DRW50

I first started AMC through a wedding videotape, which I did really enjoy (I watched the "Just You and I" duet for Greg and Jenny several times). I didn't start watching the main show until around the time Marcy Walker came back as Liza. I was riveted by her early story and also drawn into Janet's story, Michael Delaney, etc. Unfortunately after that it all started to decline and while I do think AMC has had many great moments over the years, I never had the strong emotional connection I had with some of the CBS soaps. But I have still dropped in and out and I hate that this is ending. I also respect AMC for bringing back Angie and Jesse and proving that black characters can be viable and that returns of long past characters can be successful. I wish this was not their exit story, but at least it's better than seeing ATWT end all but holding up a "whites only" sign. I don't think it can be stated enough just how powerful and prominent AMC was for many years, and what a strong connection they had to pop culture. Disney destroyed this - making AMC just like any other soap was its death.

Susan Bedsow Horgan or something like that. I think she was a permanent headwriter and they just moved on when they got a bigger name. The show was in a lot of transition in the few years before that. Her ATWT seems very different from Marland's, but it is still good - a bit more youth-oriented and not as deep, but there are some absolutely superb scenes. You've seen the episodes on Youtube where Bob tracks Kim down to the cabin and she's delirious and she finally tells him about the baby they lost, right?

That's fascinating. I tried that and found a few, and also a lot of Ellen Degeneres. I have one or two more Ellen articles but thought they were getting repetitive. I will post them when I find them again. Thank you and so many others here who have had stories about her and helped show another side of her than just the usual. She is such a beautiful woman. I know it won't happen but it would be nice if she and OLTL were together again one last time.

One of my all time favorite scenes:

I've posted a lot of stuff here over the last six months.

Jessie Wallace photo shoot for Buzz. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/video/tv-biz/buzz/

Was Kathy only in this episode?

Not really, I just remember reading about Paco in FrenchFan's synopses and thinking it was rare for a show to have Hispanic characters at this time (the only other soap that did was Ryan's Hope), and I wondered who played him. I always misplace by copy of Soap Opera Encyclopedia and was too lazy to really look online. So when I saw a photo and his name in the Digest it answered for me. I have one or two more articles somewhere and hopefully someone else has more. Like you I have never seen this and wish I could.

Most of August and September 1989 are now on Youtube, and this means you get to see the last (or should have been the last anyway) hurrah of James Stenbeck unfold. There are a few moments where people take stupid pills to justify his presence, but overall most of the characters are skeptical as his tendrils again make their way through Oakdale. In many ways his return is pathetic, and I assume deliberately so. He has to rely on bad disguises and one teenage boy who lives at the Earl Mitchell Center. He spends a lot of time eavesdropping and manipulating Lucinda and Tonio. When he finally does call Paul, Paul, who had always had a soft spot for his father in the past, now speaks with open loathing and venom, wishing his father dead. Somehow, I did end up feeling sorry for James, in spite of what a monster he was. His last episodes are also very emotional, and have an impact, aside from his death scene, which is a little amateurish. This is contrasted by the Lily/Derek story, Martha Byrne's exit, which is a slow burn - is Mr. Perfect cheating on Lily? Holden's back, what does that mean for Lily? This is clever as it hides the real story, which is Derek and his father having deadly plans for Lily. Background characters in this are cop/construction worker Jeff, who seems to have a soft spot for Lily and who is distrusted by the other men in Lily's harem. Does anyone know if there were more plans for this character? He's very handsome - he reminds me of Matt Bomer. He didn't seem to have a lot of credits on IMDB (ATWT wasn't even listed). Derek's trashy sister, Trish, also stops in, pushing Derek's buttons and having a lot of fun with the pieces of ass that were Caleb and Holden. She looked familiar to me and I finally realized she's married to Grant Aleksander. Apparently she gave up acting and is now a lawyer. I liked her work here - she's very believable as someone who wants to have fun but is also more than a little bitter and lost. James' death episode also has the goodbye for John's niece Pam, who has graduated from nursing school and is moving to New Jersey with her mother. I have a lot of respect for Doug Marland for not just having her disappear, as so many did in ATWT's later years. She was such a levelheaded character yet not self-righteous or whiny or judgmental. Her exit coincides with the last appearance of Roy and Nella Franklin's mother - again there was no "need" for her to return but it was a nice touch. They also explained what had happened to Nella - apparently she and Beau moved to Los Angeles together. I wonder why they show didn't keep her around, as she'd been there for 3 years and had ties to various families. Was this the old "only one black woman allowed on the show at a time" system? The only part I don't care for is about a dozen episodes repeating scenes of Julie painting herself as a victim to Andy, Andy believing her, yelling at Duke to back off, Duke being confused, etc. It seems very stalled out. I wonder if it's because they initially planned to write Julie out until Marland was impressed with Susan Marie Snyder's work. This is the James death episode and the next episode. The next one also has some great scenes with Hal and his family in West Virginia, and at about 41 minutes in, a delicious fight with Emily/Susan/Lucinda.

I didn't realize that was Kassie's husband - I remember seeing them in some photos but didn't make the connection there and in this behind the scenes video. I guess some of the garish outfits on GL at this time would be a good fit for the Joan Rivers of this era. It was nice to get a backstage look at GL here, since this was right around the time the show started going nuts. I still can't believe Kristi Ferrell auditioned for India. I wish there was a video of that.

Those clips are starting to go up on Youtube (the Jonathan story) and they write Nola as so OTT with a crowbar, trying to open boxes, she seems to be channeling Janet Green. The scenes are so strange. I think they just saw Nola as "wacky" when generally I'd say Lisa Brown does better with dryer comedy. Having Quint and Nola stand in front of a huge fake computer isn't the way to go. I do like the brief scene where he's showing her how to use a computer. Ahead of its time I guess.

I'll post the whole article at some point - it's kind of sad though remembering when New York had so many soaps. Here is the November 1978 recap. It's a nice surprise to see who played Paco.

It's the nice comments that really make this thread keep going. Does anyone know more about Hank Iverson's paramedic story? That synopsis seems truncated.

Her hair there reminds me of June Brown. I guess it doesn't look like that now though.

IMDB doesn't even list this for her. I wonder how long she was on the show and what the story was. January 1960 TV Radio Mirror - what's new on the East Coast

Some are saying that Margaret is in the hospital. I hope that's not true. Heather Chasen was one of those brought into Crossroads when new producers wanted to revamp it. While I think that was a really bad choice (firing Noelle Gordon), I can see why Heather was so popular. Here is her entrance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCgD0plN6ac

October 22, 1985 Digest.

January 1975 Daytime TV Penny is found innocent when the real psychotic murder tries to kill Maggie and confesses to Morrison's murder. Nick and Althea tell Penny they will not remarry and Penny is greatly upset. Ann is in Africa and has contracted a strange disease. Steve and Carolee learn his former wife, Karen, is still alive. March 1975 Daytime TV Michael returned, but at the last minute, refused to tell who he is. Greta believes his spirit is in someone else's body, not realizing the man she saw is actually Michael. Margo returned from Hawaii, refusing to give Alan a divorce, but is taken sick and dies. Ann has recovered from her jungle illness but reporter Kitty Harris has been investigating it. May 1975 Daytime TV Toni and Alan were married in a small ceremony on Valentine's Day, although Toni is not aware her husband is still alive and living out of the country. Karen has regained her memory and has been pressing to regain custody of her son by Steve, Erich. Martha Allen is flattered by Ernie Cadman's attentions. July 1975 Andy Anderson has been persuaded to record a record, but vows he will never leave med school since his parents worked too hard to help him. Karen is trying to win Erich over, to regain possession of him. Carolee was able to talk to Steve's step-niece. Mike has fallen in love with Dawn. Toni is overjoyed at the thought of becoming pregnant. Mike has decided to get in touch with his folks. November 1975 Penny successfully came between Andy and Stacy and Stacy turned to Ricco. Ricco and Stacy have begun an affair. Penny and MJ have taken a room together, and MJ is trying to help Penny. Alan thinks Toni is still in love with Mike and is very hurt. Steve and Karen had a meeting about Eric, and Carolee is feeling more and more left out and is angry. Ann told Althea Nick still loves Althea. January 1976 Although Toni lost the baby, she still refuses to give in to either of her "husbands." She is determined to be free an independent, at least until she knows what she wants for herself. Mona returned to town, and Ann moved in with her. Ann told Mona she and Carolee are now friends, and Mona has been working on a plan to help Steve and Carolee regain custody of Erich. Although Hank Iverson's paramedic unit is doing well. March 1976 Erich has been undergoing psychiatric care, and both his sets of parents have been cautioned about what they say to him. Carolee and Steve have been having marital problems caused by the recent strains put on them. Greta is growing up and noticing boys, especially Billie Allison. this is causing pleasant concern for her parents. Althea has been dating Robert Wilson, whose wife is missing.

Sure, I will post what I can once I finish up some of the Doctors and Loving synopses.

I wonder how Andrea would have been as Kimberly. An old anniversary item for GL in the late 60s says that the show was so impressed by Liz Hubbard's work as Paul Fletcher's ex that they considered bringing her back for another role after they killed her character off. I wonder what that might have been.

I'm so glad these brought back some memories for you. I have more from 1987, they're just very scattered. But keep an eye out. What did you think of Lotty? And of the early Clay stuff? And this Curtis recast?