Bright Eyes

Did anyone else watch the Rita and Me special? It was very good. We got a lot of classic clips and her reunion with Thelma Barlow was the best part. I was surprised to learn her 1964 stint was only for one episode and that came in a friend of Dennis Tanner's. I cynically thought their close relationship was just something the producers made up because they were on the show together at one point. I know it's probably and overplayed part of her history, but I always get excited and enveloped seeing that tram hit Alan Bradley. What a great soap moment. If anyone wants to see it, PM for a link.

Promo for 2015!

Kirkwood Kills. Especially parents. I couldn't care less about Rick though. He was a waste of time.

When it comes to Emmerdale I've resigned myself to accept that just getting nominated is validation enough. In a just world, the Emmerdale nominees would easily swipe, no contest. I'm so chuffed for Parr and Rushworth, the best coupling of 2014. I agree about Maddy Hill. It was even worse when she won the BSA last year. Sam Strike was the obvious EE contender and he wasn't even nominated, while she didn't have any winning worth material and still hasn't done anything of note. Plus, that 'duh duh' voice is annoying.

Seeing Aaron wanting and almost needy was a fascinating change for the character. Much more interesting than the tired hard man trope. I'm also really excited for the Mama Barton story, who premieres tomorrow. I read an interview with Kate Oates about her and it seems she's going to be must see.

It was really good to see Kim finally return. She helped with the brevity of Denise's situation almost instantaneously. Did you see/know about the special end credits on that episode? I've never seen them do that before. It was a nice touch to end the year.

Yes. There was a scene where Bill had been beaten up that would have lead to a reveal that he was raped as well, but obviously the kibosh was put on that.

I was waiting for you to put this in the right thead. Everyone gives Ross a hard time because he deserves it for the most part, even if he is one of my favourites. But at least little April knows what's up. I strongly disagree about Chrissie. I have to ascertain that you just caught an odd glimpse of her so far, because I see absolutely nothing of what you speak and even hearing it makes it sound like too easy a stance. I do, however, want to see her shuffled around the canvas a bit more, especially before anything huge happens with Robert regarding Andy/Katie or Aaron. Robert/Katie/Andy is a SAGA, damn it! Katie needs to be put in her place, though. The last episode where she was so sure all Robert had done was all about her? She almost deserves Robert's vile attitude towards her. I really don't see anything in him since he came back that he cares one iota about her. Her unabsolved feelings for him on the other hand? I think that will get her into trouble. On a more random note, I wonder, with both characters needing a place to live, if Bernice and Charity could end up living together. It would certainly be an interesting experiment. That is, if Charity doesn't end up going to prison, since the show is doing nothing to help the rumours that Emma Atkins is pregnant. This could also lead to those two children of the corns, Noah and Gabi, being under the same roof. I almost perish at the thought.

He was never shown to be dead at all. It was hinted that he had possibly become paralyzed for real though. We always knew he was in a mental hospital.

And with that, I went and creeped her instagram and for nostalgia purposes I had to post this picture. It was only posted earlier in the year. How sweet to see Jodi Albert, Sarah Jayne Dunn and Ali Bastian are still good friends. http://instagram.com/p/nokrzFCYPD/?modal=true

That's the one.

There have been a couple Debbie mentions lately, which surprises since it always seemed like Kirkwood had contempt for the character. In his November DS interview, he admits there will be a significant return in the coming months. Coincidence? It could just be Amy returning permanately since she shows up every few months anyway. Either way, I'll be on the lookout for any other mentions of past characters.

No Johnny recast planned. Sam Strike will last be seen on Christmas Day (December 25). http://www.digitalspy.ca/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a617901/eastenders-boss-door-wide-open-for-sam-strike-return.html#~oZfgrlHLRVlk5u I hate that it's so soon, but I'm happy DTC doesn't want to recast right away. As for Ben, with Lauren saying tonight that Max screwing up his relationships is like a "sickness" I hope he finally gets the sex addict story that is so clearly all but written, leading him to have an affair with Ben.

Director Larry Auerbach has passed away. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/pioneering-tv-director-larry-auerbach-dies-at-91/

I got these statistics off a thread at DS, which show how absolutely ridiculous Bryan Kirkwood has become. It may not be 100% correct, but being that it's probably fairly accurate, you can see how reckless he is. Producer death counts Phil Redmond 10 (1995 - 2000) Jo Hallows 9 (2000 - 2005) David Hanson 5 (2005 - 2006) Bryan Kirkwood 47 (29 during current run) (2006 - 2009, 2012 - present) Lucy Allan 2 (2009 - 2010) Paul Marquess 6 (2010 - 2011) Gareth Phillips 3 (2011) Emma Smithwick 1 (2011 - 2012) There is also this as well. Births: Years 1 - 15 = 8 Years 16 - 19 = 11 (1 more on the way) Difference: 3 more births 2011 - 2014 than 1995 - 2010 Marriages: Years 1 - 15 = 23 Years 16 - 19 = 13 Differences: Only 10 less marriages 2011 - 2014 than 1995 - 2010 Deaths: Years 1 - 15 = 46 Years 16 - 19 = 34 Differences: Only 8 less deaths 2011 - 2014 than 1995 - 2010

Well, I hope to see you around there. I stay away from the individual TV show threads, for the most part. I'm there for film, TV specials, some theatre, the small amount of foreign soaps and Graham Norton discussion.

A really random question: Can anyone tell me if Matt Cavenaugh, who played Mark Solomon (the gay one) in the Love House/Killing Club story, was on the show longer than four months?

I've been watching some classic shorty clips on YT, mostly the famous serial killer story, and it's crazy that only two characters currently on the canvas (Chris and TK) were around for it. This show may have a high cast turnover rate, but you wouldn't notice by watching with their seamless transitions.

They dated, but it was during Blackburn's tenure, so I can't recall why they broke up. Today alluded that it was Adam's fault. The kiss with Finn was literally two episodes. Finn got angry at her for going too far, but they made up when she promised she only did it because she was drunk and lonely. She was shown to be pretty genuine in that respect, so I don't think a triangle is on the cards.

Adam returns and wants ... Victoria? I didn't see that coming.

This show is effing cruel messing with my emotions like that! Everyone pray for Nicole, please! If she dies, I will be completely destroyed. I also have to say, I love how Angela Bloomfield played the hostage scenes in the elevator. Not hysterical, but so just annoyed that she had to deal with some crazy a long with everything else. Rachel McKenna is QUEEN of all of soap land! And an absolute salute to her finally breaking off a piece of Garrett! I also hope the woman Dallas hooked up with is Ula and not Kylie. 2015 promo

Ben, I agree about Zak. I love those little moments where he"ll just be watching the television or reading the paper and Lisa will be whinging about some problem and when she yells at him to pay attention, he'll do that gruff he does as if he's just been caught red handed. That said, I would never argue against ridding the show of the stranglehold the Dingle family has over it. Getting rid of everyone, sans Charity, and Aaron for at least this story with Robert, would be better in the long run. I think the pairing with Moira has revitalized Cain and made him human again, but him being this force people can run to for help in whatever problem they find themselves in is boring and played out. Chas was a favourite when I first watched, but after her relationship with Carl was destroyed, she's just increasingly become a pill. Then there's Debbie ... if any character was ever meant to be killed off, it's her. Carl, as a fellow Bernice fan, I enjoyed her story with Andy. It was, of course, bizarre, but that part was played and there were quite a few good scenes that came out of it. In particular, there was an episode where she'd gotten a modeling job, but then learns she has to be nude for it and another where, after she has swallowed Andy's engagement to Katie, she breaks down and admits (either to Ashley or Nicola) that she just wants to be liked or not be alone or something to that affect. It was actually quite heartbreaking and a really good performance by Giles. Plus, we also got the brilliant pairing of her and Kerry this year and the episode where Bernice completely massacres Katie's face gave me more pleasure than I care to admit. Also, to answer your earlier questions, Paddy is still married to Rhona (Hordley's real life wife) and he and Marlon amended their friendship quite a while ago, since they had already done so when I started regularly watching again in March. I'm saddened to see you don't like Rhona. The actress was phenomenal in her pill addiction story and the Vanessa twist was so modern and made me love the latter, too. However, I do think she is best when she is away from Paddy. They're a couple I wouldn't mind seeing split up. On another front entirely, tonight's episode had Ashley officially back where he belongs, as Vicar! Kate Oates has done a tremendous job of revitalizing him to his former glory. He and Harriet have had a great build up and I'm so happy they were smart enough to not overplay the angst of the Vicar merry-go-round.

The Aleks story is so strange. They had a really good thing going with him and Roxy and with him at the flat with the lesbians and Jake, but ever since this "twist" that seems completely insignificant, Aleks has just been annoying and/or a bore.

Wow. I didn't know Cass Winthrop had a kid with Katrina Karr. Are they still together?