DRW50

Not that I know of.

I saw some fans say maybe the show is doing this to help explain why Zoe won't ever be back, as it's been a fan question for five years now. Who knows.

Welcome! I'm in the soap boat you're in, right down to my love of GL. That and my love for ATWT are what pushed me to Emmerdale. No soap on the air today or in recent years is more like ATWT and GL than Emmerdale. I'd love to hear more of your thoughts. I am going to give my longwinded review of the week later today (I hope). Have you ever seen The Doctors? I think you may like that too. If you want a link let me know.

Twinsies.

http://www.zap2it.com/blogs/supergirl_first_look_at_melissa_benoist_in_costume-2015-03 She doesn't quite have the superhero features or poise, but I like it, overall. I hope they change something with the skirt/tights/boots all being the same color. It doesn't work.

New Jersey politicians strike again. http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/bob-menendez-federal-corruption-charges-115834.html?hp=t3_r

That was a green card marriage which briefly turned to sex.

The 90s were the last time I think British soaps felt proud to be soaps, rather than trying to be like primetime or Hollywood with bad teeth. Only Emmerdale sort of went that route. Corrie and Eastenders were relatively true to themselves.

After the guy who played Sanjay criticized the show a few years back for the Masood storylines I don't think we'll see him again. There were some characters I do wish he'd kept, although they're tough to remember now, beyond Sanjay and Gita. I liked Annie Palmer. I also wish they'd kept Ruth, but then I hated that Connor and his bitch niece, so maybe not. I also liked Tony and Simon a lot, but I guess I can understand it was probably their time to go. Soaps rarely seem to do cleanouts now. The last serious one I remember was when Kirkwood took over EE. There was some handwringing over it at DS and wherever else, but I can't say I had a problem with the decisions. If he hadn't dumped Minty that creep would still be there gurning now. It's just too bad the replacements were not much better.

It complicates their abilities in that it always overshadows most of what they do. It's one of the reasons Democrats lost Congress in 1994 and one of the reasons his last few years as President were full of scandal and impeachment. In this case it just seems like what could be a minor scandal - and yes I know the media is a big reason why it isn't just a minor scandal - but it's made more complicated by the general Clinton inability to run a tight ship.

I'd forgotten she said that. I always sound so bitter when I talk about EE and the BSAs. I do think they deserve some awards. Adam Woodyatt for sure (please no mushmouth twatface Dyer). It's just they don't deserve every award going. I also think Charlotte Bellamy is doing a bang-up job with Laurel's descent into self-destructive behavior. Laurel isn't a likeable character and we are less likely to care when unlikeable characters fall apart, but this is a story where you need a talented day-to-day performance. Some Emmerdale actors can't do good day to day work. She can, and it really makes a difference here, especially the scenes like her repeatedly getting everyone to lie and to stay quiet about all of her lies.

I thought that last guy was kind of cute. So is Darren, I wish they hadn't had all the material where people said horrible things about Alicia be what we saw at the start of the week, because I think it may have alienated some viewers, especially the vileness from Chrissie (I have a feeling they will ultimately want us to sympathize with Chrissie, but after what she said, it's going to be very difficult). Yesterday's episode had some beautiful scenes with David/Leyla/Alicia and David/Jacob. I was so impressed with the work from Natalie Anderson and Roxy Shahidi and Matthew Wolfenden. It was the best work I've ever seen from Matthew. I didn't know he could cry like that or tap into those emotions. And Natalie's just been a revelation. It's a shame that Kellie Bright is already locked into the BSA for months of staring into space.

I'm mostly just talking about the endless months of scenes of Rachel looking distraught/confused and everyone waiting for her to go on trial. It became so much about the secret and waiting for the secret. The acting was good, I just think it was a big waste of the genuinely exciting material they'd set up before that story.

This cracks me up (I do kind of wonder if this actually happened...). Collins is a weird case, because while I do think she had some charisma and a strange quality to her that fit the era (as this was still the tail end of that Paula Yates era), I've never understood WHY she became so prominent on British TV in the 90s and early 00s. Maybe she just knew the right people? I know she seemed very friendly with Phil Collinson, who gave her way too much exposure on Corrie (and cast her on Doctor Who). I think being overexposed hurt her career quite a bit.

I read some article that gave the reasons for this, and among them were the elimination of earmarks as bribes, and the size of this Congress, along with gerrymandering taking away moderates (now even more likely given SCOTUS' likelihood of eliminating independent redistricting committees in AZ and CA). Media darling Chris Christie sells out his state yet again. Remember what a fighter for his state he is? Remember how many times we had to hear this, day in and day out, for years? His state is a state of corporate cash. http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/christie-blasts-back-to-defend-exxon-settlement-115810.html?hp=l1_3

Which is part of the problem.

Mindy always had a lot of heart even when written as a schemer or villain. She wasn't just an idiot.

I think WGE left the show and that's why they phased it out. After Mitch got back and Rachel was released from prison, Mac wanted nothing to do with her. She and Mitch got together and there was a custody battle between Rachel and Mac over Amanda. Mitch and Rachel split up and Mitch tried to kidnap Matthew. Steve saved him.

They make that Rachel shooting Mitch story seem much more entertaining than it actually was.

That one's popped up here and there in various forms - for years I just saw a chopped up version, then a full one came around. I wish someone could put out some of the mid/late '50s episodes that I saw 4-5 years ago.

Good for her. His comments were some of the most insulting and glib I can remember from a major producer. It's glorifying tokenism even though Eastenders was built on diversity. As for Phelps, I agree with you. I can't imagine anyone being stuck writing for the Carters. They have the same damn conversation every episode. And aside from Kellie Bright, who is about the same as usual (for better or worse), their acting keeps on going downhill. Yet they're probably going to win a bunch of BSAs solely for being Carters. Ugh.

Thanks! I'm glad to hear it.