected the pros and the cons— passion and sadness. By the time Guiding Light went off the air in 2009, the dominant emotion that carried the day among fans was raw, visceral anger. Many fans railed against what then-executive producer Ellen Wheeler had “done” to GL; the shabby state of that show’s “new production model”; some of the ridiculous aspects of the final weeks and so on. Nonetheless, at the end of the day one came away with the sense that even diehard GL fans knew the show had reached the end of its viability. Many even felt that the “Light” had burned out long ago.
By contrast, even the angriest of ATWT’s detractors, at their core, seem more upset by the fact that there are/were so many vibrant stories still left to be told about the citizens of Oakdale, Illinois. With or without Goutman, the majority sentiment appears to be that the World doesn't have to stop spinning at all.
A prime example of the vibrancy evident on screen came in the form of last week’s brilliantly acted, incendiary scenes in which John Dixon (Larry Bryggman) confronted ex-wife Lucinda Walsh (Elizabeth Hubbard) over her self-destructive behavior and got a little insight into his own. Their confrontations were infused with a kind of instantly-recognizable emotional shorthand, as it related to the characters’ present circumstances. The scenesproved so electric and rich that viewers of any generation or length of time as fans could grasp their history.
What was most important was not a nod or flashback to something like the fabled John and Lucinda hot tub scene from way back when, but rather Lucinda calling John out for not having been there for her during her battle with cancer; or when John asked Lucinda why she fights everyone and everything in her life. Lucinda's answer revealed the true nature of her character: “[I fight] because it is the only thing I do well.” That exchange provided definitive insight into all 26 years of Lucinda’s battlles, neuroses, self-destructive tendencies, machinations and checkbook gangsterism, not the least of which was her most recent desire to destroy Craig (Jon Lindstrom) at any cost including the potential loss of her adopted daughter Lily (Noelle Beck).
So how did we get to such a brilliantly revealing question from John concerning Lucinda’s inner motivations and demons? By having Lucinda act in perfect, historical character during her final ATWT story arc, launching an all-consuming vendetta against an enemy, forming highly-questionable alliances (Anthony Blackthorn, Ralph Manzo) and having it all blow up in her face at great personal cost.In the end, Lucinda once again fell backon the only perceived constant in life, Worldwide
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31 March 2009
1 year 22 weeks
I do think that is the point of Bernard's column and what Sarah Bibel echos in her column..
Here is a brief part of it.. and I agree with both of them, as far as ending a soap, for me this ending rates up their because it is acting like a soap all the way till the end.
It didn't suddenly deny what it is currently and turn into some folky hallmark card.
Part of Bibel blog
"ATWTs final storylines have not impressed some of its longtime fans. The focus continued to be on the characters who have been prominent for only the past few years, not the older veterans. So this week has featured more Janet (Julie Pinson) and Dusty (Greyson McCouch) than Bob (Don Hastings) and Kim (Kathryn Hays). Also, many more former characters could have returned for the farewell.
But evaluated for what it is, not what it could be, ‘ATWT’s is delivering the most satisfying soap ending that I can remember. (’Another World’s‘ would have been decent without the lovesick gorilla.) Carly (Maura West) and Jack’s (Michael Park) simple outdoor wedding was heartwarming and gave the show’s current supercouple a satisfying happy ending. For a couple who has had so many weddings, anything fancier would have been inappropriate. The dialogue was subtly meta. Jack’s vows included the line, “Things we never imagined could end, in fact, do come to an end.”
‘ATWT’ tied everything up with a bow, when Dusty, not Jack, turned out to be the father of Janet’s baby, and Carly learned she was pregnant with the love of her life’s child. Holden (John Hensley) and Lily (Noelle Beck) are also poised for their upteenth reunion. John (Larry Brygmann) is whisking Lucinda (Liz Hubbard) off to Amsterdam — the perfect city for two unconventional middle aged folks.
The previews for the finale show Bob talking about his retirement next to a globe that is an obvious homage to the show’s logo.
Yes, it could have been better. Unfortunately, beloved former headwriter Douglas Marland cannot send down script pages from heaven. This is a thousand times better than the final weeks of ‘Guiding Light,’ which were nearly devoid of sets and substituted musical montages for dialogue. ‘ATWT’ is going out as a real soap, with plot twists and romance to the end. I like to think that’s what the show’s creator Irna Phillips would have wanted.
In its final week ‘ATWT’ feels more like itself than it has in years. I have no idea why it took the writers so long embrace the possibilities of having nothing left to lose and stop wasting time on silly storylines that were in theoretical pursuit of younger demographics. I suspect CBS exerted its influence until the end."
29 December 2009
1 year 25 weeks
I am trying to look at the positives but it is hard. The show has ended and stopped taping months ago so there is no use in whining because there is nothing you can change. Still, you bring back Will and Gwen as fan favorites? You just hope Goutman and his protege Ellen Wheeler do not get a chance to kill another soap. I was pissed but now I just shake my head at their choices once they knew the shows were over. I was trying to remember when in the last few years I actually thought ATWT was good. So the ending so far does not surprise me. I mean considering how bad their sister soap Guiding Light was up until the end I guess we shouldn't be surprised. In reading some of the posts, it brings home the fact that it is so sad how same sex relationships have ended on television. I mean you either kill the gay person (Reid) or you let them live (Otalia) but leave the audience wondering why there was no physical display of affection or even if they have sex or not? But from what I've read, Goutman has taken it even further then Ellen in giving neither fanbase (LuRe or Nuke) any real satisfaction. Sigh! Maybe Goutman can hang his soon to be retired Executive Producers hat on that one...
31 March 2009
1 year 22 weeks
To compare the treatment of gay characters on GL vs ATWT or knock CG for his Luke storyline is wrong on so many levels.
What the network allows you to air or not to air controls just how much sex we see and what sort of degree things are taken, this is not decided by the EP or the writer of the show, it's decided by the corporation who owns the show and the network that airs it.
Luke is the most developed gay character in the history of soaps...EVER... His storyline has been the most developed in the history of soaps EVER. These very people who are being knocked for things are the same people created the character and brought all the storylines to the forefront. Luke was a main staple on ATWT and he was a gay man, he rec'd a coming of age storyline and a coming of age love story with Noah and later a coming to adulthood storyline with Reid. Unlike GL, ATWT turn never turned away from having Luke kiss Noah or Reid and they did have Luke & Noah have sex. Just yesterday Noah and Luke kiss straight on. The amount of lovescenes we see or don't is not decided by CG.
I see it so wrong to knock the people who created Luke, who created Noah and who created the fantastic character of Reid.
When a gay person watches the show at least they could see someone like them existed and was represented on a show, which is much more than any other show can claim. Luke was a fully rounded character with a love interest, a family with strong ties and an emotional coming of age and into his sexlife which was represent just as any hextro couple would have been. If we didn't get the full out scenes it was the network & P&G that prevented it. Same with Reid, he was a developed character as well, he was a doctor, he was a loner and he became a kind and caring friend as well. Noah had his share of storyline as well. But none of these characters were just the gay guy on the show, they had depth, they had storyline and they made history when it comes to daytime.
I'm sorry people feel Reid's death was a knock to a gay couple, but I find that observation unfair. At the end of the day the storyline is about Luke and how he copes and what he does in the future. His love for Reid was never downplayed, not to the bitter end and his history with Noah was their and it was strong and is possible that they will once again be together in the future. For me that is in no way a cop out for a gay storyline.
Lisa didn't get to run off into the sunset either, nor did Molly, nor did Emma, nor did Meg and the same can be said about Susan as well. So it's not just the gay character that didn't get the happy ending, or at least the ending that a certain fanbase might have wanted.
2 April 2009
6 days 6 hours
I really don't agree that Luke was the most developed gay character. I'd give that award to Bianca on AMC but thats just imo not knocking Luke.
I also don't think sets make a show I think GL did better than ATWT in its final months but it may of been because of the 3 writers they had not just Goutman.
26 February 2009
39 weeks 6 days
"Lisa didn't get to run off into the sunset either, nor did Molly, nor did Emma, nor did Meg and the same can be said about Susan as well. So it's not just the gay character that didn't get the happy ending, or at least the ending that a certain fanbase might have wanted."
So Luke is now in the same boat as characters like Susan, Lisa, and Emma, who have never really been given story by Goutman?
Luke hasn't had a good story in years. He stopped developing ages ago. He ended up alone and unhappy and sexless. If that's progress, then maybe there's a reason gays no longer exist on American soaps.
4 May 2009
24 min 27 sec
Right on Carol2!
I agree. The initial love story with Luke/Noah was the best story Passanante gave ATWT.
But when it veered into Ameera, Colonel Mayer, paralysis, blindness and a whole bunch of other slop then the tide turned.
We do have Philip and Rafe on Y&R and Bianca on AMC though.
Batter up Maria Arena Bell, Paul Rauch, David Kriezman, Donna Swajeski, and Julie Hanan Carruthers.
26 February 2009
39 weeks 6 days
I wouldn't count on much from any of them, especially Rauch and MAB.
I actually thought Reid had great potential but he was quickly put in the usual sexless void that makes up ATWT's gay couples. Luke meanwhile just seemed to be there. I feel like fans of all three characters were horribly cheated.
17 September 2010
2 years 35 weeks
Duplicate post
17 September 2010
2 years 35 weeks
Thank you for this wonderful reference to the finale of Texas, my all time favorite Procter & Gamble soap. It struggled to find its footing in year one, but everything came together in its final year. Too bad that NBC shifted its broadcast time to the late morning "kiss of death slot" where Guiding Light also landed in many markets.
Many of the clips from the final two weeks of Texas are on You Tube on hfxmusicman's channel.
9 July 2009
1 year 3 weeks
Good Saturday afternoon everyone,
I think after reading many of your comments here on a number of websites, I felt it best to write out my thoughts on what really went wrong with this show over the last decade.
The first thing that went completely wrong was that Christopher Goutman should and I mean SHOULD HAVE read the late-Douglas Marland’s book of rules on how to not wreck a show. These “rules” if you will, I found on the (http://www.soaptownusa.com) website. This is what she wrote to begin rattling off Doug Marland’s rule for “how to not wreck a show:” “The sad thing is Mr. Goutman could have saved this show instead of murdering it, if he had only listened to a voice from the past; a very powerful voice who, IMHO, was the be-all and end-all of soap genius. I’m talking, of course, about Douglas Marland”.
“Doug Marland was a soap writer par excellence. He wrote for ATWT from 1985 until his untimely death, Unlike Mr. Goutman’s pallid creations, Mr. Marland is responsible for creating the Snyder family, Hank Elliot (daytime’s first gay male character), a mixed race couple and their baby, and he wrote a very controversial abortion story. He also wrote a set of rules he called, How Not to Wreck a Show.” Too bad Mr. Goutman didn’t read it before he murdered ATWT. (And right now I’d like to tattoo it on the man’s forehead.) Let’s examine Mr. Marland’s rules and see how they are nails in Goutman’s coffin.”
So, without further ado, here are Doug Marland’s rules and the nail that was pounded into Christopher Goutman’s coffin:
First, watch the show and learn its history. Did Mr. Goutman ever know the history of ATWT? The way he twisted so many characters from how they originally were into what they were at the end tells me no, he did not. This is seen over and over again, most recently in Lucinda Walsh, to name one character. To tell us 3 weeks before the show’s demise that a long term character knew and associated with a criminal in her youth, when we had never seen a hint of it in all these years, shows that he knew not a bit of who Lucinda Walsh really was. In the past, Lucinda was one of Luke’s biggest supporters; but this week she gave him little comfort in his time of heartbreak. Multiply that type of character assassination over and over with many characters, and you have Goutman’s MO. One nail.
Next, read the fan mail, because the characters that don’t thrill you are often the fan favorites, and vice versa. An excellent example of this is Janet. The show became, in the last few years, As The Ciccone Turns. It was everything Janet, even though many fans abhorred her, made fun of her, gagged on her, and ranted about her. Fans wanted more veterans, but they were shoved aside time and time again. Goutman stated in a now-famous interview that he just knew what fans wanted without reading a single piece of mail from them. His arrogance was that fans would love whatever he put out there on the screen. I totally expect the last week to be all Janet, all the time, every storyline. Two nails.
Be objective, put your own likes/dislikes aside and develop the characters the audience wants to see. So I ask you, readers, what did you want to see? Did Goutman develop your favorite characters? I personally wanted more Tom and Margo, I wanted Reid to live and be with Luke, I didn’t want more Iris and Audrey, I didn’t want Janet with Dusty, I wanted more John and Lucinda (I would have given my kingdom for more scenes of them like we had this past week) and I wanted no Gabe, no Hunter, no ruined Adam, no Mick, and no ruined Damian. Goutman sure didn’t give me what I wanted to see. Nail number three.
Talk to your actors; who knows the character better than the actor? I think Ellen Dolan could have given Goutman an earful about her character and what Margo should have been doing the last 3-4 years. So could a bunch of other actors. And I have to mention how much I laughed when Michael Park, Maura West, and Julie Pinson thanked Goutman as part of their Emmy-winner speeches. I could not believe there was a droplet of sincerity in their thanks; the words were those of an employee thanking their employer as an example of their hopes of impressing any future employers (“see how nice I can be towards anyone who hires me, even idiots like show-killer Goutman?”). But that was JMO. That’s the fourth nail.
Don’t change a core character. Give them edges and logical reasons to change, but if the audience says, “he would NEVER do that,” then you failed. Failed, Mr. Goutman. FAILED. Jack would have never done that, Dusty would have never done that, Emma would have never done that, Lucinda would have never done that, Barbara would have never done that–well, you get the picture. Goutman gets nail five.
Build new characters slowly; it takes 6 months to a year for the audience to care about a new character–don’t shove them down the audience’s throats. What’s this down my throat, Mr.G? Why, it’s Gabe, and Janet, and Iris, and all those others you shoved and shoved and shoved. The ONLY character in the last 3 years that you shoved down our throats who was any good at all was Reid Oliver, and look what you did to him. Six nails.
If staff changes are in order, promote from within, with people who know the show. Don’t fire anyone for 6 months. And remember good soap opera is not rocket science, it’s telling stories, and telling them well. The seventh nail. (To echo her comments, he NEVER, absolutely NEVER should have hired Ellen Wheeler as producer, especially after what she did to Guiding Light during its last 2 years on the air. To put it more succinctly, as soon as he hired her, the axe fell on ATWT).
Had Mr. “I’m proud I killed ATWT” Goutman actually followed these rules; the show would still be on the air.
The biggest mistake Goutman made was not utilizing the amazing talent that is Eileen Fulton, who played daytime’s first official “bitch”. During the last 10 years or so, Eileen implored to Goutman to either kill her character off or get her married to a rich prince and send them off of the show blissfully happy. Goutman wouldn’t do it.
Honestly, considering that Eileen and Chris did NOT get along at all and hated each other, I don’t understand why Goutman would not want to honor Eileen’s wishes. I think it was his intention to make her as miserable as possible during her last 5 to 10 years on the show. The only decent thing he did for her was give her a 50th Anniversary show. But then, in the very last episode which aired yesterday afternoon, he used Eileen as Lisa as an “extra” in John and Lucinda’s scene in which they took up residence in Lisa’s hotel. What an absolute waste of talent.
From what I’ve read in the comments on another site, having found out that Lisa Brown (ex-Iva) did not want to come back because of the horrible shape that the show was in tells me one thing……..the show was in worse shape than I originally thought.
As for Martha Byrne (ex-Lily), I really thought it was classy of Noelle Beck to offer to step down as Lily Snyder so that the show could hire Martha back for the show’s final run. Goutman refused and took Noelle off-contract and put her recurring for the last 4-5 months of taping. Quite honestly, I’m actually in a weird way sort of glad that he didn’t do it because Martha would have given him holy hell for the way that he destroyed the character of Lily after she left the show………….then again, perhaps that would have woken Goutman up and made him see the litany of his mistakes and transgressions that he did during the last years of the show.
Now as one last issue that I have to take with Mr. “I’m proud I killed ATWT” Goutman is the killing off of Dr. Reid Oliver, one of the most refreshing and pleasing new characters to ever have been created recently in daytime. He did a huge disservice to the shows huge GLBT following by completely destroying the shows only three gay characters, Luke, Noah, and of course Reid. Reid was a multi-layered, three dimensional character while Chris Hughes was so one dimensional and a character that no one was rooting for and for Goutman to force this so-called “relationship” between Chris and Katie down our throats was an absolute insult to the fans’ intelligence.
There was no chemistry between Chris and Katie. I can think of one character that SHOULD have been killed off who had only been with the show less than 4 months and who’s heart Chris should have gotten and that would have been Gabriel. The whole storyline of Gabriel being Craig’s son so close to the end of the show’s run was dumb and unnecessary.
What would have worked really well was having Craig’s other son that died, Bryant, actually turn up very much alive and well (but I digress). That would really have given Jon Lindstrom (Craig Montgomery) some meaty material to work with. No disrespect to the actor who played Gabe (Ben Levin), but this was a huge and calculated mistake on Goutman’s part.
Having said that, Goutman should have killed off Gabriel and been the one to donate his heart to Chris Hughes, not Dr. Reid Oliver. Having said all of that, I do have one huge compliment to pay. Van Hansis (Luke) gave the performance of his young career during those three days in which we saw Reid die and donate his heart to Chris Hughes (Van had better get himself an Emmy nod AND an Emmy for the work he did during that week). I’m sure that all of you like me were bawling and sobbing our heads off during those scenes. I knew that Reid was going to be killed off but I was not prepared for the emotional impact that it had. I must’ve gone through a half of a box of tissues in that episode alone.
Lastly, before I close, I have to take issue with Bernie's defense of a psychopathic show killer like Goutman. I don't know how you can look at yourself in the mirror Bernie every morning and justify the insulting comments made in your defense of Goutman or better yet, sleep at night. I hope that all of these comments and the huge number of us vilifying you for defending Goutman seep into your dreams and haunt you for the rest of your life. Perhaps while you were writing this, you were doped up on something.........God only knows. May the soap gods have mercy on your pathetic soul Bernie. Perhaps it is time for you to retire your keyboard and step away from daytimeconfidential for good. I for one really don't want to see that ugly mug of yours and your rantings any longer. You should be ashamed of yourself.............oh wait, you can't........you're too self absorbed!
25 March 2010
2 years 30 weeks
So I have read all the comments and rebuttals to date. I think that matealestlmo is 100% on the mark about the state of ATWT and what wasn't done by the current regime - thanks for you comment, the last paragraph was pure passion, but as for soap Gods and mirrors I have no answer.
The bottom line is that this was the last week of a 54 year old institution that Bernard says that he has at least a 28 - 37 year connection with, I go back just a bit further than Chuckie Shea, but not much, I hope for more. I would hope that anyone with a modicum of tact and understanding would have waited a until this body was cold to begin such a dialogue. The fans are angry and heartbroken over the loss of their show - and anyone with as lengthy and as close a connection to ATWT should understand this. During a time of grief there is anger and CG is as good a target as anyone.
Let the fans have their finale, and let it settle. Bernard hadn't even seen the final episode - which was lacking in so many ways - before seeming to extoll all the things CG did right. This week we are allowed to be unhappy if we choose and to vent about all the things we should have seen yet didn't. I gave CG the chance to do right by this amazing show and I don't think he did. I've invested nearly 40 years in ATWT and the EP who gave us Janet, Blackie and Uncle Ralphie in in last weeks can take some crap if I choose to fling it.
If Bernard really has a deep seeded need to defend CG, and he has every right, then come back in a week or two and post these articles. But until then, I think most fans would have liked for you to keep it to yourself. This isn't the Washington Post or Fox News - DC isn't here to burst bubbles or create controversy. At least I didn't think that was the point of this site. This is supposed to be a page for soap fans, and during a time when the epitome of landmark television is leaving the airwaves after more than half a cnetury, please show some sensitivity to the fans at large before the explosive conversations begin. There is plenty of time to allow for this dialogue in the future and to give everyone a chance to voice opinions on CG's handling of the show. I've never said he was 100% wrong at all times, but I have said that after being open to the creative teams decisions I am pretty disappointed, and there is no going back.