DRW50

If you don't mind downloading episodes, you can try UKSoapShare. Steven is still there, and the show is still pretending he's straight.

I finally watched earlier - the Ronnie and Roxy material was the strongest it's been in a long time. Rita Symons was superb at showing all of Roxy's self-hatred and how broken she is. Sam Womack finally woke up and acted again. Rita and Sam are very close and you could see it in this episode. The fragile reconciliation with Glenda ( @DaytimeFan I too will miss her a great deal - Glynis has always shone in a role that sometimes didn't warrant the effort...still odd to think she mostly got it because poor Jill Gascoyne had dementia, as she is a perfect fit for Glenda) and the fun party scenes all led up to the last. Ronnie's death was traumatizing beyond belief - more than almost anything I've seen on a soap in ages. Probably Sarah on Hollyoaks. Maybe Gennie on Emmerdale. The Lee and Mick scenes were poor, frankly not that well-acted, and felt out of place. Anyway, some very brief upcoming scenes, including the arrival of a certain Mrs. Fox. http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/news/a818035/eastenders-5-new-spoilers-after-ronnie-roxy-mitchell-deaths/

I think Hope left in spring or summer 1997 - I think she left in part because she was annoyed at Victor marrying Diane or something.

Hair commercial with Ethan Kai (Kasim). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9AEJ1PiXH4

I guess that's the side of Bell's writing that wasn't around as much in later years, that was there with stuff like Suzanne's gaslighting. I know that story apparently wasn't any good but I'd still like to see it... Or the Eve insanity.

It was Guza/Riche who destroyed Tony. By the time JFP came along he rarely appeared.

It's so funny. I was going to say it didn't seem like what Bell would have done but then I remembered the ones with Veronica/Sarah and in earlier years with Jill fantasizing about Katherine's murder - maybe I'm just not used to seeing them be in this form.

Thanks both of you for watching. I have a very short 1990 and a partial 1991 (both December) I'll try to get up this week.

As I just have a handful of episodes that YRfan23, days22, and others haven't already shared, and I realized it's obtrusive to ask people for their e-mail address, I've decided to just try to upload them as "unlisted" and see if they stick. This one is probably past the point many of you may see as "classic" Y&R (it is for me a bit as well), but I thought you still might enjoy it, especially as it opens with an absolutely hilarious scene.

What bothered me about the Judith Light situation was the fan expectation - and based on some of his digs on the show I assume Ron's expectation as well - and arrogant assumption that Judith HAD to return. Judith has always spoken positively about the show, it obviously meant a lot to her as she met her husband and some longtime friends there, but she owes them nothing. And for a HW to not realize this is unprofessional beyond belief. He carried this petulance to GH, which is what got him canned, finally.

I wrote up a best/worst of 2016 for another site. As it's long I'll just put it in spoilers

Perry Fenwick is one of the show's finest actors. There's a reason why so many producers have been reluctant about letting him go. As for Jack, there are some rumors he will be gone within a few months. I haven't watched the episode yet, but this was leaked months ago (not the show's fault), so it blunted some of the impact. Lately I've found the show very overproduced (which seems to be a continual problem with Eastenders in recent years) - repetition to no end, using music when it isn't needed, pointless narration, etc. I hope that won't happen in this episode too.

Love the Emma icon! I do enjoy the happier Dingles, rather than the miserable moments, but I agree they were rude.

Casper van Dien, presumably trying out for an upcoming modern day take on North and South, shows up at a Carrie Fisher memorial. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-4079052/Star-Wars-fans-weep-Hollywood-Carrie-Fisher-tribute.html

Beverlee McKinsey.

Is this Brynn Thayer?

I thought I read she banned filming of the wedding.

Janice Lynde and Trish Stewart left. I think Pamela Peters did as well, although she returned to the role.

Aside from Lorie, all of the Brooks sisters had been recast (as had all the Foster siblings by that point). The recasts generally weren't that well-received and I guess Bell felt they were played out, aside from Jill.

Given the shabby state of men on the canvas, the time would be ripe to bring in Brooks. I imagine Janice Lynde or JLB would be happy to make some appearances as well. It seems like Bill Bell only held on with the Brooks as long as he did because of JLB, which then upset her as I guess she had no idea he would fire the whole family if she left.

Still doing well in the US: http://deadline.com/2016/12/doctor-who-christmas-special-breaks-bbc-america-ratings-1201877107/

2016 political luminaries remembered: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/12/why-they-mattered-important-deaths-2016-obituaries-214585

Generally the idea from some of them is that the show is trying to force a new popular m/m couple to steal the limelight from Robron, and then they will have no use for them. Some of them also believe the show is desperately trying to make Finn a huge fan favorite so that he can show up Robron (never mind that he was offcamera for about 70% of the year until October). It's just sad. Then again some of these fans also got upset when Chrissie/Andy and Rhona/Pierce said "I love you" before Robron did, that Pierce had a therapy session and Aaron did not - on and on and on. I have to admit I'm sort of looking forward to Debbie returning (Charity isn't the same without her IMO) but not if she is back with Ross. I can't take that again. Ross is a lot better now. I don't want Cain with Charity either. I still think they must have had some plans to stretch out her being missing after the car went off the cliff, because that story ended so abruptly. I don't think they have any idea what to do with Charity. I know some want her to scheme for Home Farm - I'm so tired of that story for her. I wish they could put her back with Jai but they ruined that relationship. I've heard some others say Cain/Chrissie too. I guess that would explain why she bought part of the garage. Kerry would be such a trainwreck with Cain but now I wonder

They haven't done enough to show that Finn was likely pushing so much because he's never grieved for his father. Kasim said it today but it hasn't been mentioned until now so it seems random. I do feel a bit sorry for Finn because he's always so desperate. I hope he can work it out. Partly because I'm so tired of some of the "Robron" fans getting so defensive and angry about this pairing and about Finn and acting like it's a calculated attempt to push their favorites out of the show. I'm not sure where they're going with Joanie. She can't stay in prison forever. Will she come out and leave Kyle with Cain or Kerry? Will she come out and they'll let her have Kyle again and she'll leave? Is she not actually leaving? It's such a bizarre storyline. I thought Denise Black did a great job today, but the story is random and just strange. And Kerry looks awful not being more guilty about her role in this. I do like the current Barton grouping, with Kasim (until now anyway) and Leyla both skeptical and on the sidelines, while Emma tries to meddle and meddle and it just hurts her and everyone else. Pete being the hot but dumb son. Finn being Emma 2.0. Ross just wanting to have some fun. Iain Macleod talks 2017 stories.

I have to admit I feel some sympathy for Martin, because of the Kush situation - she used him and lied to him because it was easier for her. That is never going to go away, even if that isn't being brought up as of yet in this story. I think it's easier for him to deal with her past when her past isn't actually there - he hated Ryan in their brief interaction, and now he hates Max. It's not as prominent with James Bye as it was with James Alexandrou, but Martin has always been a meathead. I do side with Stacey more on this because she has a deep bond with Max that no one else will ever understand. I don't believe she is attracted to him - I don't believe she's been attracted to him in a very long time. I hope the show isn't going to go in that direction. I'm wary because someone who works on the show tweeted a crass comment about how Stacey can't keep "her mouth or her legs shut" around Max. (lovely isn't it?) The failure of the Roxy exit is they've had her in the same scene again and again and again and again, rather than letting us trust the story. Making her this terrible mother for Jack to perpetually scold and shame just sucked any momentum out of the story. Lee's story hasn't worked for me since the Vic raid, but yes, the scenes were good. Max self-harming was something I didn't expect. It's a unique way to deal with what he's going through - he has to self-harm, and plot revenge, because otherwise he will probably crumple into nothing. I'm glad he made Phil feel shame. If only it would last.