DRW50

Also from this issue.

From the September 20, 1988 Digest. Network Publishing Co

Interview with EE's Jay. http://www.lastbroadcast.co.uk/soaps/interviews/v/15125-jamie-borthwick-eastenders-jay-interview.html

It's strange they only give her more to do right before they write her out. It's very lazy writing. Yet so many worthless characters stay.

At the time Ellen came back to the show, I think both she and Tom said any problems they had were worked out long ago. You never know whether that's just being said to the press, but since they had a lot of heavy story together in the last year AW was on, then she made several appearances with him at ATWT and directed for the show when he was a cast member, they must not have had any serious issues.

I wonder if the Points of View interview is available. As often happens at DS more people seemed to focus on upset over minor things like why didn't Ian get to talk about his home being redecorated. Apparently Anna Karen/Sal is credited for Week 46. That's nice they're still using her. I guess she's still a connection to Peggy.

I think her last few years of story were with Kevin? You're right that the character seemed extraneous. I notice that the interviews with Barbara Rucker seem to be entirely about her and not about the character. I guess she must have also fit into a very stylized look ATWT had at that time. I'd love to see more of that timeline. The changes in the early 80s must have been such a big departure for longtime viewers -- fortunately they seemed to have enough new characters who clicked with viewers.

I remember the last year as being uneven but some stories had potential. I wanted to see more of Marley recovering from her breakdown, and more of Cindy and David Halliday, among others. Cass/Lila/Anne O'Donnell could have been interesting too. At the time I felt like "Who Killed Grant?" was kind of dull, or possibly pointless, as Grant had gotten away with so much already. Didn't JFP consider firing Judi Evans? I thought something said she wasn't sure of whether to get rid of Alice Barrett, Anna Stuart, or Judi Evans. I think Malone's writing also made a mess of the character, along with that story where the house was burnt down and so on. I did like the story where she ran off to Chicago. AW's very low period of mid/late 98 did have those very good scenes where Jake and Marley talked about her rape. I wish I could see those again.

That's a shame about Ina. I wonder if this was sudden? I remember not all that long ago they had her birthday on the show. Good interview with Hamesh. I like that he said he never really watched before. I wonder what this story will be. Surely not another pregnancy...

Thanks for telling me more about him. I know very little about him. I don't even think he's in IMDB for the role.

I didn't know she had her own theme music. I wonder what it sounded like? Yeah Schemering said that they began repeating stories, like one about alcoholism (I guess that was Kevin?). I have some of the Digests from Valerie's time. I will type up some of the synopses later if they mention Valerie. Unfortunately I don't have all of them so they don't tell a complete story like FrenchFan's do. While I guess ATWT probably didn't need some of their older women (like Sandy) by the time they started pruning, it still annoys me when I hear that getting rid of middle-aged and older women is what a soap has to do. I think this type of thing has killed soaps. To me this age group is where you find your truly fascinating female characters. When I started watching ATWT it was Susan and Kim and Lucinda who helped draw me in. It's interesting that for all the driving away of older women on ATWT in the late 70s and early 80s, Marland used them to help make ATWT strong again.

People talk about how the women on the show now are too shouty, but that era had a lot of quiet women and they still went on a rampage. Odd that Ruth wasn't arrested when she was in the middle of everything. I love when Nigel does a little celebration after he realizes he's being arrested. I guess he figured "Why not." Considering what happened to a lot of the kids who probably played on that playground in those years, like Clare, Janine, Billie, Stephen, perhaps they were right to close it off... So have any of you heard that Eastenders Children in Need this year is supposed to be crossing over with Corrie? Eastenders characters lost in Weatherfield or something.

Campbell:

Sorry, I don't have all of the last parts of their interviews. Here's what I have. Cannon:

From the July 1976 Daytime TV Stars. Dell Publishing Co, Inc

From the March 1976 Daytime TV

From the July 1976 Daytime TV Stars. Dell Publishing Co, Inc

They were thinking if they chased a target demo who will never be interested in soaps or if they chase a demo through the most condescending attitude possible, that was all they needed. They never knew or cared that soaps were special and could bring in an audience by staying with their strengths. A few years ago when GL was canceled I think I said that I thought AW had no more room to grow when it was canceled and that GL did, but looking back I think that's wrong. I'm actually surprised that considering the wrecking ball taken to AW over it's last 4-5 years, it was in as decent of shape as it was.

From the July 1976 Daytime TV Stars.