As the World Turns - Luke and Noah (Videos)

[Brown Eyes]

Thanks for bringing my attention to this story, Daniel. Though The Young and the Restless was my soap back in my regular soap-watching days, I have seen As the World Turns from time to time, and it remains my aunt Carolyn's favorite daytime drama. But I had no idea of this exciting new storyline; I was aware of some daytime soap dealing with a lesbian character quite some time ago, but, apart from a guest appearance of RuPaul on, I believe, All My Children, I believe this is the first occasion for a gay male storyline to be dealt with in this genre. And a kiss, no less!

I think this is another solid illustration of the acceptance and even interest for lesbigay issues that has taken root in mainstream America. Boy, things sure have changed since when I was a kid! 

I'm not much of a soap opera watcher, but I do want to point out about All My Children... that yes, for several years now they've had a major lesbian character and she's actually a major figure in the cast.  She's Bianca, the daughter of Erica Kane/ Susan Lucci's character.  They've given her complex story-lines and she's had several lesbian relationships depicted. 

I don't follow it too closely, so I don't really know all the details and I can't really comment on how much I "approve" of their handling of her character.  But as a lesbian, interested in the depiction of gay women in the mass media... this was a huge decision and step for All My Children to take... since anything having to do with the character of Erica and her immediate family is major.  The thing I like about the way Bianca's character seems to fit in the overall scheme of the soap opera is that her stories seem to be treated with the same sense of drama and complexity as the straight characters and her stories are interwoven with the plot-lines of other characters... essentially just like other characters in the show.  I do remember that the debut of Bianca's character as a lesbian on All My Children dealt a lot with coming-out issues.  So much so that it made the general talk-show circuit.  I recall interviews on various talk shows with Susan Lucci and the actess who played Bianca talking about this feature of the plot line.  I used to follow All My Children specifically because of Bianca's character for a while in grad school when my schedule was flexible.  But, now that I work full time I can't devote the time or energy to a daytime soap.

[Daniel]

Thanks for that, Amanda... I didn't know anything about it... I usually stay away from soap operas just because the storylines are so unbelievable and contrived.... Thats why I was surprised when I started getting really emotionally involved with the Luke and Noah storyline.

If you want to research it more, maybe we can get our own little subforum going about daytime dramas and their presentation of "gay issues".

[Brown Eyes]

Thanks for that, Amanda... I didn't know anything about it... I usually stay away from soap operas just because the storylines are so unbelievable and contrived.... Thats why I was surprised when I started getting really emotionally involved with the Luke and Noah storyline.

If you want to research it more, maybe we can get our own little subforum going about daytime dramas and their presentation of "gay issues".

That's a great idea Daniel!  As silly as soap operas are (in general) the inclusion of major gay characters really does seem to speak to important issues about visibility for the gay and lesbian community.  Soap operas are also so "mainstream" that including gay characters also seems to be some sort of interesting social gesture/ step.

But, yeah, Bianca's lesbian plot-line's been around for at least 3 or 4 years.  But, as I mentioned, I haven't watched All My Children for a long time now... so I'm not at all sure what's going on with her character now.  I do remember watching one long plot-line involving her breaking up with her first girlfriend... and they dealt with it in very complex (and relatively good) ways.

I'll never forget those interviews on like the Today show and things like Regis (maybe, I'm forgetting the exact shows) several years ago... where Susan Lucci and the actress who plays Bianca (at the time that the character was "coming out") would come on and chat about Bianca's issues.  I mean they were two straight actresses trying to talk about coming out issues for adolescent lesbians.  They were odd interviews, but generally very well-intentioned I think.

[Daniel]

I guess I'm just really interested in the differences between the Noah and Luke storyline and Bianca's storyline, and Chad and Vincent's storyline on Passions. With the little research that I did into looking into the Chad and Vincent storyline, it seemed to me like they were completely downplaying the emotional side of that relationship and focusing entirely on the sexual, but then again, considering the types of storylines that were on Passions, I think that might be par for the course.

Either way, I think I quickly learned that Passions did not have very interesting storylines because the physicality and sexuality of the relationships were so overhyped - it was downright stressful. Eventually, it got to the point where I was cheering for Haley Mills as the witch Tabetha. She and her talking doll were the only reasons I kept watching the show, until even that storyline got completely out of hand, (or boring as hell, I can't remember which).

I guess that's why I think Luke and Noah's romance is so special. It's just that - romance. Someone put on the hazy 70's dreamtime filters. I think this is what a lot of people knew was missing from the storylines on Passions... Just good old romance - one person caring for another person, without pretenses, without an overvamped sex-drive, without expecting anything from the one you love except perhaps that they love you in return... It's almost like a fairy tale, in that respect, but so many of us in the real world want that fairy tale, its not too difficult to see why we might be captivated by it... And perhaps overall, this type of relationship is a good thing.... by sometimes providing a good example for the way relationships can turn out.

[Brown Eyes]

Here's what imdb says about the actress (turns out her name is Eden Riegel) who originally played Bianca.  [I'm copying and quoting the little bio from imdb's website http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0726180/bio  ]

"Eden Sonja Jane Riegel was born on January 1, 1981 in Washington D.C.

...

She attended the New York's Professional Children's School, then prestigious Harvard University and was going to become a lawyer. However, she took a leave of absence for an exciting role. Her biggest break came when she was cast as "Bianca Christine Montgomery" on "All My Children" (1970). The role was a break out role because not only is Bianca "Erica Kane"'s daughter, but she is also a lesbian. Bianca Montgomery is the first main character on an American soap who is openly gay. Her earnest, poignant, sparkling, heartfelt, and charismatic portrayal of Bianca helped make the character become one of "All My Children" (1970)'s most beloved heroines in its history. Eden left the role of Bianca Montgomery in February of 2005. She has moved to Los Angeles and wants to explore other avenues in her career such as prime time, movies, etc."

Anyway... so I guess there's a new actress who plays Bianca now... but this is the one that I remember.

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/2310286-a78.jpg" border="0" />

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/2310284-519.jpg" border="0" />

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/2310285-124.jpg" border="0" />

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/2310312-041.jpg" border="0" />

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/2310313-c36.jpg" border="0" />

[Daniel]

I guess I'm just surprised that she was never identified as being part of a long-term relationship couple. Maybe thats what I find fascinating about the Luke and Noah storyline is that it seems to be supporting the idea of being gay and in a long-term relationship rather than just being "gay and out and proud" as Luke would have said. Maybe I'm just mesmerized because the show seems to be letting Luke say, "I'm gay, and....". In other words, I think it becomes less of a social statement and more of a human statement.  Of course, Bianca may have been the same way, but I haven't watched All My Children... lol. And don't plan to start anytime soon.

Maybe I'm completely out of it, too.

[Daniel]

Parts 88, 89 and 90 of the Luke and Noah storyline

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[youtube=425,350]Z4n4PPvpHho[/youtube]

[youtube=425,350]hLNrvj1KirE[/youtube]

[Daniel]

Parts 91 and 92 of the Luke and Noah storyline.

[youtube=425,350]I5CH5NaCizQ[/youtube]

[youtube=425,350]k_jsU_vDi0M[/youtube]

[Lynne]

Thanks again, Daniel!  I *loved* #92!  There should have been a kiss, though, damnit.    Maybe the next episode will lead with that...wouldn't want anybody getting all complacent.

And no worries re:Dusty; snippets are good.  He reminds me of one of Suz Brockmann's Navy SEALs - I think I'm going to cast him as Cosmo Richter in HOT TARGET.

 

[Daniel]

You're in the same lifeboat with everyone else, Lynne. Where's the kiss? After seeing two really good kisses previously, the Nuke fans are starving for more... I'm only hoping they're using it as a plot point, and not just responding to a negative public viewpoint, particularly when the actors have very nice on-screen chemistry. But as you and I both know from watching Latter Days, these things take practice, and performance in soap operas does not leave very much time for practice, usually.

You noticed how in previous segments, it was often Noah that initiated the kiss, and tried to several other times, and Luke that pushed him away. This might be a type of character flaw development for Luke since I really don't see much other reason for doing it that way.  Ah well, thinking's worth two cents, these days, three?