Soaplovers

Donna/Matt were so well-received that when Amy Carlson first debuted as Josie, the original purpose of her character (to reunite with Matt) was 86'd because of how popular Matt and Donna were as a couple. And I agree that the show was really working to make Donna pathetic during the serial killer story with her throwing herself at Michael, Michael turning her down, and her acting desperate and trying to do odd things that made her look guilty. It seemed as though JFP/Depriest were going to make her so pathetic that her murder would be looked at as tragic because of how sad and pathetic a delusional older woman was (and this was constructed by two older women). I remember telling my mom about how Donna was the original final victim of the serial killer and she said 'you can't kill off Donna, she's too vital to the show'. Oddly the show decided on Frankie because she scored lower on a focus group test and it was during a time where Frankie was hardly written for and was being written as almost too serious without any of her more quirky and whimsical elements that made her character very unique. The show's attempt at trying her with another platonic guy friend (Joe) didn't work as well as her platonic friendship with Ryan.. and I guess the show just assumed it was due to her and not from the male character (hot as he was).

The weird Tailsman story hurt the show because the show had managed to find a good balance between the faith based mission and strong soapy stories/characters. It was why the Miriam story was successful and why the Kate Phillip arc was successful and caused a decent sized audience for the soap. The last few months of the show seemed to return back to basics, but once you drive away viewers and affiliates, it's difficult to get them both back. And I think the decision to cancel was sudden because you see a sudden shift to resolve/tie everything up in the final 15 or so episodes even though the campaign story still was ongoing, the Vanessa story was strong, the role playing campus story was getting started, and there was a pregnancy/paternity story that got resolved super quick even though it looked as though that still had legs to it.

If that ad was done in June 1980, Vanessa had just started on the show a mere few weeks before so I could understand her not being in the ad. Kelly/Morgan because they were the new young love story while Holly had just come off an intense year dealing with the rape, being in prison for 'killing' Roger, and the Santa Domingo story so her name carried weight even though it was close to her leaving. I do agree that Hope should have been included in the ad.

Darlene probably came from working class roots in the south and managed to find a good career as dispatcher that pays decently and probably married Elon when they were both working class. I view the Hawthornes as formerly working class that have worked their way up to middle/upper middle class... and sometimes they can look down on nepo-babies like Naomi.. even though Jacob and Luke (her sons) are techanically nepo-babies since they also became cops. Perhaps the father/son conflict between Elon and Iziaiah could be as simple as Elon thinking becoming a cop will gurantee an income, pension, and steady employment while Iziaiah isn't about that life and wants to help others like he was helped (and I work in corporate America where a lot of my co workers that are black men and women say they get more chances/opportunities when they work for a YT person vs someone that is black so I can kind of see why Iziaiah could possibly turn to someone like Joey.. but I would love that to be a point of tension between Joey and Elon). It's been mentioned that Darlene gets along with Anita, and i think it's due to Anita working her up in the social world from nothing so that gets Darlene's respect. I also think that if Darlene gave Eva half a chance, she'd grow to like and respect Eva.. who has had to go without and seems willing to work hard.

Darlene would probably shop at Tj Maxx or Ross, maybe even Talbots ../for an occasional nice outfit for important benefits involving the police. She wouldn't be a SPS/Leslie and buy overly expensive things.. Darlene would be smarter with her money

My question is why hasn't Lauren crossed over onto BTG? She would make more sense than Victor Newman, Jack, or Diane, etc.

Do we all forget how Lauren used to dress in her teens, 20s, and early 30s... she kind of dressed like Hayley does now LOL She didn't become more tailored into her late 30s/early 40s in her outfits.

Could a season 3 pick up involve this EP being ousted and replaced with someone that has a proven track record? I'd love that.

Smitty and Martin never resolved their issues, they just swept them under the rug.. but the behaviors are still the same that caused the issues to begin with. SPS needs to have a few layers added in order to show that there's a human being there. Gina on Santa Barbara was campy, but there were things that humanized that character and I think MVJ and co need to reign her in a bit. At least Eva and Iziaiah have conflict and some stakes in their relationship now,

I would prefer a couple to divorce and.. gasp.. stayed divorced and not reunite. If the show is intending to one day reunited Dani/Bill or Ted/Nicole.. it better be when the show is either canceled, or the actors are leaving the soap. Out of those two couples, I would prefer Ted/Nicole to reunite. Vanessa is trying to convince herself that Joey makes her feel alive. Let's be honest, Vanessa spits on the whole idea of marriage especially with the way she encourages married women to cheat on their husbands. And I think Vanessa looks down on Bill because they're two peas in a pod.

I think Anita is a conflict killer (i.e. the Chelsea/Kat conflict over ChelsKat). I don't feel sorry for Vanessa at all and I hope her daughter Deanna keeps on her and Joey. Also, if MVJ insisted on having Jon L on the show.... she could have cast him as chief of staff at the hospital instead of a mobster type.

The only interesting scenes, and they were too short, were the ones with SPS and Darlene at the lunch with Eva/Izaiah. Samantha/Donnell: Why does the show insist on wasting this talented actor with such a subpar actress and character.. and don't get me started on June (the only time I get Tyler Perry vibes is what that character). Dani - yawn... rinse, lather, and repeat.

I thought Peter Simon was decent as Ed in the 80s episodes I watched when he was acting opposite of both Maureen's (Ellen Dolan & Ellen Parker), but I think the combination of the early 90s era of the showv and the killing off of Maureen caused Ed to fall into a fugue state that he never really shook. He seemed to have some life again in the final episodes of the show.. but seeing him in episodes in the 80s, he infused Ed with some life and personality. And for those that say Alexandra falling for Roger was out of character, I talked to a therapist friend of mine and detailed some of her backstory... and they told me that her falling for someone like Roger was in character. And when I mentioned how she was forced to give up Lujack by her father and her brother didn't defend/help her.. they said that it tracks she wouldn't listen to people when they advised her not to get involved with Roger.. because it triggered memories of losing her son's and not having a voice in things that went on with her life.. so she doubled down on the Roger relationship/marriage.. and that was why she went hard-core against Roger and Mindy after she found out their affair (especially since she had known Mindy for years and had cared about her).

My autistic mind goes into analytical mode and that proves that Monday's episode was a good one because it was rife full of things to analyze. Darlene Hawthorne: I like her vibe and I think her character is someone that is needed to enrich the show. She came from the south, lived in a working class/middle class family, didn't go to college, and managed to find love, purpose, and a career without a college degree. It also was refreshing that she wasn't kissing the ground the Dupree's walk on and we need more characters that aren't SPS to fill that position. Curious to see more of her. Naomi's 'Best Friend': It's interesting that Naomi choose to use the words 'best friend' when it came to Hayley even though all the flashbacks had Ashley in them. Ashley was the one to encourage Naomi to call Jacob, came over to lend them something when they moved into their apartment, and was helping with the proposal/engagement situation... yet Hayley is her best friend? I want the show to explore that because I would assume Ashley's her best friend over Hayley... and maybe have a flashback or two of Hayley/Naomi pre-husband stealing to show their rapport when they were friends. Elon/Iziaiah: That disagreement between them at Jacob's wedding wasn't a huge blow up though you could tell Jacob looked worried/concerned so I'm hoping that this choice of scene means we'll be getting some detail on their estrangement and why Iziaiah turned to a 'life of crime' and why he opted to go to Joey Armstrong over his own father/mother/brothers. I'm really hoping this episode isn't a foreshadowing of Jacob dying, and just as we finally meet Darlene. I want to see the family dynamics at a family dinner with Naomi and Eva in attendance.. and see their interplay as well/

I kind have wanted to know their backstory so I guess me LOL Granted, I'd take an episode like this over love scenes between Joey/Vanessa or Dani/Andre. Gotta have something for the more chaste viewer :)

Today's episode was something I had been wanting to see since the show first started... Jacob/Naomi's backstory. It kind of confirmed to me my initial theories on why they were drawn to one another.. but it also gave some strong backstory on the Hawthorne family and makes me truly think they should be the second family.

From what I understand about the whole Zas as Alan becoming Roger Thorpe was that I believe the higher ups wanted Zas to come back as Alan, but that either Zas or someone else said that he would be too associated with Roger Thorpe to work as Alan Spaulding. If they were deciding this before having Daniel Pilon come on, then that would have been during the writer strike while Long/Curlee were not on the writing staff.. and if it was after the writer strike.. then I could imagine Long panicking because anything she had planned she couldn't do because of the five month long strike and her not knowing the Roger Thorpe character would have probably approved his casting as Alan. From the tidbits I've heard on Locher Room interviews, whenever Long is mentioned.. it usually is mentioned as someone that will listen to ideas from other people and if one is inspirational.. she'll map out a concept. Curlee had stated she was the one to convince Long to write Roger/Holly back onto the show and that both of them watched the 4/1/1980 episode to see if there was any indication that Roger hit the ground and decided there wasn't so proceeded with bringing him back. The story bringing him back up to the wedding wasn't Curlee's idea so I think that was Long's idea.. and it was an odd idea, but it fit with Roger (since he did love disguises, and a mask would be easier to pull off).

@Taoboi As you can attest and have heard from me non-stop LOL , I truly think had MVJ and co convinced Guza to extend his contract and remain as co-head-writer.. the pacing would be like it was the first months on the show where there was a lot of action and staggering of stories. I also think the show only getting 1 year pick-ups plus the huge lead time in written scripts (at least 5 months) & filming (at least 4 months) are probably putting the writers in a bit of a bind because they're only getting a 1 year pick up so it's probably easy at the start of the season to map out the pacing of the stories.. but then they start to stall some of the stories because they don't know if they're getting a pick up or not. I truly think that's why the Winterfest ended up being lackluster (I'm giving them grace on Easter). To me, I would have had this Cotillion in March where we could have seen some of the traditions, the catty bickering, some spring fashions, and perhaps Anita would have taken a turn for the worse.. which could have led to those powerful hospital scenes with Anita and family. As that is going on, I would have moved the clinic opening to April/May sweeps while starting to show some of the impact of The Impaler story going on (maybe Vernon pulls a string or two to get some of the plasma and/or other items for Anita, which puts him and the Duprees on the radar of the Impaler). Also, play up June's connection a bit more to the Impaler story since I have a feeling this story is serving to take from poor/unhoused in order to help the wealthy... and Vernon, without meaning to, just continues that process since the Duprees are old money. It would remind me of Riley Sager's 'Lock Every Door' book and plotline. The book didn't have a lot of locations other then the apartment building and few other places.. and it's considered one of the best stories that Mr Sager has penned.

From what I remember, Long was interested in bringing Rita back during the whole Roger coming story.. there was even a conversation or two between Ed/Alan about Rita as well. However, Lenore turned down the chance to come back since she was on the west coast by then. Not sure if just a rumor, or fact.. but anytime a soap mentions a long forgotten character.. they usually end up coming back.

I think the way that Lia is written and presented works because she's designed to be a short term character ( I think she lasts airs in May if I'm not mistaken) so her being a bit more broad/sinister is acceptable because we know she's not designed to be long term vs SPS who the show insists on keeping yet refuse to reign in the actress nor write more diverse content for the character to justify keeping her on canvas. As opposed to Hayley, who gets fiesty and mouthy when she's either with Lynette or Randy.. yet presents herself as more doting/slightly subdued when she's with Bill or the other characters. We're getting different sides to the Hayley (Val- didn't Lynette call her that) so she isn't being a cartoon. I'm glad the show backed off the poisoning Bill story somewhat because that would have written her into a corner.. though I expect that will come back to her haunt her down the road. May seems to be a big month since the character of Lia is set to end her run in May according to the cast write up when she joined, the Cotillion is happening, and I'm sure other things will pop in May... though I still wish there was a bit more staggering of the plots so that March had something going for it other then the Anita story and to a lesser extent Derek's journey post Ashley and moving into a new career. Tomas vs Hayley has been interesting... it's where AA's 'approach' seems to work best opposite MG's approach as Hayley. I hope they continue to have run ins in the coming weeks... and I'm hoping for another Derek vs SPS run in since he seems to push her buttons in a way that no one else can (plus, we did get a break from her this week).

Fantasies from 1982 is usually known for trying to combine a typical mystery thriller with a slasher film sheen.. and decided to use soap performers being killed off one by one. It was an interesting concept and I remember thinking the murders were pretty well done (especially Mattson's)... but the identity of the killer was a letdown... and the final twist makes me wonder if Brian De Palma watched it before doing Body Double.

From what I understood, when they were editing/adapting the source material for Fashion House.. they ended up running short on time so the episodes were padded with flashbacks. Wicked Wicked Wicked Game was my favorite of the telenovelas... Tatum O'neal was bat [!@#$%^&*] crazy in a good way and the way she handled Debbie Dunning (Tool Time Girl from Home Improvement) was intense. Saints & Sinners was pretty good when I viewed it... although a lot of characters were killed off on all these shows. Whatever happened to just leaving town LOL

I know that the show had been in the works in MVJ's head for years, and I wonder when it came to making her dream a reality if anyone sat her down and explained to her that some of her ideas might need to be adjusted/trimmed back due to budget concerns. Had this been the 80s or 90s, a lot of the Plasma story would be shown instead of told and the clinic would be shown as well... and probably SPS's Frankenstein esque new house, etc. I'm sure the clinic will be featured eventually. In regards to people working at Orphey Jeans instead of an office, I just want to point out that it's 2026 and a lot of people do work from an Orphey Jeans or a coffee shop during the day. Vanessa as a real estate person doesn't really need an office since real estate people are out and about meeting clients, making sure the houses she's showing are in tip top shape, advertising her listings on social media, etc. Naomi seems more like a prosecutor so her job would require her to be at the police station a lot so she doesn't need an office. I would say a clinic set should have been created since that seems to be a new place for the plasma ring to occur. Eva/Kat/Chelsea have jobs that can be done remotely.. same as Dani. Nicole has an office.. actually she has two offices (one at home for her outside functions and one at the office for patients). Perhaps one of her offices could have been used for another character. In regards to the recent episodes, seeing Vanessa/Deanna/Donnell together makes me really sad that the show didn't think to feature them both on recurring basis from the start. That way we could have seen both Deanna and Donnell interacting with Doug, being curious about what Vanessa was doing, and they could have been mixing it up with the other younger people... perhaps Chelsea could have used Deanna to help with her new line and perhaps Donnell could have had issues with hazing at his frat, etc. I guess I'm saying again that Tyyrell/Samantha weren't needed and should have remained younger kids... perhaps still have featured June in her unhoused story, getting herself a job at Orphey Genes, becoming more sure of herself.. and later on down the road have it come out that Tyrrell/Samantha were her kids. The actress that plays Deanna looks like she could be Vanessas daughter and has father's quick temper while Donnell has Vanessa's tortured look mixed with Doug's intensity. Great casting for both.

I always wondered how Alan Michael would have fared had Carl stayed on beyond his initial three year contract. In the short term, the whole Blake/Alan Michael relationship/dynamic would have changed. When he was playing Alan Michael, Blake came across like a predator grooming her victim (sounds just like her father Roger).. but once Hearst took over and he carried himself off with more maturity.. the whole creepy predator vibe went away and it became about Blake's lie about being pregnant.. with Blake/Alan Michael having that unhealthy push/pull dynamic till around 1992/1993.

I think it would be interesting and fascinating to see Vanessa climb her way out of the bin and try to get back into everyone's good graces.