zanereed

Speaking of 1973, I'm hoping saynotooursoap or someone else remembers this: If you were lucky enough to see Liz Talbot Stewart's "death scene" in 1973 when Liz fell *up* the stairs, how did it look? I'm still trying to imagine this playing out on screen.

Carl, I agree with you 100% - Roussell could have molded Hope into a much tougher person (because of her marriage to Alan). They could have kept the Bauer/Spaulding feud going on for several years if Mike and Hope had stayed on.

I wanted to bring back some discussion regarding Roger and Holly. Since people were talking about the onscreen chemistry between MZ and MG, I wanted to ask a question along those lines. I was too young to ever remember Lynn Deerfield in the role of Holly: http://www.welovesoaps.net/2011/11/lynndeerfield.html Can anyone tell me how her chemistry was with MZ and Mart Hulswit? Unless Roger unearths a hidden episode of the early 1970's to add in a future DVD collection, I probably will never be fortunate enough to see her in the role.

Roger, Thank you for the update. I look forward to that interview very much. I still remember her as Jackie very, very well. I was never able to get used to Carrie Mowery in the role. I often wish that Cindy/Jackie would have returned from the dead, being that she was Phillip's natural mother. I think there was still storyline potential there, especially with Phillip as an adult (which Jackie was never around for, unfortunately).

Roger, No episodes were usually aired on Thanksgiving and the Friday after. Thursdays would have been football or a holiday special, and Friday's would have been some holiday special, as well. I admit, 1979 would have been hazy for me, as I was still very young. I just don't remember being able to watch the CBS soaps during Thanksgiving vacation.

Carl, I absolutely agree. That storyline would definitely have held my interest. Ed never really did love Holly back then. Quite frankly, I don't think Roger did, either (at least how the Dobson's wrote it at the time). Holly was more infatuated with Roger and Ed for different reasons, but Mike could have been the first man she actually fell in love with.

Katie, Don Stewart definitely aged well. When they brought him back in 1997 (too briefly, in my opinion), he was a little greyer around the temples, but still instantly recognizable. They really should have found a way to keep him. I'm not so certain that the Dobson's didn't know *what* to do with Mike regarding his love life - I think they preferred that Mike be single and more flexible in that regard in order to involve the character in new romances as they saw fit. It was the Dobson's who killed off Leslie in 1976, so Mike was free to be paired up with anyone they brought on. To be honest, I don't know why they didn't try Mike with Rita versus Ed back in 1976/1977. Mike always seemed to be attracted to females that had "complexities" in their lives, to put it mildly (Julie, Charlotte, Jackie, Elizabeth, etc.). From the "Man of the Year" episode on the "Bauer" set, I think Mike and Rita had some chemistry there. I never thought of a Mike/Holly pairing before, but that would have been an interesting angle to try, post-Roger's death. Although, it might have seen as too much of a Leslie Bauer "copycat" story (Mike falls in love with Ed's ex-wife). However, the new angle to play could have been Mike's constant resistance to the romance, just *because* it was the Leslie situation all over again.

I also thought 1983 and 1984 were very good years for the show (with the exception of Bill Bauer getting killed as simply a plot point for the Eli Simms storyline, Hillary Bauer getting killed for no great reason, etc.). By the fall 1985 the characters I grew up with were mostly gone or had been recast. I guess I could not identify with the show any longer. The DVDs that I have purchased from Soap Classics only serve to solidify my attitude, I guess.

By the fall of 1985 I had pretty much tuned out of the show. I don't remember the writing being richer at all by that point. I guess I may have to find some 1985 clips to refresh my memory.

Roger, Was it an easier transition to Beth and Lujack because of John Bolger assuming in the role of Phillip in early 1985? I think that's what sealed the deal for me, but 1985 was a tough year to get through with GL, regardless.

I still think some of the Bauers could have made a return around 1991, as well (when Reva, Josh, Alexandria, etc. had already left). I think they lost an opportunity by not bringing back Hope around this time. Alan was still in jail, and it would have been interesting to see how Alan-Michael related to his mother as this point (Hope had refused to come to Alan-Michael and Harley's wedding in 1989 due to Alan being there, so there certainly could have been some existing animosity there). Hope would definitely need to be recast for this, because putting Elvera Roussel next to Ric Hearst would likely not work. Hope's constant conflict with Alan-Michael could force her to call her dad to help mediate the situation. This could be the first time that Alan-Michael would really deal with the fact that he's part-Bauer, perhaps softening the edge of AM a bit (rethinking his interference in Frank and Eleni, etc.). Mike leaves behind the Justice Department in order to help his daughter and grandson make amends. It would also be interesting to see just what type of relationship Mike has with AM at this point. As far as work goes, Vanessa could have convinced Mike to come to Lewis Oil full time as their inhouse council (embedding Mike within Springfield again quickly). I'd prefer that Mike would be played by Don Stewart again - there was no reason he couldn't as far as looks go. He looked great in 1997, just some gray hair added . I don't know that Ron Raines would have worked as Mike...maybe, but I still don't see it. Again, with patience, this storyline could have developed to the point where by the end of 1992 or 1993, Alan returns, setting up storylines with Hope (ex-wife) and Mike (his on-again, off-again enemy from 1977 to 1984) and his desire to "reclaim" his son.

Oh, no - you're invoking the Kyle/Billy storyline, right? I don't think I could take that plot point in the case of the Bauer Brothers.

I really wish TPTB tried harder to keep Don Stewart in 1984. I always felt like Mike could have been the stability throughout all the transitions that were happening (just like Bert and Papa had been the stability through the 1950's and 1960's), as he moved towards being the solid patricarch of Springfield. I felt, and still feel, that there was loads of story potential with a Mike/Alex/Lillian triangle. Imagine this... ----------------------- In late 1984, Lillian reapproaches Mike about pursuing their relationship. She wants a fresh start, and Mike takes the opportunity to do so after his fallout with Alex. The two become closer throughout the fall and winter, which actually irritates Alex to no end. Lillian is still gun shy about relationships, but Mike slowly helps her work through her doubts. Beth is especially happy to see a stable presence in her mother's life. However, in early 1985 (assuming that awful Andy Ferris story still happened), Lujack would be accused of killing Andy, and Alex would insist on Mike defending him. Mike, eventually convinced of Lujack's innocence, would have done so. This would have caused conflict for Lillian, not only with her being fully aware of the history between Mike and Alex, but also not wanting to see Lujack wrongly convicted. If we follow the plot points of the storyline that happened in 1985, Mike would have been unable to stop Lujack from being convicted, but Mike would become driven to find the truth, putting a huge strain on his relationship with Lillian and bringing him closer to Alex, whose feelings for Mike would become even stronger as Mike would fight to prove Lujack's innocence and eventually succeed. After getting Lujack freed, Alex would open up to Mike about the feelings she still had for him, and Mike would find himself having to choose between Alex and Lillian. However, before Mike has a chance to decide, in the fall of 1985 he is delivered the bad news that his mother Bert has unexpectedly passed away (and not waiting until 1986 to deal with it onscreen!!). The news devastates Mike and he decides that he cannot commit to a relationship at all for the time being. At this point, Hope returns (either with Roussel back in the role or a recast) for her grandmother's funeral. Hope has changed quite a bit. Alan's "death" the prior year made her wake up and turn her life around. She remains sober, has become much more confident, and has started making some headway as a successful interior decorator in NYC. However, seeing how much her grandmother's death has affected her father post-funeral, Hope chooses to remain in Springfield temporarily (Alan-Michael could also return, although much younger than the 18 year old who appeared in 1987). Knowing of Hope's status and trying to find a way to keep Mike close by her, Alexandra overhears a conversation Hope has with Ross Marler about needing to find some income while in Springfield to help afford to keep Alan-Michael in private school. Seeing this as an opportunity, Alex approaches Hope about redesigning the Spaulding Mansion. This intrigues Hope - not only for the money involved, of course, but doing so can help represent her further "erasing" Alan's presence out of her life for good. She accepts the job, and Alex tries at every turn to keep Hope occupied with the job so that Mike stays in both their orbits. The plan succeeds, as Mike has no choice but to see Alex if he wants to see his daughter. Again, assuming Lujack indeed died in December of 1985, that event would help bring Alex and Mike together for good, much to the chagrin of Lillian (who still wants a relationship with Mike). By Valentine's Day of 1986, Mike proposes to Alex, and a spring wedding is immediately decided upon, to be held at the recently rennovated Spaulding Mansion. Mike reluctantly agrees to move in to the mansion after the wedding, despite strong hesitancy (as it was the home of his arch nemesis!). Ross and Hope have now started seeing each other, as well - Ross being very impressed with the "new" Hope that returned the prior year. The entire town of Springfield is invited to the mansion for the wedding to celebrate the 2nd "union" of a Bauer to a Spaulding. Someone makes the odd comment of "Is it weird for Hope that her dad is marrying her former sister-in-law?" :-) But, as all things progress with a soap opera, the wedding does not take place. For, as the inevitable moment of the infamous line of "...speak now or forever hold your piece..." is uttered, a familiar voice in a calm and cool manner states from the back of the room, "Excuse me, but there is no way in hell that I will allow this marriage to take place." Yes, Alan Spaulding is alive and well, and back in Springfield! And as the last line of this Friday, 1986 episode plays out, Alan utters his second line of, "Well, it looks like I returned just in time..." This would have led to loads of new storylines with Alan's return (in a much better premise than he originally did in 1986) as well as continued storyline for Mike Bauer. Hope is outraged with Alan's deception. Although alcohol is a constant temptation, she refuses to give in to it, thanks to the love of Ross. Alex is also beside herself. She finally found someone that truly loved after being alone for so long, and Alan ruined it. Alan himself is horrified to learn of all that has gone on in his absence. His sister was about to marry his enemy, his ex-wife is seeing Phillip's uncle, etc. For his part, Mike becomes obsessed with bringing Alan down, stopping at nothing to investigate the true nature of Alan's absence over the past two years. This obsession causes Mike and Alex's relationship to be completely destroyed, as Mike's hatred of Alan becomes all-consuming. This worries not only Hope, but Ed as well. However, Mike won't listen to Ed. In the end, it isn't Ed who finally breaks through to Mike - it is the understanding and compassion of Ed's wife Maureen that helps Mike stop his downward spiral, as Maureen's spirit reminds Mike of his mother, Bert. However, both Mike and Maureen teeter on the edge of something dangerous, and it appears as if history will repeat itself between the Bauer brothers as it did several years ago with a woman named Leslie Jackson... ----------------------- ...but it's all just fan fiction. Thanks for indulging me, folks. I really wish this would have happened versus what we were given in 1985 and 1986.

Close - her character's name was Maggie Scott.

vetsoapfan, Is the quality of the 1974 Tenth Anniversary episode that you have videotape quality or color kinescope quality? I was just curious. Thank you for any reply.

vetsoapfan, Are the 10th Anniversary show and the Mary Matthews death episode (which I also believe was the last appearance of George Reinholt on the show before being written out in May...?) within the P & G archive on videotape? I have seen the July 1968 footage (black and white) and Jacquie's Emmy reel (color kinescope clips) along with the September 1974 episode (black and white kinescope), but I was wonder about these other two. Thank you!

I think the problem with being able to show any of the Rachel/Steve/Alice triangle is that not much footage - if any - exists in the P&G archives from this particular time. I hope I am wrong!