Soaplovers

RHOC: Shannon at the Crystal store is why I'll never not like her. Me thinks the editors did the fire and water scene as a foreshadowing of the end of their relationship. Her look when Tamra was talking to her was realistic...because no way I'd be anxious to hug her. Heather is insecure...and when she's insecure... she becomes condescending. Her daughter Max is just like her. I will give her a point for Def con analogy with Tamra. We all know nothing makes Tamra more insecure than a OC blonde..and Jen is that. I do sense some spunk and backbone with Jen...so it won't be like Gretchen or Alexis. And Gina should really be a bit less judgy with her DUI and allegedly doing something physical to her boyfriend. I did like the family scenes

It sounds like Robert/Iris was another version of Robert/India on Somerset. Didn't Robert break free from India because she was too status conscious and went for Jessica? And was Jessica level headed like Lenore..or more like Clarice in terms of personality?

I wonder who Todd Williams would have been tempted by... that would cause Mary Williams severe anxiety that made the anxiety she felt about Paul's escapades pale in comparison? I think the Williams family had an interesting set up that sadly got lost in the expansion to an hour in 1980. We had the working class cop Carl, his stay at home traditional wife Mary, their oldest son Steven that followed the more traditional teachings of his family, their son Todd that was studying to be a priest, the rebellious son Paul, and then the youngest Patty that was young and naive. I often wonder if Bell had watched Saturday Night Fever since a lot of the early Williams structured seem to be modeled after the Manero family in the movie. Blue collar rough around the edges dad, the eldest son studying to be a priest (who briefly steps back from being a priest to experience the real world), the younger son that loved dancing/women, and then the youngest daughter.. who was the observant young girl observing this family structure.

The Macy/Thorne/Anthony/Ivana story was probably the best of the stories going on in early 1995.. followed by Sheila's final descent of terror before she was exposed in mid 1995. Both stories provided welcome/relief from the neverending Brooke/Ridge/Taylor saga.

I recall Eva's small bubble of cast-mates that she interacted with on a consistent basis was usually Paul, Michael, Chris, Mary, and eventually Diane. She did have some interaction with Lauren and Nikki (in fact, Nikki did caution Paul not to move to fast with Isabella). So it made sense she and Eric didn't know of one another on the set. And sometimes Eric needs to be brought down a peg or two..

Soaps always continue production during strikes so the WGA picketers need to go away and focus on something else.

RHOC Miss DUI Gina certainly isn't judging someone for a mistake..nah..couldn't be. Tamra and Shannon face to face should have been held off till at least the 3rd or 4th episode. Anticipation is what this show needs. With that said...what Heather and Tamra don't get is both of them attacking Shannon makes the audience side with Shannon as the lesser of two evils. Who knew Shannon of all people 'threw Tamra under the bus'...and Tamra is so bothered by her...moreso then she was by Gretchen. #priceless

Pointless character... and a noose around Erica Kane's neck. Hopefully his character is single and can finally shed his co dependence on Erica.

I think Althea proved Hubbard could act and play a character unlike herself... while I viewed Lucinda as an extension of Hubbard.. especially as time went on.

Emma started off cold and harsh when she debuted on ATWT, and for some reason, Marland and co decided to soften her and make her warm and flighty person. I think it kind of undercut any potential the character could have had long term after Marland passed away. Cal/Lucinda had a fling after he/Emma broke up. I think he was starting to date Lyla, who wasn't ready for a long term relationship right after Casey's death so he and Lucinda had a fling. Then I think he decided he really liked Lyla and broke up with Lucinda.

I like that Zach/Jack gave some more development/dimension to Taylor then just the resident shrink or Brooke's rival for Ridge. Seeing her with both her father/brother gave Taylor other characters to interact with. It gave her equal development to Brooke in terms of having family to be around. I do recall Zach/Felicia's relationship brings out Stephanie's disapproval and controlling ways... but I recall it will be presented differently then it was with Brooke/Ridge.

Lily was always Craig's biggest advocate with Lucinda/Sierra just as much as Sierra was the mediator between Lily/Lucinda. So to have Craig treat Lily the way that he did just contradicted the history between Craig/Lily. It was acceptable that he/Rose didn't jive because of the lack of history.. but Lily/Craig were always good friends. I do remember Grant Coleman being the red herring for causing the gaslighting of Lisa after Earl's vanished.. but I remember my mom saying that there was no way Grant would ever do anything that vile to Lisa. She had said that Grant was Lisa's true love.. and that the break up of their marriage due to Joyce was the thing that caused Lisa to become the anti heroine in the 80s and thereafter.

Based on how Tangie ended up going into the Holly/Roger/Blake orbit... instead of Tangie being his ward/foster child... I think maybe Marcy could have been Blake's cousin Emily.... she could have still had that tension with Roger... and been conflicted over the Holly/Fletcher hook up and keeping it quiet.

I like that the families are still in the opening. This and NJ were always more of a focus on family. In fact, RHOC was a concept that combined Desperate Housewives with the OC....so the teens always had a focus. Plus we have seen Heather and Shannon's kids grow up on the show...I like that we sometimes hear from them about their moms. Last night we met the newbie Jennifer...and she is exactly an OC prototype. Messy older kids, hectic life...and lips that are..wow. only thing missing is the sky top lol

Newman was lured back in 1993.. and the plan had been originally to do a Harley/Mallet/Josh triangle.. but I'm guessing between the time the show was trying to pure Newman back and him agreeing.. both Beth E and Mark D opted to quit the show. I remember Josh first coming back with him coming to Harley and she basically letting him have it for basically dumping her and then expecting to come back like nothing happened. Plus Mallet/Josh butted heads because of Julie/Dylan's busted wedding. However, the back up plan for Josh (Tangie) didn't work.

From what I read the actor opted to quit so he just vanished without explanation. You could almost see that Chase/Nina seemed to be end game during the whole David Kimball story... though I could have seen young Victoria having a crush on Chase thus Chase/Nina/Victoria could have been a thing

Diana wasn't thrown under the bus for Leo... because Diana was never given an actual character other then what Genie Francis infused into the character.. which changed quite a bit. Genie Francis spoke about how it was frustrating to play Diana because the show never gave her an actual character to play. In fact, she said Diana was a bit part that they expanded once Days secured her. And she did leave mysteriously by slicking her hair back, putting on a wig and leaving in the night. So maybe what we saw was the real Diana

Only if Wigs moves her brood into a townhouse again like in the good old days.

This is basically the same cast as season 14 and everyone I knew said that the cast just didn't gel. So when I heard there was no shake up at all, I knew this show was in trouble. I don't think Nene/Kim Z is the answer to fixing the show because neither one of them are the same people that they were in the first seasons of the show. I'm going to be honest and say that they shouldn't be filming together.. and that instead maybe show us their lives with their jobs, friends and family. And hell no to Kim Fields ever coming back. That is one toxic condescending woman... and I don't think she bested Kenya at the reunion. It was a draw..imho. Now that I'm thinking about it, anytime someone semi famous does one of these housewife shows.. I end up not liking them anymore (Rinna, Kim Fields, Heather Dubrow, Eileen, and Garcelle/Denise Richards is on my side eye list). Maybe actors/actresses shouldn't do these shows if they hope to have a long lasting acting career LOL

I remember reading back in early 1994 that the reason Jagger/Karen left suddenly together was due to a few things. Sabato Jr only signed a 2 year contract while Cari S had signed a 3 year control... so when he opted not to renew his contract, the show was trying to decide how to proceed. They had considered having the two break up with Jagger leaving and Karen staying.. but Cari S had hinted she probably wouldn't renew her contract in a year so the show opted to write them out together rather then try to introduce a new love interest for Karen (which shows how much the show probably realized that Karen wasn't as important to the show as a character). Brenda probably benefited from both Jagger/Karen leaving and was given more attention/focus since she would be staying on so she had to become more then just a chip on her should vixen.. she needed to have more layers to her. And I think the show could move on from the Sonny angle easier since Karen was off the canvas. Had she not had chemistry with Sonny.. I truly think both characters wouldn't have stayed on long term. I always think of Julia/Brenda on GH in the same vein as Casey/Nikki on Y & R. Career driven/over responsible individuals with issues/trauma from their parent.. that shielded their younger wild child younger sibling from the parent... and both of them trying to help their younger sibling from being self-destructive... and both of those said younger siblings end up becoming iconic characters on both of their soaps while their older sibling ended up leaving after a few years.

Marland did say that GL was the easiest soap for him to take over...that the Dobson's left it in such great shape. And a lot of his first year on GL was finishing out some of what the Dobson's had written. I did read a rumor once that in 1985, he was given a choice of GL and ATWT...and he picked ATWT. Not sure if true..and what his reasonings were for choosing ATWT at that point...other then ATWT had somewhat been fixed by Horgan Bledsoe while GL was knee deep into the Infinity story (which maybe Marland didn't want to touch with a 10 foot pole lol)

What I never understood was why the show didn't just write off Josh/Reva as leaving town instead of having Reva drive off the bridge... especially since he ended up leaving within 6 months after she did. That way, the show wouldn't of had to do all the stupid things they did later in the mid 90s

My guess is that ABC ended up getting younger viewers (high school and college aged) that didn't want to watch soaps that their parents watched (which were P & G).

Nick and Sharon.... yuck B & B... so basically lather, rinse, and repeat

I view The Willows to be a rough draft for Nola/Quint at Thornbury Hill. If you think about it...you had the 'anti-heroine' needing a break from conflicts in their lives, they stumble into a gothic location, and become friendly with a mysterious man that we aren't sure is a good or bad soul. Had Marland stayed on beyond those 13 weeks..he might have done more with the Willow story.. or he maybe used it as a stop gap for Grant/Lisa until he could get Joyce back onto the show.