DRW50

I wouldn't say Sarah Brown had fantastic writing. She was often a plot device, whether it was coming between Bobbie/Tony or Jason/Robin or Jason/Liz or Hannah/Sonny, she had stories that stopped and started at random (like being agoraphobic), and she had the awful stuff where she drugged AJ and threw him in a laundry cart. She also had to spend years glued to Steve Burton, who was visibly uncomfortable being in a story with her. Only when they put her with Sonny do I think her writing became more consistent. I actually thought Braun had the strongest writing for Carly, once they got over the first rocky year she was in the role. I didn't care for what they made her Carly become (a much more generic figure) but it was very consistent and played to her strengths.

I thought Buchanan, after several years, became a decent Vicky, albeit more of a mainstream heroine Vicky, but I do agree that the show went too far in placating her. I don't think it would have been the end of the world if they'd recast when she left in 1994.

Her brother was killed in a car accident in the mid-80s, I think. She and her sister fell out over the book and her sister died of cancer a few years ago (I don't remember if they made up or not). I think her mother is some kind of ex-gay speaker who uses Anne Heche's return to being with men as proof that you can be delivered from homosexuality. I don't think she and Anne are close either. Anne has repeatedly said that she was not somehow delivered or cured from being in a lesbian relationship.

Poor Anne, her family history is just horrible, it makes most soap families seem low-key. She is, or was, such a fantastic actress, which is always overlooked. I think the soap format was what suited her talents most, because she was clearly nervous at first and then grew and grew and grew. She was best as Vicky but she was also very good as Marley, especially when she got out of that damn wig.

http://www.igs.net/~awhp/1sandy.html Sandy's main stories on the show were usually his tortured relationship with Blaine Ewing, his marriage from hell to Cecile, and his issues fitting into the Cory family, as he and Jamie often did not get along.

I don't know, I do remember that she supposedly had a thing with Richard Burgi.

Where are they now interview with Christopher Durham. http://www.welovesoaps.net/2010/06/nelson-aspens-where-are-they-now-tour_12.html

They must have some sort of plans for him beyond a few episodes, since even if Vanessa hadn't stayed around Jodie would still be there. I can see him being about 6 months or more. I guess they could always have the old story where he's accidentally killed and Vanessa gets Max to help bury the body (although Max and burials don't go well).

I know this was Green's wording and not the show's but I hope they won't try to paint him as the new Archie. Archie was unique, and even that didn't last too long, as by the end he was just a generic baddie and apparently a multiple rapist. I think it would be more interesting if they go a different way with Harry. I also wonder if it might be interesting if Harry appears to be tough but actually Vanessa is the one with the power in the relationship.

Here's...Harry. The actor looks familiar to me, although I don't know his credits, the only one I knew was a Farcsape two-parter. He looks a character from Popeye, a cross between Wimpy and Popeye, so maybe that's it. http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/s2/eastenders/scoop/a227164/first-look-harry-gold-joins-eastenders.html http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0353184/ Oh, and the Stacey giving birth episode will have Julia's Theme. They're going to be setting a record for that this year, if they use it again when Stacey and Peggy leave.

My favorite Whitney song from the early days was always Greatest Love of All...yes, I know how sad that is. Anyway...a very underrated duet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkNDPQ4UfeU

I don't think they've rammed Izzy down our throats yet -- her entrance has been fairly low-key, although that may change with her so far dull father arriving. I 100% agree with you on the others. Corrie has had a problem with overusing some characters for ages now. I guess it must have become much more serious when Steve Frost was producer. He gave David WAY too much exposure (I think Kim Crowther's handling of David has been one of her few strong points as producer), and way too much for Sean and for the Connors. He and then early Crowther both made Michelle just about unbearable. Then Crowther did the same to Becky. It's amazing to me that Michelle is still talked up as a big star of the show because the woman hasn't had a storyline in almost a year and a half! I know she has had some personal tragedies but when you have no storyline, beyond some random appearances from a weird roofer who then disappears almost as soon as he arrives, then the show clearly has no idea what to do with you.

I don't know either, perhaps she felt there was nothing left for the character, or she wants to try other options while she still can. I wish she was staying but I hope it works out for her. I do think she'd be great on Corrie, as you mentioned. I hope the show can survive all this upheaval. I also wonder what this means for those she knew. I know some fans feel that when she goes Jack and Frankie will probably go, but then, the show might want to keep them around for Tom. I do kind of wonder if they would feel Tom is that important to keep around.

I wonder if any other soap would cast her, most Hollyoaks actors don't seem to end up on other soaps, with a few exceptions. Either they aim higher or they just don't get hired. I'd like to see Gilly and Steph leave together for a new life. Or Steph leaves on her own for a new life. Or she reunites with Cameron, who was so dear to her. I hope that they won't kill her off. The show has had so many depressing exits for longtime characters. The last "happy" exit for a main character that I can remember was that horribly rushed "Sunset Ending" which was on the back of John Paul's fiance being poisoned and gurgling and choking oncamera.

Who was Susan's best friend? What was Canal Road?

It looks like Carley Stenson is leaving the show http://www.e4.com/hollyoaks/interviews/2010/carleystenson.html So many wonderful characters are already gone and now Michaela and Steph are going too. Marquess's new characters may be a hit (it's hard to tell based on the descriptions, especially if it involves someone trying to be the new Katie Price), but losing these longtime faces is going to hurt. I wish they could bring back a few old names, besides Lee Hunter. I also wonder what will be with Jack and Frankie. All their kids are going. Are they just going to raise Tom? I'd rather they just have Tom go live with OB.

I don't remember hearing any rumors that he was going to join Benidorm. Not a big surprise that he's staying, because he's friends with Phil Collinson (and so far Collinson, or Granada above him, have not really gotten any of their casting decisions right, with the BIG exception of Vicky Binns/Molly -- if you look at the show now are Ashley, Claire, Trevor, and Natasha jumping out at you as those who are in desperate need of firing?), and he's also an easy out for Corrie. They can say that they have a gay character and this means they get more of a pass for not actually having any interesting gay stories or characters. I was cringing at the "comedy" of Natasha making David and Graeme think they looked like a couple, because it was all so poorly done, the actors weren't even trying to sell it that way (Graeme looked like he was doing one of those old "someone gives a rival a violent massage" scenes). Yet this, which barely would have passed muster in 1970, is the closest the show is getting to any story featuring gay content? At least the character interaction is becoming more interesting, although I feel sorry for Jane Danson having to go through so many scenes with cryptkeeper Nick doing that grimacing he calls smiling and doing that weird wheezing/sighing. I'm glad Leanne doesn't seem to have any feelings for Nick, but I hope this won't break up her relationship with Peter. They're a wonderful couple. The Tina/Gail dinosaur watch scenes and the final reconciliation between the two women was very good, good writing and heartbreaking work from Helen Worth and Michelle Keegan. Poor Janice. I'd almost forgotten she's still carrying a torch for Trevor. I guess she will have something to do with when he breaks up with Carla.

Did you see the episode where Kate Mulgrew returned when Ryan got married? Who was Ryan with after her marriage to Rick ended? Was Siobhan with another mobster at the end?

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/3012472/Peggy-bashed-by-Phils-ex-Lisa.html

What was the Sarah Jane story about? Claire Labine claims Felder was fired for not being attractive enough. Did you like Yasmine Bleeth?

Who was Chaz? I know what you mean about Ann Gillespie. I always think of that laughalympics scene where her Siobhan ran around the orange cones for her police test. I just never could see Siobhan as a cop. I guess if it were Marg Helgenberger, maybe. It makes the whole thing even more sad after I learned that Sarah Felder was fired by ABC for not being attractive enough.

That's such a pretty color, the blue. What did you think of the various recasts of the Ryans? And what did you think of the 1981 RH episodes? Personally I was so put off by them the first time I saw them that I have never really watched them since. It doesn't help that I think some of the worst characters on the show were shoved at people non stop during this timeframe. Have you watched any of the 1983-89 episodes that are on Youtube? What did you think of the Dakota Smith story?

Ricky Whittle won Rear of the Year. Apparently no one there knows of Jake Wood... http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gGGJzdYhte4fwDUv9847YHUX4Gcw

Congratulations to Barbara Knox and Eileen Derbyshire, Rita and Emily, on being made MBEs! Anne Reid, who was superb as Ken Barlow's doomed first wife (and Peter's mother), Val, was also honored. http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/s3/coronation-street/news/a225852/knox-shocked-to-be-honoured-by-queen.html