Soap Opera Digest
May 9th, 2000 - Volume 25, No. 19
Life Goes On
By: Unknown
THUMBS Up! and Down!
Best Of Show Or Worse For Wear?
DigestHands Out Blue Ribbons and Booby Prizes
THUMBS
UP!
ONE LIFE
TO LIVE
Life Goes On
It takes guts to do
something different on soaps. afraid of losing a crucial tenth of a ratings
point, producers and writers hesitate before stepping outside daytime's accepted
boundaries. But by focusing an entire episode on Viki's last day before breast
cancer surgery, ONE LIFE TO LIVE took a gamble that truly paid off.
The show already knew they had a winning storyline and a pitch-perfect
actress in Erika Slezak. But in an ambitious move, the powers-that-be went
further. By closing off all other plots, viewers were afforded an intimate,
slice-of-life glimpse at The Banner publisher's daily routine (which
ranged from an editorial staff meeting to dedicating a new park to watching her
kids horse around in the kitchen). Suddenly, Viki was like one of us, balancing
work and family.
Underscoring Viki's value to her community and family reminded viewers how
much she means to them -- and us -- and what a loss it will be if cancer claims
her. Watching Viki enjoy a "normal" day also reinforced the fact that her life
would be forever changed after surgery.
Although we worry about her, we believe (as does Viki, who ended the episode
softly speaking the lines she karaoked for Ben last year) that she will survive.
This episode was soap inspiration and innovation at it's best.
