Precious Things on TPTB of ONE LIFE TO LIVE and Raising the Ratings with RH

Why I Think TPTB Would Be Wise To Bring Roger Howarth Back

...and other things I think will help ratings.

 

 

Now, I know that ratings are not as high on any soap as they once were.  Times have changed and women aren't as frequently home in the early afternoon.  They are working or are back in school to further their education in hopes of a more fulfilling job, or they're off running errands.  Some may watch via recording on DVR, or via Soapnet, or right here on the Internet, but hope should NOT be lost.  I feel very strongly that soaps can rise again!  Most importantly at the moment I am speaking of One Life To Live.

 

I am obviously a One Life To Life fan and a HUGE Roger Howarth as Todd Manning fan.  So, as the title states, a big part of what I think will strongly help bring forth an upswing in ratings for our beloved soap is bringing Roger Howarth back to Llanview and welcoming him back into the fold.  Roger Howarth is an amazing talent that will be very much helpful not just throughout the imposter storyline, but throughout future storyline and will continue to be a big help in raising ratings!

 

I am personally very much in hopes of seeing a very well written imposter storyline played out with Roger Howarth returning to the role of Todd Manning and revealing TSJ as an imposter.  I know that TSJ fans are not in favor of this idea and some say that they would leave if he were to exit the role of Todd.  But, not only do I think that TSJ fans will stick around if the imposter storyline is well written BUT I also think that we will regain many viewers that have dropped off in recent years, AND I believe that if this story is handled in a big way (like I think it should be), we will also gain additional viewers who have been pulled in by friends or simply the buzz that will inevitably start to hum loudly between fellow employees at work, moms at parks or during play dates, fellow students, and around the web. 

 

Buzz will begin for many reasons...returning viewers who are returning due to RH's return will feel the need to share their excitement with friends, they will not be able to keep themselves from talking about the return of the REAL Todd and everything that's going on in this huge imposter storyline, and how could it not be HUGE to have an actor that's been absent from the show and his character for so long return and reveal that the person that's been known to the whole town as Todd for years has in fact been an imposter, and no one even realized.  The REAL Todd will be returning even darker and more damaged than ever and will inevitably be angry that this imposter was so easily accepted by everyone.  Then of course there are all the possible love triangles that could pop up between RH/Blair/TSJ and RH/Tea/TSJ.  Loads of weirdness and uneasiness between Starr, Dani, and Jack.  Starr will obviously remember her father well, but it will be hard for her as TSJ has been there the past 7 years, and Jack won't remember his father as well so it will be very hard for him, and poor Dani is just beginning to accept TSJ as Todd is her father only to be finding out that Todd is her father but this man she's finally accepted isn't him at all.

 

How could anyone NOT be talking about that much drama going on?  And, that's not even to mention the fact that none of the marriages that happened after RH left would actually have been legal because it wasn't really Todd Manning saying "I do".

 

Another thing that will also be very helpful and will be huge for our show is that it will be the first time since 1997 that we have had Susan Haskell (Marty) and Roger Howarth (Todd) on screen together!  I don't think the writers should ever try and force them into a romantic relationship, but they SHOULD continue to be thrown into storylines at times by fate.  These two are wonderful actors and while I again say they should never be romantic...they are absolutely electric when onscreen together!  There is an undeniable chemistry that these two share, and any time they are together...whether they are fighting, or trying to push the memories down deeply enough to get through some instance in which one is trying to help the other...the viewer can not help but be completely captivated. 

 

Plus with the Real Todd and Marty once again being thrown together from time to time, we will once again get to revel in the fun rivalry that Blair has always felt with Marty.  It may have mostly been one sided (Blair just couldn't get along with Marty), but that never stopped them in the past and it won't stop them now either. lol

 

The Real Todd was dark and damaged...he over flowed with more love and hate and pain than a typical person could handle...he is a villain which obviously causes him to get into trouble at times and it's usually brought on by anger that starts to flow, or by insecurities BUT deep down he cares deeply for his family and while he may not always be quick to accept it or admit it he wants to rise above, he struggles with his desire to atone for his past and with the knowledge that some of those things (his history with Marty) can never be fully forgiven or forgotten. And, everything I've explain...it's been absent from our screens ever since Mr. Howarth has been absent from OLTL.  The Imposter Todd is so very different than the Todd I've described that his character (who will retain his 7 year history to whatever his new character is) wont really have to be written any differently, because they could never seem like the same character.  But, I feel very strongly that the Real Todd is a character we desperately need back in Llanview to kick things up a notch.

 

RH knows Todd inside and out and from things I have read about him I have total faith in his ability to not only stay true to his character but to also (upon his return) make sure that the writers go back to the real Todd and make sure that they also stay true to the character.

 

Finally, I hate to say...no news is good news...because it's kind of a stupid phrase usually but in this case it's true...I mean sure we haven't heard a 100% positive YES he's returning yet...BUT we also have not heard a 100% for sure NO either and that leaves us 100% hope.  I honestly think he will return...I'm not sure if everything has been signed yet or if he's begun filming, but not only do I think we would have heard something from Mr. Howarth's camp if it was a certain no, but I also think that...even though TPTB may have allowed some not so wonderful things to take place in Llanview in the past...I believe they want him back...they want to see an upswing in ratings and they want to see our show become all that it can be.

Precious Things posts regularly to her blog at Soap Opera Central. She is a screenplay writer and actress currently residing in Missouri, USA.