Soaplovers

Very good points. I didn't explain properly that he put the Phillip story in B/C position because he needed to put other things in place before Phillip finds out, and having Pickett leaving in mid 80 officially probably postponed the reveal because he needed to ease the new Jackie onto the canvas by re-establishing her with Justin, Phillip, Elizabeth, etc. I know that some of the actors probably weren't happy with his pacing and different way he wrote/structured the story. I know that Maureen Garrett felt frustrated with how she was written post Roger and felt that the writers made her character operate with less agency than before Roger falling off the cliff (I wish more 1980 episodes would surface) hence why she opted to leave when her contract expired at the end of 1980. Looking at the 1979 (when they were up)... Holly was front and center trying to survive being in prison and prove her innocent vs the few 1980 episodes that surfaced from summer 1980 where she's a zombie with no real indication that she's trying to move forward. And there were some rumors the actress that played Rita felt the same way (but again, I wish more 1980 and 1981 episodes would surface to review). And what he did to Diane Ballard making her more one note vs the more layered and complex character pre 1980 also should be noted.

My late mom was such a fan of Diane Keaton, and I recall as a very very young child being taken to see this movie. RIP

Reading through these posts, it does make sense that perhaps Marland didn't view the Phillip story as important since it does appear as though he puts it into B or C level position with the writing off of Elizabeth, and basically downplaying the whole Justin/Jackie/Alan situation by focusing on Alan's marriage to Hope and his affair with Rita while Justin/Jackie remarry and deal with the whole Ross/Carrie situation. Long/Kobe do the sensible thing by reviving the story and shifting the story to Phillip's perspective. It's a shame that they fired Justin and just focused on him with Beth over dealing with the fall out of learning of his true identity.

While I understand Mona's stance on SPS, it makes sense that Jan would be more open to establishing boundaries/start anew with SPS. Even during their 'Have not' brunches, the show always seemed to portray Jan/SPS as having a more natural connection then either had with Mona. I think that boils down to both being single moms, having made bad choices about men in the past, and both always kind of wondering what the other side (The Haves) is like.... and Mona has this weird belief that she's part of the Dupree family (even though Nicole wouldn't hesitate to cut her loose without any notice.. but some people need to learn the hard way).

Those 1983 episodes (if dated correctly) look to be near the end of the Dobson's second head-writing stint. While their work on ATWT isn't as good as GL (and I feel the same way about Marland's work on GL vs ATWT)... there were a few things that the Dobson's did on this show that I liked. I'm guessing this was before Eileen Fulton left the show for several months and was recast with another actress that acted somewhat like Lisa.. but wasn't our Lisa. - Maggie and Margo are Dobson creations... flawed, neurotic, heart in the right place, and their own worst enemy. - Tom/Margo were a good couple and creation - James Steinbeck wasn't such a cartoon like he became later during the Marland era and after. - Steve/Betsy as played by Frank R and Meg R really had chemistry. - Miranda/Bob... I feel weird for saying this, but I actually don't mind them together as a couple though his true love was Kim.

There was a Christmas 1982 episode floating around where Sara was talking about moving and missing everyone so I assume she was gone by January 1983 at the latest. I think the Dobson's used Sara quite well during their writing regime and keeping her focused on through 1978/1979 at least. Marland seemed to be the one to move her more into the supporting realm with her stories being as a therapist, her files being taken by Andy Norris, marrying Adam Thorpe, and just worrying about her son. By late 1982, she was just a diminished background character that probably would have survived the first year of the Kobe/Long era (since the hospital was a strong focus until late 1984).. but more like a supportive talk to like Katie ended up being as well.

Lisa really set the stage for characters like Erica, Dorian, Reva, and so on... that one of a kind character that could be selfish, but also had likable traits that made you watch them even if they did something you didn't like. It's really a sad thing that Sheffer/Goutman totally made her almost a background character once they came onto the scene. Up till mid to late 2000, Lisa still had a pretty strong presence/focus on the show with her 40th anniversary episodes being a highlight. Out of all of Lisa's loves.. I truly think Grant Coleman was her true love while Bob Hughes was her first love that she didn't cherish when she had him. I thought the Locher Room tribute to Eileen was well done with me being intrigued to see if Ellen Dolan's one woman thing about Irna will ever see the light of day... while I agree that Hilary is missed on soaps.

That 1991 opening was dramatic with all the symbols of a romantic and passionate love. That intro makes one think they're going to watch a show with emotion and passion.. but it was still a muted soap opera without much of an identity. Perhaps the show should have amped up the passion, emotion, and thrown in some camp. Part of the reason why I think the Loving Murders was so good was because the show finally leaned into an identity that worked (a mysterious mystery in the vein of Edge of Night) with the final reveal to be full of emotion, guilt, and intensity.

Actually.. .when Justin first came on, it was revealed that they were a couple until he dumped her to go with Jackie (most likely due to her father being a well known doctor). That was his story his first few months on the show before Jackie showed up with her dad and it being revealed that he did the same thing to her that he had previously done to Sara. I was surprised that the show went back to testing Sara/Justin again in late 1977, but I think this was the period after her hubby Joe passed and before she ended up with another unsavory character.

Mona... a typical bitter child free woman. She needs to go away and not appear for a few more weeks until she can come back and act like an actual human than a stereotypical one note character. Tomas is no match for Silk Press Sheila... but really who could Mr Roboto match wits with? LOL

I knew it! She was shifty and shady since day 1... Miss I have 4 degrees!

I'm wondering if her various voices/accents is a way for Pamela to pretend/be someone she isn't? Or maybe Cady is just trying out things because she doesn't want to play another Dixie or Rosanna

I know that Long bought Hawk onto the show, but did she also bring on Rusty and Sarah... or were they introduced by the writers that wrote the show during her 18 months she was off the show? I know that Hawk/Lillian wasn't Long.. but was she the one to break them up to reunite Hawk/Sarah.. or was that the scab writers that did that? I do think it's interesting that the show introduce older characters in the late 80s (The faux Bauer parents, Sarah, Maeve's mom in a recurring basis)... but I wonder why the show didn't think to make one of those intros either Meta or Trudy to provide a female to replace Bert. I think characters like Sarah and Lainie weren't needed and just reminded viewers that other characters from the past could have been bought back on a recurring basis (especially after Roger/Holly came back onto the canvas).

By 1989, Guiding Light truly becomes a strong ensemble show where lots of other stories/characters were getting focus/writing that didn't have anything to do with Josh/Reva. From late 1988 till summer 1990, Reva is basically part of an ensemble and not the main focus of the show. I think had Kim Zimmer not quit that she would have been written properly during the last golden age of GL and not been the sole focus of the show. The one positive of JFP was that she wouldn't have put up with Zimmer being a diva. And when she first came back in 1995, she wasn't the sole focal point.. the show still had some sort of balance between multiple stories (bad as they were)... and that lasted through 1996. I think when the show had a brief surge in ratings at the climax of the Annie Dutton story in summer 1997, the writers/Rauch wrongly assumed it was due to Zimmer and the focus became all Reva, all the time after that period.

I wonder if Deanna is a mini Vanessa and Donnell is a mini Doug. And I also wonder if Deanna is getting into some trouble and Donnell is covering for her with everyone by saying she's too 'fragile' to handle the death of their dad, etc. Also, I do agree that the show is in transition and/or moving into the next stage of some of the plotlines. With 50 episodes or so left of 'season 1'.. perhaps this transition is going to result in a season 1 ending cliffhanger/party where things come to a head. In regards to Hayley... she should be focusing her anger at Bill.. and not at Dani

Depriest's strengths seemed to be maintaining the momentum of her predecessors (Love of Life), injecting energy into a show (The Doctors), and consolidating densely written/populated shows (All My Children). I think her love of serial killers and darkly drawn characters stemmed from learning to write on Edge of Night (her first writing stint). Her stint on The Doctors had a mystery (who pulled the plug on a patient), psychologically damaged characters, and an interesting power play for head of the hospital position... all of these things were ruined by the inexperienced and vanilla Marland that took over right after her stint and turned the show into a chore to stay awake for.

I had heard that Elivira R wasn't thrilled with the direction her character was going in, or what she perceived the direction the show was taking her character. Wasn't she struggling with alcoholism, hanging around Warren, and making herself look like she was an unfit mom? Considering that Hope/Alan were started under the Dobson's and written as a mismatched couple under Marland, I saw the direction that Long was taking Hope to be one that was logical. The episode that was around YT from November 1983 showed a much more decisive and stronger Hope going up against Alan seemed to show that there was going to be a War of the Roses type of divorce story between the two until she was suddenly written off the show (and I have a feeling that had Hope not been written off, Alexandra would have been an ally of Hope considering the fact that she blamed Alan for her losing her own child... and perhaps Hope could have been the pathway to getting Mike/Alexandra to interact in a more organic way). Marsha Clark.. I heard it was due to her wanting to do pilot season and Kobe being bent out of shape because she and Long had big plans for Hilary. And I always envisioned if Hilary hadn't been killed off and she did end up having a child.. she wouldn't have changed her last name and would have raised that child with the last name Bauer.

I still say that Trudy Bauer should have been revived since she hadn't been on the show since the 50s.. and had married/moved to New York City. Perhaps Johnny could have been a descendant of that blood line.. and been either her grandson and/or son. Johnny really didn't get a lot of focus/attention. The two stories he was known to have (his cancer and the stalking story) were more focused on his lady loves (Roxy and Chelsea) than on him. I guess even back in the 80s, pretty guys were just arm candy for their female love interests as much as pretty girls were just arm candy for their male love interests.

I think when Brooke reformed after her initial stint as a 'bad girl', the writing and actress seemed to portray her as judgmental and looking down on those she deemed superior to. It's kind of why I was always team Erica because Erica was a have not while Brooke was just a bored rich girl. My favorite scene where Brooke was hit by the truth and reality wasn't between Brooke and Erica... but between Brooke and Gloria during Christmas 1991 at the Martin's where Gloria just told Brooke the truth about herself.. and Brooke was taken aback.

Salt Lake City: - Faux Lorelei (Bronwyn) really shows that she's emotionally stunted as a teen... and her mother doesn't seem so bad. Maybe Faux Lorelei should soul search and try to figure out why her mother and husband talk to her as if she's a child... because she acts like one. - Re-watching season 1 is so eye opening because Lisa and Meredith in season 1 are almost different people to what we're seeing in season 6. - Angie K has been trying to make a moment since season 3 as a friend of. - Heather trying to be peacemaker at the start of the episode is due to liquid courage of her wine glass. Lastly... I wish the show would have one or two episodes where the women don't interact with one another and we see them in their day to day. The little snippets shown look more interesting than another rehash or made up fight for drama. @MaximLisa/Faux Lorelei's sudden about face was all an attempt to save their jobs for season 7.

Hard disagree. Martin is emotional abusive and controlling... not my idea of a worthy candidate for star crossed lvoers.

I see it more as she feels immense guilt over their last conversation and her blaming herself for his death....moreso then this deep romantic love for Doug @TaoboiCharles Pratt Jr wrote a horror movie before writing soaps. What's even odder was that not only did he write a horror movie, but also wrote an episode of Full House. Talk about random writing gigs LOL

My thinking is that Jacob's brother will want Kat while Eva will still want Tomas so the two will team up to break them up and probably fall for one another. Still we'll have to see how the chemistry is between the actor that will play Jacob's brother and Kat/Eva. @Rmodelboy@alwaysAMCHorror movies and soap operas have been linked quite a bit with performers doing both horror movies and soap operas. The horror movie fan base can't be beat The only other soap writer I know that did mystery thrillers as tv movies was Claire Labine (The Bride in Black starring Susan Lucci and She Woke up starring Lindsay wagner). The original Friday the 13th is a soap opera with horror movie elements (the killer and their motives are what right out of a soap opera...imho).. and every female I show that movie to has said they understood completely the motive behind the killings.

Prom Night from 1980 that starred Jamie Lee Curtis and Leslie Nielson (it's actually kind of sad, though the 3 minute disco dance number really highlighted Jamie Lee Curtis' dance abilities) that has a I know what you did last summer where kids responsible for an accident are picked up one by one right around the senior prom. Curtains from 1983 that starred Samantha Eggar, Linda Thorson (Julia Medina OLTL), John Vernon.. about a group of women auditioning for a movie role in a remote location and killed off one by one by a serial killer (troubled production, though the killer's mask is quite effective).

He's one of the few that gets better with age... and can literally take my breath away when looking at him.