One Life to Live: Nelson Branco Weighs In On BE Boardroom Reveal

Still love Branco, but I could not disagree MORE with his assessment of last week's OLTL. I though it was all phenomenal, particularly Dorian's takeover of BE. Sure, it had a slight air of camp to it, but this is Dorian we are talking about, not Jack Abbott, and I would not want Dorian acting any other way.

From the dialogue, to the acting, to the wardrobe, I thought the whole thing was just classic OLTL. Dorian's motivations to me also made perfect sense. She was not n love with Clint and was not in seeking revenge for a broken heart. She was doing it all to recoup her pride, and pride has always been the major motivation behind most of Dorian's schemes. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but its pride that always gets Dorian in the end. Of course she should have been tending to Adriana instead. But Dorian thought what she was doing at the shareholders meeting WAS helping Adriana as well as the other Cramers. So...yeah, totally disagree that Dorian's takeover of BE at the shareholders meeting was anything less than pitch perfect.

Then Nash's fall and death were just sooo touching. Kudos for FM for breaking my heart without saying a word on his death bed and kudos to BW for truly making believe she was a heartbroken young widow.

Okay I will step off my soap box now...

Dorian's outfit was perfect it felt like 80's soap to me !

Wow, Nelson really went off! I disagree with a lot of what he wrote though. Now, to be fair, I only watch OLTL on and off, so my perspective is one of an occasional viewer so that certainly makes a difference.

That said, I thought those scenes were AMAZING! It was good old Classic Soap: a world class B♥tch wrecking havoc, lots of OMG moments, one action having tragic, unforseen consequences (I love ripple effect storytelling!!), and tearjerking death! I was riveted!!

I didn't see Dorian as an Alexis Carrington Colby carbon copy at all. She was Over the Top, in the grand tradition of Daytime, Primetime and Film B♥tches (the Look At Me wardrobe comes with the job, honey ) These women push the envelope in what they do, but they're riveting and they drive story, that's why they're fascinating to watch. Nelson's on the money with Joan Crawford, since she's a great Cinema Viper, but the mention of Mildred Pierce and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane is curious (she had her moments in both films, but her characters were essentially victims in those pics.)

I also disagree with his assessment of Bree's performance. She's never been one of my faves but she rocked it!! Yes, she was a hysterical, blubbering mess and you know what, some people react that way during situations like that. Heck, I was a blubbering hysterical mess while I was watching it! I didn't see crocodile tears, I saw a woman coming undone. And it was a nice contrast. Everyone else was upset, crying, etc...but it was Jessica that was completely falling apart. It's exactly how she should play it.

I also disagree that it was clear that Jared murdered Nash. I think it was an accident. A horrible, senseless accident which makes it all the more Tragic.

But there are things I do agree with: I'm wondering why the police didn't pick up Jared, Rex IS indeed a cowardly tool, and I wasn't really seeing much from John Brotherton (Jared).

And one slight problem I had: I hate the fact that one of the last images of Nash I have in my head is him wagging his finger at Natalie. I mean, literally wagging his finger...a strange acting choice, imo.

But I loved these eps so much, I'm going to start watching OLTL every day now

I agree with everything you said, Daisy, and I am a longtime viewer. You put it perfectly about BW's performance as Jess. It just kind of boggles my mind that anybody else could not see that performance as great--it made me bawl, too, and I've cried maybe twice before in my life over a soap. Different strokes for different folks as they say, but I thought it was great stuff all around.

Sorry, Nelson, you're wrong this time regarding OLTL. Dorian was right on with the hat, classic, classic, b**tch. I cried, yes, I cried when Nash died,,heck, I even inhaled part of my soup. BW acted just the way real people do when their shocked at the unexpected death of a loved one, you're snotty, noisy and don't care what comes out of your mouth. OLTL was great last week, and the week before and week before that.

I think the only think I can agree with - because I thought the week went from camptastic to tragic with great skill, and with great perforances all around - is that I thought the production values were a little underwhelming.

The Palace Hotel conference room felt a bit empty, in terms of press and other stockholders, so it felt a bit hollow to hear 10 people reacting to all the drama. And also the window that Nash would know so intimately just didn't look like a window!

I actually think OLTL has some of the best production values of all the soaps, but in this case, I think it may have hampered the drama a bit. Otherwise, it was kudos all around!

I liked Nelson Branco, but I disagree with his statements about OLTL because it is the best soap on air right now. Dorian is being the baddest bitch ever and we are loving it. I wish other soaps would take note and make their women strong and take charge instead of being weak and respondent. I just wish the Y&R's Jill was like this or any other soap vixen should be.

siomonstuart2003

DaisyClover, you rock! What an excellent counter analysis of Nelson's report and right on the money, too.

I've already said my piece about the BE takeover and Dorian's channeling of both Alexis Carrington AND Joan Crawford's PepsiCo boardroom scene from Mommy Dearest. The whole shebang was great, including the fact that Dorian actually succeeded in her plot regardless of the consequences. What a rarity in daytime when someone's plotting actualy yields the prize they were looking to get!

Daisy answered all of Nelson's questions with one word: it was all about Dorian's pride. The Dorian *I* know is a ruthless woman when she feels she has been wounded to the quick, even when she knows she's wrong. Dorian Lord -- the one who will never relinquish that last name -- is desperate for standing and respect, no matter what the cost. Perhaps no other character on daytime displays such brittle vulnerability in the face of her own wounded ego, not even Stephanie Forrester, as does Dorian.

As for Rex, he may seem cowardly to some but my take on his actions during the board meeting and since then has been that he has been in as much shock as Bree, but on a different level and, as such, consumed with all that he had learned within the space of a few minutes. I thought he was in a state of shock and thus unable to function.

What I find most baffling is Nelson's dislike of the BE shenanigans given his professed love for the soaps of the 80's (a period that is becoming way over sentimentalized, in my opinion). The earthquake and the aftershocks that followed was 80's soap plotting at its purest. In fact, it was OLTL 80's soap plotting at its purest! Now I do agree with DSRBROADWAY that the production values were unusually chintzy given OLTL's stellar reputation, but it didn't detract from the drama for me once I got over that plastic dummy falling in front of Rex & Gigi.

Count me among those who thought BE Takeover Week was great soap opera all around. Despite the plastic dummy.

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THE EDGE OF NIGHT: 2008 - Hi-Octane Version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA5DbWdX8IA

ABC DAYTIME ROCKS!!!

Nelson you were totally wrong with your article on OLTL! RC worked his magic and showed us the Dorian that we haven't seen in a while. Dorian walking into that shareholders meeting (with the hat) was priceless! She showed everyone that she was the queen b*cth and that everyone should bow down to her. Dorian outing Jared before he could say anything was priceless, even Pamela's outing of Jared was great. As a lifelong OLTL viewer, and it being Dorian, if Asa was still alive I think he whould have choked her alongside Clint.

Nash's rage against Jared and Natilie was acceptable. Anyone in that situation whould have reacted that way. FM's death scene was tragic and outstanding. His interaction with Bo, Sarah, Clint and Vicki was touching. His anger towords Jared and Natile was rightfully soo. His last time seeing Bree and learning that Jessica was pregnant was heartbreaking. Without saying a word he made me shed tears. I rank that death scene as the 3rd saddest/best death scene in OLTL history (#1 being Megan's #2 being Luna's). And BW's performance reflected how any other woman whould react to her husbands death. A history lesson was even recalled when a heartbroken Vicki reminded Clint that just like Joe, Nash whould never get to see his kids grow.

OLTL is the best soap in daytime. And if viewers are sick of their soaps and want to watch the best, it's OLTL!

ABCJunky73

Love branco but he's way off Carlivati didnt miss a beat last week.I loved the action leading up to nash's death and i loved the re ignited hatred between nat and jess.Bree williamson was on fire all week this was one of abc daytimes finest hours

Everything about that board meeting was classic Dorian. The suit. The hat. The 'tude. Head-to-toe diva. It was perfect.

I was an ocassional OLTL viewer until a few weeks ago when I completely gave up GH for OLTL. I have to say I both agree and disagree with Nelson's critique. I loved every minute of it but I too kept wondering how Dorian was going to ever be slightly redeemed for this and the incident with Charlie. I also thought the whole scene with Clint was completely out of character.

I definately agree with his assessment of Jess's anguish -- I found myslef wanting to FF through her scenes but yet didn't want to miss a minute of Nash's exit. I did love the whole scene with Natalie -- it was top-notch soap.

The writers do need to get moving on Rex/Gigi because I am this close to being a Gigi/Jared or Gigi/Brody fan if the story moves foward soon.

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http://www.tv.com/users/TVNerd95/profile.php

Well thanks DS9Sisko (btw, you are so right about the Joan Crawford/PepsiCo boardroom scene - classic)!! Though I have to say it was kerfuffles that made the great point about this really being about Dorian's pride. That is SO true!!

And I agree with pretty much all of the comments on here...this was great soap storytelling! This is the kind of stuff that's going to save the soap genre

Kerfluffles, my apolpogies for the wrong attribution. Thanks Daisy for the correction!

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THE EDGE OF NIGHT: 2008 - Hi-Octane Version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA5DbWdX8IA

I believe that everything was executed nicely. I would have preferred for Nash's death to be a little more grisly.

***///Living In The World Of Soaps Since 1985\\\***

I've just started watching OLTL, based on the consistently good comments it keeps getting on Daytime Confidential. So, I'm a new viewer, but IMO this show kicks butt :jawdrop:

Okay, those scenes with Dorian were a little campy, but woah - they were sooooo watchable! That crazy hat, the company takeover, the big "reveal" about Jared.

The blonde girl (Jess?) was kind of annoying when her hubby kicked the bucket (I haven't seen the episode after that, but she didn't really impress me yet).

All in all, with this storyline and the wedding, I'm one very happy new OLTL viewer.

http://maronemacaroni.blogspot.com

I'm wondering how Mr. Branco feels now about his assessment considering the last couple of days on the show. We've now seen Jared arrested (I'm not a huge fan, but I have to say I loved how he wouldn't let Nigel admit his culpability in the fraud), Rex stand up to Adriana and admit his own faults going into the marriage (great performances from JPL and MF), and Dorian showing her human side with those great scenes with Langston. In my mind, any problems you had with the execution last week are being resolved this week. In terms of storytelling, it isn't a sprint, it's a marathon getting to the more satisfying beats of a story.

And I believe Dorian did not do this because she loved Clint. I don't think she ever loved him, but he, at least in her mind or in reality, humiliated her by dumping her over what she saw as nothing. Does anyone think that Dorian Lord would take being humiliated lying down? And yeah, her revence was excessive, but Dorian IS excessive. It was in perfect keeping with her over-the-top personality. And the show in my mind did a great job of showing her humanity by talking to Mel and regretting her actions, plus her scenes with David after the fact where you could see her regret. It was never going to stop her, but showing that little bit of humanity keeps her from becoming a one-note cariacature.

And Jay, I have to say that I'm surprised that, as I've heard you say on the podcast more than once that your soap Bold and Beautiful can be campy, you'd find the boardroom scenes over-the-top. Yes, it was probably a little too campy for my tastes, but it only lasted a couple of days, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It deserved dramatic flair, because it was a big reveal that involved a great many stories. Dorian's outfit? Excessive, yes, but it's DORIAN FREAKIN' LORD. You need a little bling when you're planning hostile takeovers! What's wrong with a little Dynasty now and then on the soaps? That show was popular for a reason. And since I happened to watch an episode of B&B that involved locking Donna in a Mystic tan thing and turning her orange, I know that OLTL isn't doing anything any more excessive than B&B. Both shows are capable of greatness, but both of them never take themselves too seriously at times. That's what makes them top of their games right now.

And Bree Williamson's performance to me was reminiscent of what Tyler Christopher did last November during Nik's scenes with Emily's body, maybe with a bit more hysteria. Tyler was praised through and through for his performance, even by Mr. Branco as I recall, so what's the difference here? When you lose the love of your life, a little snot and tears and hysterics are going to happen. I was never a Jess and Nash fan, but even I got emotional over those scenes.