DramatistDreamer

Last year was the same. Wimblegeddon anyone? The seeds were dropping like flies!

Oh yes, I remember the great Wimblegeddon of 2013. I also remember the animated video done by those Taiwanese animators. Does anyone else remember this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFRdSgqjEYI&src_vid=3xb0JdKjm-s&feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_947395&channel=NMATV

I do like Dustin 'Dreddy' Brown though. He's a journeyman who is fun to watch and was in desperate need of a break and he got a good one today.

The transition from clay to grass is proving rough for some this year, it seems.

I love grass court tennis but the grind of the schedule in the past few years and the all too disjointed and short grass court season has been killing it.

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2014/06/07/monica-seles-to-marry-72-year-old-former-nhl-owner/

I looked him up and Yikes! He makes Flavio Briatore look attractive! When you mentioned his age, I thought maybe just maybe he might be old but attractive, maybe like Richard Roundtree or someone who didn't look so...

I used to have this joke about some Eastern Europeand female tennis players dating these much older guys by the time they were barely legal like Anna Kournikova but I never thought to lump Monica in that group. Well, I guess everybody needs somebody sometime and for Monica, I guess that sometime is now.

Still...okay, I'll try to resist the impulse to analyze this one.

Monica Seles, 40, engaged to 72 year old billionaire. He ran for governor 4 times but never got more than 14%

What??! What the what?!

Damn it I wanted Halep to win

Me too but at least she didn't 'go away' after the first set. In the beginning of the 2nd set, I worried that she would turn into another Errani. She competed quite well for the occasion. Too bad she was unable to come away with the victory. And I was grumbling about those 2 net cords that Sharapova got (LOL) when the ball just barely climbed over the net onto Halep's side.

That match really was a snooze. I multi-tasked during both matches. I was even able to get in my workout.

I'm no fan of Sharapova and I didn't really have any rooting interest in either of the Women's semifinals yesterday but I have to say, I found the Women's Semifinals much more entertaining to watch than today's Men's semifinals.

I had to laugh at Murray's tactics and how Nadal was not allowing himself to be thrown off by Murray's antics (his clutching of his back, thighs, etc). No offense to Monfils, whom I love, but thankfully Nadal is not thrown by Murray's antics- Nadal is no Monfils.

I switched to the NBC online live stream. Very clear and crisp, no problems. The Match? Even less competitive than the first Semi Final. By the time NBC starts streaming live @ 11 am, the match could very well be half way over. Whether online or terrestrial, NBC's tennis coverage never fails to utterly disappoint.

NBC is abysmal. I don't know why in the age of technology, they are still allowed to Tape Delay their tennis matches. I had hoped that the live streaming would help me get away from their funky scheduling but the way ESPN3 blacks out their streaming (that is, when it works and is not riddled with technical difficulties), and NBC's continued decimated coverage (I don't get TC since I don't have cable), tennis coverage in the U.S. still needs a lot of work.

I've had to go to a dodgy Eurosport stream to see the first Men's Semifinal live. Apparently NBC is only showing the 2nd Men's Semifinal Live. Huh? I thought the point of a Live Stream is to show everything live as it happens to give the viewers the best viewing option.

NBC-- continuing to do the dumbest things possible with the Live Stream.

Hey hey Tsonga!

Gilles Simon looks a bit...er, overstimulated there.

I miss Marat Safin, particularly shirtless (*sighs*)

Back to the actual subject of tennis.

Was the Berdych win over Isner as routine as the score seems to indicate? I tuned in a bit late-- like before match point late.

Lien arrived in '88, I think. Wow, I didn't know that the Keemo storyline happened so late in the 90s.

The more I watch those '86 and '87 ATWT episodes, the more I appreciate the way Marland crafted scenes, dialogue and stories. Was he perfect? No, of course not but compared to today's soap writing...oh my God, what a difference! Actually having the audacity to introduce a new character for a few months before dumping him or her in a triangle? No one on network daytime soaps seems to have the patience to try that anymore let alone pull it off.

Even when he shifted a character's personality, it was done in a gradual manner and built on previous history that when you look back, it made sense and seemed justifiable.

Boy, those were the days!

Too bad none of those files contained information on previous storylines; and if they did, too bad no one on the writing staff bothered to consult them. Who knows? It might have prevented the writers from making so many continuity and historical mistakes in the last years.

It's also too bad that ATWT didn't care enough to save all of their their Masters. Wiping them was a really stupid idea but if I've come to understand anything since reading these blogs and messageboards, it's that long term thinking is not considered a virtue in soapoperaland.

True, Khan! There was never such a thing as a continuity consultant on American soaps as there have been on British soaps such as EastEnders and Coronation Street.

I've been squawking about the seeming lack of continuity on these American daytime shows over the last decade now. Over. And over.

I think these shows once had those people but then dumped them for budget reasons as time passed.

ITA. I'm watching a lot of Classic AWTW from the '80s and you can tell that not only was continuity still valued but they actually did multiple takes of certain pivotal scenes like cliffhangers. Over the last decade or so of the show, it was just plow through material, and making it up as they went along. Just as long as they didn't have to stop and do any actual research. I guess Time really was Money, in that case.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2069353-french-open-tennis-2014-predictions-and-early-title-favorites/page/2

John Isner..really a contender??...LOL

well Isner pushed Nadal into a 5 setter 3 years ago

He's also beaten Federer in Davis Cup on clay, which doesn't say much but to the thirsty tennis media, somehow it translates to him being some American clay court savant. He's fallen off since then and has had mediocre results on clay and other surfaces beside hard courts since then.

Love me some WW. I watched the show as a kid during its first run. I even had the big sized poster...lol. I knew I was gay when I loved WW....haha...I have all 3 seasons on DVD....the theme music...just mmmmmmmm..lol

I would do the same spin..ha....

I loved watching the series as a little girl and yes, I used to spin around (and make myself dizzy) as well. Good times.

Tomas is such a hottie!

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Yikes! The Wedding Is Off (Woz)!

http://www.tmz.com/2014/05/21/rory-mcilroy-wedding-is-off-break-up-caroline-woznicacki

When Woz posted that photo of a drooling Macilroy while he slept several months back, I kind of figured that relationship may not be long for this world.

I splurged on some '87 episodes myself this weekend and I also have a question for you ATWT experts:

Being a Craig & Sierra fan, I should know this but I'm confused about something-- I thought that Sierra knew about Tonio & Barbara's affair when she went to Foxwood Lodge and ended up sleeping with Craig but apparently she just found out in '87, not '86 when the affair happened.

I know she suspected something going on between Lucinda and Tonio but what were the circumstances that somehow (mistakenly) convinced Sierra that her husband and her mother were somehow having an affair leading to her retreat to Foxwood Lodge? Is this the reason she ran up to Foxwood Lodge or was there another reason? These episodes are missing and haven't been posted anywhere on the 'Net, so I'm unclear about this.

Does anyone know the story on this?

@NothinButÁttitude-- I really appreciate how good and consistent the core characters were back then. And the conversations between characters are refreshingly frank and heartfelt:

• One episode in which Lisa talks about the realization that Kim is truly the love of Bob's life and how far back that love was and how awkward she felt about confiding these feeling to her relatively new husband, Earl.
• Nancy telling Sabrina that she did have issues with Bob and Kim's actions back then yet expressing how glad she is that Sabrina is on the planet regardless of how that existence came about.
• Even Casey, Lyla and Craigs interactions are equal parts hilarious and poignant. Lyla at once, demanding that Craig treat her as an adult yet refusing to cut the apron strings, Craig struggling to accept Lyla's relationshp with Casey and almost embarrassed to admit that he was a bit jealous in a boyish way. Even Casey teasing "Craigey" that he would make him pancakes for breakfast in the morning.
• The conversations between Dusty and John always managed to show a human, vulnerable side of John. I loved what a stand up guy Dusty was, and he still remained an interesting character.

I'm truly enjoying all your stories, TimWil!

Boy, I wish that the soaps, especially P&G had done a better job of preserving their classic episodes because the Chucky Shea era was before my time, although I remember reading something, maybe an interview with Eileen Fulton a few years ago. I'm really learning a lot about ATWT history on these blogs and this messageboard!

I could only imagine what you have to say about Goutman. I'm intrigued but the mere mention of that man's name makes me feel sad. Just hearing what he did to the show and how he treated some of the veteran actors.

Ok, so like what kind of shady stuff?

For one, thing, Walters appears to resort (whether as a device or a fallback) to playing both ends against the middle. At one point, she will proudly assert her power as Co-Executive Producer and all that it entails but when sh*t hits the fan, she'll gladly push Bill Gedde to the fore and claim that he and/or ABC came up with the idea as if she doesn't have a say and is just one of the Talent.

Take the Rosie/Starr debacle. Starr acted out yes, but had Barbara been more forthcoming about her decision (not just Bill Geddes' or ABC's) to bring on Rosie O'Donnell, perhaps Starr might not have felt that she had to fire parting shots on her way out with no notice. Barbara knew the tension between between the two women ever since the Pilates/Lap Band surgery incident and instead of just telling Starr upfront that she made an Executive Decision, along with Gedde & ABC and they wanted to spice up the show and probably felt that the show would benefit because of that tension (because hey, that's 'show business'), they sprung it on her and Barbara didn't want to 'dirty' her hands, leaving it in Bill Gedde's and the network's hands.

Starr wasn't buying it and put Barbara on blast. Was it a classy move on Starr's part? No. Do I blame Starr? No. Unlike the selection of Elizabeth Hasselbeck where all of the cast felt like they were in on the selection process and it was out in the open, the Rosie thing was done behind the scenes. I wouldn't be surprised if Starr was informed just before the news hit the trades.

The other incident, ironically, involved the split screen argument between Rosie and Elizabeth. After that episode, Rosie called Barbara a hypocrite because she felt as though she'd been 'set up'. I think Rosie, having had her own TV show, knows when things are planned out for the ratings. Barbara acted the innocent as if the topics are not discussed beforehand and which ones are picked knowing they'd be the incendiary ones, guaranteed to inspire the most 'heat' in discussion. Had Barbara just told Rosie 'Look kid, it's nothing personal, it's just good ratings', Rosie wouldn't have liked it but she probably would've calmed down quicker. But again, Barbara acted as if she was powerless and the decision was totally out of her hands.

Just kind of duplicitous, IMO.

As a Journalist/personality, I can respect what she's achieved but I actually might admire her if she wasn't always orchestrating opportunities to laud her own personal achievements. I wouldn't be surprised if she had some part in planning They Year of Barbara. Not every detail but just enough to make sure that the proper adoration is paid. Meanwhile she acts coy and pretends it was all a surprise.

As much as I love Craig, he was acting like a selfish brat there for awhile (tears? Really, Craig?!) but he seemed to be coming around and he did reveal his concern that Casey would eventually dump Lyla for a younger woman, although I've got news for Craig, an older man could just as easily left Lyla for someone younger.

Speaking of which, I thought John was totally out of line, 'voicing his concerns' for Lyla's personal business. He should talk after last year ('86) when he was panting after Sierra. At least Lyla's feelings for Casey were returned, Sierra never felt the same way for John.

I guess we're leading up to when Johnny wed Lucy in the aftermath of Emma dumping John.

I don't have a name for Iva's haircut. I guess that was her hospital administrative assistant 'do(n't)?

You could make a case for calling Meg a twit at times, but you could never call her boring back then. Boy, the character was never the same after Jennifer Ashe left.

I'm more convinced than ever that Hunt Block should've reprised the role of Barbara's brother, down to the shaking her down for money. He was basically playing Rick Ryan by another name. And his dysfunctional relationship with Barbara and Paul...it would've been perfect! Although Jon Lindstrom would have made Rick a more nuanced version than Block.

1987 was still a great year for ATWT with a lot of explosive secrets being revealed and a lot of threads being connected but what was unfortunate was the loss of some actors like Gregg Marx and later Scott Bryce temporarily left and although I felt that Marland did the best he could to paper over it, I just had the feeling that certain things that really worked well were coming to an end.

Hey DRW50,

Thanks for letting us know that astheworldstillturns is uploading again! I had stopped checking some time ago but I'm glad to know that there are new episodes.

Man, I've forgotten how many times Victoria has actually been married!

...And Sherri Shepherd breathes a sigh of relief. Whew!

To hell with that Dollar Store series The Haves & The Have Nots, THIS is the soap opera I want to see!

Just a guess but I'm thinking alcohol may have something to do with it. I'm going to spare you the Drunk in Not Love jokes (almost)

This is what I get for going on social media on a Monday afternoon, thinking I'd take just a short break.

David Ferrer must be saying "You're welcome, Rafa" this evening because clearly his match gave Rafa an assist. Not just the physical energy but the emotional energy of having to play against him as well as the Spanish crowd sure wore down Kei a bit.

Uncle Tony pulls no punches and Rafa looked relieved when Kei called for the end of the match. I think he sympathized with Kei but Kei pulling up lame meant that Rafa wouldn't have to face losing another clay court tournament and the second one in his home country. It is too bad for Kei, though because had he continued at the level he was playing, this would've been his biggest breakthrough yet and I doubt he'd have looked back from that point.

Kei has come a long way with his game as well as his fitness but he still has a ways to go in terms of being able to play big back to back matches in that late rounds. It would be great to see him make it to the later rounds @ RG.

That's horrible. Gotta read more.

As far as Giraldo defeating Tsonga, that really doesn't say much, unfortunately. Serena could beat Tsonga. Hell, even Sharapova would give him a good run.

Yeah was going to say that...lol..Tsonga hasnt played worth a hell of beans lately...he is dropping in the ratings and if he isn't careful he could drop out of the top 20 soon.

Yeah, I realized what I wrote after I wrote it, I miss Gael Monfils--he could actually play on the terre batue.

I feel like Giraldo gave other better players a run but I haven't had the time (nor inclination) to look it up. I could be confusing him with another player (could it have been Ferrer?). Still Giraldo does appear quite effective on the clay.

James Blake's Florida home burned to the ground, 3 dead bodies found inside (none were Blake):

http://www.tmz.com/2014/05/07/tennis-star-james-blake-house-fire-dead-bodies/

Unfortunately the death toll has gone up to four. Two of the victims were teenage children.

Murray ousted by Santiago Giraldo. I've never heard of this guy, but I love him!

Yay!

Giraldo is a Colombian player who has been on the rise on clay, anyways. He took out Tsonga in this tournament so he's no joke.

LOL@ at that OZ screengrab with the Federer kids.

In terms of the twins thing, I read that Roger's sister also has twins, so either they're all frequenting the same clinic or twins run in the Federer family.