DRW50

Rachel Shenton (Mitzeee) showreel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLHTG9qT4h0

How were the ratings at the time of the story?

It's not entirely the type of story you might expect from a soap of that era either, it seems like very tough stuff, that they actually killed off Jo's sister. I'd love to see more episodes from that timeframe. It's amazing that thanks to Ann Williams's kids there are even clips of that -- just riveting work from Ann and Morgan Fairchild. I am fond of Morgan in anything she does but she had such a raw edge and anger in those clips. Jennifer was involved with Scott too right?

It's not Peggy if she's not slapping one of Phil's women... Looks interesting. I guess Peggy is going to give Louise back reluctantly and wanted to show Lisa it wasn't about any fondness for her. Poor Lisa. And poor Lucy Benjamin being dressed like a Florida retiree.

This is from the March 77 SOD. Liza is fuming. Anger has now replaced the fear she felt for her husband. She can't believe Steve's inconsideration. All the time that she was worrying where he was, he was safely situated in their old apartment completely absorbed in his songwriting. He calls Liza and makes like his "disappearance" was nothing. He says he just forgot to tell people where he was. He didn't think that Liza would be so worried. Liza explodes. How could Steve be that callous. Hurt and angry Liza tells Steve, "Did you know I was all set to leave Paris right in the middle of my modeling assignment! That's right, I was all set to give up my career just so I could rush home to Henderson to find you. My career will always take second place to you, but it's not very obvious you don't feel the same. You were so involved with your composing, you didn't think of calling me until now!" With that remark, Liza slams down the phone. She turns towards Woody who tells her, "See, I was right. Nothing happened to Steve. You would have been giving up your modeling career for nothing." The look in Liza's eyes seems to state that she agrees with Woody. It looks like this is one rift in the Kaslo marriage that won't be easily healed. WHAT WILL JENNIFER DO NOW? Jennifer is now totally disoriented. She has just paid a visit to John and instead of taking her in his arms, he practically kicked her out the door telling her he didn't love her. She's the last woman on earth he would marry. Jennifer thought perhaps John was being cautious, but it soon became very clear that this was not the case. He meant every awful word he was saying to her. As can be expected Jennifer doesn't take this rejection lightly. She's now completely controlled by her deranged mind. When Jennifer arrives back in the safety and security of her own room, she vows out loud that she's not going to let John get away with this. She's not going to let him do this to her. Let's hope the authorities get Jennifer, before she gets John!!! Steve is hard at work composing a song. There's a knock on his apartment door. He opens it and his eyes light up with surprise when he sees that his unexpected visitor is Liza. The reception at first is a cool one. Liza is still very upset with Steve for not telling her where he was. Steve is very apologetic. He tells Liza he loves her and never meant to worry her that way. Steve's warm apologetic manner - and his love glossed eyes - quickly melt Liza's icy demeanor. She loves her husband too much to stay angry at him for any long period of time. She falls into her Steve's arms and they embrace. Steve then tells her about his idea. He says he's going to rent their old apartment and use it as his work place. This small, cramped room is the only environment in which he can create his music. Steve emphasizes the fact that he'll pay the rent since has just gotten himself a new job as the bartender at Hartford House. Liza tells Steve it's a great idea, and she's glad he's able to write again. JENNIFER ARRESTED...BUT NOT JAILED Jennifer comes sailing into the lounge of Hartford House. She runs into John's arms. She has no idea she's being set up. She doesn't see the three men sitting at the bar...but one of these men is definitely watching her. He's the pawnshop owner and he was brought to Hartford House by the other two men (Lt. Frank and David Sutton) to identify Jennifer as the woman who stole the gun from the store. He quickly does just that and Lt. Frank walks over to Jennifer and tells her she is under arrest. Jennifer casts an icy stare at John realizing at that instant that he was involved in the scheme to arrest her. He was the bait the authorities used to get her to the Inn. Jennifer's eyes are now flashing revenge. Jennifer doesn't remain in custody for long. She's no sooner indicted for Grand Larceny than the crackerjack lawyer her father hired gets her released on a $1000 bail. David is quite angry that Jennifer is free. He knows she's Eunice's killer. He tells LT. Frank that he's not going to rest until Jennifer is tried and imprisoned for this vicious crime. Eric is beginning to realize that his father cares more for himself than he does for him. Ralph needed money to pay his bills and he doesn't waste and instant selling Eric's colt Araby. Eric is heartbroken, but all Ralph can offer in sympathy is the cold, "You'll get over it." Ralph has been on the lookout for greener pastures. His ranch, Spring Valley Farms, has been suffering very hard times - what was once a prosperous venture is now nothing more than one big headache. He would dump the ranch in a minute if he had somewhere else to turn. Well, Ralph doesn't have to wait long. His wish is granted via a phone call from a Mr. Jennings in Arizona. Mr. Jennings offers Ralph a job managing his Arizona ranch. Ralph is elated. He doesn't want to wait a second accepting Mr. Jenning's offer! He doesn't think twice how this will affect his son Eric. With Ralph it's always him first...the heck with anyone else. Eric is very depressed by the news. He doesn't want to move that far away from Scott and Cathy...and also doesn't want to have to adjust all over again to a new community. He tries to explain his feelings to Ralph, but it doesn't seem to make a dent in his father's decision to pack up bag and baggage and move to Arizona. Eric is deeply hurt. He's beginning to see his father for the selfish man that he really is. GOOD NEWS FOR STEVE No one is more surprised than Steve when a rather funky looking woman walks into the lounge of Hartford House, approaches the bar and asks him if he knows who Steve Kaslo is. Steve smiles as he tells her she's talking to him. The woman then introduces herself and states her purpose. She says she's Melissa Manchester, she's a friend of Kitty Merrits; and she's interested in recording one of his songs. She asks Steve to drop by the club where she's rehearsing and they can talk about it. While discussing terms, she and Steve perform an impromptu duet. Melissa is very impressed with Steve's playing and singing. She says she would like it very much if he would go on tour with her. He'd be a great addition to her band. Steve is overwhelmed. He never expected such a thing to happen. He tells Melissa he'll give her an answer in a few days. David brings Jo to the store where the jade bowl is being repaired. Jo identified the bowl as belonging to Eunice. She shows David where it is engraved "EJW." David is satisfied. This is all the evidence he needs to get Jennifer arrested for the murder of Eunice Wyatt. This was the bowl she stole from Eunice's house and accidentally gave to Stephanie as a wedding present. JOHN ARRESTED, TOO!!! John, the man who loved his wife so very much, has been charged with conspiracy to commit her murder. How did such a grave miscarriage of justice take place? It all began when Lt. Frank and David Sutton, arriving at the Pace apartment to arrest Jennifer, found the letter Jennifer wrote to John which she hid in her dresser drawer. It's a very incriminating piece of correspondence. It states that Jennifer followed John's instructions to the letter. She killed Eunice, just as he told her to, and no one is the wiser. Lt. Frank and David then go to Hartford House to search John's room. On the top of his closet they find the gun, plus the two items (the silver cigarette case and the lighter) which were missing from his apartment. David can't believe that John would be involved in such a thing, but he can't sway Lt. Frank from issuing a warrant for John's arrest. Hearing that her lover has been arrested too, Jennifer goes to John's office to see him. The words come out of her sweet cupid mouth and John's stomach is sickened as each phrase hits his ears. Jennifer killed Eunice and she's convinced they planned her murder together! She's sick! They never had meetings and she's swearing up and down that they did! John tells Jennifer to get out of his office before he strangles her! Jennifer is once again taken aback by John's attitude. She tells John if she's going to pay for Eunice's murder, so is he! He's not going to get off scott free! Gary has stopped seeing Gail. After observing a passionate New Year's kiss between her and Bruce, Gary is now convinced she is having an affair with him. Gary knows he can't tell Amy what he suspects (she loves her husband so much) but he's having a hard time keeping quiet since he works so closely with Amy at the clinic.

Well, Ricky isn't gone after all, he's just taking exams. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s13/hollyoaks/scoop/a252545/why-has-ricky-disappeared-from-hollyoaks.html

I love Dancing Bear. That's one of those which so beautifully showcases their "folkie" background. I like this too, from their sound before they became M&P. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGgNZ6y4ZdY And yeah, Yes I'm Ready is a classic, so silky...

Another Tavares song I love Love this too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqQwS-KEqXY

I think they should have spent more time building up Carl and Heidi, as I do like them, before bringing in the kids or Mitzeee, or at least waiting a while to reveal Mitzeee's ties to the family. I guess they feel they have to hurry slightly because of the ratings, but this family seems to have so much going on and yet at the same time they're not really all that affected by most of what is going on around them. I think that the Sharpes had a more interesting debut, although it's stupid to compare. I know some have said they shouldn't have vanished for weeks but I think that helps create more interest from viewers.

As if she hasn't dragged down enough characters? I just can't take this woman. I was cringing yet again when she was making a fool of herself in the Dog (at least Cindy seems genuinely repulsed by her). Are we in the minority and she's actually very popular? I keep thinking she must have some fans, as some at DS say she's great, but I just can't take her. And what a boring story about winning the lottery, she still just sits on her a$$ all day. Her brother might improve the situation but from the promo he looks like a cross between Rasputin and Ethan from GH. So what did you think of the wrapup to the Loretta story? I thought she was generally pretty dull. I liked the focus on Jake more than the rest; the scenes where he spoke privately to Nancy about not bothering to tell his family the truth, due to their lack of trust in him, then Nancy telling Frankie, and that hug between Frankie and Jake near the end of the episode. I knew they were going somewhere heavy with Steph's quest for fame. Everyone involved did a good job with the fallout of the failed audition (I still kind of think that if Steph doesn't die they should have her take Tom with her, I see no real purpose in his character). What do you think of the Costellos so far? Do you think Michaela doesn't seem like herself anymore or am I just seeing that because I know she's leaving? I'm glad Des is about to be exposed but I didn't really believe Gaz would so quickly believe Lauren was attacked by Des. I will miss the Zak/Kris friendship. I used to hate Kris but these days he's one of the more enjoyable characters, at least when he has some comedy.

I hope that if there's an interest in them they might be brought over, but only if there's an interest. Of the E20 group the only one who really works for me on Eastenders is Mercy (and even she is still a minor character), although that might not have been true if not for the incredibly poor introduction they were given. McKee has her moments but mostly when she's playing a campy or bitchy type of role. She and Clare were fun rivals and so were she and Cindy. How soon before we start hearing that he's making EE into HO

E:20 series 2 cast announced. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s86/eastenders-e20/news/a252169/eastenders-announces-new-e20-cast.html Roxanne McKee will also be playing a guest role in E:20.

At least they didn't write him out for good, as they have in some other circumstances (I think they might have let the actor who played Len Reynolds leave when he wanted to do theater). I hope he will have a good story when he returns. I'm kind of glad if this means they aren't going to rush anything with Doug and Diane. The ratings for Emmerdale are still decent for summer but with this such a big week I'm disappointed they haven't done a bit better so far this week. I guess The One Show, which from what I've seen is a very generic, clunky show but which gets all kinds of attention (especially the endless obsession over Christine Bleakley -- so much so that the BBC even hired a lookalike to replace her when she left), is just very strong competition.

I love Tavares. My favorite is More Than a Woman, but this is pretty close: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_9KyaJu9sA That's a haunting song, you never really know how to feel when listening to it. They also had that great song "safe in my garden, an ancient flower blooms..."

Sorry, I thought it was Darren. Wishful thinking. Someone at DS said that Ricky is now on the departed character list at the HO website. If that's true, no big loss...

The "comedy" scenes of a very smug Riley (he seems to be set on smug), Seth, and Jem destroying property and apparently being rewarded for this were pretty close to the excerable level of Duncan and Cheryl. What was that with Dominic hitting a window with a tree branch? When did he become a CPO anyway, was that during Lucy Allan? Is Carmel still a CPO too? Did they ever work together? Loretta's last stand was a bit of an anticlimax. Melissa Walton did a good job when Loretta was talking about her past but the faces she made throughout the "hostage" scenes were very fake. And is that really it for why Loretta acted the way she did? A few sentences saying she had been molested as a child, with very little sympathy from Jake or Nancy and then being carted off to get help? I'd almost rather they just say there was no real reason. The best part of all that was Kevin Sacre's performance, especially when he talked about how he'd hurt Nancy and Charlie. He and Jessica Fox were both good, they have such good chemistry together, it was one of the reasons I liked them as a couple even though on paper the idea was outrageous. I'm glad they seem to be adding some other mysteries to the Mitzeee/Carl affair stuff, like bringing up her mother, and her saying that Heidi is no saint.

Letitia's been working consistently in musical theater for a few years now but I'm sure she'd be happy to return if the story is there. With Ronnie and Roxy probably past their peak years and with Phil losing so much else in his life I think it's probably a good time, sometime in the next two years. I always wonder if that "it's just a break" thing is genuine or a way to help ease fans into accepting a longtime departure. I think Natalie Cassidy said the same thing, and Leah Bracknell (Zoe Tate on Emmerdale). When Ben returns, I wish they'd do a story where Ben still loves musical theater and dancing, and actually is straight, and Phil becomes a bit of a father figure to a young man who is very macho and can defend himself and is very confident, and who is gay.

I think that there's always a chance for Chrissie if Sharon ever returns. I think Kirkwood would love to have Chrissie on his show, she's very much his type of character. Yeah Jake left when Harwood was there. That was all the Johnny Allen stuff and Ruby and bleh.

I think the only way Jake might ever return is if Chrissie does. I do think that was kind of a crap exit.

This stuff is perfect for Max. Some say he's being wasted but it's just a breather until the heavy drama starts again. For so long that has been all Max has had anyway. I hope he will have some good stuff as with the proper writing he could become a huge core of the show. The scene where the man from social services blasted Peggy surprised me, I think it showed just how much Peggy has lost her footing in her relationships and how she deals with people. I also wonder if it might help lead to Louise's exit. If Louise goes I can't say I will be sorry to see her leave, it was a mistake ever putting her in and all the stories she was a part of her very serious subjects which went totally undeveloped. If she goes I hope they keep her away for a long time, unless Lisa returns permanently and we can see something for her beyond being a Mitchell ornament.

This clip wasn't shown in the episodes, online only. Aaron meets Jackson's mother. She's a real character. Some good lines though, my favorite was "High on vowels, high on scowls."

I've seen a bit more of the Dot of old since Bradley died and since that awful Dotty was banished -- they can't rely on Jim as winding Dot up so they go back to Dot being a gossip and saying some questionable but hilarious comments. Apparently Christopher Reason wrote this episode and used to write for the show back in the day so that helps. Supposedly June Brown much preferred that version of Dot and one of the reasons she left in 1993 was being watered down, so that might be why her performance today was even more fun than usual. Max also had some fantastic one-liners to Darren. They have done a good job of having Max try to look out for Darren without actually being some big father figure to him. Lucas is so broken down, I almost feel sorry for him. Every time Denise stood up to him I worried what danger she might be in but he was too beaten down by his own demons to respond at that moment. I liked when she finally realized how easily she could leave, and then kicking down that door in fear and anger, and her joy at being back in the world...a world right next door to her house. The scenes with Pat and Libby humoring poor Liz and her dream world also worked well. The sad thing is that I liked Owen a lot on his last visit so I can almost sympathize with Liz. I liked Liz's gossip session with Dot. I will kind of miss Liz when she's gone. Roxy sounds like a possibility. I also wonder about Bianca. I can't see Kat sleeping with him, I think anything like that would be a long way off, if it ever happens. I hope that they learned from the damage done by Roxy/Ronnie and Jack, not to mention the Kat/Mo/Alfie stuff, that you shouldn't have family members with the same person unless it is a great story and not some awful rush job.

I know that the soaps tend to get better ratings on a Monday but still for an episode where not a lot happened, 9 million is something. I know there's a lot of rivalry on the soap boards between Corrie fans and Eastenders fans but I think deep down a lot of people probably want both soaps to do well. I do, but I find Corrie to be almost unwatchable these days and so many of the characters are almost repulsive to have to sit through, and some of the day to day episodes are soap agony, whereas Eastenders, which certainly isn't flawless and I know might just be on a high because of some stories climaxing, has developed much better day to day episodes and you can find something to enjoy each time. Eastenders has their stunts but there is some good character driven stuff, potentially, whereas Corrie just seems to be in mode. It's almost like the two shows have switched roles. I finally watched all the basement scenes that were red button or whatever, some of them were great, I wish some of that had made it to air. I didn't like all of it (the laughing about the Bible saying not to wear mixed fibers was kind of obvious, although Diane did a great job with it) but I really loved the stuff where she talked about her grandmother and when she tried to escape, when she looked at the photos of her family, when Lucas told her she was dead to the world. Just fantastic dramatic moments.