DRW50

Forsythe would have been a very interesting choice. I can see it. He certainly had more range than David Stewart allowed. Sorry if I spoiled anything for you. I look forward to what you have to say as the years go on. I think it was probably for the best that Robert and Cheryl never married as that added more layers and tragedy to her character...and I can't see him marrying her.

Thanks as always @slick jones Tony Musante was such a unique presence, a good looking guy too. ATWT wasted him. I still remember how great he was on Oz.

I'm not sure if anything with Zachary Quinto has ever worked out since Heroes. I have never really gotten his appeal anyway.

First Choice can really give you the chills.

I know who it is, but with this look he reminds me of someone else (maybe Juan, or someone who drifted in and out of PC in the Rafe years - maybe that dreary werewolf Jack). I finally got it. He looks JUST like Josh Swickard (Chase)! Eerie. I know this was 25 years ago, but I'm also reminded of how completely dead inside he looks in comparison now.

General Hospital February 26 1988 ABC Daytime w/original commercials Another vintage episode, with commercials. Tom and Simone's wedding, and the end of the story where Grant Putnam kidnapped Anna. I didn't realize that Lilybelle (Dru and Olivia's mother on Y&R) played Simone's mother. Looking it up now - Norma Donaldson. Such a fascinating actress, incredible presence. Laura Carrington has such a unique presence too. I think Stephanie Williams was great on Y&R but never thought she was right for the ABC Daytime recast roles she had. That lengthy shot of Anna waking up and getting her bearings is something the show would never do now (like having an interracial couple in a frontburner wedding...) but it does so much to set the atmosphere and danger and take advantage of the location shooting. This wasn't long before the strike. If I ever watch this period more consistently, I'd be fascinated to see how much the strike changed things around - I don't hear that it caused as much upheaval as it did with some of the soaps. I did not realize Patrick O'Connor hung around for this long. Like her sister Crystal, Robyn Bernard always had a lot of screen presence, even if I don't think she was suited for a lead role. (which I guess she wasn't really getting by this point anyway) I gritted my teeth at Simone and Lucy being friendly and Simone asking her where Tom was knowing that within a few years Lucy would sleep with him. Wherever Simone is now she probably STILL hates Lucy... Nice to see Jessie. David Wallace isn't bad, but he's bland and more than a little stiff. I know the character likely wouldn't have stayed around even with a stronger actor (Matt Ashford is calling), but I do wonder. Grant doing that bad British accent to mock Anna makes me laugh more than it should. He's a lot of fun in general here, yet also dangerous in that very American survivalist way (very prescient). Maybe one of the only times those camp takes on villains GH loves to do amuses me (Helena being another). Anyway, now that I've watched the whole episode I enjoyed it all the way through. No real weak scenes (even the few filler scenes with Amy, Terry and Patrick were OK), which is not easy for an hour-long soap.

Thanks @jam6242 Lovely photo. Nice to see Jean Bruce Scott. A shame how much the show screwed up Nick.

I like that. (now imagine a universe where Viki got the showgirl story instead of Erica...)

Yes. We got some of this with Myrtle's boarding house, but AMC was always more refined (even with Opal galloping all over Pine Valley).

Yes, it's tough to think of any other soap which was that emotionally open. The closest may have been the whole comedic family on AW that arrived with Cass and Felicia, but it took them longer for them to move out of the comedic/wacky roles. OLTL never really presented their "others" that way.

That is very true. You still have some of those strays but the structure of the show moves more and more away from them. By the end of Rauch's run that aspect is reduced to the likes of DuAnn and Lee Ann and that redheaded girl Danny Wolek rescued - Lettie Jean or Laura Jean or whatever her name was. The community of broken people around the late '70s and early '80s is so affecting to watch and so unique. I was very moved by the scene in the 1980 episode which appeared last year where Karen was holding a weeping Edwina in her arms. That sense of reality, fragility, and empathy is just something you don't really get on soaps now and you rarely have for a very long time.

There's a real earnestness and purity Melody had to her work and had for a long time. I think it's how Nikki remained a compelling character even when she behaved horribly.

Jon first started in the mid '80s. He was a PI. He began a relationship with Dorian (I think there's a photo of them on a location shoot where he's in sexy scuba gear or something). In 1987, when Robin Strasser parted the show on bad terms, Jon had an affair with Cassie (recently recast with Holly Gagnier). From what I've read this story was very unpopular with viewers, as was the oversexed persona of Cassie at this time. Their relationship didn't last that long, and he was passed around to B or C-characters - I think he was briefly with Sharon Gabet's Melinda Cramer, and then Spring Skye, Megan's rival on the Fraternity Row soap.

Thanks!

That's a good idea. If that gets interest, I think while they still can it might not be a bad idea to make a followup with James Reynolds, Vivica, Jonelle, maybe just a minisode even.