Well, I couldn't do nothing
I know it won't make a difference, and likely no one will actually read it, but I just sent a self-indulgent, ridiculous email to the people in charge over at ABC and One Life to Live.
Hello,
My name is Lois Anne Crooks, I'm a twenty-eight year old woman currently living in North Carolina.
I just wanted to take a few minutes to sit down and express my concerns and a little bit of heartache over the news that One Life to Live was dropping the Kyle Lewis and Oliver Fish storyline and letting Brett Claywell and Scott Evans go.
I am not a fan of soap operas, generally. I've just never given them a chance, or really had much patience for the sub parr acting and over the top drama that seems to be a general rule for the majority of soaps. However, back in August, a friend of mine linked me to a Youtube video of the August 6th episode featuring Kyle and Oliver's first onscreen kiss and I immediately started watching. I guess you could say I'm a straight ally, I make it a point to support gay-friendly media so it wasn't a surprise that I started watching. What absolutely took me by surprise was how well-written and superbly acted the storyline was. I'd just given up on As the World Turns for their abysmal treatment of the Luke and Noah characters and I was disheartened. But what I was watching was beautiful and touching and lovely. But more than that, I have been consistently floored by both Scott Evans and Brett Claywell, the way they give every scene everything they have, clearly leaving it all out there.
When I heard the news yesterday about the decision to drop the storyline, I will admit that I was heartbroken. They, both the characters and the actors, have brought me so much joy in the last seven months, and have given me a tremendous amount of hope for this civil rights struggle currently taking place. What a beautiful, ground-breaking thing it was to see such lovely intimacy between two grown men, how realistic and touching it was. What a gift to have been given, honestly. I will miss them in my life. But more than that I feel angry. Feel free to correct me, but I feel as though the network and the show caved to the homophobia of their "mainstream audience" and that makes me so sad and frustrated and just angry.
I won't be watching One Life to Live anymore after Scott and Brett have left because they were my reason for watching.
I have no illusions that my words will make a difference but I couldn't keep my mouth shut when I feel so sad, not only about losing something that has brought me so much joy but about what a huge step backwards this seems to have been.
If you've made it through this, thank you for indulging me and taking the time to read this.
Sincerely,
Lois Anne Crooks
I'm sorry if you're tired of me babbling about this.
Hello,
My name is Lois Anne Crooks, I'm a twenty-eight year old woman currently living in North Carolina.
I just wanted to take a few minutes to sit down and express my concerns and a little bit of heartache over the news that One Life to Live was dropping the Kyle Lewis and Oliver Fish storyline and letting Brett Claywell and Scott Evans go.
I am not a fan of soap operas, generally. I've just never given them a chance, or really had much patience for the sub parr acting and over the top drama that seems to be a general rule for the majority of soaps. However, back in August, a friend of mine linked me to a Youtube video of the August 6th episode featuring Kyle and Oliver's first onscreen kiss and I immediately started watching. I guess you could say I'm a straight ally, I make it a point to support gay-friendly media so it wasn't a surprise that I started watching. What absolutely took me by surprise was how well-written and superbly acted the storyline was. I'd just given up on As the World Turns for their abysmal treatment of the Luke and Noah characters and I was disheartened. But what I was watching was beautiful and touching and lovely. But more than that, I have been consistently floored by both Scott Evans and Brett Claywell, the way they give every scene everything they have, clearly leaving it all out there.
When I heard the news yesterday about the decision to drop the storyline, I will admit that I was heartbroken. They, both the characters and the actors, have brought me so much joy in the last seven months, and have given me a tremendous amount of hope for this civil rights struggle currently taking place. What a beautiful, ground-breaking thing it was to see such lovely intimacy between two grown men, how realistic and touching it was. What a gift to have been given, honestly. I will miss them in my life. But more than that I feel angry. Feel free to correct me, but I feel as though the network and the show caved to the homophobia of their "mainstream audience" and that makes me so sad and frustrated and just angry.
I won't be watching One Life to Live anymore after Scott and Brett have left because they were my reason for watching.
I have no illusions that my words will make a difference but I couldn't keep my mouth shut when I feel so sad, not only about losing something that has brought me so much joy but about what a huge step backwards this seems to have been.
If you've made it through this, thank you for indulging me and taking the time to read this.
Sincerely,
Lois Anne Crooks
I'm sorry if you're tired of me babbling about this.