pdm1974

I was disappointed that Michael was written out. I think he was a much needed character to further develop the younger set.

I always wondered if the JB story with her demanding a helicopter with contract negotiations was true!

LOL! They really should do it. It's like a tradition at this point!

I agree that Vicky became very watered down when played by JB. I thought she lost all of that "sprak" the character had before. She became another generic romantic lead. Didn't JB refuse to play Marley after a bit? That's when it sort of felt like the characters merged into one.

If I remember correctly, TPTB didn't get much notice before the last episode, so that scrambled to wrap things up quickly which is a shame. I think Rachel's transformation lasted over years in the 70s and early 80s. So, it was gradual. She sort of transitioned to matriarch around late 80s when Amanda and Matthew were aged to adults.

Poor Matt always got the short end of the stick. His character would be much more prominent in today's climate.

A true Melissa vs Pilar feud could have been interesting especially since we lost Angela for most of season 9.

Firing Ana Alicia was what ultimately killed the show IMO. They still could have brought in KA character and had them remain rivals.

Watched the original pilot...I think it was titled "The Vintage Years." The tone was definitely more serious, less soapy...more in tone with The Waltons (which had the same creator). I'm currently watching Season 3, and while the show feels all over the place in terms of plot, it's still fun to watch.

I totally agree about Quinn...both she and Eric are way overdue for a story.

It's true...Right now, B&B could be called The Rich and The Richer.

I still hate that they basically killed the whole old Spectra gang...

Sally and Macy had a definite Mildred Pierce vibe going on...I also loved Sally during this period. She was still a bit over the top, but more grounded. I miss this dynamic of the show. We don't have a good social climber on the show at this point.

When the show first started, I thought CN and Thorne were WAY hotter than Ridge.

That would have been great!! The last year was so hard to watch. I feel like they were trying to get back on track, but the previous attempt to make the show much more like DAYS flopped badly. AW was never DAYS nor should it have been.

I thought the Dobson's second round was a definite mixed bag...and I had high hopes. The return of Santana (and Rosa, the true mother figure to the Capwell children, especially Mason) was a good move, but unfortunately the casting of WD as Santana did not work out. Firing Carrington Garland was a HUGE mistake as she was poised to take the place of Eden, and the actress could have pulled it off. I liked the return of the "darker Mason." I hated the whole reveal that Warren wasn't Lionel's son, and he had a past with Cassandra. It was a twist that just felt really wrong and had no point in the end...plus, I think it wrote Cassie into a corner, and I always thought she had long-term potential and reenergized the Lockridge family. I think the Dobson's were going the route of having CC revealed as Warren's son with Augusta. There were tons of not so subtle hints. Thankfully, that part was at least abandoned. We never did find out who Warren's birth father was, and the whole matter was dropped completely when Pam Long took over.

I just remember the red swam story dragging on forever, but then the writer's were probably scrambling after Mac's death.

I forgot....but what was the resolution to the red swan plot? What was the mystery behind it?

Looking back, I now realize what a great character Flame actually was. She was so multi-layered and RB played her so well. It's true that I think Pam Long would have fun with the character. I could see her becoming involved with the Capwells and climbing her way up the social ladder.

I remember Mac giving that holiday toast when it aired! The show lost a lot of its moral center after he passed, and I think they struggled a bit trying to decide how to proceed. I do wonder how things would have gone if Harding Lemay had been able to stay.

O...M...G....This show is off the chain crazy. When the First Lady hit herself in the head in the middle of her tantrum I spit out my tea in laughter. Well...at least she didn't use a taser on family member in this one. And what is up with the creepy brother making odd comments to his sister that border on weird flirting. I'm not sure what to make of the show in general. Is it horrible? Is it kitsch at its best? Is it some sort of weird accidental genius. I don't know, but I'm still watching. We're still in the first 24 hours of these characters lives and so much s&%t has gone down in that time that it's mind boggling. I love how the family with kidnapped granddaughter has practically forgotten about her already...and it's just been HOURS. The grandmother just acts like this is all another Tuesday or something...cult breaks into your house, forcibly removes your granddaughter, your son is falsely accused of rape and now maybe murder, your ex-daughter-in-law HAS been murdered...and you're missing a knife in the kitchen, your husband loses his job, still no idea where your grandkid is...and the woman makes sandwiches with a shrug and a "Lord, help!" If you're not watching, you should because this is soap on HEROIN.

It burned bright and quickly, but I think at its top form it was soap at its best.

I watched the whole series a couple of years ago, and I remember season 7 was probably the most boring. Season 9 was actually really great and tightly written...but the times had changed.

Wow...it's great to see that SB really had some upward momentum at one point. With a timeslot NOGT against GH, I think it would have done either better. When SB was good, it was on fire!

SB at 5.2! I wonder what their highest rating was throughout their run. I still wonder how they might have done with DOOL as their lead-in instead of AW (as much as I also loved AW).