All My Children

[MouseWife]

Okay, so, I get the vibes around here not many people watch soaps. But, I do. And I have watched this one all of my life. Seriously. Well, since I was 5 years old.

If anyone is at all familiar with the shows storylines, they have been ground breaking.

Rape, abortion, inter-racial couples, AIDS, lesbians, and domestic abuse. I believe they were the first to cover all of these {I could be wrong about the rape but not sure...}.

Now they have a new never before on television storyline. While a lot of the show is cheeky, I am quite proud of it for doing this. I was impressed they had two women kiss and they aired it. {If I remember, it was an iffy thing}.

Well, the new story line is that there is a male rock star who is quite out there {as far as his feelings and finding them and how others affect his aura, etc.}. He is quite attracted to the character on the show who is a known lesbian. She is confused because when she let him kiss her, she felt quite attracted back.

So. Fridays cliffhanger~

Bianca has agreed to go out on New Years Eve with Zarf. {you gotta know who is who by those names, right?} She is totally excited because she is feeling things that have her wondering what is going on.

The doorbell rings. She opens the door to find Zoe~Zarfs alter ego. His female side. It seems he is a transexual and wants to undergo the surgery to make him in to a woman. Thus explaining why he is so drawn to her and her to him. But of course, the show ended as a cliffhanger {I read up on the spoilers on the website} and all we see is him at the door dressed as a woman.

I am so curious to see where this goes. Long term. I am proud of my show for going there.

It all may sound goofy but I am so interested in how the writers will make it all happen and if this character continues to be a woman or what.

Anyone else watching? Is this interesting enough of a storyline to make someone watch for the first time?

This show really does go there. When a male character 'came out' the storyline had his parents trying to 'cure' him. They deal with issues for all ages. Okay, lately they've had too many kid issues and not used enough of the veteran actors but....

Well, if anyone does start watching, let me know what you think.

It is on ABC at noon {here in S.D.} as well as on SoapNet 3 times a day and all five shows on the weekend.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Wait, Bianca grew up to be a lesbian?!

AMC is my mom's one and only soap opera. She records it religiously. I'm pretty sure it's why we had a VCR really really early when my parents are usually very late technology adopters. Accidentally preventing it from recording was the 8th deadly sin. When we helped her set up her new TiVo, AMC was the first thing set to record, and she literally giggled with glee.

So I grew up watching it by proxy, but lost touch once I went off to college. This last weekend, though, staying at my parent's place, my mom made sure to catch me up on most things (though she failed to mention the Bianca's gone lez!) Her take on Zarf is that she thinks the characters too flamboyant/caricature-ish to be taken seriously. S/he wasn't in the episode that was on while we were there, so I haven't seen him myself.

I just couldn't believe all those actors are still on the show. And when did Tad/Ted become a sausage?

Bianca's gay?!

[MouseWife]

hee hee...someone to fill in....:blush:

I can't recall the year but Bianca was outed by Greenlee when she was so jealous of the time Bianca was spending with her love interest, Leo. Greenlee used to be quite the jealous type and a brat and she outed her at the Christmas/New Years Eve Ball that used to be held at Wildwind {I think, it ws some soiree at WW}.

She did have love interests along the way, including a girl who was murdered but had a twin. Whom she left to France with. Only after being raped by a man who impregnated her and she hid the pregnancy...whew...there is a lot going on with that girl, ya know! She did kill the man who raped her, of course. And that was a big deal with everyone protecting her and saying they did it. Everyone loves Bianca.

Zarf, well, I guess your mom doesn't read the internet scoop pages. He was on a while back and is a bit flamboyant. He is into auras, feng shue {sp} and his feelings. I think he is taking hormone shots {or something} as the sneaks say they will find drugs in his motel room.

Yes so many are still on. You know Phoebe passed, I think last year. That was quite sad.

Myrtle is still on. I love her!! Funny how now she is with Palmer.

Tad. Ah, Thadeous J. Martin. Do you remember when he used to smoke pot? Well, anyways, the Hubster thinks he drinks. That would be the poufy look. I don't know. I met him in person at the Super Soap Weekend a few years ago and in person he was quite lean and sooo handsome. This was in '02 though, I think.

Oh,and if your mom doesn't know, that little girl that they found in the car accident? That is Tad and Dixies' Kate.

I love the 'angel priest' who comes around. I am not religious as a rule but I do love their take on it. Saving Tad. Who, it seems, did kill Greg Madden. The angel helped to bring him back by telling him his Father would never give up on him. Not in my bland words but really touching words that went with his and I loved it.

Ah, yes, the reason to get a VCR. AMC is the reason I don't cut off my digital cable....I can watch it at noon or 8 p.m. or at 7 a.m. in the morning. Or all day Sunday {I think...} when I am out of town all week.

:snap: :snap: to your mom.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Zarf, well, I guess your mom doesn't read the internet scoop pages. He was on a while back and is a bit flamboyant. He is into auras, feng shue {sp} and his feelings. I think he is taking hormone shots {or something} as the sneaks say they will find drugs in his motel room. Oh, she knows. She just thinks that it would have been better if the character were less over the top and sterotypical.

[Strangler Lewis]

No AMC man here. I was into Days for a while in the '80s and Passions around 2000 when I was doing daily child care.

However the name "Zarf" strikes a chord. My seventh grade general language teacher would put daily vocabulary words on the board every morning. Zarf was the first word on the first day of school. (Strigil was the second.)

[CoasterMatt]

Zarf just makes me think of Pinky from Pinky and the Brain... Poit! Narf!

[MouseWife]

That would be the one thing that sort of bugs me. That he has to be so over the top. But, I think that is adding to his storyline. If you noticed, they had him lurking around the garage when Babe felt someone was following her. His shoes sounded like the footsteps following her. The things he says and the drugs will be a lot against him. I wonder when he'll come around.

I am disappointed in the way they use the actor who portrays 'Del'. Isn't he the one who also was involved with Maria years back? He wasn't such an airhead horny jock. Sure, he has a body they love to show {isn't that manor cold???} but they make him look stupid. I don't recall the Del being so stupid and also, he wasn't so young, was he?

So, your mom knows Brooke is leaving {so I've read}, Janet is coming back and Barbara {Travis' wife} is also coming? Interesting. I totally forgot how the kid Sean came to be.....

[MouseWife]

No AMC man here. I was into Days for a while in the '80s and Passions around 2000 when I was doing daily child care.

However the name "Zarf" strikes a chord. My seventh grade general language teacher would put daily vocabulary words on the board every morning. Zarf was the first word on the first day of school. (Strigil was the second.)

Zarf is a word?!

I used to watch 'Days' before AMC. Also Edge of Night. I can't believe I can remember thsoe things but I can't for the life of me remember relevant things....:rolleyes:

[Cadaverous Pallor]

My mom - Days of our Lives and Another World. Over summer vacations I'd get into it, but as soon as I hit high school my soap gene vanished and has yet to reappear. Seeing some of AMC at GD's mom's reaffirmed this for me. The storylines are so....well....you can see examples of such in this thread. :)

[MouseWife]

It is true, some topics are just ignorable. My sister and I have watched together, either in person, over the phone, or via internet, forever.

For a time we lived together and we would get bottles ready for the babies and sit and rock them to sleep during the show. I know my kids must have recognized the song from in-utero. That and the theme from Dallas. :D

But, over the many many years we do recognize storylines being recycled. :rolleyes:

[Not Afraid]

When I did watch soaps, it was always the ABC ones that got my attention. My Mom was a GH fan and I can probably tell you more about that show than any of the others. Although, when story lines or characters come to mind, it always seems to be from OLTL. I've gone through phases with watching them but work life and a habit of not turning the TV on has interrupted that.

ALB
OLTL
GH
The 3:30 Movie

Now, that was a way to waste an afternoon!

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I realized I'm glad I don't like soaps because at some point I plan on being home with a child. Seems I may get housework done ;) though with a Tivo it's probably moot.

[MouseWife]

I realized I'm glad I don't like soaps because at some point I plan on being home with a child. Seems I may get housework done ;) though with a Tivo it's probably moot.


When they were babies, if the timing were right, I would sit and watch the soap. But, mostly, I do chores while watching. I can hear the t.v. from the kitchen, etc. With Soapnet, I don't have to tape it I just have to watch it when I can. If I can't, that is what the internet sites are for.

Something my sis and I did when the kids were under one; we did get annoyed with our addiction to the soaps. We would load the kids up in their strollers and take them for walks. And, there have been long episodes where I haven't watched.

But I still do.

Oh CP! Don't think if you watch a soap & have kids you are able at all to sit and enjoy it!!! Man, I am lucky they have previews for the next days show because to me it summarizes the show. So, if that last 5 minutes is all I get, I still know something. And, I always listened to the kids over any show/phone call/visitor. So, there are {yike!} thousands of shows I probably just had bits and pieces of.

You know, like background music? You pick up on things that are of interest.

[MouseWife]

Now, that was a way to waste an afternoon!

No kidding!

If I allowed it, the t.v. could be on all freakin' day. Starting off with music videos to work out by. Then the Travel Channel for seeing what is out there. Then The Price is Right. Then two soaps {Y & R then AMC}. Next up on PBS is Doug Houser {not his name but it sounds like that} who travels around CA and I love that show {but now can't seem to find it}. Then more more more. Ellen, Oprah, the news, more news, more news, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, then whatever is on t.v. Winding it up with Leno.

But, thank God, I don't do that.

I turn on the radio, put on cd's or the iPod and that keeps me moving instead of getting in to a program.

Now, I take the Boy to school at noon so no soap at that time. The 8 o'clock show is iffy, it is nicer to be out doing something. I do try and catch the 7 a.m. show while I eat my breakfast.

But I still love AMC.

[lizziebith]

Days got me through grad school. I liked Another World too... but Days was just the amount of insane I needed back then. One actress was playing 5 or 6 roles IIRC...two males, a crazy nun, triplets...


Actually, quite a few in my class watched it! A few of us even went to a Days Brunch. :blush:

[MouseWife]

I didn't watch Days at that time but I do know the actress, I think. Isn't it the one who plays Ashley on Y & R? What a trip how they do that and have the characters have multiple personalities.

Or was she playing different people, not personalities?

[Jughead P. Jones]

As a 25-year-old male, I admit I watch Y&R...it's more realistic than some of the other ones out there (coughcoughpassionscoughcough)

I've never seen All My Children...but admittedly, it's the first storyline I've seen of that caliber.

[MouseWife]

I also dabble in Y & R. Got into it in high school, back when Paul was young and still a detective sort of guy. He was investigating some sort of commune.

Anywho, yep, AMC breaks ground. Their abortion show was b-i-g. The AIDS one also, a female character had gotten it from a drug user husband. Domestic abuse. Oh, all of that. But what I like is that they don't hide the story lines, meaning, they bring them to a head when everyone might be home to watch and learn something.

I really think there is a lot that can be learned from the shows. If they are written well.

What do you think about Jack and Sharon? Or do I just grimace because I've been watching Jack for eons? {Peter Bergman}

[Strangler Lewis]

Zarf is a word?!

I used to watch 'Days' before AMC. Also Edge of Night. I can't believe I can remember thsoe things but I can't for the life of me remember relevant things....:rolleyes:

Zarf (as defined by Mr. Glidden): an ornamental hot coffee cup holder.

I enjoyed Days when it was still mostly about desperate middle aged people, before it seemed to all be about college aged secret agents and other silliness.

[MouseWife]

When I was younger, even the high school kids were too goody for me.

I enjoyed the characters who were a bit racey and didn't listen to their mothers. :D

Hmm. Zarf.

I don't think I can incorporate it into my vocabulary. Too close to barf.
But thanks for the definition. :snap:

[Jughead P. Jones]

What do you think about Jack and Sharon? Or do I just grimace because I've been watching Jack for eons? {Peter Bergman}


Honestly, I can't stand them as a couple...but individually, they're very strong personalities...I would like to see the Sharon/Brad thing explored some more though...that seemed like a land mine waiting to go off. :D

[MouseWife]

Oh good. I couldn't help thinking it was just me being an angry woman. You know, older guy, woman young enough to be his daughter. Or younger! And that she is, in this case, real and he I don't think is. I think he makes him feel really good to be with the wife of the man who has his ex-wife, ya know?

Oh, if I looked like Sharon, I'd hook up with the Adonis Brad. I saw him at Legoland {years ago} and he is perfect {in appearance}.

[Jughead P. Jones]

Oh good. I couldn't help thinking it was just me being an angry woman. You know, older guy, woman young enough to be his daughter. Or younger! And that she is, in this case, real and he I don't think is. I think he makes him feel really good to be with the wife of the man who has his ex-wife, ya know?

Oh, if I looked like Sharon, I'd hook up with the Adonis Brad. I saw him at Legoland {years ago} and he is perfect {in appearance}.

Okay...you can have Brad, and I'll take Victoria. :D

[MouseWife]

Oh, this Victoria is beautiful. She was on AMC before. The previous Victoria was pretty but this one, well, she almost looks too pretty to be a Newman. ;)

[Strangler Lewis]

The previous Victoria was pretty but this one, well, she almost looks too pretty to be a Newman. ;)

Hello, Newman.

[MouseWife]

I am hearing that a la Seinfeld. :D

I had a thought. GD said his Mom used to watch AMC....Did she trip on your hooking up with a Jenny? Did she say 'Don't ever let her jetski!!?

Just curious.