MY FAVORITE THINGS

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

HOT FROM THE CAMERAS...

SO VERY sorry for neglecting this label for so long; I still can't believe it myself and I'm a movie lover! Anyhow... this is the latest movies to see....

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES- The iconic Jack Sparrow is on a new mission to find the Fountain of Youth. My question is: WHY???

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TINTIN: SECRETS OF THE UNICORN- Steven Spielberg brings Tintin's 11th adventure to the silver screen; in 3D

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HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2- J.K Rowling's hero at long last faces his arch enemy and receives answers to many questions

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CARS 2: Sequel of the 2006 animated movie. McQueen finds himself recruited as a spy

Bo and Carly: Their future YET in sight

Finally one petition has been realized; the sacking of DAYS head writer, Dena Higley. I for one am not shedding any tears- ever since she was quoted as NOT caring about Bo and Carly's history and the viewers subjected to rubbishy story lines and obviously BIASED character profiles, I've been among those who longed to see her bounced and since DAYS OF OUR LIVES ratings have gone really down, I'm glad this step has been taken at long last.

Now we Carbos hope to see a new era in DAYS; most important for Bo and Carly to have that long continuity they more than deserve. With all the support and valid reasons for wanting them to be together in the true sense of the word; the new Head writer will do well NOT repeating the same mistakes Higley made and bring back DAYS to its former glory. Right now, the Carbos prefer watching 90s DAYS episodes because Bo and Carly's love was at its height then and we are starved to see them back together again in the Y2K episodes now. Once again we are NOT biased; we are realistic- Bo and Carly are the ultimate couple in DAYS and their love story had more than enough potential.

The fight for this special couple is STILL on and WILL go on until we get what we want- a long Carbo continuity in DAYS- if the many montages @ youtube is anything to go by. Each video shows just how much many viewers LOVE Bo and Carly...

Bo & Carly: HALO

Bo & Carly: COLOR OF LOVE
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Bo & Carly: I'LL DO ANYTHING FOR YOU
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Bo & Carly: BLINK
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Bo & Carly: A FOREVER KIND OF LOVE
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Bo & Carly: NEVER LET YOU GO
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Bo & Carly: CAN'T WE TRY
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Bo & Carly: LET LOVE LEAD THE WAY
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Bo & Carly: LOVE WILL FIND A WAY
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OXYGEN

WHAT'S NEXT FOR CARLY?

Photo 1: Carly's all smiles, beautiful eyes aglow. This was the time when DAYS OF OUR LIVES wasn't the ruin we're being subjected to right now and when the writers actually produced real story
lines that kept the viewers on their seats.

Not so in Photo 2: Carly's depressed, alone and from the strong woman I remember to a drug addict. Bo's back with his wife, she's dead to her son and the nightmares of her late husband she'd kept at bay now haunt her, hence her idea of a solution...DRUGS.

So far, from what I've heard Crystal Chappell has been giving a fabulous performance but personally I'm not pleased. On one hand, I can appreciate the fact that even the strongest person on earth reach a breaking point and Carly's gone through and put up with a LOT before and after she returned to Salem.
On the other hand, not only did the writers make her appear as Bo's fall back, but now they've cast her aside. With the way Bo and Hope are now, it's as if Bo has simply erased Carly; as if those blissful months they spent as a couple or the promises he made to her NEVER happened at all. Considering their beautiful history I didn't expect Carly of all characters to be treated this way; to be used as an interloper between Bo and his wife but then again, it's a well known fact the current DAYS writers simply don't care about their history. If they did, Bo and Carly will have the long continuity they deserve instead of their love portrayed as a new and forbidden thing.

Now, what's the way forward for Carly now? With Bo out of the picture and she refusing to confide in the few friends she has left, she's very much alone and sinking further and further in despair. I'm really so sad for this character, the true happiness she had was with Bo and both times, they were short lived. Carly deserves so much more than this- if she was to be the interloper, why bring her back to DAYS in the first place? One would think that with the turbulent lives she and Bo have put up with all those years apart, this would be the time for a new chapter for them, but we're yet to see that happen, if EVER.
I would like to think Carly will have a new love but I can't imagine her loving another as much as she loved Bo. But what I REALLY want right now for Carly to be off those drugs soon enough. After that, let's see how the rest of her stay in Salem play out.

What makes Bo and Carly special?

Veteran fans of the duo Carbo were thrilled when Carly returned to DAYS late 2009; new Carbo followers were immediately enchanted by her and both groups enjoyed watching her and Bo rekindle an old love that was obviously still there. Even though they're apart again right now; we're still not giving up on them and they WILL be together again as long as we keep our voices loud and clear to the DAYS producers and writers that we want Bo and Carly to stay. The current situation in the show's really breaking my heart but I just can't stomach the writers' 'misdirection' right now, if you get my drift.

But the subject of today's post; while we Carbos say that it's time that Bo and Hope finally call it a day after years of on and off again- let's also explore this burning question; why are Bo and Carly so exceptionally special, considering they had only 3 years together as a couple?

I still don't know the exact answer to that, but as far as I've seen from the old episodes, Bo and Carly's love is not only deep and mature, but also predestined, if you take a good look at their three memorable encounters( I explored this in my Bo and Carly fan fiction).

In 1990, their first meeting was at Bo's pier a few days after Carly's arrival in Salem, not long after Hope's 'death'. But it later turned out it wasn't their REAL meeting, it actually took place in Alamania six years back.During Bo, Hope's (And Shawn D's) cruise round the world, they had docked at Alamania and Bo had seen Larry and Carly arguing (she was breaking up with him) and when Larry tried to stop her from leaving, Bo picked a fight with Larry and Carly was able to escape. Of course at that time Bo and Carly barely caught a glimpse of each other's faces at the time so there was no way they were able to recognize each other years later at the pier during the protest against Jencon. The Alamania encounter was revealed to the viewers much later in a flashback sequence when Bo told the story to Carly much later , thinking the fist fight (which, by the way, he won hands down) was the reason why Larry was after him, not knowing Carly was the girl in question.

The third encounter as we all know, took place in Bo's living room; he tackled an intruder, only to discover it was his ex fiancee whom he hadn't laid eyes on for 16 years.
Even when they were together back in the day, it was more than obvious that Bo and Carly had a very special bond, the way they looked at each other, all the things they said to each other the whole time, especially during the beautiful symbolic wedding they had on top of El Castillo (which I hope they'll go back to some day).

The love, bond and the chemistry has always been there but the DAYS writers don't seem to care about their history but thank God that we still do. When we say we want Bo and Carly to stay together for a a very long time, it's because we have valid reasons, not because of any form of bias against Hope. So please, I need everyone to do this: in the comment line, write exactly what you think makes Bo and Carly so special. And please view this 'lost' montage. I had to upload it in You Tube using another track, thanks to their annoyingly strict rules. Remember, feel free to make your voices heard!