Soaplovers

What I mean by Val restoration was that after the crappy stories provided to her in season 11 and 12, the waitress subplot was the first step in restoring her character. Like @Khansaid.. it was a happy accident that Romano and co had no idea about Val's previous history and they actually ended up writing her in character. Thus, when Ann Marcus took over in the final stretch of season 13, Val was ready to take on a new direction story wise and didn't need to be repaired.

Ironically John Romano and company were able to restore Val. While her teaching Lynette, the waitress, how to read was that early 90s preachy element.. it was in character for Val to take wayward woman under her wing (Annie, Olivia, Abby.. at first). Plus, she and Gary were fighting about the Tidal Wave project with him mortaging the ranch while she was being the cautious voice of reason. And she also kind of took Kate under her wing... providing her with a maternal figure that she was lacking from Claudia. I think Ann Marcus' coming back in those final episodes of season 13 kind of reset Claudia's story with Alex starting to date Claudia's daughter Kate... and she/Alex were kind of blackmailing one another. And I liked the Anne/Claudia/Greg/Nick story from season 14 as well. However, I think the taint of Claudia's season 12 and early season 13 stories made her a poor Abby replacement. Abby wanted money/power.. but she did love her children... which we couldn't say the same about Claudia.

Do you guys think the writers of season 13 and 14 were able to salvage Claudia?

Thinking about it, Lotus Point was Abby's baby in season 5. She was going to build a huge complex without telling Gary, plus not tell Karen she inherited half the property when Sid died. At the start of season 6, Gary took over how it would run and included Karen. Hence the parks,.cabin, etc. So I could see Abby waiting for an opportunity to take back what was hers..hence the Murkame scam. And when she knew she would get caught, she donated it as a preserve to cover her tracks. I understand the motivation for her cutting Gary and Karen out of it..but the execution risked putting Abby into one note villain territory. For all we know, Claudia showed what probably would have happened had Donna Mills not left when she did.

Cybill would have been good. Problem was that CBS skewed older, and they would have gone for this had it been at 9 PM instead of 8 PM...plus had a better mix of older and younger characters. The Linda/Allen/Nikki story was actually the strongest story and most realistic. Older man/younger woman, loveless marriage between older man/older woman, etc. I think the Stephanie/Mark characters were the problem. I also think Gerald Mcraney was a good hire..and he and Lauren Hutton had a good rapport.

The start of the end of KL. Laura kept Abby in check, Abby kept Karen in check, while neither Laura nor Abby enabled Val like Karen did. This final scene clearly showed Abby would always come out on top. She wasn't OTT like Alexis nor Angela nor had a one track mind like JR. She was someone you might run into in your day to day life. And she was one that schemed and worked her way to the top coming from a working class family.

I actually thought tying Storm into the story was smart because of his unresolved issues with his father. And he and Margo had a good rapport. I'm wondering if the actor playing Storm opted to leave hence why he was quickly removed from the story and we ended up with Mick coming onto the scene.

I think all the shows should do test filming to see if there is chemistry, etc.

So has anyone heard the rumor about NY doing a test filming later this year..like they tried with Dallas? Rumor is Sonja is out because she lives in Florida now, Leah isn't included, and Eboni quit. So it'll be centered around Luann and Ramona..and will have friends of theirs join. And the producers only want Bethenny back..but she costs too much. Not sure if this is true, or just an idea. I think OC should have done test filming for season 16..imho

Only positives of that character was him in a speedo...and Lucy getting drunk and telling him off.

1. I do agree that Jill's demise should have started the slow process of reuniting Gary and Val. I never thought Gary ever earned Val at all. He was into rescuing her, but he didn't value her. 2. The one or two positive things of the bad 1st half of season 13 were Gary and Val fighting over him mortgaging the ranch for the Tidal Waves project..since it was in character and showed that the issues that caused their break up in season 3/4 were still apparent (he was a risk taker, she was too cautious). Also, Val and Kate started becoming close at the start of season 13...so it made sense once Val passed away that Gary would turn to Kate. And Val's speech about Kate being the one she would want Gary to move on with..could have worked in a dream sequence between Gary and Val.

At my job, we had an in person fiscal year kick off earlier this month. Masks weren't required, but we had to provide proof of a negative Covid test before being allowed to attend. I think it's a perfect compromise that if everyone entering is negative then masks shouldn't be mandated. And we're entering year 3 of the pandemic, which should be the final stretch of it.. if we compare it to the 1918 Flu Pandemic.. which took 3 years before it became endemic (sp?). And when Covid started circulating back in early 2020, experts had predicted the majority of the world would get exposed to it before it settled into Endemic status.. but that masks, capacity limits, and lockdowns (which should have been short-term) would give health places time to prepare, scientists time to determine what causes transmission of Covid, and for places to get themselves ready once things opened back up (i.e. safety precautions, etc).

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).