Franko

It looks like they just took a pair of heart boxers and slapped the word "Passions" on it. Maybe if initial sales were better, they'd have upgraded them with the actual Passions logo, then one with the hourglass for Days. (And for old school fans, the Another World interlocking rings.)

Oh, that's just fabulous!

I like this a lot. Not to get too OT, but "gay Ava Rescott" was what I wished Leo on DOOL had been.

For me, it's Richard, who spent the last few months being as welcome as a mosquito and half as useful.

Yup, that was a young Tom Cruise, who got the consolation prize of a smaller role in the movie.

Was I seeing things, or was Robby Benson among the auditioners?

We've probably talked about this before, but would Pamela K. Long and subsequent writers have had use for Kelly/JWS if he hung around?

OLTL scored only three Daytime Emmy nods (and no wins) in 1993: Robert S. Woods, Thom Christopher, and Tonja Walker. The show did much better in 1994, with five nods and four wins: Robert S. Woods (the also-ran), Hillary B. Smith, Susan Haskell, Roger Howarth, and the writing team. I guess it took time for the voters to come around to Gottlieb-Malone.

I've been thinking lately about who had the better pre-Knots filmography, Joan or Donna. If and when I find more leisure time, that might be an interesting viewing assignment. And yes, Michael Storm was handsome as all get out. Just so long as she doesn't show up at Olivia or Brian's with an autoharp.

Discovered this tonight. Donna Mills and Michael Storm in what seems to be the inspiration for SNL's Angora Bouquet commercial. Unfortunately, due to bad audio, Donna sounds like she's underwater.

THIS! I'm no revisionist historian, but the Fred Silverman era deserves some credit for trying.

Friendships, Secrets and Lies, from 1979. I've never seen it myself, but it sounds like it would be up my alley. And here's the song!

See also, the movies based on true stories. Those seemed to allow for opportunities to play against type. I forget if I've razzed on this one before ... I'm sure Shelley Long did well, but I love how the audience was INFORMED that she's got range, and you're going to see it. ("Stroke patient" in the middle is my favorite.)

Making my way through 1982-83, the contest for control of Ewing Oil season. Two things: I feel like Bobby's losing his identity and that the show was thrilled to have original recipe J.R. and this new diet version. Also, Sue Ellen and Pam going on and on about how they're really gonna try to not hate each other reminds me of a quip from David Denby's review of Beaches. "These two spend more time talking about their friendship than having it."

Here's the thread devoted to them. If they ran longer than two installments, I think they should go to the miniseries thread, but I'm not going to be a hall monitor. I should do my homework and find out what stars like Victoria Principal, Cheryl Ladd, etc. thought about their TV movies. I imagine that the stars who had regular series work liked having something to break up their regular grind and/or having an extra paycheck. And it probably didn't hurt their Q ratings, either. If I was a motivational speaker, this would be my entrance music.

Ah, yes, that's right. I even saw that item when I was digging through this thead to find the supposed casting shortlist that SOD posted in 1999.

I keep thinking about the actors considered, wanted, or rumored for Passions when it began. So many of them seem overqualified. I'm also thinking that some of the characters were made younger by the time the show premiered. Sydney Penny -- Theresa? Fiona Hutchison -- Grace? Ivy? George Alvarez -- Luis? Martin? Sandra P. Grant -- Whitney? Ian Buchanan -- Julian? Finola Hughes -- Grace? Ivy? Kimberly Simms -- Grace? Ivy? Sheridan? Thom Christopher -- Martin? Jack Wagner -- Sam? Rena Sofer -- Beth?

Robert Gentry and Susan Keith, not in character as Ross and Shana (from Loving), are featured in this ad for a New York Daily News supplement.

Bumping this post. That's some array of names!

I'll have to re-read the They Almost Became thread, but I think Simms was one of the names considered for Passions (as Sheridan, I assume, or would she have been more likely for Ivy?).

Yes, three cheers for @chrisml. It's interesting to revisit Logan's columns (which were always the first thing I read in '90s TV Guide), even if I'd forgotten some of these items, like King Sassy's time as a consultant.

I'll also concede that Days probably survived the ABC-ification the best.

There might have been more personal stuff, but Rauch was still producing OLTL when Fiona left or was forced to leave. If I recall correctly, they lowballed her and she walked.

I think they should have given up the 12 p.m. EST half-hour, since most affiliates were going to use that for local news. I'd have them keep Super Password, though, airing it in the 10 a.m. slot against The $25,000 Pyramid on CBS. Or, if they didn't want to have two games with celebrity guests competing against one another, SP could air at 10:30 a.m., between Sale of the Century and Wheel of Fortune and against Press Your Luck on CBS. As for the soaps, they really needed to stand on their own instead of being ABC clones. (If we needed to bolster ABC, my answer is obvious: shows at 10 a.m.)

Dear God, did someone consider this fresh material? https://deadline.com/2025/04/snl-promo-jon-hamm-saturday-night-live-1236364549/