DRW50

Keep Sam Womack in your thoughts.

@I Am A Swede I genuinely do think that they could make a fascinating documentary on the Farm era, if they wanted to. If only they did. Some spoilers are out for the anniversary.

The various Caseys have interesting careers, I guess... The Thiel backed groups and the Yarvin groups all operate on various fringes and often seem to just be there to try to demoralize and also to tell people who only care about "vibes" and nihilism that it's cool and hip to be a hatemonger. Dasha for instance got put into Succession, a very "hip" television show, in spite of having no acting ability, no looks, and the charisma of a dead tree. It is one of those movements I think is heading closer to power now that people like Blake Masters and JD Vance, both Thiel sycophants, could win Senate seats. You probably already read this but it is a piece on their ilk from early this year. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/04/inside-the-new-right-where-peter-thiel-is-placing-his-biggest-bets

More on these Dimes Square headcases who hold so much sway over the current media landscape. https://mcrumps.substack.com/p/my-own-dimes-square-fascist-humiliation

@VeeI saw that...it was obvious McKay had never bothered to read up on the legislation and was just parroting what worthless David Sirota had to say. I notice others of the dead end left or who always seem to parrot right wing views, like Katie Halper or Gritty is the Way, have been going on about how the Democrats didn't want to fire the parliamentarian for the insulin cap so they are just doing theater, or going on about all the IRS agents who were hired. Sadly, this type of talking point tends to take over so much discourse and discussion of the bill...although I guess most of the people who care don't vote for Democrats anyway. The most depressing tweet was one of these grifters bragging about how he had brainwashed his 76 year old mother into giving up any hope. Meanwhile, the New York Times is once again running interference for hatemongers and Yarvin/Peter Thiel employees, part of the "Dimes Square" movement that proudly boasts the Alex Jones fangirls at Redscare.

Jean still seems active on social media. I know not to expect much but I am hoping for anything. It's very sad that he died but this is one of the things I hate about the press. "Emmerdale star, who played...Kev the coachman." It reminds me of how the media kept saying a "Walking Dead" star killed her husband. That "star" was an extra.

As @BetterForgotten mentioned, Olivia was very much a challenger of conventional wisdom. She found fame in the US through country music at a time when "others" (even blonde and blue-eyed women) were seen as a threat. She took splashy roles in movie musicals when this is so often seen as a huge mistake for singers. She moved into a blatantly sexual role (while still keeping her dignity, somehow) at a time when America was rapidly retreating from sexual freedom and positivity. Yet all of this worked. Even what was seen as a failure at the time, like Xanadu, became a cult favorite. Olivia didn't really have as many current successes after the early/mid '80s, so it would be easy to just remember her for Sandy (a just about impossibly sugary part she made sincere and likeable) or for a few great '70s pop hits, but she had an enduring appeal, one of those people you almost never heard a bad word about. She outlived an entire industry of sneering that loved to remind us that unless you were contorting yourself in trying to Make a Statement and Say Something, you were worthless. She was a quietly confident figure who conquered and left a lasting impact by being herself and knowing what worked for her. In an industry where, to this day, so many artists prostitute and degrade themselves chasing the next trend, she was an example of the power of what you can be if you just trust yourself and find people around you who share that trust.

I've heard some fans saying this seems Farm-heavier than some pieces, but I'll believe it when I see it.

1998 Linda Evans interview. (the second half is questions about her career and personal life) The most interesting part is when she's asked about Dallas originally being called a Linda Evans project and her insistence none of this is true (complete with the always classic, "just because it's on the Internet doesn't mean it's true").

What a surprise. Bernie undercutting any positive press for this bill and giving the media talking points they are already running with. This is the media story now.

Thanks for the history lesson. Once I have the time I'm going to try to get more into '80s and '90s Neighbours beyond the smattering I've seen over the years as I think it would be more to my style than soaps of modern years, and also to see some of the periods for myself that were deemed as poor (like the 1990 exodus, the lull around the point of the Sarah/Karl storyline, etc.) Yes, I don't think they got enough credit for all those returns in recent years, probably because they were not Jason and Kylie. Many of the characters still worked in the modern setting and the actors were more than capable, so it never felt like a nostalgia trip. It's amazing to me that the show managed to pull back from the period when they weren't as willing to embrace the past. Usually when a soap crosses that line they never return.

I only knew the Seekers from oldies radio (and from Georgy Girl being a reference point on Sisters, the primetime family soap I loved in the early '90s before it went to hell) but going back in recent years I was so impressed, and moved, by a great deal of their work. Judith Durham was among the very best vocalists out there. Just a voice of the angels. Pure and clear. Really sad to hear of her suffering and that she's gone.

I did assume they would be leaving. A part of me felt a little bad for Shane as he returned to find his roots and instead he just got nothing (well, Izzy of course), but considering the fate of crypto millionaires he was probably better off saving his money. Guy Pearce has gotten the rightful praise for his work but I think Peter O'Brien also did a good job, even with those nostalgia moments which were probably a blur to him. I didn't notice that about Beverly. I know Neighbours did some unpopular retcons several times (which they even namechecked, surprisingly, when Shane returned - the whole thing with Jill Ramsay and then with David and Leo), but they seemed to try their best to get details right and add some nice touches for the final week. I liked that they also had a few people mentioned (like Lisa Elliott) Harold had no memory of (neither did I), which is true to life. And I liked that not everyone knew everyone or if they did it could be fleeting, like Elly saying she just remembered Harold from when she was a teenager. It all felt much more respectful to fans and to the show than what you get most of the time.

Thanks for sharing that.

That makes sense about the house. I had forgotten he didn't say it to Paul. I remember there was speculation they would move back to the Street. I'm kind of glad they didn't go that route. Nicola's comments did go international, because she chose to have a big rant about the show after the finale and it was on Daily Mail. I had forgotten she also complained about the show last year during the racism row so she clearly has an axe to grind. I do wonder how bitter she is that they didn't bother to ask her. I can't say I'm sorry. Izzy served as a more compelling figure for Karl and Susan angst. You probably already saw this but the actor who played Danny Ramsay was upset as well. https://metro.co.uk/2022/07/27/original-neighbours-star-slams-show-in-blistering-rant-17075497/

Thanks as always for your tags @victoria foxton

Oh I'm not doubting you, it's just these things go through so many channels and layers, I hope we will hear more someday. It was nice of you to donate to Trent's theater company and I'm glad you enjoyed the call.

I want to get more word on that, but even if it is true, sadly I had accepted a long time ago we were never seeing any of that anyway. The only thing to hope for is that eventually some type of ardent support system can exist to find old soap material along the lines of those that exist to find other old TV content, and try to find every last scrap of stuff floating around that we can.

This is a good read, especially the part about how well Harold still managed to fit into a Neighbours that was so different than his own. http://perfectblend.net/comment/theperfectend.htm If I had any real complaint about the final episodes, beyond Terese/Paul (which the actors did sell), it's that I wish they'd let a few more characters actually leave - Leo, for instance, I am not sure would want to stay in a place where he saw his girlfriend/mother of his children die not that long ago and was then involved with a con artist he watched get dragged away in handcuffs. I do get the power of the imagery in almost everyone staying, of course. Other than trying to figure out just why they were there (I guess Shane brought them as a goodbye surprise when he thought Paul was leaving Erinsborough) even the Charlene and Scott parts work well enough on a rewatch. It adds a certain multi-tiered quality as they are literally in their own little sphere, Susan is in her own, and they both look at all around them as the credits roll.