DRW50

Christmas spoilers. Some sound very good, at least on paper. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=46264993&postcount=61 Ryan/Janine photo shoot for The Sun. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/3258938/Dont-miss-this-weeks-buzz.html

Do you think they made a mistake in getting rid of her after the lesbian story ended? Or should they have never gone into that story at all?

I couldn't believe it at first either. I think this was the soap role he was most known for until he was cast as James Stenbeck. I do wonder what long range plans Y&R had for him, if any. I think they quickly wrote Jack and Joann out after the Joann/Katherine lesbian story caused a ratings drop.

Thank you so much for posting that June Brown interview. I knew very little about her life -- she has overcome so much tragedy yet manages to keep her head high. It's fascinating to watch her, and also slightly surreal, as some of what she says and that nicotine laugh remind me of my grandmother who is now gone. I think Fern is very patronizing but she helped get a real picture out of June. DS, which seems to be even more hysterical than ever, had some thread trashing June because she said she didn't expect to end her life on a soap, but I can see why she said that. I do wonder why they didn't talk about her leaving the show for 4 years. I thought the part about her asking, and receiving, permission to rewrite huge portions of an episode because of her personal issues with her scenes was fascinating. To me that is another example of Louise Berridge, for her many faults, genuinely caring about the people on Eastenders. Many producers would write June off as difficult and gleefully convince her to leave. There were a lot of really interesting moments in here. I had no idea about the origins of Dot.

I have to see this every Christmas.

Oh I don't disagree with you -- I like Lacey Turner but the character was wrecked several years ago. I was being serious about which exiting characters you actually missed.

Quite a shock in the top 50 character poll; it looks like Gail wasn't even in the top 50. Mavis, surprisingly, managed to get in, pretty high on the list, even though she's been gone for over ten years and is now mostly known for saying she doesn't like the show. I really liked Mavis, so I'm happy. I just wish Jerry Booth or Ray Langton could have made it. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=46200209&postcount=317

Which exiting cast members did you miss when they left?

What were Alan and Susan like then? I don't know very much about the characters. Susan was one of the Ames siblings right? I think that people would actually prefer to see talking heads. There's so much fake and shallow stuff out there now. Simple conversations might be a refreshing change, as long as the writing is good and has a narrative.

Yes I meant Rhona. Thanks. Apparently five letter names are too much for me.

Does anyone else wonder if this Mercedes story was initially supposed to go to Mitzeee? Riley has lusted after Mitzeee. She's slept with Carl. And the initial talk about Hollyoaks Later mentioned that Riley and Mitzeee were going to get together. I still can't believe they didn't mention any of Steph's family I also read that they are bringing in a new character for Teresa instead of the cop she was with in Later. I wonder why. He was even in their calendar.

It looks like the guy who plays Eddie Windass is leaving the show. The reasons haven't really been given yet but this is what the actor Tweeted: "Seen as the News Of The World will be publishing it on Sunday, thought I'd let you know first that I'll be looking for work come March time" "Thanks for all the concern. Can't really say much more. I'm sure the NOTW will explain."

I've heard people say the Holly story is better because it's realistic, but I think that it went past realism when they had Moira secretly give Holly heroin. The other problem is that her buildup into heroin was offcamera, and the girl who plays her wasn't a lot different with "happy" Holly than she has been with druggie Holly. It seems like Emmerdale is still scarred from all the criticism for their comedy a few years ago. Another open-a-vein story is starting soon, although at least the actors should be able to carry it off.

dc talks here about 4 other episodes which are available.

I wish I could see it. Your comments and those of others help me see it, in a way. I was going to ask if you had seen any of the episodes from the 50's that are up at archive.org. There are also a few clips on Youtube, I linked to one a few pages back. I was also going to ask if you remembered Joan Crawford's appearance on the show.

Is Corrie calling the Nick/Leanne/Peter/Carla thing a "love square"? I keep reading that on DS, over and over. I wonder how Jane Danson feels, if Collinson has such disregard for Leanne that he overnight turns her into some kind of lying tramp who just can't help bedding down with the creepy ex who treats her like garbage. They have no chemistry, and this whole thing is so contrived. So is Carla's overnight obsession with Peter. This is supposed to be some type of great drama but it has just trashed Peter and Leanne and reinforced how one-note Carla is. Does she have anything to do beyond chase after other women's men? At one time I thought she had real potential but now she is extraneous. So much of the drama seems contrived. I do not believe for a minute that Tyrone would demand another baby only a month or so after his last child was born (or he thought it was his child anyway). I also don't understand why the huge bore known as Owen takes up so much airtime. Is seeing him beat up Jim McDonald, who barely has a presence on the show anyway, supposed to mean something? He's just a very dull Charlie Stubbs. Collinson is lucky that Crowther was so unpopular, because the show seems just as plot-driven and full of miserable people now as it was under her tenure.

From the June 1972 Afternoon TV. (Roband Publications Inc)

From the July 1976 Soaps and Serials (Magazine Management Co).

Here is the recap from the 10/14/82 Digest. Hope Memorial is on the brink of disaster! Patients are mysteriously dying as hysteria grows among the staff. Faced with this crisis, Althea deems it necessary to quarantine the Fifth floor! In doing so, Jeff is trapped by mistake, and Adrienne, livid, vents her fury on Althea. "What a perfect way for you to keep me and Jeff apart! You still want him for yourself!" "Don't flatter yourself!" Althea retorts. An angry Jeff, meanwhile, attacks Mike for "taking over fast" in the crisis. Mike asks Jeff to put aside their personal differences, for now, as they're going to be here for a while. Lt. Reed tells Carolee to get him Mona Croft's necklace, the Faberge, convinced there's a connection between it, the grave robberies and the epidemic! At the same time, Billy informs a wary Luke he's concerned about a hospitalized Natalie's health. "I know we've had our differences, but I wouldn't want the poor girl to suffer," says Billy. Luke thinks Billy's concern is strange, but admits that he's acted more human than Luke's ever seen him. Billy then goes to Frankie, wanting the name of a good narcotic. Frank suggests Demerol. "Good," Billy says, "now all I have to do is get myself checked into Hope Memorial!" When Billy enters Hope, claiming that he's "feeling sick," a skeptical Althea takes his temperature, only to find it's 102! Billy does have "the fever," a shocked Althea believes. Meanwhile, Philip finds Matt's disappearance from the hospital quite strange, "What's all the mystery behind Matt's sudden absence?" he asks Althea. She refuses to answer. It's no secret Philip's out to get Matt, Althea accuses him. As Steve nears death, Carolee sadly recalls the treasures times and how much they loved each other. Meanwhile, Jeff realizes he loves Adrienne, and phones her. She doesn't answer, as she's in bed with Jean-Marc! Later, Jean-Marc tells her not to forget who and what she is, as he injects her with an unknown formula. Murray returns to help Maggie find the fever cure. "I hope it wasn't only my brains you wanted," he admits. "No," says Maggie, "I'm not allergic to your company." Murray is pleased - maybe he has a chance with her after all. Seeking a Cure A damaging story on Matt and Hope Memorial is leaked to the paper. Livid, Althea tricks the reporter into revealing that the source was Philip, finally caught at his own game. Althea then pressures Maggie to find a cure for the epidemic. "Your research is the only hope left for any of us!" says Althea. Hiding a secret, Kit tells Mike "the problem" between them is that she doesn't happen to dig him. Mike is hurt and angry. Finally, she tells Mike the truth. "I'm not ready for you, or any man. Find yourself a nice girl who doesn't have problems." What "problems"? Mike asks. kit runs away in tears, unable to answer! Out to get the world, Billy, from his sickbed at Hope, uses Frankie to get a key to the drug supply closet. He is determined to make Natalie pay for all his troubles with Philip. Meanwhile, Althea has trouble coping with unbearable hospital pressures in Matt's absence. She calls Matt in Boston and he assures her she'll handle everything "just fine." Althea feels better until Murray announces he's back in Maggie's life again, and means to stay. After agreeing to do business with Jean-Marc, Philip's first project is to market his astronomically-priced cosmetics. Thanking Philip for his help, Adrienne is shocked when he makes a move on her! She finds him hard to resist, but does for the moment. Philip reminds her, "I always get what I want." As Adrienne moves into her beach house, Philip promises to give her a housewarming gift she'll never forget! She reminds him that it's Jeff she loves. Philip says that's alright, as long as "love" stays in the family. Luke learns Natalie will be well and home from the hospital soon, not knowing Billy is closer to getting the drugs needed to keep Natalie under his thumb! Carolee is alarmed since Steve's condition has deteriorated faster than anybody's. Her entire family is falling apart with Billy sick and Mona, now having periodic convulsions. Meanwhile, Maggie and Murray have moved closer to finding a cure for the plague - and each other! Numerous tests show that the "bug" is a mutation of the dreaded Legionnaires' Disease. Elated with his find, Murray tells Maggie he's "got the hots" for her. To her own surprise, Maggie admits a strong attraction for him! Denying interest in Mike, Kit tells him she has no intention of getting romantically involved - ever again! That's good enough for him, Mike retaliates, he'll find satisfaction elsewhere. After being rejected by Kit, Mike takes Hollis, another nurse, up on her offer to meet "in the elevator, between floors, for some fun." Kit is aware of the exchange and fears she's lost Mike for good, as the rumor of Mike and Hollis' sleeping together spreads through the hospital. Natalie is happy when Luke tells her she's going home soon, but worries she won't be able to sleep without pills. She asks her doctor to prescribe some strong ones, and in doing so, confesses that she was once a junkie! Later, a feverish Billy enters Natalie's room and tries to seduce her. He collapses before he can touch her. The plague spreads among the staff. Nurse Rodriguez is stricken and another nurse dies. Panic grows as Murray and Maggie feel they've found the answer. Confident the last test will prove successful, Murray tells Maggie that once this is over, he'll "put the light back in our eyes." Maggie is unsure and goes to check test results - no good. It's back to square one!

Of all the various big names and guest stars on the show who do you think was utilized the best, and the worst? I also wanted to ask if the early episodes are as bad to you as they are made out to be. I've watched the first 4 or 5 and I enjoyed them, although they were a little dull at times and I was kind of insulted by the token migrant worker who was there to convince Chase to stay around (whatever happened to him anyway?). I wish they had kept Angela's ex, Julia and Emma's father, alive instead of killing him off.

That sounds great. It's a shame that all that is known of Diana Walker's soap work is her one day stint on Dark Shadows. From her interviews she seems very interesting.

Even more repetitive than JR? That's interesting about Susan Sullivan. Did she have any involvement in some of her stories? So did you agree with the changes the show made in it's last year? What did you think of Jamie Rose on St. Elsewhere (did you watch that)? It was hard for me to take her seriously because of her hair and big glasses - with the white jacket she looked more like a stripper playing doctor. She did have a fantastic exit scene.