Franko

Overall, I'm not minding the adventures of "Ruby" (Megan) & Marco, but I'm wondering how much longer that storyline has to go. We're at the tail end of July 1989 in the current uploads and in the fall of 1989, Felicia on GH had her time to cosplay as a tart (as Phoebe). I'm wondering if there were viewers who watched both soaps and rolled their eyes at having to experience two stories so close to one another.

Tony Cumson (titters) was played by John Saxon for one episode in 1982, Robert Loggia for one other episode later in 1982 and Saxon again from 1982-88. From what I gather, Tony left Julia and Lance back in 1970 because he couldn't stand living under Angela's thumb and Julia wasn't strong enough to leave. Tony apparently wasn't much of a success, so I can understand why Julia was reluctant. From the Loggia episode, courtesy falconcrest.org: "Richard uses a lucrative job offer to entice Tony into securing Julia's agreement to sell off her interests in Falcon Crest and The New Globe (newspaper). However, the plan backfires and Julia is devastated. Tony realizes Richard's job offer wasn't real." In 1983, Julia made another of her bids for a new life. She went to San Diego to get with Tony, only to find his pregnant girlfriend (BRENDA DICKSON!). Soon after, Julia was discovered as Carlo Agretti's murderer. Part Two: Tony came back in 1986, found out Julia was blind (as a result of an earthquake) and made a bid to make things better with Lance. That went kaput when Tony opted to partner with Chase, not invest in Lance and Melissa's partnership. Richard got revenge, too, by dumping waste near Chase and Tony's vineyard (and making it look like it was Angela's fault). From there, Tony got involved in the Kim Hunter/VERTIGO pastiche that I can't properly explain, other than to say that Angela pulled strings to have Tony tried for murder. Side note: Why exactly did Angela claim she visited Heaven while in her coma? If ever there was someone who deserved to rot in hell, it was that sanctimonious ol' puss-face. By 1987-88, Tony was cleared of the murder charge and it looks like his final storyline was disagreeing with Lance about his involvement with Shannon (another of Lance's doomed lovers).

It was the conclusion of the two-parter where Laura gave birth and Almanzo recovered from his stroke.

Yes, that's correct, Paul, Suzanne had signed with CBS. She was scheduled to start production on her comeback series (playing a flight attendant, not sure if this was "Suzie") the day after the first special aired. It ended up not making it to the 1982-83 season. Suzanne claims that ABC put pressure on CBS, saying they couldn't reuse any of the Chrissy Snow characterization. Which you would think would inspire the writers to want to come up with something different for Suzanne, but I digress. Anyway, in the end, Suzanne ended up having two annual specials ('82 and '83) before she moved on. And here's most of that first special ... Also on YouTube is the pilot to Goodbye, Charlie, from 1985. It's okay, with Suzanne as a womanizer reincarnated as a woman and John Davidson as his/her best friend. The premise dates back to the original Broadway play starring Lauren Bacall and the subsequent Debbie Reynolds movie, but the physical comedy definitely wouldn't be out of place on Three's Company and for whatever reason, I'm getting a Daryl Hannah in Splash kind of vibe. (I certainly didn't expect to be talking so much about Suzanne Somers tonight, but here we are.)

This. All of this. It's as Ron is writing as if every episode could be the last, so what's the point in actually developing a character? And it's a shame, too, because a gay Nola Reardon/Ava Rescott wouldn't be the worst thing for DOOL.

Also, you'd think that the photographer would have insisted that more of the ladies not do the hand on hip pose, since it gets repetitive. Hell, have Michelle throw up her arms like she's back on Broadway.

Man, if Ciji's space princess dress ever turned up on eBay ...

Nah, it's cool, I get it. I can see that the option was there, although the execution would likely have been as flawed/nonsensical as the current show. Side note: I wonder how Joe Mascolo and Dee got along off camera. Were they close, or just colleagues?

In all honesty, Marlena & Stefano as a couple would make about as much sense as a pairing that did happen, Rachel & Carl on AW.

I'm now imagining Marlena and John enrolling Belle in school. I assume things are easier now for unmarried and older parents, but that could have been an interesting thing to explore if '90s DOOL had any interest in reality-based storytelling. Can you just imagine Marlena (or Susan!) being the hit of the mommy group?

Am semi-following along with the latest 1989 uploads. I'm glad that they resolved the mystery of what happened to Gilbert/Virgil at the time of the double wedding. Also, you hardly need a degree to guess who's going to be the laughing woman behind that sanitarium door.

No, it was supposed to be an engagement party, but Renee surprised everybody with the news of her and Alex's marriage. From the old Who's Who in Salem: Renée was alone and penniless. By now, most everyone she knew had turned their backs to her. But out of nowhere, Alex Marshall took her under his wing. He gave her a suite at the Salem Inn and comforted her. Renée was confused by his sudden attention but didn't give it much thought since he was the only person she had left. A week later, Renée finally received her divorce papers and signed them. Now a free woman, Alex charmed her off of her feet and asked her to marry him. In the short time they'd spent together, Alex had proven to be caring and sensitive with her. With no hope of getting a better offer, Renée innocently accepted his proposal. They were hurriedly married by a Justice of the Peace but they didn't announce it to anyone. Days after the wedding, however, Renée went into Alex's office to look for some papers. In his desk, she found what appeared to be a handwritten will from none other than Stefano. In this will, written shortly before his death, Stefano left everything to Renée! Now understanding why Alex had married her, Renée vowed revenge. Keeping the will's existence a secret, Renée moved back into the mansion and began organizing an extravagant engagement party for her and Alex. Daphne was happy to have her back and immediately began trying to get Renée back together with Tony. Daphne's unusual insistence made Renée suspect that she, too, knew about the will. On the day of the engagement party, Renée confronted Daphne with it. She knew that Renée was the sole heir to Stefano's fortune. She'd known all along. Believing that this was the only reason Daphne had ever befriended her and supported her, Renée turned on her. That evening, the elegant party was held on the grounds, with much of Salem present. Once everyone arrived, Renée made her grand entrance. She then announced the reason for the party. It wasn't an engagement party because she and Alex, to everyone's amazement, were already married; it was to announce Stefano's last will and testament. Renée made a speech detailing the duplicitous nature of the people who had surrounded her. One by one, she picked those people apart with harsh words in what would be a speech to remember. She related to everyone how Alex had tricked her into marriage knowing that she would inherit everything, but she also assured Alex that their marriage would be annulled right away. She then turned her attention to Daphne, the friend who had presumably betrayed for the same reason as Alex: her money. And then came Tony, the only man she ever loved who ultimately rejected her. And then Julie Williams, David's mother; since David was not present at the party, she directed the anger she held against him toward Julie, claiming that their marriage had failed because he put work over their relationship. And finally, Anna, the woman responsible for her ultimate rejection by Tony. Recalling over all of these events caused Renée to finally end her speech and run upstairs in tears. One by one, each of the people targeted by Renée went upstairs, the last of them being Tony. Moved by her words to him, Tony decided that he wanted her back. They made love in her bedroom and decided to get married. Tony then returned the party. Moments later, Delia, the maid, screamed that there had been a murder. Upstairs in her bedroom, Renée's lifeless body lied on the floor. She had a knife stuck in her back and a raven's feather in her hand. Also, I've said it before, but I'd love to know why Megan Hathaway also was revealed to be Stefano's daughter. If the writers had any regrets about closing the door to the idea of a female DiMera, they must have been short-lived, since Megan only lasted from 1984-85.

Also, "Johnny Angel" was recorded for an extension of Columbia/Screen Gems, so I think it's all in the family and DOOL could get it for little to no royalties.

Shelley Fabares as the long-lost Sandy Horton? (Although Ron/Jamey probably added in "Johnny Angel" because he's interested in Carson dressing like a Victoria's Secret angel.)

Alex Marshall last appeared in the summer of '87 when, having been swindled out of his fortune, he set fire to the Salem Inn for the insurance money. He was caught and went to prison. Quinn Redeker is alive, but hasn't acted since 2012.

Just one, Paul. Paper Dolls on ABC (1984-85).

Agreed. When I read that, I wondered if PS and TP had a relationship like Lina and Don in Singin' in the Rain (i.e. she wanted to be a couple and he wasn't interested).

The Soaps of Yesterday Tumblr had comments from Thaao. Give me a second and I'll find them. In August 1984, Thaao said "he had 'a very bad, actually terrible working situation'" with Philece, then gave a shrug of a follow-up comment. "But the girl's gone on to other things, so let's not peel sour grapes." Thaao loved Leann, calling her "a dream to work with." And here's the comment that makes me wonder a few things about Philece and Thaao (and others?): "(Leann's) a total pro, and knows enough to keep her personal life separate from the work we do at the studio."

Not to mention that ABC and CBS came ready to fight. This was the week of Karen on the stand on OLTL and Roger raping Holly on GL. Not sure what was going on on GH (Lassa Fever?).

Fascinating. I don't think they ever suggested Thorne was gay (but I haven't watched all the retro episodes available). I will note that even back in the early days, the idea of B&B not having a gay character was seen as odd/unrealistic.

What next, a "tribute" to Anjelica Deveraux?

*Serena Baldwin enters the chat.*

The last self-contained episode was "Trouble at Ewing 23," where a man threatened to blow up one of the wells. It aired during the 1980-81 season. I'm liking the discussion on the Southworths. I feel like we can infer that Miss Ellie resisting oil drilling on Southfork as long as she could, as well as fighting to protect Takapa (and ultimately fighting Jock because of it), was her attempt to atone for the sin of not doing what Aaron Southworth wanted/metaphorically losing her soul to an oilman. Dallas always did seem to be the soap built on daddy issues, no?

Sly went through a good amount of angst in a nearly three-year period. Bill and Nancy's divorce, the family all uprooting to Port Charles, grandpa Fred dying, his mother Nancy dying (at the hands of beloved housekeeper Finian), Bill's relationships with Julia, Holly and Victoria, Scotty being a better father than Bill was, Bill leaving him with Jenny and Paul for increasingly longer stretches and Bill finally dying. I'm just saying, soap "bad boys" have been built on far less. Also, if Claire Labine hadn't already done the rich girl/poor boy thing with the dogs, Annabelle and Foster, she could have easily done it with Emily and Sly.

Yup, Alan and Monica's reunion was under Monty's watch.