amybrickwallace

I had a bit of a chuckle when KZ wrote how whenever she would march up to Ellen Wheeler's office to complain about something, everyone working on the floor would vanish!!

Thank you so much. I think he was the only WKRP cast member with soap experience, but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

That Mason one is awesome. One of the most complex, frustrating, captivating and FUN TV characters ever - especially as played by Lane Davies.

For the second straight day, I had a through the mail autograph success from a star from AW - Gail Brown (Clarice)!! I'll email those images to Carl along with the Susan Trustman ones. Speaking of which, AW sure had its fair share of actresses with that name - Susan Trustman, Susan Sullivan, Susan Harney, Susan Keith...am I forgetting anyone? Of course, there was also an original character named Susan Matthews.

I thought Allen Potter was the first EP of AW (yes, the same gentleman who was at the helm of TD from 1967-73).

Thank you, P.J. - I'm actually kind of surprised that they recast Lily not once, but twice, after Martha Byrne left. She was so iconic in the role.

Thanks for sharing those. Was TSS Gary Sandy's first soap?

As of today, I have the autographs of both ladies who brought Pat Matthews Randolph to life! A few weeks ago I heard from Beverly Penberthy, and today I received the autograph of Susan Trustman Leider, who was an original cast member. She also sent along a very sweet handwritten note. I will email the images to Carl soon so he can post them here.

With no disrespect to Mark Arnold, I would have loved to see the Kelly/Joe wedding and concurrent Carnation Killer storyline with Dane. I think it would have taken the material to another level.

No wonder the show's ratings went into freefall its last few years. How many millions of writers and producers did the show burn through from circa 1975-1982?

Happy 60th (!!!) birthday to Jami Fields aka Penny Davis, who was born 7/19/1955. I hope her day is groovy and outa sight, as her character would say!!

Take it with a grain of salt, but Kim Zimmer says in her memoir that 2004 was the beginning of the end for GL. She has plenty to say about Peapack, the handheld cameras, and especially her fights with Ellen Wheeler.

Nic Coster was asked about the whole Joan Crawford thing on FB a while back, and said he actually wasn't on the set when he was there because he was using up some of his vacation time. He did say he felt sorry for his friend Nick Charles, who had to play the scenes with her when she was both terrified of airing live - and drunk.

I can never remember if it was Faith Catlin or Sarah Felder that Claire Labine tangled with the network about. Maybe both?

I actually thought Rick Porter (Larry) was a pretty hot guy!!! I also think that he and Laura Malone as Blaine were very believable as siblings.

Discovering the work of so many of these actors (many, sadly, are no longer with us) has been such a joy - especially Gerald Gordon, who before Retro began airing the reruns I'd only seen in a couple of episodics, like L&O and Perfect Strangers. He was at his best playing a man deeply in love as Nick was with Althea - and especially as a man deeply in love who was also deeply tormented. He and Liz Hubbard really were a magical acting duo. Soap couplings up that point, from what I've heard, read and observed from clips that still exist, were romantic but didn't necessarily have the extreme sexual chemistry that was a big part of the Althea/Nick relationship. Even the other main couplings on TD - Matt/Maggie and Steve/Carolee are filled more with sweetness than that extreme chemistry I mentioned. Nick just looks at Althea with those brown eyes filled with love and just melts whenever she smiles at him. THAT'S what got lost from soaps somewhere along the way - SHEER ROMANCE!!!

I have heard part of an episode from the late 60s with Audra Lindley as Aunt Liz. She was terrifying - I think I felt my blood curdle!! Quite a departure from her iconic later role of Mrs. Roper. Wow.

When was Heather Rattray's first airdate? I still remember seeing her play the daughter in one of the Wilderness Family movies.

They all seemed to have very distinctive voices, too, which I'm sure helps when one only has access to the audio.

Great to see David Rasche in yet another project. There's barely been a show on since the late 70s that he HASN'T been on!!

Thanks for sharing the clipping about Marsha Clark pre-GL. I also enjoyed the blurb announcing Susan Trustman's marriage. She and Jerry Leider are still married to this day!!!

The orange dress and matching earrings don't do her any favors, either, sorry to say. But it is great that she is still making the magazines!!

Maybe you could send it to Eddie and he could copy it?

Interesting - somehow I can't picture Justin Deas playing a man of the cloth. LOL

Not only that, but Gerald Gordon and Marsha Clark both called Allen Potter "boss" at different points in time - when he was on TD and she was on GL. Marsha is from my neck of the woods - Cleveland - and I am familiar with Brandywine Road. There is a Brandywine Ski Resort not too far from Parma Heights. I wonder if the two kept in touch throughout the years.