Remembering Sam Loco Efe

What I liked best about him was his dry humour; whenever he made a funny remark he always had a straight face and it tickled me so much that I developed the tendency to giggle helplessly when he appeared even before he said something funny. Back in the '90s, his biggest movie was 'SERGEANT OKORO'  where he realistically portrayed an incorruptible police officer  made to retire after getting wounded in the line of duty and then had to struggle to feed his large family & at the same time  keep his principles and dignity in a difficult   and unsympathetic society. I never saw his other big hit 'PICCADILLY' but a friend told me back then he played a man who was the head of a gang of pickpockets. However I saw him in the third installment of 'LAGOS NA WA!' as the building's landlord, in 'PAM PAM' where he played Okey Bakassi's uncle and in  the T.V adaptation of 'THINGS FALL APART' he had a small role as an over zealous Christian who suddenly died after eating the clans sacred python.  I also clearly recall him being the hilarious narrator of the NTA documentary, 'ABUSE OF THE NAIRA.'

I watched a few of his later movies over the years and the rested T.V series EVERY DAY PEOPLE where he was one of the main characters. There was never anything rehearsed about the way he portrayed his characters; he was so realistic and spontaneous and every character he played simply came to life; especially his character Maduka Okoro in 'SERGEANT OKORO.' Every artiste has a specific method of acting and Sam Loco Efe definitely had his; I can't think of another actor like him. Nollywood has lost a veteran and as we all mourn him now we must pray to God to grant him eternal rest and we should try to remember him at his best. 

REST IN PEACE.

OPEN LETTER TO MR. KEN CORDAY

Dear Mr. Corday, 

As you are probably aware, there are many viewers who are not at all happy at the abrupt dismissal of Crystal Chappell and the writing off of her character from DAYS OF OUR LIVES. As a long time fan, I fail to understand why you took that decision especially since there were more than valid reasons why Bo and Carly should have had a very long continuity in the show; not to mention the many, many requests and petitions of Carbo supporters.

 When Carly came back, there was great expectation that Bo and Carly will be given the love story they were denied after their end in 1993 and their strong interaction and memorable history were the two most valid reasons. Instead, Carly was written in as a mere interlude and interloper and now cast off in the cold simply to make us forget what happened between her and Bo for almost a year as well as how they were back in the 90s. 

 What is the point of maintaining a soap opera when you refuse to move forward or listen to the views and opinions of the viewers as well as carry out decisions in a glaringly biased way. Crystal Chappell was the best thing that ever happened to your precious show and I can’t believe she and her character were treated in such an unfair way. You raised so many hopes when she was brought back; we thought we were going to be treated to a new chapter in DAYS instead you’ve invoked a lot of bitterness and hurt by making Carly leave the show and without even so much as a goodbye to Bo. 

You and the rest of the biased group may shrug and say, “it’s just a soap”, “it’s just a soap”… a really good soap opera is supposed to move forward and maintain continuity by keeping the history of the characters in mind and that’s not what happened here at all. A memorable character was written in a bad light, reunited with her other half but then the pair was split and she is being cast aside so callously and you honestly expect those of us, especially the veteran Bo/Carly supporters  to simply accept it with a shrug and remain faithful to the show.

For your information, I  came back to DAYS because Crystal Chappell was brought back to the show and now that the Carbo story is over, I don’t intend to ever so much as catch a peep at this soap, ever. Bo and Carly splitting up again is not the only thing that angers and sickens me, it’s also the way the writers made  her mistreated in Salem by the characters who were once her friends and family and now we’ll never know if Bo’s love for her was the same as back when they were first together or just an intermission. The whole time I studied the Bo/Carly story in a writer’s point of view and I’m just too angry and disgusted to even bother analyzing it.

 There’s nothing to be gained by moving backwards or be so biased and narrow minded and that is which is what you’ve done. If you still think the action you took was the right one then you truly don’t care about your precious show or the viewers and their opinions; which is a big shame on you.

I don’t know if you’ll have the chance of coming across this letter; I don’t hold any hope that it will reverse your decision and I’m willing to bet that that you wouldn’t care at all that has been said but I wanted to air my views for all to see. DAYS OF OUR LIVES is no longer worth watching and it’s really too bad considering how long it has graced T.V screens all over the world. Other soaps have disappointed me but not as much as this one living in past glory.

 Bear in mind that’s you’ve lost this viewer who is disappointed at what this soap has become. It’s not my place to predict the future of DAYS OF OUR LIVES but as of now I rate it VERY LOW.

These are my words to you; whether they sink in or not at least I’ve had my say.

                                                     From an ex-viewer [with loathing], 

                                                                           A. Adams

A VERY BITTER BLOW FROM NBC

When I first heard that Carly Manning was going to be written off DAYS, I was amazed and shocked; but at Dayscafe.com and Soapcentral.com it was written in bold letters... Crystal Chappell's contract will not be renewed!

It's not only a bitter blow, it is a TERRIBLE shame.  Thanks to her return to DAYS in 2009 and superb acting, DAYS had never gotten more viewers and ratings, especially since she was once again paired with Peter Reckell(Bo), whom she hadn't worked with since 1992. I was so excited when she returned and impressed with the way she and Reckell interacted after all that time; it was almost as if she never left the show at all.

 I'm mainly upset about two things; that Bo and Carly will never have that new chapter so many viewers have been clamouring for  and that CC's contract was not renewed despite the fact that she has so many fans and viewers who love her (her character AND acting). I started watching DAYS again when I heard she was returning and with all the popularity she and her character has been getting, you would think that the producers would prolong her stay and give her character and Bo a brand new beginning after their romance was cut short in '93 but they proved me wrong big time. By ignoring all the viewers' petitions, it shows that the people in charge of the show don't care about the viewers or even the show itself. Considering DAYS OF OUR LIVES is the only daytime soap left in NBC, efforts should be made to keep the ratings up but all they are doing so far is alienating viewers away from the show. I expected more from the new writers but apparently the powers that be had different ideas; promising couples  split up and tossed aside;  like the time when Cruz & Eden and Cain & Andrea's romances ended in SANTA BARBARA, Luis & Sheridan's in PASSIONS, Tyler & Julie's in CBS' CAPITOL or John & Evangeline's  in ABC's ONE LIVE TO LIVE.

All I can say is that I'm angry and very disappointed with those responsible behind CC's exit from DAYS; she is a wonderful and talented  actress and her character, Carly is memorable and larger than life. The Bopes can say what they like but we Carbos have so many reasons why we love her and support her, which we always will especially since we still have her wonderful web series  VENICE to watch and her upcoming  new project, THE GROVE. But I'm not only done with DAYS indefinitely but ALL soaps; the angst is fine since it's what you expect from them but beloved characters being written off is something I can no longer stomach. DAYS has totally spoiled everything and I  sincerely hope they would eventually regret this stupid  decision of theirs.

BO & CARLY: REMEMBER ME