DRW50

Second Chances, also by the Lechowicks, gives a glimpse of the approach that might have benefited Knots if it had gone on longer. They add a bit of populism (fighting against Ray Wise as an evil judge) but have female-centric narratives and still a suburban flavor. I think a reboot would have worked mostly if they just kept the original regulars to guest appearances. Maybe bring in Mack's daughter Annie (recast), or bring back Claudia (recast), or bring back Mack's adopted son Jason. I know a reboot is not likely today, but I still think it could work because of the cul-de-sac as the main focus, rather than any character. There are still a few who could return, for short runs. I might have Abby return because of some money or priceless item she might have left in her place when she last lived there. She could meddle and manipulate and then leave when she gets what she wants - and possibly leave a parting gift (like helping someone who needs an operation or a new car or whatever) to a resident (maybe someone who reminds of her of herself, or one of her kids, or even Karen).

For me it depends on the core of the show. It worked more with Knots than it would have with a show like Dallas because the core was the cul-de-sac and the businesses employing the residents, whereas Dallas was just so defined by JR and Bobby. Other than the bad camp Val story, I think season 12 set up a number of pieces that could have kept the show running...but the end of that season, and the fire choices made in early season 13, all put paid to any future.

It helped that many Rauch-era viewers had already cleared out by that time, but I notice from various reviews at the time that it was not as well-received then as it was later on.

A few major stories are currently winding down. I'm not watching very often but maybe you should just try now.

I think Tonya also struggled with her performances and finding the character more (as often happens when younger actors age). I loved what they did with Linda in her last few seasons. Lar Park Lincoln was unmissable in the part, and she added a fun and fresh spirit to a show with a number of moribund characters. Killing her was essentially snuffing out the show's future. By the time they brought Vanessa in I was barely interested. It didn't help that I never really cared about the Greek guy either.

A number of July 1980 episodes were just uploaded to Youtube. Most of them have been up for years on another channel, but the first I'm posting was only up in part and the second one isn't up at all.

You're right. They had that tension with people like Gary. Olivia had unique relationships on the canvas, with Gary or Val, which could have been exploited. I agree Linda probably filled that vein more, although you see how that ended.

Thanks. I can see where they just phased most of the Ted material out and relied on Todd McKee being likeable and hot.

That makes sense about why Robert was asked back, especially as JFP didn't want Kim Zimmer back. If they hadn't lost so many fan favorites, I don't think he would have been asked back. Roger was such a brilliant character because he could easily drive multiple stories just through his presence and how people on the canvas felt about him. I don't know if GL had a woman along those lines. ATWT did with Lucinda in that same period.

I think Michael could have still stayed on the show, as a himbo (the way he was with Linda), but budget cuts were likely a factor and the character had no real purpose, especially as Karen had moved on and had a new child (a story I hated, but that's another topic). The biggest mistake was how they mishandled Olivia, especially how one-note she became in constant judgmental attitudes toward Abby. The marriage to Harold also trapped her, even though I liked Harold. She should have been so much more. As mentioned above, the show also had no idea how to introduce younger men. Peter Reckell's character, DIRTY COP DIRTY COP, the Tidal Energy guy who bedded Kate. I did like Claudia's son, but he was inexplicably killed off. I have never known what went on there.

I hadn't thought of the Wild West story (I had just been thinking of PC getting some buzz at the time - although their time travel story may have been after GL's was already in the works). Makes sense. I think that story also just was a more natural fit for the Buchanans due to their Western roots. Casting Shari Headley and having her play a slave...not so much.

Thanks @slick jones I always forget there was another Dixie.

That makes a lot of sense. I think that may also be why Clone Reva was (for me) the best of that batch, as the aspect of Reva learning she was replaced, and then having to interact with her clone, including watching her clone die, did have some human element amidst the absurdity. Some stories, like Time Traveling Reva, I still don't even get the point of.

I was replying to a post about '80s GL, not those stories. To be honest I never felt like Erica's stories were inflicted on AMC (not until the last decade of the show, when it had many, many problems) and the few that were Emmy bait were mostly well done, but that's a whole other thread.

I agree. Bringing on Michelle Philips on a more regular basis helps too as they bounce off each other well.

Thanks. That sounds fun.

I haven't religiously watched '80s GL, but I don't feel like Josh was ever much of a strong character in his own right. I know the conventional wisdom is that he was trapped by Reva, but other than his pairing with Harley, he never thrived without her. He could have easily been written out from 93-95. Aside from a few stories, the template that made Josh a mainstay on the show was the pairing with Reva, marrying the wrong woman, and going back to Reva. At least in the last few years he got some stories out of the norm for him, like being a minister. Onscreen I never felt like Reva was heavily catered to due to demanding fans. The character was called out and suffered losses. Admittedly I was not exactly glued to '00s GL, but I never felt like the fan push and resulting show caving was as obvious as it was with Danny/Michelle, or Harley, or Bradley Cole. I'd also argue that Reva was never really the worst part of those eras - some of her stories don't work or can be boring (like Maeve/Kyle/Reva), but compared to Infinity or Claire has a psycho tumor or Simon/Jessie or Calla's VD shame or whatever else was going on... However, I can see why people see her as a figurehead of the show's decline.

The biggest issue with this group is they are plot devices, not characters. Knots becomes increasingly plot-driven from this point on. I think they get the hang of it better after 8 and 9 have some very rough spots, enough to keep me watching, but it's never the same show. I also don't really believe that Paige, Abby and Olivia all would have been hung up on Peter. They miscast the part. The story is still good, but that's down to the conclusion. I will say I enjoyed Ruth Roman and over time Jill becomes very compelling due to the work from Teri. Paige is genuinely hard to watch for a while. She's the rare - VERY VERY RARE - character who actually improves for me when they have her start eating large portions of the show. They seem to find her voice and Nicolette Sheridan easily navigates the warmth and coldness that define Paige.

What were the original plans for Ted?

Thanks. They enjoyed that Delia fantasy sequence more than I did. I disagree that viewers would have been upset about Jack/Mary splitting up. They would have with Kate still in the part, but not after she left, and the show had laid over a year of groundwork for them splitting up. Killing Mary didn't hurt in the long run, as Kate was never going to return and Jack still had a place in story, but I still think the show missed a trick never pairing Jack and Siobhan.

Thanks. I'm glad Hawk came back off and on to the last year (even if he wasn't in the final episodes, for some reason).

She was always very good at passing the buck, helped by a soap press who adored her. Unlike future soap personnel who benefited from this treatment, she at least had talent, but that was gone by the time she joined AW. I'm honestly not sure she did one good thing at AW. I did like Chris Madison. That may be it.

Thanks. I really have blurred those together in my mind. I think Rusty was at one of them too. (meanwhile poor Roxie was still locked up, although I think maybe they eventually said she was out)

Great article. Another reminder of how true the above is: