Maurice Benard does a great job as Sonny. Even people who don’t watch the show, when this writer explains what she does, ask about Sonny. A lesbian told me she’s attracted to him. I’m not kidding here. My sister, who’s maybe seen the show once in the last four years, adores Sonny. My friend Laura’s mother is very concerned about him. When my dad brought autographed photos of other actors for people to my brother’s office one year, he returned with a thank you and a request: “They asked me if you could get autographed photos of Sonny.” Face it. Maurice has created a sensational character.
He’s had a little help from the writers, and these past few weeks are a good example. We have his brother, Rick, practically groveling at the man’s feet. Rick is so desperate for his brother’s love. He’s actually become Sonny’s consigliore, like Robert Duval in The Godfather, so committed is he to being Sonny’s right hand.
Alas, Sonny’s right hand is the oft-confused Jason Morgan. Jason has no memory of his former life. However, sitting in Hawaii, he had a feeling he needed to shoot someone for Sonny. So he took what must have been some sort of spaceship from Hawaii to Port Charles so he could be there within seconds.
Ric ought to be trying to get back with his wife. Instead, he spends time in Reese’s hospital room. He's not trying to hit on Reese, which would also make some sense; instead, he's complaining about Sonny not loving him and expressing jealousy toward Jason. If you just tuned in this show without knowing what was going on, you’d think you were watching Queer as Folk.
Then there’s that “straighten up and fly right” woman, Emily. The writers apparently intended Emily and Sonny to become some sort of love match, but evidently, they have decided against it. I don’t know why. The fact that she looks like Sonny’s daughter has never stopped any other older man-younger woman relationship that I know of. Emily, like everyone else, is devoted to Sonny, defending him to her irate mother and father and saying things like, “Sonny needs to rest.” She sleeps in a chair by his hospital bed. How well can she be doing in medical school? When she’s not at reception or trying to build a relationship with her husband, she’s at Graystone with the kids. When was the last time those poor kids saw Courtney? Crack a medical book, Emily, it may be your best shot at a future.
Reese – well, she’s in for a big surprise when Sonny finds out about her night of love with his half-brother at the MetroCourt Hotel. That is, if Carly doesn’t jump Rose Lawn first and return to Sonny’s loving care. He is, after all, the only man for her. He’s the only man, apparently, for everyone.
Please, we don’t need to be hit over the head with Sonny’s charisma. We know he has it. Let the man continue to do his music video shootouts, his romantic scenes, show those dimples, and be a tough guy/loving father. Having the people around him act like supplicants makes them look like moronic victims of some Sonny Corinthos Mind Meld.
