Chris B

I read some spoilers that'll probably end up being revolting on screen. Another problem with this new producer is how dark the show is. He seems to turn to violence as the easiest source of drama. Everything seems to be about shocking the viewers. He needs to be writing All My Children or something. Now tell me does that character really deserve that? It upsets me just reading that. Everytime I think of returning to this show something upsets me. It makes no sense.

Wow! I didn't even read yet, but that looks NOTHING like Louise Shaffer I remember from Ryan's Hope and SFT

That could be it, but they used a character like Suzi as a Patti substitute. I just watched a couple of the flood episodes and Schultz just doesn't seem like Patty lol. I think all the episodes I have (some from the 50s, others from 1966) all contain Lynn Loring, the original Patty. Looking at her around 18-19 in 1966, shouldn't she also have been older by the time she returned? The entire thing is just so odd lol. Watching the flood (which was VERY impressive), I was wondering if any soap could pull that off today. I think Passions may have done a flood at one point, but it just seems like it would be so difficult. Does anyone know if anyone died during the flood?

I have the first few months (maybe 2 or 3) of SFT from the AOL airings and also about 10 episodes from the flood. I got bored and am re-watching it. It kinda sucks because I didn't keep up with the AOL airings so I missed out on so much and the show was *so* good. I've only seen one episode with Maree Cheetham as Stephanie who seemed fab, but Louise Shaffer isn't written anything like that so I don't blame her for any change. I do think she's doing a good job, but she doesn't have much to work with. I pretty much see her at this tv station fretting over this lame show and occasionally fretting over her daughter. For those who watched the show, did Shaffer ever have a storyline when she was on the show? Was her death pretty much it? One character I missed completely was Patty's daughter Sarah. I had stopped watching by then and was so upset to learn they killed her off. She's a young, viable legacy character and that's who you decide to kill off for a lame serial killer story? And to do it when her mother isn't even on the show! Who was writing the show? That's one of the most boneheaded moves ever. I'm sure that impacted Patty's return as well. How can you justify her not returning to town then? The whole thing with Patty confuses me. Why did it take so long to bring her back? They seemed to have such trouble casting that role.

Ah! Thanks for this! I still dream of one day seeing one episode or scene from this show lol. So odd it's the spin-off of a huge groundbreaking soap and not even a clip is on the net! I'd love to see how Patricia Morrow is in the daytime format and with a new Norman. Saynotoursoap, does Rita appear in any of the episodes you have? Any recollections on her story?

At this point it's always a toss up between ATL and NJ, but OC is very high as well. NYC's ratings have improved, but it isn't has high as the other three. DC got flack but it's ratings are good and in the final few weeks kept rising each week. BH hasn't been able to hold it's audience. The reunion got around 1.6 last week, and BH had 1.4 I believe. Everybody expected it to be a huge blockbuster series due to the location and money, but so far it's just doing ok. I do wonder why the press doesn't mention it, yet always harked on about DC's ratings.

Before the season premiered it was heavily rumored that Cynthia was a disappointment and the producers had trouble finding material for her. Not surprising they didn't even include her in the first episode. I notice she's very bitchy in her blogs which I think is a precursor to an exciting reunion performance and her hope to be asked back for another season. I guess it's true Victoria Rowell is who they really wanted. We all know the crazy that would've brought lol. DC became my favorite of all the series. I know many thought it was slow and the White House State Dinner ruined the suspense of the season. Still I loved the ladies and I found it interesting. Very different and certainly packed with more class and different type of conversations. Cat and Lynda were my favorites. I find Stacie to be an interesting character who I look forward to seeing on future seasons. Besides Cat, these ladies got a pass because everything was so centered around the Salahi's drama. Mary posted on her blog entire stories that were filmed and cut to make room for them. I hope next season Stacie gets called out for all her of sly shyt stirring. It's really hilarious. She's always "just saying" but she knows what shes implying. She's such a gossip and I love it! LOL! For next season I'd bring on Erika, drop Michaele and add another HW. Keep the four we already have. OC has always been my least favorite, although I did love the first two seassons. Since Tamra and Gretchen arrived it's more outrageous and just not interesting. They're too aware of the cameras and phony now. NYC is a great series, but it's next season without Bethanny (or minimal Bethanny) could be a mess. Sonia, Kelly, etc. aren't interesting enough on their own. Atlanta is just a classic. Nene. Kandi. He By Sheree. OMG! These girls kill me. I love the humor in this series and also in DC. It's like a sophisticated modern sitcom, yet they aren't in on the joke. It's like Modern Family come to life. I love it. On DC you have everyones reactions to Michaele. Atlanta it's everything. Bevely Hills is an interesting show so far. The ugliest bunch, but I *love* Lisa and Kyle.

I'm currently watching the final season and it's actually very good. I had fast forwarded and watched a couple episodes and didn't like it. The glamour is gone, Martin Peyton is gone and lots of new characters. I will say the people they introduced are very interesting and they're pushing the limits even more. I *love* the black family played by Percy Rodriguez, Ruby Dee and Glynn Thurman--all brilliant. It amazes me that they're well integrated into the cast and are actually given storylines. I know Judy Pace is arriving soon as a more devious version of early Betty Anderson. I know how hard it was to get them on screen in 1968/69 so I'm impressed with the amount they're given to do. I wasn't expecting much. Michael Rossi's the most interesting he's been since his romance with Connie. I always thought he was dull just as a very supporting character with nothing going on himself. By giving him a love interest and making him the series lead post-Elliot/Connie he's stepped up to the plate. The Tom and Susan Winter was fabulous should've been there sooner. Diana Hyland is a brilliant actress and it's a shame she died so young. She's one of the very best on Peyton Place. The Rodney/Betty/Steven story is the least successful, but interesting. I loved all the focus on Norman and Rita for a couple seasons. I guess I was spoiled with the Harrington family due to Hannah Cord and Martin Peyton. Without them those characters suffer. I need that type of spice in my life. It's shocking they wrote Martin out considering the actor was alive in well long after the series went off the air. He didn't even get a proper exit (on screen at least). I guess he was another victim of budget cuts.

Gena was one in 1967 or 8 I think. Whatever season, it's the last for the Carson's. The first half is the Gena Rowlands story then a big send off for Connie and Elliot which I'll get into later. Rowland's story is the one after the Rachel Welles story, if you've reached that point. It's an electrifying time for the show. So weird to hear that the show got bad once it reached color, that is so not true. I did watch a few episodes from the final season and they were admittedly terrible, but hopefully within the context and seeing how the show gets there it will be okay. Just weird seeing all new cast (mostly), new sets, the glamour is completely gone and the fashions/slang from the late 60s has taken over. It's a very dramatic revamp. The only positive is the black family which seems to actually have major stories. There's a black Betty Anderson-esque character (played by Judy Pace, mother of Y&R's Sofia) and Ruby Dee is obviously one of the greatest ever. She needed to be there a good two years earlier. The McKenzie clones are just dreadful. Not!Alison can't act and her mother seemed forgettable from what I saw. Right now the episodes I'm watching feature Jill Smith, a character I've already seen from Murder In Peyton Place. In that dreadful film Norman was the lead male and I'm assuming they wrote it assuming Patricia Morrow would agree to film. She didn't so they randomly picked Jill to be the new Mrs. Harrington and only referred to Rita as "your first wife." Very odd since Jill/Norman rarely interact, if at all. But anyway, she fits in perfectly on the original series. She has a baby that she claims is Allison's, but of course you can't prove that in those times. Dorthy Malone is doing great work as usual and I can't believe they wrote her off. It seems like Alison leaving was the best thing to ever happen to Connie. Budget cuts or not, she's the last person who needed to go.

I just finished the Gena Rowlands arc and it was fantastic. I love the way they weaved the other major story involving Norman and Rita. I'm still amazed that Norman and Rita have returned to the frontburner and have such a big story. It was building slowly the previous season as if the writers were re-introducing the two. I'm loving it and the chance for Ada Jacks to finally sink her teeth into a story as well. She's been breathtaking several times throughout the Eddie Jacks story. Love, love, love Betty and everything she does. The potential reunion with Rodney is developing nicely. Speaking of, it seems like he hasn't done a think since Allison left town, which was ages ago. No love interest or much of a story. Odd considering you always think of Rodney as one of the major characters. Also lots of play for Connie and Elliot (much like the Rachel story) which is good since we know they're leaving soon. Getting back to Gena Rowlands, Martin Peyton is an absolute god. The actor is fantastic and the short time the role was recast was such a disappointment. This was a classic, very clever soap tale and very brave as well. I just wish soaps would watch PP and directly copy the stories. This is fresher than anything I've been seeing. Now I'm tempted to flash forward like to the final season and watch a couple episodes. I wanna see the black family and all the other new characters, but I don't wanna speed through viewing.

I don't think her problem was that she was too serious, she was just a mess. Couldn't act to save her life. She wasn't playing it too hard or serious, but far too over the top and too forced. She simply can't act. I wish Kylie Travis was given more of a chance to go up against her because she had the chops to tear her ass up. Madchen Amick as well.

I actually liked the first Vicki recast a lot. I thought she had potential. Certainly wasn't bad enough to just write the character off.

It was hilarious! The roaches in the bed! Microwaved dog! Dianna's Grace Jones knock-off in the finale. The dreadful catfight lol. The biggest thing to get used to with CPW was the lack of Communique which through Rachel to the background (a mistake) and I still don't see the point in keeping Nikki to appear in only two or three scenes. Overall it was a very fun show, but the end left me wanting more. Dianna had become a complete parody at that point and I wanted to see more. I just can't get over how bad Raquel Welch is on a CBS primetime show. It's sick. She had nothing to offer. BTW, Jessica Walter is an interesting choice. She appeared in one episode as Lauren Hutton's lawyer. Another choice would've been to pull from the pool of daytime soap actress (an Aaron Spelling move) or take someone from an 80s soap looking to return. Stephanie Beacham, Donna Mills, Michele Lee, etc.

One major problem I have is Phina Orbuche's hair. She looks a hot mess. It's way too short and it's not flattering. For such a sexy woman (just going off Buffy and Footballers Wives), it's an odd choice. I wish they'd given her a fierce weave or wig, but I do like her on this show so far.

Thank you! That was a great read. Nice to see other people enjoyed the show as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_to_Peyton_Place_(TV_series) The formerly barebones Wikipedia page for this show now has cast pictures and storyline info. It's like slowly we're learning more info which is exciting. saynotoursoap, I was wondering if you could tell some of the characters/stories featured in the episodes you have.

We have a CPW thread? I need to find that! It really is a shame watching this. Central Park West was such a good little gem! I wonder how things would've been had a better actress been cast as Diana.

I'm about 10 episodes in and the show is still amazing. Looks like I'm towards the end of a season because I see new characters and stories being introduced. Gena Rowlands as Adrienne is amazing so far. This looks like a more straight forward story, her goal being to seduce Steven. Her entrance was classic soap and I was at the edge of my seat. My only problem with PP remains that the episodes are so good you can never just watch one. I have to force myself to stop. What I've enjoyed most recently is the heavy use of Elliot, Connie, Norman and Rita. All great characters who became so supporting for a while. It's also nice to see Norman better integrated with his family for a change. It looks like he and Rita might actually have one of the central stories for this upcoming season. Lots of forshadowing with Ada and Leslie which I'm loving.

CPW is not as bad as I thought. It's more earnest, the fashions are very drab and the pace is slower, but it's not bad. The worst part is Raquel Welch. She's a terrible actress and is trying so hard to imitate Joan Collins that it's laughable. The outfits, the accent, the diva attitude is just cringe-worthy. I dread her scenes. Another thing that doesn't work are the characters from the old series. I enjoyed crazy Alex, but why keep Michael Michele if she never appears? And to keep Stephanie's husband for this psycho story seemed kinda pointless as well. I'm glad Rachel seems to be maintaining a foothold, as well as Carrie. They're the two stars of this show. Such a shame Kylie Travis and Machen Amick never got their due. I'm almost done with this series and then it's onto Savannah, the last of the classic soaps I bougth.

The fact that Duncan, Ricky and Cheryl are safe, yet they choose to write off a character like Zak (or even Dave) is kinda worrying. I see lots of pretty people being cast, but I'm curious about how interesting they will be. It seems like things are starting off rough if I'm bein honest.

Okay I started with the week of June 7th and I believe the last episode I watched was the 17th or 18th. Overall the show has improved a little, but a lot of the characters are dull and the stories aren't very interesting. I'm eagar to see July 5th and on because I know it's when Marquess gets his name in the credits so no more blaming Allan for anything. As it is we all know he's there heavily tweaking her work and I'm surprised it's not better. Not sure how Theresa as Calvin's killer makes much sense and that was his choice. It's just more misery for the McQueen family and another way to tear them apart. That's the only story that family gets, just with different family member combinations. Steph has never been an interesting character to me, so her upcoming exit or cancer story don't move me too much. It's very watchable but so many important characters around her are dead so it's hard to care. Ricky and Duncan are absolutely revolting and unwatchable. Zak and Michaela still have huge spark and are two of the strongest characters. Nancy is at a cross roads and I had wait to see where that character goes. I also noticed less pop music, longer scenes and not every episode opens with the typical fantasy sequence set to music. I see him tweaking things to make it a more traditional soap, even in some of the choices the directors are making. Hopefully his storytelling holds up and he can completely revamp the show.

Hopefully I can resume my Peyton Place viewings today. I left the DVD I was watching at my old apt and since I'm going to visit my brother I'm going to look for it. Wish me luck! LOL. If not I'll just skip forward to the next DVD, but the story is so juicy I don't want to miss anything. It's been far too long without Peyton Place in my life. Connie was great in those early years and the best love interest Dr. Rossi ever had. They tried and tried with him, but could never top Connie. I won't say much more because it involves spoilers, but lets just say we take the most simple things for granted these days. The TV censors were ridiculous back in the day lol. Just wait until the rape trial where the word "rape" is never mentioned. It's amazing how good some of these stories are with all these restrictions. And then seeing what they *do* let slip through (lots of frank sexual talk). It just goes to show how good the writers and actors were.

Okay it looks like i'll be returning to Hollyoaks since the new showrunner is about to arrive. I'm starting with the week of June 7th only because I didn't wanna go too far back, but wanted to see where things were before he arrives. I'm looking at the arrival of the Sharpe family as his true start since we know that those are 100% characters he created. I think this could go either way so we'll see. I notice a lot of the actors he's casting are very pretty so I just hope they can act. I'm beginning to see it truly is going to be a very different show and I just hope it's a GOOD show. Will keep you guys posted once I begin viewing episodes.

Actually, I looked forward and it looks like the online episode guides are incorrect. Kylie Travis made the revamp and she remains until the end. And yes that was her fabulous first scene. Machen Amick is also amazing on this show. Looking at a CPW episode it looks like a dreadful show lol. And Racquel Welch is a hot mess. I can't wait to reach those episodes! So a bizarre departure. The original series is really very good.

CPW continues to impress. The original series, even with Marial Hemingway is great. I'd say it's better than Melrose Place even. It has it's own identity, an interesting group of characters played by good actors and is well written. Each episode I watch the more obvious it is that the show is just on the wrong network. FOX would've ate this up. Right now I'm kinda dreading the revamp focused on Raquel Welch and Lauren Hutton. In the original series Hutton isn't doing much. Reading recaps I see her role increases over time, but it's going to be a huge shift seeing her as a main character. Her story is heating up since it's been revealed her husband is sleeping with Nikki, played by the underrated Michael Michele. I can't wait for all of that to explode! Something else I don't look forward to is the exit of Kylie Travis. They brought her in in episode 3 and she's an absolute goddess! Her character will definitely be missed.