- Hillary will attend a fund-raiser for AG Bell for the Hearing Impaired and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at The Grape at Phipps Plaza in Atlanta, GA on November 4, 2007 from 2-4:30pm. Tickets are $25.
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Had anyone ever asked me whether Nora and Clint would potentially make an intriguing pairing, I would have laughed. In fact, the mere thought of these two pursuing a romantic relationship would never have crossed my mind. Perhaps I find Ron Carlivati’s writing style fresh and fun, maybe I’m chomping at the bit for Nora to reenter the foreground of OLTL’s canvas, or perhaps I’m simply feeling adventurous – but in any case, the prospect of these two sharing more than just a mansion truly perks my interest. Fans will never agree on which man is deserving of Nora’s heart, but we all would concur that she is seriously overdue for some progress on the romantic front. I remain unconvinced that Clint and Nora are soul mates; nor do I believe their union is destined for the history books. That aside, this is soapdom, and anything is within the realm of possibility and exploration – especially in the hands of a visionary and vested writer. I’m willing to entertain any scenario that will jump-start Hillary’s reentry onto the front-burner, especially as she swiftly approaches the one-year mark of her new contract term. So I find myself suspending reality and taking a look at why a potential Nora/Clint pairing just may prove to be one of the best things to happen to Hillary, Nora’s character and OLTL in general.
I hold the opinion that Hillary and Jerry verDorn share immense chemistry. In fact, I think he shares more onscreen chemistry with her than with anyone else currently on the canvas. That interests me in and of itself. Clint and Nora were joined by fate and circumstance and as a result, their newfound closeness was fostered slowly and therefore feels natural. They are emerging as an unplanned pairing and I'm very intrigued as to where this will lead. It's certainly a refreshing change of pace after enduring countless forced pairings, and I'm anxious to see what Ron Carlivati has mapped out for these two characters. As I reflect upon the potential for their characters, I’m actually quite surprised that the various teams of writers failed to venture down this path sooner. This is classic soap fare, and while the “one brother falls for his brother’s ex-wife” scenario has been pursued to exhaustion, my curiosity remains piqued because of the accidental circumstances surrounding how these two characters have joined together. So while this scenario is redundant soap fodder, a talented Head Writer can present this tale with richness, freshness and dignity. It is crucial we forge ahead and that the show carve out a solid path for Nora’s character, and if a Clint/Nora pairing is the means by which to achieve that, I’m all for it. The key to good soap writing is weaving characters together in a complex and balanced manner – and connecting Nora and Clint together would truly accomplish just that.
Imagine the potential fallout from unifying both characters and how it would affect other characters on the OLTL canvas. This would create serious conflict between Nora and Viki in terms of their friendship. Though Carlivati has revisited their closeness in recent weeks, we still don’t see nearly enough of these two women together. So requiring them to face the ramifications and unresolved feelings that would emanate from a Clint/Nora pairing would foster some intense, emotional scenes between Nora and Viki, and serve to renew their friendship once the dust settles. This would also create an interesting dynamic with the way in which Lindsay fits into the picture. While it appears the show is moving towards a Bo/Lindsay pairing, all of this would be heavily impacted and subject to change if Nora and Clint are joined romantically. As much as I bear a soft spot in my heart for Bo and Nora as a couple, I genuinely believe that Bo simply doesn’t deserve Nora’s affections at present. He has held her to ridiculously high standards, and when she failed to meet them, he chastised her time and again. This is why I have no issue with Clint and Nora pursuing a relationship if his intentions are genuine and if Nora has reciprocal affections for him. Perhaps uniting these two will definitively determine whether Bo and Nora are indeed soul mates and destined to be reunited from the network’s perspective. Maybe unresolved emotions will finally be stirred within Bo, and encourage him to recognize and fight for the incredible woman he has standing before him in Nora.
This would also place an entirely new “spin” on the Nora/Lindsay rivalry, since Lindsay shares a rich history with both Buchanan men. Lindsay may find herself vehemently pursuing her desires for Bo and attempting to win his affections, and suddenly shifting gears if she sees Nora and Clint connecting on a deeper level. While I am not a fan of love triangles, I am a fan of complications. I would rather see characters woven together in a tight, complex manner, rather than watch two women vie for the same man who has been middled by deception and incident. I am also incredibly impressed with Ron Carlivati’s use of show history. I truly enjoy how he utilized Lindsay as the foundation of conflict between Dorian and Nora, and that which will undoubtedly emerge as a divisive issue for Clint and Dorian. What fascinates me most is that Viki is Dorian’s primary nemesis, and as such, she serves as the greatest potential threat (and obvious choice) for driving a wedge between Dorian and Clint. So utilizing Dorian’s friendship with Lindsay to serve as the basis for contempt she now holds for Nora was incredibly clever on the scribe’s behalf. Another relationship that has been severely minimized over the years consists of Nora’s relationship with Dorian, and the colorful, rocky road that both characters have traveled together. Therefore, using Lindsay to reconnect these characters can create unlimited offshoots of future story and is truly a brilliant and bold move.
Perhaps the greatest impact a Nora/Clint pairing would have is on the sibling relationship shared by both Buchanan men. Clint and Bo have endured their fair share of ups and downs – especially in relation to the women they have loved, lost and shared – but this would elevate sibling rivalry to an entirely new level. The mark of a skilled Head Writer and a successful show is characterized by creative writing, a thorough understanding of show history, and a commitment to secure its perpetuation. Solid writing is infused with the willingness to risk-take, yet in a way that does not compromise characters and instead exploits their true essences of being. Thus far, Carlivati has impressed me with his perception of Nora’s character. The Nora we are now viewing is the Nora who won our hearts more than a decade ago. She is being penned with richness, grace, strength and certainty. I am seeing this pattern manifest itself with other characters on the canvas, especially in relation to the veteran actors and their onscreen alter egos. So exploring a Nora/Clint coupling would accomplish more than just impacting a handful of characters. This would create a ripple effect and jump-start an umbrella story that OLTL so desperately needs to restore much of its integrity and credibility. So it is because of the potential impact that a Nora/Clint pairing would have on the entire canvas – but specifically upon Nora’s character – that has encouraged me to place personal preferences aside and keep an open mind as Carlivati runs with this story.
Each of us is astutely aware that Hillary is nearly one year through her new contract term. While the character is definitely more mainstream, she is still far from front-burner. I would be devastated to watch another year pass where her immense talents remain underused, and while I believe we are definitely in good hands with Carlivati at the helm, this scribe certainly has his work cut out for him. On that note, all of you have undoubtedly seen this year’s list for Super Soap Weekend, and are keenly aware that once again, Hillary is missing from that list. I would encourage everyone to reach out to both Disney-ABC and Colgate-Palmolive (SSW’s official sponsor), and voice your opinion by requesting that Hillary be invited to attend – even if you have no plans to attend SSW on a personal level. We have a decent window of time with which to work, and actors were added just days prior to last year’s SSW, but the OLTL roster is nearly full and time is truly of the essence. Hillary deserves an invite to this year’s event, both for what she brings to the network and especially in light of what she endured these last two years. If you are interested in writing Colgate-Palmolive, you may contact the company as follows:
Tom Paolella
Media Relations Dept.,
Colgate-Palmolive Company
300 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10023
800-468-6502 (toll-free number)
212-310-2774 (fax number)
Tom_Paolella@colpal.com (email)
Please also email me if you need updated contact information for the Walt Disney Board of Directors and ABC executives, both of which were recently updated, and I would be delighted to provide that for you as well.
“For all of Asa’s faults, he has always stood by Nora, which is amazing considering he’s Asa,” says the actresses who portrays Nora, Hillary B. Smith. “So when Asa goes into the hospital, Nora goes to see him. He shows her this medical file and says, “I’m not telling Bo. I’m only telling you. I’m dying.”
He’s not really. It’s just another ploy to try to reunite Nora with his son, Bo. “He says, ‘For my dying wish, I want you and Bo to get remarried and raise [your son] Matthew together under the same roof, as a family,’ says Smith. “She tells Bo, and shows him the file. Bo goes and gets Paige Miller, Asa’s doctor, and she says, ‘This isn’t even his file. Asa’s not dying.’ Nora is just furious that he’s done this to her – again.”
Bo and Nora cook up a scheme where they will “remarry” in Asa’s hospital room – for a price. “They arrange the whole thing,” says Smith. “Evangeline is the justice of the peace. They walk into the hospital room, and they are all very solemn. Bo says, “Gosh, Dad, you look terrible. Nora told me you’re dying.’ Asa’s like, ‘Yeah, I’m dying.’ Nora starts to laugh, and she’s go to cover, so she says, ‘It’s just so sad.’ She turns away and Bo’s like, ‘Nora, get ahold of yourself!’ It’s fun. It’s a great scene.”
Before the ceremony, though, they blackmail the “dying” man, according to Smith. “Bo says, ‘There’s just one thing. Nora feels very strongly that she would like you to make a $4 million donation to the Widows and Orphans fund.’ Asa goes, ‘$4 million? What the ---?!’ He signs this pledge that they’ve written out for him, and Nora snatches it out of his hand before he has a chance to change his mind.”
So, here comes the bride. “They do the whole wedding ceremony, and then Paige Miller is supposed to walk in at the very end of it,” says Smith. “But she doesn’t walk in. Asa goes, ‘Well, aren’t you going to kiss the bride?’ The look at each other and look back at the door going, ‘C’mon, c’mon, c’mon.’ There is a big ‘Will they or won’t they?’ kiss.” And then? “A pregnant pause,” teases Smith, “while we cut to commercial break.”
