As The World Turns Discussion Group

Topic: Are we actually supposed to like or think well of Janet?

ATWT is notorious, in my opinion, for writing characters that are odious and objectionable but we're still supposed to think they are "good" because they say so. It doesn't matter how bullying or pissy or unreasonable or fickle or how much of a load they are, as long as they have that 'salt of the earth' quality, they're peddled as good. The Snyder men come to mind, Mike comes to mind, as does Katie - each of these characters has done harm and been out of bounds, but somehow, they are always the good guys because the show says they are.

So, does Janet fall into that group now too?

I wanted to just smack her today. Jeez, it's all about her for her. There's Jack reeling at the death of his brother and worse, at the knowledge that he caused it, and her first thought is to lose it about Liberty losing her father, and how is she going to tell her and going on and on about how terrible it is for Liberty (and by extension, HER) that Brad is dead. It just made it all worse and seemed so selfish -- and kind of forced, IMO.

Also, I wanted to smack her when she was going on and on in the loudest party hearty sort of voice with her 'happy' anecdote about the old high school football days. I know her intention was to distract and cheer, but it was all wrong. It was obnoxious and abrasive and false sounding and inappropriate - it was intrusive and presumptuous.

She's just awful and self-centered in so many ways and my question is, are we supposed to recognize it, or are we supposed to be drinking the kool aid and thinking she's Mama Manicotti, doer of good and right even if she is a little common and rough around the edges?

I guess I need my ATWT program card of good characters and bad characters, because how they're written doesn't seem to be all that relevant. At least not to me.

All that she is, she is not boring. Janet is a fully rounded out character and I applaud the writers for bringing out such richness to her personality. Loud, brassy, ... a steam roller, yet there is softness to her, deep concern for others....a wholesome quality that lets you know you can depend upon her, you can trust her.

So she went from being the Juicy Janet of her youth, to the consoling Big Mama to everyone, including Jack I believe that's called maturity ... how can we fault her if she prays from time to time - don't we all.

Let me put it this way: Janet is a fine soap character. After the depressing Julia #1 and the nose wiping Julia #2, this one, - saint and sinner that she is - is a complete entertainment package all wrapped up into one.

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deep concern for others... Really? Is that what she has shown Parker? Between kicking him out of his aunt's house and trying find a way to make him responsible for Liberty's situation, I don't see much concern coming from his stepmommy for him. That kid has been more supportive of her daughter than anyone. Did she have a deep concern for Carly while she was drinking or was she just pissed that Jack cared what happened to her? Was she showing that deep concern when she inserted a barb while Jack was talking about Craig and Rosanna's affair? Did she have a deep concern for Liberty when she wanted her to live as a sibling to her own child? Did she have a deep concern for Paul and Emily when she sent a thug to their house to deal with them? (eom) Mandi

Mandi, actually I think she hates Parker, absolutely no concern when it comes to him, and she is so eager about pushing him (and his feelings) aside. She maybe be jealous of Parker stemming from his minute wedding to her daughter, taking LibbyLu away from her.... About Carly, so-so, she did keep Carly's drinking a secret until the drinking became worse. About Paul & Em, well, LOL at that point her concern was for the unborn baby not being raised by two lunatics.

I think Janet's concern about the baby not being raised by the lunatics could have been addressed by a legitimate closed adoption through an agency. Regarding Carly's drinking, I think Janet kept that secret because Jack would have been concerned for Carly which would have ticked off Janet. And, I agree that Janet seems to hate Parker, but I think it's because he's Carly's son, and she hates all things Carly. (eom) Mandi

Oh, Mandi, I should have amended that to read - deep concern for those she loves. And even with that, her love goes overboard. /mia

LOL, mia! It's cool. (eom) Mandi

Mia - thanks for explaining why you like and enjoy the character. I do appreciate that she is different than most of the canvas and has that brassy rough around the edges quality - I really enjoyed that contrast when Rose brought that to the Lily/Rose duo, and I could enjoy that in Janet if I didn't think of her as amazingly narcissistic. We all bring the prism of our own lives to these things and that probably says a lot about mine, but she just hits some buttons in me that see a single-minded selfishness and ''it's all about me'' in almost everything she does. I don't think she's malicious or ''bad'' in the sense that she's trying to get over on others, I just think she puts herself and her needs first and foremost. Liberty's baby was about all about her, she made Brad's life and death moment all about her claim on the past (unintentionally, but that's what she was spouting off about - the Brad she knew back when, Brad when he'd been hers) - her story was meant to reassure but it was still all about her really - at least to my way of seeing it. I've already written about how her first thought was about how Brad's death affected her and Liberty and how it made things even worse for his brother, her husband. The first person to be comforted about Brad's death was Janet. To me she just inserts herself front and center into everything that touches her. I probably look for that since it's tripped that reaction in me, but it's struck me and now I can't see past it. But, thanks again for telling me how you see her. It helps me have some perspective on how her character is meant to be seen. eom/pita

Great post, MIa. You reminded me of what I liked about Janet when she first came on the scene. I'm afraid, though, that the way she brow beat her daughter has really turned me off./mm

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Posted by: Mandi
Date posted: Wed Oct 28 8:05:05 2009
Message:

Interesting question. I think the writers have shifted how we're supposed to feel about good ole Juicy Janet. When the tramp initially came to town trying to steal Brad from Katie, I don't think we were supposed to like her. She was a sluttly contrast to Katie's sweetness and light. The moment Janet was no longer a threat to Princess Pink, and she hooked up with her booty call boyfriend, she became the good girl to Carly's bad girl. Since then, Janet has gotten more and more wholesome. She's become the virtuous, manicotti-slinging wife and mother of the year.

I'm  not sure the writers were prepared for the viewers' reaction to the despicable way Janet treated Liberty, regardless of our views on abortion and adoption. It was pretty obvious that most viewers just wanted her to stop tormenting her daughter. Instead of pursuing a LEGAL, legitimate adoption after stealing away Liberty's right to an abortion, Janet involved a thug who ended up arranging for the criminally insane Paul and Emily to adopt the baby. Janet never considered how painful it would have been for Liberty to live as a sibling to her own child when she forced the idea of her adopting the baby. (Let's not forget how the ox flat out ignored her husband's request not to raise the baby.) Her behavior throughout the ordeal has been overbearing, obnoxious, selfish, and even cruel.

Now that Jack is responsible for Brad's death and Janet is trying to blame his drinking on the accidental shooting, I fully expect her to further polish her halo by telling Margo the truth. So, in short, whether they intended it or not, by sanctifying Janet the writers have made her extremely unlikeable. There are characters I love to hate, but Janet is one I just hate, and I wish she was written off.

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Posted by: Bertha
Date posted: Wed Oct 28 7:31:27 2009
Message:
I agree with everything you have said. To top it off, Kim had to follow her home to be sure she was alright.  Kim worked with Katie and Brad and was close to them and isn't Katie her sister's child? (not sure).  Anyway, it would have been more believable for her to have stayed by Katie's side. It seems to always be all about Janet.

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Katie's mother is Lila, and she's not Kim's sister. Katie is, however, Kim's daughter-in-law's sister, so she is in a way related to her. I can understand her going to check on Janet, because one may assume Janet would have to tell Liberty AND Emma, Meg, and whoever else was at the farm. Katie had Bob, Henry and Jack at the hospital, even though Jack needed comforting almost as much as Katie did. (eom) Mandi

Which one was Kim's sister? I can't remember.

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Posted by: Midwest Meredith
Date posted: Wed Oct 28 4:23:05 2009
Message:

I am really looking forward to the upcoming storylines.. things seem to really be turning around.

However, I would take Janet on a plane to California never to be seen or heard from again.. that would be sheer bliss.

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Posted by: Roxie
Date posted: Tue Oct 27 22:08:52 2009
Message:
I was totally appalled at Janet's actions today. From her accusations about Jack drinking, like he doesn't have ENOUGH guilt to bear already without that, to that Godawful disgusting and inappropriate scene at the hospital, to her selfishly bawling about Liberty's loss when Brad died instead of comforting her husband, whose brother just died by his own hand. How selfish, stupid and inconsiderate can this woman be? I don't think I could possibly hate her more, but if she doesn't come up with some form of guilt and remorse for allowing 'Uncle Ralphie' into their lives, I could be wrong about that!

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Posted by: aggpride
Date posted: Tue Oct 27 21:54:03 2009
Message:
I think the writers believe that they have created a down-to-earth, lively & amicable character that everyone should love. As usual, the writers are wrong. I thought it was very telling that after Brad died, Jack had to comfort Janet before he was allowed to give in to his own grief. She is so self-centered and overbearing but I'm sure we're just supposed to see her as strong and self-assured. Whatever.

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I know, it was all about her and Liberty and Jack had to comfort her! Everything is always about her first and then whatever it really is second. Classic narcissist. eom/pita

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Posted by: Janie
Date posted: Tue Oct 27 21:30:55 2009
Message:
It's hard to find anyone to like or root for anymore.  I did find Kim appealing today as she visited Janet.  BTW, she looks like she may have had a face lift.  She looks great!

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Posted by: gallyn
Date posted: Tue Oct 27 20:52:42 2009
Message:
Yeah, I think we're supposed to find her approachable. I think she's supposed to be pretty street-smart, comforting, and open, but I find her foolish, grating and crude. I know people like her, and they annoy me as much in person as she does on screen.

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Posted by: MaryHatch
Date posted: Tue Oct 27 20:00:49 2009
Message:
pita, I'm sorry. I didn't know your post included that unbearable football story, or I would have posted under here instead of starting a new thread. Janet just made me crazy today!!!

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No problem, it was irritating enough to merit another post. HATED that freakin' story and it went on and on and on .... eom/pita

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