DRW50

I wonder if they just wanted to wrap up the story. I liked him too. I also liked him on ATWT and he was abruptly fired for a horrible, horrible storyline with that guy who seemed more suited to softcore films. After that he left acting.

I remember that now! I don't think the clone story got GL canceled, by any means, but I think it helped derail their momentum. I would have to give a very long list for what got GL canceled. The show was a survivor. It lasted a hell of a long time, almost miraculously so. The only other soap that lasted as long with so much damage done to its core was AW, and GL lived twice as long as AW.

If she gets the house, I'm happy for Tracy but I wish she could kick Brook Lynn out. Olivia, Tracy has never liked her anyway, so that's a mutual issue, but Brook Lynn - no excuse. I am so glad Rory Gibson played the moment where Michael told Tracy that Monica left her the house the way he played it, with a certain warm smile. He could have played that in a much colder way.

Diane was a true piece of Southern pride even as so much of the worst is what gets showcased. Truly special. Any time I saw her I took notice. She never had the film opportunities she deserved yet was so suited to that big screen - it's one of many reasons her run on Alice didn't work. When I watched Rambling Rose a few years ago, I had very mixed feelings, but Diane was the standout. There's a scene where she refuses to let the doctor "cure" the oversexed, troubled Rose by giving her a full hysterectomy. That scene alone likely got her her last, well-earned Oscar nomination.

Diane Ladd Dead: 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore' Actress Was 89 Years ago I posted a soap magazine article with Diane. The scan is now gone. If I ever find it again I will repost (or if someone else has it, feel free, not that you need my permission). I was so surprised to learn she was on a soap but she would have been a great soap goddess.

She does have some fans, as I know many of them pop up with stan wars with Trina fans, but nowhere near enough for the level of effort made to suppress other women in her age range on the canvas. Even when Brenda took off I don't remember the show actively suppressing other women in her age group, although I may have felt differently at the time (even then I don't think I blamed Brenda - they just didn't really have anyone who clicked outside of Carly [Robin too but Robin was sort of in her own little grouping]).

Thanks @Maxim . They really were trying to run Cain through the various "complex" or "I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way," women in Llanview, which never quite stops. I suppose this is also down to the apathy Malone often seemed to feel for Tina. I can't see Alex ever going for Cain, even if Chris Cousins is easy on the eye and charismatic. All of the turmoil at Llanfair is agonizing to watch yet you can't look away. A family tearing itself apart, and there's no easy person to blame. A strong yet divided family for Viki had so much potential, even if it rarely worked out beyond these few years.

Of all the comparisons, this may be the one I could most connect with.

Thanks as always @Huntress . Will you miss Die Cooking Academy?

RIP Lee Weaver (Homefront, Flamingo Road). Lee Weaver Dead: ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou’ Actor Was 95

I could see Chris wanting to stay, especially as he's a new father, but the role not ever working out that way. It seems like the main reason he was cast is because the other actor quit so abruptly and Frank trusted him enough to pinch hit in a very rushed timeframe.

They didn't even use it as cross-promotion for Connie Selleca to be cast as Amanda Spaulding.

I am probably the only person here who liked the character (aside from how sanctimonious he could be), but I think Jay Hammer had an easy screen presence and Fletcher generally served a lighter purpose on the canvas. He was offbeat in a way that suited GL of the '80s and '90s, and Fletcher was just always around - easy to slot into other scattered character groups at the Bauer home, a bar or club, or the paper. And as mentioned, he could easily be paired with various women due to lack of ties. I'm not surprised that when he settled down again and had a child with Holly, he was gone within a few years. And while I was kind of annoyed, I also knew even then it was probably time for him to leave. I'm just glad they brought him back for the finale. @alwaysAMC Thanks again for your mini reviews. I can imagine it was not easy working out all the Reva/Reva clone developments. And now we're at the start of Drew having a much heavier presence on the show, which I was fine with at the time as I thought Tammy Blanchard was interesting (and she got better as an actress as she went along) but must be a jolt. I had totally forgotten about Second Chances. I have some unlocked memory of Holly or Beth shouting, "I've had second, third and fourth chances!" in a big melodramatic moment, possibly fleeing the room. I'd forgotten Marcus, Dahlia and Griffin were still there this far into 1998.

Thanks as always @slick jones for all your time and dedication.

I had forgotten about that. I guess OLTL got it from them.

Thanks again @Maxim As you said, you can definitely feel the vampiric tendencies played up in this exchange, with Victoria in full...Victorian heroine mode. Of course, for all the theatrics, Viki does want Sloan, she's just clinging to the shell of her family, as the story would be completely alienating otherwise. What we have here is a classic soap formula.The manipulation and pull between the two men is much more interesting than when Clint was just bellowing homophobia. I did laugh at Joey and Jessica walking in and Joey looking pissed off. You're right about Max - the Luna relationship does come across as second choice to me, and Max wasn't exactly a catch so I just felt little involvement. It's been mentioned a few times in here over the years but supposedly there were issues between Grace Philips and the powers that be at the time which explain why we barely see Sarah.

I still don't really care about Gio as much as I might wish, but it's a shame they don't see the potential in Emma. I truly do believe her not being Joss is the biggest factor.

This might have been a more compelling take for a breakdown story than just putting a blonde wig on poor Victoria Mallory. (I know I am oversimplifying that story, sorry)

I can't find the pilot anywhere, but the opening credits are available. They are very...of that era. IMDB credits Ethel and Mel Brez as writers on this.

I'd love 30 minute soaps - I keep waiting for those (or even 15 minute soaps) - although I do hope Y&R can surprise me and turn around.

They surprised me with BtG but I think that may be it for new soaps. I hope I'm wrong. Either way, Y&R is definitely just coasting on timeslot and nostalgia.

LA Noir...

I might have waited even longer as I think Ashley's stories under EB's return were horrible. Anyway, going back to Shattuck, it tells you just how much the show was already struggling that they would so shoddily cast a role which, even if she'd been downgraded during Brenda's run, should have been central to the canvas. Other than being Ronn Moss' wife there was no reason to hire Shattuck, unless they were a big fan of the softcore movie she made with Andrew Stevens and Morgan Fairchild. At least Sarah Aldrich later did good work on Port Charles, but they recast Victoria much too quickly after Heather Tom left, especially since Victoria wasn't exactly heavy in story.