I cannot understand all the positive reactions to Abby. I have not liked her from the first minute I saw her in "Great Expectations" when she seemed very abrupt, and (no offense to anyone out there) her smoking really bothers me. I also don't understand the student loan problem. If she's getting divorced from her husband he should not have access to those funds. When I was in school, the financial aid office wouldn't even release the money directly to me until my tuition was paid, and then I got what was left, in check form, sent certified mail which only I could sign for. Abby is not whiny like Lucy (I liked Lucy, by the way) but her storylines seem sort of whiny and one mistake or bad experience follows another. And I just really wish Abby would wash her hair! I can almost smell oily scalp whenever Abby's around, yuck! Anyway, everyone else seems to like her and I am afraid I might be missing something. Any thoughts?

-- Annie (GoldenLaur@aol.com), March 27, 2000

Answers

I'm not nuts about her, either, although I can't pinpoint exactly why. I feel like she was brought in as a "replacement Lucy," and that is part of the reason I'm having a hard time warming up to her character (I really liked Lucy, too). She almost seems like Lucy's twin, in a way, with long hair parted in the middle, only brown instead of blond...what bugs me the most, I think, is the way Carter blew Lucy off to keep helping Abby in "Be Still My Heart." I can't but help think, what if...

-- Jennifer M. (jenbird@earthlink.net), March 27, 2000.

It was hard to accept Abby, mainly because it does feel like she is a replacement for Lucy. But, she is kind of warming up to me. She seems to be a very kind person, that has problems with a marriage ending and working at a job that can be very stressful and depressing.

I do agree about the hair thing, it has to go! She does need a better style and yes, it does look grungy and undone.

The smoking thing, I feel is something the writers through in too make her more human. Just because she is going to be a doctor someday, doesn't mean she can't smoke. It definately doesn't set a good example, though. All in all, I see her as only a temporary character. But, I like her and hope they will give her some better story lines.

-- Paula (pbranden@dwave.net), March 27, 2000.

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with these thoughts about Abby. I do like Abby, and I liked Lucy. However, I keep expecting the others to say, "Lucy" when they say, "Abby", because Abby seems like a replacement Lucy to me, too. I am glad Abby isn't whiny like Lucy could be, but I am already seeing the Lucy-esque way of arguing with Carter. I personally liked Lucy better even for all her faults because she seemed more sure of herself. Plus she always seemed to put her patients first, and her own wishes last. One more thing, I was really disturbed at Abby's smoking. I realize it makes her more human, and there are many doctors who smoke, but I still hate seeing it. It makes me distrust her a little. Does that make sense to anyone but myself? Sorry I rambled so much.

-- kristal (teetle1@juno.com), March 27, 2000.

I don't agree at all!!! First off, she's a lot older than Lucy. She's been a nurse for a while it seems, and has a lot more experience with life in general. If she seems like a replacement for anyone, she'll be a replacement for Carol once she's gone (remember, Carol wanted to be a doc once too.) Plus she's got about a million more facial expressions than Lucy, she seems to know how to get along with people much more easily, and she's sharper--she's picking up on things fast and knows how to ask for/accept help when she needs it.

If she's getting a divorce, maybe her husband got into a checking account she'd already deposited a check into. Jerky husbands can be just that--jerks. And I think lots of people who've gotten divorced will testify that it can be very messy financially, no matter what.

I think Abby has the most promise of any of the cast additions so far.

-- nancy (ntc72@mailcity.com), March 27, 2000.

Is it just me or does it seem like she's nearly killed someone in every episode she's been featured on?

-- Linda (l.brown@mindspring.com), March 27, 2000.

I think I am with Jennifer in that I do like Abby, yet I resent her because Carter helped her while he should have been helping his student, Lucy. I know he felt more involved with the old woman whose husband he treated earlier, but Abby is not his student, and he could have stopped for a second to hear Lucy's concerns about Paul. It's kind of ridiculous, but I think that small little thing is why, I don't expect most to agree with that. Plus I keep seeing her as Jim Carrey's wife in Liar Liar.

I asked this before, but I never got an answer, so I'll ask again...who is Abby's assigned teacher?

-- Elaine (mrsclooney78@hotmail.com), March 27, 2000.

I forgot to mention about her smoking...I didn't like it either, it didn't fit her...however, when her and Lucy :( threw the old man's money off the roof just before the stabbing episode, she mentioned that she hadn't smoked in years. It is a weakness of hers and at least she knows it, just like Mark after his attack. If Elizabeth and Mark weren't together I'd put Abby with Mark...maybe.

-- Elaine (mrsclooney78@hotmail.com), March 27, 2000.

How come it didn't bother anyone when Mark or Susan were smoking? Also, I'm not sure if this is what you're referring to, but it seems to me that she was short on money because she didn't get her alimony check that month.

-- joy (joygirl01@yahoo.com), March 28, 2000.

i totally agree she has no copassion. it seems as if she was just throw into ther show

-- rachel (thehilfigergirl@aol.com), March 28, 2000.

Just a quick response to Joy. I didn't know Mark smokes or used to or whatever, but it did always bug me to see Susan smoke. It bugs me to see any health professional smoke.

-- kristal (teetle1@juno.com), March 28, 2000.

It bugs me to see anyone smoke. PERIOD. No offence meant to anyone here who might partake in the cancer sticks. JMHO

-- Anna (azuraine@yahoo.com), March 30, 2000.

Personally, I'm far more concerned when I see the doctors out drinking than whether or not they smoke. Nobody seems to complain if the gang goes out for a few drinks after the shift, (in fact, it's been noted that a lot of viewers want the gang to hang out socially more often) but if someone lights up, it offends viewers? I don't see where it makes any difference if the character is a successful health professional.

-- Don (dgow@excite.com), March 31, 2000.

I'm not offended when Abby's smokes, I just don't see the necessity of it. I don't agree that smoking makes characters more human. When soap operas first made the transition from radio to television, all the actors smoked onscreen. As time passed and the dangers of smoking became more widely known, only villains smoked onscreen. I guess I still associate smoking with the bad guys. I don't think smokers are bad people, of course, and I don't want to debate the morality of smoking or drinking or any other behavior, it is just that Abby's smoking was one thing more to annoy me about a character that I didn't like from the first moment I saw her. I don't see her as a Lucy replacement, there is no comparison. She just stands around looking sad, whereas Lucy was always all action. And then, when she can't handle standing around with her arms folded across her chest looking morose and greasy haired, she goes to the roof, smokes a cigarette, and waves her arms around while she talks to anyone unlucky enough to be up there at the same time. She just bugs me, with or without the smoking.

-- Annie (GoldenLaur@aol.com), April 04, 2000.