Soaplovers

20 years ago...the last new daytime drama debut

I love a show that changes their cast...change is a good thing.

Her last cohesive album for me was Confessions. I do like her new cd..but would it have hurt her to put a party song or 2 on it?

Sandra Nelson had a sinister undertone when playing Phyllis.. where I could buy her running down Christine/Paul and hiring goons to beat up Michael Baldwin (back when they were involved romantically). She had a quiet intensity that I thought worked for the character of Phyllis in the late 90s... She was less needy and neurotic.. and more ruthless/evil. Plus, her Phyllis had loads of chemistry with Jack... that I never saw between Michelle Stafford's Phyllis. GT's Phyllis was an even combination of both Stafford's Phyllis and Nelson's Phyllis. She was more controlled with rage seething underneath like Nelson's Phyllis.. but could do the quirky stuff that Stafford's Phyllis had.

When Passions officially celebrates 20 years...it will also be 20 years since a new soap has debuted thus truly starting the decline of soaps.

How is Kathleen Turner as Nola so far?

Marland struck gold with the Reardons...and i always felt Long had a better handle on the Reardon's than the Bauers. The Coopers were great in the early years..till Buzz came in..and Nadine was short changed.

Tinsley should have been a one and done...

I think they filmed longer because of a lack of drama/material.

Jill.and Victor had a brief relationship...and she even turned down being with John cause she liked Victor..only to find out he wasn't serious about her. Bill Bell sometimes would drop interesting things like this and drag out other stories

Kim is back to give kyle and rinna relevance

Agree...it's why I liked her better in the role. However, she had an edge and could play sarcasm when it warranted. And one of her final scenes was a minor breakdown after the Blade story was over. She didn't overplay it like Eileen tends to do...she played it just right.

I've loved the Lauren/Traci talks with them burying the hatchet...and Brad admitting she was the one that got away. I like when Traci comea back for visits...she's the one that inherited John's wisdom and calmness. I loved even Victor was intimidated by her.

Oddly Ellen was dressed more youthful in the mid 80s to early 90a..than she was in the late 70s/early 80s. I did like the 1982 story where David was caught between Cynthia and Ellen...and Ellen being single with her brief fling with a doctor. Even better, David was conflicted when Karen and Annie fought over Jeff Ward. Was it ever mentiones his response when not only did his daughter Dee marry John Dixon..but so did his 'surrogate' daughter Karen? Or was the Karen/David connection ignored by than?

Sunset Beach...a soap with endless promise. It oddly seemed more like a 3 year telenovela than a soap. Generations and Capital had cliffhangers..just like real life (life goes on)..but a soap is a story..and it felt unfinished.

Out of all the characters, Norma was the one character that grounded the show...a calming presence in a sea of crazy.

Ah.. Ashley before her character was degraded with the whole Victor affair than abortion.. thus kick starting her obsession with him. Neither the pretty Ashley nor the harsh Ashley seemed to be able to play that pathetic thing for Victor.

Compared to the last years of ATWT... 1996 wasn't as bad in comparison... there was a lot of potential... just the wrong writers to make that potential come together. Culliton's year long stint ended in January 1996 right around the time of the airplane crash causing Damian to be persumed dead, Samantha to be blind, and Margo to suffer from PTSD. However, there was some positive threads during 1996... Little Casey's kidnapping.. that led to weeks of tension between Hal/Margo/Tom.. with Hal's hot headed daughter Nikki wanting Adam to be told... with Nikki/Margo not getting along. The only downside was once it was revealed.. there wasn't any fall out and it was dropped. Lisa's public takedown by John Dixon was memorable and made sense... what followed didn't make much sense with that weird Martin character.. that had a youthful romance with Lucinda.. but nothing was followed up on in regards to all of that. And bringing on Ryder was a good move since he was the biological son of Grant Colman/Joyce Colman.. yet hardly any mention of that.. nor do I recall any scenes with him and Lisa. Just a pointless teen triangle with Dani/Nikki.... damaging a good friendship between the two characters before Dani got ushered out of town.. and Niki/Ryder vanished to backburner land. There were some likable moments and potential in 1996... just not the right group in charge to follow through on that potential..imho.

Denise richards is the only thing keeping me a viewer of rhobh.

I recall cricket's dad was dating Nikki during this period as well.. right before Nikki became a recluse on the ranch.

I would disagree about Donna...she had a lot of focus into 1990...and than just as she was getting a new story...the actress quit. But she was fairly well liked and written for..hence why she was spared from the Logan family axe. Kristen got a lot of focus up till she left suddenly in 1990. Its interesting how stephanie had bad relationships with botth daughters..but in different ways. Jealousy of some sort in regards to Kristen...and in regards to Felicia..because they were so alike. I also think Sally Spectra being popular changed the landscape of the show..and adding Macy as her resentful daughter made Kristen less necessary.

While he was good at story and pacing, i always found his ATWT to be cold and not inviting...at least to me. It's why I wish he had a co head writer that could provide warmth and emotion. I think that's why I was more drawn to GL in that era because it was warmer, passionate and full of spirit. Plus, the show had Curlee for story/history...and Long for warmth/drama/excitement. I do wonder who would have been a good counterpart for Marland to provide that element. I actually thought Cullitons year stint in the mid 90s was pretty good..more emotion and excitement...to me anyway.

She said she did the silly school girl thing cause it was the in thing...and a director warned her that she was on Irna's hit list so she downplayed her bubbly tendencies and got off the hit list.

Kristen has strong focus till she leaves in 1990. Why Brooke was his muse when i found her character limiting..I'll never get.

Katie was this show's Peggy Brooks