DRW50

Thanks again for all the reminders (of this as well as Ann's writing issues - I do think Callan White is a good actress, but Christine Tudor does pop and it's also easier to write for a character like Gwyn, at least in the '80s). Those are great ideas about what could have been with the Rescotts. I'd forgotten about the money they were cheated out of and which Kate forgave. Having them in conflict with the Aldens would have been very easy drama. Sometimes I wonder if Carly was so heavy in story (story that all ultimately went nowhere...) it made the show wary of bringing in more relations. You'd think that as Ava and Kate were such Agnes Nixon characters she might have had more interest in their backstory during her 93-94 run. You're right about the scene with Sherrie and Ava in the 1989 episode being a bit out of nowhere, although I guess we could say tensions flared up because Ava was trying to freeze Sherrie out of Kate's recovery. Sometimes I wonder what Marland would have done with Trisha if he'd stayed with the show longer. Several months after his exit, Cecilia arrives. I have seen little of her, but on paper we might say she is a blue-collar contrast to Trisha, similar to Meg and Lily, or Nola and Morgan. The difference is Trisha rarely seems to be written as entitled or elitist. By Loving '80s standards Cecilia lasts a fairly long time. I can never remember if Colleen Dion (the longest lasting Cecilia) wanted to leave or if the show was just done with the character. Even later on when the show delved into class conflict in her marriage to Trucker, it's more about Trucker's insecurities rather than Tricia being a big snob. She always seems to want to work hard with the opportunities given to her by her status, she is generally kind and understanding, if a bit out of touch at times. It's a credit to Noelle Beck that Trisha remains a compelling character even without any real flaws and with some iffy stories (like the whole Giff mess, which I don't even like to sit through).

Don't worry about it. I posted Marcy's TV-movie/pilot, whatever, Bar Girls, in there (I think). I always try to put stuff that actors made in the thread for the soap they were on at the time.

That's a good idea, although I guess then people would have said the show and CBS were ashamed of having a majority black cast.

Sheila probably could have used the good word of Ione or Terry... Thanks for the latest recap and analysis @dc11786 .

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Thanks. I had forgotten he'd left by that point.

I know she said it was cut short by a strike but there wasn't much left, I agree. The only way it might have worked is if she'd ended up getting a job with Laura or Richard - I would have enjoyed seeing Jane vs Constance.

This is very well said. @Paul Raven I was never sure if Marland had introduced the Tynans. Thanks. I get what he was saying about how you can't believe a big star as anyone but themselves, but Liz Taylor's GH cameo was one of the exceptions to the rule - she was a great choice for all the passion, camp and melodrama of the Cassadines.

Can this be moved to the politics thread? I apologize for my own part in any political stuff in here.

Thanks. Clearly those sites got her last name very wrong. It's hard to find anything on her. @Tisy-Lish Here she is around 14 minutes. Irna would have been spinning at such a sugary portrayal...

Recent interview with Roger Davis. It's about his Western work.

I hope so. We could all use a new positive path forward, in daytime, or anywhere.

I was trying to figure out if I saw him or if I saw Russell Todd in there anywhere.

I doubt it. They didn't seem to have a great deal of interest in most of the male characters they inherited. They probably would have continued the relationship with Claire, and she seems like a black hole.

I rarely hear a great deal about Gina Dante. Was she popular with viewers? I am trying to remember what Anna Stuart said about the role.

@Franko Thanks. I never knew the real ad that was based on. What a hoot. And isn't Michael Storm dashing. What a power couple. I know she's said all this before, but she mentions if they bring Knots back, she'd have Abby be homeless and have to build her way back up. I could see that working (if Michelle Philips was able Anne could return and say she did it first). She also declines to say that her beauty hurt her in Hollywood, which I respect.

I can imagine. I am sure there's a lot on Twitter too - luckily, I don't see it. I am glad CBS is trying but it's hard to have much hope. At least they did start out decently, but from a number of the comments here the momentum didn't last, as it rarely does with new soaps.

Reading through this and there's some interesting Jane Elliott info. I searched and could only find a few mentions of her in the thread (the article doesn't mention Felicia Gallant being created for her, which is on an old page in here). A previous page mentions Jane being considered for Stephanie on B&B. Jane says Gail Kobe actually hired her, but Bill Bell went with Susan Flannery instead. Jane also mentions testing for Abby on Knots Landing, and Gina Dante on GH. 'General Hospital's Jane Elliot Dishes on Her Awesome 50-Year Run in Soaps

She did have high praise for Jerry. 'General Hospital's Jane Elliot Dishes on Her Awesome 50-Year Run in Soaps Then there’s Carrie Todd on Guiding Light, which a lot of us old-timers feel was your absolute best work. And I agree. The most was asked of me when I was doing that role. Because she was a split personality? Because there were so many words on the page! [Head writer] Doug Marland used to say that I ended up only saying half his dialogue and he didn’t care. I just cut and cut and cut. He loved words so much and he was so good with them, but oftentimes he didn’t leave you enough time to act, so I had to trim. One day, I performed for 70 pages, with my character both in the present and in flashbacks and she also narrated the flashbacks, and part of it was in the rain and freezing cold. I could not have done it without Jerry verDorn [Ross]. He is one of my all-time favorite acting partners, and the most generous actor I have ever worked with. He is a marvel of selflessness, a man with a wonderful work ethic who is absolutely content to support you in every way. I felt so safe with him. Those were very great times for Guiding Light. Oh, my God, Lisa Brown! The character of Nola! Divine, divine, divine.

Thanks for sharing more details about Julie. This does give more insight than just synopses. I have only seen a bit of Robin, but the framing of her after her miscarriage, how she is with Johnny and Paul, did feel somewhat slanted to me.

I wonder if they made Jim Davies dye his hair or if it just went grey/white and they didn't object. These early promos do a good job of making what feels like a very generic show seem interesting.

Thanks. Getting Shelley Winters and Charlton Heston to pop in is kind of a big deal. Not sure I've heard of that with any other new or new-ish soap. Yet it wasn't enough for them to keep the faith with the show.

I love Jane and her work as Carrie is compelling, but for all the airtime they gave Carrie and that she killed two people (three if you count Jackie), she still felt isolated enough to where they could easily write her out. Shades of what happened with Tangie a decade later (although they barely bothered to write for Tangie).

You're right. Sorry. I did not remember that. Soapcentral says Betty Runnel, December 88/January 89.