Franko

Week 17, Part III Sean: "When are you ever going to get back to the business of being a woman and stop trying to be Robert Scorpio?" Laurelton, the Anna (and Buzz) stuff: Just a few more weeks of this crap where almost nobody respects Anna. Just a few more weeks. Okay, let's do a quick rundown of her wins and losses this week: having some mother-daughter time with Robin while they buy summer clothes (WIN) Felicia wanting to be friends again (WIN) Kevin getting acquitted of murder (LOSS) doubting her abilities as a judge of people, crimefighter, etc. (LOSS) receiving tough love from Sean (WIN; Yes, he says some condescending things, but he does genuinely care for her. Contrast with Jake pulling the same routine a few weeks ago.) getting various degrees of attitude from Patrick, Jake, Kevin, and a random heckler while out to dinner (LOSS, but that's to be expected) going on a dinner and dancing date with Buzz (WIN, according to the show), who keeps stepping on her toes (LOSS) Anna can't deny that she cares about Buzz, but she doesn't know if there's a future for them. Back at her place, they share a nightcap, Buzz kisses Anna, she pulls away, they confirm Robin's whereabouts, one more kiss, and then it's time to be interrupted by Frisco, Felicia, and Robin. Side note: Anna and Buzz's date included instrumental versions of "I've Got a Crush on You" and "Somewhere." I thought the latter was played in a rather improv. style that actually kinda made sense for how unorderly their situation is. And there you have it. The farthest Buzz will ever get with Anna. I already know that he'll get bopped on the head next week, and by the time he gets out of the hospital, Duke & Anna will very much be happening. Buzz gets some last creepy moments Thursday while sharing an awkward breakfast with Anna and Robin. Anna's already told him that she's really not ready for a serious relationship right now. Buzz thinks she is. Anna's glad she's gotten the chance to feel like a woman again. Anyway, at breakfast, Robin brings up having a baby brother or sister. "Do you think you could manage that?" Anna says she could, but there's more to it. Robin: "There is?" Buzz: "Yes, tell us." Anna: "You stay out of this, Buzz." Anna says that if you're going to be a mommy, you should be married. Robin: "That shouldn't be so hard for you." Buzz: "No, it shouldn't." Anna: "Um, eat your breakfast." Robin: "You can marry one of my godfathers. They're all unmarried. ... It might have to be you, Buzz." Anna: "He's speechless. ... Please try to be." Anna's week ends on Thursday, when she admits to Buzz that she can't let go of her doubts about Kevin. She's right, of course, but we won't know that for a while longer. This one's for you, Buzz!

Week 17, Part II Patrick, to Kevin: "It's great to have you back where you belong. So, how's everybody been treating you?" Old lady being wheeled away by a nurse: "I'm not getting out of this hospital a minute too soon! Can you believe they're letting that man come back to work?" Laurelton, the O'Connors stuff: There's an alternative universe where it wasn't Kevin all along, and he remained on the scene for at least 1986-87. In this more low-key world, significant time is spent on Kevin rebuilding his professional life, finally having a happily ever after with Terry, and ending up on good terms with Anna. That last one writes itself; Robin gets sick and Kevin heals her. For better or for worse, GH just wasn't that kind of show at this time. For the record, Lucy and Sarah aren't around when the not guilty verdict's read. I thought it was interesting that Anna and Brett's dismayed reaction shot doesn't come for 20 seconds. Red, to Jake: "I hope you're satisfied, counselor. ... I know what I saw that day at the airport. ... No, you're the one who's making a mistake. You just let a killer go free." Tuesday's episode has an odd moment with Sheriff Broder, Ted, and the O'Connor parents. Ted says they've all had three long years wondering just who was Earl Moody's killer, but it's time to "put the past behind us once and for all." Tim O'Connor, who, by the way, is back to being at odds with Patrick, thinks that maybe it's better that they not know who did it. That's pretty insensitive from a guy who lost three in-laws to the killer and had everyone in his immediate family except him and his wife be suspected of murder. I guess in this world where Kevin and Patrick didn't do it, Tim would have. In-universe, I think the Laurelton four know that Kevin did it, but are too much in denial or fear to say so. Whether they've always known it or have finally reached that conclusion remains to be seen. On Thursday, Tim starts to imply that he thinks Patrick is the killer. It's also revealed on Thursday that Earl was killed in the same room as Ted, et al. and that it happened when the lights went out. Okay, that's just stupid as hell. We've seen the room where it happened. It's not that big. Did everyone but Kevin just stay where they were, too terrified to move while their longtime acquaintance or relative was being killed? They couldn't all have been tending to the lights. And how long does it take to strangle a guy, anyway? Moving on ... Patrick rewards Bobbie and Jake, who gave Kevin a discount on his defense, with a Paris vacation. Jake leaves with a growing seed of doubt about Kevin's innocence. Meanwhile, Patrick goes to Laurelton, where he gives Sarah the use of Earl's house, makes her his proxy at Purity Water, and establishes a salary for that role. Sarah initially fears she's being paid off for her testimony, but comes around in a surprisingly touching way. Patrick: "I need you to look after my interests, so to speak. I need ya." Sarah, whispering as if in ectasy: "Oh, your uncle used to say that to me. Normal voice Oh, Patrick, you know I was very important to him." (I'll just bet she was!) Patrick: "I know that. And you are very important to me too, Sarah." Sarah, whispering again, and tearing up a little: "Oh, imagine. ... Just imagine me. Getting back to normal volume Me. Important to somebody. Oh, you know the people here in Laurelton never thought that I was important to anybody!" Anyway, the Laurelton guys learn what Patrick's done. I still think Tim should have been killed off during Laurelton II: Sarah's Revenge. Maybe Jim McKrell wasn't available. Back in Port Charles, Kevin and Terry continue having lousy sex. Since February, Terry's been presented as the one who's not pulling her weight, but I wish it would have turned out that Kevin just wasn't a good lover. That would have really sent him over the edge. Terry's determined to find out just who the killer is, so she can finally move on and be Kevin's wife. She also doesn't like Kevin's idea of leaving the Brownstone and/or Port Charles. Patrick returns from Laurelton in time to keep Terry from using Jennifer's brandy to make her unofficial truth serum. He ends Thursday's episode by telling Terry that she must forget the past. (Hmm ... maybe Patrick also has some barely suppressed doubts about Kevin?) Friday's episode includes Kevin's initially awkward return to GH. I smirked at the student nurse running like hell once she realizes they're alone together. As the episode goes on, various folks (from Alan to Yank) assert their confidence in Kevin and that everything will soon be back to normal. The episode includes not one, but four visits to Lucy. Lucy, to Terry: "I've learned my lesson. ... Never tell a lie and never fall in love, because they both bring you nothing but pain." After Terry, Lucy's visited in the library by Frisco, then Patrick. I watched these scenes carefully, trying to see if there'd be any red herrings for the finale. Truth be told, there aren't. Lucy briefly mentions Brett and Jake, but we already know that the latter's in Paris and the former hasn't shown up in the episode, so he's not likely to be the mystery man. Frisco ends Friday's episode having afterglow with Felicia, so he's not going to suddenly show up at Lucy's. And the way Lucy and Patrick are interacting, they clearly have no established intimacy. That leaves just Kevin, who for his part, has claimed to Patrick and Terry that he doesn't like Lucy. Which brings us to Lucy's big scene. As a standalone piece, it's a well-deserved classic. In context, it's frustrating. It won't be confirmed until next week that Lucy's seeing Kevin, but based on who she's been interacting with so far, it's really not hard to figure it out. Classic JER, like the unnecessary staggering of Roman finding out about Marlena & John's affair and that John was Belle's father. In my next post or two, which will come tomorrow, thoughts on Laurelton, the Anna (and Buzz) stuff, Sean Swindles the Quartermaines, and the domestic storylines (the Webbers, Bryan & Claudia, Tony & Tania).

The Decline and Fall of the Monty Empire Week 17 (April 21-25, 1986) -- Part I Ruby: "Can I, um, offer you some advice?" Kevin: "Well, anything from Bobbie's aunt, I'll take." Ruby: "Well, your life's pretty good now. Don't let petulance and anger screw it up for you. ... Okay, I better get in the kitchen and get on with my chili." Laurelton, the Frisco stuff: Kevin's declared not guilty of murder halfway through Tuesday's show. Monday's cliffhanger concerned his jury being deadlocked. We'll soon find out that Kevin's innocence is false, but in the meantime, GH teases its audience with a few days of "What's next?" Kevin and Anna spend the most time picking up their pieces, but there's also some reckoning for Frisco, Patrick, and Terry. Anna: "When you wear this badge, you have to do many things that go way against your own personal sense of morality." Frisco: "Really. To be a cop, I have to play dirty, is that it?" Anna, after a pause: "Criminals play dirty. What choice do you think you have?" Frisco: "Lucy Coe is not a criminal!" If I didn't have enough reasons to be thankful for the reveal of Lucy's true colors, it's apparently what's going to toughen up Frisco. I want to have more sympathy for him, and really, there's more disillusionment as 1986 goes on, but right now, it's like, why even be a cop? The correct answer is that GH apparently needs a male hero to pick up Tristan Rogers' reins. Frisco: "What about the people in between, huh? What about the Lucy Coes?" Lewis: "The means justify the ends. You do what you have to do." Spurred by Lewis, Frisco decides not to chicken out. The young man's humiliated early in Friday's episode. Felicia, her professor's star pupil and poised for work as a bookkeeper, stops by the police academy. She unwittingly demonstrates the logic and steps needed to safely disarm a gunman. Frisco and Sam both wind up "dead" in Lewis' exercise, and Eric's admonished for his shoot first, ask questions later attitude. After letting jealousy make him insult Felicia -- he's seeing Lucy, someone who needs him -- and fearing he's been stood up, Frisco makes amends. Ruby doesn't offer any wise words before this, just a sympathetic ear and some light flirting. Felicia takes things up a notch by walking into Kelly's in handcuffs, then dropping the key down her top. Frisco: "Do you know what the penalty is for trying to seduce a cop in this state? Hmm? You have to spend the entire evening in the arms of the arresting officer." They kiss, and the key drops to the floor. Felicia, laughing as she puts both arms behind Frisco: "Guilty as charged!"

I just can't take The Boy Who Drank Too Much seriously as a title. I know it's getting to the point, and comes from the name of its source material book, but it sounds like a parody. The boy, BTW, was Scott Baio, acting* opposite Lance Kerwin. *In Scott's case, it's really more "appearing" than acting.

Oh dear! Hopefully that can be fixed. To shamelessly crib from Loving and still somewhat keep things on topic, SON without DRW50 would be like Ava trying to live in Corinth without "Jeremy, alive, at the studio with a smile on his face, putting up with my nonsense and not passing judgement on me. ..."

Based on the promos included with the episodes, the first upload seems to be consecutive episodes from March 20-23, 1989. The second upload is either Friday, March 24, or sometime between March 27-29. I'm leaning towards it being the Monday episode, since it would be logical to debut the new opening sequence at the start of the week.

I'll give myself 40 lashes with a wet noodle. And yes, "All I Need" is the GOAT of Jack's tunes. I wonder if the producers regretted that it was tied to Frisco & Tania, a pairing that didn't even last a year.

FYI, it's that time ... Truth be told, this song's grown on me. It's certainly better than "Lady of My Heart."

Actually, if any network could have pulled it off for even just a season, it would have been CBS. Bob, etc. aired on ABC, which was still the poor cousin of TV back in those days.

Good God in heaven, the man could rock a suit.

And all of that sounds a heck of a lot more interesting than the Lifetime movie Bobbie spent the mid-'80s in. (What's Wrong With Terry?!)

A-ha. Looking up the book now, which definitely has soapy possibilities. Lovely young Susan Langdon thought she knew what she was doing when she married world-famous concert pianist Richard Antonini. She knew about the many women whom this handsome, incredibly gifted musical genius numbered among his conquests. She knew about his celebrated close-knit family…his ravenously possessive mother…his jet-paced world of dazzling glamor and glittering sophistication…his passionate dedication to his career. But she also knew—or thought she knew—Richard, her Richard, the Richard she adored and gave up her career for. Here is an unforgettably moving novel of a woman who took on more than she ever counted on when she surrendered to love—and who fought against every heart-tearing odd as she found out what marriage really meant.

That is one clunky title! Also, a bit Bond moviesque.

Huh, you learn something new every day ... I didn't realize Michael Logan curated the Daytime to Remember episodes. Did he do that for all three featured shows, or just GH?

Thanks so much, @slick jones!

I guess in-universe it changed around the time they opened that mall on the waterfront in 1992. Did we get to see much of that place? Was it another keeping up with the jones thing in response to Days and Salem Place?

That's a great analysis of Ruby! When I was watching as a kid, I actually thought that "Kelly" was her last name and that it was a family business.

Week 16, Part IV -- Conclusion (at last!) Frisco: "If humiliating an innocent girl in front of people is part of being a cop, then maybe I oughta just reconsider this whole deal." Laurelton, Part II: I'm repeating myself, but the seams for Lucy's masquerade are really well hidden. She gives Frisco just enough alone time for snooping and later finding her love poetry to Kevin. On the demerits side, we have the resolution to Operation Discredit Red. Kevin and Stretch, the basketball player who didn't take a dive, don't look that much alike. And after that, we've still got an episode-and-a-half before Jake finally uses the poetry in court. During the interim, Lucy also testifies about seeing Kevin with a young, flashy, headband-wearing woman, and -- GASP! -- he turned down the corner of a reference book's page! Naturally, Jake and Bobbie are obligated to find the book in question, which wasn't actually the one Lucy said it was, and ... Yadda yadda yadda. I get that Jake's trying to break Lucy down with repetition and proof that she's not 100% accurate, and GH is determined to have a big moment for Friday's episode, but we're about two steps away from Jake asking if Lucy's absolutely sure the earth does, in fact, rotate around the sun. And then asking her again an hour later. Anyway, Kevin briefly takes the stand on Thursday, and on Friday, Frisco takes his makeup exam. Eric, his partner, and Samantha all passed! Frisco does, too, but we find that out after the fact. GH has spent about a half-year with Frisco's move to law enforcement, and I suppose there was never any doubt he'd succeed, but still, what an anti-climax. Speaking of anti-climaxes, it wasn't until I finished Friday's episode that I realized neither Anna nor Bobbie appeared. Of all people, Burt shows up to watch Lucy self-destruct. Also, I'll give a point to Jake for faking out Lucy. He recited the lines to one of her poems, but the actual piece of paper he held was blank. And, of course, Lucy's faking out the entire courtroom. Jake: "Love can turn to hate. Can't it, Lucy?" Jeff's Care and Claudia/Bryan/Debbie: David Mendenhall and Judith Chapman have the week off. In addition to his work in the Alan-Monica storyline, Chris Robinson's duties include wrapping things up for Jeff. I don't know if I misundertood Rick's point of view, or there was a last-minute rewrite, but the name of the game is keeping Jeff with the Lanes, the foster parents he had run away from. Rick and Mrs. Lane both explain that Jeff had gone through a lot of trauma in a short time and that when he stole that motorcycle, it was an act of reaching out for something he could feel was his very own. Anyway, Jeff gets to stay with the Lanes, and it's confirmed on Thursday that he's doing well. Finally, Claudia tries and fails at being excruciatingly polite around Debbie, who admits on Thursday that she's fallen for Bryan. Claudia and Bryan's last scene on Thursday has them wondering how things have gone so wrong. I'm curious to see how this plays out, and when exactly Claudia and Bryan are gone for good.

Week 16, Part III Frisco: "You don't seem like you trust men very much." Lucy: "Oh, well, I'm, I'm afraid of most men, but I, I trust you. You're the first man I've ever trusted." -- the thing is, there might be some truth there Laurelton: Almost immediately after she arrives, Lucy tells Jake, Brett, and Anna that Kevin wasn't in the library on March 17. The pro-Kevin team spend the rest of the week seeking to undermine the credibility of not only Lucy, but Red Flynn and John Hudson (the student who signed in Kevin for a lecture that he allegedly did attend, not the future Bay City doctor). It's often quite tedious. By the end of the week, Lucy Frances Coe has taken the stand four times. I said earlier that Leslie Charleson wins the acting crown for this week. Lynn Herring is not close behind her, and earns the title of April's MVP. Most of Lucy's non-court scenes are spent with Frisco, whom she recognizes from TV. (Again, this might actually be true.) Lucy stays in character as the "frigid old maid," and it's fun to watch her subtly play Frisco like a fiddle. Score one for the writers. Lucy: "... I've got to get going. I'm running late and I've, I've got to fix my hair. ..." To his credit, Frisco's not totally taken in by Lucy. He senses that something's off about her, but can't quite figure out exactly what. Over the last few weeks, I've been thinking about how modern technology would help pick up this story's pace. It's things like security cameras being at the airport and the university library, or using John's card information to prove he was paying for breakfast and not actually at the lecture that Kevin belatedly attended. That particular thought led me on another tangent, wondering if Kelly's only accepted cash in 1986 and if it didn't take card payments until after Ruby's death. Wednesday's episode includes Kathleen O'Connor, Patrick, and Sheriff Broder testifying on Kevin's behalf. We can all thank our lucky stars that Terry doesn't take the stand. The episode also includes Ruby and Dan testifying that John was at Kelly's on St. Patrick's Day. He had wanted a second helping of corned beef hash. (I went back to verify that this actually happened.) It's at this point in my viewing that I actually got kinda mad about GH having so many characters working to prove Kevin's innocence. On the one hand, I have a little bit of respect for the show ultimately being so brazen, that the campaign in Kevin's defense is so exhaustive and ultimately unnecessary. On the other hand, I also feel like the show's kind of betraying its viewers' trust. I dunno, am I making too much of this? Side note: It's also interesting how Ruby's characterized as a waterfront matriarch, someone who knows all her customers, etc. She's only been running Kelly's for a year-and-a-half at this point. Other thoughts: -- Robin claims a peanut butter and corn chip sandwich is delicious. I dunno, I think it would be kind of bland. Maybe the chips need to be flavored. -- They really need to move on from Anna continuing to miss events at Robin's school. We get it, Anna's dealing with the difficulties of being a working mother. I'm curious when GH will actually allow Anna (and/or Robert) to be there for Robin. I'll wrap things up tomorrow. We've got just the rest of my thoughts on Laurelton and some quick stuff about Jeff's family situation and Claudia/Bryan/Debbie.

Week 16, Part II Monica, to Sean: "If I lost my son, it would change our relationship completely. And I don't want to risk losing you. I've never loved anybody ... No, I take that back. I never thought I could love anybody again as much as I love you." Sean Swindles the Quartermaines: Leslie Charleson wins the acting crown for this week. At first glance, it looks like Monica spends the week ping-ponging. She tells Sean on Monday that she's ready to divorce Alan, take A.J., and have their new life together. On Tuesday, Monica tells Alan she wants a divorce, that their relationship and marriage is over ("I cannot resucitate something that is dead."), and she wants him and his family out of her house. On Wednesday, Monica makes it clear to Alan, Edward, and Rick that she's going to go through with the divorce. Alan: "How do you think it's going to sound in court when we start airing all the dirty linen again, Rick?!" On Thursday, Monica's parade is rained on after she and Buzz discuss how the gossip from an unfriendly divorce could ruin her career. She responds by telling Sean they've got to cool down, and they spend Friday's episode trying to keep up appearances as a doctor and her patient who just happen to keep running into one another. I guess I'm just moved by Monica flailing as she navigates outside of her life as a Quartermaine, trying on different personas and attitudes and having most of them quickly taken away. Monica: "I'm sure in all your travels you must, at one time or another probably ... um ... hid from a jealous husband or something, you know." Sean, looking right at her: "Probably." Monica: "Well, what does that mean?" Sean: "If you're asking me whether or not I've ever been involved with a married woman before ..." Monica: "No, I'm not." (Uh, YES, YOU WERE.) "No, I'm not. I take it back. I take it back. Uh ... I don't really want to know." Exaggerated smile. Sean: "Would you believe me if I said no?" Monica: "... Yeah, I would." Sean: "Good." Monica: "Fact, I probably would believe anything you had to tell me." In his own way, Alan matches Monica when it comes to irrational behavior. He declares on Tuesday that he doesn't need Monica or her house. He's going to use the money made from the Brazil deal to buy a palace. Alan decides on a house that's a "steal" at $3.2 million ($9.64 million in 2026). The week also includes some good moments for Lorena and Jimmy Lee. Lorena blackmails Monica on Tuesday. She gets to stay in the mansion, because otherwise she'll reveal all she knows about Monica and Sean, which would make for a messy divorce. Lorena affirms that she's bitter about Monica having turned her back on her by being the maid of honor when Celia and Jimmy Lee married. It's disappointing how that was what split the long-lost cousins up for good, but maybe they just never were going to really have a lasting bond. As for Jimmy Lee, he's triggered by all the divorce talk, but does something good by rekindling his friendship with Buzz. Their catch-up conversation includes Buzz saying Jimmy Lee put Celia on too high of a pedestal, Jimmy Lee saying that his pre-marriage promiscuity was part of wanting to be a Quartermaine and having the good life, and Buzz reminding his friend that he's really not cut out for the rich guy lifestyle before telling Jimmy Lee to stop beating himself up over the divorce. The table's set for Jimmy Lee's chemistry tests with Lucy and Sandy Stryker ... Edward: "To Lila, my darling. Without whose constant advice, to stick to the straight and narrow, I never would have survived." Alan: "Without Mother, you'd probably be in jail." Lila: "Here here!" After the Qs have bought their new house, a "scaled-down Versailles" according to Alan, and Lila nixes the idea of Stella staying with Monica as a revenge offering, the other shoe finally drops on Friday. Alan, Monica, Edward, and Lila all know now that Dimitri's fled to Brazil, the Donely-Cassadine stock is worthless, and the Qs are wiped out, "completely wiped out." Lila: "Nonsense. This couldn't happen to a brilliant businessman like your father." Edward, hoarse with shock: "Well, it just has." Monica's furious. The table's set for Ruby to get some new boarders ...

The Decline and Fall of the Monty Empire Week 16 (April 14-18, 1986) -- Part I Jessie: "Carrie, we all know how upset and how shocked you are at the loss of your aunt. Particularly since, uh, you were so sure of her recovery. All I can tell you is that there's one thing we've learned, I've certainly learned, and that is never ever to let another reporter near a patient. We know that our words won't bring your aunt back to you, but please know that our love is with you." Hospital Happenings: What, like I wasn't going to shout from the rooftops about Jessie showing up? Mrs. McCormick never gets the dignity of a first name, or being known other than as the too easily excited aunt of a student nurse. Dan literally refers to her, in front of everybody at her own memorial service, as "Carrie McCormick's aunt." Give the gal a name ... Hortense, Bertha, Maisy, Esmeralda, June, something. I didn't feel like double-checking, but I'm sure Carrie was the nurse who suggested her friend write a tell-all about Patrick back when it looked like he was the Laurelton-Brownstone killer. Mrs. M was the first patient Patrick lost, and her death has at least some impact. In varying degrees of importance: GH decides to sue the reporter-photographer who scared Mrs. M to her eventual death. Buzz and Rick are also mindful of how awkward things may get with personnel not wanting to work with Kevin, acquitted or not, in addition to the likely scandal coming from Alan and Monica's imminent "unfriendly" divorce. Patrick is forced to accept that he'll lose patients, but he also impresses Rick and Buzz with his dedication. (Oh, if only any or all of these three were around for the Labine era, even Port Charles!) Jade and Yank talk about how it's the first time she's had to deal with the death of someone she's cared about since Kim. Jade also reassures Yank that she doesn't blame him for Kim's death and declares that she needs Yank "now more than ever." Amy makes amends with her ex-roommate Bill, whom she had hooked up with, and there's a chance they might become a genuine couple. Monica remembers that life is short, and decides to be with Sean. She's still plans to divorce Alan, but pumps the brakes on being out and about with Sean after Buzz says to watch her step. (More on this one in the next post.) Steve: "There are two events which, more than anything else, tend to pull a hospital staff closer together. One is when we save a patient's life. The other is when a patient dies. The death of Mrs. McCormick causes a different kind of grief. It pulls us together in a different way. This is the first time in the history of this hospital that we've lost a patient because of circumstances that had nothing to do with the practice of medicine. The press release, the press involved, is an unforgivable thing. The administration of this hospital is determined to see that nothing like that ever happens again. I can promise you that, Carrie. But for now, our very deepest sympathy on your great loss. Please know that your loss is our loss." You just can't beat the gravitas when a longtime soap character responds to tragedy. While it's a shame that Emily McLaughlin and Rachel Ames didn't get to say more substantial things, their and John Beradino's presence almost elevates this mini-storyline to something other than a device to further Laurelton and more importantly, Sean Swindles the Quartermaines.

The Gary Coleman photo is from his February 1984 TV movie The Fantastic World of D.C. Collins. He played an imaginative kid who ends up in a real life adventure. Hotel's February 1984 plots, according to IMDB, included: "A father is determined to make a man out of his very reluctant son. A man who is a klutz around women arranges to meet up with a woman with whom he has been corresponding." "The St. Gregory is hosting a wedding between two people from wealthy families. However, the groom's father is having money troubles and the bride's father is having an affair. And that's just the start." "Christine is enamoured with a man who can only remember his past through brief flashbacks. An infertile couple are in San Francisco for artificial insemination when the husband wants to change their plans." Real ratings winners, the whole lot of them ...

Thanks for the tag, @slick jones! I didn't realize Chris Maleki was that old when he was on Passions. And I did a double take at Janellen Stenninger, thinking she was Dee Wallace.

It's possible that they've blended the 1979 miniseries Freedom Road with the 1979 TV movie Charleston. There was also the 1980 miniseries Beulah Land, but that aired after Texas premiered. NBC sure was fond of dramatizing the Civil War era. I wonder if they greenlit these projects as a response to how the 1976 network debut of Gone With the Wind was such a hit.

Ooh-ooh! And then it can be NBC firing shots at three of ABC's soaps: GH (in terms of the timeslot), RH (in terms of the setting), and AMC (in terms of the hit character making a new life for herself; would Iris have beaten Erica to the idea of "taking Manhattan"?).