DRW50

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.

I agree that Burke was unconventionally attractive. He might have been better off in another era (maybe the early '80s or mid or late '90s), but the writing was really the issue. I'm reminded of how Duke was initially abrasive too, but you could relate a little more, especially as he was dealing with town saints like Lily.

Thanks. That's it. Clearly, they have no plans to upload the episode. I just hope it's around somewhere after Kay Arnold kept it preserved all those years. So frustrating.

Someone uploaded this promo that used to be up a while ago and I remember us having some laughs over - rare to see a big promo (with a jingle, no less) devoted to such a temporary, forgettable character...the truly iconic Gail. I suppose this is an indication that Marland had more plans for Sean than what ended up happening. I did like Burke in his more comedic role on OLTL but they made a mistake in overemphasizing his volatile, harsh demeanor as Sean, especially as on a show which at that time had so many placid people, it made you think he was about to start ripping heads off. I don't think so, although I may be wrong. This was just closing credits, IIRC. But you may be right as it's been a while.

The GOP loves nothing more than failing upwards. Performative, desperate trash rises to the top, over and over and over. One bright spot was that shitstain Dave Williams, who commandeered the state party to help push his campaign and ran on platforms like burning the Pride flag, bombed out. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/republican-who-called-for-pride-flags-to-be-burned-loses-gop-primary-race-in-colorado_n_667b0990e4b017bda37abbd1 Many of Trump's endorsed candidates lost tonight, although you won't hear the media talking about that. Here's another headcase: MAGA Candidate Mark Burns Says Those Promoting 'LGBTQ Indoctrination' Should Be Executed for Treason | Right Wing Watch

The writing was degrading beyond belief, and I felt like Kimberley and Beverlee both lost some luster with the one-note material. Making it worse was that Nick had all the personality of a dead fish - a very sanctimonious dead fish. I kept hoping someone, anyone, would put a foot up his ass.

Thanks. You can definitely tell the difference with the available 79/80 material of Willis.

That's true. I wonder if Lemay may have added those lines to have more of a psychological element to justify himself the lurid melodrama he claimed to hate. I have not seen much of those actors but from what I have seen I share your views. Bailey in particular, while competent, feels very workmanlike, very leading man on a short lived '60s/'70s action show. The various comments from you and @Mona Kane Croft yesterday (and thank you both for such detailed replies) reminded me of how much the subtle and layered writing Lemay prided himself on was undercut by the casting decisions he and Rauch made. It's so clear from what was being set up with Willis, and just the future of the show in general, that they made a big mistake with Alice. It's as if some of the early casting successes like Victoria Wyndham or Douglass and Beverlee made them get too confident. I will be curious to ever possibly get to see Carole Lamonte in some Munker clips, as Lemay seemed to think of her extremely highly. Some of the actors who might have best worked with the writer Lemay saw himself as being, like Richard Bekins, only came along near the very end of his tenure. I never will understand the decision to kill off Lee. I'm glad she was at least remembered a few times.

I wonder if they may have planned to do the old Marie/Tommy Horton story where Susan ended up getting involved with him and neither knew they were siblings? What did fans think of Lynn Milgrim as Susan? I know she was panned during her time on ATWT (in a very different part...).

That will be the best part. She shouldn't be there just to ask people for the 50th time whether Heather and her poisoned hip are worth saving. Won't this be the first time they've worked together since '99? Or was she there any the last time he was? My memory is awful.

With Nene likely not coming back, Kandi gone, Kenya gone, Porsha supposedly not getting to do a lot of the filming that the show had anticipated, they may try to get Phaedra or Sheree again...unless they get truly desperate and Kim Z returns (wasn't that some rumor).