titan1978

I would not describe it as fatherly. But they did have a relationship of sorts when JJ played Lucky during his first run/after the fire. I don’t remember much after that. Nothing like her scenes with Laura which was a much closer relationship.

This was such a sad day, especially because we were honoring RC as well as Mary Mae. Interesting glimpse into the process of the time for this episode from MVJ on Twitter.

If I was a veteran soap person who stayed when they started to cut casts by the mid 1990’s, I would have made damn sure to save as much as possible for the inevitable negotiations of reduced salary. Especially when they started small with early cuts in the early 2000’s. I did agree with Kim Zimmer though when she refused to renegotiate mid contract. I know they publicly blamed her for cutting cast members, but she had a contract and it wasn’t due to expire for at least a year. It’s not her fault the show was so mismanaged.

I agree that with care this could absolutely work with Alexis.

That’s why a character like Holly does work for me- already portrayed as neurotic, past full of trauma including rape. Issues present to explore. Terrible relationships in general, especially with men. If this was being written by a good writer, and taken with care, it could easily work and not feel so out of place. For me it can come directly from her character, not because MG is a lesbian in real life. Even though I mentioned a character being gay because their portrayer is, I do think that is kind of lazy and a slippery slope. Stephanie just does not seem appropriate. Luke on GH also does not seem appropriate.

I had forgotten that. They should have, it might have given Holly a new life on the show.

The first character that popped into my head was Anna on GH. I could see Finola playing a story like this well, and Anna finding herself having feelings for a woman that matured into a relationship over time. Also on GH- Michael has way more chemistry with Chase than he has shown with any of his romantic partners. Back in the day a soap would have taken advantage of that chemistry if they were a M/F pair, so let’s get with the times! Guiding Light- Reva was such a sexual character and lead by her her romantic feelings so much I feel that she could also have been in a same sex relationship and decided she was BI or even Pan easily. And after Roger died and her other relationships crumbled I could also see this for Holly, a late in life coming out storyline. Y&R-Michael. Truthfully more to do with his performer than the character, although it might give him and Lauren an actual story. Especially if he cheated on Lauren with a man- I can see that really getting to her.

Wasn’t Lucas trying to get Carrie away from Austin while Sami was trying to get Austin for herself on DAYS?

Jesus. That’s blunt af and the accuracy.

Interesting topic- 1- I think they survived because at the beginning of that purge, and the following two years, almost all of the four were seeing their best ratings in almost a decade. Couple that with the replacement shows on ABC not being successful, and that bought them time. 2- It seems we have hit the bottom of the baseline ratings for all of them- the Nielsen diehards that tune in no matter what. If you look at the ratings report @Errolposted recently, it had comparisons with last year and 2020, and a lot of those numbers were stagnant with today, or slightly down. That does not bode well for any type of future, and speaks to the last folks watching (at least the ones that “count”) a dying genre. And even if there is a future with streaming, it will never match a 5 days a week, all year long network daytime soap. Another question may be will we recognize network television in another decade? Because they are hurting. 3- I no longer wish for them to be cancelled- if it’s not for me anymore that is fine. I still check in to 3 of the 4 and see what’s up, more GH than the others. But there is no denying the schedules they film under has hit every section of the product that matters- writing is generic, therefore easy to produce. Production is stagnant, and even the most talented actors are not producing deep work like they used too. Many of them are still doing serviceable work, just not breaking my heart or making me rewatch anything like I did before.

I hope Real Andrews comes back because he was still very watchable. I don’t know wtf happened with Donnell Turner. I used to really enjoy him but he is floundering. But I would be bored with his story too.

The tea scene with Laura and Victor with Spencer and Esme silently watching was fun. Carly is being ridiculous. But what else is new?

Oh at first they were forcing RH in several directions, and it was bordering on disaster. I think they have had to adjust because it isn’t working. They made his family tie a dead end when we should have gotten Jimmy Lee (even just a few eps here and there) to at least try to make Austin into an actual character instead of what he is- RH wandering around. This whole idea is a huge flop, they can’t even seem to find a spot for him at all. Poor Genie is having to sell that Luke is actually dead. When you watch GH the decisions just do not add up, which makes it hard to invest.

Of the five actors and characters, Joss is the weak link to me. I even like Esme.

It’s not just the advent of social media, it’s also the progression of understanding complicated issues that has happened over the years. Back then, think of how many tortured man rapes woman storylines we have gotten over the years. They were never appropriate, but people now have a greater understanding of the violation involved and women have more agency over their lives. Although there are still many issues with reporting and justice, back in the day people just didn’t talk openly about trauma. Bill and Laura on DAYS- they even drove Mickey insane, and were still rooted for. Luke and Laura of course. Didn’t Jake rape Marley on AW, and yet her sister ended up with him? Social Media seems to have no problem with Ben Weston being a tortured former serial killer, at least not enough that the story has changed in the slightest. Increasingly I think they play it safe because the people producing them don’t pitch complicated storytelling because they can’t or no longer know how to pull it off. The safety is in how easy it is to predict how to produce this dreck, mixed with working with the very real threat that the show could be axed at any time.

I agree. Although scenes of her learning that Justus let Laura go on trial for murdering Damian Smith would have been really wonderful. But much like Lois, Guza did not know how best to utilize them, and Claire really knew what she was doing. I loved the Ward family.

Although I didn’t care for her Lulu, it was kind of strange. They brought back Dante and got rid of her. I wasn’t sure if it was a contract thing or a budget thing (or both). But again- we still have ME and RH, both flopping about in characters that could leave at any moment.

Especially since Kevin is aware and acknowledged how important he is to Laura. So it’s not going to cause issues there! JZ just about broke my heart though. She and Genie were good in those scenes. But it feels like a plot point and not an actual story. So far. And there really is no good reason why the show isn’t using Lucky, even as a recast (except of course Frank needing Liz for his friends). It’s time. Lulu too.

Catching up and I have to say that even though Sonny’s Penthouse is orientated in a different direction and makes no sense when compared to Jason’s still being the same…I think the actual set looks better than the one they used when they shrunk his penthouse the first time towards the end of their time using it. I am always happy to see Tracy, and that hairdo was such a throwback. I cannot believe Luke is actually dead, and I’m skeptical that TG would return to the show. Such a random thing. It would be cool if this blew up Laura and Kevin somehow- they just do not fit together IMO. I also cannot believe how much traction this death has gotten in the media. He’s been off the show for years!

It also starts the show out with more excitement! And it is short and sweet and much better than what they are doing now. Anything is better than the horrible, amateurish looking open they are using now.

Thank you for all this work!

A guy can dream!

I want her to take over for Frank at GH!

Agree so much on both main points. It was like junk food compared to the other soaps I watched at the time- mainly ABC. And I also agree that his personal issues destroyed his talent because his writing became so one dimensional and forced. I assume he was very troubled and conflicted.

I did make that thread because rewatching the earlier part of his run was pretty great soap opera. Especially the way they told the story of Kate/Billie/Austin/Curtis. But I fell off my rewatch shortly after Maison Blanche because that was when the JER I remembered was in almost full force. The motivations were getting thinner, the reasons why people were doing what they were doing made increasingly less sense, and it started to feel more like the hybrid goth/camp version he fully evolved the show into by the time he left. And that appreciation was truly rooted in having seen his work on GL when the Pandemic started. I finally got to watch nearly all of the Curlee/Reilly/Demorest era. And watching his earlier DAYS run not long after really showed of the craft and skill he had in structure. He just doesn’t have much deep characterization when solo, and it ultimately was not for me. And all that goes without mentioning his clearly deep rooted psychological issues. His treatment of women was awful. And he really did make every character an idiot just to keep his stories moving, especially towards the end of his DAYS run and Passions/ second run.