DRW50

Thanks for replying! I have seen so little of Family Affairs, so if you have any memories, I'd enjoy reading them.

I uploaded about 6 episodes (one from 1988, three from 1992, two from 1995 [one being Stacey's death episode, one a few weeks before the murders started]) that were available elsewhere but not on Youtube or used to be on there and were taken down. I'll just put the link to one.

Never seen this before. @Ben @Forever8

They are going to use AI to eventually put everyone out of work - writers and actors, and many others. AI will be used to make many obsolete even outside of the industry. I hope if it is financially feasible the guild holds out as long as possible to help spare us that desolate future. (the talking point is often that there's no point in fighting, it's the future...all I have to say to that is - how much are those NFTs worth today?)

Thanks @JAS0N47 . I'm always curious about this subject with soap writers, as I remember Anne Howard Bailey was fired from Santa Barbara right after the '88 strike.

Thanks for the updates. So, since soap actors aren't part of the strike, does that mean as soon as the WGA deal is ratified, the striking DAYS writers immediately return? Sorry to ask you more questions, but were there any DAYS writers who didn't return after a writers' strike?

He's also a human trafficker. It's worse to me than him being a villain, because the show never treats him as one. We're always meant to feel sorry for him and see him as a good guy. The Martin story was apparently in part a story suggestion from James Bye (Martin), who wanted to do a dark/gangster plotline.

I saw a long comment on Deadline from someone who said 3 years for a new contract isn't enough, how the tech people will still use AI to crush them, and this is like the coal miner's strike in the UK in the mid '80s where they weren't prepared for the changes in technology that led Thatcher to be able to wipe them out. They have a good point, but unfortunately I think many took AI for granted until recently. Even early this year it seemed like a lot of people were just treating it, and ChatGPT, as a harmless joke.

I was just thinking about how different Teri Keane is. I know Teri played a dark character on OLTL, but I don't think Rose is meant to be in any way dark, so the casting choices jumps out at me more. (I assume Teri wanted to leave, as she later returned, unless she was a casualty of the many producer/writer changes starting in 1984). Susan Keith is always fascinating to me - there's something that is both vulnerable and false in her work, like a '30s tragic heroine. That worked well with Cecile when Cecile became such a bitch. Shana is at her best a complex figure and Susan fits into those grooves. It's more when she is in cookie cutter mode that her work can feel more out of place. I would agree there isn't a great deal going on in terms of interesting characters or stories, more just style, glamour, and charismatic performers playing out familiar plots. (the Keith/Jonathan story is at least different, I suppose) I think this is one of the reasons that it was smart for the show to slowly move Ava into the anti-heroine role rather than just pure antagonist, as she could drive story but also be at the heart of it. I give Roya a great deal of the credit for making Ava viable enough for viewers to accept the shift, even if Lisa Peluso was the main one who played that era of Ava. I was watching an early 1984 episode, and the difference in Susan Walters' work between then and the spring 1985 episodes is striking, even if Lorna still doesn't have anything very interesting to do. Noreen feels like such a blank (if well-acted) character. I need to watch more of what is available of her. I agree James Kiberd looked very attractive in these years. Carly always seems easier to enjoy when she's having fun with the family. I don't notice the rapid pacing as much until we get to the early '90s. When I watched a lot of the episodes from 1991 things would be built up as huge and then in no time at all were over with no real consequence, like everything with Abril.

Thanks for mentioning that as I was tempted but have not fully watched it. Considering the way Kelly was written back then, and the general culture of the '90s, that they had more restraint than a soap in 2019 is sobering.

The story was well-acted, but the handling of the material was, for me, very questionable. I felt like there was an unnecessary sexual focus - we repeatedly saw them making out and saw Jacob half-clothed, which I don't think we would have seen if genders were reversed. It fed into the narrative that young men who are groomed by women are just lucky. The choice to give Maya a baby, with a "who's the daddy" paternity story, was also gross.

This channel put up three late May 1985 and one mid June 1985 episode. They may have been around before but I'd never seen them. (over the last day they also put up a 1986 episode and some from 90-91, along with various The City episodes). Several of these episodes showcase the Jonathan/Keith evil twin story, which I've never watched a great deal of. Focus also goes to Ava/Jack/Stacey (Roya Megnot is a dream as always, with Jack the ideal eye candy), Mike/Noreen, Gwyn/Dane/Ann, and in the final episode, a lot of Tricia/Steve (the scenes with Steve and his father are surprisingly moving). The first episode also has a few good moments for Pamela Blair (RIP), which is timely. Agnes Nixon will re-use the captive man and dog motif with Dante and Curtis. There are some lovely moments in here with Cabot and Isabelle with their daughter and granddaughter that were a nice surprise. I sometimes wonder if this era of Gwyn is one of the reasons the show did well in some foreign countries like Italy. Christine Tudor has a certain verve as day after day revolves around her seducing or being seduced. Dorothy Stinnette seems a bit cold for Rose Donovan, although maybe I'm mixing her up with her Another Life character. My main takeaway might be, not for the first time, noticing how expansive and gorgeous some of these sets were. The third episode has a shot of the Alden living room (with just Ann and Cabot) that I had never seen before and it looks incredible. The Donovan kitchen, when given one wide shot, also looks fantastic. You also get so much music (to the point where a few scenes are muted), including a video of Lorna for Amouerelle set to Material Girl. There's also a mention of the National Intruder. I didn't realize that already existed in the ABC daytime lineup by 1985. There are several beauty shots over the credits too, which I always appreciate.

I was definitely shocked too. I wonder if someone just read a Wiki and went with it, unless a diehard old school AW fan runs TVLine. Maybe they can help dig up some episodes.

Sonia is dating Reiss (who is verbally/emotionally cruel to her and lies to her repeatedly but we're meant to see this as endearing). She did not know until recently that he is married and his wife is in a coma (he kept this from her even as he repeatedly berated her as he falsely believed she was sleeping with other men and told her Dot would be ashamed of her). Sonia went through a pregnancy scare around the time you are watching these episodes, I think. Whitney slept with Zack and got pregnant. They decided to get together for the sake of the baby, as a real couple, but learned the baby had a condition which meant it would die very young and in a great deal of pain. They decided to terminate her pregnancy but stayed together as a couple. She doesn't ever want to try for another biological child as she had already had a miscarriage before this, with her ex-husband. She does want to adopt or foster, which Zack does not as he spent several years in foster care and is traumatized.

Thanks @Soapsuds for the episode and photos. Scott Bryce looks incredibly hot there. Steven Weber also looks very good. They both look like they want to throttle whoever is taking the photo.

That IS a surprise. I see the votes are evenly divided. Somewhere, Harding Lemay would be pleased.

The final nails in GL's coffin were nailed in about 15 years earlier. The miracle is that the coffin stayed open as long as it did.

I suppose them burning through a year or more of Glen's story while the show was wrapping up didn't help. (I think the actor who played Glen said something along these lines). I still hope he will at least make visits.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I have not watched a great deal of this period so always appreciate the extra insights.

It might have made more sense to try this with Glenn, although I know that wouldn't have been very exciting. It's too bad they could never get someone like Peter O'Brien on full time again as that might have been interesting to see Paul reacting to Terese/Shane. Others would know more than me but I think at worst she was meant to be silly and scattered at times - underneath she always seemed grounded to me. She was offcamera for about 30 years.

I find Terese/Paul so tedious as a pairing at this point that the idea of something different can be interesting to me, but this is a "twist" that feels like it's meant to not invest in (it makes no sense for Toadie). I wonder if it will impress new viewers more...although new viewers don't know any of these people, so probably not.

Some good news from New Hampshire. Democrats won a special election (in a Trump district no less) and are likely to win another in November as that one is in a Dem district. If they win that one, they will have a tie in the state house. NH's legislature always goes back and forth, but still, this is a reminder that in swing states, a lot of people aren't listening to the media hype about how Trump is a god and Biden is old and worthless. NH state House election results: Northwood, Nottingham (wmur.com)

The first Byron was very attractive without being plastic, and a decent actor too. I imagine he chose not to return, but this new guy from what I've seen doesn't really stand out for me - I think he was brought in from a talent competition. (I'm not being sarcastic - I believe that's where he was found) Oh never mind - he was on Big Brother Australia. They had one popular cast member from BBAU in the '00s so I guess they figured let's try again.

Any new fans of the show (and hell, I count myself as a new fan compared to many) might enjoy this dedicated fansite. Neighbours: The Perfect Blend