DRW50

I think there is a wallowing in unreality now that affects all forms of entertainment. You look at The Substance, which was hyped based on a cautionary tale of wanting to remain young and beautiful, but most of the talk ended up being about how hot the actresses were. You look at SNL, a show that for many years had a large number of "normal" looking cast members, but in the last 10-15 years increasingly is populated by attractive, slim figures. Then there's Ozempic and Ozempic brothers and sisters, which have dangerous side effects and are meant to be used with caution, being pushed on everyone to help "prove" that if you don't have six-pack abs and a nonexistent waist, you are just a lazy pig. The move to HD also seemed to put more of an end to a grittiness or reality anywhere on TV. ATWT always had its share of glamorous figures, even in its earliest years, but there was a sense of the everyday and an emotional weight. I'm not really expecting anything out of Beyond the Gates - as soon as I heard Guza, Ron Carlivati, etc. were involved I checked out mentally - but I would like to believe the show can capture some of those elements and won't just end up choking on more camp or going the way of Tyler Perry's shows.

A part of me agrees, especially as it was clear the show had no real idea what to do with Val after the story was over (and this might have more believably pushed Ben into Cathy's arms), but I also don't trust the team who were at Knots in the mid/late '80s to do a great job with the story.

I'm glad the Tracy/Stella friendship hasn't been forgotten. One of the best parts of the show last year.

The promos are still better than they were 10-15 years ago but that's not saying a great deal. I don't know if being the last pop culture entity around to talk about "tea" is an attempt to get new viewers...if it's an attempt to get gay viewers, promoting Leo/Javi when Leo looks old enough to be his father (hell, maybe even grandfather) is certainly catnip for those in the community who want more age gap discourse.

I suppose this explains why Cameron is out there pushing them as a supercouple. No matter much a lot of fans hate Drew, it's hard to imagine the show giving up on him. I suppose Cameron briefly posing bare-assed on Instagram was also a way to try to coax some new fans.

This is where Holly staying around longer might have made sense. If Holly encouraged her to get Q money, Sasha may have been reminded of why she distanced herself from Holly and also convince her to distance herself from Michael.

Thanks. I suppose this is down to Pam Long's material nearly being done? I wonder if that's also why Louie left. Did he have an exit?

These also have commercials.

These have commercials.

Thanks. I had never heard of this woman, and she was getting meaningful closeups watching a suffering Rick. I don't know if GL even in its last years, even without Ross, was as barren as the canvas felt at this time.

Who was the woman holding hands with Louie?

The Nina/Drew relationship was so toxic, I'm not sure if it was intended as endgame, as I felt like Drew may have been using Nina for physical needs and Willow for emotional needs. I do think the story would have had actual weight behind it if Mulcahey had stayed, and he did seem to want to write for Nina. Korte seems to be more known for who she doesn't want to write for than who she doesn't. She may love Carly, but she hasn't done her any favors. I do think Cameron is too expensive for the current show to stay on given Drew's widespread unpopularity, but I will believe he's gone when I see it. I think they still see him as a big draw. This story would be so much better if it was being done by anyone who actually card. The lack of interest from anyone up high is clear in so much of the show.

I would say at that time both, but you'd have to ask more hardcore fans.

Not when Eileen was in the part.

I don't think Cameron was very popular in his second AMC run either. A few others: Eileen Davidson (Kelly, SB) Marcy Walker (Tangie, GL) A Martinez (Roy, GH) Jensen Buchanan (Melissa, GH)

Thanks @MissPalmer

Thanks @NothinButAttitude never saw that special. Sydney should have tried an ASMR career.

This is dumb but amused me...and I had never heard of this promo (the real one).

I figure the Brenda hints were just ways to try to get viewers interested in Night Shift.

That does bug me at times. The one time it really worked for me was GL's early/mid '90s open. I just loved the design so much. The same for the mid '80s GL. To take this back to GH, I do think they managed to mostly keep photos updated compared to some shows, although I think they kept FOTH a few years too long.

I think it's also easier to just film flat scenes. I suppose we should be grateful to not get as many slo-mo shots. When I watch Neighbours now, the characters get a slo-mo shot when they walk to the bathroom. I've always had mixed feelings about Faces of the Heart. I think it's a lovely opening for the era it debuted in, and I think it has held up better than some of the period (OLTL's 92-95, AW's last opening, The City's endearing but very much of the era torn up paper opening, etc.), but it starts to seem very jarring once we get to the Guza years. The show was absolute misery so when they'd cut to smiling faces and that breezy Dave Koz theme, I would be reminded of how increasingly fake the Riche years felt. I wish they had managed to go back to the ambulance when FOTH was retired...maybe extended as I felt the ambulance opening was just a tad too short. I love the closing theme for the ambulance years too. I think that may be what I miss most of all when it is gone - the FOTH close is fine but feels too much like my trying to avoid Kenny G on my old radio station.

They were also more believable to me as relatives and there were a few nice characters around. They also kept to themselves more. The Panesars are shoved everywhere and the writing is so dishonest about them. Suki abused her children for decades and even killed one through sending him to prison, with no remorse, but we're meant to see her as a saint.

Thanks for everything @slick jones I'm sorry this had to happen.

I was going to post this in the soap hoppers thread but as slick won't be updating there anymore I wanted to respect his thread and not dump links in it. John Capodice - IMDb https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/john-capodice-dead-ace-ventura-general-hospital-1236097675/ His biggest soap credit was on GH as Lois' father, Carmine. I wonder how much they de-aged Carmine when he came back this past year. Not sure how old George Russo is.

I don't think the people who make AI will ever have enough interest or care in vintage soaps to make so much effort.