DRW50

I think the problem for me was I never cared for Alex/Jocelyn and I thought Tess was sort of at loose ends much of the time (which I guess is why they threw her at Buck eventually). I remember they had it where Ava was keeping the kids from Alex, or whatever, and some fans were upset about that. The City was in such transition in those early months and I think they could have used more stability. It was something they didn't really get until Tracy arrived, which was too late. If they weren't going to have any of the old guard like Ava or Stacey then I would have kept Deborah around for a while.

Thanks. I asked because I never know what is out there, in terms of information, previously at WOST, or here (although I looked in the archives). I'd love to read more.

Willis was recast. So was Emma. I think Mac was also recast. That was about it I think, under Lemay. The only major one in that was Willis as Mac and Emma were smaller roles pre-recast. Bucky I am just fascinated by what you wrote. Do you think Daytime TV was more in the pocket than early Digest or were they all more free-minded? I know that soap history analysis said it was the Reinholt firing/Courtney leaving and all sides telling their stories that made the soap press grow up, as it were, but even before then the press seemed more mature than what we have now, which often seems like a press release. If you had cast L&F who would you have cast in the roles? The other thing I wonder about is that Rauch and Lemay seemed to have no time for actors who were not low-key and who did not keep a calm presence onset. Can a new soap have that and still continue? Or do they need some volatile, live-wire actors who communicate to the audience?

They did mention him at that time yes - I think he might not have been close to Ryder, I can't remember. He last appeared at Nancy's wedding to Mac in late 1988 (those episodes are on Youtube under Oakdalian). He was last mentioned in Lisa's 50th anniversary episode when they had Chris playing Don and Katie playing Lisa (which I thought was inappropriate and odd, but whatever). I still wish they had brought Penny back for Nancy's funeral.

I had the same thought. I kept thinking, "Where is Susan?" Thanks for confirming it. Robert Hogan seemed to be on just about everything, finally ending up at RH briefly. What happened to Mike Milker? Sorry if all this was already known - I had never seen it before so wanted to share it.

Faison. A great Guza story, huh I think he also wrote Dinah Lee/Ava on the run. I think it would have helped if they'd brought a few vets in for a while, because I think that they did get new viewers, but they also lost viewers IMO, as they gave Loving viewers little reason to want to stay tuned, and in some ways you might say they even sent a message to Loving viewers not to keep watching.

Thanks for all the extra information. I guess O'Keefe was after the boy in the episode where Tommy talks to Grandpa Hughes and then Bob. I thought he was a good little actor. Perhaps they should have kept him around. That ATWT tribute book last year interviewed Don Hastings about all the Toms. I'll have to read that part again. They should have had Don return as a widower and pursue Ellen in the early 90s. Why do you think Don never really clicked as a character?

Shana was an Alden right? Did she have a lot of interaction with them? Do you think they were right to fire her? I remember SOD saying that Lisa Peluso and Jean le Clerc had no chemistry the first time around and had no more the second. I never knew about Jeremy/Stacey. It seemed like Stacey was in a flux after Jack was written out. How long was it between then and Buck's arrival? Do you think the show should have considered putting Stacey on The City? I wonder if The City might have had more of a chance if they'd brought in more long-term vets. I remember that I resisted The City for a while when I knew Ava wasn't going to be there.

The August 1966 TV Picture Life has a one-page feature on the show's cancellation, and the protest mail they received. ABC gave the magazine resolutions to all the dangling plots: Susan and Dan Garrett (Peggy McCay-Paul Picerni) - Jerry Karr and Peter Houghton: After a strong emotional battle for all the four characters - Susan, because of the attraction for the first man she loved; Dan, because he senses this and even contemplates divorce to let Susan start out with her first family; Jerry, because he is torn between love for his real father and love for Dan, his only true image of solidarity and authoritative love; and Peter, because of his deep love for his son - Jerry would eventually have been left with the Garretts. Anne and Walker Reynolds Susan Brown-Mike Mikler): Not because of Walter's impending blindness, but because Anne would have realized that her love for Walter was all-important, she would attempt a reconciliation. She would at first be rejected, Walter being convinced she was motivated by pity rather than love. However, in the end she would convince him, and their marriage would be resumed. Gillie and Jill (Robert Hogan - Brenda Benet): After a fight between Jill and Anne, Jill would eventually have married Gillie. Their marriage would have been rocky in the beginning - Gillie expecting too much maturity from Jill. After she attends college at his suggestion, they would have found their way to a happier marriage, partly because of psychiatric guidance. Carol West (Susan Seaforth): Carol would withdraw from Walter's life and eventually marry Peter.

Running from October 5, 1964 to March 25, 1966, 3:30 to 4 PM EST, focusing on, to paraphrase Schemering, the marital problems of four couples in the suburbs. Written by Elward and Frances Rickett, produced by Richard Dunn and Eugene Burr, directed by Frank Pacelli and Livia Granito. Cast included future DAYS stars Susan Seaforth and Brenda Benet, and longtime soap vet Peggy McCay, along with Susan Brown, Norma Connolly, and others. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5vxSvNuK_o

Thank you so much for all this information! Just fascinating. Colby and Rita Mae? Really? So I guess Babbin killed off Jim Vockek and his son with Shana? I wonder if that was a mistake. I remember that SOD said when Shana and Leo were fired that Alex and Ava replaced them, essentially, in the story. To me that seems odd because I thought Shana and Ava were very different. I'd like to see the story with Lily and the homeless people. I am always fascinated by truncated strike stories. I wonder if they had planned to write Lily out right after the crazy stuff and she just hung on or if they had plans which never happened.

I wonder if it's because the new soaps of the 70s - with the exception of How to Survive a Marriage - seemed to be strong right off the bat (I'm not sure if Somerset counts as 70s as it was mostly created in 1969). And then the high expectations on Lemay and Rauch. It's strange though that the Digest was this critical. Perhaps that was just the phase at the time, as they were often critical of Mary Hartman.

I never knew that either. I wonder if she helped him get his job at ATWT (probably not as that was a few years later). I wish we could see some of Secret Storm from that era. As you mentioned, I loved her on Ryan's Hope. She was the second Joanna - I think Audrey Landers was the first.

I wonder if they are even going to use the doctor. I think they wanted everyone to be shocked and amused that Sally was dating her daughter's pornographer, but I thought it made Sally look like a terrible mother and also made a joke of any idea that she was somehow "stronger" without Kevin. Strong doesn't = being with a man who lied to you and tried to get your daughter to get a boob job. They always seem to want us to laugh at Rosie whether it's actually funny or not. Half the time they just have her yell her lines. The only one at this point in the family I find believable is Sophie, mostly because she's the only one they haven't turned into a ha ha shoutfest.

I think that it would have been better if the show hadn't given Kym Marsh any dramatic material during her pregnancy. (Frankly I wouldn't give her any dramatic material ever, since she can't act, but that's something else entirely). I'm not entirely sure whether this story would have worked for anyone, but it makes no sense to me with Michelle or with Maria. It seems even more bizarre with Maria because they casually trashed many years of friendship between Maria and Audrey. This seems like generic woman in peril, with a large dollop of "she was asking for it," which is sad. I still don't understand why Collinson has such a need to degrade female characters. But at the very least give the story to someone who can act.

I will be happy to see Todd again but his return story sounds...odd, from the spoilers. Collinson seems to like to try wacky comedy but I don't know if it's ever worked (I am still confused as to why they had Sally get together with her daughter's pornographer). It will be nice to see Violet again, to make up for her exit story. I was wondering what you thought of the world's most lackadaisal attempted rape. Why they would give this story to Maria I don't know, as Samia Smith can't do terror or drama (she is much better at breezy comedy and one-liners, or was, when the show gave her that). They apparently planned to do this story with Michelle but that also makes no sense to me because why would you give this type of story to a pregnant actress who lost a baby a few years ago? The whole story is so rushed and as with a lot of the show now I think it lacks energy. I don't think Peter/Leanne will last long. The show choosing to reunite them the very same week they split up and have them deal with none of their issues seems telling. I just don't know what the options are. Carla/Peter probably, but I have never believed she loves him and it just seems like a lot of melodrama lifted from a 1943 women's picture.

I'd love to see Shabnam again. I think she would be someone for Zainab to confide in, which Zainab has never had.

Proof that even short hair can kill an ozone layer. Aside from her run as Cecile on AW I am not sure I ever saw Susan Keith with good hair.

I think the Denise/Yusef part is very plot-driven and rushed, and it feels like an attempt to give Denise something to do. I would rather Denise have been wary of him and then Zainab, getting the wrong idea, criticized him up and down to Denise and then that made Denise more interested. Denise doesn't really have a type, IMO, as Kevin/Owen/Lucas were all very different, but the real problem with Denise is she is not a character. I love Diane Parish's work and I think that's what carries Denise along and is the reason she wasn't written out when she logically should have been with Libby and Chelsea. The problem is what do you do with Denise? Some would say, "Bring her daughters back," but I never thought those relationships were all that interesting. I'd like to see her doing more with the B&B and settle her down with someone once and for all who will get a lot of different emotions out of her but who isn't dangerous. Masood and Zainab have lost most of their spark as a couple and I would like to believe that was intentional, but who knows. The show has done a real hatchet job on Masood over the last year, especially right after the Chryed reveal. The Tamwar/Afia stuff doesn't do a lot for me either, also very rushed and Tamwar doesn't seem like he would put up with all he puts up with from her. I am still glad they are focusing on the Masoods more because I believe them as a family and it's nice to see them move on from the Syed story, but I see why the story isn't the best. So do you have any thoughts on Corrie at the moment? I have decided just to not comment on it rather than moan so I'd like to hear your thoughts, good or bad.

August 14, 1984 Digest. Recap, and the producer picks his show's best moment so far.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s13/hollyoaks/news/a307103/c4-commissions-fourth-hollyoaks-later.html

Thanks. So O'Keefe was on the show twice? Did he ever do anything as the characters or were they just filler? I didn't know Sandy's parents were on the show (I guess they were gone by the time Barbara Rucker played the role). I remember Leslie Charleson saying she quit almost immediately because they wanted her to sign a long contract. I guess the Whipples were the girls who were out of control (or one was anyway) and Nancy didn't like the mother, right? Janice, I think.

So Paul O'Keefe was playing Tom? Did they hire him because he'd been on the Patty Duke Show? That's kind of rare for someone from a popular sitcom to then be almost immediately given a fairly major role in the nation's most popular soap. I guess he didn't last long? Who was the younger boy? Was that Chucky? Or one of Paul or Dan? I never knew that there was a Judy English. They should have kept her instead of aging Annie and Dee. AW had the same problem with short-lived Diana Frame. What stories did Judy have? Do you know who Ethel Everett, Stephen Mines, Anna Minot, and Martin Rudy played? Was Jada the first Susan Stewart? I can't remember.

I wish I could see the first Ann. I just saw the second briefly and can see where she might seem a little dull. What did you think of John Gabriel (I think he left town with O'Hara Parker's Lorna)? I know he left RH for what was supposed to be a better role but did he last long? You have probably already answered this but did you see the whole Faust-type story with John O'Hurley? How was Bryan Cranston? I'm so used to seeing him in comedic roles. I wish I could see Noreen. She seems like the type of soap actress I might like.