DRW50

I think those 2-3 years, from the pill addiction to Bianca's eating disorder, were Susan's best acting work. She really did deserve that Emmy. In the case of the kidnapping it helped that Erica did go to jail for a while. Of course it wasn't long, but still - it's more than many soap characters faced.

I thought Dimitri preyed on Maria. Given that he became the big bad not long after, maybe that was the point. Didn't Agnes Nixon say she did the baby kidnapping story to have Erica mature, or something? I can't remember. The baby kidnapping story itself was much more interesting than it should have been. I also really liked the actress who played Esther, even if they ruined the character later on.

I'm so sorry. Stay safe.

Thanks. That makes sense.

I caught my breath for a second when they went from John in his office to Leslie onstage. Transition periods for soaps - such stark transition periods - always fascinate me, and few fascinate me more than this era. I'm so glad to finally be able to get to see more of it. When it rains it pours - we've gotten a lot this past year. DC's Lance really was a wet dishrag. Victoria Mallory is a bit too shiny and empty in performances to fit Y&R, but I do wonder how she would have been with a better partner (I haven't seen most of her scenes with John's Lance or with Lucas). I did enjoy that little bit of her singing. I wonder how viewers at the time - albeit taking it much less seriously than some of us do - felt if they sensed one era fading out and another moving in. Deborah Adair is so clean and pretty and polished, so I struggle to believe her as "poor" Jill or in those trashy scenes with Jack, but I'm so glad to see this stuff. I had to laugh that they actually brought up the "Jack and Jill" nursery rhyme that I've always thought of with them when they have scenes together. Terry Lester was terrific in that flashback - pure sex. Andy is so sweet and kind, I can see why Jill leaned on him, while pining away for the life she actually wanted. Even if Deborah isn't how I see Jill, she is a very good actress, and I actually do wonder if having a new actress in the role at this time helped sell the restart of Jill for viewers. Would Brenda have had too much baggage? Can anyone tell me if this is a redesign of the old Foster house? I remember the first one seeming smaller. (or is that not the Foster house?) I wish that the earlier scenes with Lucas and Lorie were available. Did they fake a fight so she could ensnare Victor? Were those their last scenes together? I love how JLB plays this episode - she was a very complicated, nuanced match for the complicated, nuanced Victor of this era. No phoning it in and trampling over scene partners from Braeden here. The Kevin and Nikki stuff is the least interesting material for me, as it often is when I watch this period.

The only thing I know about her is she spit in somebody's food.

Finally finished the clip - the end with Barbara zoning out is hilarious. I guess this must have been one of Craig's early appearances. Lisa Loring is...energetic, as usual. It's nice to see more of Craig with Cricket. And to get a good shot of Scott Bryce's pert bottom at the start of his scene. Judith Blazer was terrific casting for the show. I wonder why no other soap was interested in her (unless she turned down offers). She and Larry Bryggman work very well together.

What a rare treat this is - and it also has a bit of the infamous Barbara psychic dreams storyline. Jacqueline Schultz may have disliked this story, but she has more pep here than I remember her having a lot of the time as Dee. I hate Steve SO [!@#$%^&*] much. Hate hate hate hate hate. Ugh I don't know how people could sit through this macho posturing in the Dobsons era. It is so unsuited to ATWT, just as it was when disgusting Sheffer belched it out.

I think Chas will lose the baby (with Paddy going back to Rhona) and Rebecca will leave with the baby after Lachlan is exposed, leading Robert and Aaron to have a baby (probably via Victoria).

He will just keep acting like people are out to get him and he's a victim but now he's free. The GOP has enabled this man at every turn and they will keep on doing so. The media isn't far behind. I have to wonder if this is why the "Democrats in disarray" narrative has picked up, with smarmy Bill Maher sounding the drums on his show last night. They know how to draw attention away - they always do.

Sometimes people want to stay on that level, for contract reasons. Speaking of SNL, a look at SNL in Poland, which looks funnier (aside from the commercial anyway...) than anything on SNL itself in many years. https://www.avclub.com/live-from-warsaw-it-s-saturday-night-a-visit-to-polan-1823643321

The odd part is that they have tried to have more 'comedy' this year but it's often just done so clumsily. The worst is when they had lots of comedy racism early this year. At least that's done, for now. I can't remember if I mentioned this or not but there's a lot of speculation that Mel's son with Steve Owen (his name is Hunter) is gay. I'll believe it when I see it.

From what Jessie Wallace and John Yorke have indicated there won't be a lot of explanation, other than that she survived of course. She also won't have her husband or children with her. Not sure if that will be explained. Yorke is trying to go for a "fun" element of all the Slater women living together again. I can't say I am a fan of the idea, as I think those days are gone and the product onscreen has felt very regressive, but then it isn't written for me. There are some new promo pics on Walford Web if you want to see them. (they're big and I think HQ so they will load very slowly) http://walfordweb.com/topic/30501827/21/#post11331629 http://walfordweb.com/topic/30501827/23/#post11332876

SMG was just burning charisma back then. I bet fans must have really hated Kendall, or been fascinated by her...probably both. The hysteria Susan Lucci could get in her voice in dramatic moments could be so effective.

She reminds me of something from Death Becomes Her.

It reminds me of something from 9 to 5. That Elizabeth Wilson (RIP) character would have fit into this White House perfectly.

Tracy was the Janice Lynde character, yes.I remember reading about the Tracy and Jason stuff and later Jason with Elsa and the mob (this was on AWHP of course) and it all read much more interesting than it played out. What an odd and dry period that was for the show. I'm still surprised Jason lasted as long as he did, although the actor brought some verve to the role. When I think about Willis I wonder who it was who decided to reform the character. Didn't they decide to because they lost Steve? I can't remember. I guess Vince was an OK guy...from the bits I've seen, anyway.

He was married to that irritating Janice Lynde character (sorry Janice) and then I think he was briefly involved with Olivia Delaney before he left Bay City? I can't remember if he had another dead wife in this time frame. I know the wife he was married to before Sharlene died. It haven't seen those episodes in ages but I don't remember them making Russ look too awful in how he treated Sharlene. There were made up flashbacks of Russ throwing money at Sharlene (were those made up?) but the writing was somewhat sympathetic to him and saved Sharlene's biggest fury for Aunt Liz. The main issue I had with the story is that it just felt pointless, as Russ didn't stay around long and Josie had few ties to the Matthews. The only good thing about it for me was his daughter Olivia, who was obviously a plot device character, but one I adored, thanks to Alison Hossack. I am trying to remember if there were scenes in the original episodes of Russ having rough sex with Sharlene and treating her like a prostitute, or if I have made that up. I wish Laurie Heineman's Emmy submission reel was available.

Cambridge is that Mercer company, isn't it? They really did open themselves up to headaches when they got in bed with Trump and Bannon (likely one of the reasons the Koch brothers were smart enough to pull back). I don't believe in karma, because I've seen too many good people suffer and too many bad people get rewarded, but if I did, Sessions would be doing swan dives into it by this point. What a shameful man.

Jennifer Garner and Lena Dunham? Talk about a black hole. It may be a big success for him for all I know, but other than Jessica Jones he really has picked some odd choices in his American career.

They always disappear when a Republican is President. Like magic. Obama was hamstrung by Congress, even when Democrats had control, but I wish he'd been able to push through the larger final stimulus package that he'd wanted.

RIP Louise Slaughter. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/rep-louise-slaughter-liberal-democrat-who-championed-womens-rights-dies-at-88/2018/03/16/7b7f7c3e-2865-11e8-bc72-077aa4dab9ef_story.html?utm_term=.ef12a46adde7

John Bolton? God help us. Is he still obsessed with Iran? It seems like no one has any idea who all is leaving. https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/nyt-reports-that-these-officials-are-maybe-in-trumps-crosshairs I don't mean to minimize the last year and a half, but I feel like we've gotten lucky compared to what is about to come.