DRW50

Thanks @Maxim I do remember Cord's return being somewhat of a shrug. I am sometimes surprised they even took John Loprieno back as they clearly had more interest in Tina/Cain (what interest in Tina Malone ever even had). The edginess he returns with does have potential, and is at times explored, but could have had more, especially with Clint's increasing volatility. Your despair over the state of Luna is more interesting than the material itself, good as Susan Batten was in the role. I had to shake my head at Viki's attempt to shift blame on her clumsy lie about dinner with Sloan. Another sign of how much she has changed. Those Sloan/Viki/Clint scenes are a tale of two halves. The confrontation needed to happen, but there's a mix of drive and cheese. I don't think Clint Ritchie is at his best here, and Viki commenting on not wanting to be the woman fought over doesn't hide the degradation of her just trying to stop them as Clint starts in. The scene where Clint nearly hits Viki should have had more of a punch (no pun intended) than it did. The music in that scene veers between very effective and rushed student film. Sloan takes a beating well for someone with a heavily weakened immune system.

I don't think Jean LeClerc's ever done Locher Room.

I did not realize Carolyn Hinsey was still at SOD.

Oh right...I must be thinking of Wolf. I thought MVJ was headwriting somewhere in that timeframe.

I was repulsed by a lot of Guza's second run so I probably am not the best judge, but with Carly, I really need to feel those emotions as being out of control and needy and insecure was her guiding force. Without that Carly is never quite the same to me. Laura is a real pro and has held the character together in what she was elevated into being, I just miss that humanity. I do remember her managing to play it when MVJ reintroduced some of this during her headwriting stint.

@I Am A Swede Thank you. What a treat. I never would have known about this. And I love that this got some applause. I guess it makes sense some Emmerdale fans would be in NYC for a visit (or maybe they are American and just love Emmerdale - I probably would have cheered if I'd been there).

One of the reasons I appreciate Jane Elliot's work so much is she often manages to find that small emotion in scenes even with the way the show is now structured. I think Dominic does too, among others. I have a lot of respect for Laura Wright in her work ethic, being a daytime survivor, etc. but I think what you have mentioned lacking in GH in recent times is one of the reasons I still never quite see her as Carly. The emotions I should be feeling from Carly or for Carly are not there for me.

I suppose that and the disastrous 90-minute decision - if both could have been prevented.

Brad also seems like a proto-Leo, and we know how Ron adored Leo.

I know what you mean - I feel that way when I try to go through ATWT and GL from 93-95 or so. Any thoughts you have on this episode or DAYS or The Doctors I would enjoy reading. DAYS of this period in particular is something I'd always love knowing more about.

Thanks @Maxim I appreciate the details about the changes you think Griffith is making, and the various books Malone is adapting to Llanview. The main reason for the change in this story is soon Clint Ritchie will be offscreen for a good long while due to having an accident on his ranch. I knew Lindsay was there for Clint, but I wasn't expecting her to also make a play for Sloan. It's as if Marty and Lindsay have been conjured up to make Viki pay for her wicked ways. I wonder if they may have originally planned to reveal that Lindsay was on Dorian's payroll.

That would have been an interesting turn. Lemay would have had a big curveball to deal with due to Beverlee leaving. I wonder how he would have reshaped the canvas.

A shame for the meddling, and some of the story choices I don't think were worthwhile even without meddling, as a few of Mulcahey's choices have powered most of the good in the show since his exit. I've never known why ABC wasn't more uneasy about Frank seemingly being willing to tank the show in the ratings just to get his way.

I hate to even think about that... I'll always wonder what would have become of Holly if she'd stayed on during the '80s, but I do think she was better off having that break. I'm so glad Long was willing to bring her back.

Oh I hadn't heard that.

I can see that happening. Do you think Dennis would need a recast or was Jim Poyner capable of playing the material? I guess Iris would be Mary Matthews...

If so I wonder why they just gave up at the point when the hirings were made - maybe they have other fires to put out now.

I do think Howarth/Easton may be gone for a good while as otherwise Easton would have been back by now. Easton is probably the one Frank really wants anyway - by the end Howarth seemed to be barely hanging on. I do think he had some serious disdain for Lucky/JJ, but I'm not sure about Lulu. I think he just prefers Britt and Valentin and Lulu has to be twisted around and around to serve their presence. They did go out of their way this time to cast a well-liked/talented actress to play her (unless that was an ABC mandate).

When was Lulu spunky and fun? 2006?

I didn't even know they implied in scripts. Not surprised to learn this was cut out. I agree the prostitute origin wasn't needed, as Mac didn't seem to care. I guess at this time the show was trying so hard to keep that organized crime story going. It would have been more of a twist to learn Mac had been a prostitute in his early years, to survive, and have this come out in a tell-all. Imagine Iris' reaction...

I do think in the short run he usurped Jamie's place on the canvas, which they addressed somewhat in story, but I don't think they went far enough in a real rivalry between them (as you said, Jamie had long moved on from Blaine and was disgusted by Cecile). In the long run, Sandy didn't hurt Jamie - both characters were left behind. When I initially read about Sandy's origins I did wonder if they might have implied he was gay-for-pay, or bi, but of course in soapland male escorts never have sex with men (this continues on soaps today - most recently Neighbours).

This must be the last gasp of pushing that talentless cast on the public.

I don't know if Kobe appreciated much of anyone who was at GL when she arrived. I think that year gap between the two regimes is also key. Nola was so locked in to being Quint's partner in that time and doesn't really have any other outlet.

I think she'd already lost most of her edge, aside from that scene in 1982 when Morgan visits her in the hospital and the conversation turns nasty. Maybe Marland intended for Quint/Nola to be a fairy tale and then she'd crash back down to reality. I guess we'll never know.

I watched a minute of Carly grieving Bobbie and Drew was there comforting her. It felt wrong at the time, but it feels even more wrong now.