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Things Get Ugly for All My Children's Fusion
Rebecca Budig by Steve Fenn/ABC
I think I'm gonna like this guy. All My Children's new head writer, Chuck Pratt — whose work officially hits the air Aug. 27 — has a big problem with Fusion, the soap's hopelessly dopey cosmetics corporation. You know, the all-girl firm where no work seems to get done but there's a stripper pole and disco lights? "It took me three weeks to figure out what they actually do at Fusion and that Greenlee [Rebecca Budig] and Kendall [Alicia Minshew] run the place," says Pratt.
The solution? Pratt will take a cue from Ugly Betty, where he previously served as a consulting producer. "I'm going to blast into Fusion and make it a real workplace," he says. "We're going to get into the drama of office politics. We'll see what it's like for the poor assistants and underlings when two spoiled rich girls are in charge." — Michael Logan
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Jul 23, 2008 1:08 PM
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For as much as I love Susan Lucci, I was never a true fan of ABC's All My Children . Also, I cannot recall a time when I actually watched one full episode of this show in its entirety.
However, that may all change now. Bringing Charles Pratt, Jr. on board as the new head writer is the best thing to happen this show in a long time. This gentleman can really write juicy stories. He is certainly not a complete stranger to daytime.
He penned great stories for the defunct Santa Barbara, and I am so glad he is no longer co-head writer for that mob-related soap opera, which by the way does not deserve any of the Emmys it has won over the years for best show that also on ABC.
I can only hope, wish, and pray that Mr. Pratt will give All My Children a huge improvement that this show desperately needs. I read his interview in Soap Opera Digest, and I may just have to tune in to AMC once Labor Day nears.
Too bad that Cady McClain's character Dixie was killed off a few years ago. I am sure Pratt would not have had this happen, but I do look forward to what he has in store for the fabulous Ms. Lucci--how about another Emmy win
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Jul 23, 2008 2:39 PM
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The more I hear about Pratt's plans, the more excited I become! To borrow a line from Peppermint Patty, "Bring it on, Chuck!"
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Jul 23, 2008 4:26 PM
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Doesn't he know that Pine Valley has no poor residents? Besides the characters of Greenlee and Kendall should not actually be reduced to "spoiled rich girls". That's all they are now. We need to see grown women who know how to do business and who conduct it in a business like manner. The problem with AMC is that the women are depicted as high schoolers and not the strong women that once roamed the Valley.
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Jul 23, 2008 4:51 PM
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I think Chuck will be great for AMC.
James and Barbara tried their best and they have done some good work but the show isn't firing on all cylinders and I think Frons like the fans were getting tired of waiting.
Megan McTavish created the mess known as Fusion. James and Barbara didn't know what to do with it. I hope Chuck can.
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Jul 23, 2008 5:30 PM
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I think instead of totally focusing on his character, Taylor, as Mr. Pratt seems to want to do given his recent interviews both here and in Soap Opera Digest, he needs to focus on the current characters on the canvas and learn the actual history of the show and characters. Kendall is NOT a spoiled rich girl and her employees are NOT poor and put upon. Does Fusion need to be made more professional? Yes, but the current "poor and put upon" staff are anything but that.
Does Mr. Pratt know the amount of work that Kendall and Greenlee have put into Fusion? Did Mr. Pratt bother to go back and watch how Kendall refused to be driven out of business by the Satin Slayer? How Kendall held that company together?
How is the staff "poor" and put upon? Amanda has several million dollars, Annie has access to Ryan's money and Babe has access to JR's money. Nevermind the unprofessional behavior the staff constantly exhibits. Annie decides she needs to take time off and she can because she's Spike's stepmother. Babe whines about being under-appreciated and not getting stock options TWO days after Kendall and Greenlee risked their lives to save her's. All three of the "poor and put upon" staff acted like whiney brats in front of the Self editor visiting Fusion's offices. Annie deliberately tried to sabotage Fusion during a presentation to potential clients. The Fusion staff should be FIRED by Kendall and Greenlee.
If Mr. Pratt wants to make Fusion more professional, terrific. But he needs to know that the problem is NOT Kendall and Greenlee. The problem has been the writing for AMC that shows a definitive misogynistic bent towards women.
Reading Mr. Pratt's recent interviews, I'm not impressed so far. Stop thinking Taylor/Jake are going to be your supercouple, Mr. Pratt, and pay more attention to who's already on the show and truly get to know them first. Right now, we're invested in those characters, not some newbies.
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Jul 23, 2008 6:21 PM
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although pratt comes with a body of work to justify his reputation, i think fusion is the least of pine valley's story problems. i mean, if we're going to play that game, jack has a practice that evolves solely around his family members' legal woes. even his partner got bored and left town! jr is running chandler ent, again? he tanks it every time which isn't surprising because he has no qualifications. and what does ryan do since he gave back cambias? jesse as top cop? because he was such a great rookie when he got himself abducted and his death faked by bad guys (they weren't even mobsters for pete's sake!)? then he gets discovered still alive by mr pi, tad who was tripping over the daughter he was searching for. adam has his hand in everything in town, but never leaves his mansion. erica goes to jail and not only defies the dress code with her little under shirts and pumps, but does her tv show from behind bars? yeah, let's fix fusion and make it a real work environment. the best part of fusion is the non work interactions! however, feel free to close down confusion because really, a bar downstairs from a major cosmetics company and a bar that is tied to the company? sure, we've all heard of revel on, the bar downstairs from the revlon hq! the only one in town who actually works and is qualified for the work they do is opal and her glamorama.
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Jul 23, 2008 6:23 PM
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Excuse me Mr. Pratt but two "spoiled rich girls" are not only in charge of Fusion but they own the freaking business. I would say they could run it any way they damn well please! Kendall gave Babe, Amanda and even Annie jobs when others wouldn't touch them so I'm not getting warm and fuzzy feelings for Mr. Pratt's ideas.
I am also already sick of Jake/Taylor being shoved down my throat. I don't know Ms. Ehlers work because I never watch GL but don't tell me these two are going to be a supercouple before I even see them together. Let me make my own decision.
AMC fans have been tormented by bad writing for the last 3 years and I'm not expecting anything better from this one especially after reading his plan to "save" AMC.
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Jul 23, 2008 7:08 PM
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Fans are worn out right now from the roller coaster ride they have been on for the last 3 years. There are some excellent characters on the show and fantastic actors that play them. I would like to see some consistent writing from someone that knows their history and writes them in character. We have had way too many plot driven stories. As for Fusion; there is only one “spoiled rich girl” that owns Fusion and it is not Kendall. Kendall had to work for everything she has. She lived with an adoptive family and came to Pine Valley and worked to make Fusion the successful company that it is. ABC has even promoted their products. The pole dancing and disco lights can go, in fact I didn’t want to see them in the first place but before Kendall is lumped into that “spoiled rich girl” category someone needs to read Kendall’s bio. She is the heart and soul of Fushion and treats her employees much better than they deserve at times.
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Jul 23, 2008 10:47 PM
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GREENLEE!!! I love Rebecca Budig, I wish she would have been able to do something else when she quit AMC. I would watch her on anything, except this. Since I graduated college and got a real job, I don't have time for a daily soap anymore.
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Jul 24, 2008 11:29 AM
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It was nice to see that I am not alone in my thoughts where Fusion is concerned. Having two of the shows women being reduced to "Spoiled Rich" girls is not what woman want to see or what we need to see. We need to see the women be written more like real women of substance and not a couple of bubbleheaded brats who obsess over men who aren't worth it or treat their employees like "toys". I'm also not impressed with Pratt's "plan" to recycle Ugly Betty on AMC.
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Jul 24, 2008 1:17 PM
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I too am not getting my hopes up with Pratt taking over. Fusion is not and should not be the main focus of AMC. Although when it is shown there should actually be people working! And I am also already sick and Taylor and Jake and they are not even on yet. I think it's a big mistake to put 2 people together just because they were a couple on another show. It doesnt guarantee that they will be a good fit on AMC! They should put Jake with Amanda and give that talented beautiful actress a friggin story line already and stop bringing in new people!
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Jul 25, 2008 11:28 AM
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I guess Pratt still does not get it. WE ARE BORED WITH FUSION!!! Less would be much better. I have to DVR AMC, the show gets done in 10 to 14 minutes now.
**This just really irked me-Erica wearing an orange outfit the day she is released from prison. Wasn't Susan Lucci's Erica wearing orange for months and 4 inch heels too boot. Horrible wardrobe decission.**
Cameron Matheson is boring-just terrible acting. Why re-hash Ryan and Greenlee? I just don't get why they are putting them back on the front burner again. Rehashing the stories makes for boring TV. JMO thanks for letting me vent.
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Jul 25, 2008 9:14 PM
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Well, I have to admit that the Rylee reunion is the only thing I have been looking forward to. Call me crazy, but he has been the next best with Greenlee since Leo (even though, Leo and Greenlee were definitely better). I liked the chemistry with Greenlee and Aidan, when Sabine was playing Greenlee. I find that Rebecca has way better chemistry with Cameron. lol-I like Cameron. I don't know why so many people hate him. Fusion can die for all I care. That place is just an excuse to get all the bickering females together. O, and they really need to get someone for Jackson. Someone who truly appreciates him. I mean seriously, all this pining over Erica. He's too good for her. She doesn't appreciate him at all. Case and point is that pathetic scene of a triangle between Erica, Samuel, and Jackson. She got him a stapler? Ugh, that pissed me off. He needs someone who is going to be just as loyal as him as he has been to Erica. Just let it go. If they were a super couple before, they aren't one now. Get rid of Annie, because she went from too normal to absolutely psychotic. It seems to be the pattern when they want to get rid of someone on AMC, so just get it over with already. O, the constant Jr. trying to out maneuver Adam is so played out already too. I know Adam is an a@#, but Jr is an ungrateful spoiled idiot who doesn't have a clue or the smarts to play that game. Adam will always win between them two. Break up Tad and Krystal. I don't think anyone one buys into them as a couple, or for that matter even likes them together. lol, I could go on. I suddenly felt I needed to vent too. I'm not getting my hopes up about Mr. Pratt being a saving grace for AMC, but I wouldn't mind at all if he proved me wrong.
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Jul 26, 2008 3:55 AM
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There was so much to like about All My Children for awhile before these new characters arrived in town. It seems they have yet to capture their story lines for love in the afternoon. I hope that the adrenaline for interest picks up because it used to be something during lunches while at work in the eighties and early nineties.
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Jul 26, 2008 8:15 PM
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