General Hospital: Medicalizing Spinelli

For a twenty-something, Spinelli is socially delayed, sexually naive, speaks of himself in the third person, uses formal pedantic language, and refers to other people by descriptive, perceptive monikers he supplies. He is also a good-natured, computer genius and a loyal, caring friend who can be honest to a fault. Even by soap standards, Spinelli is a little “off the beaten path,” but should Spinelli’s quirks and eccentricities be “diagnosed” or medicalized? Can’t someone just be different or unique? So what if Spinelli processes information or expresses himself differently than the other citizens of Port Charles.

While hospitalized recovering from a virus, Spinelli was evaluated by the new doctor in town, Dr. Matt Hunter, who suggested Spinelli’s speech and behavior patterns required further testing in order to diagnose. Dr. Hunter implied Spinelli might fall somewhere on the Autism spectrum or perhaps have Asperger’s Syndrome. In a split-second, Spinelli’s sweet-natured, unassuming visage changed to worry and fear. Spinelli firmly declined further testing, and concluded by requesting Dr. Hunter not mention this ever again.

Often indecisive and unsure, Spinelli was quick to shut down Dr. Hunter’s suggestion for testing; it appeared as if Spinelli had been down this road before. Was Spinelli “diagnosed" or more likely "misdiagnosed" as a child? Could the fall-out from previous medical labeling have led to Spinelli’s social isolation thus delaying his social development?

There are many unexplored layers to Spinelli. Spinelli talks a lot, but seldom speaks of his past; instead, he spends much more time empathizing with others about their problems. Even after nearly two years in Port Charles, Spinelli’s back-story barely fills a thimble. He was raised by his grandmother in rural Tennessee. Could Spin has been "diagnosed" and bullied or treated differently as a child growing up in Tennessee? Did he leave Tennessee to attend college in Upstate NY to "start over" where no one knew him or his “diagnosis”?

The little information established about Spinelli’s history does not imply a normal, loving childhood. His history suggests prolonged social isolation yet Spin has such positive energy and so much love in his heart. What little is known of Spin's social isolation could easily have made him bitter and mean, but instead, Spin is one of the kindest, most gentle people in town.

Whatever Spinelli’s "diagnosis" or label, he has come to terms with it. Recently Spin explained to Maxie he had feelings like everyone else, and he “functioned quite capably”. In one of Spinelli’s most plain-spoken and touching moments, he softly confessed to Maxie, “I am not a freak.” Whether there is a medical “diagnosis” or "condition" applicable to Spin, does it matter or change anything? Without knowing for certain, Spinelli may have already lived through a lifetime of pain; maybe he has been hurt enough by a “diagnosis” or “misdiagnosis”.

General Hospital has a unique opportunity to tell an amazing back-story with the character of Spinelli. Immediately following the mere suggestion Spinelli might have a medical condition, an avalanche of speculation and discourse began on whether Spin’s quirkiness might be medically explained. Viewers are interested in the enigma that is Spinelli, and Bradford Anderson’s stunning interpretation of this intricate, yet naive character, has kept the mystery simmering just below the surface for nearly two years. Please GH, give us just a little taste of what makes Spinelli tick. It is the perfect combination: a story begging to be told, viewers eager to see it, and Bradford Anderson, an actor who knocks the ball out of the park every turn at bat. General Hospital, it is time to “bring it”.

VIXENELLA’S VIDEO OF THE DAY: Enjoy this fun Spinelli Name Montage by Wdwforever to the tune of Boomshakalaka from Dumb and Dumber.

BELIEVE IN SPIXIE MAGIC!

Spinelli: The Thinking Fan’s Hero

As the self-appointed Chief Cyber-Ninja-In-Charge of defending General Hospital's Spinelli, it is not all glitz and glamour for the vigilant Vixenella. To quote our fearless leader, President George W. Bush, some days it is "hard work." Well, on Tuesday, June 24, it was hard work indeed.

When last we left our hapless hacker, Spinelli was being wheeled away by paramedics on a gurney, having succumbed to the dreaded, life-threatening Pizza Delivery Guy (PDG) virus. Thank God, this is not back in the day when everything happening on soaps was a surprise — no spoilers, no Internet, no info on actors' employment status, etc. If I didn't know Spinelli's character was not dying, I might be blogging this while sitting vigil in the waiting room of General Hospital, fretting and awaiting word on Spin's condition.

Even babbling deliriously from a scorching fever, Spinelli was still the most cogent, insightful character on GH. His references to Greek Classic playwright Sophocles' famous story of Oedipus were brilliant and foreshadowed the inevitable dynamic in both the Jason/Sonny relationship, and possibly in the end, the Jason/Spinelli relationship. Both the writing and Bradford Anderson's spot on delivery of this important monologue were impressive.

Still basking in the glow of the highbrow literary allusion from her favorite character on her favorite soap, Spin's Vixenella wandered over to one of the largest General Hospital message boards on the Internet… just in time to find Spinelli bashed to the high heavens for urging Jason to kill Sonny. What? Reference to one of classic literature's most famous power struggles had flown over the heads of many message board posters, and Spinelli stood accused of spewing unintelligible Sonny-hate.

Spin's Vixenella was stunned at some of the negative response. The GH writers actually gave the fans something more intellectually stimulating than the pitiful dreck to which we have grown accustomed. Yet, the references and their implication were completely lost on many fans. Perhaps this bespeaks the woeful failure of the American education system to instruct in classic Greek literature at the high school level. On the other hand, perhaps it just goes to show the General Hospital writers they are damned when they do, and damned when they don't. How can we bitterly complain about soaps not being intelligently written, and then criticize when they are? From the writers' perspective, if they are going to be bashed regardless, why not just play to the lowest common fan denominator?

Driving this point home, in sharp contrast to Spinelli's perceptive monologue, the same episode also featured a fight scene between Johnny and Logan. Bear with the Vixenella as she briefly sets the stage for this deep, thought-provoking scene: "Lulu is mine, not yours!" PUNCH! (This was not too riveting in either the dialogue or compelling drama department, if you ask the Vixenella.)

As for Spin's Vixenella, I would take one Damien Spinelli sweaty and feverish over the entire rest of the hot bods on GH wrapped in leather pants and delivered to my doorstep. Hot guys are a dime a dozen on soaps. Interesting and erudite are much harder to find. Sincere thanks to General Hospital for the rarest gem, Damien Spinelli — the thinking fan's hero.

* You may also enjoy this article by Spin's Vixenella at Blog Critics Online magazine.


VIXENELLA'S VIDEO OF THE DAY: A big Vixenella Shout Out to another of my wonderful Spixie friends, Ashley for I Need A Hero (by Frou Frou) starring our beloved Spinelli and his side-kick Jason. Ashley is the technical genius behind one of my favorite and best-run fan forums on the internet, the Spixie fan site, Opposite Attraction If you are a Spixie fan, get involved with Opposite Attraction...they even put up with the ever-snarky, Spin's Vixenella. ENJOY!

BRAND NEW 30 sec. Spixie Promo on SOAPNet!

Wooo Hoo! Spixie has their own brand new 30 second promo that starting airing yesterday on SoapNet. ENJOY!

General Hospital: Pavlov's Fans

Forget Pavlov’s dog… it’s his fans I’m worried about. Say it with me slowly, one Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi… that is the precise length of time Maxie Jones and the new doctor, Matt Hunter, shared the General Hospital screen on Thursday (June 26).

Yes, those three long-awaited, over-hyped seconds on GH marked the re-teaming of former Days of Our Lives (DOOL) young lovers Shawn and Belle, Jason Cook (Matt Hunter, GH; ex-Shawn, DOOL) and Kirsten Storms (Maxie Jones, GH; Belle, DOOL).

The only problem? General Hospital has neither a Shawn nor a Belle character. Who cares about a minor detail like that when there is spontaneously combustible sexual chemistry exploding on our screens? But, alas, for three glorious seconds these two characters bumped into each other. There, I said it. Matt and Maxie (not Shawn and Belle) bumped into each other on General Hospital, not Days of Our Lives. Neither paying attention, they turned around quickly and accidentally bumped into each other in front of GH’s famous nurses’ station.

Be advised, Spin’s Vixenella can “squeeeeeeee” and “eeeeeeeeeee” and “OMG” with the best fan girls on the biggest Internet soap message boards, but yesterday’s response to those three seconds of shared screen time was simply astonishing on so many levels. In an attempt to counterbalance her inner fan girl and bring into sharp focus the three seconds, The Vixenella will spew forth some Latin: res ipsa loquitur. Yes, res ipsa loquitur, a legal term which means “the thing speaks for itself”. No further details or evidence are necessary; the response tells the whole story. So without further adieu, and with no identifying information revealed, Spin’s Vixenella gives you res ipsa loquitur, verbatim actual message board responses to three seconds of General Hospital.

“That song by Savage Garden “I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You” instantly played in my mind”

“I don't care if it was forced I just love looking at him and seeing him again its been so long since I saw him on DOOL”

“Reunited and it feeeels so gooooood! Woooohooo!”

“I didn't think that the scene looked forced at all, I LOVED it! The scene lived up to my expectations and then some, I have been waiting so long for this! I hope that the continuation of the scene will happen tomorrow.”

“Forced or Not, i friggin Loved it! My Heart Bursts with Joy! I can Bearly Breathe! Jason and Kirsten Together again EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE”

“I'm so excited! I have been squeeling since I saw the scene of Maxie and Matt running into each other. Gave me a warm feeling and a nice flashback.”

“I watched today's scene 3 times already!”

“I think I've watched about a hundred times already.”

“Sparks! I saw definite sparks of chemistry! And that look... oh boy, they've definitely got me hooked!” “God, those were the best and most interesting 3 seconds of GH in a loooong time!”

“I loved M&M's interaction. The chemistry is there (yes, based on that clip alone, I judge them to be awesomely perfect for each other).”

In fairness, there was a lone voice of reason in the message board thread who commented, “I can't really say how I feel about the two yet, because well it was a very short scene, he didn't really say anything to her.” Do the rest of these GH fans fall in love while stopped at traffic lights or in grocery store check-out queues? They must be the speediest of speed daters.

Res ipsa loquitur, fellow soap fans. Can we expect intelligent, long-term storytelling and insightful character development when three seconds of stunt casting a “hot” soap hunk from a rival network sends us into paroxysms of joy? When the soap genre is extinct, we will have only ourselves to blame for not demanding more when we had the chance.

Lessons Learned: To minimize the risk of bumping into someone and having them spontaneously combust with sexual chemistry on me, The Vixenella vows to be more careful and less absent-minded in public places.

VIXENELLA'S VIDEO OF THE DAY: Enjoy Bonnie Rait's Something to Talk Aboutcompiled by Ashley from the Opposite Attraction Fan Site. Spinelli & Maxie...SPIXIE IS SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT...the new guy...meh!