DRW50

I don't know much about this show (3rd Degree) - Bert Convy's last.

I remember reading Donald Bogle's book from the '80s about black entertainers of Hollywood, and the passages about the backlash against Sidney Poitier, his being called "Super Sidney" and so on. It reminds me of some of the backlash Whitney Houston faced when she became too successful, but as Sidney himself said, he was the only successful/high-profile black actor for a long time, so he had to be everything to everyone. He seemed to seriously scale down his public role at his career peak due to that backlash, and likely the ugly national climate at the time. I wonder what roles he might have gotten and been able to create if he hadn't hit that backlash, similar to how Denzel Washington has managed to have a lot of high-profile parts through decade after decade. I think I was more interested in some of his earlier films like Edge of the City, although that would probably be seen poorly today.

You're right - I meant he escalated into drug dealing. Thanks.

Dawn Young put up some behind the scenes photos of her work on the show. She is active on social media, sort of, but I don't really see any other Catlins content.

I'm not fully through with the year yet (I missed some November and December episodes), but what I've seen doesn't exactly blow me away so I think I am safe to go ahead and make the picks. My favorite story was probably the human trafficking story and fallout - we got to see how it affected Zara, Theo and Michelle, then further aftermath with Rani and Boyd when Zara was missing. Rani clashing with Boyd over whether Zara was dead, trying to get justice, Boyd going back and forth the whole time and then trying to move on with Kellyanne. I thought it was all very strong drama that didn't feel too preachy or sensationalized. The big scene where a pregnant Zara returned for Boyd when he was truly alone was melodramatic, yes, but I thought it was powerful. I miss Boyd, but I also thought he and Zara chose the right time to exit, even if I wonder about whether his exit is permanent or not. If so, at least it makes sense. I mostly just miss his scenes with Drew, a relationship I kind of wish had ended up in a one-nighter, yet I'm also very glad did not... I also thought the story earlier in the year with Tillie being lulled into going out with older boys and wearing makeup and how this led to increasingly bitter conflict with TK was a good family-based, believable plot. The episode where the girls and the older boys crashed their car had a real gut punch when you briefly believed Tillie was dead, even though that ended up being a copout. While the story was quickly wrapped up, I liked that it wasn't completely forgotten, as we later saw Tillie being a bad influence on Madonna's daughter, and being interested in new boys. The slow build of Louis' drug use and turn to dealing worked for me, due in large part to the very talented, handsome actor and how good he is with CeCe. I would rate this higher if the whole thing hadn't seemed to very abruptly end. I also liked the mini-story with CeCe's dying sister - I thought the woman who plays CeCe was very moving when she wept over being too late to see her one last time. As you mentioned, the early Carla material, when she was manipulative and haunted but not completely panto, was strong. The episode where she convinced Wai to kill her father stood out to me, because, yes, this was illegal, but the way the story was told, with her decaying father begging her to end his life, it was difficult to think this was the wrong choice. The brief story where Chris got hooked on Drag Race and, after Desi hosted a drag fundraiser, got to go on stage (along with Marty and TK) was lighthearted community fun that I always want to see more of. The story felt a bit padded, but I think Dawn/Prince/Samira had a number of highlights. Prince's slow falling out of love with Dawn made sense, and he had genuine chemistry with Samira. Their tryst was grotty, yet never felt overly cheap or forced. Many of those last scenes, like Prince breaking up with Dawn and his final goodbye at their old flat, were poignant. I also liked that Dawn was called out on going too far, and tried to make up for the way she treated Samira. In what was not exactly a good year for new characters, between Rico, and, frankly, what I've seen of Francesca and that new twitchy puppet of Carla's (the jury is out about Jojo...), I thought Samira was the best new character. Smart, vulnerable, sexy in an understated way, played by a good actress. I also like Madonna, but that is more down to the actress, as the character is a mess. I like Villiami too, but again, that's the actor... The brief story about Drew's career crisis and move away from plastics also felt character-based and well-acted. I'm trying to figure out what my best and worst scenes of the year would be...one for best is probably when the patient of Villiami's wheeled away, screaming. I know that was done for cheap meme purposes, but I still laughed. Another best would probably be Nicole's panic attack after she and Maeve smoked weed (remember when Maeve was meant to be in constant pain?). Often the show just makes Nicole seem irritating in moments of panic and anxiety, rather than truly distressed, but they took more care here and it was a well-shot and acted scene. I'd probably also pick the conclusion of that strange, aimless story with Esther and the little girl where we learn she had a twin sister and various siblings she was protecting, and Esther has to tell the twin that her sister died, to which the girl replies she thought that was the case. A very quiet, human moment that made up for the 50 different "Esther dreams and clutches her chest like Fred Sanford" scenes beforehand.

I'm glad someone else noticed too about her hair. I wonder if it's intentional - a full circle moment. Jane looks great.

Nate Silver and his trust fund friend comparing school closures to invading Iraq...and claiming no one at the time knew how bad that decision was.

Charles Shaughnessy and Stephen Nichols.

Marcy Walker and Nancy Grahn.

Some unsold pilots burned off by NBC in summer 1984 are being uploaded by one of my favorite Youtube channels, and both have some AMC alum. The first has (for about one or two scenes), Barbara Rush (Nola Orsini), and the second has Rosalind Ingeldew, AKA Rosalind Allen (Silver Kane #1). She's not much of an actress but she is striking, I will give her that. @SFKI always enjoy your comments on the Silver/Noelle era, so you may like to see this.

Given the current amorality, probably a cannibal holocaust. I can barely stomach the current show but I've seen other fans saying that the Ellis scenes are being clumsily edited out of episodes, presumably due to the ugliness behind the scenes. What a mess. I hope this Meena story was worth it.

I also liked Wai - I thought she h ad an old school Hollywood quality, even if her acting was hit and miss. The story was so depressing and also so rushed. I'm not sure what went on there. You're right that the actresses are not to blame. I do wonder what may have been changed (especially with Esther, as I really don't think the show would have intended for her to have two small children with men who are not on the canvas). Did you like Eddie? I did, although I may be in a minority, I don't know. I wish he hadn't been so defined by the Esther relationship. I think his relationships with Leanne and Theo (that character seems to be long forgotten) and Nicole were more interesting. Anthony Langford, who uploads Jack-related clips (and the current Jack-Esther-Curtis short web series), said that Rico was let go because the story/character were not well-received (I am paraphrasing), but I don't what they expected with the way the whole thing was told. I think one of his first scenes was punching Jack out...

Dorothy was still on Mama's Family at the time. I don't think she would have gone back anyway, as I'm not sure she left on the best terms.

Thanks for finding that. The photo is from Betty's last appearance on Mama's Family - fitting. That's a lovely interview, and very honest as well.

I guess this new venture will also have hit pieces on Ronan Farrow...

Oh I remember those from Eddie Drueding. I always hope something new might appear.

I definitely had no real sympathy for Rico. The actor was poor (he got better but he was still poor), had no chemistry with Jack, and his stories were just godawful. They were really throwing everything at him early on - leading Jack on and then telling him to stay away, all of Nathan's problems, that strange interlude where he was dismissive of the racism and hate crime against Esther before flying off the handle when he got the same treatment. I assume the original idea was to have Jack help him see through Tom, then that was thrown out the window. They should probably just pair Jack with Marty, although they seem content to just have Marty pining and stuck in B-or-C pairings. I kind of liked Monique, in spite of everything, but she was such an obvious plot device, to the point where they kept bringing her back multiple times in the year when that was clearly not intended because they had gotten sidetracked by things like 3 female cast members getting pregnant. I have heard about some of the homophobic material (a few years ago didn't they have some psycho evil gay guy stalker on the show, or trying to blackmail a straight man into sex, or something...I can't remember). The Lincoln story managed to be biphobic and homophobic all at once, with Lincoln so needy and pathetic he strung along Nicole and Jack, and so selfish that he got high and was locked up while his baby daughter was breathing her last breaths. I still can't believe they even brought back Jack's drug addict ex just so that he and Lincoln could do drugs and have sex. And of course Jack also had to do drugs for a while... The most confusing moment for me was when that woman agreed to get pregnant for Jack and Lincoln. She backed out because she was reminded of her rape, but you had Jack on top of her, clearly getting into the moment, playing it romantically, even though he is meant to be gay. Yes, I get the idea of trying to lighten the mood and not treat it as a misery, but that wasn't how the scene played. It was as if everyone forgot he was not going to be into it. Then afterward they had him say he was relieved to not have to try again because he didn't want to do that again - even though the scene showed no such hesitancy. Anyway, I do like the actress who plays Vivienne...there's something very unique and subtle about her, and she has better chemistry with Chris than Michelle did. (I just realized for half of 2021, there were two McLeod's Daughter actresses on soaps)

ILC was a show that I and a lot of other kids my age were crazy over in the early '90s. I am still sorry some of the finest talent from the show never had the recognition they deserved...

Speaking of Tom, I have rarely seen a soap backpedal so much with a character. In the space of two weeks or less, he went from isolating and manipulating Rico to have access to his money to being the noble-but-tortured true love for Tess. Even if one does not especially like Jack that much, how are we meant to get over Tom drugging him, or Tom claiming that Jack sexually harassed him when none of this was ever addressed again? It doesn't help that Tess went through three love interests in a year. I like Tess, but that is mostly down to the actress, as the character is paper-thin. I also don't like Desi very much. I fully realized why in the recent wedding-mania story. Every time they take baby steps to maturing the character, they go right back to the selfishness and callousness which moves plot along and is good for 'comedy.' Damo's sister really showed her up in her brief stint, managing to be comedic while also having some heartbreaking dramatic moments.

Another NYT figure melting down over far right figures not getting keys to the kingdom.