DRW50

Georgia senator Saxby Chambliss is retiring. This was a surprise, but the seat will likely stay Republican. http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/saxby-chambliss-to-reitre-86720.html?hp=f3 I'll always remember him for the ugly ads he ran against Max Cleland.

Thanks. You might want to mention that in the temp recast thread too.

Do you think if Jane had stayed on GH after 1980, they would have given her the Ice Princess story (without the death part, presumably) instead of Alexandria? Did you ever feel like Alexandria was similar to Tracy?

I don't know if I've ever actually seen that one...not sure if I have the stomach... I watched some of early 1995 and it's very frustrating because I still believe McTavish was a good writer (the little story between Julia and the man dying of AIDS - a gay man on daytime dying of AIDS, a young gay man, something that, believe it or not media, did happen after the 80s ended - was more moving than any AIDS story I can remember on a soap outside of Cindy and GH's Stone), but no one should ever do three or four concurrent stories about miscarriage/stillbirth/wanting to have children and not being able to. That's just way too heavy and redundant.

More toy things. The Glenn one is the best. Daryl looks like Magnum PI's boss. http://www.comicsalliance.com/2013/01/24/the-walking-dead-funko-pop-vinyl-figures/

I always thought it was ironic they used Laura's past to revive the show in season 13, given the way they'd dumped her.

My issue with Andrea is she often seems like a man's fantasy to me. The pouty little lady who wants equality but actually just needs taming. All the flirting with any cute guy. The general incompetence. It's a little jarring.

The other problem is that some of the characters who may be prominent in the comic drag the show down. I don't know if Kirkman has any interest in Andrea but if he did then he should have stopped the show from making her character a shambles (I would also say she was miscast). Characters like Carol, who on paper seem easily disposable, actually contribute far more to the backbone and heart of the TV version.

So is EJ still alive or was that a fantasy? I'm looking forward to who the mystery man is.

I heard a voice on HGTV and sensed immediately it was Rebecca Budig. Sure enough, it was. She was wearing a very shapeless dress and presenting a show called Amazing Water Homes. She was fine, other than being a little annoying vocally for that type of role.

Yay, the mushmouth ham lost to someone who gets support based on his acting, not on women who want to have sex with him!!! Congratulations to Alan Halsall on his very deserved NTA.

I liked some of the show after Abby left. I was sort of happy she left because Latham had NO IDEA how to write for Abby and I was so proud of Donna for, without naming names, saying this when she left the show. I thought season 11 was OK, although sluggish (Tom and his story were huge bores). I thought season 12 was a good season, sometimes very good, especially with delicious Linda Fairgate, and Claudia when she was nasty but not full scale monstrous. The end of season 12/start of season 13 wrecked everything.

I still liked Karen (unlike Mac, who I grew to loathe and I never went back), but yes. I hated that side of Karen. I don't think it helped that she was given Laura's child. I know the reason for that (Greg is a dashing billionaire, he doesn't need stories about a toddler), but it still annoyed me. I don't remember who was writing the show by then but I was just tired of it. I don't think Karen should have been the "everywoman" character. I think that was Val, before she became a huge dumbass. If I don't stop I'm going to end up ranting about that vigilante story in season 13.

She never had sex with Brian. She lost her virginity to Charlie, before she got involved with Alec.

Alex Kingston is going to be on Arrow. http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/01/22/arrow-alex-kingston/

Did you get my PM?

I saw a comment saying the show will be renamed Branningville. I have to admit that I laugh and laugh and laugh when I hear people say oh it was so much better with the Mitchells in this role. Now they know how I felt. Sounds like Zainab won't get a good exit.

Israeli elections. http://www.tnr.com/blog/plank/112119/five-winners-and-five-losers-israels-election

That's probably for the best, as I guess saying that unless you know the person isn't a great idea (or unless you're at some fan event).

It's a good thing she never met me, as I wasn't a fan of that Diana/Karen singalong either I wish I could meet Constance McCashin. Just to tell her I thought she was the heart of the show and firing her was the dumbest thing they ever did.

They tend to take down episodes but the first two seasons are on DVD.

I hope your neighbor didn't spend a year screaming DIRTY COP! at you... I'm pretty sure that Karen and Val wore those dresses on the show. I think this might be Karen's (if not she wore it at that restuaraunt Richard owned in season 4). This is probably my favorite soap cliffhanger. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRKz1WLMBlA

I'm not saying it wasn't reality to the viewer - the viewer creates their own reality. I'm saying I didn't believe it was reality for Karen or the character she was supposed to be. I thought it was Michele Lee talking.

Forced, it was lines, a speech, not reality (to me), a caricature, OOC behavior by Gary to facilitate the conversation, and summed up how dumb Karen became over time. Karen never fought because she thought the world was an apple pie. She fought because she knew it was rotten to the core. She wanted to change that.

Walking Dead art on tumblr. (there's some comics stuff on there, although I see nothing so far that has spoilers) http://the-walking-dead-art.tumblr.com/