DRW50

Another nobody jumps out of the clown car. http://www.politico.com/story/2015/12/george-pataki-exits-republican-presidential-race-217212

I tend to assume the show just doesn't remember her. Nellie caused a big ruckus when she returned in 2000, driving a wedge between Butch and Zak and Lisa and Zak. Sam returned not long after Butch's death and then Nellie went back to Ireland, I think (?). I know that Sam was going to go on the lam to Ireland in 2004 but I don't remember Nellie being mentioned. I do wish they'd bring up more of Zak's past when people insist he would never cheat. Hell I think he even cheated on Lisa before. It's the same with Paddy. Hate the story (and it is a lousy story) if you want, but Paddy is just a big ole whore. Nothing OOC about that.

Neither can I. Is that "Mrs." at the start?

That's a wonderful writeup. I'd love to hear your thoughts on current Emmerdale, and Kate Oates and the incoming producer (who apparently still isn't there yet...even though she's left...???) too. What do you think of Alex Lamb and Sharon Batten? I know some fans blame them for DTC's issues.

I think Deborah wanted to leave.

Fatboy's death was disgusting, desperate shock value. I have a feeling DTC and Alex Lamb and whoever else were having a circle jerk over how edgy this all is. I also tend to wonder if they disliked Ricky Norwood, as they supposedly did with the woman who played Lola, and this influenced their choice. I've already seen people saying things like, "Fatboy didn't mean anything as a character and he got an awesome exit. You should like it!!!" No, it was a stupid, confusing exit that had absolutely nothing to do with him as a character and is just another example of the amorality and toxicity that is drowning the show. But I guess it will get a viewer spike and that's all they really want now anyway.

I'm glad you got to read it then. I wish I could see more of her work.

It's been great. I didn't expect it. Roxy Shahidi adds so much to all her scenes and Leyla, along with the loose friendship group of Nikhil, David, Carly, Tracy, Finn, helps the show seem more modern and not like any other soap. And I love her bond with David. I think she and Nikhil will get romantic and this will ultimately lead to his exit, but I hope she won't be ruined in the process (and please keep her from Jai...).

April 1978 Daytimers

Paul Roundell is a wonderful writer who always adds believability and good dialogue, and we saw that again here, as I felt a lot more connected to certain stories than I often do (like Aaron's unease over Gordon, which is clearly not just being petulant or bratty). I also thought he did what he could with Joanie/Zak/Lisa, as Belle's anger and nasty barbs were a good buildup to the reveal (Ross also had some hilarious lines and facial expressions), and in the aftermath, Denise Black and Jane Cox gave wonderful performances. Jane gets so few opportunities to show her talent and she got to here, instead of just shouting or throwing things. My problem with this story is it just seemed to have little to no buildup - we barely saw Joanie for a month or two and suddenly Zak is falling for her. It just feels unearned to me. A part of me felt like we'd been waiting forever, a little too long, for Eric to see the light, but Chris Chittell was wonderful, and his scene with Ashley was a strong one. I have a feeling that scene was originally meant for Edna. I miss her so much already. Eric reconciling with Diane and David, and David's little scene with the chocolate man (so funny), and Cheryl stealing scenes and Val's shoes - good stuff.I wish we'd seen more family Christmases (Sugdens, Bartons) instead of that odd hybrid with Vanessa/Adam/Cain/Moira/Victoria/Finn, which seemed to have an odd cut in the middle that led to Vanessa being elated after Cain reduced an unhappy Finn to a gay joke. One of the best parts was Betty's brief return. She was terrific, in great form. And while it was just a quick scene, I did enjoy Liz Dawn as well.

Thanks for the link. This is what I wrote at Walford Web. I had a lot of difficulty caring about anything involved, minus Shabnam wanting to know about the baby, maybe one or two of the present-opening scenes at the Carters, and then Dot talking with Jack. Jack looking at Ronnie from far away while at his father's memorial says it all about the show's priorities. The whole car nonsense (car boot and the car crash - I rolled my eyes at the car crash), "killer Bobby" (I just don't think this story has the weight it should have for me to genuinely be gripped or worried - again my main reaction to Bobby is an eye roll), Jane's nightmare which felt more like a very belated attempt to generate pity for her...not for me.My biggest complaints are with the Phil material, which to me just feels insulting at this point- Phil was clearly very drunk at the table. He wasn't "tipsy," or just a little stunted...he was clearly, clearly drunk. So why in the world did no one stop him? Ian tried and Phil obviously lied, and Ian was dumb enough to believe this? If they had to have Phil driving the car, they should have come up with a better way to show his being impaired. - When Phil was making a fool of himself at the table, Kathy essentially just said, "Oh stop it, Phil," like Peggy would have said. That's not Kathy. - Phil's liver damage. So what? Nothing about Phil ever changes. It just feels like they whipped this up because they want to acknowledge the repetition but they don't want to ever truly move on.I was also disgusted by Mick's neediness for Shirley. I will never care about them as mother and son. I don't buy it and it makes me very uncomfortable as a viewer.I know Eastenders has never been about likeable characters. I have loved a lot of not very likeable people on the show over the years. But too many characters in this episode weren't just unlikeable - they were beyond subhuman.

All of this is from Eddie Drueding. He's really given a lot for AW over the years. I keep hoping more will pop up, like that 1983 episode someone put up last year.

Thanks. Merry Christmas to you as well.

Probably my favorite Carpenters Christmas recording. These would be a close second/third.

Thank you so much. What a wonderful gift you gave - as you do all year round.

Thanks. Merry Christmas to you! Will you miss Big Brother? Sounds like Deniz has another flop girlfriend.

That's absurd. Michael Malone is full of sh-t for saying that. How was she 'too old' to come back when Iris and Rachel were the same age? Plus, there were still tons of characters in that age group still on the canvas. Rachel, Carl, Cass, Felicia, Michael, Donna, Sharlene (to a lesser extent).... Iris would've still fit well onto the canvas. As long as Rachel and one of her rivaling sisters (typically, Paulina, who was on the show in a dud story) was there, Iris would've had tons to do. Iris never really needed a viable male interest b/c she was better on her own and causing ruckus at Cory Publishing. But seeing as Cory Publishing was basically factored out the show come 96/97, I guess I would make sense not to bring her back.... That aside, I can't believe I didn't remember Marshall being more prominent on the show and his romance with Felicia. Sucks his romance w/ Felicia would be scrapped thanks to racist idiots not being able to handle an interracial relationship. Most of those characters were also being phased out by the time of the interview (1997). I think P&G or NBC had a "younger" mandate. Even in 1998 Cory Publishing was a part of the story (brought back for Carl's exit), so the potential was there. They really did treat Marshall poorly. Poor Randy Brooks.

I think she wanted to leave. I always hated that Iris never came back, never even mentioned, and when asked about it in 1997, Michael Malone basically said she was too old to come back.

Great find.

September 1986 episode. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3j2dxg_days-of-our-lives-september-15-1986_tv

What a bizarre, disjointed Christmas episode this is, from a show very clearly in serious transition. I wonder how much of this was Jane McNaughton and how much was the incoming producer (who was it again)? It must be one of the only soap episodes I can remember where the homeless are ungrateful and a wrong'un like Terry grows a heart. (I did always have a soft spot for Terry though...). This is also the episode with the notorious Deirdre/Dev hookup. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3j2brd_coronation-street-25th-december-2001-christmas_fun

The BBC really seems to be very invested in Kellie Bright and Danny Dyer - Strictly Come Dancing was so deadset on having Kellie and her Derek Hough-esque partner win that they wildly overscored them and trashed most of the other remaining competitors, and when they still lost, because they screech and dance like they're on bad coke, the judges went around saying she should have won and it's an outrage and so on. Then there's Danny Dyer bragging about how he got to personally plan Mick's stag do, which I've rarely heard of on a soap. If only any of this was validated by anything either of them display onscreen.