Soaplovers

I could see Kassie playing Mari Lynn..only because she played Chelsea on GL who was kind of like Mari Lynn with an edge. I do remember Cassie's 1st year played by LB. She was all over the map with viewers liking the actress..but wishing the writing was better. And I do agree Cassie and Andrew didn't seem planned. They were written as friends with her advising him on his unrequited love for Megan while he was advising on her situation with Bo. And viewers wanted them paired because they were likable together. And I do remember in 1995/6 where Cassie had expressed being restless and wanting to go back to work as a reporter. She and Kevin had good banter as they were in competition for a story..and they ended up having an affair. I think the Andrew/Cassie divorce story got short changed..probably due to regime changes..since I recall Tea/Andrew were tested..and she and Cassie didn't like one another. And then JFP hired her friends..and instead of being objective and seeing that Tim Gibbs was the problem...she fired LB right when she was on maternity leave. (reminds me of when David Tom got fired as Billy because he didn't spark with Amelia on Y & R..when she was the problem). I did like that Cassie did become well and lived her best life outside Llanview...best medicine for mental health is living away from dysfunctional family members.

My parents were in their 20s when the show debuted and it ended right as they hit 40...and they watched it in Sundays. So it wasn't just 50+

At first the Susan Piper story had promise.. with her mixing it up with Mike, Tony, Annabelle, Hilary, Reva, etc at first... but it went over the top.

I think Lisa's antics will ensure SLC is good to go once Jen Shah is found guilty

I always assumed Long kept the door open for Alan to return..and maybe she was setting it up with the Mike/Lillian/Alexandra triangle...with Alexandra/Mike becoming engaged which motivates Alan to come back to settle scores he had with both..and he could have still utilized India for help.

I think it should have been a Hulu, or a Netflix series. Primetime soaps would have a long life if all 10 to 13 episodes are dropped at once.

About time Delores pulled her weight. Jackie, Jennifer, and Teresa's shoulders are hurting from keeping the show afloat.

Dallas Sue Ellen's alcoholism was the only social issue that was told in real time for several seasons. It was a shame Pam's problems with having a child never got more development...but it was a story thread that wasn't tied up neatly. And it was a shame that Donna and Ray's adoption story was during the dream season. I can't think of any other social issues.

Joan Collins got an emmy nod for Dynasty..so it wasn't impossible. Does anyone wonder how Jean Stapleton would have done if she had accepted the role?

I liked that Jessica didn't drive. She was ahead of her time with the walking, biking, and 'lyfts'.

I remember Cally..she seemed sweet..almost too sweet. I did like how Sue Ellen kind of mentored Cally. April was a good character the first season or so she was on..but once she was paired with Bobby..she became bland.

I saw Mart in a 1983 Christmas movie..and it was unfortunate that the show was intent on youthifying the show. Ed could have easily moved to the patriarch role in 1983 once Rick had been aged to a young character. I'm not sure if Maureen and Ed would have been paired had he remained in the role...tbh.

All My Children Dottie had a social climbing mom Edna, a warm step father Benny..and seemed insecure. And I always thought Tad got off Scott free with how he messed with her mind and emotions. The show had her scheme to keep him after she had a miscarriage..thus making him the victim..when he had dated her due to being paid. After she and Tad parted ways, the show made some half attempts at keeping her in the mix (i.e. working as Erica's assistant, being roommates with Greg, and dating Palmer's step son)..but then saddled her back to Tad before she left town to start over. Tad was the Bermuda triangle in terms of most of his pairings losing their point of view/agency (Dottie, Hilary, Dixie, Gloria).

@Cat I've always been intrigued by the alliances and interactions that occur beneath the surface. Budget Coven is a tight trio, but I do notice Delores/Marge are pretty close (Delores even saying she'd marry Joe if Marge went before him). So maybe Delores sides with Marge over Jennifer because of the friendship? Jackie and Jennifer have always fascinated me...they seem more like frienimies then enemies or friends. I view them like Jo/Blair from Facts of life. They'll shade one another, but if one is attacked..the other will defend them.

Guiding light Reva jumping off the bridge in late 1985 looked like a good idea because we've seen the path to rock bottom play out for 2 years...and had Pam Long not left in January 1986, we could have seen Reva rebuild her life in a organic way. However, we saw her as a nursing volunteer and her taking in the mystery man Cane before she went back to Kyle then Josh again..all in a years time. Young and the Restless Patty's return as Mary Jane masterminded by Victor seemed good on paper..and she was played with conviction by Stacy H....but the writers made her crazy..and it was written as camp instead of a serious story of mental illness.

I like the disjointed islanded feel of this season of OC. It's sort of gone back to its roots. Though next season, we need housewives with older kids...no more small kids.

GH: Holly's return in 1992 was odd timing because Finola had quit a few months before and Tristan was leaving..so she remained for 18 months in some outdated adventure story and paired with Bill Eckert that went nowhere. Nikki Langton in 1992..she was Dawn's half sister and she kind of looked like Dawn..so I could have seen Monica being motherly to her. I think the malpractice lawsuit was a smart idea..and then hooking up with AJ. Would have been interesting to have had her be the nightmare Quartermaine daughter in law...but she was quickly written off.

Y & R I thought Phillip's death was a good story decision. History repeating itself with the car accident, Kay/Jill reunited in grief and also disdain for Nina...Jill trying to do to Nina what Kay had done to her, etc. And it left Nina vulnerable to the likes of David. B & B I actually think Karen was a good idea, and at first, Joanna Johnson made her different than Caroline...she was more a fish out of water. What went wrong was making her too polished too quickly...and not finding a proper story for Karen. There were times she was not an ingenue and even had an edge....but her stories didn't get followed up on (she was paired with Thorne...and had good rival chemistry with Macy...but I don't recall any element calling into question if Thorne was with her because she looked like Caroline, etc). Sunset Beach Rae was dropped a mere few months into the show's run..and I recall people were pissed because she was likable..and she/Casey had chemistry. What was SOD's write up on this story?

It makes sense why she was recast because she mopped the floor with Phyllis. Alex Donnelly had a strong and confident presence even when doing desperate things (i.e. ditching Andy for Doug, ditching Jack for Victor, and spermgate). She didn't have that jittery nervous thing that Stafford had. Susan Walters was a decent replacement as Diane..but she could play up the pathetic vibe better..but also had the sarcastic confident vibe. Maura West...well..miscast and over rated as an actress.

Sharon Gabet was on before Elaine Princi....she seemed more like she was filling a gap. And I think she could have played Melinda as more fragile. She had a dramatic vibe when she played Raven...that she could have channeled into playing Melinda's struggles to readjust to life outside the hospital. In regards to Sarah Brown various roles outside Carly, I think Madison was the character most wasted. She seemed to fit in well on Days...she had a good potential rival in Kate, a frienimie vibe with Sami..and she worked with Brady..and had good friend chemistry with Nicole. Young and the Restless: Jed Saunders (Josh Taylor) first came in with a hint he may have been Nina's dad...then he and Nikki had great chemistry along with having a one night stand with Jill. I was looking forward to a triangle developing....and we all know how Victor would have reacted. Sadly..the show dropped him...and Jill was left in a neverending divorce story while Nikki went back to pining for Victor before getting with Brad.

Reruns are where sitcoms and procedurals rank higher...but serials did better once DVD sets became a thing.... and I think the same of streaming. MSW was a show Hollywood didn't get...according to Angela Lansbury...people in Hollywood watched sitcoms, not shows like MSW. Guess the disconnect between Hollywood and the rest of America was apparent even in the 80s.

Cynthia Watros leaving doomed Kelly....Cady was all wrong for the part. I know on OLTL, that Nora's sister came on as a therapist..and she seemed so calm and serene..complete opposite of Nora's more sarcastic vibe. There were hints they were estranged..but after awhile she vanished.

What caused LOL to decline was CBS moving it from its 11 AM centeal time slot to 10:30 AM slot..because CBS premiered Where the heart is in that slot (in house production) in 1969. LOL went from strong ratings to lower ratings because of that. Only thing that kept it going was the Labine and Depriest regimes..and other CBS shows declining. The move to 3 PM in 1979 was the final nail in the coffin that had been built slowly since 1969.

Would you say Dr Jen is Oc's answer to Teddi? I'm wondering if lawsuit happy Nicole being dropped mid filming is why Jen got an orange? This would have been a year where 5 housewives holding oranges would have been ok. Both Shannon and Heather have teens that would provide content..while Noella is Brownie part deux...with Emily/Gina being blenders because they like to mess things up.

New Jersey: Any sympathy I had for Jennifer dwindled after hearing she was trying to dig up dirt on Jackie..and the cheating rumor. Basically these shows are a portrait into why women would rather be friends with guys than other women lol Gia is the smartest one in her family. I think Joe and melissa didn't know what to make of someone that is calm, forms sentences, and brings up good points.