Soaplovers

The first 13 weeks was written by Nixon and those weeks were establishing Jo and Patti.. Jo's tension filled marriage to Keith.. and Keith's parents. I don't know if her husband was killed in the first 13 weeks or if he was killed off after Nixon was replaced by Vendig. From what I've read, his stint as head writer during the first few years of the soap had a more criminal/crime element... which tracks since he then went on to create Edge of Night eventually.

It's great that soaps are employing authors and playwrights as writers on the soaps since they tend to offer a fresh perspective and lord knows soap operas need some new perspectives. So Christopher Dunn did the breakdown and Danielle Paige did the script writing. She's written for soaps in the past (GL), and has written novels that offer new spins on classic characters (Dorothy from Wizard of Oz) so I'll be intrigued to see what future episodes written by her will be like. First thing is that she offered up two very good cliffhangers. Eva vs Kat still well done, and I liked the reality check both Nicole & Chelsea gave to Kat. Kat is correct about Eva, but she's going about things in the wrong way. And Eva seems conflicted because she's finding that Nicole and Ted seem like nice people. Now the new hair on 'Leslie' is probably what she looked like back when she knew Ted so she's doing this stunt in order to show herself to Ted. Vanessa/Doug had some focus with the two being empty nesters and the love/romance no longer in their relationship and now both are keeping things from the other. Sounds like Doug has a gambling addiction and it looks as though Joey (Hello Jon L!) knows this and will use that to get Doug under his thumb. I have a feeling Vanessa coming from money might be a factor in their plans of sorts. I have a feeling son in law Jacob won't be popular at any future Dupree gatherings and this is sure to put extra strain on his marriage to Naomi. Lastly, I noticed that there was some character propping being done with Super Nurse Ashley yesterday... and it was a classic example of telling us what we should think about a character instead of letting the audience decide for themselves what they think of Ashley.

If you look on that site we don't mention for Mason Jarvis (played by Forbes March) at ATWT, it will give you a brief rundown on who his character was during his brief stint on the show.

If they ever did get to S6 and S7, they could bring on some of the people that were on those seasons to give context to what the three are watching. Still... they're still watching S1 with constant distractions from producers and/or stars coming in to talk. They should do what the new Ugly Betty podcast is doing, having a guest for the first part of the segment, and then discussing the episode after the guest portion is over.

Joanie started off as Laurie's side kick and/or kind of the Liza of the new batch.. and I think that's why she ended up lasting a bit longer because of Seyfried. I was bummed that Reggie/Joanie was short changed when the two had serious chemistry, and it was the only youth story line that the show seemed to write that worked. Agree. Even by 1989/1990, the garden party/country club structure had fallen out of vogue. The early 90s teen scene (Hayley, Brian, Terrence, Taylor, An-li, later Julia) worked so well because it wasn't about garden parties/country clubs. For example, Taylor/Terrence had conflict due partly to class differences, but also due to race with An-li being caught in between the two.

Cheryl L Davis wrote the episode, and the pacing felt off a bit. I wonder if that's due to the breakdown writer or the script writer. - I view the Ashley/Derek content as what my late mom used to call 'fast forward material' or 'bathroom/snack break'. I often wonder if writers do the quick scenes because they know viewers do that. - In the family, I view Chelsea potentially as the neutral member of the family. What I mean by that is that she can co-exist with all members of the family without issue, and can occasionally be the voice of reason (like with Kat and Dani). Last scene sounds like she has more then meets the eye in terms of character development. - Kat vs Eva continues to interest me.. and they better be half sisters at least because the potential is there for a long term story arc with these two. - Dani was more sub-dued, and I truly hope her speech to Failee is true and she focuses on her future. Though she should stop saying 'this can never happen again' to Andre because she's hooked up with him three times.. and they're not related, both are single, and it's a healthier way to blow off some steam. - So we're seeing what I think was the start of Bill and Dani's marriage in his scene with Failee where he wanted her to quit her job. Hope she doesn't listen and continues to work.. and also explore her friendship with Caroline and if she knows any of the characters (like Ashley, Mona, etc). - Martin is a jerk... Smitty can do so much better.

The rate they're going.. they won't hit S6 until 2035

Bert and HB would have been a great pairing, both were strong minded people that had a love for family and community. If anyone would have had issue with Bert being with HB, I would have pegged Billy as the one that might have had reservations. Josh and Bert bonding during the physical therapy scenes in the summer of 1984 and Rick/Roxy becoming a couple were the seeds being planted for Bert and HB being in the same orbit down the road. Plus, once Reva/HB broke up in 1985, I could see Bert being a source of comfort for HB since she would know what he was going through. Even Kim Zimmer knew how important Charita was to the show per this interview from a long time ago https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/kim-zimmer?clip=124620#show-clips

I remember Becca was just a trope and not a character. Although Abigail Spencer did infuse Becca with personality and a bit of a backbone.. she was able to hold her own against Greenlee and she did have chemistry with Leo. I think the choice to have Becca be uncomfortable with Bianca coming out was the final nail to the character because by the early 00s... you couldn't present naunce when writing social issue storylines unlike back in the earlier years of AMC. In regards to 'vertical scenes', TPTB were trying to get rid of those types of scenes as far back as the 80s. I remember Pam Long in an interview in 1984 said that she had so many requirements/mandates to provide plot that she would try to fit in a 'vertical scene' whenever she could in order to just show characters having a conversation.. but P & G was pushing to do away with those. That could explain why Pratt kept Nixon out of the writers room because she was probably insisting that those types of scene be included in the show.

Jasmen Darnell Brown wrote a great episode today and it was a nice relaxing day off from the ongoing dramatics of Dani (absence makes the heart grow fonder). Today we finally got some focus on Nicole and her family dynamics. Nicole is a warm and personable person, a perfect character to come into the matriarch position down the road if the show lasts many years. Kat turning out to be an unexpected foil for Eva/'Leslie' was a nice surprise... and I want to see more of her dynamic with Nicole since it appears as though Nicole relates more to Martin then she does with Kat. I also enjoyed getting to see more of Smitty, and I like the arc of him being an unfilled stay at home parent and wanting to dip his toe back into the workforce... and Nicole encouraging him was a nice touch. It probably stems from her watching Dani put her dreams aside for her marriage. Nice to see a bit more of Vanessa/Doug's rapport.. and it look as though his gambling addiction will bring about some unsavory characters. I have a feeling Vanessa will probably be losing some money down the line. Though her going gun ho over Diego at the club was a ballsy move since people do talk. Lastly, I enjoyed the breakfast scene with the three women gossiping and having fun like friends do. I love that we're getting a nice contrast between the haves and the have nots thus far.

The only soap I'd love to see come back from yesteryear would be Edge of Night, but only in half hour form like it was back in the day. You could have a close knit circle of characters that are connected to all forms of the law rather it's on the right side or the wrong side of the law. And no ultra wealthy families like the Whitney's unless they're written as being on the wrong side of the law.

Quint and Nola should have been like Nick and Nora Charles. You had hints of that dynamic during the whole 1983/1984 Annabelle Sims mystery where Nola was investigating clues with Quint going along while they bantered and balanced being newlyweds. It's a shame that they were written off in the spring 1985, when I think how much their presence would have made the 2nd half of 1985 a bit more light/whimsical to contrast the darkness of the Infinity story. In fact, I think Quint/Nola along with Tony/Annabelle could have fit in with the Infinity story due to their ties with Beth/Lujack...and the Lewis/Spauldings. Lastly, I found the weekly ratings for 1985 and I was surprised that GL didn't really suffer quite as badly as I thought they would in the 2nd half of 1985. Granted they usually ranked 5th or 6th on a weekly basis (out of 13 soaps), with an occasional jump in ratings up to 4 th (such as the last week of November 1985 which was the climax of the Infinity story). Rating didn't start falling until the first half of 1986 when Jeff Ryder was sole headwriter, which could explain why he was quickly replaced.

Didn't Bill and Hayley just close on their new place? Not enough time to go in and make it their own space yet. Or perhaps the lack of individuality in their space is done on purpose to show that their new union is just that... sterile and without warmth.

In a matter of weeks, hopefully a bright light will appear at the end of the very long dark tunnel of Ron C. He and Jamey G being hired on BTG is concerning

I think she'll be back tomorrow. Fingers crossed

Looks today's script writer was Judy Tate with Sara Bibel as breakdown writer. Today's episode seemed more focused with just Plot A and Plot B being focused on today (The press conference and the aftermath of Ashely/Andre being trapped in the elevator). Seeing the dynamics between Bill/Hayley and Bill/Dani really highlights the differences between both couples. The Bill/Dani flashback showed a partnership between a long married couple that seemed on the wavelength while Bill/Hayley is showing a couple not on the same page and not a team. When I look at Derek, I think back to a comment that we used to say to the hot guys or girls... 'Smile and look pretty'. We all know if there ends up being an Ashely/Andre/Derek triangle.. that Andre will be the winner. Either recast Derek, or get him some acting lessons. I wonder if the nurse will eventually join the gossip circle that includes Mona, Ashley's mom, and Dana(Leslie)? Would be a fun time seeing all four compare notes on the goings on behind the gate.

I wonder if Chelsea did livestream it on purpose for both views and also to stick it to her mother Dani a bit... and then plays innocent since she called attention to what she did vs someone else discovering it. Someone had stated earlier in the thread that they wished one of Bill's daughters would be more conflicted.. and I have a feeling perhaps Chelsea will turn out to be caught between both of her parents. I also wonder if maybe the show will paint her as as a chameleon, someone that changes persona based on who she surrounds herself with. I still remember the random scene between Chelsea and the guy at the bar where her persona changed a bit that leads me to that theory.

According to Karla in an interview, the production hadn't received all of its equipment for lighting and other modes of production at the start of filming.. so I think the improvement comes because they received those pieces of equipment.. plus some of the directors had never directed soaps before so they were also learning the 'soap opera technique'. Today was the first episode that MVJ didn't write, that honor went to Lynn Martin today.. with Ron C as the breakdown writer. It seemed less exposition then the episodes last week, but I have a feeling those first five episodes were written by MVJ while pitching the soap to the network. Sometimes creators have to provide a few sample scripts in order to set up the story and convince the network that the show concept has legs.

I've had my fill of Dani to last awhile... can we have a Dani free episode soon? No wonder Bill dumped her, Hailey/Hayley seems less high maintenance then Dani.. and people don't like high maintenance.

That scene really highlighted the different socioeconomical levels within Pine Valley. Phoebe had good reason to not like Dixie, but she and Enid should have just given her the cold shoulder and not trashed her within ear shot of Dixie. Enid is used to great effect into the mid 90s to great effect even when her family is no longer in town. She helped provide texture, and there were a few instances where she drew the line (i.e. during the whole Cindy situation, etc).

I think so... https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nytimes/name/peter-andrews-jr-obituary?id=51984408

I think I recall that the actor who played Cord had remarked at the time that the show kept doing the same story with Cord and Tina (Tina messes up, they break up, Cord meets a new girl, Tina schemes to win him back, they reunited, etc). He said when he saw that Mia Korf was hired and being paired with him in scenes, he knew that the same thing was going to happen and gave notice. I remember soap magazines in 1992 were confused over why Maggie Vega was being featured so much when the show had LK as Cassie that could take up the mantle.. and even remarked that Andrew had better chemistry with Cassie then he did with Maggie. I think originally Cassie and Andrew were friends that bonded because they were both single and she was comforting him over Megan's death and he was helping her with dealing with the Bo/Sarah situation.. and the show eventually paired them up in the summer 1992 with fun scenes while the Marty lying about Andrew being gay was playing out.

I think the show was desperate to get a veteran back that they didn't really have a plan for Josh when he showed up. TPTB had stated had Beth Ethlers/Mark Derwin not opted to leave, they would have done a Mallet/Harley/Josh triangle. There were some scenes when Josh first came back in 1993 where he visited Harley at the firehouse and she gave him a mouthful over the way he had left... and Mallet/Josh butted heads after the Dylan/Julie wedding went bust. It would have been a great story because there was definite acting chemistry between all three. After the Tangie/Josh story went bust in early 1994.. the show did try Josh out with some of the other women. He had a video blind date with Lucy, he was fixed up with Holly by Vanessa one time, and he and Jenna were at the Roadhouse one time flirting with one another. Jenna and Josh would have been a fun little fling, but I couldn't have seen them as a long term couple.

Vanessa as Dani's neighbor with the one liners/being the Greek chorus and being messy probably did more to lure in the non black fans in episode #1 then Ashley/Derek did. Just my two cents Guza is experienced with head-writing and he's worked with MVJ in the past so I think they will be a good team. See how memorable that 2 hour Port Charles movie was I remember poor Lucy hanging in the elevator shaft as well.

That was the thing about this soap, it still had some great soap opera stories even with the religious angle. In some ways, it heighten the soap opera trope of conflict and temptation... and showing the fallout of choices made. @dc11786The good stuff really gets going in the middle section of episodes (around episode 300 to 600).. though there are some interesting elements/stories that play out in the final batch of episodes that are cut short by the cancellation. Apparently, the announcement the soap was canceled came out in late August 1984 and were given only a few weeks to tie everything up. The cause of cancellation for this soap was the same thing that caused Edge of Night/Ryan's Hope/Search for tomorrow to be canceled... Affiliates.