DRW50

October 12, 1982

I think Laura's death provided some interesting drama but I often wonder if the long term fallout is worth it. I think the whole process of making Brooke so needy did horrific damage to her character and it seemed to happen piece by piece (although the worst probably came from the marriage with Tad).

9/28/82 Digest

1/26/88 Digest. This is neat - never knew SOD wrote about Eastenders. And they have most of my favorite characters (just take out Kelvin and put in Sue or Colin).

When I watched the December 1988 episode, which took place soon after Laura's death, I was reminded of Mimi Torchin saying she was much more affected by Laura's death than by BJ's on General Hospital, because she'd seen Laura grow up. The grief of everyone involved in that episode was so hard to take - I think the part which got me most was Barbara packing up Laura's video game system Even though AMC stopped mentioning Babrara's role in Laura's death, viewers never forgot - I remember someone writing in to SPW blasting Barbara as a hypocrite for saying Erica had kept a baby from its mother. I also like that we just heard of a sick child, offcamera, who needed a transplant, instead of what we get now, which is OMG let's find some kid on the canvas to give cancer for about a week! Julia Barr was incredible in the scene where she went back home, numb, only allowing herself to break down when she found a toy of Laura's. Both she and Dick Shoberg played the numbness so believably, it was just painful. And David Canary, always playing a strong yet supporting role in these scenes. I had never seen the first Marisa - not sure of her name. I had seen the divine Nancy Addison, who just looked a little twitchy and struggled with a dud role. The first Marisa seemed fine to me, perhaps not overly charismatic, but OK. I wonder why they felt the need to recast her when they later did not recast slightly dull actresses like the woman who played Corvina. I don't understand why AMC broke up Natalie and Jeremy. I thought they had plenty of chemistry in this episode, and even just seeing them once, I hated knowing they were going to be split soon. Natalie still looked glam here, and wasn't being called DOLLDOLLDOLLDOLL every few minutes. Here's NAA as Marisa.

I thought Hunt was kind of sexy on GL. ATWT, well, you know my view on that. I guess it depends on the role. His Knots Landing run never quite worked for me either, although you got to see him in a Speedo. It's hard to remember sometimes that stuff like Barbara/Lisa was tough to find in the later years. At least they sort of made it up. I also wish they'd had Lisa/Carly make up.

That's a gorgeous photo. Thank you.

The best thing about Barbara was she was a sometimes very kind woman who could also be a real bitch, and at times, a little crazy and desperate (my favorite was when she faked her own stalking). I know a lot of people had issues with Barbara/Henry (generally I enjoyed them), but for whatever reason, I thought ATWT's last year got Barbara just about perfect.

The crazy Barbara stuff incensed me. It's one of those times I stopped watching for years because otherwise I'd probably break my TV. Why I had such a strong belief in the sanity of a woman who was always a little nuts I don't quite get, but, that's soaps for you.

This is from the September 14, 1982 issue. I'll finish what I have of 1982 tomorrow.

Weird pose. I wonder if this was one of the last Afternoon TV issues - the few I've seen from around 1983 or on seem to focus on primetime.

It's a shame, as they could have done an Edge/AW/OLTL mesh, like the old Irna Phillips days. Just to honor her, have Sam Rappaport garroted by a Nora negligee he tries to throw out of a moving car.

I guess P&G would have never let that happen, sadly, although I'd love to imagine Brian Frons begging for the return of Raven and Sky.

I thought the Corringtons were on the show twice. Or maybe that was just Peggy O'Shea. I can never remember how much of the crime story Slesar wrote. Michael Storm hated the Laurel story...not sure why. For a while I thought Kim Zimmer played Georgina, which isn't any more believable.

August 31, 1982

I wonder if the Corringtons were involved in any casting at this time - John Cunningham and Marilyn McIntire were both popular actors on Search in those years, weren't they? It's a little sad seeing some of the talent of this time, like Nana Visitor, put in such wasteful roles. The mind control is now but I think the arm was later. There also seem to be a ton of new, generally short-term characters at this time. It's hard to keep track. I always forget this was how Cassie got her start. I wonder how Judith Light felt about the mind control saga. I know Michael Storm loved it.

August 3, 1982, brought to you by Brad Vernon's pectorals.

July 20, 1982

July 6, 1982

June 22, 1982