j swift

@China Jones Spilt-personalities, doppelgängers, and identical twins were a dime a dozen in Bay City.

Cass, Vicky, Rachel, Jordan, Amanda, and Sharlene each had one.

@janea4old I respect your take on the Ava story.  I feel like a story where a character is fearful about not being believed as a victim of sexual assault, written by the wife of an executive accused of sexual misconduct, is beyond poor taste.

Ava did not want to do Gil's bidding.  And it was explicit that he assaulted her.

However, I think the deliberate ambiguity of Ava shooting Gil behind a closed door implies that women will exaggerate threats, or use them to their advantage, in order to further their agenda.  Which is the only logical interpretation for that scene, when we consider that it was written by a woman whose husband was being investigated for inappropriate behavior in their workplace.

11 minutes ago, China Jones said:

Wasn't this around the time Cass had a split personality or a look-a-like?

So, there are three things that you may be conflating

The reason Cass had to tutor Dee to become a debutante was because he owed money to Tony the Tony.  In order to hide from Tony, Cass dressed in drag as Krystal Lake.

Then, years later, Rex Alingham, a Cass look alike, took over his life for awhile in Bay City while Cass was kidnapped.

Then, years after that, Jake owed money to a gambling ring, and he went in drag as Bunny Eberhardt.  And when Jake had a brain injury and got amnesia, he went by the alias Bunny

It is a bit ironic that Michael's treats to Nina would have wound up costing him money if Carly had accepted his loan offer.

Ned's instincts are correct not to trust him with the Australia deal, because only a twerp like Michael could wind up with a deficit in a blackmail scheme.

34 minutes ago, Xanthe said:

Any other acknowledged May-December romances I am not thinking of?

My first thought was Sergei and Felicia

1 hour ago, Paul Raven said:

The Don/Marlena fans may have been very vocal (lots of mail/phone calls) and Rabin recalls that reaction...which quickly subsided.

That's my point, as we see from the 1980s ratings thread, the ratings were subject to multiple variables. So, the only other source of data they had to gauge popularity were phone calls or letters to assume the audience response.  However, much like Twitter/X or other social media today, the most vocal fans are not always indicative of the consensus.

Although it is amusing that apparently fans allowed Don to move on lots of other ladies. 

Given fan loyalties, I wonder if there are still people out there wishing Marlena had never found love again?  Because, unfortunately, a Don and Marlena reunion is impossible.

Good to know my honor as the world's worst GH prognosticator is intact

No fair answering - who cares?

But, this changed who is #1 suspect

5 hours ago, AbcNbc247 said:

Too bad about the custody case though.

I guess they didn't want to re-use the set from Brady's custody hearing, or the judge

5 hours ago, AbcNbc247 said:

I would have liked to seen Xander and Sarah fight for Victoria, at least for a little while.

Did I miss it or did Sarah get her job back at University Hospital without any discussion?  I mean, she did leave them high and dry before.

I thought of another one.

With the advent of smaller and more mobile cameras, there would be opening shots where it was framed as if the viewer was a voyeur.  I recall a shot from Capitol when the camera begins behind a pillar and then reveals two characters plotting in the living room. 

Or this love scenes on Y&R shot through the rails of Lauren's bed as if we are peeking at them making out.

They really took advantage of the ability to use different angles, in a way that we don't see today with robotic cameras.

Between Iris's marriages and Mac's breakups, there were many times when Mac would join her for breakfast prior to going to the office.  A scene like that was described in the novelization Haunted by the Past, when Mac is chastising Iris about Clarice (see below). So, I would assume that the scene in question could have occurred after one of her many fights with either husband.

My main image of Iris during the 1970s was that she was frequently costumed in a marabou-trimmed peignoir or a house coat, because Iris rarely got dressed before noon. However, upon review of the images, Iris's robes were usually buttoned up to the throat, so Mac couldn't have remarked on her need to cover up.  Not that I am questioning the validity of anyone's memory, I just do not recall the dialogue that was mentioned.

The red one may be an evening gown, not a peignoir, but to be fair, they all looked alike

But, @Mona Kane Croft I can't watch this scene and not think of your insinuation  I mean, it's a little cringe to see iris kiss Mac on the lips.

1 hour ago, Paul Raven said:

One of the show’s hottest love stories was between Diedre Hall and Wayne Northrop, but Northrup left last year. Rabin said the audience refused to accept him. “Wayne was her second love on the show,” he said, “and it was a real struggle to get the audience to believe she could fall in love with a second guy.

That's an ironic quote, because the audience eventually believed that she could fall in love with a third guy.  And many current fans would be forgiven if they forgot the first one.

It's kind of funny to think that prior to the internet, the production's access to the audience response was so limited.

@Soapsuds Any time I see the print ad, I hear the thrilling voice of ABC reading it in my head.  Is this Ernie Anderson?

Did Gerald and Steve both go to jail for perjury, but only Steve got out?  That seems unfair.

 @chrisml ITA on the criminal unappreciation for Carmen Duncan and Anna Holbrook. 

I was just watching a short scene at the anniversary of Iris and Robert and I lamented what could have been with the character.  I wonder if the 1990s ethos toward less glitz, and fewer class based stories really limited Iris's potential during that period?  I mean, we see Felicia Gallant go from beaded dresses and boas to multiple layers of Armani gray frocks.  When I think of Iris in that pink confection she wore to the anniversary party, it seems like a huge task to ground Iris, and pairing her with a working class boyfriend was certainly not the answer. 

As for @Mona Kane Croft's suggestion about a taboo moment between Iris and Mac, my pearls are metaphorically clasped in horror at the very thought... (but she did often mention that Mac was a handsome man)

26 minutes ago, AbcNbc247 said:

Even though Mac’s wife had been dead for years at that point. 

Sylvie didn't value discretion so much that it inhibited her from nosing into Dennis and Jim's love lives.

Furthermore, it assumes that either Mac's wife adopted a baby and didn't tell Mac about the parents, or Mac and his wife knowingly adopted Sylvie's baby, but somehow Mac didn't think he was the father?  Neither option make sense (this is fun!)

10 minutes ago, AbcNbc247 said:

I often wonder why he rewrote it as well. 

Yes, it was unnecessary for the 1988 takeover storyline, and Sylvie's motive for being a suspect in Kirk's murder makes less sense (if the guy she killed wasn't Iris's father).

And, in 1988, Sylvie would have no way of knowing if her dead husband or Mac fathered her baby, because there weren't DNA tests.

The writing credit for the retcon is mysterious

In 1978 Sylvie and Mac had scenes outside of Iris's presence, but there was no discussion of an affair.

Then (according to AWHP) SEPTEMBER 17 - 21, 1979 - Kirk learned that Sylvie served prison time for murdering Iris's biological father, and Iris was actually born in prison. Before fleeing Bay City in shame, Sylvie threatened to kill Kirk.

OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 2, 1979 - Iris's dental records proved she had bitten Kirk before he died. But, Sylvie returned and claimed she was the one who bumped off Kirk.

NOVEMBER 12-16, 1979 - Sylvie's business partner supplied her with an alibi.  Before departing, Sylvie advised Liz and Jim to admit their attraction for each other.

So, it would seem odd that years later, Sylvie would tell Iris about an affair.

In 1988, it was never explicit that Iris tried to take over Cory because of the details of her conception, so it was not relevant to the story.

And, Harding Lemay's memoir implies a general satisfaction with his writing choices, so it defies logic that he would contradict a prior storyline.

Looking back, a lot happened in 1979, and I enjoy the interwoven Kirk and Janice plot, as Iris, Rachel, and Mac were torn apart at all ends, which is a perfect setup for Janice's plan.

Found on ebay

How cute is that? They gave out 50 cents so that people would send back their diaries.

@Mona Kane Croft I recall the circumstances of Iris finding out she was adopted, but do you recall how she found out that the adoption had been retconed?

Also, around the time that Sandy came to Bay City, Mac promised Jamey that he would be in the will, did that pan out later?

@Paul Raven You inspired me to read an article on the influence of Hill Street Blues on TV.  Besides setting the stage for NBC to dominate Thursday night for decades, Stephen Bochco talked about the writing:

Bochco: On our scripts, we had double columns of dialogue, ‘cause we scripted everything in the background. EVERYTHING in the background. We realized we had so many characters that the only way to service all those characters was to have multiple storylines. The only way to service multiple storylines was to let them spill over into subsequent episodes. So half the time, things that were going on in the background were in fact the elements of stories and character relationships that would emerge in the foreground two episodes from now. So we scripted everything. We left nothing to chance.

Thus, I would agree that multiple characters and stories going back and forth were part of the Bochco-effect on Daytime.

But, we also see the overall 1980s trend of trying to incorporate prime time trends.  In the 1970s Daytime was distinctive, but by the 1980 they were derivative.

2 hours ago, Liberty City said:

DON'T PUT SUCH THINGS INTO THE UNIVERSE!!!

Wouldn't it be great if that's how the universe actually worked?

I'd like unlimited capital, freedom for all, and Todd Manning back in Port Charles.

I finished the memoir, which is an accomplishment because the audiobook is over 48 hours long!

My recommendation is to buy the audio version because it includes all the songs, and it is entertaining.

Basically, she was consumed with self-loathing for 54 years, then she met James Brolin and things got a little better.  Also, she hates royal blue, but loves a baked potato.

I've been thinking about the character of Sofia Carlino.  Earlier, I remarked upon how Maggie changed with each recasting, but then I recalled that Sofia changed a bit toward the end of her time in Bay City. 

We all know the old adage of if it ain't on the page, it ain't on the stage. Well, I was inspired to watch more of Dahlia Salem's work after I read her wiki and learned that she had debuted on Broadway and acted with Al Pacino and Mercedes Ruehl.  I also watched her on the AW reunion with Alan Locher.  As it turns out, she is very engaging and charismatic.  She's one of those actresses that was saddled with being an ingénue, but has much more to offer.

I don't recall what inspired the character's turn, or if she just got fed up with Maggie and then Lila interfering in her romances.  But, I feel like I underestimated her when I suggested that whole generation of characters was boring.

I feel like the penny just dropped, and the story is starting to make sense.

Chad wants to buy The Spectator in order to fire Everett, at the same time Alex wants to resurrect Brava.

So, I assume Chad will fire Everett and then Theresa will hire him?  That has to be the reason Titan is suddenly getting back into publishing.  Unless, I'm giving everyone too much credit.

BTW, I liked the Xander & Everett interaction, Paul Telfer is a charm magnet and really brings out the best in his scene partners.  I enjoy the guy friends on DAYS, like Brady & Eric, or EJ & Chad, I think one of DAYS strengths are those types of scenes.