Soaplovers

Imagine if you had someone like Peggy O'shea writing this Duann/Julia/Renee story... it still would have been campy.. but there would have been some heart/meat to the scenes. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Alex is almost an actual person and not some loopy over the top individual that came later on. She seems almost competent in her day to day life.

I remember Blake walking into a room just as Lillian says out loud that she had an affair with Ed to Eve.. and I don't think she had a positive reaction to the news. And I remember when Alex came back in the fall of 1993, she and Lillian had dinner and Alex had said there was talk of something going on between Lillian and Ed.. and she confirmed it to Alex. Otherwise, I don't recall if anyone else ever found out other then those two instances.

I knew when Shannen announced within the last few weeks that things weren't looking good and was starting chemo again that the end was sadly coming sooner rather then later. She left a great mark with two iconic roles, a memorable supporting role in an iconic cult classic (Heathers), and always spoke up for herself even if it was at great risk to her job and career. Shelley Duvall was such a part of my childhood from watching Fairy Tale Theatre, Mother Goose Rock n Rhyme, and her attempt at adapting classic gothic novels into hour long anthology episodes (Nightmare Classic). It wasn't until my teen and young adult years that I got see the other part of Shelley Duvall.. her 70s output was amazing (Her acting in 3 Women was flawless). Richard Simmons.. Sweating to the oldies made exercise look fun and was an advocate for those struggling to lose weight. An icon also gone too soon. Dr Ruth... her advice show on Lifetime back in the day was one my late mom used to watch. RIP

Double post

The reason why some fans actually liked Gary and Abby together was because of the slow burn before the two ended up hooking up. Even in season 2 before the 'are you ready for me now Gary' line, you saw that the two had an instant chemistry with their interactions at Knots Landing motors. There was an ease in their interactions that it made perfect sense that Abby would find him more appealing. Season 6 was probably the one season where Gary/Abby were in sync as a team with their working relationship at Lotus Point and their passionate off work time together. They each understood one another and both probably just decided to enjoy this partnership for as long as they could. Season 7 was where you started to see the cracks reform again where they loved each other.. but their goals were going in different directions. At the same time, you saw Val and Ben's relationship going through highs and lows. He offered a more fun element in her life, they both loved running, both had a passion for writing, and he had the beach house on the Ocean. Season 8 was an interesting season to me because it was the only season where Gary and Val were in different orbits with some occasional interaction. Gary was off running for office with Abby by his side, he and Abby finally break up, and his relationship with Jill is in full bloom. Val is starting over in her marriage to Ben, briefly focused on adapting a book into a screenplay, and also deals with the Jean Hackney situation with causes issues in her friendship with Laura while she is powerless in being able to help Ben in his slow decline of his mental health (a reversal in roles). Oddly Latham's debut season is the season where Val gets the best writing from them. To me, once Jill's gone at the end of season 10 is when the show should have started the process of reuniting Val and Gary. Their hesitation in trying for a 3rd time should have been enough of an obstacle without throwing in Danny and the 'brain virus'.

Season 2 really leaned into the fidelity vs infidelity question in a wierd mix of standalone and continuing stories. There was no build up nor any long term fall out. Once Abby set her signs on Gary in mid season 2.. then the concept of infidelity in a marriage became an interesting question. It also helped that Val/Abby were friendly with one another and the build up to Gary and Abby cheating took over a season before it happened near the end of season 3. Having Val discover it and leave Gary was an awesome way to end season 3.. with season 4 continuing their divorce with her becoming a writer and Gary trying to make a go with Abby.

Alexis has always sided with the man over the woman. Remember season 6 where she basically blamed Peggy for not telling her that she had once dated Jim and didn't even think to also blame Jim. This is a pattern with her. Gina... what does she have on the production company, Bravo, and Andy? She hasn't ever earned her orange. Shannon needs help.. no doubt about it. Although I do find it funny that Tamra bad mouths her during filming, during talking heads, and during interviews promoting the show yet is upset that Shannon stops talking to her when filming is done and/or when she no longer is on the show. Tamra is obviously stupid and doesn't understand the concept of a 'co-worker'. Shannon views her as a co-worker.. someone she has to put up with while filming is in session.. but ignores once filming is over. That's what normal people do... they don't become friends with their co workers... they do their jobs then go home when the workday is over.

Right now, I'm sure writers are being hired, story is being mapped out, and perhaps sets are being determined. As we all know, going from a show Bible to reality takes time.

Sometimes an actor might not object to the content of the show if the part they're playing doesn't cross those lines. It sounded like he was playing a business man that was sort of dating Norma while they were partners in a franchise. While the show was off the rails... that part of the show he was acting in was the light/purity of the show.

I did enjoy that episode because it did give Ginger a rare time to be the focus of an episode.. especially in season 1. It's a shame that it didn't really provide any future story for her character even though it did provide a bit of context as to why she was a grade school teacher (to be around kids) and why she/Val did seem to bond in that first season (both forced by outside forces from being mothers as teens). Any story idea I could have come up with Ginger was basically played by Val (i.e. difficult mother, problems with her pregnancy, having baby kidnapped, etc). I think the show having Ginger start singing in season 3 was their attempt to make her character fit with the more soapy direction that the show was starting to undertake. Even in season 4, she was still islanded off away from the other cast.

In the real world, Val/Ben would have gone the distance.. but in soap land.. he had to go because some viewers liked them too much that the whole Val/Gary end game plan was put in jeopardy. They had fun together on their dates, they both loved to run, he had the beach house overlooking the ocean, and both were writers. They had more in common then she had with Gary..imho

It seems to me that Lemay replaced Carole with Gwen... since Carole and Angie were both fighting for Willis in 1975/6... and eventually once it appeared that Alice wasn't going to work in that spot, Gwen was placed in that spot.

Fans and Bravo have enabled Sonja for years... about time she start acting like a grownup instead of the delusional person that we've been forced to witness Dubai: Stanbury seems to be acting more like her old self, though she really needs to ditch Sergio. Lesa and Brooks are both delusional.. just are expressing it in different ways. Lesa's business last season was only doing well because her husband understands money.. or else her business would just be a typical trophy wife venture. Something is up with Brooks... she's become like Luann on Twitter with attacking her former friends. Is she stressed about her business, her ex, or other

From reading 1975 to 1979 outlines for Alice, I noticed that she had a lot of interesting stuff with raising Sally, dealings with Willis, her brief marriage to Ray, plus a low key feud with Olive that really took shape with the house fire in 1979. While Harney was a decent actress, imagine the dramatic possiblities had Courtney not been fired and been able to play some of this material. Fans would have rooted for her. Plus, the show wouldn't have put all their eggs in the Rachel/iris/Mac basket... since Beverlee was pretty burnt out by 1979/1980 (hence being given a spinoff that was somewhat less work then what she had to do at AW). At first, when AW expanded to an hour.. Lemay/Rauch added characters that were connected to the main cast starting with Angie Perrini in early 1975... who grew up next door to Ada/Gil (and the femaily had been mentioned for 3 years as neighbors and also how Joey was child hood friends with Jamie). Problem was that eventually they added characters with little to no connection to the core characters.

I did notice that Hope and Amanda came more alive once Pam Long took over as headwriter before both were written out at weird times (due to Gail Kobe sadly).

I agree Alan and Hope's marriage would have crumbled.. I just wondered how the Dobson's would have written Hope. From what I've been able to determine, the writing for Hope differed depending on if the Dobsons or Marland were writing the show. Rita was the classic case of 'your own worst enemy'. She was woefully insecure and she tended to make mistakes based on that insecurity then scrambled to cover them up. I always noticed a difference in Rita and how she acted when she was in scenes with men/women that didn't like her.. and when in scenes with her sister Evie. Rita seem more secure and rational when talking to Evie because she knew her sister loved her unconditionally while she was never sure if anyone else could, or would.

The other element going on in Rita's life was the constant presence of Holly in Ed's life. Post Roger's fall off the cliff until Holly left Springfield months later.. Ed had this pull toward Holly. Even after Holly left town, in order to stop being in the way of Ed moving on... Rita felt Ed was blaming her for driving Holly out of Springfield. These feelings led her toward Alan.. who also felt out of sorts with his new marriage to Hope. I also noticed a change in Hope after Marland took over... and I wondered how the Dobson's would have written Alan/hope post the island story.

Nixon and Marland had two totally different styles and vibes.. which were never going to work together. The title Loving should have evoked passion in a romantic, sensual, or intense manner.... in positive and negative ways. As @Khan mentioned.. Jeff's obsession with Trisha, The Loving Murders, and Dante's keeping Curtis prisoner where the best example of emotion hyped up. To Jeff, Gwyn, and Dante.. they viewed their actions as 'love'.. but that loving feeling ended up turning dangerous. The brief 1991/2 intro had an intense score that was dramatic.. and that should have been what the network and writers should have focused on.

I kind of understood the Alex motivation because she never properly grieved losing Lujack..so having Nick come into her life was a 2nd chance at becoming a mom. A chance she never was allowed to have. I think having both Curlee and JFP helming from mid 1991 to mid 1992 without Long there is partly why both Mindy and Alex suffered as characters. Had Long not quit in late 1990, she might have fought to maintain the layers for both characters and their story..imho

Ding dong the witch is gone. Sorry.. but I haven't liked Kenya ever since she laid her hands on Ramona during the 1st UGT. To me, that act made her no better then Porsha because she did the same thing to Ramona that Porsha did to her.

I bought Alex continuing to dislike Mindy only because of the fact that Mindy switched the paternity test results.. thus robbing Alex of her son. If it had been just the affair, I think eventually Alex would have eventually moved and just traded shady remarks anytime they interacted (like she did with Blake).. but depriving her of her son... unforgivable. We have to remember she had Lujack taken from her, reunited with him, then lost him tragically so for her to have a second chance with Nick was almost a godsend. So I always thought the writing in the early 90s was slanted toward Mindy with Alex painted as the bad guy.. when she wasn't.

Nikki would have so much story potential if Victor wasn't on the show... she's just held back because of the character of Victor.

From what I understood, once Bergman joined Y & R.. he helped bring along the practices that he learned while at AMC to the show. Hence why you saw a huge increase in noms and wins in the early 90s and thereafter. Maitland and Traci B were the first winners at Y & R. Part of the problem when determining who gets a nom and who wins will boil down to what episode/s you submit. So Kim Zimmer always had the big moments given to her so she was able to secure noms and wins.. while someone like Garrett went the more subtle route and that sadly is never ever awarded an Emmy. And I actually didn't mind Alex outing Mindy to Billy.. because Mindy had it coming. Also, I remember on one of the Locher room interviews Curlee explained that she and Long were not in total agreement of the Mindy/Roger affair story. Long felt that it was in character for Mindy to hook up with Roger one time due to impulse... but not to continue with pursuing an affair with Roger at the expense of Alexandra. I would have to agree that it seemed out of character for Mindy to continually go for Roger and be almost gleeful over it. Curlee in the Locher Room interview rubbed me the wrong way... she seemed almost like one of those toxic women that cause issues for other women at a job.

One I wish had gotten picked up as a series... I think the pilot got lost in the shuffle during the mid 00s on ABC

For me... I was an OC dude.. and I stick with it through thick and thin. Miami has been pretty good and Dubai is off to a promising start this season.