DRW50

Oh, and none of this is on Youtube, I don't think, although I kind of hope it is, but for a while there, Terry and Vic and Zak and Lisa Dingle were all in a band together. The Woolpackers! They even released their own instructional line dancing video and had a hit single. Zak and Terry don't spend that much time together now, I don't think, although I was surprised to see them fairly close about a year ago. Here's the video...quite a classic...you can see a young Marlon, and then there's Eric almost being smothered by Mandy Dingle's enormous breasts.

It's interesting because Terry has never really had any family on the show. He's just had his son, TJ. The only time he's had any other relative on the show was in 2007, when his father, Duke, who was a cricket coach or something, was around for a while. Terry was brought in with his wife Britt in 1996 to run the Woolpack, then owned by Alan Turner. They struggled to fit in at first and their relationship fell apart for many reasons, including her remembering she'd been molested as a child. She left town to run a pub somewhere else and found another man. Terry began sleeping with Alan's granddaughter, Tricia (or as Marlon would say, "TRIIIICIA!!!"), and trying over and over to raise the money to buy the Woolpack, which he never managed. He did manage to accidentally put a box of fireworks near a flame and the Woolpack was heavily damaged. Terry was best friends with Vic Windsor, which made for a mess when Terry and Viv became close when they went out to learn how to swing dance. They started sleeping together, and she and the kids moved in with him when Vic threw her out, but Terry couldn't deal with so many people. He and Viv remained close friends though -- he was a rock for her when she was stitched up and sent to prison a few years ago. Terry was also close friends with Chris Tate (father of Charity's son Noah). He worked as Chris's driver and flunky. He was very upset when Chris committed suicide/framed Charity for his murder in 2003. Also around this time he had recently married Dawn Woods, after he met her on a holiday. He didn't know she was Bob's daughter, I don't think. Dawn got pregnant and had TJ. Then Terry had his stroke, and he became very distant from Dawn. She got involved with Viv's thuggish son Scott and she and Terry split up and had a bitter custody battle. For the sake of TJ, they worked it out, and Dawn had primary custody until she died in 2006. Terry by that time was involved with Dawn's annoying mother. They planned to raise TJ together, but when the Kings, who had unintentionally caused Dawn's death in a show home explosion, offered a furious Bob/Terry/Jamie/etc. a settlement check, she took the check without them knowing it and fled for Spain, taking TJ with her. After a few weeks she decided to send TJ back to Terry. There was another good story when Terry was involved with Australian barmaid Louise Appleton, who had been his friend but never returned his love. She got together with him after he divorced Dawn but she soon fell for the charms of Matthew King, not realizing Matthew was only interesting in winning her, and having some sex. Louise broke Terry's heart and then when she figured out what Matthew truly was she tried to beg Terry to take her back. Terry tried to be polite but finally had to basically berate her into giving up. Louise then lost it for a while and was thisclose to killing Matthew. She had killed her last Matthew-esque boyfriend, a sleazy man named Ray Mullan. Terry helped her cover this up, making her one of many Emmerdale residents who never really paid for murder. This secret will probably always be kept secret, since Louise left in 2008 and I doubt she'll be back. Terry also stayed close friends with Louise, as he did with Viv and Dawn. That's something you don't see on soaps very often. Terry has always been something of a supporting character with occasional main stories. I think he's a solid guy who can do comedy and drama and I wish they'd write more for him outside of this angry stuff about the B&B. I think they could have him run for the council or he could go back to working at the Woolpack, or work for the Kings. I think Gavin Blyth has done a fantastic job in bringing in new characters but I do wish he'd give more stories to some of the more longtime characters. Unfortunately they've been around so long they are unfairly associated with some "bad" era of Emmerdale, when in fact they were never one of the serious problems with the show. As for Betty, she was at one time very close friends with Laurel; Betty and her partner Seth were like her honorary parents. They also work together. That's why she helps with the kids, I guess.

Is Sandy still around? I haven't seen him lately. Do you watch Doctor Who? His (the actor, Freddie Jones) son Toby was on the show this past weekend. I think there's a lot of potential with Gennie if they make the effort, they just never do. Perhaps they are waiting until Jamie is gone. I keep hoping she will integrate more with the Dingles. She was barely involved in Aaron's trial or the party afterward. I think they may just have Terry and Brenda around for supporting/filler roles and to play off against Viv, Bob, Eric, Val. The guy who plays Terry is a very good actor when he gets the chance, they just don't give him much of one. I don't know if you ever saw the story he had where Terry suffered a stroke right after TJ was born, but it was pretty good. I do think having these background characters kind of helps make the community more believable and the show more balanced. I'm sorry Jamie's going. It's only when background characters get on my nerves, like that fool Minty on Eastenders, that I want them gone.

Supposedly I'm glad we got to see a bit more of Pa Barton's upper torso; seeing the hints of chest hair so often can be distracting. I am not a big Moira fan but I did love the scene where she pretended to be having a friendly girly chat with Eve in the bathroom and then threatened her. I like the way Emmerdale writes these relationships and rivalries, like Viv/Nicola or Declan/Nathan. It's not all shouting and histrionics and the "shocking" injury or death of the month. This story with Diane is interesting, in that she has strung Doug along, unintentionally, but he acts like such a fussy baby it's hard to sympathize. And Charlie is probably a big con artist. Diane should be able to see sharks better, but then again, the big love of her life was Rodney... The guy who plays Charlie was in a cult movie about 25 years ago called Rita, Sue, and Bob too, about a middle-aged married man who begins sleeping with two teenage girls. The women who played Rita and Sue have also been on Emmerdale (one played Terry Woods's first wife, Britt).

Apparently Glenda was supposed to be in today's episode. I don't know what to say about the mess that took up most of the episode (although it's nice to see that Ryan and Janine have regressed)...oh, I want Stacey and Max to get together again. That's about it. Anyway, in honor of the Ben story, here's a tribute video to Phil and Stella. Isn't it romantic? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6TYWrtrwYw

You're good at getting your questions in! Does this mean he's bringing back other past characters besides Lee or does he mean current characters will stll be freshman? I like the idea of Lee being a Gareth Gates impersonator. They could probably even get the real Gareth... So do you think the big disaster will be used to kill off characters or it won't be? I couldn't tell. I'm glad Steph is getting a story. And Jacqui. Let's hope Anita gets what she wants...

I just started it... I come from America and I don't think Corrie, Emmerdale, and Eastenders are the same format with different accents. Or should I say at their best I don't think they are. Is he saying that he doesn't think the show is currently focused on younger characters and by fall it will be or is he just saying they're going to focus on younger characters? I don't quite get this as I don't think Hollyoaks has been focused on older people in some time. I also thought Tony had already been moved into an older bracket. He's married to a woman who is only a few years younger than him and he's raising her child -- actually he's been put in the older bracket for a long time now. This is very true. I hope the line about Carmel doesn't mean we will get more of the Jesus potato I LOVE that the theme and the credits are going to be changed. It's been long past due. I don't mind the cutesy opening segments but he does have a point: I'm glad to hear that they are going to wait until next year to celebrate their anniversary. That makes a lot of sense. I don't think that you need your mother less just because you get older. Jacqui has a very complex relationship with Myra. Jacqui basically WAS the mother for most of her adolescence. That's far more interesting than anything with dull Teresa. I'm glad they will finally get another male McQueen, although that background, I don't know. I guess we will still not be seeing much of Myra, Jack, or Frankie. Or Tony, if he's supposed to be in their age group soon.

Some casting news. http://www.uk.castingcallpro.com/view.php?uid=148285

I think Steve and Peter may have been there to hear what Simon and Amy got, I'm not sure. Deirdre got all of Blanche's jewelery. You're probably right about what Graeme will say to Jason. The show seems to think that Jason is a heavy and Graeme is Tina's hero -- never mind that Jason always supported Tina until she barred him from the house and treated him like trash, even when he almost died. I think it's awful writing, and the more they do this the less I want to see anything with Graeme or Tina.

I watched Monday's C4 episode. The Jacqui scenes were good, especially those with Mercedes. And it's nice to still see all the McQueens together, although I wish Nana made appearances, I guess she hasn't been around since Tina died. As some sort of B story they're having a lot of the pointless twentysomething/late teen characters in a murder mystery weekend, with a badly acted young woman dressed in an old woman's clothes, and a big mansion. So far it's bad American accents and acting which isn't a lot better, although it's nice to see Amy being happy. During the time I watched regularly I think she was happy twice, and one of those times provoked a beating. Her boyfriend is hot but he shouldn't speak. They put him in nerd clothes for no apparent reason other than the hot nerd fantasy, I guess.

It's Janice: http://gofugyourself.celebuzz.com/go_fug_yourself/2010/05/fugonation_street051010.html

It's Holly's drug dealer friend: http://gofugyourself.celebuzz.com/go_fug_yourself/2010/05/kirsty_fug_porter0511.html

There's Ricky Norwood/Fatboy, out on the town. He looks much better when he isn't dressed as Salt n Pepa circa 1989. http://gofugyourself.celebuzz.com/go_fug_yourself/2010/05/jade_fugen051310.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/may/13/labour-party-record-surge-membership

That's fascinating stuff. I wouldn't be surprised if in the long run, the new coalition gets the blame for these projects, since Labour will be out of power. Labour is apparently getting thousands of new supporters, many from Lib Dem. In some ways they may be relieved to be out of power, although I guess the main leaders of the party probably aren't. Since Brown was supposed to be a good managerial person, just not a good public face, I'm surprised at all the mess being left behind.

Thanks so much, that was a great amount of detail! I wonder if whoever wrote the LSD-laced brownies sequence went on to write for Ryan's Hope, they did the same story with Rae Woodard, thanks to her evil daughter Kimberly. And Gale was also on RH briefly, in 1976, as Seneca Beaulac's mother. It sounds like Kathy Glass was put in some tough stories. Did you watch when she played Jenny Wolek later on? At the time did the show stand out to you as being better, or worse, than other soaps you were watching? Do you think if the show had been given more of a chance it might have been a hit?

Friday's episodes. I skipped a lot of the Gail/Tracy stuff. There's something unpleasant about the shape of Tracy's face. I did like seeing those two detectives again, the hot one with the beard and the one who is Maxine's and Bruce's father on Shameless. Why weren't they cast in bigger roles? Couldn't watch anything with Graeme/Tina either. At least not until this agoraphobia: a love story bit ends. Hayley and Roy are too depressing in serious stories. I do like Anna's involvement. Blanche's will reading was funny. You could "hear" her. I especially loved her comments to Norris. The last little scene in her room with Ken and Deirdre was touching -- I loved the lighting which represented the sun going down. Teresa's goodbye was very sad. At least she kept her dignity, but I hated seeing her have to slink out of town, nowhere to go. I know she was often a horrible woman but it's the mark of a good character that you still empathize and want to see what will happen to them even if they behave badly. There was still somewhere they could have taken Teresa if they tried. This whole story with Lloyd and the stripper doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Craig Charles is cute and all but this woman wouldn't give him the time of day.

If you hire a dud actor for a role and give him a dud story then there aren't any real reasons to keep him around. I think that initially they may have hoped he might become a good all-purpose villain for the Mitchells. Early on various characters kept saying, "He's so much like Archie," which I haven't heard them repeat in months.

It wouldn't have been difficult to find a reason to keep him around. Just have him repent or whatever. I think they just realized there was no point.

The poor writing for Danny didn't help but I think this character was doomed when they cast Liam Bergin. He's a terrible actor, he always looks like he is constipated, his lips are all you remember about him, along with his silly hair. He seemed to be cast because he looked like Santer. Santer has cast so many duds in male roles and this seemed to be some sort of homage to them. I think they may have always planned for Glenda to have such a small role because a much older woman was originally playing her, but they should have rewritten their plans when they had to recast. They could do so much more with Glynis Barber, she would have fit into the show like a glove, she was great when she showed up after Archie died. It is especially annoying that they have done nothing connecting her to Archie raping Ronnie, something which is apparently forgotten for good. The ratings for the show have fallen this past week, even on days when there was nothing tough against them on the schedule. I guess it's down to summer days approaching but I wonder if they will blame the Masood stories. I hope not. When they actually came up with decent stuff for the Masoods they were an asset to the show.

I think the show just ran out of story for them, but I agree Ellen may have worked better elsewhere. I thought he had more chemistry with Marie Alice Recasner, but the show gave her just awful, awful writing.

I think that's Michael Praed, from the Moldavia story.

George Hamilton held Krstal prisoner and tried to rape her. Then Rita fed Blake poisoned soup and he went nuts and tried to rape her. Schemering's book said, "Linda Evans's bodice was being ripped at every turn!" I can see where season 9 was a big departure but they really didn't have much of a choice. The show could no longer realistically afford the glitz and glamour and they had overdosed on that anyway. I remember the big party they had in season 8 for Alexis announcing her run for governor, and in the end, it led to nothing.

Yesterday's episode was very strange. The show itself has become strange. I just loved the scene where Dot randomly walked into Ian's home. Hi, I let myself in to clean, because I always go around letting myself into someone's home, but...let's keep this going and advance the plot. I really enjoyed that scene, but They seem to have just thrown away any attempt to show the struggles in the Syed story and instead are going as OTT as possible to fill time, while simultaneously trying not to deal with the consequences of what they bring up. Syed tried to commit suicide. Yet the hospital did not care. Masood and Tamwar were upset but not overly so. Christian did his usual pouting and used the first excuse he had to run back to Chryed Plot #3, which is bringing in some poor idiot who inexplicably finds Christian appealing and is then used to make Syed jealous. I couldn't believe the day after Syed tried to kill himself, we were already back to that storyline. Zainab's reaction seems as much about trying to cause reaction and cause sympathy for Syed as it is about exploring her character. I'm hoping this will lead to somewhere for her but considering that Christian's beating led nowhere I'm not sure if this will be any different. Nina Wadia was fantastic and the scene where she let the match take effect was chilling, but as soon as they showed Syed doing the watery eyes he does in just about every scene, I was not exactly moved. The whole idea of Billy's kids coming to stay with him was rushed but I didn't realize they were only going to stay for like a week. I'm not sure of what the point was. Why not have him go away for a while with the kids, to help Honey, and then they could rest this non-story about his money woes? I didn't watch any of the Ben stuff. Did you enjoy it. Apparently there was supposed to be some scene where Ronnie confronted Danny over some money she found or something. I didn't watch most of that, although at least Danny is closer to being busted. I still don't care about Roxy but after she tried to break up the Chryed stuff I think she deserves a reward. The show is doing very little to cause viewers to be able to understand Zainab's behavior. I'm not sure if viewers will ever get over the way she's been acting. The Masoods were never going to be able to get away with what some other families on the show do. This story may end up marginalizing them in the long run.

What did you think of the episode? I just can't wait for this stuff with Calvin to be wrapped up. I also don't know why they had to get Teresa pregnant. Seeing Teresa and 30 year old Anita going on about a baby, no thanks.