DRW50

I'm so confused with Eve's backstory as I wasn't sure if they revealed all of that before she went nuts. I liked Eve. I thought Edson was very interesting to watch and more compelling than many of the women in her age range on the canvas at the time. The Eve/Ed pairing was clearly because both characters were at a loose end, but it worked for me at the time. I did not enjoy Edson at all on AW, although that's partly down to bad writing.

@dc11786 I hadn't even thought of connecting Becky's story and Kristin's. I wonder if Kahlenberg was the only actor who appeared on both those soaps. The actress who played Jill posted here briefly about 15 years ago. I guess we must not be far off the end for the Cummings family.

@Cheap21 For whatever Megan McTavish's word is worth, she alleged that Kiberd harassed both Kate and Felicity La Fortune. I did understand why people didn't like the Trevor/Janet pairing. I'm not sure if it's the choice I would have made either. However, the show had written both characters into a bubble by the time the relationship began, and James and Robin did have chemistry together. The show had spent a year trying to redeem Janet, including her saving Amanda from a well, putting up with Timmy going off the rails and targeting her, etc. I don't think they were massively unpopular or beloved by fans.

Jonathan not wanting it would make sense.

Thanks so much @Alan

Thanks. I guess she only peeks her head out every twenty-plus years.

She also fascinates me, the little I've seen of her.

Thanks @dc11786 really enjoying your recaps/reviews. I didn't realize this Dave was on for this long. And I see we're getting into Miriam's downward spiral. Sounds like it's a bit rushed but I guess they realized they were writing her into a corner.

Thanks. Glad to hear your perspective.

That's a great idea about recasting Mike - maybe bring Ann back when Jack died and have Mike return to support Stacey. I know the canvas was very full and younger by then, but it could have been a short stint to give Ann some closure. Maybe she and Mike could have left to see if Jack was still alive. Yes, someone in the comments said that the first tape was Leslie and then Tudor filmed another version. I hope more of Denniston's run shows up as this is such a time of turmoil for Gwyn.

I wouldn't be surprised if Frank did want this pairing, as he seems very hesitant about L&L2 and is probably trying to salvage Kristina with fans. I am not sure ABC would have stepped in, as there's nothing scandalous here, unless Varni or whoever is just a diehard fan of L&L2. I think Mark Pinter had about a year or so notice on ATWT.

Thanks. This was a great recap (I felt like I was there). I've seen some fans say that the show ramped up Rachel's nastiness when Victoria Wyndham was cast. Do you think that's true? Or had Rachel just been more low-key for a while in the Robin exit/return (and Margie Impert's brief run)? It does make me wonder why some fans at the time rooted for Rachel and Steve. I like that idea. If only they hadn't cast (and stayed with) an actor who felt so remote. A disappointing casting choice considering the rest of the Matthews family had a warmer sense about them.

Soap Central says November 1993, which sounds right. Such a moving little scene: Lyla Says Goodbye To Casey

I think by the time Marland arrived, most of the story boom for David and Ellen had ended, although they still had more prominence than he'd give them. By this point, Henderson Forsythe had also begun spending more and more time away doing stage work. Maybe if he'd been promised huge stories, he would have been there more often, but I'm not sure. The show's last attempt at new story for Ellen and David had been retconning a grandson (Stewart). I'm not sure if Marland should have immediately dumped the entire set in that age range bar Frannie (especially since we hear so much about his "rules" which claim you aren't supposed to do this), but I don't know what long term value Stewart would have provided. In the long run, Ellen got more material out of her bond with Courtney than she probably would have had with her own grandson. And that's where Marland did a good job with Ellen, as counsel and community figure, even if I wish he'd allowed her to have more romance and a life of her own. I do wish they'd had Betsy in a more central role, especially as I am so impressed by Lindsay Frost's work. I think her being so tied to Steve and Lindsay never being as well liked by fans as Meg Ryan hurt her. I agree that Dee could have returned. I think Marland wanted a clean tree with Ellen, Susan, and Emily, but there were opportunities to have her interact with John and James and find a new life. Maybe Marland and Calhoun/Caso just thought she would be redundant, and the most popular Dee (Jacqueline Schultz) might not have wanted to return again due to some of her co-stars (and she noticeably did not return in 1991 after doing so in 1986).

Not a period of the show I enjoy revisiting, but I don't think this one was available before and I can't remember if it was ever posted here. The audio isn't great. There are some good scenes here with Iva and John, and Lily and Iva (even if it is Iva having to shill for her deadbeat dad brother and his toxic relationship with Lily), although it's tough to hear them. Martha and Lisa are so emotional here - it seems much more like the actresses saying goodbye than the characters. It still makes me sad that they dumped an actress of Lisa Brown's caliber, even if logically I know Iva had been wrung out. I still loved the character, no matter what. Some decent stuff with Royce and Julie too, and Barbara and Hal, Hal's clear dissatisfaction with Fashions laying groundwork for the story that was one of the bright spots of 1994 (Barbara faking her own stalking).

I hope so. I can't remember if I'd read about her and Terrell Tilford breaking up. Congrats to her.

Thanks. A shame. Eileen was just too cold for that part, mature or not.

I never wanted a romantic relationship between them, but I think the story could have worked if it had explored why Jason keeps getting involved in these lies and also had him examine the reality that he set Michael up in a world where carnage is normalized. None of that has really happened. I'm not sure what the point is. I could see Drew blackmailing Jason, but what is the fallout if people find out Michael is the father? If they had had Michael get involved in some type of dangerous business deal, or even said that one of Drew's associates was responsible for the bombing, then the secret would be more important, but none of that happened. I do like Sasha, and I think a soap needs a character like Sasha, basically a "normal" and "nice" character who suffers. She's not alone in that on GH - you could count Liz, and others - but she doesn't have as much baggage. I think SM has a sincerity in her work which goes a long way in making you care. Unfortunately, this current story has boxed her in, whether it was meant as some attempt to cement her or not. Even when Michael inevitably returns, what are we going to get? A custody battle between Jason and Michael might be juicy, but will they have an honest conversation about Jason barely caring about his actual children?

That was the Mindy, yes (I think). I do wonder what the Dobsons wanted for Kelly with Eileen in the role. They kept trying to reset characters back to factory settings, and Eileen was never going to be able to do great as a victim.

Garland did audition for Mindy on GL, IIRC, but was not chosen. She would have been better than who they cast. I haven't watched every moment with the two Kellys, but I think both did well with where the characters were. Robin's Kelly was a long-suffering princess, and in spite of her myriad issues with the show and the producers, I think she brought a great deal of depth and honesty to constant melodramatic churn. Garland played a slightly more mature Kelly, who had more complicated romances as well as more complex relationships with family members like Eden.

You're right. I am a hypocrite. I'm sure Nicole is better looking than many (including me) ...just hard for me to watch her.

Zach Roerig has a new Western out. Day of Reckoning.

It seems like Nicole Kidman gets all those projects. Not to be mean, but I don't like looking at her plastic surgery and I don't really like watching her act.

If that character had been better handled (and maybe cast with a more exciting actor), a pairing with Vanessa and Sid Dickerson could have been interesting. They were from very different worlds, and maybe Vanessa could have gotten involved with criminal justice after everything that happened with Billy. I know P&G wouldn't have gone for it though.