DRW50

What in the world is this story with Rick and Jessie. It's so hamfisted and drags everyone down when they come near it. I don't know whether to be offended more by how they seem to write their scenes like a bad parody of fanfiction.net, or the idea that women who are beaten are just waiting for the right man to save them. Unhinged Rick: Jessie Jessie Jessie save you me save you me save you NOW Jessie: I'm creeped the [!@#$%^&*] out! (five minutes later) Jessie: Wait. Are you only a pseudo-stalker with ME? Unhinged Rick: Only you, Jessie. Me me save you you save save you Jessie only you Jessie always always Jessie always. Jessie: Never mind. You're a great guy after all. My hero <3 <3 <3 <3

She looks like she's smelling his breath.

The other thing I meant to ask - the episode where Jody Lee and Liz sat for Greta, did anyone else get creeped out by that voice (the "Greta" voice) that came from upstairs and sounded like an evil Twilight Zone doll? When Jody went upstairs I expected to hear screams. I know we'll be seeing more of Greta soon enough, but it kind of makes me laugh that the only time I've seen her from December 1967 to August 1968 (so far) was one episode when Kathleen Murray was temping as Maggie. It's like she hides from permanent recasts.

I never knew that was her first exit, or that she was written out and came back. That's such a depressing exit. No wonder the ratings fell...

I'm not sure of the dates on that, as soap magazines from 1973 reference Judith McGilligan (?) as being a new recast.

I've seen various people say they hated Jenna, thought she was sanctimonious and bratty and mean to Lorna, etc. I thought she worked well as a foil and later loving sister to Lorna, and I thought Alla Korot always played Jenna as a very "real" girl, which was missing for me with Josie and with many other AW ingenues. I also thought she and RPG had good chemistry.

Sorry. http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/03/russia-putin-lgbt-violence-116202.html?hp=t1_r

Quite a chilling article, especially the last line. http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/03/russia-putin-lgbt-violence-116202.html

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32004996

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNJrOmOCUzo

Thanks. It sounds like Allen Potter made a lot of mistakes at GL without the Dobsons. I had been thinking of putting up a Diana van der Vlis avatar but could never find the right photo. Yours is beautiful.

It always concerns me when I hear people talk about how "important" Kurt was. A biphobic narcissist who sexually harassed his stepbrother to no end? No thanks.

What were Lenore's wishes? I've always been so confused by Lezlie Dalton's status on the show at this point. I thought she wanted to leave, but she is phased in and out so many different times in 1980, it's tough for me to tell.

One of my favorites is Peggy Lipton singing "Lu" on the Andy Williams Show. That's a rambling song even by Laura Nyro standards (although family-friendly...I guess) to be dropped into the midst of Andy and Claudine. A pretentious dancing couple in the background was thrown in to, presumably, try to show more romance. I guess the mom and pop audience was torn between wondering when Totie Fields was going to appear, and maybe the pops getting a peek at Peggy in her low-cut black dress.

It's always fun to see the era when older variety shows tried very hard to seem hip. That first one is pretty good, although I was trying to figure out whether they were dancing in sync... (and feathers kept flying off their costumes, which is also fun...)

That scene was so searing. It felt like it went on and on, but it reminded me of a play, almost - that was the way Lydia interpreted it. Like some drama of a woman's psyche. If this were most soaps, the onus would be on screwed-up Maggie needing to get over herself, and Matt would go sleep with someone and it would be her fault and blah blah blah, but here, they allowed us to understand her and to see that Matt's affections for Karen and Karen's callous behavior toward her for months had seriously undercut her self-respect and self-worth.

That's a great find! I'm in early August now, and those weird huge disembodied heads they use for the Matt/Maggie angst scenes are so odd and came out of nowhere. I almost wonder if this was the Dark Shadows effect on other soaps (although Dark Shadows didn't use them all that much), or what. It's really interesting to me to contrast Lydia Bruce and Bethel Leslie. There's a certain earthiness to Lydia that means she has scenes I can't really imagine with Bethel, like laying on the bed in a black slip (with white stockings and heels, no less - maybe a director had a fetish). It's also interesting seeing just how much Liz changes with every man she's involved with. She tried to be mature with Nick. She was a kid with Steve. Now she's trying to be a quasi-hippie with Jody Lee, complete with a gradually changing "natural" hairstyle, and clothes that look like a Girl Scout troupe in San Francisco. It's too bad Pamela Toll left, as Liz is a really fascinating supporting character. I also have to laugh at how often characters use Matt's office now. When I started watching I always assumed everyone stayed out of there out of respect, unless he called them, but ever since Steve started using it to horse around in, it's been some type of fair game. Seeing Jody Lee and Liz have an extended conversation in there and Jody not giving a care if he was caught by Matt sitting in the chair or looking around was odd.

More 1990 and 1991 stuff posted the last few days. https://www.youtube.com/user/thomas123853/videos

So Vanessa and Justin had sex? I never knew that. She sure got around in those early years. I guess she did it to get to Ross, but Justin's so hot, I'm glad someone realized it. I guess Marland was using Floyd, along with the Reardons, to establish a class system in Springfield, but Floyd just comes across as a sour jerk in moments like that - not really anything like he was in the earlier episodes. I had forgotten that Elizabeth didn't know that Jackie and Justin were Philip's bio parents at this point. The whole thing confuses me. In one of the April 1979 episodes posted, during Philip's 123th illness (I guess this one was his 456th), it seemed like Justin knew Jackie was the bio mother. When did he learn he was the father? It's a shame Nola and Morgan couldn't be actual friends. I think they work well together. 

What was Sascha's exit? So is Olli coming back or is that it? If so it's a shoddy way to treat a character...

I saw this on tumblr. I love it! http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/cast-members-from-the-bbc-television-soap-opera-eastenders-news-photo/513657419?et=C36cfffvSF5o-2slJY1Ngw&referrer=https:%2F%2Fsafe.txmblr.com%2Fsvc%2Fembed%2Fiframe%2Fjonwilton%2F114040972550%3Fw%3D540%26h%3D360 Cast members from the BBC television soap opera EastEnders pictured together on the Albert Square set at Elstree Studios in Elstree, England in 1985. From left to right: Letitia Dean, Susan Tully, Shirley Cheriton, Gretchen Franklin, Wendy Richard, Anna Wing, Sandy Ratcliffe and Gillian Taylforth. (Photo by United News/Popperfoto/Getty Images) Credit: United News/Popperfoto / contributor

I see what you mean. I thought she was kind of cute with that Shrimpy guy.

When I say solidified, I mean put in a central role in the community. I get the feeling most of their stories up to this one have been somewhat isolated. The show really has no core family - the Dingles are split into sections, the Barton brothers are fine but the father is a dud and Emma is a psycho, the Sugdens are still too underwritten and rarely have family scenes even when they should be. David, Alicia, Jacob, plus Eric (and sort of Val) and Leyla - I think it has worked really well as a family dynamic over the last few weeks. I wouldn't mind them taking over the Woolpack, for instance (OK mostly I just want Chas out of there as I don't think it suits her, but it's a little of both).