KMan101

Interesting article. Thanks for posting it Carl. I like the list of who the people writing in wanted to see back. Everyone came back except Hope and Mike (and obviously Maureen, though she did make appearances as a ghost/vision), which makes again point out what a mistake GL made by not bringing those two characters back.

Nevermind ...

I agree. Sharon is adding a ton to the show. I don't really dislike her and Jack, only because as a new viewer, I haven't see Jack in any other storylines.

Watched clips of Dennis's murder so I'd be more connected when I saw the scene. Very tragic for Sharon. I also have been reading up on Sharon and had no idea just how popular she is with the UK audience.

Jill seemed to have a fondness and passion for GL, IMO. I know she made some bad moves, which she at least owned up for, but I just always get this feeling she thought highly of the show. Moreso than I felt at AW, GH and even OLTL, where I feel like OLTL wasn't all that terrible it was just a much different, darker, show. Anyway ...

Yeah, I'm kind of surprised they got rid of Anthony over Tyler.

I already prefer many of the long running characters (whats left) to some of the newer ones. Janine, Ian, Phil, Kat, Sharon and Michael are the most interesting for me. The Brannings are all boring except Derek. I like his daughter. Lucy looks 12 so i find it laughable she is running a restaurant. Shame Ben is done for now.

Also started watching 1985 episodes.

I didn't see it but I'll have to search for it.

Damn. Thank you! That was great! Helps explain things a ton. At the point now with Sharon's return. I was also confused over the Denise/Shirley/Denise calling Carly scenes but now that I know their connection it made sense. I am liking Janine more and more. I like Kat too but I can see why the affair thing with her is getting old. She seems better than that. I loved Janine and Kat having it out while Tommy was meeting Scarlett.

Hmm. I could like Janine but i read she is taking a break too. And there are others on break coming back. Whats with the Brit soaps and all these breaks? Lol. And I know what you mean Carl about not feeling real, i meant real in terms, to me compared to the US soaps. I was meaning a different "real". Lol.

Started watching August. I really like EastEnders. I think it's got an interesting cast and I love the interaction and community feel and how everyone interacts. I love British soaps for the fact that they just seem more real. I totally believe I could run into these people and I love the natural dialogue. Again like real people. I am of course starting with a fresh perspective. I'm around the point of the community cook off and Ian's return. I like the dynamic between Janine and Michael, however, Janine is really annoying. I want to like her. I've read on here she's a bitch. Where is that? Why are we getting this exasperated mother act? I'm not loving it. Not a great introduction for me to the character. The Masoods seem boring and fluff characters. They really dominated the show at one point? Oy. I like what little I saw of Christian and Sayed. Thank god they are pretty (Sayed's hot as hell) but they sure are wooden actors. Wow, they're bad. I like Kim and Denise. Ray is ehh to me. He seems like a jerk to Kim, who really comes off a tad desperate and tempermental. But I like her. I do hope there's more to Kim/Denise than Kim yelling at Denise for being a sourpuss and Denise huffing and puffing and sighing about Kim. I like Kat. However, it sounds like she's a whore. I take it she and Michael hook up? Or have? Her and Alfie are really boring together. Why is she with him? He adds nothing. He's an OK supporting character but man they use him a LOT. Shirley must be a love/hate character. I like that she's different and somewhat crass with an attitude. Is she leaving? Can anyone do a brief update for me on like the last month so I feel kinda caught up? Or I can read up more now that I'm into it. I take it this particular time isn't that rough for the show? I think it has a lot of dead weight but the Brit soaps seem to have large casts with all of them serving as supporting at one time or another. I like storyline rotation.

ITA. That was such a wasted and uncessary death! And they just up and kill her after they save her from some virus? Seemed ridiculous to me. It's clear that the writers didn't know what to do with her but the show seems in a VERY strong spot throughout most of 1984, despite the questionable storylines (IMO). I never understood the destruction of the Bauers. Hillary could have been around for a long time. Hope and Mike were the ones with THE most potential and they were completely ignored in the 2000s (and probably never mentioned after Mike's brief return in 1997). I agree with whoever said 1991 would have been the ideal time to reinvent them. And then to kill off Maureen? GL was so stupid how it handled the Bauers.

Holy crap. Sigh. While I'm sure at the time a lot of that was ridiculed and not liked but I would take any second of 1984 over anything we got in the 2000s. Or today on any soap. I felt invested beyond belief with just clips. Beverlee and Charita. Wow. Such amazing actresses. GL was very lucky to have them. I'm very familiar with GL history but SEEING it. Sigh. Again. GL has always had a special place for me amongst my soaps. I don't know why. Just something about it. I never felt that affection towards ATWT though I love the history of ATWT. I think ATWT was very untapped in potential for all of the 2000s. Very sad. But I have to ask, was Lujack that dominating on a daily basis? I love Irizarry and I know the character was super popular. Was is just an "instant click" with the audience or do you think the focus on him would annoy everyone?

Cannot wait to see Jill Larson's websoap!

I agree. That storyline was disgusting on every level.

Same here. Im surprised its for only 4 days.

I got an email about it. Says it is good through July 15th

It could have been a mutual parting. It is really too bad. Didnt Mike return in 1997? It is a shame they didnt bring him back to anchor the show. Especially because his grandson was Alan-Michael. And his return could have also led to Hope coming back. Such missed opportunity.

This show made a mistake killing off a lot of people. Shame. I agree with you Carl. Looks like Mike had several failed romances. The writers clearly didn't know what to do. They should have just pushed him as the patriarch. Did the actor choose to leave later or was he just dropped?

I agree. That storyline caused me to tune out again. So much potential that was all shot to hell.

Yes! I agree about Jason and Julie! I remember a LOT of time spent on Jason and then he was just done lol

I agree it was all three who brought the show what it needed. I was glad Cross left only because I hated the last storyline Kim had. I think they absolutely should have given LL whatever she wanted. Especially when you are losing original cast members.

Reading that article about the support players makes me sad that by the mid 2000s they were non-existent. Didn't Jack Smith purge a bunch of them followed by Latham getting rid of the rest? I guess we can blame the budget but how do they explain the boatload of useless characters they have now? LOL. Anyway ... enjoying the thread with the old articles and youtube clips

I do have to give the AMC writers over the years props for at least keeping the vets they had and using them in an overall substantial way until they were too ill to work. Myrtle, Palmer, etch they were still very relevant and attached.