DRW50

I agree, but given what comes out of Hollywood these days, where non-actors with a string of flop movies still get a dozen chances, he'd need a lot of luck.

The final days of JFP OLTL, full of questionable acting, unrelenting unpleasantness, and shouty SOB Sam to the end. They really should have made Sophia a lesbian.

And then there was Mick telling Jack that this is why he needs to stay away from the Mitchells. What a joke. Why not stay away from your family, with a rapist who was deified by the mother you worship? Not to mention the horrid things the Mitchells have done that his dumb ass clearly knows nothing about. Beyond old woman Louise, there was also Honey, and Ben and Jack (although they weren't there when it counted), but it still wasn't enough. Sharon's behavior really really disappointed me. I lost a lot of respect for her today. I think DTC sees Kim as the natural matriarch of the Foxes and Denise as the scattershot sister. But that isn't who they are. Yes, Denise is a mess, but she's also capable of so much more. She is a complex character. She has been trashed and made so violently out of character to fit the plot. Jamie was born in the wrong era. He looks more like someone from the '30s or the '40s, which means that if he ever did leave I'm not sure he'd have a shot. But he's a wonderful actor, charismatic, and gorgeous, so I hope SOC sees his potential before its too late.

The Denise and Libby scenes infuriated me. Denise may be hot-headed, but she would never be this enraged over Libby having an abortion. I don't care whether she was upset about Jordan or losing JJ. None of that would have led to this. Those scenes are some of the worst I've ever seen on Eastenders. They actually made me angry. All this to justify her drunken hookup with that withered old ballsac Phil Mitchell. If this is what it takes to get a story, it's not worth it. Sharon really came across horribly in this episode. The eye-cutting and melodramatic face when she saw Louise put her arm on Jay's neck. The gossiping with Phil even though she should have known it would set Phil off. The helpless dithering and whining when Phil and Jay were arguing. She embarrassed me. I was ashamed of watching her. The Mitchells destroy her as a character. The amount of pointless shouting and aggression in this episode was like an Eastenders self-parody. None of it made sense and gave the impression the show was insecure over the scripts (no wonder - they sucked). Bex in particular annoyed me with this random shouting and sneering. It was also OOC for Pam Coker. Speaking of the Cokers, how contrived was Ben mentioning Johnny for Paul to feel jealous? Cheap writing. So was Jay mentioning Eric Mitchell, someone he has no ties or history with, to set off another Phil pity party. The highlight by far was Jay grinding Phil to dust, and saying the simple truth - Phil is an utterly worthless failure, a lousy excuse for a man, and a burden to all around him. "Oh - he didn't mean it." Oh yes he did. He meant every word. And it needs to be said more often. I hope when this is over, if Jay is even still on the show, he tells all of them, except Honey and maybe Ben, to f!ck off. Phil, Sharon, and that child abuser Billy (who has no room to pass judgment on Jay after what he's done to Jay over the years) in particular. And this whole episode was one long example of why they should not have cast a bad-acting grown woman as Louise.

Not at all. She should have been a new character, if she needed to be anyone. Same here. If I thought of two people who might save ATWT it would have been FMB and Lorraine Broderick. They started off well with the whole Diego conclusion and Holden returning but after that the show went downhill again! Broderick wasn't around for any of that - she wasn't hired until the end of 1997. I didn't really care much for her ATWT either but I know many say that her hands were tied.

I washed my hands of FMB after that. And if I'm being honest that's when I mentally gave up hope of ATWT ever being the show I loved again. The whole thing was absolutely pathetic.

He's a Mitchell, of course all the ladies love him. I think Ben can be attractive at times (and Harry Reid has a nice ass, especially if that nude photo of him is real), and Sam was pretty, and Jamie was pretty, but by and large it's always been a family where nasty personalities or cheap attire and hair end up overshadowing anything else. Sharon is a mug. She had that same wistful look when the Mitchells were fleeing the Vic after Ben humiliated Abi. She probably even has fond memories of when Phil encouraged Denny's bad behavior and his hitting Sharon. It's sad. The whole thing was ridiculous. That we were actually supposed to enjoy Denise being humiliated - it's not surprising, but it's pathetic. DTC has treated her with contempt time after time after time, from the cleaner's job to abusing Patrick for a week, to being third fiddle in her own home, and now this. And I just know she's going to end up with Phil's baby. Speaking of ridiculous - Paul saying that someday the hormones would get to Louise too. Beyond the fact that 14 year olds do have hormones, it's a ludicrous line when the actress looks 25.

A disastrous recast summed up in one Youtube capture

I was going to post about this. It's just lazy writing. I guess a writer who doesn't bother with Wiki doesn't know he changed his name back. Either that or when he has a story he must be a Mitchell. He's way way way too hot to be a Mitchell. The only hot Mitchell was Grant in the '90s.

I didn't know she was still alive. She was very charming on Flying Nun. I know Sally Field spoke highly of her.

If all these stories are true, Danny Miller sounds like a real hobag, although I'll admit I can see the attraction. I just hope he keeps it wrapped... I wonder if this is one of the reasons Mike Parr was gone from the show so many times over the last 6-7 months. I don't really buy the "cast divided" stuff though.

Julia's Theme used to be used for emotional moments, rather than just exits. Over time I think it's become a bit too overly precious and overhyped, as the show celebrates itself too much rather than focusing on how to move forward. The last few years they seem to have stopped being so restrictive about using it, which works for me. While the exit itself should have been done differently (the last shot should have been Nancy and Tamwar leaving, rather than Mick and Masood walking away), I thought the theme worked. A bit manipulative, but touching nonetheless.

It's been like this for a while. I'm hoping that Finn getting more airtime will get my interest. David's story also works for me. I guess at least there isn't anything horrific, but it's just so...sluggish and confused.

A week left if you want to participate in the Corrie character countdown at Walford Web. http://walfordweb.com/topic/11587180/1/

I remember some story about how she was on the set one day sweeping sand from the studio floor.

I thought some of my fellow Claire Cooper fans might like this - she's in a few scenes in the last 10 minutes of this episode, as a childminder. I know clips of this used to be on YT but I'm not sure if they still are. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x46e8fj_coronation-street-august-20-2006_fun

Oh look - one of my most hated soap stories ever.

So is this from a story or just a short clip filmed on its own? I'm still confused about when they're taking the year break.

She looks like a younger version of the woman who played Martha's mother. She also looks a bit like Sharon, the first DWM companion. I'll certainly give her a chance. I'm glad they didn't go for a glambot type, as it's become rote in recent years. It's hard to judge on that clip as they're giving her a lot of Donna-type lines that Catherine Tate made work because she was Catherine Tate. I kind of wish they'd given her a more dramatic clip for her debut. I think Rakhee would have been the best choice, but I hope Pearl works out and I do see potential.

I think Rick, Philip and Rick were due to actors wanting to leave, but even if they weren't, I can't see JFP ever having any use for Rick (although she did bring him back, so maybe I'm wrong).