DRW50

I think the idea of Kyle had potential (much more than what AW did with Sharon Gabet), and I think he worked well with Kim Zimmer and most of the other people in the cast. His acting was theatrical, but this was a very theatrical era for the show. I just don't believe the stories were compelling - they were unpleasant (everything with Roxy), convoluted, and gave you no real reason to care. The Maeve material was like something out of a '30s movie, and in order to avoid having her get into it with Reva, Miss Sally had to run around doing everything. Leslie Denniston was also extremely dull as Maeve. If P&G were going to try to find a role for Sharon Gabet, bringing her in as Maeve might have been more interesting. I can already see the print ads - "The one woman who could come between Kyle and Reva."

There is a genuine pushback among younger people about sex scenes in movies and television. A viral tweet went around from one of them saying they wanted the Hays Code to return. I don't know if the treatment of Chase and Brook Lynn is meant to appeal to that audience. Probably not. I get the feeling the show mostly gave them a big wedding because there wasn't anyone else to do that with at present and this was initially planned as a moment of change/a new era for the show, until the caving and backpedaling began.

Oh I've already said a few too many times lately how dull the show was for me in 99/00. I stopped watching regularly around that point. I have to admit I did like Jerry. The Lucky "death" makes sense as well. I mostly remember her being put into that dull, dull pairing with Stefan that you could tell no one at the show gave a damn about.

She's been around, helped by Spencer's presence, but I do think the core of the character has not been there in a very long time - probably since that fateful maternity leave (not that I am blaming a maternity leave, more how the whole thing ended up playing out backstage, allegedly).

Thanks @Soapsuds And how could I forget that badass guitar riff. Here's to you, Chris Goutman.

We should all flush a toilet in honor of that opening.

I don't think it would make a difference. I remember some fans used to send death threats out to actors during the Liz/Jason/Sam years. And of course Laura got those types of threats when she was at GL.

The bad blood between Genie and GH or ABC over her extended maternity leave helped to disenfranchise the character, followed by Guza and Tony Geary's clear contempt for her (and need to turn her rape into her rapist's pity parties and her son berating her) created a hole for her that she never got out of. Then we have Geary's contempt for any Lucky not named JJ, plus JJ's depressing return that pleased no one and kept him away from the show for good, plus JMB's lousy turn as Lulu followed by a poorly received recast, followed by all the tragedies with Tyler Christopher... Pretty much everything went against Laura and her relevance on the canvas. I have to admit I've never cared about Laura, and I don't think Genie Francis is that fantastic, and even I would agree she's been disrespected in so many ways when you think of what she did for GH. The only reason she is there is lip service. I won't claim the treatment of Tracy is top-tier (especially the degradation of her when she was married to Luke) and is likely going to decline with Mulcahey's departure, but still, if you were a viewer in 1980 and someone showed you Tracy's relevance vs Laura's in 2024, you'd be shocked. (once you get past the shock of someone from 2024 being in your house to talk to you about a soap)

Tom was just a terrible, bizarre character who never should have lasted as long as he did, although he was OK in his last few months. My main memory of him is when he was jogging in green short-shorts.

Jill could at least be more honest with her. One of the reasons the Faith and Jill rivalry is hard for me to watch is because Faith says the vilest things to Jill and Jill mostly just takes it. The whole thing feels dishonest to me in that Faith made so many stupid choices, lashed out when those choices blew up in her face, and was still presented as a victim.

This features Henrietta Moore (First Love), among others. A neat little use of the 15 minute format (I wish more shows would take this step now) with good leads. I wonder if Joe Mantell meant to play his scenes with as much longing and yeaning as we get in that later scene. Some of that aspect feels very "today."

Thanks @Paul Raven . I don't remember him fumbling his lines very often.

Thanks to @Contessa Donatella At the Another World 60th, Barbara Rodell mentioned that after she left ATWT for the last time, she was offered, and turned down, a chance to be a temp recast for a pregnant actress on OLTL. Presumably, that would be Viki, which was taken over in that period by Christine Jones.

Thanks to @Contessa Donatella At the Another World 60th, Barbara Rodell mentioned that after she left ATWT for the last time, she was offered, and turned down, a chance to be a temp recast for a pregnant actress on OLTL. Presumably, that would be Viki, which was taken over in that period by Christine Jones.

I'll just mention it and then give you credit.

Thanks @Contessa Donatella for sharing those stories. You'd think people would be more respectful of an 80 year old woman than to run up to her like they're meeting the Beatles. Very sad about David Forsyth. You may want to add the Barbara Rodell info about OLTL to the Temporary Replacement or They Almost Became threads. If you don't want to I will.

This is a Soapnet backstage piece from 2002.

I think it was easy to overlook because of the optics of her having to sell the hotel to Carly, Willow's latest judgment, etc. but she did have some lovely character beats that Cynthia Watros clearly enjoyed playing. I was always a little hot and cold on Cynthia at GL but she's done good work with the rare shreds of decency she got here.

I would have Brook Lynn and Chase become foster parents, maybe tie them to Ward House (was that ever brought back - I can't remember) and use that to bring back Keesha or other relatives. And it would fill the house with more characters, as Monica is rarely there and we're lucky to even have Tracy back. Maybe Tracy could form a bond with one of the children who reminds her of herself at that age. I'm sure Frank would love to cast more child actors on the show, so it could be a win/win. I wonder how all the Nina fans who were upset over the Drew stuff feel. I actually do get why they were upset with her losing and losing and losing, but it did seem like her story was leading somewhere for her. Now that doesn't seem likely.

Thanks @slick jones . I had no idea he wrote for Bright Promise. Or that he was originally meant to do Coach.

Rest in peace, Barbra Fuller. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/barbra-fuller-dead-republic-pictures-one-mans-family-1235903503/

Rest in peace, Barbra Fuller. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/barbra-fuller-dead-republic-pictures-one-mans-family-1235903503/