Soaplovers

One of season 9's little talked about episodes was 'There are Smiles'. This episode tied up the Peter Hollister story, established Abby vs Paige, and moved Paige out of the Lotus Point orbit. These served to tie up season 8 mistakes (Abby being all pro Paige made no sense, Peter Hollister had too much focus, and Paige was never a fit in the Lotus Point group). The other main thing was the Laura exit was set up in this episode with resigning from Lotus Point and her way of telling Greg she was dying was so very Laura. The acting between Greg and Laura is good..and subtle changes of Greg's expressions as he realizes what she is saying is flawless. Greg, as a character, truly passed away once Laura passed away. The other main season 9 set up happens in this episode and it was due to the Peter Hollister murder. Jill finally calls Gary out on his dysfunction at always rescuing Val and Abby..plus his continual ties to the kids. She even elects to cool things with him...but relents when he admit she's right and ready to move forward with her. All this progress is ruined by two words said by Val in frustration to Gary 'your kids'. The last scene of them in bed is Gary in shock Val finally admitted it as Jill's look shows that she now views Val as a threat and now is back in the cycle she had tried to break out. In regard to the funeral episodes, how Teri Austin choose to play those scenes is what gave the Latham's the idea to make Jill snap. The Jill character is a perfect example of never turning down work. Teri Austin said she happened to be in LA for pilot season, got a call from David Jacobs to offer her a bit part, she took it and it turned into a 4 season role all due to her and how she played that brief scene with Mack.

In her first few episodes, the show dressed Stephanie up to be more matronly..especially in her debut episode. This was thankfully rectified and after a few episodes was dressed more glamorous and confident. Not only did B&B play up the odd Stephanie/Ridge subtext...the show also played up her jealousy of her daughter Kristen and viewed her as competition for Eric. Was there an Eric/Kristen subtext..or just projection on Stephanie's part. I think Bill Bell not addressing Eric and Stephanie's Oedupus and Elecktra complexes was a mistake.

A combination of a great season 9 cliffhanger (Jill and Val), a long wait due to the writers strike, promotion by the network of the season 10 premiere, rerunning that episode the week before with even cast interviews, and the announcement of Donna Mills leaving...is my theory.

Season 10 regaining momentum and a bit of lost ratings was a miracle. The reinvention into a late 80s soap was successful. However, Latham and co didn't properly plan how to maintain this quality once the Jill story concluded and Abby had departed the show. And season 12 and first half of season 13 was an attempt at a soft early 90s reset with more topical issues mixed with soap opera melodrama. 90210 and 1st season of Melrose had that early 90s social issue/very special episode vibes until both successfully tapped into that soapy sweet spot. To me, Melrose inherited the mantle left behind by Dynasty and Knots Landing. The apartment setting and young adult focus was a 90s update of KL's cul da sec and married couple focus format...and the OTT plot twists and cat fights was a 90s update of Dynasty's campy set ups and cat fights. As previously stated, teens and twenty somethings were watching 90210 and Melrose Place..not Knots Landing or Dynasty. Case in point, back in season 1 when Heather Locklear joined Melroes...my late 30 something mom had to explain to her early 20 something co workers who Heather Locklear was and promised they were in for a treat.

Jane Elliot would have been all wrong for Samantha.

Knots landing did seem to go back to the cul da sec more in the final season. Having a newly wed couple come on wouldn't have cost as much...and maybe reduce Anne to a recurring character in season 14. Had Linda not been killed off, the function Vanessa had in the final season could have been fulfilled by Linda....and also writing out eye candy Alex was ill advised as well.

In season 3, even when it was a self contained episode...the other stories were still simmering in the background. Season 5 and 6 are flawless seasons...that season 7 and 8 are let downs even though there were positives to enjoy in those seasons.

Both were half hour soaps so I think it would have been easier to headwrite two soaps at the same time. Edge of Night was a soap that would have faltered if expanded to an hour so I'm glad it never expanded. Slesar's biggest misstep was keeping Raven on so long. While popular, it really diluted the crime and mystery format by having her be the lead.

Bold and the Beautiful: Bill Bell and Brad Bell too obsessed with Brooke. Her character was limited in terms of story. Storm and Donna in the early years had more potential then Brooke. Young and the Restless: Never really evolving Nikki after she married Victor and post divorce from Victor. General Hospital: Labine and Riche..too much focus on Sonny and Brenda.

Max and Leeann carry over to when the original Max comes back..and Luna feels guilt for crushing on him while he's with Lee Ann. If I recall, Malone eventually stops the Kevin/Stephanie story and puts him in LeeAnn's orbit with Jason as her friend. @Vee Yasmine did opt to leave when her two year contract was up.

Three out of four of Roy Winsors serials featured the death of either the matriarch or patriarch within the first weeks/months of his shows. SS: Ellen Ames Search: Keith Barron Another Life: Scott Davidson It certainly is a good way to kickstart a new show..or to revamp a newer show.

RHONY Bring back the OG's and 86 most of this boring new crew...except Erin and maybe Jessel. Both of them would fit in nicely with the OG's..imho

I think the two sister focus with Van being good and Meg being bad would have worn thin if it continued beyond 1958. Only way it would have worked is if the show made Meg and Van more complex. Deciding to focus just on Van was the right idea..and having marry and move to a new town in 1959 was a nice reset for the show. I think bringing back Meg in 1973/4 along with her two kids was perfect timing. This Meg seemed a bit more naunced and not so broadly drawn as the 'bad' sister. Had the show continued beyond Feb 1980...I have faith the show would have reinvented itself. If Meg was going to leave and Van's step daughter Barbara did come back....having her and Dana Delaney's characters as the main focus would have been interesting.

Bonnie Bartlett talked about that in her foundation interview. This might have been why she was replaced so suddenly. https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/bonnie-bartlett?clip=93106#show-clips Seeing episodes with all three Van's, I think Audrey was the strongest performer of the three. She had a maternal element, yet also seemed like someone that could push back if need be. Peggy's Van seemed a pushover, while Bonnie's Van seemed more mature..but lacked a backbone.

Krista's Tina wasn't a bimbo...she was very passive and more of a reactor...which was so unlike Tina. Karen's Tina had some elements of Andrea's Tina...but she played a more subdued version of Tina. AE's Tina seemed to be different depending on the era. 1978 to 1981...her Tina was sweet, yet had a playfulness. This Tina let her emotions/lust over rule her. 1985 to 1990: Her Tina start out more low key, but strong willed before morphing into the more OTT Tina we remember from 1986 to 1989. From fall 1989 till she leaves in 1990, Tina becomes more layered and tries to change..before she leaves town to sort out her feelings. 2008: Is a ditz and easily controlled...though she has great chemistry with Cain. Wish she and David Vickers interacted more to see if they had chemistry. 2011: She is determined, OTT, and vulnerable. Plus, she had good rival chemistry with Blair....and not only did she change for the better...so did Cord.

https://daytimeconfidential.com/2010/04/28/days-scribe-dena-higley-on-hopes-story-twist Her interview about it. I will tell you every Gen X and Boomer woman I knew that watched Days loved the Night Hope story (including my late mom). I think her problem was what the follow up was to it once it concluded.

I wonder if the Keith story was meant to only be 3 episodes, but seeing the bump in ratings made the show realize that maybe serialized story telling was the way to go. Hence why in the 2nd half of season 1, you had Michael/Jane/Kimberly, Jake/Jo, Billy/Amanda/Allison/Keith, and for something less angst...Rhonda/Terrence. I always viewed the first part of Melrose to be like the 1st season of KL, and the middle and end of season 1to be like season 2 and 3 of KL (hybrid format) Season 2 of Melrose is just like season 4 of KL (soapy, but still grounded).

Line delivery can sometimes influence a writer to change how they write a character. I watched clips of her first scenes as MJ..and the writing had her being strong and putting her dad in her place. However, she delivered the lines in a more passive way and her body language was also more passive. So when the writing changed for the character, she wasn't able to put in any subtext or flourishes of strength to over come it.

At the same time as the Keith story, Matt's lawsuit story was going on and gave the show press. I just watched episode 14 to 16, and the changes continue. Episode 14 focused on Matt's lawsuit and meeting his parents, Allison's guilt over being the other woman, Jane's anger at Allison for being the other woman/discounting the wife, and we had a funny side story with Rhonda's short lived new roommate. To me, the new roommate story was islanded...and seeing Carrie try to hang at Shooters with the crew would have been a gold scene. Episode 15 has Jo's arrival and she brings a fresh energy that Sandy never did...and her chemistry with Jake is apparent. And we get the start of the Jo/Allison friendship (that lasts till season 3). And we see small cracks still forming between Michael/Jane even when they help the wife of Michael's co worker. Episode 16 sheds more light on Jo, firmly establishes Billy's attraction for Allison with his dream, and also focuses nicely on Jane/Michael's marital issues bubbling under the surfsce. Lastly..Matt's story is resolved and he only shares with his fellow island mate Rhonda. Apparently..episode 17 begins Rhonda's final arc...and it's a nice soap opera arc where she gets a love interest.

Days (Dena Higley) - Night Hope - was actually a character driven story.

Except that younger man had an intensity and anger about him...so it played into Vicki's dysfunction. And didn't Ben turn out to be related to the Buchanan's? Maybe deep down, he reminded her a bit like Clint.

Had MJ #1 stayed on...the Cass crush would have played out more. In fact, I wonder how she would have played out the Mary story and the Chad story. I have a feeling she would have kept MJ's backbone

I think part of the skipped recap weeks was because the first several episodes were 'eh'. But the last recap episode (episode 13)...you heard Daphne saying she couldn't wait to see next weeks episode because of the cliffhanger (plus, her debut episode is the week after). So I have a feeling now that the show is becoming soapy, they'll be moving a bit faster with the recaps. So far, I notice that all 3 have specific roles and distinct takes in each pod cast. Laura does the scene recaps...Daphne has a more feminist take, Courtney is more about looking at all sides of a scene, while Laura falls somewhere in the middle. They have such a good rapport with one another...and they're acting like how fans acted back in the day watching the show.

This is basic Corporate 101. Co existing with your enemy for the good of the company (Shannon and Tamra). The ones that are speaking up get left in the cold (Jenn and Katie). The favored toxic employees are protected (Tamra and Heather). The follower that contributes nothing is rewarded with continued employment (Gina). The tattletale is rewarded and not demoted/fired (Emily). And a temp worker is bought back to rile feathers and be more a burden then a help (Alexis)

He did much better in comedy though I did think his Mallet was decent...at first.