DRW50

You can usually tell the difference in the months before and after Marland's arrival as the show starts to feel heavier and most of the quirkier characters beyond Shannon and Lucinda lose their personality.

I wouldn't have recognized Turner. Hard to get past some of the stuff mentioned in the AMC thread.

ATWT's main issue, aside from having too many dreary people in the same fortysomething age group, is how dull it felt. They also had the dreariest younger set I've seen on a soap of that era, and they killed off the one (Melinda) who had a pulse. They just needed fresh blood rather than dumping core characters or throwing ill-advised love interests at Kim and Bob. We did get fresh blood with Tom, Margo, Karen (I don't know if the Dobsons created her or not) and Craig (although I think it took years for them to figure out to properly utilize him), but the show itself still felt extremely stilted until about 1984 or 1985. I was very impressed with how the show used Chris in the July 4th, 1985, episode - his scenes with Andy were lovely. Don didn't seem as clearly sick as he was by the end of 1985 and early 1986.

Thanks so much @slick jones Didn't realize how many bit players come in and out of B&B. Here's that soap pastiche Melissa Fosse has in her credits. @Huntress @AMCOLTLLover Thought you might be interested in an AWZ cast member (March Schottner) having a bit part on GH. That must be some kind of first for actors on that show popping into an American soap.

I'm going to forget someone but Wanda, Vera and Levy are probably my top choices. I was so glad they brought Wanda back a few times after I thought she was gone for good. I'd also go with Roger's partner in scheming, Leo Flynn. Robert Lupone was perfect in that part.

The show will never let Gio completely stop resenting the Quartermaines because deep down they likely still see them as immoral, whereas Sonny, aside from some lip service, will be seen as in the right. If we're meant to care about Gio he's never going to go against Sonny in any meaningful way (like Joss' anti-Sonny blathering that went nowhere) It looks worse that Brook Lyn believes Tracy would have drugged Ronnie, especially as the plan makes no sense. Once the truth it out I have my doubts either of them will even feel sorry for doubting her, as Tracy is forever the family pariah. (and in this case not even in any way that is meant to honor history - just cheap, easy material) I do think some get allergic to any soap that isn't constant plot points, and the ratings drop from that time will just confirm Frank's view. I agree with you that I prefer character-driven, richer, slower soap. The sad part is Mulcahey never really got to do that, aside from some poignant moments with Tracy, Gregory, and (of all people) Finn. Bringing up Trina, beyond one scene at Spencer's grave, all I remember of her then was that very degrading scene of her groveling to Joss and calling herself a bitch. That likely wasn't down to Mulcahey, I can guess some of those who probably pushed that scene through, but it really showed how far away GH is from the richer inner lives and conversations of long ago.

The Johnny material with Linda worked for me briefly but went on for an eternity. Johnny's never really been a character - he was only ever created because the producer at the time wanted to recreate his own coming out - but I think the main issue with the character is none of the men cast in the role ever felt quite right, or couldn't act, or both. It's interesting you mention this Ben and energy as he has always drained the life out of them for me. Clenshaw I just found to be cold and plot-driven, not helped by all the overhype. I struggled to watch on a frequent basis. I'm still not that into it now...Wadey doesn't seem to be telling many stories and what he is telling isn't really interesting to me, although I wanted to give him a chance. I liked the idea of the drugs story but the execution is not there. I wasn't rushing for a Zoe return but I thought if she was coming back they'd have a reason, and that hasn't followed through either. I think I just have to remind myself most of modern EE (Santer on) and its perpetual self-awareness isn't for me, even if I still try.

Thanks for the tag @Maxim and thank you @Errol . Lovely to see Valerie.

Every once in a while when they let Laura play those insecurities, she does well, but it's been a rarity...and a long time.

I thought AMC was pretty damn rough in those years, although I remember liking Cullton's 2002 run.

Having Lulu get involved in going against Michael to protect Willow - they really are determined to make fans dislike her. I saw a bit where she was talking about how much damage Sonny had done to Michael (in so many words) and Lucas said Carly helped counter that. I'd love to know what they think Carly ever did to help Michael when he was growing up. I was a big fan during the SJB years and even back then I thought she was wrong in relying so much on the mob for her child.

That would make sense. Maybe there was a subplot cut where they nearly got plastic surgery but instead decided to dress in drag.

The choice to not use Taggert anymore after the reveal didn't help, but the main issue is the lack of respect or interest in Trina. The only reason there was much investment in Portia and her relationship with Trina was the way Portia could be an obstacle to Trina/Spencer and helped push Esme forward. I still wonder if they resent Trina to the point of not doing anything with her due to their not being able to have the Spencer/Esme material they wanted. I'd say it's because they just don't care about the black canvas, but even Jordan gets more to do.

Thanks @Paul Raven . I know Lee talks about this in her Paley interview or whatever it's called but hadn't seen the print version. And then another soap would help revive her career a decade later.

The Search flood episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@GrafMarlo/videos

Thanks! That Libidozone story was such trash. I think what I remember most from it was David having sex with a clearly drugged Erica.

I don't think it helps that there is no one for Carly to show vulnerability with. The character is so ossified. Losing a child should have had much more impact on her than it has.

I never realized until today...I would just randomly search. Thank you.

This video may be able to help @slick jones with the date. I had no memory of him on there either. Frankly, they have more chemistry here than she had with Mark Consuelos for most of their run on the show. Thanks @Wilsoky At the end Joan says her episode was #8,013. What would that be exactly?

The WSB has been around since the early '80s. It's the "good" spy agency, introduced through Robert Scorpio, IIRC (Anna's ex-husband, Emma's grandfather). Anna was both WSB and DVX (the "bad" spy agency). I'm sure someone else may know more. Faison, father of Britt and Nathan, was also DVX, I believe. Willow and her sister Nelle were sold by their grandmother Madeline when they were babies. Nina didn't learn that Willow was her daughter until several years ago. They were never close, as Willow saw Nina as a bad person, but started to become closer until Willow learned that Nina had repeatedly slept with Drew last summer. (this was at the same time as Drew began his relationship with Willow, but Nina did not know)

The unsold pilot for a TV version of Some Like It Hot, notable mostly due to them actually getting Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis for the early scenes.

@alwaysAMC One of the main reasons Willow/Drew got together is because she idolized him. She came from a cult and transferred those issues onto him. And I think Drew wanted the power rush and also probably wanted to spite his nephew, Michael, who is the golden boy of the Quartermaines and of Sonny's mob caravan.

Great to see your mini-reviews again @Maxim . I never sat through most of the Luna/Max saga of this time but your description makes me laugh. Ditto for Mortimer, which I did watch more of. Such a waste of Thom Christopher. At least they realized how lovely Pat Elliott was here. The Viki clip is great. I'd say I don't believe rich people would be so dumb as to eat where they can be caught but then I remember the Coldplay concert. Rich people sometimes are so shielded they have no common sense.

I thought he became very dull around 1997 and that rarely went away for me, but YMMV. I do think there was a clear shift under Mulcahey with Drew no longer being heroic or caring about being heroic, but he did try for a little more nuance. CVE and Korte then tripled down on making him so vile. It's lazy writing that squanders more complex potential, but I don't think Cameron can really play an anti-hero (as he could never really play the attempts to write Ryan that way on AMC - his best work was early on when he was still very fresh and charismatic), so maybe it's for the best.

Always enjoy your reviews @dc11786 I need to try to watch a bit of this now that we're heading into Christmas.