titan1978

I think it suffered from the Stefano disease. It felt like they wanted him to be Stefano without giving credit to the actual type of character and stories James was in. If anything, I think Paul being driven to the dark side as time went on would have been more compelling than James returning. It also was a Barbara crutch- don’t know what to do with Barbara? Let’s resurrect James.

I used to be so attracted to Tyler.

Who knows? Because the plan was changed before the killings were done. The earlier victims believed they were fired, and I am pretty sure I read that they had to sign them to new contracts when they returned. Plus Cassie never re-signed, which is why we barely saw her once they were revealed in Melaswen.

Agree. And truthfully, I hated the original Jerry casting as well as his relationship with Bobbie. Other than Carly Guza really didn’t do anything good for Bobbie that I can recall (although I would love to see his original story with Stefan and Bobbie play out). 💀 Anne written in blood is a classic moment. If Robin had not taken off as Heather I can’t imagine she wasn’t the original killer. I found those ATWT scenes with Margo and her rapists a little on the gratuitous side and now that I have seen more of HBS I am so glad she didn’t have to play that. Maggie’s death was so awful. Hard to watch because it was Maggie and also because the actress wasn’t shy about how sad she was to be fired. Knots Landing was on fire then. And Ginger was no Ciji…

Soaps have had many harrowing moments over the years. One that still evokes an emotional response is when Liz was grabbed in the park on GH. I appreciate how much care was put into this story when it started. BH really acted the hell out of this story, and the production was not gratuitous or pandering. It was shocking and sad when Lucky found her, but the scene of her being grabbed was really haunting and terrifying. Something about the scene just after, the quiet snow and the empty bench really stuck with me.

I would really like to see what Constance Towers could have done with Alexandra Spaulding. But ultimately, I don’t think anyone brings all the layers at once that Beverlee did- petulant, vulnerable, deeply committed to family, at times almost desperate and easily disappointed.

Lucas is close enough- GH 💀💀💀

I think if MB had gotten the kind of recognition of let’s say Tony Geary, he might not always bring up what a good actor he is. It kind of reeks of insecurity instead of humility or even ego. Because he spends so much time talking about how weak others were before they started working with him. Not to say Tony didn’t have an ego- but at least he often commented on scene partners making him better, not the other way around lol. Even 17 year old Genie.

I really enjoyed this one.

Their demos were so good that they were a cash cow with advertising. Not quite as much as Monty’s GH, but still very strong in a way any show would like, even back then.

I thought he had great chemistry with FL as well, better than he did with Kassie. I really miss Tea and OLTL.

Closing credits- I preferred the single image with slightly altered, slower music- like GH (Monty era the credits rolled over the hospital image, Riche it was character stills). I used to really love those holiday episodes when the credits listed everyone that worked on the show during the year.

There is something to that slow fade out and hold on black that Y&R used that just seems like classic soap to me. Especially if it was a really dramatic moment and the music carried the scene out.

The one thing JFP did that I actually loved! They used to film people all over that hospital set pre-covid. The hallways, the stairs heading up to that upstairs landing, looking over the landing, etc. But I haven’t seen them use it fully in a long time.

At least they are celebrating on set it appears.

Didn’t he act the same way when he was paired with fake Kate?

I remember thinking when she wasn’t even nominated after Lucky died what else does she have to do? Because both the scenes when Luke told her and then later in Lucky’s room by herself were heartwrenching. Especially the scene in Lucky’s room- that felt like watching someone really grieving and lost. Even glory hog Kim Zimmer said in a soap mag that she felt that was criminally overlooked that year. Even when the writing for her was awful, I never saw her personal opinion in the performance. Geary- all the time. And I like TG and Luke, I just think he is at his best when surrounded by grounded performers- Genie and Jackie especially. Also- wouldn’t Luke’s death have been a perfect time for flashbacks and Laura to spend time evaluating her life- from as early as they could find scenes with Lesley, to fighting with Bobbie over Scotty, through Luke and her kids to today with Kevin. You know, an organic way to celebrate 45 years based on the current storyline. Jesus how did these people get so bad at doing soaps?

Not to mention the remotes! Did anyone else go outside as much as Monty? First it was little things here and there, then whole scenes, then whole story climaxes happened on location.

GH- 1973- Denise Alexander jumps ship from DAYS to create Lesley, becomes a pivotal lead her entire run on the show, and her soon to be added lost daughter Laura has a major impact on everything to come. Her arrival ultimately displaces Audrey and Jessie as leads within a couple of years and they are never frontburner again.

It is interesting because I have read that Tom Donovan had reinvigorated the show, but then it fell apart when it went to 45 minutes. So it must have been rocky a bit before he got there too. I would love to see more of that period, especially more episodes where Jessie was still a lead, early Lesley, Phil Brewer’s murder.

💀 For everyone wondering why there was no build-up in this Craig storyline- it’s Ron. He skips past the beats. Look at Possession II: the Stupidity.

DG was doing a good job as Michael too. Jacob Young, not so much as Lucky. Still not a great way to treat your co-workers.

It is hard to say, isn’t it? Because Marlena had moved into the central heroine role with Roman. And I loved how involved in their lives Tom and Alice were. Would Doug and Julie have lead to less of Tom and Alice? Or more likely, Mickey and Maggie? I can’t imagine the show as it was then keeping both sets of characters, even if M&M were mostly on the backburner or in C stories at best.

What was the point of Trina even going on the trip if she wasn’t going to be central to the action? I hate this. Another promising actor and character and the show can’t make it work. Also- in what world is this compelling television? The chemistry is there with Cam and Esme, and Spencer and Trina. Instead Joss is the centerpiece again. When Stanford was there and fighting with teacher Willow it was like a giant neon light was above her head saying I am your daughter.

In my viewing lifetime- 1980’s- Y&R. Though they had a rocky start to the decade, it’s hard to deny the complexity, look, appeal and storytelling of Y&R in the 1980’s. From bringing Jill/Katherine back to the forefront, introducing characters like Lauren, Nina, Cassandra, the Abbott family…all that glamour and yet always grounded in stories about emotion, especially passion. And so loved GH back then. But with more critical analysis at the age I am now, Y&R takes the decade. 1990’s- GH for me. Wendy Riche really grounded the show and all of her major head writers-Levinson, Labine, Guza, and Culliton really told emotionally gripping stories with high stakes. There was still that element of action and adventure. But it was more grounded and the characters were very rich. I didn’t even hate the part of the decade before Wendy got there. Special mention to that magical period on Guiding Light in the early 90’s, mostly when Robert Calhoun was EP (although it carries over a year or so for me with JFP there). I think that was a perfect soap, completely unraveled by an EP with no idea how to recast major characters and storytelling tastes that I just don’t agree with. 2000’s- this one is hard for me, as almost all these soaps drove me away from daily viewing. I will give some credit to OLTL for trying new things while maintaining many veteran characters. And GH really did have excellent day to day writing and pretty decent production, even if I didn’t enjoy the show overall. 2010’s- hmmm. I got nothing. No soap has consistently been good for the decade for me.