I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Soap fans are the most loyal group I've ever seen. It doesn't matter what is happening on their soap. They will defend their favorite characters to the death. Unfortunately, soap fans can also be the scariest group of people you will ever come across. I've dealt with fans for years and have been freaked out by some of them. But my latest encounters on Twitter have me totally shocked and freaked out.
We all have issues with our shows and it's unrealistic to think that no matter who is writing or who the Exec. Producer is, we'll all go with whatever they dish out. Sure some viewers do, but I'm not one of them, and I've never been able to understand the ones who are. But as I said in a previous blog, they are a soap execs. dream viewer. TPTB don't have to worry about dealing with them because they're always happy. I am not one of those people, and I have been known for my "poison-pen" letters. But over the years, since I've been involved with different celebrities, there is one thing I have learned. It's OK to voice your opinion. I'm all for it. You can still give your opinion without coming across as rude. It's called constructive criticism. Unfortunately, I have come to realize that most people don't understand what constructive criticism is. It means expressing your opinion politely.
From what I have seen on Twitter, some "fans" haven't learned the concept of constructive criticism. They think it's OK to say whatever they want to the head writer of their show, and if the writer doesn't like it, tough--it's the writer's fault and the writer should get off Twitter if they can't take it. And Heaven forbid if the writer responds to them with the same rudeness and blocks them instead of taking the "fan's" rudeness. Like being on the internet makes it ok for the viewer to be rude, but if the writer is rude in return, the writer is to blame. Um...NO! To those people, I say GROW UP and take responsibility for your words/actions! It isn't ok to be rude to someone and then be offended when you get rudeness in return. And it most certainly won't get you anywhere with TPTB.
The worst case I've seen of this is the fans' reactions to Frank Valentini (@valentinifrank on Twitter) and Ron Carlivati (@carlivatiron on Twitter), Exec. Producer and Head Writer of "General Hospital", respectively. It's no secret that GH has been in trouble for years. The last regime under Exec. Producer Jill Farren Phelps and Head Writer Robert Guza, Jr. was a disaster! Even I stopped watching several times. What they did to some of my favorite characters was a travesty. OLTL and AMC were canceled in 2011, and GH was next on the chopping block. Enter Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati who literally turned OLTL around during their tenure. They have done the same for "General Hospital". Considering the huge mess they were left to deal with, I'm very impressed with what they've done in such a short time. First they had to clean up the mess left behind by Guza before they could do anything else. That took MONTHS! What they have done is nothing short of a miracle. So you will have to forgive me if I wonder what everyone's problem is. I mean seriously...do they not remember what the show was like just two years ago? The difference is like night and day. Is it that people don't know good writing when they hear it? Were they so brainwashed by Guza's writing that they honestly can't see (or hear) that what we have NOW is good writing? Mr. Valentini and Mr. Carlivati don't deserve the crap they've been getting from the fans. They're not even giving them a chance. It takes time to turn around a holy mess. You can't do it all at once. But for some reason, people seem to think it can be done. These shows are written in and taped in advance. It's a slow process. I have noticed that most of the people giving them a hard time are the ones who ONLY ever watched GH and not OLTL. Fans that used to watch OLTL or both OLTL and GH seem quite happy with them. The cast seems happy with them as well. I hope the viewers who are criticizing Mr. Valentini and Mr. Carlivati will learn to at least give them a chance. They seem to forget that it's thanks to them they still have a show to watch.
I would like to send my love, gratitude, and admiration to Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati. I was a fan of both of you from your time on "One Life to Live". You did amazing work then, and you continue to do so now on "General Hospital". You literally turned "General Hospital" around and made the show great again. I am loving the show more than I have in years. It is a credit to your guidance and writing. You are both extremely talented and know exactly what has to be done. Thank you from this grateful fan!
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