Soaplovers

I recall a rumor that Cat from DC had been asked to be on NY..and I know she verbally smacked Luann on WWHL...to the point where Luann was almost speechless... but she was living in Europe. Was that a rumor or fact about her being asked to be on NY?

Why would Susan come out of retirement? Soaps are in bad shape and offer little to no challenge.

The only actress on Texas that was southern with reddish hair was the actress who played Lurlene.

I will say the stalker story with Chelsea was well written and involved quite a few characters. It made sense Dana was thought to be the stalker since she had pretended to be Beth months earlier..though I'd forgotten Holly was briefly a suspect. Shame the show didn't at least do a Frank and Holly hook up..they had chemistry

I'd rather have the fluff and warmth of late 80s GL over the coldness of ATWT of the late 80s. But everyone has their likes and dislikes

I did think Pam Long left the show in an interesting place when she left in January 1986 with Reva trying to kill herself, Lujack dying a hero, Alexandra declaring war on Billy/Kyle, and seeing how Beth would cope with the death of Lujack. While the show wasn't at it's heights... Long did leave some interesting story threads for Ryder to pick up and run with... sadly, P & G went through numerous writers between January 1986 and July/August 1987 before rehiring Pam Long. If you look at the episodes during the 50th anniversary week in July 1987 (before Long returned) and the Christmas episodes in 1987.. it was like a different show (an improved show)

Also the nursery rhyme stalker story with Holly in the lead climaxed that same week of Manny's 1st wedding in 1999

Trish was the logical and level headed peacemaker of the Lewis family. I've heard rumors she opted to leave on her own..but who knows for sure. Oddly I thought Long/Kobe used her effectively.

Courtney had low self esteem so being around Tess and Julie made her feel inferior. I do think once she'd had therapy, she felt less inferior around more confident and sexual women. Her and Tess did become friends later on.

Alan wasn't there for the pam long nor Nancy Curlee years so naturally he doesn't know where to reach them..so he ends up with this bunch from the declining years of the show

To be honest, I don't find the housewives to be a positive images of women. It actually reinforces negative stereotypes of women as petty, overly emotional, and lacking in conflict resolution.

Rita and Ed had chemistry, and it was nice to see them in a happier time. Shame the actress opted not to return in 1989 cause I imagine Long/Curlee would have done Rita justice. If Maureen was jealous of Holly, imagine what she would have felt about Rita lol Elizabeth with short hair...who knew. Another character forgotten that could have been bought back for story and visits in the 80s and beyond. I assume Dean was another bad news hubby for Sara?

I think Joyce left during the 1981 writer strike..after her scheme was exposed by Lisa. I do think Joyce/Lisa could have carried into the 80s even if they were in separate stories. From what I saw of the Dobson's 1st stint at ATWT, they had a good handle on Joyce...she's the type of character the Dobson's could write with their eyes closed.

Oh hell no...she's a hot mess in real life...

Nene was gone for 2 seasons..and Atlanta had 2 strong seasons...so Nene should have kept that in mind when she returned that the show could go on without her..but alas..she didn't recall this.

I would way the last year or so of AH's stint, Marley was given her own voice and pov again. At first, Jensen had an easier time playing Marley than Vicky..and than by 1992, that changed..and Marley became a background character by 1993.

Problem is too much interference..so we wouldn't be able to see what her true vision would be.

Iva of 1985 had long hair and wore very trendy clothes..the longer she was in the show..the more subdued her look became.

I did like where Brad admitted Traci was the one to get away and that he blew it just before he died..and he admitted it to Traci..who seemed happy and content with her life by than. Speaking of which, I loved when Traci put her finger in Victor's face when he wouldn't listen to her about Ashley's fragile state. I liked as adults, Traci seemed to become more confident while Ashley became less so.

The problem with the final few years of SFT was the constant regime changes. One cant fully invest if the tone and stories change so much. Who knows what Pam Long/Addie Walsh would have done with the show had it not gotten canceled a few months into their stint. It seemed like they were tying up previous stories and the best part was Jo/Stu had a lot of focus in those final months.

And a hiatus for housewives will not be good..already the franchise has taken a dip in ratings and quality. I think the franchise will need to change in some fashion

Mindy went with Mallet to New York to stop his ex flames wedding..and than poof..both characters went in separate directions. Before that, I figured Mallet and Mindy were end game. Had Beverlee not quit (since orginally she had 1 more year on her contract). I wonder what her Alex would have done during that time.

The Hughes family seemed more repressed and steeped in high expectations..same as the Lowell family in the early years..and even in the 80s, the show seemed more muted even with the glam turned up. I think it was @Khanwho said a Pam long/douglas Marland team up would have worked..and I kind of agree. And Marland's 1st year at ATWT was strong due to him carrying on the plots started by Bledsoe Horgan. She had a more energetic pace to her writing and plotting than he did. And I do think I see why Hubbard didn't think Marland wrote for her. He seemed to prop his Snyder family pets at the expense of Lucinda. His writing tended to slant Lucinda as 'bad' and the Snyder's as 'good' in terms of Lily. Pre Marland, Lucinda/Lily had a realistic mother and daughter relationship...fought but loved one another. During the Marland era, Lily was written as barely tolerating Lucinda with her idealized version of the Snyder's as the perfect family. Later writers did make Lily and Lucinda more realistic as mom/daughter..imho

He should have left after 1988 and gone to a different soap. Didn't P & G use to rotate writers to avoid burnout?

I think Rick and Abby had somewhat filled the void of a tentpole esque couple..and kept the Bauer kitchen in focus. If the writers had written for them past 1998, I think the actress playing Abby would have stayed. Sadly the show put all their eggs into one basket (i.e. Cynthia Watros) and didnt think that she'd leave.