"The year 2004, marks the 48th Anniversary of "As the World Turns," and we'll kick it off with a week of "experimental storytelling" between Christmas and New Year's. We'll break the rules of traditional soap opera structure and you'll find faster-paced shows with more visuals, less talk, and lots of movement. And many surprises. Do not miss a single show! After the turn of the New Year, we'll be taking your favorite characters to new places. You'll follow Lily, crushed by Rose's death, on the most shocking journey of her life, as she searches for the passion and courage inside her that she'd always admired in her twin sister - but it comes at a very high price. Dusty will find himself reluctantly swept up in Lily's journey. You won't want to miss a moment of the Ryan family's surprise reconciliation, or the dark secret Paul's keeping to himself; as well as Carly's entanglement in the Ryan family's ongoing circus. You'll share Craig and Rosanna's baby crisis, thanks to Molly's complicity with Paul Ryan, and you'll be left breathless by Rosanna's big decision regarding her life with Craig. You'll wonder how a girl as sweet and lovely as Sarah can cause so much trouble for Ben and Jess. And Lucy's heart is going to stray to someplace you never would have guessed. And there's more! Many of you have lamented how little the veterans are played, and this year we will rectify the problem. Lucinda will be deeply involved in Lily and Holden's burgeoning problems. Lisa will be seen keeping up with her grandson, Casey Hughes, and his wicked buddy, Sarah. Bob and Kim will get plenty of air time when Chris brings home a surprise houseguest who turns the Hughes manse into a carnival - and Nancy will be part of the fun. We want to show that our veterans are still important and vital to the canvas of "As the World Turns." 

So that's what he called it, "experimental storytelling between Christmas and New Year."  Well, it certainly was different storytelling over the holiday period!  How many of you were caught off guard when Al's Diner turned into a dance hall, with Katie and Mike popping moves like Baby and Johnny in "Dirty Dancing?"  Were you as stunned as I was to see Rose flinging her garments down from heaven while she narrated the show detailing the suspects in her murder,  a la Joe Gillis in "Sunset Boulevard?"   How about that funeral service, when Lily sashayed into the church in Rose's red-hot dress and feather-flying hat?

I'll admit, the first time I watched these particular episodes I was a little confused.  Was Katie merely dreaming about wanting to shake her booty  with Mike, or were the viewers supposed to believe that the dance really happened?  Poor Katie had anticipated a wonderful first date with Mike, and instead of actually seeing the date as it happened, we watched as she related the incidents that added up to disaster to her sister Margo, and we were given flashbacks.  Then Mike showed up again and asked for a second chance at a first date, and instead of going with champagne and violinists again, he took her for cheeseburgers at Al's.  He signaled to a waitress to turn on the music, and Mike wanted to dance.  Instead of the two of them just getting up and dancing, the whole joint started jumpin', as waiters and waitresses came to life, twirled and leapt, slid and shimmied, and Mike and Katie got up and shook it with the best of them.  When Mike tried to jump on the counter to join Katie, and he slid over the other side, I couldn't help it; I laughed out loud.  The actors looked like they were having a great time, and it was a definite change of pace for a show that is right in the middle of a murder mystery.  Were they dreaming, or was it really supposed to have happened?  After watching the sequence a time or two more, I decided it didn't matter to me. We viewers got to witness a music video event, right in the middle of Al's Diner, right in the middle of Oakdale!  I've read comments at different message boards that some people thought it was cheesy.  But I think it was just big dumb fun, and made me like Katie and Mike even more as a couple.

Another taping of the show started with a shot of fluffy clouds and blue sky, and stockings floating down past the camera.  For a moment I thought it was some kind of fabric softener commercial, complete with lilting background music.  But then I heard Rose's voice, telling us she didn't need her clothes anymore, and down drifted her dainties.  She then continued to discuss her own murder, and she fingered five suspects.  They all appeared, dressed in black and standing in a police lineup.  One by one they stepped forward as Rose listed the reasons they would have wanted her dead.  The show continued as Hal and Jack mulled over the case, examining motives for each person Rose suspected.  The show ended with Rose bidding us goodbye, with a haunting version of "Auld Lang Syne" filtering through the scene.  It was a little creepy, but I still found it captivating. 

But what raised a lot of eyebrows was Lily, marching into Rose's funeral service, looking like an Atlantic City showgirl in bright flame red off-the-shoulder dress, boa feathers everywhere, and a headdress with more crimson feathers that towered 2 feet above her head.  Everyone else was somber; Lily demanded that someone dance with her, because she knew that Rose would not like any memorial service that wasn't fun.  No one would accept her invitation until Dusty stepped up, whereupon Lily freaked out and started screaming that he was the one who'd killed her.  I'm pretty sure that viewers either loved this scene or were completely turned off; I cannot see any in between for this scene.  I have to put myself in the turned off category.  I'll admit that at first I thought it was a great way to shock the audience, leave them gasping at the audacity of the writers to create this scene.  But when I tried to watch it a second time, I found I just couldn't.  It was too discomfiting, it was too out-of-place, and this time, yes, I thought it was too cheesy.  

So the 'experimental storytelling between Christmas and New Year's' was a mixed bag for me.  I liked some of it, I loved some of it, and I just couldn't watch some of it.  However, I do have to say that this was creative, outside-the-box writing, and I salute Mr. Sheffer for trying it.  At a time when so many soaps are recycling plots faster than empty plastic water bottles, Mr. Sheffer was willing to take a chance.  I know some fans didn't like it, but it was only for a short time.  Things are back to normal in Oakdale now. 

Well, I had planned to discuss more of Sheffer's letter to fans, but that will have to wait.  I think we're seeing Lily's 'shocking journey' already, I wonder if Paul's dark secret is that he is the murderer (wouldn't that be a shocker!) and when I think Ryan family, I sure don't think circus.  Cabot Montgomery better not be going anywhere, do you hear me, and is anyone else thinking that Rosanna's big decision involves her saying, "Goodbye Craig, you lousy lying sonavabitch."?  A SORASed Casey Hughes is headed back to Oakdale, but is that a reason to keep the character of Sarah?  But hey, if Hogan Sheffer puts Lucinda, Bob, Kim, and Nancy into storylines, as he's promised, then sign me up for that carnival he mentioned, and pass the cotton candy.  Until the next time,