All My Shadows

Have y'all watched the new Weakest Link with Jane Lynch? I'm loving it so far. It's the same game in every way. Jane is no Anne, but she's decent enough.

Tom was a true legend and just an all-around wonderful host. He ran laid-back, easy-going shows that made contestants and celebrity guests comfortable, but he also had tons of personality without upstaging the game. I first got to know him through Body Language, but I’ve come to also love the random episodes of You Don’t Say! and Split Second that pop up. I’m just going off the top of my head, but I think this leaves Bob Barker, Peter Marshall, Bob Eubanks, Wink Martindale, and Trebek as the remaining heavy-hitters of the classic 60s/70s era of daytime games.

She does look a lot like Janet Grey. Being back at work means a lot less time to watch old soaps. I really spoiled myself this spring/summer. I finished all of what's available from 1979, and it seems like things get pretty choppy trying to piece together mostly consecutive episodes from 1980-1981. I'm committed, though, because I really need to see the Dobson-Marland transition.

It's been a full decade since the two of the longest-running television series in the history of the medium have ever seen been officially screened, broadcast, streamed, etc. It's shameful.

I watched Netflix's The Boys in the Band, and the word that keeps coming up in my head is "unnecessary." It's matched nearly word-for-word with the 1970 film, but something rings false with several of the performances (I was NOT feeling Jim Parsons until halfway through). There were lines that were delivered quite differently than they'd been in the old movie, and it just changed the tone of some key parts. I try to evaluate adaptations/remakes on their own merits, but it's hard to do that with this when there are very little changes from the original. The only thing "new" this version had to offer were flashbacks during the phone game (which were nice but again unnecessary) and montage at the end showing where everyone ended up after the party - DEFINITELY not needed. This was really just the revival cast/crew wanting to honor the original story 50 years after it first made it to the screen, so I can't be too hard on it. I think it just proves that some stories are woven into their era of origin, and it's impossible to replicate it later.

Me too!! And the choice to stay on the line when it would be so easy to just bow out. I gotta say, I feel like LisaRaye was talking nothing but facts. “Sh!t is going on!”

Did the new one come out, yet? I was counting down to it but then...forgot. But yes, I love this recording of Anything Goes! And of course, the perfect perfect perfect instrumental of The Look of Love that played over the closing credits.

This one hurts! Brian’s Song remains one of the most beautiful stories ever written, and I know Gale and Brian are running plays together once again.

I'm looking forward to watching on CBS! I never tried hard enough to find season 4 episodes online, so I'm glad I'll be able to watch "legally," though I'm not sure how much my watching will count if I'm not being metered. Does it help to also watch it on demand?

Pam Hutchinson of the Emotions - another group that underscored my childhood. "Don't Ask My Neighbors" is a classic. "I'm Mama Stallone, and listen to me sing! My girls are champions in the ring. They're on the go. They never stop. That's why they're headed for the top! My good girls have the strength and speed to wipe out all of Kitty's breed. When we're done, please don't be bitter, 'cause all that's left is kitty litter!"

Hey, I recorded/posted that I need to get around to putting up this even cheesier soap theme album from the 80s that I bought not long after I picked up that 70s one. I think church hymn might've been what they were going for, given Agnes's conception of the show's title.

Man, I really do feel like watching this, and I never have, not even when Lucci was on lol I'm totally here for Nev, Nelly, Chrishell, Carole, and Justina. Why not just bring back The Surreal Life and have them on?

I don't think I've ever come across anyone who liked Laurel, even if just a little bit lol

I've never seen as much of KL as I'd like to, but I did watch him on Kojak reruns and on that episode of Battle. They did a wonderful profile of him where he talked about his career and family, and you couldn't help but fall in love. He seemed like such a sweet and genuine man who was grateful for all of his success.

Because DS is always the trendsetter, I’ve just discovered that it is the first (and probably only, ever) soap to have a 24-hr channel on Pluto TV. Not sure how convenient/practical it is, but I can definitely see myself tuning in for hours at a time, regardless of where the story is.

I absolutely LOVE Mart Hulswit's overemotional Ed, and as I continue to make my way through early 80s GL, I'm really interested in seeing the difference when Peter Simon replaces him. MH's Ed really matches up well with the very little I've seen of Robert Gentry's Ed. I have to say, just based on two short clips, I feel like RG's Ed would have been my all-time favorite. Re: Mart being a hunk. Honestly, every picture I've seen of him from the early 70s and also for Papa's funeral, I'd say he was pretty sexy. Not so much later on, but it happens. It kinda reminds me of Michael E. Knight's changes through the years.

There is a less than zero chance of me actually watching this, but that cast has been the most appealing to me in yearrrrrrs.

I'll be watching this one, for sure, but with very judgmental eyes because, well, Louisiana. Nice to see Liz Reyes huge hair on that TV screen. The trailer has the two things that I've just had to accept as part of the modern definition of "primetime soap," a tone that manages to be quirky comical and pretty dark at the same time and, of course, the central, season-long mystery that kinda automatically cuts a show's shelf life in half.

Thanks for the Peter White article! I’m watching a Carol Burnett marathon, and I forget how many AMC surprises you’d find throughout the opening segments of her show. She just discussed storylines with the audience and then pointed out that Peter White and Francesca James were guests in the audience that night.

I didn't realize he'd done the Bare Essence theme, too. Of course, I've only seen the miniseries, but all throughout, you had more great examples of the main theme being tweaked and rearranged for different scenes. In reading about his passing, I did learn that he and Bea were good friends for many years. SFK, I know you'll feel this one the same way I did, but Raymond Allen, who played "Uncle Woody" on Sanford and Son and Ned the Wino on "Good Times," has passed away at 91. I know I've mentioned multiple times before how much S&S and its portrayal of common black folk have always meant to me. Every single cast member was just so funny that any time I hear of someone from the show passing away, I immediately think of my favorite bits featuring the character.