Soaplovers

I'll be honest...I thought 1985 was a pretty good year for SB. Cruz/Eden at the start when both were individuals and not boxed into the super couple realm. And their conflicts in 1985 felt authentic. Mason/Mary were starting and were a nice opposites attract couple with her being from a working class family and helping less fortunate..while Mason came from a wealthy family with a chip on his shoulder. Christie rape trial really helped focus the show...and let's face it..issues with the wealthy having a different set of rules shows up here well. Brick/Amy were the couple with the most focus. The odd New Strainland story is so bizarre that having the 2 down to earth characters involved helped ground it. And they got the huge November sweeps wedding as well. Kelly was all over the place..but she just lost her 1st love just when they got back together so she was lost...and Nick was steady and grounded...so made sense why she went for him at first. Augusta/Lional were fun and dramatic..plus with Sophia being back..we could have had a triangle brewing. And having Julia come in as Augusta's conscience was a nice touch. Julia in 1985 had the benefit of not being in a super couple so she floated in and out of stories. She had a good rapport with Amy/Brick..even a nice rapport with Jack (sadly cut short because of Joel Crothers illness and death), and she helped bring some calmness to the Lockridge family. And original Gina was fascinating...could hate her, yet feel for her. Santana/Gina/Brandon had a lot of mileage even with the recasting of both women. 1985 set up a lot of good stories to carry them for years...yet in 1986 most were abandoned or ended too quickly.

In one of Christie's last episodes before she left, she and Mary have a sister heart to heart. Mary confesses her feelings for Mason, that she sees good in him and believes in true love while Christie clues Mary in on real life. Mary even asks if Christie believes in happiness and love while Christie basically says no. It was a good character study of both of them...and it's a shame that Christie was written out. She had a lot of potential and would have been interesting to see how she dealt with life post the rape trial. I think the Duvall's should have remained as a counterpart to the Capwells..since the Perkins were phased out by this point. And Ted seemed to never have his peers stay on. Jade/laken/danny were gone by 1986...and then Hayley/Jake with Laken briefly in 1986 to January 1988...and then Eva larue's character before he left in 1989.

She said in the interview that Marland had it in his contract to get royalties for his creations.

Now we know why Shannon wasn't dropped...Tamra and Shannon have unfinished business. I still think it's hilarious that Shannon of all people threw Tamra under the bus..who knew she had it in her lol

While the Claire story wasn't working...given that the actress playing her was known for playing ditzy blondes, she did quite well with playing the sadness of Claire. DA made Jill a classic manipulator with her sweet concerned voice masking her true intentions. She wasnt as broad as Dickson nor as sarcastic as Jess Walton either. And I like seeing more of Lilibet's take on Patty play out. No wonder Bill bell was disappointed when she quit.

I think Eileen Fulton was used sparingly not because of royalties..but speaking out about Sheffer and co. Up till 2000, she was used quite well. And interesting Marland had characters he created came with royalties. It does explain why Emma Snyder wasn't fired, but taken off contract in the mid 90s. Babette (ellie) props was the one she met during a Facts of Life audition. I noted when Alan mentioned trying to reach her to do a reunion but couldn't reach her...that Suzanne said 'she's keeping a low profile these days'...it sounded like she knew where she was but wouldn't tell him. And she was vocal about ageism, behind the scenes, etc. It was a good interview..and I think Alan should stick to 1 on 1 interviews. Also, it seemed like Alan was out of his depth with Suzanne...she seemed deep and thoughtful..and he seemed confused.

Robin Wright auditioned for Jade originally before getting Kelly...maybe she wouldn't have been so bored if she'd played Jade..who was more spirited. And I always thought Melissa Reeves should have been Laken instead. I did watch some episodes with Susan Marie Snyder as Laken..and she wasn't bad. The writing was the issue there...she could play vulnerable and rebellious...but it seemed like each episode had a different Laken in it. No consistency..imho.

When Dylan parachuted into Santa Barbara, he met Julia..while the two bantered and had chemistry before he became obsessed with Kelly. It's odd that Julia's intended pairings with Jack, David and Pearl didn't pan out...yet the random scenes she had with Brick, Dylan, and Mason had chemistry. Glad the show opted to go with Julia and Mason. Kelly was Santa Barbara's answer to Cricket Blair..or Lily Walsh..where all men wanted her. Of the brief characters that came and went...I thought Courtney had potential...and I liked Heather Donnelly (god knows the show needed a therapist). And of the dreaded Pam Long era...Lisa was a promising vixen and could have lasted long term had the show continued.

Julia was slated to be with Pearl as end game...they had scenes in early 1986 where they bantered a bit. Oddly, she and Brick also had chemistry as well.

I viewed the stripper part as a way for her to put the trauma out of her mind. To take back control after what had happened to her. Wasn't Casey originally stalked by Edward before he fixated on Nikki? Was that always the plan, or did the actress playing Casey opt to leave so the focus went to Nikki? And I think I read a synopsis where it sounded like Casey was moving to get away from Edward...he spies her packing, sees Nikki helping her and refocuses his obsession on her.

The one thing Pamela Long did as head writer was the Sophia/Ken thing. Sophia was always about her looks and being desired...so it would make sense she was taken with Ken. And the actor playing Ken had a sincere vibe so you could buy Sophia being drawn to him. It was one of the storkes during Long's 10 month stint that worked. I also thought the Angela/CC/Ted story had potential. It played up on CC's weak spot..being hurt by the women he dated/loved cheating on him (Sophia and Gina in the past)...and CC/Ted always had an undefined relationship...so having Ted be the one to hurt him (who he least expected) could have been played out. I think the cancellation of the show cut it short...by throwing Ted in Lily's orbit, while Angela/CC were in a holding pattern till the Sophia/Ken story wrapped.

So some people believe that the writing for Donna went downhill in 1986..in the last months of AS stint and remained when Philece played the part. However, I don't totally agree. Donna came in 1983 as a cold, controlled snob where appearance was everything. Given how happiness was robbed of her as a teen, it made sense she was like that. 'Little sister' Marley coming home in 1984 was the first dent in Donna's armor. This was her daughter, but had to view and interact with her as a sister. Having Marley in boarding school allowed Donna to repress things...but having her in Bay City would make that hard. Than Vicky comes along in 1985..who Donna had no idea about. Causes internal issues for Donna..leading her to realize she has 2 daughters, not one. Then Michael comes back in 1986..but both are different people from when they were teens..but agree to start again. So Donna's icy exterior is starting to melt because she has her daughters and her 1st love back in her life. However, her dad Reginald appears again...the one who sent Michael away and took away her babies. So she loses it because she never dealt with what her dad did..and since he 'passed', she figured she was free of him. Not so...and she loses her mind literally. And lastly Donna becomes pregnant with Michael again...her 2nd chance...but her father also takes her baby away by being the cause of her miscarriage. Had someone like Harding Lemay been writing long term, he would have had a field day with Donna and Marley. However, most writers viewed Vicky as the easier character to write...and Marley as a throwaway. Marley had more to play to..imho.

I thought Tonio hit his head during the struggle with Duncan in 1993/4 and died.

I don't think Ana would want to be full time since her home base is in Florida, and from what I read, there is a mandate to return to the studio come fall. That's the theory as to why Meghan opted to leave since she seems settled in Washington D.C and probably didn't want to return to NYC. Haines has 3 small kids... none of which are eligible for the vaccine.. so I can see why she probably wouldn't want to go back into the studio again. Debbi was in her early 20s when she was on originally.. and was kind of ditz. However, time and wisdom have probably matured her.. and Home & Family seems like a toxic place (though so is the View LOL).

I do wonder if Dickson would have toned down the acting... because she was told to camp it up by producers.. which went against what Bell wanted. I do think Jill vs Nina would have gone vastly different had Dickson stayed in the part. I don't think Kay/Jill would have teamed up against Nina had Dickson stayed in the part. At the same time, Jill vs Kay changed once Jess Walton took over. Dickson was more controlled/sarcastic in her interactions with Kay.. with Kay acting angry. Once Jess walton took over.. Jill became more intense and likely to get physical.

I actually think the 88 to 90 period was not only well balanced, but had a sense of fun and whimsy along with the kitchen sink mentality NC spoke of. I was a kid during the Adam Malick period...and my mom knew it was Roger the whole time..but went along for the ride because only Roger would do something like that. So it sounds like Long came up with the Adam Malick angle..which NC didn't care for...but I think it all worked...imho. I think Curlee and Long made a good team..each balancing one another out. While 1991 to 1993 were quality years, there lacked excitement. Everyone seemed too earnest. Nadine lost her original spirit, Holly became too neurotic, Maureen became a tad too judgmental (and she didn't have Chelsea there to occasionally call her out, nor had as much humor as did under Long).

Ashley should learn that she maybe messy...but Candiace will verbally destroy her. Has done it since season 3. Ashley just focus on the babies and your hair...and egg on Robyn. Karen/Gizelle has always fascinated me. I think both hold some affection for one another...it's why they needle one another. Karen/Gizelle...and Luann/Ramona are the frienimies (sp?) we needed in our lives. NY Leah can have a seat with lecturing anyone. Anyone that uses the elite to get their kid into a private school needs to sit down.

And she was also in a horror movies movie Sleepaway Camp 2..named Mare. I was hoping she'd come do these reunions. Carly always felt second rate to Julie..imho

I kind of think both Eboni and Bershan find Ramona to be fascinating, frustrating, and harmless. God knows I've found her to be someone I'd love to observe and also go inside her mind.

New York: Leah keeps projecting with her insults. She's a Karen that is hostile, judgmental, tattles on everyone, and jumps to conclusions. She's what is wrong with people nowadays...same with her stick up her butt sidekick Eboni.

I say fire Michelle Stafford (who doesn't come cheap and has been a huge fail since her return).. and use that money for Mishal and other performers with spark/potential.

Philece being too young to play a mom to Vicky and Marley never held water with me since Donna was 15 when she had the twins. What others said before, her Donna was more emotional, and in trying to make Donna comedic..made her seem like a ditz. Anna's Donna was more regal, snobbish, and kept her emotions in check. After all, she had to remove her all emotions when dealing with Marley. And I often think Harding Lemay would have had a field day writing for Marley because of her backstory. Anyway, in the last few months of Philece playing Donna..she acted more like Donna..but not quite. And I agree with others that Nicole love would have been perfect for Philece. Nicole was always more prone to emotion, being her own worst enemy. Similar to Renee from Days.

I guess since Rinna isn't stirring the pot...yet....that she is hosting an event as her way to contribute

I remember after that first stint, McTavish went to helm Guiding Light, and everyone was excited to see what magic she would do on that show.. only for the show to suffer under her pen. That showed how apparent it was that she needed a strong writing staff to make her ideas work, or to make them fit the character vs making the character fit the idea.

@FrenchBug82she explains what happened in this interview in 2016 (1st in person interview in years)