Franko

It's actually Marcia Strassman. I'm amused at how this is apparently Tony's first episode (or close to it). Less than five months later, he'll be left at the altar by Jenny. Also, for the record (I hope I'm not annoying people with this), the episode aired Thursday, Aug. 4, 1983. (Which I forgot until now was also the day of the live Search for Tomorrow episode.)

I'm so happy to be a help!

Absolutely. At the same time, it's perfect/fitting that she got to be the one to bring the curtain down on a never again era/mentality/je ne sais quoi of soaps.

It appears to be a newcomer to the retro library. Monday, Aug. 1, 1983.

I could have sworn that somebody (Gerald J. Wagett?) wrote that Rod played the last episode Travis lookalike.

Thursday, Aug. 4, 1983, thanks to the ABC primetime promo.

Today in turn off your brain moments: Unloaded or not, you'd think that Asa would face some sort of charge/penalty for pulling a weapon on officers doing their job.

They moved to Nashville in 1983. While attending a cul-de-sac party in 1997, Ginger revealed she and Kenny were divorced because of his infidelity. ETA: Whoa, I forgot about Ginger being a lesbian. Clearly a shoutout to one of the year's big TV events, "The Puppy Episode."

Could it have been Earl and Judy Trent, or similar? Like Gary and Val, they would also be dealing with substance abuse.

Based on the CBS Monday and Wednesday promos, specifically the one for Almost Grown ("Tonight"), this is from Monday, Jan. 23, 1989. Maybe they wanted to air the episode in full for all viewers?

Doug Sheehan has died. In his honor, a fun bit with Joe and Jeremy.

Rest in Peace, Solid Old Ben.

Yes, it is. I want to give her the benefit of the doubt, but I can't. Sandy isn't coming across as at the very start of her grieving, when nothing's sinking in. She's coming across as mildly inconvenienced by everything.

Bob Hope's GH spoof from 1982, featuring Elizabeth Taylor, Glenn Ford, Tony Geary and Richard Burton.

Yup, that's my takeaway, too. The lead-out shows, on the other hand, aren't as competitive.

I had to look up TVTV. Pittsburgh Post Gazette -- "Here's a program that aims at a satirical glimpse of the typical American family, so-called, and how they react when they're transformed from TV watchers to TV participants." IMDB -- "Sketch comedy and news parody from the counterculture TV unit." Ecclectic cast and crew, as was the norm for most Groove Tube/SCTV variants in that era. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1090689/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm

I look forward to comparing The Price Is Right vs. Wheel of Fortune and Scrabble/Win, Lose or Draw. I'm curious to see if there was a rising tide effect for the network version of WOF when the syndicated version went through the roof.

A while back, we had the thread on essential characters for soaps. This type should be high on that list. The one who acts in service to his or her "reasons," even if honesty would make much, much more sense and be fulfilling.

DOOL did an Auntie Mame inspired plot in 1989, with Anjelica's nanny, J.J. Bagwood, in the role of Agnes Gooch. Maybe that would have worked better with Felicia and a maid or assistant character?

Until today, I'd never seen the clip of Jason confessing to accidentally killing Laurel when he was aiming for Michael. His last line, "You made me do it. All of you. I was just the one who picked up the gun and shot the wrong one," is blood-curdling. The clip comes from a Marcy Walker fan, so the weight is on Liza and Tad dealing with their culpability as members of the media. That's still relevant, too. At the same time, I wonder if any viewers felt like AMC was protesting too hard in an effort to differentiate itself from '90s trash TV, specifically Jenny Jones.

The infamous Acting Sheriff from 1991, with Robert Goulet, John Putch, Hillary Bailey Smith, Ruth Kobart, Diane Delano and a young Lee Tergesen.

You're welcome. 1987 seems like such a throw everything at the wall and see if it sticks kind of year.

According to the Curlyqgrl summaries, Ray was part of the Duke and Camilla storyline -- he was editor of the Port Charles Herald and boss of muckraking reporter Carlin.

Based on the voiceover promo over the credits, this aired Friday, Dec. 25, 1981.

Discovered today: Tickets, Please, from 1988 for CBS. About the staff and regular passengers of a Manhattan commuter train, with a cast including Cleavon Little, Marcia Strassman, David Marciano and Yeardley Smith. I would have liked more time with character dynamics among the weekly cast, even though Harold Gould is always a welcome presence.