DRW50

Thanks. I always get confused over that. I'll add a note in the comments.

Someone who is better versed on that period day to day would probably know better. I think it may have just been the whole atmosphere of that era peaking even if the best moments had been months earlier, combined with GH falling.

Thanks as always @slick jones I had never heard that story about Nancy Mulvey (I'm glad CBN stood by her). And the new caps for some AW actors means such good updates on them. The shade in that Daytime TV Stars (I think it's them - might be wrong) on John Fitzpatrick and Toni Kalem made me laugh.

A reminder of how long people, including cast, have been saying GH needs more hospital material. Four Musketeers was the end of 1983. I'm not sure what would have been hitting with viewers at this time - beyond the Beth and Lujack clip we saw, I guess this was around the time the Susan Piper story was starting (the cottage Tony and Annabelle bought), and Josh being paralyzed as Reva baptized herself.

If the link above doesn't work, I made a clip:

Early in this there's a report (complete with Jeff Ryder, Pam Long and Gail Kobe interviews) about GL beating GH in the ratings for 3 weeks. I do have to laugh at how unapologetically boastful Kobe is. I guess you may as well flaunt it while you have it. Entertainment Tonight (June 26, 1984) : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

A reminder that Maeve Kinkead's Locher Room appearance is today at 3 EST.

Jim Muneco reuploaded this partial episode (not sure if it's still on Youtube in other forms or not). This thumbnail is live footage of Ellen learning she will not have to share scenes with Miranda and Bilan. I swear at some point during that scene you can almost see Don Hastings thinking, "What the hell am I doing here?" (nothing against Elaine Princi, whom I enjoyed on OLTL) I always end up being so drawn into the Colin/Deas scenes even when they get messy. Maybe that's even part of the reason.

https://deadline.com/2024/06/comedy-central-mtv-news-cmt-tv-land-online-archives-purged-paramount-global-1235984361 https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/cmt-mtvs-eradication-of-editorial-content-is-a-catastrophe/ More material lost and likely never to be recovered in many cases.

Thanks @Franko I had never heard of this pilot. Certainly, a decent cast even as I have little interest in Goulet's self-parody (which Will Ferrell later made a meal out of). I enjoyed Diane Delano on Northern Exposure, and I've long had a soft spot for Lee Tergesen (there used to be some early '10s pilot on Vimeo about a woman in New Orleans whose husband was killed in the line of duty, and she solves crimes - Tergesen pops up for one scene with an... interesting accent). And of course, HBS. It's a shame this just has a lot of loud sitcom "acting" and one-liners gone amok...and the laugh track is too loud. Here's Lookwell, another pilot that got a lot of talk due to the pedigree of talent behind the camera, like Conan O'Brien. The show was prized by the outgoing head of NBC. The incoming head, not so much. It's actually a fun pilot, even as I also was never quite into Adam West's self-parody routine. He's put to good use here, and the pilot, while obviously absurd, has a few touches of reality that serve as good balance (namely, that his trusty assistants slowly become more and more horrified by how stupid and reckless he is).

I just hated the writing for Carly back then. I always sided with her because of whatever behind the scenes games were going on that Sarah Brown was caught in the middle of. Even now, I flinch at the show's idea of what "real" PPD is. I imagine fans who only know Laura Wright's Carly must watch that scene and eat it up. The irony of that scene is how within a few years Alexis was on the other side, because Guza ultimately had no respect for any female character beyond what type of pawn she was in the life of his beloved Jason. I appreciate what Sarah did with a script that essentially just had her as an extra.

If anyone at GH actually expects Jonathan Jackson, or Burton, to revive ratings, they are foolhardy, as both (especially Burton) were prominent over periods of ratings decline. Jackson came into the show as part of a package deal which did nothing for the ratings. I would like to believe these types of returns are more about the show having building blocks again, as both Jason and Lucky have ties to many characters, have kids on the show, etc. It's hard to know what will bring in ratings. When people kept going on about how Mulcahey's material had lowered the ratings, I was surprised, because all I'd ever really heard from fan commentary over the previous year or so was how bad most of the show was.

Thanks!

Some of her fans have pointed out that in her rare appearances now, she is often seen standing in the background, while the characters we're meant to care about like Joss are at center stage. I wonder if that is unintentional. They never had plans for her to be as popular as she ended up being, and I imagine they hated being dragged into one of their unbalanced fans going on a racist tirade (also going on one about Y&R until Eric Braeden gave her a smackdown). I think there would be a simple enough story showing her trying (and possibly failing) to move on - if they don't even want to do that it tells you just how little use they have for her.

It did seem to continue post-Marland, although 1995 had some sparks to it (which were promptly undone by Valente and Black and Decker).

I don't really have a problem with how quickly the story is moving, although it does feel like more setup was in place for a custody battle or a 'redemption' for Finn - maybe that is still the plan if/when Easton returns. Is Gio just there as a backup in case viewers don't accept Joss/Dex? Or as serial killer fodder? For all the talk about him being there for Trina, he doesn't seem to have any real interest.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bill-cobbs-dead-hudsucker-proxy-night-at-museum-air-bud-actor-was-1235933338/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/spencer-milligan-dead-land-of-the-lost-1235932538/

And the government is handcuffed or enables the worst - the Texas government is doing their best to stifle any slowing of this, and if Trump gets back in he'll do the same.

That cracks me up. I do think the show needed more Lilith types in that era for contrast. I know Tonio was a more natural villain, but I just find him dull (and I had a hard time believing he bedded so many women).

Thanks. If that was during the strike they are probably even less inclined to go back.

Apparently Spencer Milligan was on GH in 1987 as Ray Gibbons - not sure who that was. https://deadline.com/2024/06/spencer-milligan-dead-land-of-the-lost-1235983289/

I'm always more invested in commenting on here about GH than watching so I probably won't be keeping up much either - I can definitely see where they are reverting to norm, especially with Sonny. As they can't get rid of Sonny, maybe reverting to norm isn't the worst for him because it just makes characters look worse to say he's horrible and then enable him, but either way, it's not worth watching. I think Roger is definitely gone, and I think killing off his character (just for the sake of it, seemingly - has that story had any movement?) was an indication of that finality, but Michael I'm not as sure of. Still, we're at an exit point now so I will just say good luck to him and hope that's it.

I actually think the current material is good soap - a grieving son losing his sobriety and struggling to accept help, causing trauma to his daughter, and we see how his friends and family have to cope. It's certainly more suited to Michael Easton than most of what he's been given. The problem is we know that won't last, and so much else done with the character and actor has been a waste of time. I also don't believe Michael Easton is gone for good, but if he is, I'm glad he was so gracious, similar to Roger Howarth last year. That's more than I can say for a number of soap actors, including one or two from this very show. And yes, I agree that this story is a glimpse of the best Mulcahey could have brought to the show, more than all the mire that gets attention (Pikeman, Joss, Sonny and so on). I wonder how much longer Chase will be around. I've seen some fans say if he goes Brook Lyn will be fiery and fun again. Good luck with that.