DRW50

Everything said earlier in the thread about how much ATWT and soaps suffered from trying to still cling to old patterns in the OJ era is so true. ATWT was based on complex friendships and family dynamics - they did have one of the first soap supercouples (Penny and Jeff) but that wasn't their calling card. ATWT trying to still cling on while running away from the family units and complicated histories and becoming whatever mutated '80s primetime soap the show was trying to be for so much of the mid/late '90s (aside from some of the stronger moments of 1995) was unfortunate. I remember disliking Mike and Rosanna so much, but assuming they were loved by viewers with how heavily pushed they were. Only years later when I read more soap magazines from that period did I learn they weren't ever very popular. All that for nothing.

On paper, I don't think the idea of giving Eric a Parkinson's story - in older people, the disease can sometimes progress more slowly, so the show can tell the story in more detail; it would also be interesting to see the old Eric (who was so in need of being in control at all times) in this situation. Unfortunately, I have no trust in the show to do the story justice, and with David on the way out, Eric is going to be very isolated.

It was mentioned in the soap hoppers thread but I was waiting for official confirmation. Very sad. He was a beautiful man, along with being a very good actor. I have only seen fragments of his work on AMC, but he was excellent in Boys in the Band, in a very difficult part.

I should also credit Betsy and Steve for tapping into a younger audience while pleasing older viewers. Looking back at my post I should have mentioned them even if they aren't to my own taste.

I think you're right. What hurt ATWT was no one in place there seemed to have any idea what this shift needed (was anyone in the viewing audience horny for Brad Hollister?). With a few exceptions, like the casting for Margo and Craig and recasting Tom, they didn't seem to figure it out until around 1984 or 1985.

I think the problem with the Ryan kids was most of why they worked was down to the original actors and their appeal. The characters themselves were not special. The character who was the sturdiest was Frank, at least after Michael Hawkins was fired, which is probably why Frank had the most well-received recasts of any of the kids. As for Ann Gillespie, she never should have been hired in the first place. She was a bad fit for the part.

@slick jones Thanks for letting us know about Peter White. (if there was another thread I missed it, sorry) He was such a gorgeous man, a magazine ad come to life. I loved his work in Boys in the Band.

Beyond having less interesting Hughes relationships compared to the Bauers on GL, and maybe not understanding Nancy, I wonder how much of the change is down to the Dobsons joining ATWT at a time when P&G was beginning to more actively push to phase out older vets and core families.

I was watching the podcast of Nate Bargatze, who hosted the most recent SNL episode, and he mentioned that Dorinda was at the afterparty.

This is actually what I thought they were doing when I saw that Nicholas Lyndhurst had been cast.

@Vee https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/judy-nugent-dead-actress-the-ruggles-adventures-of-superman-1235633202/

That's a good point.

I respect that choices like this or saying the Ncuti season will be "season 1" are to try to bring in new viewers, and I hope it works, but none of that is for me (especially colorization).

I think Cali's Paulina was still more involved with Grant.

If she wants to return full time but doesn't want the tie to Wally, they could just bring Rena on as Rocky from Loving. (to be honest I liked Rocky more than Lois anyway)

It's those last few years, even if the creative decisions often don't work for me, where I feel like you have more unique characters, especially in the younger set. I feel like the writers got a little more of a chance at breathing room there compared to the time Shaffer was on...other than Ava and maybe Gwyn and Egypt, there weren't any interesting characters to write for.

@slick jones This March 1980 episode seems to have another role for Dominic Chianese, unless this is the "Earl Johnson [date unknown]" For anyone who doesn't want to go through each individual "The Chase" Roger/Holly clip, someone put them all together here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCtEV-hj89E

Former ‘RHONY’ Star Ramona Singer Dropped From BravoCon After Racial Slur – Deadline

I don't think that was the problem with Catlin or Barrett. Catlin was an interesting actress but not a soap ingenue as Faith was intended to be. Barrett, frankly, came across as too old for the part to me and also very mannered (I say that as someone who was a huge fan of her work on Dark Shadows). The main problem is that Faith was just a lousy part. It's interesting to see that even Catherine Hicks, far and away the best Faith, did not enjoy a lot of her work. Thanks for all you've shared with us. As for Mary, I think killing her was 100% the right decision. I don't believe this hurt Jack's airtime - I think Michael Levin getting older as the show was getting younger made that shift inevitable. Mary's death and Jack struggling to let her go was an incredibly powerful storyline.

I'm very sorry to hear this. I still remember Tyler Baker, the ethereally beautiful young man who took daytime by storm. SPW or SOD had an interview and photo shoot called "The Fabulous Baker Boy," and he was. He remained so even with everything he went through. Even through all those years, Tyler remained well-loved by fans. I can't tell you how many times I'd see him trending and seeing fans calling for his return. Very rough year for daytime.

moving to other thread

Thanks for telling me @Vee and telling all of us. This is a delightful surprise. I'm especially looking forward to the Steven/Vicki sequence as Steven is such an underexplored character.

I was never overly fond of Bob Barker, but I did like that the show kept appealing to new generations and was a destination for college kids on Spring Break. I wonder if anyone in the last fifteen years has given a damn. I never hear anyone talk about this show or about Let's Make a Deal.

Very sorry to hear about Matthew. I remember his struggles but he always fought so hard. I was never involved with Friends but he was always a very charismatic and likeable actor. Just recently I was watching some of his short show with Valerie Bertinelli, Sydney, and he was so charming, as he never stopped being. My thoughts are with all of his fans here, and with his loved ones.

As @jam6242 mentioned in the Memorium thread, Dorothy Stinnette recently passed away. I remember Dorothy best for her dynamic work on here, as Kate. Dorothy Stinnette Obituary (1928 - 2023) - New York City, NY - Wichita Eagle (legacy.com) About 5 years ago, someone left a 2017 interview in the comment section of this video.