Melroser

Season 7 had improved so much better. Lexi and Eve were great "Melrose characters" that lived up to what MP was known for that season. I agree that I wish Lisa Rinna hadn't have left the show. Lexi/Taylor could have been great together in some kind of evil scheme like the old Sydney/Kimberly pairing when they were after Michael.

Kristen Davis was amazing as Brooke but I hated how the character was written. She was written as so weak and so much in need of having to have Billy that it was almost pathetic to me. I liked Brooke when she was at D&D scheming with Amanda against Alison but then it fell apart for me. I didn't mind Jane and Jake but it seemed like it was very short and then all of a sudden he was off with Alison. I kind of liked Jane's evil side when it was coming out though (setting off the sprinklers at the fashion show was it? Throwing a stone/rock through the window where Jake and Alison were). Jake and Alison did nothing for me while they were off away from Melrose Place to try and start the other bar/restaurant. It made me not like them as a couple because I just found them boring. Maybe if they had still been living at the complex and had to deal with Jane, Billy, and Amanda it could have given me a reason to root for them.

Most of AW's female characters could never have been considered all "good" because most of them started out as bad girls: Rachel, Felicia, Vicky, Paulina, Lila, etc. Every one of these ladies were schemers and "bad girls" in the beginning that later mellowed and became heroines over time. That in itself is more true to real life. People change over time whether it's because of particular personal experiences or just with age and wisdom (we hope wisdom ) Even some of the "good guys", like Jake and Cass, weren't saints in the beginning either.

AW is my fave daytime show of all-time. I still miss it to this day and often watch clips or whole eps on Youtube just to feel "comforted".like a long-lost blankey. I always thought AW was different because it focused on relationships and rarely did the over-the-top plots like other shows: such as an Ice Princess story or Devil possession. (Granted the Lumina story at the end was an exception). Even when AW did their big stories it was grounded with how it really affected characters: Felicia's alcoholism, Frankie's death, Ryan's death. The location shoots back in the day like the Arizona desert with Carl kidnapping Marley, Majorca with Sally/Catlin, and Cecile kidnapping Cass to St. Thomas were focused on couples and relationships as much as plot. My opinion of course.

I've begun watching "The shooting of Alex Wheeler" clips on Youtube and am admittedly getting sucked in. Was this, along with the reveal that Dennis was Alex's son not Elliot's, Beverlee McKinsey main story for the first year. Did she leave once this wrapped up. The scene where she admits to Elliot that Dennis is not his and Elliot slaps her was crazy! I am also loving Lisby Larson's Paige as she worms her way to Dennis and is an adversary of Iris'. Were there a lot of casting changes on Texas in the short time the show was on? I know they "revamped" it with a younger group when they brought in Alexandra (Diane) Neil and Harley Kozak. Two of my faves. But did the show have ongoing problems with a steady cast as it was trying to find its place?

I loved Lisa Peluso as Lila myself. She was a fave of mine at the end. I do wish the show were given at least another year because her rivalry with Vicky could have been huge and fun. Also, with Alice Barrett returning and the set-up for a Lila/Cass/Anne (Frankie) triangle I was starting to get really excited again about the show.

I wish MP 2.0 would have started with the episode that Amanda came back. Her entrance could have been the beginning of the new series with her instant rivalry with Ella. I absolutely loved Katie Cassidy as Ella and was probably the only person from the new cast that could go toe-to-toe with Heather Locklear and seem viable! I would have enjoyed that and the back-story of why Amanda came out of "hiding" far better as a lead off. The beginning story surrounding a back-from-the-dead Sydney just to kill her off again as some mystery was a cluster from the get-go. Nobody knew who any of these new apartment dwellers were let alone care if it was one of them that did it. There was no attachment. The whole first season should have been done backwards from what it was. Have Amanda return first and then add Sydney back half-way through the season. Tie Sydney into the stolen art she kept from Amanda/revealing the fact Michael helped fake her death and they were having an affair again which could build up to her death in the finale episode. By then maybe...and just maybe....people would have been more into the "murder mystery" and care a bit about the characters.

I also loved Jamie Luner. The first few episodes she was kind of quiet but then she really took off. The show had so many great female characters (even if written poorly now and then). The guys I always found to be so boring in comparison except for Michael. I like Jack Wagner and Rob Estes but never found them that appealing on MP. Billy was a dud. Jake, I never really enjoyed paired with anyone (and that was probably more from the writing). Matt was a snooze except when he tried to out crazy Kimberly while Michael had "amnesia". Craig could have been a good business rival for Amanda in the beginning but then that got trashed. Coop was annoying as all get out! Sydney is still my fave character.....

Just re-watched the Season 6 ep: Four Affairs and a Pregnancy (i think it's called). Man, I wish Taylor and Michael could have been given a chance as a couple. Taylor: Michael, you have to examine me. I think I'm still dizzy from the concussion Nick gave me. Micheal: Taylor, you were born dizzy. a bit later... Taylor: OMG, I can't be pregnant. I don't even know who the father is. Michael: Well, how long is the list? Taylor: There's Kyle, Nick... Michael: You slept with Nick? Taylor: and well...there's you. Michael: Yeah, I was hoping you forgot about that. (ok so the dialogue probably isn't exact..but still) Those two were great! I agree with the thought that was mentioned before about MP 2.0 and how Lisa Rinna should have come on as David's mom. Even if just for an ep or two but then again, the producers who admitted to never having watched the original would have screwed it up like they did all the other original characters.

I enjoyed that triangle as well. I was a huge fan of Cass and Kathleen and took a long time to warm up to him with Frankie but just as I was kathleen returned. It was a great set-up but I agree that the writers favored Frankie from the beginning. I don't remember a lot of flashbacks or recaps of Cass and Kathleen together. Maybe my memory is just fuzzy. But I wonder if the newer viewers really had any idea who Kathleen was? I don't think it helped that Kathleen was isolated from her family as well. Wasn't Jake really her only family member left on the show at the time? This added to the feeling that Kathleen was the odd woman out.

I was excited by the idea of re-pairing Denise Alexander and Chris Robinson but they made Jason Frame too unlikable! It was hard to get behind a pairing of Mary and Jason.

I don't think Paulina would have been around until the end either if Judi Evans didn't take over. The story with Jake probably would have played out and Paulina would have been an after thought. I liked Judi Evans on DAYS before coming aboard so I warmed up to her eventually. I don't know where Cali's Paulina would have gone. She certainly would never have married a cop like Joe in my opinion. I agree switching all three players Vicky, Grant, and Paulina at the same time was tough. Plus, Vicky suddenly being interested in a congressman seemed odd to me. She was filthy rich so why would she be intoxicated by the "power" of a congressman. She could have bought that seat herself. haha

I always wonder what would have become of the character of Paulina if Cali Timmins had stayed? She definitely looked more like Sandi Ferguson's sister than Judi Evans ever did and I loved the early Paulina/Jake interactions when he was blackmailing. Cali and Tom Eplin had great chemistry.

Katie Cassidy is the ONLY member of 2.0 I'd want on another reboot. She had a great chemistry/rivalry with Amanda. She'd be great. The two were just getting good when it ended. "Ella" having "Amanda" arrested and hauled away by the cops in the final scene was brilliant. You know there would be payback! I'd love for Lisa Rinna to be recurring as well but only if TC came back. She did have his kid somewhere! Well...not HIS...but you know what I mean.

That is a great cover! I've always wanted Laura Leighton to cougar me (even tho she's not technically old enough ) Is she not still on Pretty Little Liars? I only watched the first half of Season One because she was on it and then I drifted off.... The producers of MP 2.0 had admitted in many interviews that they had never watched the original MP and it showed. Not only was it a different feel like everyone has said but all the originals (Sydney, Amanda, Jane, and Jo) were all written as extremely bitter with less likability than the original. I mean Sydney was always scheming but to me she was never written as mean spirited!

Just watched the 10/22/82 episode previously posted. THANKS!!! Nancy Frangione as Cecile is one of my favorite characters ever and that episode showing her gold-digging ways is why I loved her! also....The student in Jamie's office at the end before Rachel walks in...Isn't that Ann Howard that later played Nicole Love when she was involved with Cass? That maybe me chuckle!

Final Season of MP (Season 7) is out on DVD today. Finally! I can have the whole collection.

Thanks for the Jensen update. I have always wondered why we've not seen her on an ep here and there in primetime or a movie-of-the-week on Lifetime/Hallmark. By the sounds of it, it isn't like she needs the money.

I'm curious about Jensen Buchanan as well. Did Tom Eplin retire completely after ATWT? Does anyone know what he is up to these days. I always liked Jake on AW from the get-go. Does anyone know what Nancy Frangione is up to? Cecile is one of my all-time favorite characters ever. Just loved her. Especially the Cecile/Cass/Kathleen days.

I only liked Carl in the early days when he was after Marley and took her hostage in the desert? (Was it Arizona?). When he came back during Kathleen's return, I no longer liked him and to me the idea of him and Lorna as lovers never really sit with me.

Having Beverlee McKinsey show at the end would have been great! They did that with Mark Pinter's Grant too (on Tanquir), which wasn't that shocking but still. I don't usually like 'cliffhanger' endings like that BUT I would have liked Iris returning if they didn't do the same in the next scene with Grant. Yeah, AW definitely had a rushed ending. In fact it didn't even seem like the show WAS ending until the very last scene with Rachel in the living room. Until then the last couple episodes were all about Cass and Lila's wedding...and the gorilla!

i didn't like Felicia with John either. I thought it to be very odd. I thought I had read an article once where Alice Barrett said she wasn't really sure where the character of "Anne" was going and if she'd turn out to be Frankie or not. It did seem like it was going to go in that direction but then they had to suddenly wrap things up to do a finale, that if i remember right, they didn't have much time to prepare for. The show never had any 'returns' to speak of for their final months.

I also liked Paulina-Jake-Vicky and although I am a big fan of both Judi and Jensen, I would have loved to see that triangle with Cali Timmins and Anne Heche. I thought Paulina and Vicky were much harder edged characters with those actresses and that could have been a great onscreen rivalry. Tom Eplin's chemistry with Cali was amazing and, of course, Anne Heche could have knocked anything out of the park.

Does anyone have a favorite "triangle" from AW? I would have to say that the return of Kathleen and the Kathleen/Cass/Frankie one was probably the only time on a soap that I could not take a side! I was a big fan of Cass and Kathleen back in the day and grew to love Cass and Frankie just as much. To me, that was a great story because I didn't even know where I wanted it to lead. I was then later VERY disappointed when AW was cancelled and missed out on the Lila/Cass/Anne (Frankie) story. I thought that story could have had great potential.

I remember really liking MJ and Adam as a couple and being upset when they 'suddenly' trashed MJ and it was ruined. That Halloween clip above also makes me remember how much I liked Sharon Gabet and how badly she was used on AW! Brittany was great in the beginning with the triangle of her/Catlin/Sally (Mary Page Keller), then it went downhill involving her with Peter. WOW! Rhonda Lewin as Vicky. I never disliked her but she was definitely out of her league compared to the other three actresses. AW always had so much....potential....but could never quite capitalize, whether it be jarring cast changes or stories that didn't make 'character sense'. It was always such an underdog, and then again, maybe that is why I just loved it so much!!