Soaplovers

I remember Logan, she had potential to be a long term character and she vibed well with Brad.. who was adrift as a character at that time. Rafael Delgado (1999) - Introduced as Ashley's step brother (his mother was married to her biological father Brent Davis) who she had to bail out due to his possession of forged art work. He briefly came to Genoa City, was tested with Nina briefly before he had a brief dalliance with Victoria before he left town. I think part of the reason his character was dropped was due to Ashley being recast with Eileen Davidson and the show deciding to take her character in a different direction.

I remember years and years ago reading an article about when both Zaslow and Garrett were coming back as Roger and Holly.. and figuring out how to make both appear old enough to have a fully grown daughter Blake. If I recall Zaslow, put hints of grey in his hair to appear older while Garrett refused to do that with her hair insisting that she would act older. If you watched Holly in the December 1988 episodes, she's wearing her hair up in a bun and in older matronly dresses acting nervous/timid about being back in Springfield. When she comes back full time in March 1989, she's dressed more youthful with her hair styled more youthful and acting more confident and in charge. She still carried off looking more mature and motherly to Blake without resorting to granny clothing. In regards to Elivira, I think she was 30/31 when she joined the show and she looked a bit younger than that in her first year or so on the show... but I noticed by 1981/82..no matter how youthful they tried to dress her.. she looked her own age.

GH: Victoria Parker (1993) - Played by Terri Garber.. she was an ex flame of Bill Eckerts and part of the whole weird caper that Bill/Holly were involved in. Once it became apparent that Emma Samms was quitting and that Bill Eckert was going to be replaced by Luke... her character quickly was written out of the show. Nikki Langton (1992-1993) - Her character lasted a little over the year, but she had come on and was revealed as Dawn's half-sister through the two sharing the same dad. She sued the hospital for malpractice after Monica took her into her home (in an odd attempt at replacing her late daughter Dawn)... and after that was dismissed.. dated AJ before she was paid off to leave him at the altar. Sheila Cantillion (1991-1992) - In the brief Monty era, the show had tried to get back to the hospital as a setting and she was introduced as a nurse that was friends with Amy Vining and later became her roommate. She briefly dated AJ Quartermaine and another doctor named Eric before she and Nikki Langton are set up as rivals in 1992 before she is dropped around the time Nikki leaves town (in the fall of 1992).

Raquel on AMC had potential once she was recast, and she got tested with Jake & Ryan before she finally was written off the show. I think the audience was sick of the character due to the bad first actress to play her and how one note the character was at the start. Kit being revealed to be Jack and Travis' long believed dead sister was an interesting twist even though the actress was way too young to have played their sister. I think that the concept of the character would have worked had she been introduced in the late 80s when both Jack/Travis were on the show and their feud was still intense.. not the late 90s/early 00s.

I think I remember that Blake was in the hospital and Ed found out that she was Christina and was surprised that she'd returned.... and that eventually led to Holly appearing at Ed's doorstep in the Christmas 1988 episode (it was a cliffhanger). Somewhere in this discussion forum, there was an article discussing the process of bringing Roger back where Long and Calhoun (I believe) were watching the April 1 1980 episode to see if there was a sound indicating that he hit the ground.. and they determined there wasn't anything to indicate he hit the ground so they concluded he was really alive. I also recall Rita being bought back up during this period where Ed and Alan talked about her.. and I think Long had wanted to bring her back to resolve that story thread but Lenore didn't want to come back.

Today was some plot driven BS. The Eva/Kat/Izaiah scene felt odd as if Kat and Eva swapped minds/personalities. These scenes were plot driven, not character driven. Madison - Run and don't pass go. Chelsea is unhinged and you did the right thing breaking up with this psycho. I know you all love your Vernon/Anita.. but not the scene that should end a Friday episode. Give me my Friday cliffhangers please. The snippets from next week look interesting so hopefully things will be back to normal next week.

From what I recall, I think the years that Holly was married to the elusive Dietrich was when the divide between Holly and Blake started. Blake felt neglected and I think mentioned that Dietrich was cold/uncaring.. and I think she did feel resentful toward her mother for taking her away from Springfield and cutting off contact with the people she remembered from child-hood (The Bauers). I know that Blake was meant to be a different character pre 1988 writer strike, but I always wondered if she had mentioned why she wanted to come back to Springfield once it was revealed she was Holly's daughter? And I know the scabs didn't know who she was talking to on those mysterious phone calls or why she was wondering around a playground alot... but did Pam Long decide on a reason or was that all dropped?

Teri Austin was probably one of the last of the decent castings the show did for new characters, and that was due to David Jacobs more-so then the other producers at the time... and it was a one scene character that was expanded because of her presence. Nicolette had raw talent and charisma when she was cast (she was cast at the end of season 7, right before the Lathams took over), but it took awhile before she settled into the role and the writers pulled back on over-exposing her. Her on screen mother Anne played Michelle Phillips worked better as a part time character coming and going. Melinda Culea was an interesting choice on the show and I think she would have worked in the earlier season format KL had vs the more high gloss late 80s/early 90s version of Knots Landing. I watched Penny Peyser on Crazy like a Fox and the civil war mini series, and she was a good actress... but not every decent actress is a fit for a soap opera. Wendy Fulton had a unique look/vibe (she was an interesting presence in Bare Essence -the mini series and short lived tv show), but the character she was hired to play I don't think even Meryl Streep could have made work. I think the thing about Knots Landing was that you need actors and actresses that could be relatable/middle class and also could be glam. A night out at Lotus Point was something middle class and upper middle class families did in the 80s.. but also could live their day to day lives doing things people watching at home did.

Days Alex North (2005 to 2006) - Not sure why the show didn't fire Josh Taylor and have Wayne Northrop reprise that role instead of creating a one note character for the actor to play.

In regards to Genie Francis and Diana Colville, from what she had said.. the character was supposed to be a one or two day part that was to serve as a red herring for a story that involve Patch. When the show found out that they snagged Genie Francis.. they took the role and expanded it without actually thinking about a character. She mentioned that Days at the time was chemistry based, not plot based... so her first love interest (Mike Horton) and her didn't click so they paired her with John Black. She said her exit was very memorable where she dyed her hair, slicked it back, and snuck out of town (even saying 'see... there was no character.. it was all a facade LOL' In regards to SJB, her character on Bold & the Beautiful had promise, but the show was dead set on having her be a spoiler to Bridget/Nick instead of pairing her with the actor that was playing Rick Forrester at the time.. who she had chemistry with nor did the show utilize the rival chemistry she had with the actress that played Amber. Y & R - Adriana Stone (2013) - she was described as a femme fatale that came to Genoa City in order to get her ex boyfriend Noah even though she cheated on him. There was a stolen money caper that was resolved, and she was set up to be a new Nina with Jill thinking she was a scammer and Kay kind of defending her.. and poof, she was let go from the show. Amanda Browning (2001-2002) - She came on as Mac's mother, and I recall at the time that there was anticipation about her mother coming onto the show because of the way Mac described her. However, she came onto to the show and was a doormat and lacked any sort of presence.. and she was written off within a year. Carmen Mesta (2006-2007) - A character that came on with various introductions and being pushed as a major character... but she was killed off within a year.

I remember my parents used to watch Sisters when I was a kid and I remember the reasons my mom stopped watching the show: Breaking up Georgie/John - Although it was a realistic story since a lot of men and/or women leave their spouse and families to find themselves.. and end up regretting leaving as we saw during the series finale. Writing Mitch out - Women viewers loved the actor that played Mitch and the show didn't understand that the men were just as much of a draw as the sisters were. Frankie leaving - The actress had wanted to leave at the end of the five season deal and wanting a life outside of acting... but it did throw off the balance of the show a bit. Not happy with another love interest of Teddy being written off (killed off) though she forgave that when he went to ER. The final episode of Sister's did seem to go back to the basics and focusing back on Christmas and the sisterly bond. Shame it wasn't kept up after season 4.

Zimmer/Wright/Cole - show killers.

I don't understand how writing a character that is supposed to be 50+ and acting like a teenager is someone to root for? When Nicole dresses up in a sexy dress and goes out for a night as a single lady, she comes across as confident and sure of herself. Someone that you would want to have a conversation with and enjoy getting to know. Whenever Dani does the same thing, it's giving off someone that is trying too hard and someone that doesn't value themselves or what they have to offer someone. It's why she relies so much on sex because deep down, she feels that is all that she has to offer.. and it wasn't helped by Vernon being patronizing and babying her (I cringe when he does the same thing to Anita). To me, I would prefer she and Andre be focused on as a couple in love while Bill isn't the end game. @Taoboi I'm not sure if it was you that said this, but someone had mentioned/joked that Ashley was a favorite of MVJ's.. and I'm curious if that was mentioned by MVJ.. or if it was just based on the fact that she's still on the show and being rebooted? Derek going a bit unhinged is a nice change... usually it's the female that goes unhinged when they're scorned (i.e. Dani and SPS/Leslie). Maybe Hayley's pushing the sex thing with Bill as a way to pretend to be into him.. and maybe hoping that he dies while making love to her. Would be the most effective way for her to off him and get the payout.

I think I would prefer Bill/Dani to stay divorced and co-exist as people always in one another's life and not being end game.. unless the show is going to end and both characters have character growth. One of the downfalls of soaps is the constant making up and breaking up that couples do and I would like BTG not to resort to that. Right now, both Dani and Bill have enough going on in their lives where they don't need to interact. Let them return to their orbits and put some focus on their daughters, especially Chelsea (who's been given little to no clear development/focus on-screen). On another topic, I don't understand why some people are thinking Nicole is throwing away her self-respect just because she put on a new dress and went out to get a drink by herself. To me, that shows someone that is secure within herself and isn't trying to be something she isn't. Her conversation with Kial flowed well and the chemistry was between two consenting adults just having a good night out. While I don't agree with sex shaming anyone, I also don't agree with vanilla shaming... which I notice on some other platform/social medias they are doing to Kat. Especially when Kat was still a virgin and wasn't keen on just sleeping with everyone unlike her misguided cousin Chelsea.

She irritates me more than not... partly due to writing and partly due to the acting choices of Karla. I'm not a fan of immature characters rather they're male or female... and Dani acts the same age as her great niece Samantha (and that girl is on my last nerve as well).

Y & R: Jill vs Kay... but I also loved Jill vs Nina (anytime Jill would show up at Nina's door.. I knew a verbal ping pong match would commence). ATWT: Susan vs Kim, Lisa vs Lucinda Days: Kristen (Eileen) vs Marlena, Julie vs Susan (from the past), Coronation Street: Eileen vs Gail

I'm sorry, but Vanessa is the last person to pass judgement on Bill considering the notches on her bedpost have caused the wood to vanish... and while married to Doug. I still say she is partly responsible for his death, but it's a shame that MVJ doesn't quite view her the way a logical person would view her. When looking at Kat, Naomi, and Chelsea... I think the best written and developed of the three are Kat. Kat has so many different sides to her personality, she is head strong, knows what she wants, and can even admit when she goes overboard. Her story arc is strongly defined with the sisterly issues with Eva, relationships with both her parents, her up and down relationship with Tomas, and her cousin bond with her bestie/business partner Chelsea. Naomi also has a pretty well defined character arc though the layers are hard to show. She was parentified by both her parents at a young age, she sought motherly comfort from Anita, she is head strong and driven. Her issues with Jacob stem from her untreated angst/issues with both of her parents and how their marriage dynamic was. Deep down she resents Dani for being such a doormat to her father so she vows to be the exact opposite and succeeds. She ended up marrying a people pleaser and has walked all over him in the same way that her father Bill walked over her mother Dani. Lots of elements to explore, but that would involve the show casting Dani in a negative light and i don't think MVJ is ready to go that far yet. Lastly, we come to Chelsea.. who I think has ample amounts of potential.. but has been given the short end of the stick by the writers since day 1. Her whole trople set up, the dalliance with the stalker, and even her relationship with Madison have either been fast tracked or occurred off screen. When watching Chelsea/Madison today... I realized that I never got to see the process of their coupling.. that it looked as though they were thrown quickly together so that Allison could stalk Chelsea and kidnap her. And also, to check off the diversity box without bothering to really devote time and energy to this coupling.

Greg Vaughn is dreamy.. and he and Daphnee have a lot more chemistry than she does with that creepy guy Carlton.

The show hasn't really invested in Chelsea as a character since day 1 unless it had something to do with Dani. A lot of her story is told instead of seen including this insta relationship with Madison.

I get having more diversity, but why not have more Asian representation beyond just Caroline?

I recall when the whole Brandon being Amanda's father came out that no one knew where Jennifer nor Morgan was.. and that Amanda had lost contact with them years ago. Considering the way things stood when Jennifer/Morgan both left in 1983, I can imagine that Amanda never was able to bridge the gap between the three of them. In a way having Brandon be Amanda's true father would have made more sense since Brandon had given Amanda to Lucille to raise and never really told Alan about what had happened. And the lady in the veil did show up to Brandon's funeral so it was possible that maybe Brandon was the real father of Amanda. Had Jennifer been bought back for even a short stint, or if a better actress had been cast as Amanda.. it could have worked as a story. I recall a rumor that Lauren K (Kate Roberts Days ) had been a possible contender for a recast Amanda in between her stints on B &B and Days... and it would have worked better age wise than Toby had as Amanda.

Dani is emotionally immature, insecure, and values surface over substance. She's also displayed an addictive personality which we've seen with her in regards to alcohol, sex, and Bill. The way she shaded Shanice made me really dislike her because she'll never been a quarter of the person that Shanice is. Shanice is strong minded, empathetic, and has people skills. Nicole is trying out a different persona now that she's newly divorced.. hopefully she'll regain her senses once Carleton is revealed for the creep that he probably is. Unrelated, but can the writers give Vernon back his balls? It's hella cringe how he makes his whole life about Anita when she doesn't do the same for him, imho. He worked much better when she was off the canvas as a character.

I do recall the Alan/Hope getting married thing started in December 1979 at the end of the Dobson regime, but I'm not sure if they would have gone through it had they remained... or if they would have taken a darker turn had they remained in charge into 1980. Elizabeth/Mike were the logical end game pre 1980, but Marland had his favorites and he had to recognize that Mike/Jennifer didn't share any chemistry right? He kept trying to make Jennifer happen.. and her character didn't spark on the show even when he spun her off into a different orbit with Mark/Amanda in 1982. The interim writers at least recognized that Jennifer/Morgan weren't working and wrote them off in the spring of 1983 once Marland was long gone. The part I'm still unclear about is the whole Ben/Evie story since the early 1982 episodes seemed to indicate that Marland was intending to reunite them, but by Christmas 1982.. Evie is celebrating Christmas at the Marler's and Ben is no longer on the show.. though they remarried. Did they marry and than break up right away? She's hanging out around until June 1983 before she vanishes even though her presence would have been needed during the Phillip paternity exposure that happened in August 1983. Considering she was the only female presence in his life by 1983... her presence should have been a requirement.

In regards to Kat vs Eva... I'm on both of their sides and also not on their sides.. and that's what makes their feud so interesting to me. Usually a feud involves an antagonist and an innocent victim... but here, both are have positive and not so positive traits. Kat is 100 % justified in not wanting to have a relationship with Eva. While her instincts about Eva turned out to be valid, her initial view of Eva was a classist view (just like her aunt Dani). And while I think Eva sleeping with Tomas was a really bad move, the fact that she's instantly forgiven Tomas knocks her down a few notches in my book. It takes two to cheat, and he did lie to Eva that he/Kat were broken up or else Eva wouldn't have gone there with him. Eva is trying to make amends in her own way over her mistakes, but sometimes a leopard doesn't change their spots and/or change takes time. It also doesn't help that Ted keeps encouraging her to reach out to Kat, but she's an adult and she should know that Kat hates her and all she's doing is poking the bear. One of my favorite re-sets has shifted the feud from being about Tomas to being about Ted, their father. I do think it's interesting that Nicole is still kind of on Eva's side and I wish the show would explore that a bit. And no, I do not want a baby switch and/or it to come out that Eva is really Nicole's child. A skilled writing team can make the dynamics work without going the standard switched at birth route. Tomas/Kat haven't had any stakes in their coupling since Eva was taken out of their orbit... but I have a feeling his being given a promotion by Bill to buy his silence will possibly play a part down the road between the two. Eva/Izaiah also haven't had any stakes in their coupling, but I have a feeling if he witnesses another fight between Kat/Eva.. he'll see Eva isn't quite the victim she makes herself out to be and he'll start to recall the warnings he got about her from Kat, Jacob, and Naomi. Time will tell.

I don't blame her for staying in New York and doing occasional visits. Especially after the last time she had a longer stint and was convinced to move back to California and than got axed. I'm glad the show is bringing her back when she's available and we don't have to endure bad temp recasts like Strasser and Dano