DRW50

An interminable Christmas video -- the most interesting part is that . http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/s13/hollyoaks/scoop/a293022/watch-a-hilarious-hollyoaks-christmas-video.html

I know little about this show. It aired in 1972 and featured an early performance from Howard Rollins. If anyone knows more please let us know. From the October 1972 Daytime TV (Sterling House Inc).

This is from the October 1972 Daytime TV (Sterling Inc). This is all probably common knowledge but was the first I'd seen of it. If anyone has any comments or more info I'd love to hear.

I will say that as much as I'm dreading Tracyluv's return, the character was popular during Kate Ford's run, and they had her in some good stories. The actual buildup of Tracey meeting her match in Charlie Stubbs (who was sex on legs -- if they could get away with any fake death story, it would be with him) and slowly being driven to madness. The real mistake was in having Tracey kill him. Her return early this year was just terrible. Perhaps this one will be better, I don't know.

A few 1995 clips of Tracy, after she had started taking drugs. This was before the character became some sort of weird campy joke. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO0OdWNTflY&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pA8QymIdE0

The main problem is that Marquess does not have the ability to ground any of his shock value stuff, to make people care. He has described the spoiler you mention as "cool." It's grotesque, and if it was presented that way onscreen then people might be fascinated. If it is presented as just shock value then who cares? It's the same stuff as the fire. They just shrugged off most of what was supposed to be a tragedy. Steph choosing to inhale smoke and burn to death instead of dying of cancer should have been very dramatic, but instead the only story to come out of it was dead-eyed lumps forming a boy band. Malachy's death was IMMEDIATELY forgotten so that Mercedes could try to make the Costellos less boring. And then there's Warren's return -- Warren basically pushed a man into a fire in order to get out free, and yet the whole thing is done so apathetically, apparently we're not supposed to care. Supposedly the original fire plans had Brendan killing Amy. Sadly if that had happened it probably would have just been interpreted by many as another example of how complex the mumbling comatose Brendan is, and Ste would have just made a few whimpery faces before Brendan punched him out and then used him for sex.

The rumors with Jane were Lana, Robert, Simon Mackornindale, Mel Ferrer - between that and Lorenzo Lamas and all his peccadilloes that must have been a fun set. I will have to look for Julia's later appearances. Were they any good?

Yeah I also thought it was out of character. I would have believed it more if she had gone on a killing spree because she wanted out of Angela's thumb. And all that about her meticulous plans to frame Cole, I don't think she would have done that. Dana Sparks. Later to bore everyone on Passions. I wish I could see that scene again where Angela tells Chase that his mother is dead, when everyone had been told to keep that from him for the sake of his health. Dead Lana Turner and Robert Foxworth in pain -- Jane Wyman must have enjoyed that!

Now I want to see Ione and Iris together. Iris: ::sigh:: I just don't understand what Daddy sees in that woman. Ione: The Good Lord told me there is a reason a father is a father and a husband is a husband. Iris: Exactly what are you implying? Ione: I have floors to clean. Find your answers in His Word. <as Ione leaves, Iris pensively stares at the Bible> Iris: I think I'm just going to have a cocktail...

I will post those in a day or two. I wonder if they should have cast Nancy or MJ or Cheryl as Laken Lockridge. I love your ideas. You have a real passion for these shows. Thanks to your post I went back and watched another episode from August 91. August 23. You can see how far behind I am. I really don't like Spencer much at all. I do like the Frankie/Ryan friendship. They're very believable. I don't like Michael's paternalistic attitude towards Rachel. I love the scene where she insists she's going to see Carl whether Michael likes it or not, and then she tells him he can drive, and she throws the keys at him (given her visions problems the idea of her driving scares me anyway -- it would remind me of Simpsons Hit and Run, with Dean muttering "Ladykillerladykiller" as he goes over the windshield). And then her locking eyes with Carl as she knows he tried to kill her. Then her attempt to hide her fear when he threatens to get close to Amanda. Victoria Wyndham was fantastic in those scenes. I missed that fire in Rachel in later years. Did it seem odd to you that Marley thought Jamie had feelings for Paulina? Here's McConnell. It's always tough for me to remember she was in her 30s when she was on AW and ATWT. She looks older to me. http://www.igs.net/~awhp/1miranda.html

I know I've asked this before, but did Turner want to leave or was she let go?

Poor Jacqui, having to get in this old tired "sell yourself to save your man" story (the guy even sounds a bit like Andy Hunter from EE). I also don't believe Rhys is the "love of her life." Interview with new character.

Thanks for posting that. For some reason I had remembered it as them showing her firing on people. I would have enjoyed that even more I still never understood how Julia became such a criminal mastermind, but it was a good surprise twist. I'd forgotten Vicky was still there for the third season -- I guess she must have left early or midway? Her husband started sleeping with his ex wife in the third season I guess. I thought it was the second. Joe Lambie managed to be dull and hot at the same time.

I keep meaning to start up again before they're taken down. I was wondering if you or anyone else would be interested in any of the stuff when Ellen Wheeler and Tom Eplin were together in real life; they were interviewed and on the cover, in 1986. I didn't know if someone might feel that was too much about their personal lives and are only interested in the characters. If there are any actors you're interested in let me know and I'll try to find something. I was going to ask you, were there any AW actors you wished had been on Santa Barbara, or vice/versa? How many actors did the shows share anyway? It doesn't seem like that many.

Thanks for posting those. I agree with the fans who wonder why there hasn't been more promotion for the upcoming episodes, but considering the BBC has a limited budget they usually seem to do a good job coming up with promos and things to get our interest.

I've heard a few others say Anna would be better off without Eddie, but I think that might just further isolate her. I don't see why they decided that Graeme needed to be "normal." He was popular with fans because he was weird. I don't believe the actor can pull off serious material and Tina just seems to be there to help him along. Don't they remember what happened to Curly when he became "normal"? I can see why they have decided to extend the story with John, because it is one of those weird things which can go on and on as it was odd to begin with, and Graeme Hawley is an underrated actor who has always given his best to this silly stuff. It seems like they keep this up because they have to stretch to 5 episodes a week. But it has become so ridiculous. I just wonder whether any of this will ever affect anyone on the Street. It's such an isolated story. I really wonder why Tracy needs to be back. I get that she's Amy's mother but I think people need a break from Becky/Steve stories. All of Tracy's relationships seem played out (especially the one with Deirdre) and Kate Ford isn't a very good actress. The only way I would be interested in her return is if she made life hell for Carla, and I wonder if the show will even remember Peter and Tracy were close. When was Jim last seen? After he was beaten up? I guess Izzy's father and sister were supposed to make up a new family, but I don't think they click. I don't understand why they cast such an incredibly dull actor for a role which was supposed to have some type of spark. The story with Liz seemed to be scuttled quickly, as Bev Callard vanished without much real explanation. Corrie used to be great at creating new characters. Even Kim Crowther had some like Mary. I wonder what has changed. If Collinson is ashamed of creating silly new characters, surely they are better than dullards. The show has a lot of characters at the moment who do nothing and who are played by actors not talented enough to drive story. The show seems afraid to get rid of them or somehow lulled into thinking that this is just what Corrie is. But beyond that the show has become so cordoned off that even if characters who are supposed to be major suddenly disappeared, I'm not sure how many would notice. Corrie used to be a very character-driven show. It was about people interacting, not as much about their stories. Now it's very plot-driven, but as a result, the show no longer has any tone and you get really weird things like Steve barely noticing that a tram crashed or a building blew up or that one of his friends died. Not to mention how many characters shrugged off Rita being found after a week in the rubble.

How do you feel about Brendan, and about the way Mandy is being written? Looks like Clare might be on the way back. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=1406707

Thank you for finding this! I don't know very much about Kate Lodge. Was she the only one to play the role? How long was she on the show?

I think it's better off and worse off than Eastenders, because they didn't really have any big reveal that had to be kept secret until their live episode. Stacey killing Archie was kept secret from a lot of actors and they clearly had barely planned out the aftermath -- the episode where Stacey and Max talked about the truth was written on the fly. On the other hand, Eastenders, at least on paper, had several big stories which were supposed to take up the slack (Chryed, Lucas). That didn't really work out, but the idea at least made sense. I guess Corrie's stories could work out, but to me they seem to be very thin. Tracy returning again -- her last appearance wasn't exactly a great success and I think a lot of fans are tired of Becky and Steve. The "love square" is seriously compromised by the poor work from Ben Price and the character assassination of Leanne and by Carla's overnight obsession with Peter. The story about baby Jack doesn't affect that many people and the show doesn't suggest they have any real ideas or hope for this storyline. What else is there? Gary's PTSD could be interesting I guess, if they stop with all the special effects and actually have faith in the actor. Lloyd and the wooden stripper and her boring ex is dull. So is the Stape silliness. So is everything with the snoozeworthy Charlie Stubbs knockoff. Then there's the great idea of bringing in Chris Fountain as a Duckworth when all of his relatives are gone and he could have had a few last scenes with his grandfather if the show had planned it differently -- but then, if the other new characters are any indication, I guess Fountain will just spend months standing around with his mouth half-open.

Thanks for finding this. I have seen so little of Kathleen Turner's soap work. She seems very cold here -- then again perhaps Nola was supposed to always be cold. When exactly was she written out? I don't care for the announcer or that tinny music.

That was true more for the 2005 era of the show. Santer's era was campy and self-important but also full of ugly issues they were unable to treat respectfully, like rape and child molestation. They were just good at hype, and Santer was good at kicking the can down the road, with others taking blame for his mistakes. I do think the show has a lot of problems, and frankly a lot of stuff on the show is just weird at the moment, but I also feel like Kirkwood was already written off before he ever started. It reminds me of Anita Turner on Emmerdale. She was not very good but she was also basically written off as soon as she arrived.

It's nice to see you posting again. I'd like to see Ena, Elsie, and Annie again too, but sadly that won't happen At least we have our memories. What I'd really like to see is all the episodes made available, not just a select few. Did you get to see the DVD special Curly was in earlier this year? How as it? I haven't watched tonight's yet but I read that they had a montage. Groan. Between that and the Peter death fakeout and all that, it seems like the show is running away from most of what made it unique. I know Tony Warren has praised Collinson but I wonder how he really feels when he sees those cheesy montages and sound effects and gimmicks about "4 funerals" when only 3 people died. Now when a lot of people think about the anniversary they will wonder why the show misled, for no real reason. Why not just have Maria choke to death on her extensions or something. That's #4. Jean Alexander feels the show has lost its identity. http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/s3/coronation-street/news/a292473/jean-alexander-corrie-lost-its-identity.html