DRW50

In one sense there wasn't a lot of hype for Lisa's return or for the Lucas reveal; there was no promo of the latter from the BBC, and the former only got an interview on This Morning, I think. I guess some were expecting more because of the claim that Phil and Lisa would have an explosive showdown, which, given the "explosive" real life relationship Lucy Benjamin and Steve McFadden once had, may not have been very likely. But I think the other part is that the show has trained them to always expect BIG when that doesn't always suit the story. There was no reason Libby or Chelsea needed big exits. DS is always very erratic, it's just odd that now you see so much so and so sucks, so and so is terrible, this was awful, when a lot of dross periods over the past few years didn't seem to get quite that reaction, even if they weren't always pouplar.

Yeah I don't get the huge outcry about this at DS. I've heard some people say that one or all of them should have been killed as this was a far worse exit. Why? Does anyone care about Kevin Wicks just because he was killed? I can understand why some might wish the reveal had been more explosive and that's down to the reveal episode but I thought the exits were fine. I think they could have taken more time with Libby, as her exit seemed the most rushed, but Libby has never been a very strong character...if it were me I would have her make occasional visits, like what they used to do with Aunt Sal. But as for Liz and Chelsea, it made sense, and in Liz's case she got some very poignant final scenes with Dot and with Patrick, some of her best scenes in her entire run. Liz has always been a plot device anyway, moreso than a character. And I have a soft spot for Chelsea so I'm glad she had at least a little dignity and got to possibly find some peace. Diane Parish was, as always, fantastic, and I liked how they tied in Zainab and Syed as well as the brief argument with Carol. I like how they are not just forgetting that Denise was presumed dead. I know this will end soon but the little touches help enhance the characters. The decision to say months ago that Lisa and Phil would have an "explosive showdown" was a mistake, but otherwise, the show never hyped Lisa's return. Fans who are used to big overbaked reveals or returns hyped it, and what a surprise, they were disappointed. Personally I thought Lisa's return was overall just about right for a character who has few ties to Walford and who has very little to say to Phil besides a shouting match. If she knew about Louise's abuse at Ben's hand, I'm sure she'd have more to say, but that has been dropped. There has been a lot of hostility towards Eastenders at DS lately and while I have felt that way before I think I now enjoy the show more for the reasons others seem to be upset -- there is much less of the BOOM ZAP POW stuff. For instance, Lucas might have held the community center hostage with a Bible stand if this story was going on a year ago. While I agree that exits and big moments are important, I don't think the show as a whole should be sacrificed for them, and for some years now the little moments have been sacrificed. One example would be those wonderful scenes with Carol and Bianca, where we got to see a more vulnerable side to Carol and Bianca trying to encourage her to take a chance with the soldier. They had such a natural chemistry, one I have rarely seen since Carol's return. And then Carol and her brief scene with Max. I like that type of thing. It reminds me of the Eastenders I once knew and loved. Really I think the episode overall was extremely well-crafted, from Denise building up for her kids to breaking down after they were gone to Peggy slowly realizing she had to get Louise out no matter what. I'm sorry that expectations seem to have led to such a sense of disappointment with some, especially as that seems to be leading to a lot of "Kirkwood sucks" type of posts.

That's like saying David Gest is 25. Come on. What the hell is this casting, between this and Riley. I haven't seen casting like this since 90210. He looks so much like Niall, a duller version. I wonder if that will be mentioned. I miss Niall.

I haven't seen Bart yet but in this interview I can barely understand what he's saying and he looks very old. How old is this character supposed to be?

Do you think they might have been better off writing Steve and Carolee out? I wonder if they thought with some of these stories that they needed to move away from the hospital. I know Schemering's book speculated that the lower ratings for both GH and The Doctors throughout the mid to late 70s were based on people tiring of hospital melodrama. But it seems like the hospital, from the synopses I've read, still provided a lot of fireworks, whereas, aside from Mona and her plans, the stuff outside the hospital doesn't sound as interesting to me, only on paper at least. What did you think of Alec Baldwin? Armand Assante was on here at one point too wasn't he?

I think they said the same about Amber, but we'll see. Still don't get why Crowther banished her... Details on the upcoming DVD. I'm glad that Jason and Mary will have more to do. Mary is comedy gold. She and Reg should be fun together. http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/s3/coronation-street/news/a255858/corrie-50th-dvd-plot-details-revealed.html

It looks like Geoffrey Hughes isn't doing well . While he may be best known to a lot of people as Onslow on Keeping Up Appearances (first place I saw him), he was very popular in the UK for his brilliant work as Eddie Yeats, who carried huge portions of the show in the late 70s and early 80s. I hope he gets better, this is a tough fight. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/3080927/Geoffrey-Hughes-Corries-Eddie-Yeats-is-gravely-ill-with-cancer.html

Finally watched yesterday's episode. I'm hoping the soldier Carol argued with might represent a new chapter for her. They sparked together from the start. I haven't seen such quick chemistry on the show in ages. I don't care about Billie or Carol or Whitney going on about Billie so I'd like to see her get to move on. Poor Shona, she was just hilariously awful in those scenes. I don't know whether it was intentional or not. Glad that we won't have to deal with Louise and that frozen grin for a lot longer. The slap was better done than I'd expected, I thought it might end up like those Pat/Peggy slaps. I'm liking Max and Vanessa; their ill-defined relationship seems very realistic. And all the showcasing of Jake Wood's bod epitomizes the so wrong but so right sex appeal of Max. Rainie reminds me of a lot of people. Laurie Metcalf. Summer from Hollyoaks. Among others. I know she's been around before several times but I usually never remember her. Interesting how she just immediately says, "I'm sober." Talk about a big neon sign. The Abi/Jordan breakup was oddly done, but I guess it was supposed to be, to reinforce that Abi is trying to act much older than she is. Great great stuff with Denise and family. I think this not being more OTT has led many to become uninterested in these scenes but I like the smaller moments. I think Tiana Benjamin is at her best in those quiet moments, particularly the one where she destroyed Lucas's watch. And Denise trying to deal with coming back home, Denise trying to talk and joke with Jordan and with Patrick, the awkward conversation with Libby. Just perfect. These characters, Denise and her kids, they could have been so much. While it's too late for Chelsea and Libby I hope this is just the start for Denise.

Always love this. Even better was when he did this in his SNL hosting stint... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KFLPJ2bgNE

Did she ever tell Sharon she slept with Grant? Supposedly they almost got Susan back once but it fell through. I think that might have been for a wedding or something. I remember on Vicky's birthday in 2004 when Michelle called and there was some tension briefly as she knew Den was alive. I would have killed to have seen a conversation between them. Just one. Tully and Grantham were magic together.

So that Hollyoaks story is true. Holy fuc*ing shi!! I can't believe that he actually believes the show is too much like Hollyoaks! My God...just look at the show! If they have anything in common it's a lot of bad acting from certain cast members. The show has a handful of teenagers, who don't take up that much storyline. Why are they being fired when horror shows like Graeme/Tina are going full steam ahead? And if we are talking about what drives away viewers, then why the hell are people like Nick Tilsley continuing to suck up airtime?

Oh, Sharon knew about that?

Michelle was a strange character in that she was often a very selfish, dour person, but I usually couldn't help feeling sorry for her and wanting her to get what she wanted, even when she was being pretty callous (like the way she treated Lofty). Susan Tully was an amazing actress, ridiculously underrated. Without her there is no real reason to ever see Michelle again unless they find a brilliant actress to take the role over and they know how to write Michelle, which won't be easy.

We both said this, we have good taste. I think Elizabeth was his daughter though. I'd love to see some of the people you suggested. I'd like to see Sue Osman again too, and Mehmet and his wife, and their kids. And perhaps Naima or her child if she had one.

Looks like Living will be airing the show in double bills starting August 23. They're going back 4 years, apparently? Living was recently bought by Sky. The only thing I've heard of Living is their reality shows with Jade Goody and now Katie Price, so perhaps this is a move towards soaps, possibly even making one of their own someday.

Thanks for posting that interview. I think Lucy's had a jab of Botox. I always liked Lisa, even though she was a weeping wreck. I am glad they're at least going to try to explain Lisa's absence, as this story never made any sense to me. I don't think we'll ever be seeing Lisa again, although as Lucy said, she never thought they'd even bring her back! I just wanted to say if anyone wants to see other Lucy Benjamin stuff, and also a fun, cheesy, but at times surprisingly deep and moving space/soap opera, you should try Jupiter Moon. It's available on Netflix if you have Netflix. Yeah Lindsey looked great. But then I have a soft spot for Carol. I guess the reason I thought that Bianca was the one who wouldn't be interested in sex is because they've generally acted like he is a burden to her and she's not very interested in him as anything other than a stable father for her kids.

Ryan's Bar Online has the 12/78 SOD interviews with Bernard Barrow and Sarah Felder, but I didn't see this interview with Karen Ann Morris (later Karen Morris Gowdy). KAREN ANN MORRIS The Ill-Fated "Faith" of Ryan's Hope By Geri Jefferson Four hundred thousand acres of ranch near Cheyenne, Wyoming was home for many years to Karen Ann Morris, the recent addition to the cast of Ryan's Hope. Karen happily tended to her father's Hereford cows as well as to her own horses. She is a master equestrienne whose love for horses has allowed her to transcend the grit and cement of New York City to find horseback riding facilities in nearby Connecticut. But let's not stray too far ahead of ourselves. Let's go back to Karen on her parents' farm and see what prompted her to leave such spacious tranquility. After winning a local and state Junior Miss competition, Karen managed to pull off the final coup - the much sought after title of America's Junior Miss. The year was nineteen-hundred-seventy-four and it soon proved to be a year chock full with goodies. Karen found herself embarking on a whirlwind tour of interviews and talk shows while managing to find time for commercial work. When Karen's reign was ended, she went to New York University to complete her education. Two years prior to Ryan's Hope, Karen had been doing commercials and modelling and found she had no great love for either occupation; especially modelling - "I really didn't like modelling. I was so dillusioned. I came with the thought that it was glamorous work, always wearing fun clothes...But my talents weren't in modelling. I knew I wouldn't make a successful model and it was boring work." Karen felt very strongly that, as a model, one was viewed only as a physical commodity and that was not Karen's idea of a life long occupation! When asked how she was adapting to the grueling schedule of a daytime series (this is her first acting position), Karen answered by saying it was not grueling at all - "I love it. I have learned so much from it. I had taken drama classes, but you learn so much more from working...When I go to work, I don't even feel like I'm going to work. It's going to see friends." Speaking of friends, the name of Faith Coleridge Desmond came up. Karen's perception of Faith appears quite accurate. "Faith is a salt of the earth character. Everyone likes Faith. Faith likes everyone. She likes her husband; has a lot of respect for him. But she lets very few people really know her. That's where Faith and I are alike. She knows a lot of people and she's still very closed except to her two best friends and her family." Yes, Karen is extremely close to her family which includes two sisters; one older and one thirteen-years-old. Back to Faith and Tom: Would Karen ever allow herself to become embroiled in a similar situation? (Faith married Tom in order for him to become an American citizen.) "I've tried to think about that and I don't think so. I don't think I could put my own life and my own happiness on the line for someone else when it came down to it. I think that in the long run, what Faith is doing to Tom is hurting him more - and she's hurting herself." Karen has many strong feelings about a union of two people and looks forward, someday, to having a husband and children. She believes that having children is a marvelous extension of a marital relationship. She also finds the thought of abortion personally abhorrent. "I don't think there is any reason for abortion. I really don't. And I believe you're taking a life. Faith feels that way too." Karen feels that for people who are unable to have children biologically, the advent of the test tube child is a wonderful thing. For the moment, though, Karen feels the procedure is being abused. "It's like a big game for these scientists. Life shouldn't be taken that way. It should be taken very seriously." Karen, it seems, is an individual who has given serious thought to all she feels seriously about. And to the rest - whatever that may be - there is a wait-and-see attitude. Sitting in Karen's home, listening to her speak and watching her blue eyes sparkle, it's quite easy for the mind's eye to conjure up a view of Karen riding on a horse at the edge of a beach, with the sun and a smile glistening on her face. One is easily reminded of soft sea breezes, fresh, clean air and Karen Ann Morris, all at the same time.

There was a very early Joan Bennett movie on TCM last week, called Eleven Men and a Girl. It was a Joe E Brown movie (an annoying comedian of that era) and Joan was the romantic figure, along with James Hall. Her father was the football coach for a California university and she would bring talented players to the school and charm them if they would join the team. There was a scene with the latest guy where he wanted to give her his pin but she already had tons of them pinned to her dress, under a shawl. She had short blonde hair at this time (she said she wasn't really noticed until later when she dyed her hair black) and she "sang" and played the ukulele! And in one scene she did some kind of wild, manic dance where the entire football team stood around her in a bedroom. Then they all took her on their shoulders and did some type of huddle. Given that this was a pre-code movie I almost wondered if it was going to get a little out of control... I could definitely see her as Carolyn Stoddard's mother here.

Natalie Anderson (Layla's sister Alicia) interview. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s12/emmerdale/interviews/a254703/natalie-anderson-alicia-gallagher-emmerdale.html http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s12/emmerdale/scoop/a254716/more-from-edale-newcomer-natalie-anderson.html

This is their info box "Lovers and Friends" NBC Television Network colorcasts, premiere Monday, Jan 3, 1977 Description: Serial drama focusing on the wealthy Cushing family and the Saxtons, their middle-class neighbors Executive producer: Paul Rauch Creator: Harding Lemay Writers: harding Lemay with Tom King Associate producers: Harrit Whol Goldstein and John Wendell Set designer: Otis Riggs, Jr. Costume designer: Harry Curtis CAST David Abbot...Bentley Saxton Rod Arrants...Austin Cushing Richard Backus...Jason Saxton Margaret barker...Sophia Slocum Vicky Dawson...Tessa Saxton Patricia Englund...Josie Saxton Patricia Estrin...Megan Cushing Susan Foster...Connie Ferguson Dianne Harper...Laurie Brewster John Heffernan...Lester Saxton Christine Jones...Amy Gifford Stephen Joyce...George Kimball David Knapp...Desmond Hamilton Nancy Marchand...Edith Slocum Cushing Karen Philipp...Barbara Manners Flora Plumb...Eleanor Saxton Kimball Bob Purvey...Rhett Saxton Ron Randell...Richard Cushing

From the 3/77 SOD... Introducing Lover and Friends... THE PLACE Point Clair is a wealthy suburb of Chicago, with homes ranging from very nice to magnificent. Its "first family" may well be the Cushings, Richard and Edith. Richard is a successful stockbroker, Edith is an heiress raised in the grand manner and trying, if not always successfully, to accustom her children to it as well. Their marriage appears to be harmonious - more than a "convenience" but less than ideal. Edith is well aware that he is having an affair with his assistant, Barbara Manners, and they know that she knows about it, but whether her discretion is due to an attempt to be wise, to "save" the marriage, or due to a deep-seated indifference to the heart of the matter remains to be seen. Megan Cushing, 22, is a recent college graduate. Young and lovely, she has discovered a passion for journalism and would dearly love to take a job, recently offered, as apprentice reporter for an out-of-state newspaper for six months. But she is also recently engaged to Desmond Hamilton, mainly because he seemed a good choice, and her mother selected him. Doubts and conflicts are beginning to arise for Megan. Not only does a career beckon strongly, but Desmond, who is 28, and well-to-do, and serious, and established seems so...stuffy. Megan can foresee no excitement being married to him. Desmond, for his part, sees her restlessness and is thinking of moving up the wedding, as well as combining business with the honeymoon. Anton Cushing is 25 and a deep disappointment to his parents. He chucked college in mid-career to join an artists' colony in New England, and seems to be ruthlessly determined not to "fall in line" as he is expected to do. A year ago, his life was robbed of meaning when Laurie Brewster, the girl next door whom he has loved since childhood, was forced by her mother to take an extended tour of Europe. Mrs. Brewster did not approve of Austin's liberal, artistic bents, not to mention his drinking, and ever since, Austin has been nursing a bruised heart. Just two weeks ago he allowed himself to be persuaded by his family to come home, to join Richard in business. He is home, but so far he has managed to forestall any appearance at the office. His constant companion is a drink. Sophia Slocum, Edith's mother, lives with them. Her marriage was quite loveless, and she admits to Megan that she has far more enjoyed being a widow than a wife. She senses Megan's growing reluctance toward Desmond, and advises the girl to call off the engagement. But Megan is leery of doing that. Edith has sent out invitations for the engagement party and she wants this marriage. Does Megan have the nerve to thwart her mother's wishes? FROM ANOTHER PLACE, THE SAXTONS On the less desirable "side" of Chicago, the Saxtons, Les and Josie, are packing up to move. Their two youngest children, Bentley, 18, and Tessa, 15, hate the idea of leaving Hammond, and school and friends. Jason, 22; Rhett, 25; and Ellie 27, and married to George Kimball, encourage the move. Most especially Ellie. Ellie's life is free of the hardships her mother faces, and married to a rising young lawyer, the prospects for the future are very bright, but it is not enough for Ellie. She wants more. Ellie is ambitious. Not crassly, not meanly; but she has a great need to be known and accepted by the "best" people. And her ambition is the reason Les and Josie are leaving the home they loved for many years, the home where each of their children was raised. Les is an alcoholic. Reformed, it is true, but nonetheless it is a demon he must fight every day of his life. Ellie, more than the other children, suffered deep scars. Then six months ago, when Les lost his job, he went off the wagon and on a bender; now the past is harder for Ellie to forget. And that is part of the reason why George found Les a new job, and also loaned him $20,000 for the down payment on the Brewster house in Point Clair. Ellie found the house. For her, it is a gift of better things to her mother and untold opportunities for the younger children. Austin is the first of the Cushings to meet Rhett Saxton, who is helping to fix up the house before the family moves in. Jason and Amy, their cousin, are also there, and although they initially resent being mistaken for "workmen," they soon warm up to Austin, especially Amy. Austin stays very late one evening with his new friends, licking his wounds because he was unprepared - as was she - for an encounter neither of them expected. Laurie arrives to stay with the Cushings for Megan's engagement party. She thought Austin was still away. They still care - but his unsettled quality frightens her, and she does her best to discourage him. Megan meets Rhett briefly, and also thinking he is a workman, gives him short strift. When Ellie decides to beard the lion in his den by calling on the Cushings, Edith is cold and unforthcoming. She had no idea Violet Brewster, her neighbor of twenty years, planned to sell the house. She is just short of being downright rude, and Elie is quite shaken by the rebuff. George wants her to be happy, though; and he will attempt a more formal introduction through members of his firm. This is the story of how the Cushings react to the Saxtons, and how the Saxtons react to their new surroundings, a story of the older - as well as younger - generations. --- There was a photo of Megan with this caption: Meagan Cushing (Patricia Estrin) has a very good reason to smile. What woman wouldn't if she had three gorgeous men after her? Who will your choice be, Meagan? Gorgeous Rhett Saxton, handsome Jason (Rhett's younger brother)...or will you follow your mother's wishes and marry the well-to-do (but stuffy) Desmond Hamilton? Another photo with caption: One year shy of sweet 16 is Tessa Saxton (Vicky Dawson), the "baby" of the Saxton family. She's smiling now, but will that smile remain...Time will only tell.

I never understand why people act like he's a big priority in firings. He's not a fantastic actor but he does fine and he has a lot of story potential. I read a comment at DS saying that the Corrie teens need to go because they aren't "realistic" like the Eastenders teens. Actually I would say the Corrie teens are very realistic, for better or worse. They are sarcastic, sullen, guarded, yet they're basically good kids. They want to have sex, they don't understand the double standards of their parents, they do stupid things sometimes to get attention, yet they are there for their family when they're needed. This is what most teens are, and generally I think most of the teens on there are played by competent actors. And unlike some on Eastenders and Hollyoaks they are not played by 30 year olds, unless you count Graeme. Really the teens are the least of the show's problems.

Thanks! Well, hopefully this means he and Carol might have a story together for a while, if he has a photo. Didn't you think Patsy Palmer looked very pretty today? Either they are making her look less frumpy for some reason, after years spent as a drudge, or she's glowing from the pregnancy. It was strange that Bianca was suddenly going on about Ricky not giving her any loving, as, the way she's generally treated him over the years, I'd always assumed Ricky was the one who would probably be kept at arm's length.

That cover is so badly put together. I agree that Kacey might be there for a Revealed special more than an event. Sadly even if Charlie dies I don't think they will bring anyone back. I really liked Billy and Little Mo together. It was a mistake to ever let them be apart. At first at least he got to be happy with Honey after what happened with Little Mo but over the past few years he's just been miserable and pointless. Walford Web has some new photos up. One of Billie in fatigues, looking as stupid as ever. A few of Ryan and Janine. And one of: Lewis Daley (DEKA WALMSLEY) Who is that?