Vee

Jeffrey O'Neil was beyond unpopular with the bulk of the audience from what I recall. But he also had that very vocal segment of Bradley Cole fanatics who snowed execs in the early online era, so there we were.

It showed, too.

Oh God, that's awful. Erika is beyond devoted to her children and used to go on and on about them in any interview, the newsletter, you name it. I remember Amanda as young Viki in 2003.

Ava is a killer. That's how she came on and that's who she is. She wanted power and she had no problem killing anyone to get it. Everything else could add nuance and depth (like her unlikely but interesting friendship with Trina, who only really knows one aspect of her) but is not the core of her being. I didn't mind the dark, dysfunctional relationship with Nikolas (when it was written that way, which it wasn't always) because it suited both people. I liked the idea of her being duped and romanced by Ryan, though the execution was all over the map and made her a weeping victim. Everything else she's had since Carlivati left has often been pretty nauseating - and he did write the Denise saga, so let's not forget that either. I think there is more fun to be had with Ava in the right contexts, but she's already been on the show way, way longer than anyone else in her non-Sonny/Jason role in mob story would've been. So I would go hardcore with her for awhile, get her back to what she does best (and she's not that OOC now, besides the cozy relationships with her enemies) and then let her either burn out in a blaze of glory or let her come in and out in future. Romantic heroine Ava does not work for me; Ava who gets along with Sonny, Carly, etc. does not work for me.

I would like to see Maura stay for a while longer, but it's been discussed at length before. The fact is it's ludicrous that Ava coexists with Sonny and others civilly after the shît she's done. It defangs the character. I would keep Ava for awhile at least, but I do think the character has an expiration date.

Adamson was played out on soaps years ago. It was my idea to pair Maxie and Michael, but I had that idea a decade ago when both characters still had some life left to them. They don't now. Same. But I'll allow it, for now.

AFAIC Maxie should be gone for three to five years, lol. Kirsten returning is optional to me. Michael is almost as played out and should be gone for at least a year or two as well (and recast).

That's right, I forgot Charlotte Gibson.

It'll be very interesting to see what plays out here staff-wise. I don't know which of the current crop of writers are solid. And again I believe a number of young writers of color are still on staff at GH brought in over the most recent years; folks can correct me if I'm wrong. As we've all noted, Mulcahey and Korte are the first key GH writers installed that didn't have their careers made by Frank or come from OLTL since before he and Ron took over. BTW @Errol the quoting system is real messed up.

I do too, but not with that albino goblin.

Having Felicia back regularly as a strong utility character amongst other vets has been a real boon for the show, but Felicia does not need Maxie's constant presence to do that. Ryan Paevey was also dreadful despite his body, just a plastic hunk onscreen; I can't believe he lasted so long or gave Maxie another needless child. Hayden has always been pointless.

Felicia and Mac's daughter has been on the show nonstop for almost 20 years. It's time for a break.

Molly Burnett just did a short stint as a series regular on SVU. Dick Wolf dumped her but I doubt she's coming back to soaps any time too soon. In any event I think Maxie needs a long break and probably a recast. Kirsten is not ready to continue as a lead and the character is burnt out with multiple children who shouldn't exist.

I don't know if Kate could work in the role or not, but this dead-end story (and the romance with this dayplayer, nice though she is) sure isn't it. I agree there's nothing so far Lexi couldn't do. It's C-story. Re: Kirsten Storms, I know what Frank's OLTL did to keep and shelter Nathaniel Marston before he finally flamed out, up to and including veteran actors working to get him out of bed in the morning to make his early set calls. So I think there is real loyalty to Kirsten from FV, but I don't think it's good for her to be on the show anymore right now.

Kim Matula (B&B) will play Jane Curtin in Jason Reitman's uh, uniquely-cast* biopic of the original Saturday Night Live cast, SNL 1975. (* - I don't think Matula is a bad choice, but other talented young actors like Gabriel LaBelle from The Fabelmans, Cooper Hoffman and other prime SS targets seem far too young to be playing Lorne Michaels, Dick Ebersol, etc.)

Kirsten has been rumored to have more than just private medical issues for over a decade.

In fairness, GH has invested in (or was pushed to accept) some young writing talent (largely of color, I think) who are on staff now. I don't know which ones are really skilled. There's also the Cullitons' daughter, I believe. Who may well be talented, I have no idea, but the fact that so much of the industry is a very closed fiefdom for family and friends to subsidize their futures is more highlighted than ever.

No, the official length of his contract runs to summer. That doesn't mean he will definitely tape three more months or anything else. Soaps regularly claim an actor will 'definitely' be back and filming a lot more when they get a serious out at the end of a contract to try and calm the audience. Remember when you insisted Trina #2 would definitely stay with the show just because GH said so? Most times they aren't back, or at least not for very long. We have no idea if Chavez will really tape much again, or if it is pre-tapes.

Teschner still gets his hand on in some casting (like Tabyana Ali, Avery Pohl and Nicholas Chavez, IIRC) and has been name-checked more than once in recent years, in fairness. But a lot of final decisions, I think, have been all Frank and it's often showed since he took over.

He's no Hallmark Channel regular, that's for sure.

I'll be pleasantly surprised if PM gets to write for him at all upon what I'm sure will be his brief return.

Not surprising, but I am surprised to hear he'll be seen in a few months. I wonder if it'll be a pre-tape thing like JJ or a proper (brief) return.

Oh God. I still remember people trying to tell me Rappin' Robert Watkins was some great catch.

I'll bet he is, lol. GH has hired a lot of low-rent meatheads in the last decade but the C-tier romantic loser opposite Scott Clifton is not needed on the show. Jonathan made himself damn near irreplaceable all over again when he came back to the show despite lousy storylines he didn't like, which is why the show has not recast since. If Guza had had any sense the buddy cop duo of Lucky and Dante would've run the show for years to come like Luke and Scorpio did in the '80s. It was all right there and they squandered it; they were beyond foolish to alienate him enough to leave. After another decade-plus since he left I'm open to a new Lucky recast at this point if the writing is there (which hopefully it will be) and there is no other option, but all these random hunks and failed soap stars don't add up to half a Jonathan Jackson lol. Even Greg Vaughan, a sweet, handsome guy who worked very hard on the show and had some marginal success in the role, never even came close. As for the rest of GH's current regular cast: At least 60% are worthless and could be slaughtered or fired tomorrow. I do not give a fûck. I'm sure they're all real nice folks to talk to but I'm not here to watch the Best Friends Squad of Nice People Who Give Fun Interviews. Everywhere you turn there's either a worthless character, a boring actor or a character/actor combo pack who is beyond played out and should've exited at a minimum a couple years ago.

Barbara Crampton (Y&R, GL) and Chris McKenna (OLTL, Y&R), remembered fondly by horror fans for a variety of flicks, both turn up in this week's Suitable Flesh, now on Shudder.