DRW50

As we go to press, NBC has announced that "Lovers and Friends" has gone on a "summer hiatus." Will it return in the fall? The following was written by Kathleen Solmo, who has watched every episode from day one, and faithfully reported them for Soap Opera Digest. Her opinions, based on a solid professional background in TV, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of other members of our staff. What do you think about "Lovers and Friends"? Share your feelings with us. LOVERS AND FRIENDS - SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT WHY IT DIDN'T "MAKE IT" We will never know if Austin will marry Amy, if Jason will become head of the Stock Exchange, if Lester can truly keep on the wagon. Who can really care about cardboard characters, in a false situation, going to ridiculous extremes to achieve an end which seems to fluctuate with each passing story conference? The show was poorly premised, for one thing. The Saxtons, with their borrowed $20,000, could never afford the upkeep of that lovely house, let alone the taxes. The Cushings, if they had had any sense at all, would have fired Marlow: a good job of butling would have completely protected them from any encroachment on their sanctum santorum. The entanglement of the two families was forced. The young people might well have become so strongly attracted, but the setup was all wrong. The show was further burdened by poor casting. With one or two exceptions, nobody looked the part. Bent little fingers holding a teacup were supposed to convince us we were seeing a world of style and grace. Then there was the plot. What plot? Where? There was no plot. There was a great deal (dizzying, at times) of lateral movement, lots of busy goings to and fro. She telling him about her and what the others said about something else. Lacking a plot (known since ancient times to be very important in a story), it was impossible to move it. Dialogue. The Head Writer must have had a chance to get at least one good dialogue writer. It is a shame he failed to take advantage of it. Lacking not only substance, but consistency, the actors floundered with their "relationships." You would too, with an albatross like that around your neck. The occasional attempts to be "relevant" - such as Ellie's talk about abortion - was an indication that somebody connected with the show kept up with the news. Sadly lacking - and this may be the crux of the matter - there was never a moment when one could say, "Yes, I've felt that, or "That breaks my heart." There was no feeling. One wants to feel. From stem to stern, LOVERS AND FRIENDS was shaky, with lots of leaks in the hull. There may have been a saving grace, but yours truly missed it.

They had split up at that time I think. Ronnie was sleeping with Ryan and Owen.

I hope that this was his choice, because Emmerdale would have been foolish to get rid of him. He was a great love-to-hate villain, yet he was also charismatic and handsome and just plain entertaining. I guess Faye and Ryan will be leaving soon. They could take Will in but I'm not sure what stories they would have. It depends on whether they think James Sutton is enough of a draw on his own. I'm going to miss the Wyldes

Here is the L&F recap from the July 1977 SOD. I guess this must have been from May. The love between Megan and Rhett is now in the open. They have each broken their engagement, and told their families. Connie and Desmond are devastated, and the Cushings and the Saxtons are not pleased, but the break would have been cleaner had it not been for Laurie's manipulative interference. Megan is so angry at Laurie that she can barely be civil to her, so Laurie - playing on Desmond's basic goodness - has managed things so that he has advanced her money (for, he thinks, her mother's bills) and also invited her to be his parents' houseguest. Rhett and Megan are under pressure from all sides. And so is Jason. He feels that Richard holds him responsible for his brother's actions, and that his job is at stake unless he can get the two couples back together the way they were. To his credit, he also wants to keep Connie from further hurt. Of all the older generation, only Sophia finds anything to be pleased about. She is delighted that Megan - unlike Edith and Sophia herself - has decided to marry for love, and not for family responsibility. Long live romance is her credo, not that she is older and free of the pain that living with it - or without it - can bring. PRIDE GOETH BEFORE THE FALL Ellie definitely does not want the baby. For a while she was talking about abortion, but let it drop when she saw how the mention it enraged George. She apparently resolves to go through with the pregnancy, and to take care of herself as the doctor advises. But then Edith steps in, and the call of Ellie's desire to do whatever Edith bids is too strong...Desperate to break up the undesirable alliance between Megan and Rhett, and heedless of the price anyone else will have to pay, Edith goes to Ellie for help. Despite a scare minutes before (the doctor told Ellie she must have bed rest for several days), Ellie does not hesitate to do Edith's bidding. She goes to Rhett's studio to confront him with the threat she thinks Edith relayed from Richard: unless he and Megan part, both Jason and George will be fired from the Cushing jobs. She may or may not regret her rashness - for she collapses onto the floor in pain. With great presence of mind, Rhett calls Ellie's doctor and rushes her to the hospital. After long hours of waiting, they know Ellie lost the baby. It is very difficult for George, very difficult, but he is relieved. Ellie will be all right. In bleaker moments, he feels Ellie is almost relieved that her pregnancy was so abruptly terminated. GEORGE CONFRONTS EDITH Edith is shocked when George comes to set her straight on her involvement with his wife. HE blames her for the loss of his baby. Edith had been too blind to see how ill Ellie was, she sees that now. When, in self-defense, she threatens George with having him fired from his consultancy to Richard's firm, he retaliates that he would leave it in a minute if it would guarantee a removal of her interference with his family. The course of love is not running smoothly for Rhett and Megan. The opposing factions are marshalling their forces to bear pressure on them. On the one hand, Jason - at Richard's continued instigation - is doing his best, by working on Connie, urging her to fight for Rhett. Connie, however, has a measure of pride, and she refuses, but instead goes to the studio to collect her things. Embarrassed, but not surprised, at seeing Megan there, she wonders if Megan is prepared - or capable - of doing for Rhett all the things that Caroline did so willingly - cleaning, cooking and laundry. Connie thinks Megan is merely a spoiled rich girl who will soon tire of Rhett - unless he tires of her first. Rhett decides to face the issue head on by going to see Richard at his office. Richard asks Barbara to remain as a witness. She is amazed at Richard's rudeness, his threat to cut Megan off without a penny. After Rhett leaves, Richard faces a stormy interview of his own. Barbara accuses him of having such a small regard for "love" that it has made her see him in a new light. She resents being pulled out of the appropriate box at his mere convenience. He has, she accuses, no heart, merely an appetite to be, occasionally, satisfied. Angry, she leaves before she says something more. Jason is totally confused with the idea that, unless he can terminate the "infatuation" between Rhett and Megan, he will lose his job with Richard Cushing. Both Edith and Richard have fostered his fear and encourage it for their own ends, but perhaps, even they would be shocked if they realized the lengths to which he is willing to go in their (his own) behalf. JASON'S TREACHERY Enraged when he learns that Rhett has hit upon his big chance, a national advertising campaign, Jason realizes that this will give Rhett enough money to feel free to marry Megan. Frantically searching for a way to stop it, he gets the information he needs from Connie. Rhett, over the years, has spent thousands of dollars on equipment, but could never afford insurance for it! Jason sinks to a new low when he stages a wanton break-in of Rhett's studio. Everything is in ruins by the time he leaves. Barbara realizes that Jason has told George and Ellie about her affair with Richard, and the battle lines are clearly drawn when she confronts him and angrily tells him to stay out of her life. After she slaps his face, Jason turns the tables and threatens to expose her publicly if she takes steps to have him fired. AUSTIN IS PROMOTED For the first time in his life, Austin has a sense of accomplishment. He will be chief of a new section of the plant. His abilities recognized and praised - it is a new sensation. Not unpredictably, Edith is upset. She had been hoping he would be fired! The Saxtons, however, are immensely proud of Austin, and Amy's joy, in particular, makes him very happy. George is miserable, as he confides in Barbara, because he suspects that Ellie not only is relieved at losing the baby, but that she deliberately disobeyed the doctor's orders so that she would abort. Laurie tells her mother on the television that she may have found a "rescuer" (Desmond). She is tempted by the excitement Jason offers her, but being Mrs. Hamilton will suit her purposes and solve a lot of problems. Love has a place, but so does money.

Those trailers are very good. The "She's a Lady" was a bit strange because they included praise from two of her men who were later revealed to be pedophiles -- but then that's part of her history I guess. Kind of funny they included an early scene of her in a granny nightgown, as Barbara hated that wardrobe. I think she's been turning in some just great performances these last few weeks. She's not a technically great actress but when she gives her all and the material is there then she can move you. The confrontation with Phil was so tough to watch, especially when he literally threw her out. Pat's support of her has been the first time they've ever made an effort to actually show a friendship between Pat and Peggy, instead of telling us. That long scene between Heather and Abi was, in terms of viewer interest, brave, as neither are big characters, but it was a long time coming to see more of Abi's point of view outside of being used as a pawn by her parents. I especially liked the scene where she talked about how happy she'd been to be one of the only kids in school who had parents that had stayed together. And Heather in a supporting, secure role, was what best suited her character. The talk between Carol and Bianca, that's what I am enjoying more lately, just seeing people talk, not spit plot points back and forth. Bianca getting Ricky to talk Carol up, then getting annoyed when he went on about it. Fun stuff. This is the Bianca I remember from her first run, not what she's been the past few years. I agree that Sam looks better with her natural look. It's a shame that Santer so ruined the character that so many grew to hate her. Did she remind anyone else of Wendy Richard in those scenes?

Oddly enough I think that show was written by Jonathan Harvey who mostly does Corrie. So do you think Daran Little will work out as an EE writer? Did anything in Friday's show (haven't watched yet) seem a bit Corrie to you?

Most of the time when I think of Madonna it's of her ballads. Something about her voice is very melancholy and suits the pain. You Must Love Me, Oh Father, Take a Bow, Like a Prayer (even if that goes into a more upbeat mode), Frozen, The Power of Goodbye. I guess Live to Tell was groundbreaking in some ways because the song is stark compared to how overproduced most music was at that time. Often times songs of that era had singers almost fighting with the arrangement, whereas the arrangement on LtT is so haunting from the start and suits her perfectly.

Y&RWT do you think it's true that Madonna's song Live to Tell "rewrote the rules of adult contemporary"? I saw that on Allmusic.

I enjoyed the episode. It's been said before but every episode is solid now. Scott Maslen seems so much better and more casual now. It helps that they aren't writing him as the hard man or the edgy outsider or any of that. His reactions to Max and Darren and then when Carol was in the Vic (it was great to see Carol having that everyday type of moment with her brothers, she's rarely had that), etc. I'm not entirely sure where Sal's outburst came from, although I guess I can't say whether it was in or out of character since we barely know Sal. It was certainly a way to leave with a bang. I thought the scene was a bit too contrived but I always liked the chemistry between Anna Karen and Babs Windsor. I'm glad they brought her back one last time. I liked the little slice of life moments like Pat struggling to stay away from cigarettes. I'm so glad Zsa Zsa is almost gone. The minimal efforts to establish a relationship between Zsa Zsa and Shirley never really worked, and since Zsa Zsa does nothing to bring money in, she seems even more pathetic to pout about the situation. This is another example of the casting failure in this role -- Zsa Zsa is too old and hard looking to believably be the wounded teenager. Emer Kenny should have been given another role. I wonder why Mercy stood around in a towel for the last half of the episode. I'm glad Jack brought up the elephant in the room (Max and missing Bradley). The comedy scenes with Darren and his "little man" are a bit much at times but Charlie Hawkins makes them fun and goofy. Harry is interesting. He is not the cold controlling figure I thought he might be. He's very aggressive. I wonder if this is it for him. Jodie...please Eastenders don't ever have her get into a rage again, it does not suit the actresses facial features at all! Enjoyed everything with Carol, she was looking for the worst in that date and then that nice kiss shot down her defenses. I'm loving the relationship between Bianca and Carol these days. It's great to see this softer side of Carol and it doesn't have to be about anger. So was Morgan Bianca's biological child or was this another child she adopted? I can never remember. Is it me or are they lighting or styling Shirley to look softer? I thought she looked her best ever on Thursday's episode. I just wish they could cut the cord with Heather for good. I liked the scene with Carol, especially Shirley's smile after they were done sparring.

Yes, in the face.

I'd like to see Amira again too but only if she isn't written as some kind of Chryed obstacle. I don't want to see her go nuts or anything. Tanya Franks defends drug plot. Is Rainie already gone? http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a263922/franks-defends-eastenders-drug-plot.html Here's a thread on DS from someone claiming to be outraged about this story. I think it's a very funny wind-up but naturally a lot of people took it seriously and were in a lather. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=1330585

If you can speak French or you just want to enjoy the images then you can see some KL episodes on this channel. http://www.youtube.com/user/lindamorgane

Good work! I'd never seen most of those photos. The color photo with the four of them -- pretty awkward looking; Rod Arrants is the only one who doesn't look kind of nauseated. I should be getting some other SODs from 76 or 77 in a few weeks or so. If I put those recaps here and you want to put them on your site that's great, although I guess they might seem extraneous, since they will be in between the first and last.

I haven't seen a lot of some AW periods, especially the very early 80s but that era does seem listless. And DePriest's 86/87 from what I've seen is kind of unpleasant (mainly the Reginald material), although that did raise ratings, I think. I agree that the show still seemed to have its own identity until JFP. Then even after she left NBC or P&G or whoever just ran it into the ground. I'll never forget Malone saying they were just going to pretend Jake never raped Marley.

Lillimae worked best as a recurring character. Julie Harris was breathtaking in that episode, and one of the reasons why was just how damaged Lillmae was. That episode is also one of Joan Van Ark's best performances -- that scene where she just starts KEENING and WAILING is exactly how raw Val was. Later on the problem was that Val was such a stagnant character that they still mostly just had Lillimae as her support system, which is probably why after Julie was sent packing via cost measures they brought in the (nothing against you Mrs. Voorhies) pointless Aunt Ginny. One of my favorite scenes in the later seasons was when Val was leaving her house for good and she heard flashbacks of bathing the children, Lillimae singing, etc.

I know that some have said all of the reveals have fallen flat lately. I agree to a point (although I don't think the Ronnie rape reveals have been that poor), but I just hope people won't be upset if the whole thing doesn't revolve around Melissa Suffield. I mostly want to see the reactions from Jane and Ian. Adam and Laurie are two of the show's best actors. I have very mixed feelings about Jane because I don't like how she's written in the relationship, yet I really like her with Ian and I'm glad Ian is finally in a settled, happy relationship. I'm not sure what would become of either of them if they split up.

I wonder why they gave up on Jamie at this time. I have seen some clips of the first Nicole and I thought she was the one who most fit the part of the mixed-up kid sister with some toughness. I was never a big fan of the Love FAMILY - Peter was often wasted and poorly written, as was Nicole, and Reginald was awful - but I think that they had potential early on. Later on I was basically just Donna and Vicky and Marley and that's it. I guess part of it later on was that Jamie's role had been filled by other men in his age group. I think they had the right idea in the early 80s when they contrasted him with Sandy. Y&RWT, I think that the thing with Jensen Buchanan is she is not a good actress (she got better over time at AW but as you said that was under very generous treatment) as she had some charisma and she had some chemistry with her co-stars. I think her chemistry with PMV, and then Tom Eplin, carried her as Vicky. She also had some with Anna Stuart and later Ellen Wheeler, although not as much. As at OLTL she mostly got through based on her chemistry with Jessica Tuck and Bob Woods. I think that's one of the many reasons she flopped at GH, she didn't have chemistry with anyone. I do think Anne Heche was the best Vicky and also a very underrated Marley (I'd say Ellen Wheeler was the best). Marley was, for ages during the time Anne played her, a sappy plot device with a bad wig, a woman who existed only to give Vicky story. When Marley finally got a little story of her own, like the rape, Anne did a great job, and never once did I think I was seeing her try to be Vicky or try to make Vicky into Marley. Her Vicky had such an edge but you never forgot her pain. She was also very funny, and she was an outsider, which I think Vicky should have always been (Culliton tried to do that again when he came back in 1998 and I thought it was a good idea, even if the story fell apart). Even in those early clips I posted, when they style Anne like Linda Dano Jr, she has such a fire in her eyes, just such potential. I'm so glad she got to stay at AW long enough to really become a powerhouse.

From the 9/29/81 SOD. CRITIC'S CORNER In his most powerful scene to date, Curt Dawson as Zachary Colton, let flow a whole force of emotions on the "Another World" witness stand. Over the months, Dawson has portrayed Colton as a power-thirsty district attorney, ruthlessly striving for more political clout. When the evil Jordan Scott tried to halt Colton's aspirations through blackmail, Colton murdered him. Once it was revealed in court that Colton, and not Blaine Ewing (Laura Malone) may have killed Jordan Scott, Zachary took the stand. Detached, distracted, confused, serene, self-righteous - Dawson was magnificent as he admitted that, yes, he killed Jordan Scott. No matter the fine writing - only a superbly talented actor could keep the audience mesmerized during that scene. Moreover, Dawson made us feel pangs of sympathy for a very unsympathetic character. Mr. Dawson will be sorely missed. It is this editor's hope that he turns up on television again; very, very soon. - Meredith Brown

Nice photo of Morgan there. From 12/78 Soap Opera Digest, S.O.D Publishing Inc; the show's 27th anniversary party.

An advertisement for the show, from a 9/29/81 SOD. Sorry for the slant.

I haven't seen a lot of Yates as Jamie. I wonder if he would have been better received if he hadn't replaced Richard Bekins. He seems better than stiff Lau or Russell Todd, who didn't bother me that much but didn't seem very popular. Yates was pretty good on GL. I thought Wyndham's toughness kind of kept Rachel alive as a character, although all the mannered, faux-Shakespearean stuff with Carl didn't do much for me.

saynotoursoap usually replies eventually, so hopefully they'll have some good comments.