Paula's Soapbox

Earlier today  Soap Opera Digest  posted a press release from The Online Network, the future home of All My Children and One Life to Live. The release states that production for both shows will begin on February 25th. They will air sometime this spring.  As previously reported the following actors have been confirmed to re-join AMC:  Lindsay Hartley (Cara) Vincent Irizarry (David) Thorsten Kaye (Zach) Jill Larson (Opal) Cady McClain (Dixie) Debbi Morgan (Angie) Jordi Vilasuso (Griffin) Darnell Williams (Jesse) In addition  ABC Soaps in Depth   is reporting that David Canary (Adam/Stuart) is coming back and that Susan Lucci (Erica) will re-join for one episode.  The following actors have signed on for OLTL: Melissa Archer (Natalie) Nick Choksi (Vimal) Kassie DePaiva (Blair) Josh Kelly (Cutter) Florencia Lozano (Tea) Kelley Missal (Danielle) Sean Ringgold (Shaun) Erika Slezak (Victoria) Hillary B. Smith (Nora) Robin Strasser (...

Let me preface this by saying that I really, really wanted to like this film. In fact I was certain I would after watching the trailer. Aside from the talented cast of former soap stars and veteran actors, the premise of the film seemed fresh, funny, and original, a rarity by today's standards. The problem with Excuse Me for Living is that it feels unfinished. Watching it was a little like looking at a puzzle that's incomplete. All of the pieces are there, but no picture has been formed. Most of the characters needed more depth. There were glimpses of this throughout the film but nothing ever really materialized. For instance, I needed a better reason for Dan's (Tom Pelphrey) drug use than the fact that his friends got him hooked. In addition I did not find it believable that his friends would purposely keep him addicted to drugs out of sheer jealousy. I think the story would have been better served if Dan had just been an overindulged celebrity, whose drug problem was fu...