KMan101

lol at the last part. But all very true! I guess it's better than just ending up as a doctor any dayplayer could fill ...

Yeah, he seemed to have no idea what to do with her. I also think Kay ultimately filled the Casey void in Nikki's life by being her talk-to. So Casey was basically rendered "useless" because Nikki had a talk to and Casey wasn't part of a popular coupling. I never understood finding a character pointless because they don't work in certain pairings ... characters can and should be able to exist without being tied to a couple. But I get why soaps cling to couples. (It's more prevelant on DAYS where I feel sometimes characters get lost in the coupling)

It would have been Sarah, Jeremy, Mike, Melissa (Marie Wilson was cast in 2014 and instead of Summer could have been an attempt at recasting Melissa, or Sarah Brown!) and Marie (she should have been brought back on recurring when Nick was introduced in 2006, around when Frances was very much declining, and Marie could have transitioned into a supporting role, and later could have given advice to Eric when he became a priest ... I also would have paired Marie and Victor instead of Maggie and Victor ... random, I know, but I think about this weird things). But at they've added Sarah (really not sure why so many Hortons are "forgotten" about) Instead of Dr. Rex Brady it should have been Dr. Jeremy Horton (but I get why they sometimes make the decisions they do) and Dr. Stephanie Johnson. I would have paired Mike with Adrienne way back in 1987 and put Justin with Melissa (and then would have paired Justin and Adrienne leaving Mike and Melissa heartbroken and solo, lol). But I guess Justin and Adrienne just took off somehow so ... I also never quite understood Judi taking on Adrienne after having played a similar tortured heroine in Beth ... Mike and Robin were popular but never in the way of the other supercouples. I wish Mike had been given more a chance. I didn't care much for Mike and Carrie, either. I think the flying bed turned me off completely (but I enjoyed the set up, and crazy Ali) And then instead of Aiden, I would have brought back Mike and put him with Kayla in Steve's absence (or instead of Lucas and Adrienne, Mike and Adrienne ...). Of course in my world with a budget and someone who cares about the history of the show, Reckell wouldn't have been basically driven off the show and Bo would still be around too ... but then again, maybe he'd still "retire" (I get him wanting to spend time with his family after so many years working and working and working). But so many went running before and during Tomsell's last run (Renee Jones, Peter Reckell, Matt Ashford, Alison Sweeney and James Scott, to name just a few who either left on their own or were let go). We should have had a Mike recast in 2008/2009 instead of Dr. Daniel Jonas. Mike, like Daniel, could have been paired with Kate, Chloe, Nicole ... they still could have also made MelaME his daughter with Carly (as much as Melanie annoyed me she would have been truly tied to the Hortons, you'd think they would have thought of that since they were so damned determined to tie her to the canvas; only for Daniel to be offed like he was nothing and Melanie is gone and almost never mentioned, thank God) Random thought but they could have made Brody Hutzler a recast Scott Banning. Of course they couldn't have paired him with either Jen or Hope but still ... And it's also bugged me how David Banning was basically forgotten about in the mid 80s after Gregg Marx left and then they never bothered again. That's a long time to leave a character so vital off the canvas. And then they killed him for no reason instead of recasting and milking the Valerie/Eli drama. Such a waste. (The actor who played Vargas in 2013, whom fans took to, could have been Scott too, just as an example). Instead of TEK, Rhasaan Orange could have been a recast Jonah (they gave Lexie the same affair story just with Tek instead of Jonah), and the timing would have fit with Lexie having given birth to Theo, Abe blind ... I know new characters are important, not everyone can be related, but so many times over the years they've cast actors I think could have been better tied to the canvas ...

Frances was always so active and vital. How many strokes and ailments did she have towards the end? Alice was so actively involved and it was so sad to see it decreased to basically hanging off of Maggie and later either in bed or in the chair. But Frances worked up until she couldn't. I just loved her Losing her and Alice was such a massive loss to the show. It has never felt the same, honestly. And I think they should have used Alice's memorial in 2010 to make the rest of the Horton's "relevant" again, but they all only returned for that and were shoved off again. Marie should be vital and active. Bill and Laura. Mickey could have been better recast, IMHO (but that ship sailed, of course, since he's dead too). Mike (instead we spent almost a decade on Maggie's egg-baby) ... Jeremy ... Melissa ... at least they finally brought on Sarah. I like Linsey but I always had my heart set on a redhead for Sarah LOL (and Sarah should be about 10 years older). They wrote Nick into a corner and killed him. They had no interest in Nathan (who should have been Jeremy, but I liked them introducing a son for Melissa "the forgotten" cousin as we spent years on Hope and Jennifer ... most viewers probably have no clue Hope and Melissa were best friends) At least they recognize Julie and Doug should be filling the matriarch and patriarch (as much as Jarlena stans want to insist Jarlena are the current Tom and Alice; I like Jarlena but I massively disagree on this, they're not at that point yet). I still think they can better use Julie and SSH is more than able to work. So is Bill, but he's also what, over 90? I understand not using Doug as much. But neither appeared in April ... I also want to whine that they could take time to write for other characters. Adrienne and Justin only appeared twice (I'm not their biggest fan, but I like each actor and I think both characters can fill roles on the canvas) and they filled a role in their episodes. I liked Adrienne's use with Jennifer and the Jack/Eve wedding, but then why not give them a followup episode where they discuss this? The lack of investment in a lot of characters, not just them (and I get it, they're recurring and you have to pay them to use them ... so why not a limited contract??) is sad. To note, I was reading some recaps recently and when The Dragon story started (a lot of these stories are honestly dumb, but the rest of the show and actors make up for it) they killed off Russian Sonia, who was living with Don, but from what I saw, they never bothered to show Don after. They were getting close, she's killed and then nothing? Did I miss that? The shows had their flaws even then.

Exactly, I've done my research too. Lots of new fans just watch for certain hot actors or couples and couldn't care less about the rest of the show. It's sad.

Yes it was. It's sad they don't care to even have her visit. But I guess if Leslie Brooks can pop in anyone can ... I've always liked Roberta Leighton and Casey was interesting; a good contrast, if you will, to Nikki. I feel like they just had Kay fill that talk-to void for Nikki, that's now un-filled.

If you were a somewhat newer viewer, you'd have no clue Nikki had an older sister ...

Diane and John's deaths were massive mistakes. Cassie basically exists in Cassiah so it's less of a blow, but that one too. I'm glad they sort of "made up for it" by bringing Grimes back who easily settled right back in. I know Sussman and Alden wanted to undo John's death but it was a little too late I guess. At least Dina is there (well ....) and Aunt Jack is filling the void a bit. I'd have loved to see an adult Kyle with Diane, especially now with Mealor in the role. I think it adds layers to Kyle with his mom dead, but I'd rather Diane be alive. It was just such an ugly last run for Diane

I admit this side of the family confuses me as well

I always felt EastEnders wrote terribly for their gays. HollyOaks has so many various ones they trip over each other. I always feel what seems like resentment in EastEnder's writing, no matter who the head scribe is. But EE as a whole is often dark and miserable, I can never watch for very long stretches.

He wasn't likely going to be apart of it anyway, at least initially. I imagine she joined because they'll probably pay tribute to him (just an assumption) I still don't really see the point of this "revival" with them playing heightened versions of themselves. We'll see. At least it could be nice to see the cast together (minus Luke, of course, but he wasn't going to be apart of it anyway)

This show is a disaster

This is real and not a delayed April Fools joke? I'm not sure what I even think about this, to be honest. First instinct is to say: no thank you. And I don't want a parody, which is all the actors would likely do. But who knows? Of course I'll watch. But this wasn't at all needed or necessary.

Yeah, they seem to have lost interest in it, lol

It's pretty damning on them, personally, that they won't release it to be able to go somewhere else (of course it can go to broadcast and cable). I've had a bad taste for Netflix for a while now, personally. They still have some great content, but ehhh ... lol I don't see them buckling but they should. CBSAA *really* wanted it and it would have been a really good get for them. I can't see it on primetime broadcast. I wish I could. I'd be beyond thrilled. (I guess I only can't because it's not the norm at all for streaming to move to broadcast, it's usually broadcast/cable moving to streaming, so this would likely be a first, no?) I think Netflix has discovered half hour multi-cam sitcoms aren't being binged enough for them, they have a certain formula that works for them. I have no doubt the viewership is there. And I have no doubts they can afford the show ... It does give them a bad look (Netflix was "everyone's savior!!!!!") But they probably hope it blows over as everyone gushes over their latest big name project.

One of the benefits was always "no ads or limited ads". At least IMO. So, I says Disney+ won't at least initially and it's one of the lowest priced offerings. But of course most realize ad-free isn't sustainable.

I agree, but just how big is that fanbase? I adore the show and keep waiting every day to see it was picked up somewhere. Broadcast seems a stretch to me, personally. But I'd love it. I just don't know if there's this fight over it some think :/

I always thought one of the benefits of streaming was NO ADS, yet that's the future I get it, but I've yet to be encouraged to buy or click on an ad I see play. It often makes me not even want that product ...

Separation in stories does work. It worked very well for Y&R. I agree not "everyone" needs to interact. But I also like shows that have tight nit communities that interact and react to each other. One of the things I love about Y&R is that the families ARE in their bubbles (when on other shows we often BEG for family and friends to interact). But it also helps to have characters interact with others, at least in their age range. Sadly, any bubbles now are budget related, at least on DAYS I've never understood not referring to history as much as you can. I even think at certain times, on other shows, flashbacks would really help drive a story point home. I guess some of it stems from the "fear" of fans wanting certain characters back because the old trope was that if someone was referred to a lot suddenly it meant they were coming back. IDK. It's weird how they often ignore so many things. Not really specific to Y&R either, all soaps are guilty of this. And I've always been amused how their life basically stops and they have no idea what's been going on in the soap town they return to. Especially in the day and age of social media and cellphones. I also always thought when someone exited, while it was a big deal and treated as such, people acted as if they would never communicate or see them again. LOL

Becky Herbst is mostly checked out with Roger Howarth, and I don't blame her as everything goes back to Franco and propping him. But she does well with Liz's kids stuff. I'm glad they're giving her some kid drama but it's still all about Franco. So infuriating. But Mo and Kelly? They've been out to lunch for at least a decade at this point.

Pretty much this, yep. Sarah was the perfect Carly, always will be

THIS I will always vastly prefer SJB in the role. And to be frank, she should still be in this role. I like Laura Wright. She's passable in the role because she at least ... acts and tries and gives effort. Such a truly dreadful time. I've blocked a lot of that out but your fantastic recall has me remembering a lot of that. Sigh. Guza sucked as a whole, but that year was particularly putrid.

I never minded the last Ben, personally. But a child trafficker? Lawd ... I can't.

Not watching, but from what I'm reading, sounds like Ben is once again being written awfully. Not surprised. EastEnders seems to have contempt for it's gay characters. Meanwhile, who isn't gay on HollyOaks? lol

She should make it private and only share the link with those she thinks she can trust. There are full yearly playlists for DAYS that are private, but someone often screws it up for them and they have to start over. Since the networks won't give us soap reruns, the least they could do is leave them up on YouTube ... or, you know, stream them themselves!