The Head Writers Look Into Todd Manning.

Three writers have come and gone on One Life To Live. Each writer, writes their own take on who and what Todd Manning is. In this blog I will take a look into all three head writers heads and point out what Todd Manning is to them. First up:





Michael Malone:
When Trevor first joined One Life To Live in 2003 Michael
Malone was still Head Writer. Michael's way of writing was brilliant. He knew the writing bible of each character on the show. He not only wrote their history but wrote story lines ahead and where he was on taking the show. He mapped out where he was taking each and every character from the start of storyline to finish. When Trevor first showed up as Walker he wrote a brilliant storyline where he introduce fans to Walker. Had fans get to know who Walker was and left fans to decide if they loved or hated Walker. Slowly he brought Walker into the lives of Blair, Starr, Kevin, Vicki and Dorian. Than he slowly started bringing out little things about Walker that reminded fans of Todd Manning. Fans started guessing is Walker really Todd. Hints and hints started to come together until the show finally waited for the answer. Who could forget the Todd and Starr scenes when Walker as Todd finally revealed to Starr he was in deed her father Todd. They were awesome scenes! Michael Malone is the only writer out of the last three writers who knows who the real Todd Manning is. He wrote Todd with depth, emotional and feelings. Kept the history with character and connections with Todd Manning intact. Could you really see Michael writing Todd today, beating up Cole, holding Langston, Markko, holding Marty (with her memory lost), planning to take Starr's child. I can't and even if Michael wrote all of that. He would of gave fans an answer as to why Todd was doing all these things. All because Michael Malone knew who Todd Manning was. Under Michael Malone Trevor had his best head writer. And to this day. Michael Malone is Trevor's and Todd Manning's best writer. I wish he was still here today.


Dena Higely:
OK so she wasn't the best head writer for One Life To Live. Maybe because she didn't know the history of the show. And yes with alot of fans Dena was not liked because of what she did to the characters on the show. But there is one thing I do know for me. As much as I was mad with the way she was writing One Life To Live. I never would turn off One Life To Live. She may of wrote a lot of things for Todd from the crazy Mad Mags storyline, to Mags holding Todd hostage, to the rape of Todd, to Spencer to the continued storyline of the dead baby storyline. She may have gave all of us Todd Manning fans stories like this for Todd but the one thing She never did was take away Todd's connections. He still had his shorty Starr, Jessica, Vicki. She still gave Todd layers and never took them away from him. Todd's layers is what makes Todd who he is. She never made him a complete monster and kept you rooting for Todd no matter what happen. That's the important part of Todd making him a root able character. All the way up until those great execution scenes. Which to this day Trevor and Todd fans will never forget. With all the complaining and moaning from One Life To Live fans about Dena ruining One Life To Live. This Trevor and Todd fan didn't have any complaints. I was mad what she was doing to Todd. But she still kept me watching the show. And Todd Manning no matter what threw at him.








Ron Carlivati:
What can I say. He's the first Head Writer that made me turn off One Life To Live and tune out my favorite character and actor Trevor and Todd. From the moment he took over One Life To Live was the end with me with him. Since taking over One Life To Live as head writer he has turn Todd into a monster. With no feelings, no emotions, no root able part of Todd Manning is there. He had Todd beating up teenagers, he had Todd put Sam in a car and get into a car accident, than he has Todd kidnapped Marty, than had him plotting to take his shorty Starr's baby away from her by pretending the baby was dead. He writes Todd with no layers, took all his feelings away from him. And lets not get into his connections, Starr (was a big lost), Vicki, Jessica all these people in his life he wouldn't hurt. Than on top of all of this Ron saids this is Todd and this is how I see Todd. No Ron that is not Todd! Todd Manning fans know Todd and know who Todd is. I sit back thinking that all the writing I do and complaining to him doesn't work. Because according to Ron that is who Todd Manning is "OK". If you say so. For a head writer that's suppose to know the history of your characters you sure don't. Todd did a lot of monster things but the one thing he always kept in mind was that he never wanted to turn into his abusive adopted dad Peter Manning, or turn into his real father, Victor Lord. That was the bible you should of kept when writing Todd Manning. That's what Todd always fought against and him never hurting his children. But no Ron since taking over as head writer you wnet against the bible that was written for Todd Manning and changed that bible and history to suit your way of seeing Todd Manning. And that's why Ron is the worst head writer that ever happen to Todd Manning. Todd was a anti-hero, not the monster you turn him into.