Melroser

It's a shame that reboots are done by people that have never watched the original. That was the case with Melrose 2.0, too. People return to these shows because they want to feel like they're watching their favorite show(s) again. When the show runners don't even understand what the feel of the original was, it can only turn off fans and end in disaster.

I'm curious what AW's initial intentions were for Felicia Gallant. I mean, did they ever think she would have stuck around for 16 years? I know Felicia was brought onto the scene as a novelist for Cory Publishing. I don't really remember if there was a specific story they were using Felicia for at the time. I guess the same could be said for Cass. Neither had any initial ties to Bay City.

So Allie and Noah are living together? Traci left town? Disappointing. I guess I'm one of those that thinks the more the merrier in the Abbott household. If they are going to use such few sets, why not place as many people as possible moving about the Abbott living room? That would make more sense than all of the people that run into each other at the coffee house/Society. I can't say I'm a TSJ fan. He annoyed me on OLTL and still annoys me now. I do like that Eileen is getting a story though. The corporate battles between companies and within each other are promising, but we've been led down these paths before just to have Josh pull the plug (Nate turning on Chancellor Winters, Devon vs Lily).

I would love to know what the upcoming story for Doug Watson was. Since Mac had just found out about Iris's betrayal to take over Cory Publishing, it could have been good. Maybe leading Mac to no longer trust anyone in his family, inner circle. A Mac-against-the-world story could have been interesting. Turn him into Victor Newman.

While watching the entire run of Dark Shadows, I can't help but wonder how Humbert Allen Astredo would have done as Reginald Love instead of John Considine. I know the writing didn't do the character of Reginald any favors, but I think Humbert could have played the villain better. Doing so without the twirling mustache take at times that John had.

CL looks like it's the only thing in an abandoned warehouse. The apartments upstairs don't even have curtains in the windows?? In the current economy and crime in places, you'd think a lonely coffee shop like that would be getting robbed on a daily basis. (Then again, everyone in town probably knows there are not enough sales to make it worth it.)

History needs to be appreciated. I've always hated it when former rivals suddenly become friends or characters return to town with a completely different career. For examples, on AW the rivalry of Vicky and Paulina. They hated each other in the beginning when both wanted Grant. Paulina let Vicky's whole family be suspected of shooting Jake. Paulina even ran down Vicky's son, Kirkland, when high on pills. However, they were friends at the end. When Larry Lau arrived as Jamie he was suddenly a doctor. After having been in the publishing business and written a novel, he is suddenly a doctor. When did he accomplish all the schooling? Why did he suddenly want a career change? These kinds of continuity issues have always bugged me. You can easily have characters change/grow up, but it should be shown over time.

Man, I want a consultant job. $10k/month to tell people their ideas suck. Not bad. Of course, if they even paid for consultants these days it would be a $1.50/wk. It still baffles me that they wouldn't have given Lemay a longer stint to try and right the ship. With his history, he deserved better. What would they have had to lose at that point?

I have to say I've enjoyed the gala more than I thought I would. I, of course, love campy drama so it worked for me. Could it have used more tension/drama between some of the characters? Absolutely, but it had its moments. Leanna was fun. Amanda being back was great. I even tolerated Tucker with his comedy and I am not a Trevor fan. With the current state of soaps (time constrains-speed of filming, budgets), I think the show did a good job.

Dark Shadows: The portrait of Barnabas at Collinwood and his cane. Another World: Jake's leather jacket.

Jamie Frame, Nicole Love, and Peter Love on AW. It seemed that with each recast, the concept of the character completely changed.

The one in the middle looks more like Susan Walters (Diane, Y&R) than Kelly Monaco. Lucci (ABC), Walters (CBS), Hall (NBC).

Isn't TG in poor health? I can't see him making the long trek from Amsterdam just because GH wants an appearance, but maybe he'll film something himself like ES did when Holly was held captive. He could zoom in and reveal to Tracy he's still alive and she goes off to find/join him.

I've never liked Ridge. Ronn or Thorsten. For someone that is supposed to be revered in the fashion industry, he always looks so...so...needing to be washed. It's gotten even worse with Thorsten. I would think as a "fashion icon" as much as Ridge can be, he'd be more stylish. Would he really go out in the public eye looking like that? just....ugh...

Not Miguel in the mask above, but Kevin's ugly mug behind Lauren? I wouldn't put it passed Y&R to think Greg would be a return fans want to see. It's not, but they'd probably think that.

In retrospect, after Cecile (Nancy Frangione) wrapped up her '86 stint on AW where she kidnapped Cass and held him in St. Thomas, I wish NBC would have moved Cecile to SFT. The show definitely needed more life and a character like Cecile could have provided that spark. Cecile could have "escaped" from her new teenage King husband and run off to little ol' Henderson to hide out. I know AW's ratings were in the tank then as well, but Cecile could have possibly drawn a few more AW viewers to check out SFT. She could have become a great foil to the Bela/Sunny relationship. I remember enjoying SFT very much when it ended and was sad to see it go.

I'd go with 1990-92. Anne Heche alone is worth watching in '90, '91 as Vicky/Marley. You also have the "Who shot Jake?" storyline which was great. Ryan's arrival. Paulina's arrival. Sharlene/John/Dr. Benson Alicia Coppola's arrival as Lorna and the reveal she's Felicia's daughter. Kathleen's return.

AW: Carl and Rachel. The whole idea of Rachel getting together with Carl after Mac makes no continuity sense. Carl tried to kill both Rachel and Mac before, but yet all was forgiven. Jake and Vicky after Jake raped Marley. Even with Jake and Vicky's history, she shouldn't have forgiven him for the brutality of the rape of her sister. Yet, Jake was taken into the family by everyone in Vicky's orbit. (Donna. Michael.) To a lesser extent: John and Felicia. It tainted Felicia and John had stuck by Sharlene through so much before. Seemed odd that he'd just "give up" and turn to someone else where there had never been the slightest hint of an attraction before. (Having Sharlene hook up with Michael was a bad choice as well.)

Tainted Dreams is on Tubi. Some of Venice is on Youtube.

Maybe Lily will need advice from her mother and Dru will come to her in a dream/vision and tell her to knock off the fighting with Devon. Family means more. VR can get in and out of the studio just filming scenes with CK. I just realized that VR and CK didn't get along. Correct? So that probably won't happen. Maybe an ep of Lily getting advice from Shemar Moore and Devon getting advice from VR.

Carter loses out again? Poor guy. They really need to find someone for him...and only him. I'm okay with the hospital as a focus. Anything other than Forrester and Deacon's restaurant.

Barbara Crampton looks amazing. If there were ever a time to have Leanna come back for a limited run in time to put BC's horror flick experience to use! She could be the serial killer people have wanted. Starting with "Who Killed Victor?", then Diane's death revealing a link to Victor's murderer. Leanna tries to kill Jack next but mistakenly kills Billy instead...etc...hype it up like the the storyline of Day's Marlena "killing" all the vets but they actually stay dead (for a change). I mean, if the show is headed to cancellation anyway...

AW: enemies to friends: Vicky/Paulina

If AW had made it to 2000 when Hogan Sheffer was brought in by P&G, I wonder if he would have been interested in AW. Didn't he get the option to pick between the P&G shows, ATWT and GL at the time? I wonder if he could have gained some traction if given the chance for AW. All the what-ifs... I have never been an ATWT viewer. I thought he was fairly well received at ATWT.

I agree with the 1986 transition as trying. Also, they tried with JFP. The revamped opening/sets. She cut out older characters and went with the younger set like Maggie/Nick/Sofia. I didn't like much of anything that she did. Starting with Frankie's death, Bridget's death, the seemingly sudden John/Felicia pairing, the Joe/Paulina pairing instead of Paulina/Jake. I think it was an attempt to change. An ill-fated one, but an attempt.