DRW50

Hollyoaks is down to their final 3 for a new cast member. http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/a162787/oaks-reveals-final-desperately-seeking-trio.html

A year ago (roughly) today, Max died http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWXBWQswyk4 OB's departure Max and OB were the heart of the show and I don't think it's ever been the same without them.

They extended 1897 because the story got such a positive fan response. I had mixed feelings about some of the story. I didn't like the writing for Angelique, but I enjoyed Laura's return, and Kitty Soames (have you gotten to her yet), and the wonderful Pansy Faye/Charity Trask.

I think there will be some ties to the main show. Dave first appears on there, briefly, then his backstory in Manchester is on the webisodes, then he'll be joining the regular Hollyoaks in September, as a student.

Hollyoaks will be having a new E4.com only web series about the perils of binge drinking, which will feature Sasha, Gilly, Josh, and Rhys in Manchester, and will be introducing a new character, Dave. Here's Lucy Allan talking about it: Nathale Emannuel: I do like the logo at the start of the videos. More: http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/H/hollyoaks/news/previous/09/06/090608.html

I was watching a clip of when they started to find out about Cabot being alive (imagine an ABC soap today using actors who were over 70 -- Brian Frons would keel over), and it's so much better than most of what is on now. I never understood why Loving was seen as a bad soap. I guess the constant turnover didn't help with reputation. I also remember how much I liked Steffi. I'm sorry Ameila Heinle has not ever been able to make an impression in a role since then. Who was the casting director during 1993-1994? So many of those actors have gone on to long careers. I was also going to ask about some of the other stories I heard they had, like a woman addicted to cough syrup, and a trip back to the Old West. Did those stories happen? Were they any good?

The show seems very aimless at the moment. I wouldn't be bothered about the lack of big stories if they were focusing on character moments. For years the show told stories about things like Mavis wanting to find a mate for her bird, and Mavis becoming a poet, and that worked, because it was about her character. Now so much is so plot-driven, and lacks heart. They also seem to be reluctant to write out most of their worst characters. The pacing also needs improvement. They could have milked so much story out of slowly putting Becky and Steve together. This also would have given Michelle more of a place on the show, instead of her being all on her own, with no ties to anyone and no chemistry with any love interests, even though Kym Marsh is supposedly some big star for the show.

Stephen Uppal interview. He talks about Ravi's new story (a hand me down from Warren). http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/a160023/st...-hollyoaks.html James Sutton has started on Emmerdale. His first clips are available on Youtube. I'm not sure if they can be posted here, as ITV likes to remove Edale stuff. He's in a towel. He's never done a lot for my physically but he looks decent. He seems to be a very different character than John Paul.

It's interesting how many EON actors went on to have very solid acting careers after they left the show. Holland Taylor, Lori Laughlin, Dixie Carter, Larry Hagman, Frances Fisher.

I haven't read yet but I appreciate your updates. I'm sorry I haven't responded. I'm glad they brought one of the Hardings in (were they named after Harding Lemay?). Is any of Quinn's story in the time before she got murdered on Youtube or any other clip sites? I wanted to see some of that, and some of the last story for Maisie, as I also liked that character. I wish they could have stayed around.

I think they have several guys who aren't traditionally sexy, but who have charisma, or nice bodies, or some weird magnetism. Malachy and Zak. Jack's good looking for his age. For the more traditionally hot guys, then Calvin and Darren. Ash, if he shaves. Toups, I think they're bringing big-bosomed Cheryl, Malachy's ex, back soon to try to fill the hottie quota. I'm going to miss Zoe. She was a very underrated character. She was never in any big stories but she always gave able support and made all her tales better. She also had chemistry with all her love interests, young and old, male and female. Rumor has it Jessica may come back for Zoe's exit. I hope so.

I didn't know any of that. What did some of you think about Frances Fisher? And Joel Crothers? I wish Holland Taylor's run was out there.

Yes.

That's what I thought, they did try for youth stories, but it just didn't work for viewers. Didn't they also fire Maeve Maguire, then make Nicole much younger (before killing her off), replace the old police chief with a young, hot chief, etc.? Sorry about the NBC, for some reason I thought NBC got EON as well as SFT, I forgot there was a 5-6 year difference in when those shows were cancelled by CBS.

EON was a popular show for 15 years, until Procter & Gamble had the show moved to an earlier timeslot to create a bloc of P&G soaps. EON had many fans who were still in school and who were men who watched the show when they were getting home from work, and they could no longer watch. The ratings plummeted. After a few years CBS cancelled the show. NBC picked it up and moved the show back to the original slot, but by that time momentum was lost, and many fans did not bother to follow to a new network. Then in the late 70s and early 80s soaps became all about youth and location shooting and none of that really fit EON.

I'm not surprised about Stella not being popular. What I saw of her early story, the circus, was ridiculous. I also don't think putting Deniz in the story did her any favors, the writing for him is so confusing and he often comes across negatively. The only time I enjoy him is if he's in a story with Deniz. Too bad they ruined his friendship with Vanessa. Why did they pair them up? Is Roman a popular character? I think he's great, very complex, and a good actor, handsome as well. I'm glad they seem to be writing for him again.

It looks like Zoe Lister (Zoe) is leaving. Her exit will be in December. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/a...oS7QPfQrMvIHZog Supposedly Kris is also leaving around that time, as well as Hannah. I wish the show had done better at bringing in strong new characters, as this is so many voids to fill. I think they should consider bringing back some old characters.

Becky's first appearance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQWGvbKuEDU...re=channel_page Molly's first appearance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5Tqpx31HeY...re=channel_page

Hollyoaks is "desperately seeking" a new actress.

Home & Away actors seem to be making publicity lately, but not in the best way. One is involved in a cocaine scandal, and another made a sex tape he showed to some cast members. I read about an interview the sex tape guy's mother had where she said she was so happy he wasn't involved with that type of girl now, and all I kept thinking was...OK...

I have a soft spot for Jacqui. She's a cow and she treats people horribly but she's very insecure underneath, she's a good person deep down. Like the way she was before she got pregnant and then learned she could not carry a child. She's been damaged since then, she lost her warm, caring side. I think Claire Cooper is a brilliant actress and I love watching her, so I put up with a lot from Jacqui I probably wouldn't from someone like Sasha, who can't act. I want Jacqui to finally get new stories, better stories. How do you feel about the pub? I hear a lot of people say the Osbornes have to run the pub or it doesn't seem the same, but I think they had their day. Jack seems to barely be a part of the show now, and Frankie was always an interloper in the pub. I don't think the Ashworths are a good fit but I don't know who would be. Maybe Darren and Cindy, or Darren and Steph. Or Malachy and Mercedes. Justin and Russ were both great characters poorly used over the past few years. At least they got good sendoffs. I do wish they'd had Russ leave to be with Dannii.

I think the other openings fit those soaps. I think HO's opening fits the current show but not the very dark show it was for most of last year. Speaking of other soaps, the woman who played Steve Owen's sister Jackie on Eastenders 10 years ago will now be playing Zoe's and Archie's mother. Jackie's main story was having some type of female problem which caused her to become enraged and beat up her boyfriend, Gianni di Marco. Kris' and Malachy's mother will be returning briefly for Kris' graduation.

The opening where Ste narrates. After seeing this I can't help wanting Ste to have a coming out story. He also looks so cute in his Il Gnosh uniform. Kieron Richardson makes Ste so interesting. I'm going to miss the friendship with Justin. Justin has done many bad things over the years but at his best he was the young leading man the show needed and has never quite had without him. I think one of Kirkwood's few big mistakes was having him lie that Becca had groomed him and taken advantage of him when he was underage. This made Justin look terrible, especially when Becca was killed off, and it took years for Justin to come close to regaining his important status on the show. Both Justin and Russ were key characters to the show in 2004, 2005, 2006, and then they both sort of fell off the radar. I hope Jacqui doesn't get the baby back. I want to see her move on from that baby, baby, baby, baby with her for years now. Do you remember Jacqui before she started obsessing over babies? She was funny, quirky, sexy, with traces of vulnerability and warmth. Since the baby stories started with her pregnancy and infertility, she's never been the same.

They're having budget problems. They can only afford to pay people for a limited amount of scenes now. This is what June Brown said. The people who run EE now do not know how to tell stories. Why is Janine back? Someone said, "Janine's a great character," I guess, and this is why she's back. They have no idea what made her a great character and instead try to turn her into the same quasi-vixen with weird mouth movements that they turned Clare into. Then they have her run over Danielle, only to be upset for a few days, then suddenly get over it, even going into the pub of the family who lost Danielle, even going to their christening, and no one seems to care. They also don't seem to know how to develop characters. What has Tanya been doing for the past year and a half? Stacey flounders around for an eternity until they give her the story they already gave her mother.

I wonder if this it for the Loft. I keep thinking they will refurbish. The Loft burned down once before, when Scott Anderson owned it. Darren left him inside the building, assuming he was killed (he wasn't). I'm kind of tired of Jack and Frankie, especially Frankie, but I hope they give more stories to Darren and Steph, they're the only historical links left on Hollyoaks now, aside from Tony, and I guess Cindy, but all of Cindy's family is gone.