We all know who the major characters are  in Oakdale, we see them almost every day, involved in the different storylines.  But they're not the only ones who grace the show; there are many little gems appearing on our tv screens.  These gems are the characters that we don't see very often, but the writers always try to include these characters, even when they don't have to.

My first case in point was a scene at the Lakeview last week.  Katie and Mike were in the throes of the first moments of being officially engaged.  They'd gone to the Lakeview to celebrate, hoping for the room with the heart shaped tub,  and who did they run into but Nancy Hughes.  Katie inquired after Nancy's health, Nancy noted that Katie was glowing and asked what was going on.  Katie bubbled with the news of the engagement, and Nancy was very happy for them.  In parting, Nancy remarked that the news had made her day.  It was a short scene that did nothing to really move the plot along; the writers didn't need to include it.  But it drew Nancy, a bonafide institution in Oakdale, into Mike and Katie's story, tying the generations together with a few lines of dialogue.  It reminded the viewers that Nancy is an important member of the community, even if we don't see her all that often.

Helen Wagner plays Nancy and is an original cast member.  She will be honored this year at the Daytime Emmy Awards with a Lifetime Achievement Award, one of 10 daytime actors to receive this honor.  She is also the longest-running actress on a soap.  I won't reveal her age, but when ATWT celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2 years, she will be the only one able to say, "I delivered the very first line on the very first episode."  I don't expect the writers to give her character a major storyline (although bringing her in as a suspect in Mike's hit-and-run was a touch of reality, what with the rising concern over the number of accidents caused by senior drivers) but it is nice to know that she hasn't been written off to the ignominity of  someone's "attic."

My second case in point: young Luc Grimaldi.  Luc is a typical soap child, appearing only on a minimal basis.  His poor mommy Lily is losing her grip on reality trying to deal with the death of her sister Rose.  So when Lily dragged all her children out of the house one night in their pajamas to meet a supposed psychic 'channeler,' Luc was skeptical.  He finally ended up shouting to the psychic, "You say you're my Aunt Rose-- then what's my nickname? She's a liar, Mom. Aunt Rose wasn't here. She's dead!"  Chris Tavani, who is 8 and a half years old, plays Luc, and he delivered his lines with the ease that comes with  being a 3 year veteran on the show.   Again, the writers didn't have to include the children in this scene.   Having three tiny actors on the set can be tiresome for everyone involved, and usually soap children are best when they are seen little and heard even less.  But this little scene showed that Lily's entire family is suffering, not just Lily herself.  The viewers were reminded that everyone grieves when there's a death in a family, and even the children have to deal with their pain. 

Third case in point: Dr. Lynn Michaels.  Whenever someone in Oakdale needs a shrink, Dr. Michaels arrives to lend a hand.  Lily and Will have needed her services recently, and although her scenes are few, it's nice to have a doctor whose specialty is well-known to the viewers.  Too often we are treated to a soap doctor who does brain surgery one day, delivers a baby the next day, and is a radiologist/oncologist/podiatrist the third day.  Oakdale has quite a few doctors and any one could fill in as a psychologist in a pinch. But it is Dr. Michaels who handles Oakdale's mental and emotional problems.  Courtney Sherman is always available to portray Dr. Michaels, mainly because she is one of ATWT's writers in addition to being an actress.  She has appeared on such soaps as Another World, Search For Tomorrow, and All My Children, and in addition to writing for ATWT, she has also been on the writing staff for Guiding Light.  And yes, she's married to GL's Peter Simon.

Moving to my next case for the little gems: Jack and Carley's recent love scene.  It was sexy, it was romantic, it was sweet, it was revealing, and it involved two characters who are actually married, committed to each other, who love each other, and had two sleeping children upstairs while they did the deed on the couch in front of a roaring fireplace!  Jack told his wife, "You know what gets me about you is you have no idea how amazing you are. Loving you isn't a choice, Carly. I take one look at you, and I'm sunk. Add that to the fact that I get to wake up with you and raise kids with you and grow old with you? You've given me my perfect life. I know who I married. And I wouldn't change one thing about you."   Jack then took her in his arms, she helped him remove his shirt (damn, Michael Park looks good!) and the camera panned down in a classic soap shot to see Carly's gown fall to the floor.  The fire crackled, the music lilted, and soon Jack had swept her up in his arms and carried her to the couch.  It was an old fashioned daytime love scene.  Again, the writers didn't HAVE to give us a Carjack scene like this.  The two of them could have been sitting on their couch having a conversation.  But it was a treat to see a mature married couple having a romp, instead of two young singles having a one night stand.  Jack and Carly still got it!

My last case for the little gems is a creepy one.  Barbara wanted to celebrate her family's reconciliation with a family photograph, to send Will a visual message that his family is united.  In a surprising move, Paul agreed.  So they, and Jen, were seen posing at the photography studio, being encouraged to move closer to each other and smile for the camera.  Suddenly James Stenbeck materialized next to Paul, whispering in his ear.  We know of course that Paul was imagining it, but when James warned, "keep your friends close, but your enemies closer," we feel a chill settle over the group.  Paul is indeed playing his mother for a fool.

Anthony Herrerra has been practicing his evil ways in Oakdale off and on since 1980.  James is a recurring character now, serving time in prison.  But that prison has a revolving door when it comes to visitors; Barbara, Craig, and Paul have all come to confront James recently.  But even more unnerving, this dastardly daddy pops up in Paul's imagination all the time, to counsel the son who doesn't want to be like his father, but is turning into him a little more each day.  Herrerra plays his part to the hilt, and we realize that the writers have not forgotten their history; Stenbeck equals wicked, and having James acting as Paul's subtle, twisted conscience is indeed a salute to a 20+ year storyline. 

The writers don't have to give us a little bit of Nancy, Luc, Dr. Michaels, Carjack love, or James in the shows.  Adding them to the script is that little extra flavor that makes ATWT even more fun to watch.  They are the little gems that pop up for us to enjoy, and they give me even more incentive to not want to miss a moment of the show.

I'm in an Oakdale state of mind!
  CAROL