Letter to Hesser and Kalouria

We would like to let you both know about a dialogue that fans of Sheridan Crane and Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald are initiating with you. Our intent twofold: to acknowledge two entertaining, charming and appealing characters on the daytime drama Passions ¾ Sheridan and Luis; and to address the dismay and growing disenchantment felt by many fans regarding the direction and road that these two inspiring characters appear to be traveling. Our side of the dialogue - or our campaign, if you like -- will be comprised of this letter as well as postcards from fans of Sheridan and Luis (“Shuis”). Also, you may receive email messages and letters from concerned fans. The primary theme in these postcards, email messages and letters will be: “Stop in the Name of Love”.

Mr. Reilly once said: “My primary drive for all of my stories is what will entertain the audience. They're my boss. The audience determines what the story should be.”

This dialogue isn't exactly about what the story should be. It is about what we thought it was going to be. And what we clearly and definitely believed it would never be. Our perception was that we could trust Mr. Reilly and the writers of Passions..

We thought the Story of Sheridan Crane and Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald was going to go in a certain, somewhat predictable direction because of the way Mr. Reilly expertly and creatively hooked us into rooting for this dynamic couple in the first place. Passions provided many hints, clues and promises over the course of the show's tenure. These hints, clues and promises were not only implied on the show (Passions), but were decisively written in Hidden Passions and the TV Guide article, “Lost Chapter.”

Finally, this dialogue is about how the Story of Sheridan and Luis will be considered a betrayal to your fans if it goes in a certain direction. Whether the direction that is now being expressly telegraphed is merely a tantalizing attempt to frustrate (and eventually reward) the Sheridan and Luis fans, a series of trial-run scenes to gauge viewer satisfaction or discontent or a crystallized and definite decision to destroy what was written and broadcasted as the history of Sheridan and Luis - - - - only time will tell.

You chose the perfect bait - a dynamic, spirited, passionate and intelligent pair of individuals named Sheridan Crane and Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald. Their individual differences and similar values made them a rare and exciting duo for fans to spend the afternoon with, and in some cases, many hours of reviewing dubbed scenes of special “Shuis” moments.

You hooked us with stories of adventure and mystery, escapades and fights, intermingled with moments of subtlety and emotion. Their intriguing storyline along with their challenge of coping with reality-based adult issues added to the depth and complexity of their special and beautiful relationship.

You reeled us in skillfully and with patience over a seemingly interminable 18-month journey of fun, conflict, engaging dialogue and simmering, smoldering passion. The essence of their obviously passionate relationship was depicted on the cover of the July 18, 2001 issue of TV Guide.

You rewarded us with six months of a committed relationship based upon honesty, integrity and profound devotion together with the promise of an enduring relationship that transcends time and circumstances.

And then you seemingly laughed at us as you tossed us overboard with countless predictable near-misses, surreal-unreal reunions and the most hackneyed, contrived “don't-ever-say-her-name” silliness that insulted rather than charmingly frustrated even the most diehard of fans.

But through it all, there has been one constant theme connected to the pairing of Sheridan and Luis. And that theme is (or at least was) intentionally and explicitly promoted to the fans. Specifically, we were told over and over again that the characters of Sheridan and Luis would forever remain faithful to their relationship and love.

It is a commitment forged in the tale of Luke and Sarah in Hidden Passions as Sarah Crane “refused every one of them [the suitors], clearly feeling FOREVER tied to Mr. Fitzgerald.”

It was foretold in the heavenly glimpse into the future that Sheridan was granted during the Buried Alive story as Luis remained ever faithful to Sheridan for decades after her death.

It is a promise made in the “Lost Chapter” which related that although “ . . . . the young officer of the Titanic was there to comfort her and then to offer her his love. . . Susan ONLY loved Liam. Susan never forgot Liam, the true love of her life.”

This is NOT about hating the substitute partners of Beth or Brian - we understand that the potential pairing up with alternate lovers adds a degree of suspense and intrigue to the story.

This is NOT about demanding eternal happiness and fluff for our beloved couple. Nor is it about insisting upon a joyous and unencumbered reunion - the die is cast against that happening on this particular separation.

It's NOT even about the apparent lobotomization of Luis and Sheridan as they muddle through their lives with their brains presumably sucked out during that hurricane.

Mr. Reilly also once said: “The viewers are very smart, and you love their involvement, and you hate disappointing them by not remaining true to who the characters are.”

We are not merely “disappointed”. We feel betrayed and this is why we have initiated our postcard campaign. For many fans, Passions has already taken the characters of Sheridan and Luis into territory that is not "true" to whom they are. For almost three years, the writers intentionally led the fans to believe that the pairing of Sheridan and Luis was different and unique from the run-of-the-mill fare that every other soap couple enjoys or suffers through. Specifically, the recent "eagerness" of both Sheridan and Luis to "get on with their lives" and fall in love again is contrary to every past life story previously created by Reilly and the writers.

Now, before you say “but both Sheridan and Luis believe that their soul mates have perished,” we will remind you that it really doesn't matter. Why, you may ask. Well, because in their past lives - as described repeatedly by Mr. Reilly, the death of one meant the death of passionate love in that lifetime. In their past lives (and these are the past lives that Mr. Reilly wrote for them), they were unable to love anyone else after falling in love with each other.

For fans of Sheridan and Luis, the ultimate betrayal will be if either character enters into a meaningful, deep relationship with another partner. Specifically - - - and let us make this crystal clear - - - the "point of no return" for many of us will be if Sheridan or Luis sleeps with another person. It would be a betrayal of everything that Mr. Reilly and the writers have led us to believe over the last three years. It would be a betrayal of trust that the Shuis fans have invested in the Passions writers.

Ms. Hesser, you once said: “We take all of that stuff [fan comments] seriously. It's really important to be open to the criticism and feedback. A lot of times something that may sound negative is exactly what we may be going for. We may be going for that frustration.”

A solid, enduring relationship requires many things, but the most important element of all is "trust." Whether it's a husband and wife, parent and child, teacher and student, or television shows and their fans, the relationship fails when trust is betrayed. Trust can be mended, relationships can heal, and some things can be forgiven. However, at some point, there is a line that should not and cannot be crossed.

This brings us to this place and time with these simple yet profound thoughts about hope, faith and love that we think are applicable to the Sheridan and Luis storyline at this crossroad. Hope is essential in times of hardship, trouble and devastating disappointments. A sense of hope can give one the belief that things will get better or improve and the motivation to stick with the journey and watch as the events unfold.

We still have hope that it is not too late and that we are wrong about the direction that you and Mr. Reilly intend to take this story. Perhaps you are now laughing in anticipation because you already know that we will be pleasantly surprised and rewarded, as fans often are, by the outcome of this storyline. Or, perhaps you are laughing AT us for being so gullible in the past - for “taking the bait,” so to speak.

Lastly, we are expressing our love for what we thought was the love story of Sheridan and Luis, otherwise, we would not be attempting to engage in this dialogue. It is also obvious that we do not wish to lose what we have come to cherish and look forward to vicariously experiencing (The Story of Sheridan and Luis). Clearly, we are appealing to you to hear our point of view and to consider what you have promoted regarding this couple.

How many postcards will you receive? Fifty? One Hundred? A couple hundred? We have no idea. If all our efforts fall on deaf ears, and our beliefs about trust and your broadcasted and written assertions about the metaphysical (transcendental) connection between Sheridan and Luis will not be honored, then we assume that we will also move on past betrayal.

If our trust is betrayed, some fans will stop watching immediately - and will never return. Others will swear off, but return - but we think their numbers will be far less than you might think. And others will simply fade away - realizing eventually that whatever pleasure, entertainment and inspiration they once received when watching Passions is simply gone and will never return.

In closing - - - - yes, we finally are there - - - - - we want to thank you for taking the time to read this letter and hearing our side of the dialogue. As you begin to receive the postcards, keep in mind the underlying depth of feelings and essential theme as we have outlined it above. We recognize that you see our communication as evidence of our continuing interest in Passions - a correct and valid assumption. Hopefully, you also recognize our efforts as the voice of Sheridan and Luis fans who hope their trust has not been misplaced, who hope to be watching Passions for a very long time - and who will also not hesitate to change our viewing habits if we feel betrayed or ignored.


	Letter to Hesser and Kalouria Ms. Lisa S. Hesser Executive Producer, Passions 4024 Radford Avenue Studio City, California 91604 Mr. Sheraton Kalouria Senior Vice-President Daytime Programing NBC-TV 3000 W. Alameda Avenue Burbank, California 91523 Subject: “Stop in the Name of Love” - Sheridan and Luis We would like to let you both know about a dialogue that fans of Sheridan Crane and Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald are initiating with you. Our intent twofold: to acknowledge two entertaining, charming and appealing characters on the daytime drama Passions ¾ Sheridan and Luis; and to address the dismay and growing disenchantment felt by many fans regarding the direction and road that these two inspiring characters appear to be traveling. Our side of the dialogue - or our campaign, if you like -- will be comprised of this letter as well as postcards from fans of Sheridan and Luis (“Shuis”). Also, you may receive email messages and letters from concerned fans. The primary theme in these postcards, email messages and letters will be: “Stop in the Name of Love”. Why are we initiating this dialogue? Mr. Reilly once said: “My primary drive for all of my stories is what will entertain the audience. They're my boss. The audience determines what the story should be.” This dialogue isn't exactly about what the story should be. It is about what we thought it was going to be. And what we clearly and definitely believed it would never be. Our perception was that we could trust Mr. Reilly and the writers of Passions.. We thought the Story of Sheridan Crane and Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald was going to go in a certain, somewhat predictable direction because of the way Mr. Reilly expertly and creatively hooked us into rooting for this dynamic couple in the first place. Passions provided many hints, clues and promises over the course of the show's tenure. These hints, clues and promises were not only implied on the show (Passions), but were decisively written in Hidden Passions and the TV Guide article, “Lost Chapter.” Finally, this dialogue is about how the Story of Sheridan and Luis will be considered a betrayal to your fans if it goes in a certain direction. Whether the direction that is now being expressly telegraphed is merely a tantalizing attempt to frustrate (and eventually reward) the Sheridan and Luis fans, a series of trial-run scenes to gauge viewer satisfaction or discontent or a crystallized and definite decision to destroy what was written and broadcasted as the history of Sheridan and Luis - - - - only time will tell. But first, why do we even care? You chose the perfect bait - a dynamic, spirited, passionate and intelligent pair of individuals named Sheridan Crane and Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald. Their individual differences and similar values made them a rare and exciting duo for fans to spend the afternoon with, and in some cases, many hours of reviewing dubbed scenes of special “Shuis” moments. You hooked us with stories of adventure and mystery, escapades and fights, intermingled with moments of subtlety and emotion. Their intriguing storyline along with their challenge of coping with reality-based adult issues added to the depth and complexity of their special and beautiful relationship. You reeled us in skillfully and with patience over a seemingly interminable 18-month journey of fun, conflict, engaging dialogue and simmering, smoldering passion. The essence of their obviously passionate relationship was depicted on the cover of the July 18, 2001 issue of TV Guide. You rewarded us with six months of a committed relationship based upon honesty, integrity and profound devotion together with the promise of an enduring relationship that transcends time and circumstances. And then you seemingly laughed at us as you tossed us overboard with countless predictable near-misses, surreal-unreal reunions and the most hackneyed, contrived “don't-ever-say-her-name” silliness that insulted rather than charmingly frustrated even the most diehard of fans. But through it all, there has been one constant theme connected to the pairing of Sheridan and Luis. And that theme is (or at least was) intentionally and explicitly promoted to the fans. Specifically, we were told over and over again that the characters of Sheridan and Luis would forever remain faithful to their relationship and love. It is a commitment forged in the tale of Luke and Sarah in Hidden Passions as Sarah Crane “refused every one of them [the suitors], clearly feeling FOREVER tied to Mr. Fitzgerald.” It was foretold in the heavenly glimpse into the future that Sheridan was granted during the Buried Alive story as Luis remained ever faithful to Sheridan for decades after her death. It is a promise made in the “Lost Chapter” which related that although “ . . . . the young officer of the Titanic was there to comfort her and then to offer her his love. . . Susan ONLY loved Liam. Susan never forgot Liam, the true love of her life.” Before you jump to conclusions. . . . Let's outline what our dialogue is NOT about. Our dialogue is NOT about the long separation - we understand the implicit anticipation that can attach to long separations. This is NOT about hating the substitute partners of Beth or Brian - we understand that the potential pairing up with alternate lovers adds a degree of suspense and intrigue to the story. This is NOT about demanding eternal happiness and fluff for our beloved couple. Nor is it about insisting upon a joyous and unencumbered reunion - the die is cast against that happening on this particular separation. It's NOT even about the apparent lobotomization of Luis and Sheridan as they muddle through their lives with their brains presumably sucked out during that hurricane. And what it IS all about . . . . . Mr. Reilly also once said: “The viewers are very smart, and you love their involvement, and you hate disappointing them by not remaining true to who the characters are.” We are not merely “disappointed”. We feel betrayed and this is why we have initiated our postcard campaign. For many fans, Passions has already taken the characters of Sheridan and Luis into territory that is not "true" to whom they are. For almost three years, the writers intentionally led the fans to believe that the pairing of Sheridan and Luis was different and unique from the run-of-the-mill fare that every other soap couple enjoys or suffers through. Specifically, the recent "eagerness" of both Sheridan and Luis to "get on with their lives" and fall in love again is contrary to every past life story previously created by Reilly and the writers. Now, before you say “but both Sheridan and Luis believe that their soul mates have perished,” we will remind you that it really doesn't matter. Why, you may ask. Well, because in their past lives - as described repeatedly by Mr. Reilly, the death of one meant the death of passionate love in that lifetime. In their past lives (and these are the past lives that Mr. Reilly wrote for them), they were unable to love anyone else after falling in love with each other. For fans of Sheridan and Luis, the ultimate betrayal will be if either character enters into a meaningful, deep relationship with another partner. Specifically - - - and let us make this crystal clear - - - the "point of no return" for many of us will be if Sheridan or Luis sleeps with another person. It would be a betrayal of everything that Mr. Reilly and the writers have led us to believe over the last three years. It would be a betrayal of trust that the Shuis fans have invested in the Passions writers. Ms. Hesser. Mr. Kalouria. We ask only one thing. Do not cross that line. Will you listen to us? Or ignore us? Ms. Hesser, you once said: “We take all of that stuff [fan comments] seriously. It's really important to be open to the criticism and feedback. A lot of times something that may sound negative is exactly what we may be going for. We may be going for that frustration.” We readily acknowledge that “frustration” is important to building and keeping your viewership. Betrayal is not. A solid, enduring relationship requires many things, but the most important element of all is "trust." Whether it's a husband and wife, parent and child, teacher and student, or television shows and their fans, the relationship fails when trust is betrayed. Trust can be mended, relationships can heal, and some things can be forgiven. However, at some point, there is a line that should not and cannot be crossed. This brings us to this place and time with these simple yet profound thoughts about hope, faith and love that we think are applicable to the Sheridan and Luis storyline at this crossroad. Hope is essential in times of hardship, trouble and devastating disappointments. A sense of hope can give one the belief that things will get better or improve and the motivation to stick with the journey and watch as the events unfold. We still have hope that it is not too late and that we are wrong about the direction that you and Mr. Reilly intend to take this story. Perhaps you are now laughing in anticipation because you already know that we will be pleasantly surprised and rewarded, as fans often are, by the outcome of this storyline. Or, perhaps you are laughing AT us for being so gullible in the past - for “taking the bait,” so to speak. Lastly, we are expressing our love for what we thought was the love story of Sheridan and Luis, otherwise, we would not be attempting to engage in this dialogue. It is also obvious that we do not wish to lose what we have come to cherish and look forward to vicariously experiencing (The Story of Sheridan and Luis). Clearly, we are appealing to you to hear our point of view and to consider what you have promoted regarding this couple. How many postcards will you receive? Fifty? One Hundred? A couple hundred? We have no idea. If all our efforts fall on deaf ears, and our beliefs about trust and your broadcasted and written assertions about the metaphysical (transcendental) connection between Sheridan and Luis will not be honored, then we assume that we will also move on past betrayal. If our trust is betrayed, some fans will stop watching immediately - and will never return. Others will swear off, but return - but we think their numbers will be far less than you might think. And others will simply fade away - realizing eventually that whatever pleasure, entertainment and inspiration they once received when watching Passions is simply gone and will never return. In closing - - - - yes, we finally are there - - - - - we want to thank you for taking the time to read this letter and hearing our side of the dialogue. As you begin to receive the postcards, keep in mind the underlying depth of feelings and essential theme as we have outlined it above. We recognize that you see our communication as evidence of our continuing interest in Passions - a correct and valid assumption. Hopefully, you also recognize our efforts as the voice of Sheridan and Luis fans who hope their trust has not been misplaced, who hope to be watching Passions for a very long time - and who will also not hesitate to change our viewing habits if we feel betrayed or ignored. Very truly yours, Baby Shuis CADreaming Harmonyfun01 Jemb JSP Maxie Jet Passionatic SHUIS Fan Starshine Sylinwisc Wmsessions Q+A's Postcard Page Sample Comments email us