We got so many interesting responses from AS THE WORLD TURNS fans for a recent "Focus Group" feature that we had to share more passionate comments.

CHARACTER STUDIES
For every character or storyline that one person hated, there were others who considered it a favorite. (Yes, even Cleo. Yes, even last summer’s stalker storyline.) Take “the best couple on daytime” — we read that phrase quite often. About Jack and Carly? Jack and Katie? Will and Gwen? Paul and Meg? Paul and Emily? Try all of them. Here are letters voicing some of the most common character-related complaints.

There’s no realism to ATWT anymore, and I’m SICK of watching women fight over worthless men all the time. And I’m SICK of Carly always groveling while everyone else gets away with everything. Plus, Carly never gets a good job and keeps it. BORING and REDUNDANT.
P.A., watching 20 years (and would watch Carly every day)

Jack deserves to be happy. Carly doesn’t deserve him at all. She’s used her 1-20th chances with him. I enjoy seeing Jack lighthearted and open to Katie’s playful side.
T.M., watching 20+ years (and would watch Jack every day)

I love Paul and Meg. This is the only reason I continue to watch! I just want them married already! Enough with the third parties!
C.K., watching 20 years (and would watch Paul and Meg every day)

I started watching the show to see GH’s Sarah Brown [ex-Julia; ex-Carly, GH] and immediately fell in love with the Henry character. I think the show should give Henry a meaty story of his own and give Trent [Dawson] some screen time instead of the same characters day in and day out. Loved the baby story because it was emotional and made you feel for all parties. I am currently enjoying the Henry/Vienna story, but I still miss Simon/Katie.
S.S., watching three years (and would watch Henry every day)

I began watching when Roger Howarth [Paul] started on ATWT. I liked the story with Rose and became addicted during his storyline with Emily. ATWT completely missed the boat on using the Paul and Emily and Barbara and Susan and James history, and their isolation has been ridiculous.
K.S., watching four years (and would watch Craig every day)

I seriously hate ATWT for letting longtimers like John Dixon just walk off my screen with not so such much as a good-bye. Characters just leave, no explanation given? Come on....
L.H., watching 24 years (and would watch Will and Gwen every day)

[The worst episode ever:] The Adam raping Gwen stuff. The worst character assassination I have ever seen with not even a hint as to the reasoning behind it. It has seriously ruined my appreciation for the show.
N.G., watching two years (and would watch Luke and Jade every day)

“NUKE” ’EM
Think soaps should just give up on chasing fresh viewers? The Luke storyline, more than any other, proved to be the reason most new fans tuned in. Now ATWT just has to hang on to them.

Hmm, even though I’ve been watching for a relatively short time, the show caught my attention with Luke's coming-out storyline. Never thought I’d be one to watch a soap opera, but I started and soon enough couldn’t miss an episode. It was really great around that time, but then Luke started appearing less and less and it was more ... not to say pointless, but not as great as it had formerly been. I’m not saying that Luke has to be on-screen for the entire hour (although, let’s be honest, that’d be awesome), but a little more attention to a great character would’ve been great instead of just almost making it appear as though he dropped off the face of the earth. In the short year that I’ve been watching, this show has made me care for characters that I thought I’d never in a million years care about, but now do. I’m just really (really, really, really) glad that we’re finally getting another storyline that has Luke as a major factor.
J.M., watching one year

My aunt got me into the show, as she has been a fan for over 40 years, and I have been hooked ever since. I love all of the characters, and in particular, the coming-out storyline of Luke Snyder has been awesome! I can’t wait to see where the writers take the next step, and I am so excited that he will be getting a love interest! The show as a whole is just fabulous! keep up the fantastic work!
N.J., watching one year

I started watching ATWT for the Luke storyline. I’m really looking forward to his love story with Noah. I’m hoping ATWT doesn’t drop the ball like GH did with the Lucas storyline.
E.S., watching one year

I returned to watching ATWT because I heard about Luke being gay, and was re-hooked all over again. The show has some terrific actors, but the writing is frustratingly erratic, with too many stupid storylines involving boring characters (Katie, Gwen, Maddie) and not enough featuring the really interesting characters, like Henry and Vienna, and I’m impatient for Luke to get a boyfriend.
J.J., watching on and off for 20 years