TimWil

I enjoyed reading your observations, Carl. Thanks. I disagree with you about Kellie Bright, though. I blame the writers, not her, for her character being "draining" as of late. I think the painful dragging out of her rape storyline is pretty much unbearable to sit through now.

I loved that "Stepford frump" remark, too, Bright Eyes.

I think Anna Passey definitely has a future in American TV/film if she chose to try her luck here. At the very least she'd get voice-over work. Her voice is awesome.

I am, Carl, although I agree a lot with what you, Bright Eyes and Ben have been saying about the current status of the show. In comparison to what's on my PBS station now (they're still in summer of 2005) it's frigging Masterpiece Theatre. Rudolph Walker (Patrick) and Diane Parish (Denise) were extremely moving in Tuesday's episode.

What few people seem to know is that Jean Fennell wasn't the only actress to begin shooting a role and then ended up being replaced by the time the character made its first appearance on the show. There was the actress Jill Gascoine who was to play Glenda Mitchell but she dropped out and Glynis Barber assumed the role. And Barbara Windsor herself told me that an actress named Frances Cuka was hired to be Jo Warne's replacement as Peggy Mitchell but it didn't work out after one day of filming so they turned to Windsor.

I think Pat and Carl could have made an interesting couple!

I thought the ghosts sketch was fun. The Grease medley was pretty lame.

He's no big loss as far as I'm concerned. This has to have been an issue since the spring because there's been absolutely no focus on him since the attack on The Albert.

Around that time (1978/1979) there was a character played by stage actress Mary Joan Negro. I remember she was to play a new love interest for Mac during one of his numerous bust-ups with Rachel. She didn't stick around, though.

I think Nigel Harman is a really good example of soneone who "upped his profile" in a huge way because of EE. He's never stopped working in TV and theater since Dennis was killed off. It helps that he had a solid background in theater like Declan Bennett. EE absolutely made Nigel Harman a marketable "name" actor. If the others don't work as much it's more a reflection on their talent/ambition. EE, for better or worse, makes them a known quantity. What they do with it is up to them (and their agents!).

He's been both on Broadway and in the West End but wasn't a "name." Now he is. Simple as that.

Charlie and Ronnie are working beautifully as a couple, which has been a very pleasant surprise. I can't think of the last time I actually rooted for a couple to be together and find happiness. Of course it won't be happily ever after for them but I really enjoy watching them for the time being.

Linda's pregnant? Yawn. It's probably Mick's.

I think it's more about "upping his profile," Carl. My British agent friend said that's a main reason he'll let his clients take roles on the soaps over there.

My God, John Altman was awful in his first full episode last night as the "resurrected" Nick. I really do think they need to finish Nick off once and for all soon. I enjoyed Nick's using the alias "Reg Cox," though.

I think Elizabeth Ashley would have made a fun Iris. She ended up on the show, anyway, didn't she?

The actress who plays Ruth Winters has an odd accent-I keep hearing traces of British or Irish in there from time to time.

She was quite nice, DRW50. We did the play while The Jeffersons was still on air, it was 1975.

Thanks so much for posting that article about "The Silent People," DRW50. I actually did a play with Dorothy Butts-she was Isabelle Sanford's half-sister!

Halloween has really become a "thing" in the UK over the past few years, hasn't it?

I agree with all your points, Ben. I do think Elaine will be fleshed out more when Maria Friedman returns for longer stints. I just think she brings a wonderful energy to the show.

I understand your position, DRW50, but there have been strong episodes over the past few months. I hope this link still works, the gents scene is at 17:30-

http://youtu.be/lB7EKC1Fi7U

DRW50, are you watching EE again? I BEG you to please watch tonight's UK episode if you can. Maria Friedman is FABULOUS as Linda's mother Elaine and her scene with Dean in the gents at The Vic is something I'd hate you to miss out on.

I was going through this thread again at random

points and was shocked when I came across a post which said that Peter Burnell (he joined as Mike in 1968) had committed suicide. I was in a production of Macbeth with him at Lincoln Center in 1974. I remember running into a good friend of his who told me he'd just had a "very bad" medical diagnosis. Another friend told me it was an AIDS-related illness and that's what I assumed he'd died from. If it's really true that he actually hung himself then it is enormously sad.

Hilarious bit of Ross Kemp in that ad, DRW50, thsnks.

I actually saw Kemp as The Queen's Henchman in a panto production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in Wimbledon about 10 years ago. I'll never forget this one joke:

Buttons: I gather you're a member of SAS?

The Queen's Henchman: Yes, I am.

Buttons: Very impressive. I've always admired what you Special Air Service chaps have accomplished.

The Queen's Henchman: What are you talking about? I'm a member of the Sondheim Appreciation Society.

I think the only ones in the audience who got that joke were me and my agent friend.

I did see the wedding episodes. A lot of it was entertaining but Friday's was pretty bad, mostly because I didn't buy for one second Dean screaming out "I LOVE YOU!" to his poor excuse for a mother much less trying to arrange her escape. It was about as believable as a weepy Phil allowing a sobbing Ian to collapse in his arms, which he did in the afternath of Lucy's murder. Matt DiAngelo's acting was so bad that it only heightened how ludicrous it was for Dean to have such a radical change of heart toward his disgusting mama.

Well, Jim Branning might be killed off now after John Bardon's passing and Dot might need one more love interest so...Bruce Forsyth as Charlie's long-lost brother? Heh.

A Martin recast makes sense because Sonia's back, she lives in Walford (as does he, apparently) and his name's been mentioned more than a few times since her return.

I'm getting a teensy bit irritated by the resistance (tinged with teenaged girl fervor) to the very idea of a Michelle recast. Sue Tully left the show in 1996 and will probably never return. Michelle is Sharon's best friend and is in possession of the show's longest held secret: Grant is the father of her son. It's time they finally recast Michelle.

So apparently a "legendary character" will soon be recast. I think it's a pretty safe bet that it will be Martin Fowler.