Vee

IIRC the general impression was the real Luke had simply never gotten out of Ferncliff like people had thought.

Helena was indeed in cahoots with Fluke IIRC, but it's been awhile. They made out, I think. Laura was not on the show at the time - Genie had split between 2013 and 2015, when FV had declined to offer her a contract following the anniversary, expecting to be able to use her on recurring like most of the vets, and Laura was abruptly written off in the fall of '13. She didn't come back without a contract, and their skirmishes since have largely been about that AFAIK.

It was definitely after.

What he wants is Ukraine, and the resurrection of the Soviet bloc. This isn't about money for him. I can think of another way out (not nuclear). But if we went there there'd be hell to pay. Oddly enough, it's beginning to remind me of when the Nazis tried to take Russia in winter. The Russians (as well as other efforts on other fronts) broke them.

It was very clearly supposed to be Bill. First, the guards in Ferncliff or Shadybrook or wherever Luke was originally kept before being 'switched' referred to a second man in charge - not the prisoner. Second, after being 'released' and getting up to no good, Fluke began making crucial mistakes: He mistook the Floating Rib for the Outback, from the early '90s, and then commented to himself that Tracy deserved any pain coming to her for 'what she did to my sister' (Jenny Eckert). He also was investigating Barrett corporate holdings and Cartullo, a company connected to Brenda Barrett. Bill had existing ties to Harlan and Julia Barrett. Tony Geary's medical issues delayed the story and prolonged it, but he made it clear in interviews mid-story that he'd been hooked by the original storyline without explaining its secret - Tony Geary has always been fascinated by Bill Eckert, and has nursed a grudge about the character being killed off for years, so much so that IMO he tried to refashion Luke into a version of Bill and all his concepts for him in the mid-2000s through the 2010s. He talked a lot in the press about Bill being misunderstood and unappreciated over the years, but his most infamous interview about it was with Pure Soap on E! (I think) in late 1993 where he was very candid and pissed about it to, I think, Michael Logan. It used to be on YT but now seems to have gone private. Once Geary prolonged the story, RC apparently discovered that fans had figured out the truth about the story from the clues and got pissed. Suddenly Bill's skeleton was discovered, all the past clues were dropped and we got the DID angle that doesn't really make much sense. Tony also confirmed the story was rewritten as he exited the show, though he didn't get into specifics.

I also am in the relative minority in that I think Finola and Tristan had insane chemistry in that period and that Monty was right to put them back together even if was rushed or done poorly. (I think those scenes when Frisco finds out about them and is struggling not to razz her about it are hysterical) But in fairness I also haven't watched that much classic Robert and Holly period as a little Emma Samms has always gone a long way for me onscreen, though she seems like a lovely person and I hope her recovery from COVID continues. One of his fansites still has like 3-5 long, long interviews archived from '91 through '93 going deep, deep into the Eckert/Bill backstory and all his personas! The man was Invested with a capital I. It's amazing. I would love to see the eps where Bill transitions from his initial fisherman persona into the corporate raider, I'm not sure those are on YT. It was a mistake for RC to change the story and not use Eckert for Fluke, IMO. The actual execution of the story, even before the rewrite, was so stupid, but it could've been well done by better people.

Yeah, that whole period is wild to watch play out online. Monty's grand vision implodes - the scope and audacity of it all still impresses me, though - then Riche seems to be experimenting to find something stable for most of 1992 into '93 and manages a few hits, and that keeps them alive until Labine and Luke and Laura. At least as entertaining were Tony Geary's endless interviews about Bill Eckert and the Eckert family history in that era, though. He just went on and on as Bill kept changing identities and personas. And then he gave his legendary TV interview, I think to Talk Soap on E! maybe, where he bleakly prosecuted the audience for not embracing Bill in fall of '93. I could swear it was Monty who got Alan and Monica back together, too.

I assume Cari Shayne and Sabato chose to leave in '94? They were the star couple for awhile. I believe he's supposed to be Jonah's sibling, but don't quote me.

I like how they did a whole article devoted to 'no, he's really dead, folks!'

Oh, yes, I've seen that. Oy. Howarth is playing Dr. Austin Gatlin-Holt, Jimmy Lee's annoying son. I think fans would've warmed to Howarth as a Q 9 years ago, but he showed up about 8 years and 2 other roles too late. The pairing with Maxie squicks me out as he still seems too young for her. Howarth had a viable place on GH once but it's long, long gone IMO.

I don't think recasting Julia is the worst idea in the world. I would definitely not put Drew with Carly at all though. That's just a Jason retread for her. I think Monty had her camped up in tight bun hair and being very haughty when CC first started, didn't she? That'll do it.

He also looked like he was wearing a Three Stooges wig when he returned.

I have my doubts Haskell would work for FV again given what we've heard about her final days at OLTL and her personal feelings about it, as well as those of her husband who refused to return when asked because of that same issue.

She's talented yet I have no desire to see her on a soap again. She's a mess. If she showed up I would give her a chance to perform, but there's just always drama. Speaking of Julia, I remember Crystal Carson adjusting well to the Guza style of dialogue and changed tone of the show when she returned here and there before and after Brenda's "death". I was surprised we never saw her again, though I know Carlivati allegedly had planned for her, Cheryl Richardson and someone playing Sly to appear before he rewrote the Fluke/Bill Eckert story.

I've enjoyed her on every show she's been on (including OLTL, where I thought she was great with James dePaiva) but she's been an increasing embarrassment iRL. I wouldn't go after her again without serious misgivings.

Out of respect for some latter-day friends of the board I am not gonna dig too deep into this topic. I will say I agree with BF that I never liked Evangeline, at least not after they dispensed with her early, more morally ambiguous character. I was thrilled when they cast a Black female on contract to be an ambitious lawyer, I was very excited to see her, but that's not how she turned out; she was on the backburner for most of her first year, and then when she developed I felt Van became a cardboard saint. And I didn't think the terrible writing suited REG's incredible talent, which was clear then but which time and showbiz since have more than proven out for doubters. I always thought she could do so much more than what she was given, and I felt the character was two-dimensional and saccharine. I wanted more for her. (And before Renee really hit it big I kept hoping she'd come out of the coma and give Layla hell as the scheming, perfect big sister trying to take back her man.) That being said, whatever my issues with the character it can't be denied that Evangeline was a frontburner Black female lead in the biggest love triangle on the show for several years running, with several white leads as well as men of color, and that is a fantastic, revolutionary act - even moreso now on daytime, sadly, in the 2020s, than it was 20 years ago. It simply will never happen now. I thought the show could do better, but the reality is it ultimately had no interest. And in Evangeline, with that level of prominence, regardless of the character issues some of us (specifically, me) didn't know how good we had it.

Lord, I didn't know Crystal was a part of it but knowing her that doesn't surprise me at all.

From the immortal We Love Soaps: There are apocryphal stories going way back that Lynn was treated poorly at DOOL and they may well be untrue, or she may just be being very classy years later. I believe this interview is from '09.

I do appreciate that the media is slowly admitting Biden's projections on Putin invading - which some insisted were a distraction from bad news domestically - were 100% right.

A lot from Julia Ioffe, who I disagreed with on Afghanistan but who is committed to this region personally. The sanctions are squeezing Russia and are some of the only things we can currently do, but she's right that it will not deter Putin individually who is a crazed ideologue. I do think it could close the vise from his own people. And a Jewish one, a key point for the antisemitic Russian regime which is projecting and claiming Ukraine is full of Nazis.

Meanwhile: