DRW50

Serena and Christina seem like no-brainers yet they never did come back, Serena cameo aside (I know they almost brought Serena back regularly). So much wasted time.

There was a clip going around GH Twitter of Lulu verbally abusing Liz after the Nik affair reveal, calling her a slut, a bitch, a whore, and so on, with everyone standing around. People were talking about how much they miss this and why can't you have women throw down like that anymore, and so on. It just reminded me of how much I despised JMB's Lulu - I was never a big Liz fan, but I would always be on her side against that hellbeast. I thought Claudia's family (and Bryan's - I wouldn't recast out of respect to the late actor, but who knows) would be a good way to bring in a new black family to the show, but guests makes sense too. I liked Senait but I know she has had some issues in recent years. I might still bring her back, but the role could be recast. Keesha returning could also be a way to bring AJ back from the dead (again).

I think JJ's last return showed the severe limits of how he would play the part as an adult. I'd find a strong new actor for Lucky, and for Lulu. And yes, bring on Keesha, recast or Senait, and some other Wards. Or bring on some family for Brian and Claudia - obviously you can't bring Brian back, but while Laura and Scotty are still on the show there are characters their kids or grandkids and Claudia can be introduced through. I'd also like to see Julia again if Brenda returns, unlikely as that may be.

The quad mostly just feels like plot points because there's no real reason why Terese and Paul aren't back together. I don't even care about them as a couple but there isn't. It's just Terese worrying about Paul being a schemer for the 40349th time. I've heard people say the poop story is classic Neighbours. That may be the case, I don't know, but it just felt endless and unpleasant to me - I know Karl is meant to be seen as an idiot, but I don't enjoy seeing people, including his supposed friends, humiliating him over and over.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/darryl-hickman-dead-grapes-of-wrath-leave-her-to-heaven-1235908481/ I remember being surprised to learn Darryl was an LOL producer via looking through old soap magazines and seeing him sporting a beard. And of course married to Pamela Lincoln at the time (she is briefly mentioned in his obit).

That's probably why there were claims for years of writers getting money for every new character they create. It was probably just more about laziness - it's easier to write your own characters and not have to deal with what fans might say or the actors might say.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/darryl-hickman-dead-grapes-of-wrath-leave-her-to-heaven-1235908481/

If it works, I'll be glad...I just genuinely don't know who some of these choices (like the months spent on Toadie in closeup looking like he was passing a kidney stone) were meant to appeal to.

To be honest with you I have barely watched Y&R or B&B in many years and only watch GH at times because of the posts here or a few clips on Twitter. I've mostly just been confused by some of the choices made by the Neighbours revival on its own terms, because the show was lucky to get back on the air.

I was mostly speaking in the sense of if someone wants a quicker catch-up. I find those stories genuinely not good, but beyond that I just think they are extremely repetitive, so you don't miss a lot if you scan through them aside from some highlights. They are a contrast to many other stories on the show, which do have some potential or stronger moments, but go by so quickly.

Thanks. I could definitely see that being an ABC decision. One that seemed to be ended quickly. When I first started the RH repeats on Soapnet, I saw Tolan as Mary, and I was bewildered. Not only was she abrasive, but she could also barely speak. I know Helen Gallagher recommended her, but that isn't enough. She seemed to have better luck as a writer.

I'm not saying it out of dislike, because I never have disliked Sam (although you can tell how checked out Kelly has been for a long time), I just feel like everything about the character has reached a natural end and her exit would, as @Vee said, benefit others.

@vetsoapfan Thanks. I'll have to check that out. I did watch the interview with Helen Gallagher, which was probably a mistake on the show's part as Helen couldn't recall a great deal, but Malcolm was on with her and was a good bridge. Was it PFS' idea to bring in Robin Mattson as Delia?

This does feel like an ideal time to write BLQ and Chase out. As that doesn't seem likely, I would still go with my idea of them being foster parents. Of characters who actually could leave, I would say there's never been a better time to write Sam out, even if they need angst for Jason. The character could easily be recast, although the problems with her are widespread among younger women on the canvas.

Thanks so much @slick jones for all the clippings and updates. I didn't know Rebecca Schull was still alive.

For me the worst of the show is often what reminds me most of the soaps that drove me away in the '90s - Kimberley arriving out of nowhere and eating up the canvas, the endless mob hell brought in around the same time, and the repetition of wicked/insecure Delia scheming against the Coleridges (especially the 80-81 era where she was meant to contrast with good, noble Faith and Roger). I didn't mind some of the silly side plots as much. (I've never really seen most of the Kirkland era or the PFS era) Regarding RH vs Loving, that's one of those switches I knew about years before I knew most behind the scenes soaps moments of yore due to how often Rosie O'Donnell used to complain about it on her talk show. Rosie's mania could be exhausting at times, but it was nice to see such a genuine soap fan getting a platform. It does make you wonder how long RH would have lasted. I'd say it probably still wound have ended somewhere in the mid '90s to make room for something else.

Nancy Addison and Tichina Arnold. Roscoe Born later went on AMC (similar to Ilene only joining OLTL years later - she did join Loving for a year or so post-RH).

I don't even know if he had that much use for Eddie, considering that he was willing to trash Matthew so badly, but I do think he keeps trying to find another Kristen or another version of Emma and Spencer. Violet reminds me a lot of Emma. I hadn't actually watched anything with that Spencer in a decade or so, so I went back to watch a few clips (I think from his big scar story) to see if he was as annoying as I remembered...he very much was. Our Gang used to parody stage school kids, and most of those kids remind me of the casting process at GH.

If it makes it any easier there's a lot you can skip (namely, pretty much anything featuring Chelsea/Paul/Terese/Toadie/Melanie, Haz, or the months-long saga of Karl being blamed for shitting all over Erinsborough).

https://www.cbr.com/don-perlin-moon-knight-bloodshot-creator-obituary/ Messy as The Defenders was, I still enjoyed reading it, and Perlin's artwork was a big reason why.

I don't think they will get every vote, but the segment of the vote they are courting in Michigan were already shifting to Republicans before 10/7. Many voted for or worked with this lunatic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tudor_Dixon How some Michigan Muslims united with extremist Republicans against LGBTQ+ rights • Michigan Advance Hamtramck mayor describes group that flew LGBTQ+ Pride flag as a ‘militia’ • Michigan Advance Some of the most vocal Michigan Arab voices in the no Biden movement were, IIRC, previous supporters of W, or had also made a point of never supporting Biden or Hillary in 2016/2020. The Gaza crisis was just a cover. And even with Trump's campaign not even making a bare minimum effort, it will probably remain their perfect cover.

I noticed that the Washington Post op-ed writer who was gushing over this meeting had little to say about the meeting itself. They're lucky because they will probably still get most of those votes. https://www.salon.com/2024/05/22/envoy-to-arab-american-flops-at-michigan-meeting-talks-about-gazas-real-estate-potential/

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/catching-up-with-mariann-aalda-on-the-edge-of-age-disruption/

These 1983 credits fascinate me. They are essentially an identity crisis set to a thumping beat. Preacher solemnly sitting in front of a big-ass photo of Jody is especially amusing to me, but my favorite part is the random shot of Didi and Cliff and getting their Mary Richards on. As shown with Gunther as well, at least Edge did proudly showcase their comedy characters in their openers.

@detroitpiston I feel nothing for plot point hollow Clenshaw's EE but I do appreciate reading your posts.