DRW50

The show has no moral compass. The characters do terrible things, especially for the Thursday double, and it's never explored. They keep doing this with Robert (and Ross and Carly, but they want us to pity Ross and Carly - they want us to hate Robert and root for his death), all of this melodrama and hysteria for ratings, and it's always, always terribly done. The Robert/Chrissie episodes where she threatened to set him on fire were probably the worst of Emmerdale this year, if not of all UK soaps. It's so disheartening because Robert could be such an asset to the show and he and Aaron do have chemistry, but it's always ruined by plot-driven stunts and repetition. Oh, Robert's threatening to kill Aaron/saying something mean again, yawn. I will be surprised if he's still on the show by this time next year. This and what they're doing to Leyla always make me want to quit watching again. Denise Black was popular on Corrie as far as I know. She was an interesting character, as she was tied to Ken, yet also independent and not one to just be in the background. I have some Corrie 1994 episodes on my Youtube channel and she really lights up the screen in them - especially the one from February or March where Ken learns she was asking about his age and takes the piss by using his bus pass, taking her to a hall for old people to meet and get food, etc. I do think she'll die this summer, but I hope not, because she's done wonders for Zak and Belle and the moribund Dingle household. I do wonder if something has happened with Jane Cox - if she isn't back soon I will start to wonder if Joanie is replacing her.

Aaron doesn't know about that so I'm not sure why it says anything about Aaron. His disrespect and disdain for Chas and Paddy is how they also treat him. He generally stays away from them and they tend to get involved. Adam was a dumbass who could have easily put Vic behind bars for scrapping her car. Aaron fought his corner against Robert, and it's over now. I'm not sure why Aaron should hold that against Robert when he's practically cut off an arm for Adam and never gotten any sign of loyalty or friendship in return. Aaron stayed away from Robert for months and Paddy and Chas still believed the worst of him. If you have people constantly saying you can't control yourself and practically sitting on you, telling you they have no faith in you, then you're eventually going to lash out. Robert's a bad guy, but he's also a charismatic and at times very likeable man. Aaron has always had a certain edge, and he's clearly drawn to Robert for this reason...especially since Robert is such a hot piece of ass.

He's done nothing to Adam, Chas, or Paddy. Adam wouldn't have a job or a wife if not for Aaron. I'm not sure what you mean. If anything, Paddy is the one in the wrong, as he is tipping Chrissie off about Aaron, which could lead to Aaron and his family, and even Paddy and his family, being hurt or killed by Lawrence and Chrissie. This story has severely damaged Paddy as a character. The story is a godawful, plot-driven stunty mess, but Aaron's actions made sense to me. Over and over and over Aaron told Chas and Paddy he wasn't with Robert, he was staying away from Robert. Over and over and over, that wasn't good enough. They still thought the worst of him. For months. When he knew they had such a low opinion of him no matter what he did, he decided to go for it. I can't say I blame him.

I was always a fan - I even watched her sitcom quite a bit. It seems like she's got this idea that she needs to constantly defend the worst of stars she sees as somehow being unfairly accused. This is the fourth or fifth time and I can't have any respect for someone who constantly takes the side of the rich over their victims.

She also made some weird comment about how everyone took 'ludes in the '80s. I wonder if she thinks all these women partied down and can't admit it. She has a lot of issues and she's a great example of how harmful The View has often been to society.

I don't think Vanessa could have ever been the new Alex - with proper writing, the characters both served an important function in Springfield. Alex got her hands dirty in a way Vanessa wouldn't, and Alex was defined by a poor relationship with her father, whereas Vanessa cherished her father. One of the many scenes I liked in the custody battle story was when Mindy had pictures of Bridget and Dylan kissing that she wanted Vanessa to use in court to try to make Bridget seem like an unfit mother, but Vanessa couldn't do it, because she didn't want to win that way. I just think the show made Alex all about Nick and made her into a shrill plot device, and unfortunately also began making Vanessa far too winsome, damaging both characters. It's hard for me to want to go back and watch any of that era of the show - late 1992, 1993, 1994, etc. It's like my soap version of a trigger. There's something in me that can't watch most of that without getting antsy and unhappy. I think it's seeing the fabric of the show torn to pieces under stunt casting and "production values."

I knew the father had been but didn't know she had been. Were they like this the first time around too?

I'm just about done uploading what I had of 2001/2002. This reminds me of what Sally Dyvenor could do with dramatic material. I guess at least they have calmed her down a little from too much comedy or too much bitterness. I read that Tracy Shaw abruptly left the show because of a pay cut (I wonder if she regrets it...). I wonder if they had plans for Maxine if she'd stayed. It seems like she was heavy in story even at this point, what with bringing her parents in, which was surprising for a character who had already been on for 7 years. Her mother is [!@#$%^&*] annoying. I mean ANNOYING. And she seems to have been to the John Savident Performing Arts School.

Thanks. That's interesting. I wonder if Claire quit and came back. What do you think of the show at the moment?

I guess she didn't fit into the more garish, yelly GL that Long/Kobe wanted. It's funny that they ended up creating India, who served the same purpose as a character.

Helena and Vanessa really do liven up the canvas at that time. I always thought Pam Long created Mindy, but she's already mentioned here.

I think CBS used a lot of those clips when they posted some ATWT stuff after it was canceled. Episodes like this make you appreciate what Don Hastings did to liven up a stodgy role. I never realized Gloria de Haven played that particular role. I guess it never went anywhere. What a refreshing sight - a normal, believable child. What a contrast to today's soaps. There are some Sylvia mentions in that episode, for those talking about her.

Something good actually came of this. http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nevada-legislature/cosby-sex-assault-bill-signed-statute-limitations-extended

Thanks for all those. I'd never seen the Faith Catlin photos.

I guess she's this way to mostly warrant the Stacey meltdown, but it's definitely very one-note, shrill writing. The last scenes of her running out of the flat almost felt like a parody. I find the writing for Stacey one-note and hamfisted in general. DTC is a very crude showrunner. He needs help smoothing over.

Not much of a surprise that the rape apologist is still defending Cosby. Another reason I don't bother with that trash show. http://www.zap2it.com/blogs/the_view_whoopi_goldberg_defends_bill_cosby_proven_a_rapist-2015-07

The show is becoming so plot-driven (which would not be so bad if some of the plots were not so threadbare and heavily padded) and I feel like characterization is being increasingly forgotten. I hope this is just for this sure to be pointless summer stunt and they can get back to normal soon. I especially hate how they keep writing Ross, Robert and Carly.

It just seems rushed to me. As does all the bipolar talk with Stacey on Jean's arrival, shoved into endless conversations in one episode. Daran Little also has a blatantly different characterization for Martin than most of the other writers. Martin never gave a [!@#$%^&*] about helping Lily or any of that in previous episodes. I did enjoy the Nancy and Tamwar scenes. They work so well together. Sonia is so damn annoying. I want someone to hit her every time I see her. She's just unbearable. I could swear Nancy said "Jake" in this scene. I even made a video. One that will probably be blocked in five minutes.

Jill Scott, one of Cosby's defenders, washes her hands of him now that the proof is from his own mouth. http://www.ibtimes.com/jill-scott-slams-bill-cosby-twitter-statement-completely-disgusted-after-his-2005-1997169

They'll just find someone else to martyr. Many of those, especially those who used him to attack the black community, never cared about him anyway.

I saw that rant - he's a huge Confederate flag supporter. There's a shocker. Let's focus on the real issues, like the devil in a rainbow light!!! Interesting article. http://www.thenation.com/article/theres-reason-gay-marriage-winning-while-abortion-rights-are-losing/

Metro is a bit of a trashy, clickbait site. I have a feeling the person who wrote the article has a history of the show that involves Youtube clips and a skim of Wikipedia. I think it's easy to romanticize Jim now because he spent his last few years on the show clearly ill, and was left offcamera 3-4 years before he passed away. The reality was not as pleasant. I'm glad the show remembered that.

That tone-deaf, shouty anti-gay screed Gov. Googly-Eyes made after the SCOTUS marriage decision must have spooked many (I read that he lost a major donor over it) - the Beltway, which has adored him for years, ran damage control this puff piece on his wife, trotting out the old Barbara Bush/Laura Bush talking points about how they don't agree with their husband's views and are therefore an (imaginary) moderating influence. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/scott-walkers-wife-toughened-by-life-adds-steel-to-the-gop-candidates-spine/2015/07/05/61337f5d-2513-4698-8f27-647e28b3c8cc_story.html?tid=pm_politics_pop_b

No, although Kathryn Hays (also a former model) probably could have had a career in that element if she'd tried, given how good she was on Star Trek. I do think Bob held up a lot better than Ken as a character, even if Ken's had more storylines and relevance.