DRW50

That would have been interesting. Anything to keep Ross on the show and properly use him. I'd forgotten about that moment with India, but everything about the story with Vanessa and Beth and Matt was horrible, completely spite-based. As if Vanessa would consider plastic surgery just to keep a man. Not surprised about Rauch's alleged misogyny and nastiness either. MKA aged well, whatever he says. I'm glad she at least came back a time or two after he was gone.

I don't like it either. I don't really get it. But I guess there are worse things to complain about with these networks.

Thom Bierdz as Philip, one of the most bewildering returns in soap history, even if it was nice to see him. When was he last mentioned?

That was a heartbreaker, especially what was done with Nola.

Did any of Amber's returns on Y&R or B&B work?

John Aprea on AW. Aprea and Linda Dano still had chemistry, the idea of Felicia being with a much darker version of Lucas could have had merit, but the complicated backstory with Carl and Nikos wasn't appealing. On top of that, the "gothic" tones were a tough sell for the show, and they also required Matthew and Amanda to have massive personality transplants.

I imagine they would have done like ATWT did with Hank Elliot in the late '80s, where he had a successful fashion name in New York but began working with partners in Oakdale. It was easier to do so because of Barbara being a fashion maven with a base in Oakdale, but they could have figured out something.

Thanks so much @slick jones I hadn't heard about Floyd Levine.

It did make sense, especially as 1998 was a long goodbye for her. I tended to enjoy the moments more where she got to go out and spar with Carly (never really enjoyed it as much without Sarah in the part, but I know this is off topic, sorry).

I'd agree about Brenda (even if that last year seemed to leave her islanded), but I feel like Lois was kind of a spare part for well over a year before Rena left. I think it has, although as always not as much as on a stronger written show. Michael losing a chance to raise his child was taken from him, all through the manipulations of the ex-wife who also did everything she could to keep from his other children. That should send the character to a very dark place. In terms of Sasha herself, she didn't have central relationships, but I do think the show needs characters like her who have a lot of connections and years of history. I also thought she was a likeable character on a canvas with many characters I can't say that about. With that said, they probably would have been better off writing her out when Mulcahey wanted to rather than just randomly making her Robert and Holly's daughter, awkwardly dancing around a Jason pairing on one wanted, then writing her out.

Chad can be the new Andy, with Nadia Bjorlin as the new Faren.

I do think those who credit him for some of Malone's strength in his first OLTL run may be right, but maybe we're just being kind. I'd certainly put him up there along with the likes of DePriest - maybe worse as some insist that she did well early in her soap career, or at AMC. Some might way Black & Decker, or Jean Holloway, but they had shorter runs at soaps.

Great find, @safe

There's at least a good reason with Abby. She never should have existed. The story that conceived her was grotesque and extremely damaging to a number of characters. It shouldn't be that way with Noah. The only reason is because of all that has been said above - a program that is allergic to anyone under 40 and an insistence that Nick being 18 at heart is somehow endearing and natural. I'm not sure if Griffith even cares enough to make that type of choice but I could see someone else at the show feeling that way (maybe JFP). Hard to figure out what he doesn't struggle with... I credit the people who said he would do better on GH than Y&R because of Griffith. I was not expecting anything from him, and with the general passive writing for Michael I wasn't expecting much there either. I'm half-surprised Y&R didn't try to hire Chad Duell. Maybe he made it clear he's not interested.

I remember when Liz used to work at Kelly's (RIP Bobbie but it will always be Kelly's to me) she would just regularly leave halfway through her shift and her employers never cared. I guess she is just paying it forward.

Colleen's first major soap role (Loving) was in a triangle, although it was one where we were meant to see her as a spoiler. I haven't watched any of her Felicia's material since it first aired, but I remember enjoying her presence more than the stories themselves, especially as she was not like any other women on the show. I don't remember anything involving the Jake story interesting me beyond Todd McKee being a likeable presence (and I remember him always being in tennis shorts). Regarding the talk in the ATWT thread about whether Colleen chose to leave B&B, I shouldn't have assumed, I just thought she did. She was on AW for a few years after B&B and then other than her brief B&B returns she only did New York soaps. I have a vague memory of her being NY-based but I may be wrong. One of the reasons I've always assumed she left by her own choice is because of an SPW or SOD article behind the scenes at Stephanie and Eric's 1997 wedding. The (very good) actress who played Stephanie's homeless friend Ruthanne made sure to praise the bridesmaid's dress she had to wear. Colleen...was not full of praise for her dress.

Elaine Hendrix, who was on various CW primetime soap reboots, is on the 4958th season of Dancing with the Stars.

Nick Stabile as Fox Crane on Passions. Priscilla Garita as Theresa.

Thanks. Great find. @slick jones

This is the case. IIRC, this is one of the reasons Pam quit.

I think Colleen generally preferred shorter runs. She left B&B repeatedly and she was popular on there.

I think most of MKA's '90s soap stints were short-term by her choice. I do wonder what happened with her '98-'99 stint as it seemed like that was more open-ended. Maybe Rauch decided she wasn't hot enough. I don't know. They should have brought Samantha back. With Dylan long gone, I think her having no real identity beyond being Ross' niece and Philip's sister meant they didn't care, or most of the later teams had never heard of her. (I'm not even sure how much interaction she had with Philip)

That's actually a good promo. Could have gone on even longer but still good.

A scene with Lotty/Ned (with Eban popping in at the end) at about 11 minutes. They also put up a cast crawl in one of their 12/28/87 tapes, with Luke Perry still in the credits.