Franko

I'd say OLTL was. In its early years, it ran after GH (and in its very early years, sandwiched between GH and Dark Shadows). Then for the rest of its network run, it was sandwiched between AMC and GH. If AMC was in any decline, it likely wouldn't have helped OLTL.

I like this topic. The first one that comes to mind is Casey the alien on General Hospital. It seems like it might have worked if the writers had kept the story limited to Anna and Robin, both vulnerable in the wake of what was then believed to be Duke dying for good. Expanding the story to Port Charles' latest bad guy (Faison), while understandable (since I'm sure they didn't want to just rip off E.T.), sorta undermined the emotional aspect. ETA: Re-reading the Curlyqgrl summaries of 1990, it looks as though the Casey storyline was always intended to have both the emotional, relatable stuff (Anna and Robin), plus the action adventure (If Faison gets Robin's crystal, he could destroy the world!). I stand by my appraisal, though. Feels like GH was trying to meet its adventure quota for the year.

I've got a pair ... Johnny Forbes and Amelia Whitney. Both should have lasted past LOVING's pilot. I wonder if the powers that be ever considered it or if the characters were always slated to not be part of the daily show. A shame, really. Think of the potential ... seems like Johnny had a USP, a daytime version of Joseph Kennedy. And imagine if Amelia and the Alden University prostitute ring/killings were in the background amid Lily Slater's storyline. Sad but true. I also looked it up and see that Cathy was a writer, not a newswoman.

Or, since late '80s Melinda was a newswoman, why not just have her be Cathy Craig?

The infamous "Fan February" episode with Erica and Tad's wedding. "And today we're not going to worry about plots making sense or staying in and out of character ..." Alas, this kind of attitude has prevailed over at DOOL.

Was there any consideration for making Rex & Cassie the children of Tony and Anna?

Oh, John being possessed, if done right (so, too late), would have been perfect.

I'll just mention that it's appropriate that we're having this discussion on Friday, Feb. 4, 28 years to the day of DOOL's "Winter Heat" airing.

This. All of this. I guess I'm just tired of feeling like the only gay men in positions of power are apparently self-loathing.

I still remember VH1's Before They Were Rock Stars showing footage of Justin performing Michael Bolton songs at local talent shows.

Much appreciated, @DramatistDreamer.

Something I found while looking up old newspaper listings: Friday, June 3, 1983 was the date of Margo and Tom's wedding episode, plus Betsy von Furtstenberg's debut as Lisa, plus Helen Wagner's return as Nancy.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I still want to know what happened with Steve Olson's visit in 1972 that made the show abandon this character and decide to SORAS Mike and David instead.

Is it Beverlee McKinsey? Older ... about to turn 64 in early '99 ... and East Coast-based. On the other hand, wasn't she already retired by then? Those folks are not only catty, they're also years behind!

I'm voting for Days, but I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Ah, of course. Which reminds me of Carlene's attempts at songwriting. (Can't find the clip of the ode to Atlanta.) Poor Julia Duffy. Talk about a no-win situation.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Charlene and Mary Jo were believable as friends (they were neighbors according to the show's backstory). Mary Jo and Carlene felt more like a sorority's "big" and her "little."

That's true. As easy of a scapegoat NBC is, it's not like A Different World didn't have producers/writers who (for better or for worse) knew what they were doing. Oh, also, anyone have thoughts on CBS's Monday night comedy block in fall 1992 being all Linda Bloodworth Thomason or Diane English shows? Evening Shade, Hearts Afire, Murphy Brown and Love & War.

And they'd already given Emma an exit in '88-'89, only to bring her back (I guess so the Charley St. James storyline wouldn't feel like it came out of nowhere?), only to get rid of her again. They really needed to make up their minds with Emma.

As long as we're speculating, I wonder how A Different World would have done had NBC dared to move it to Mondays at 8 either at midseason or fall of 1990? In this new timeline, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air has to wait a few years to be the Monday night anchor.

Late to the thread, but I've always wanted to make "four-year flops" catch on as a way to describe the likes of Caroline in the City, Suddenly Susan and Veronica's Closet (and for an earlier example, Dear John). Shows that had their greatest success airing after another hit, but did last long enough for syndication, and were usually driven by a familiar face. Hot Take (?): I think the show overdid it with Dwayne & Whitley in Season Five. I'd love to know whose decision (leaning towards NBC, which seemingly never met a primetime couple whose courtship they didn't want to drag out) it was to have sweeps-friendly milestones. They're engaged! They break up! She's got a new man! Dwayne gets her back! I swear I'm not just trying to only quote you, Khan ... I have mixed feelings about the 3-5 minutes of pop culture discussion that often opened DW episodes. On the one hand, the characterizations often made it work. (I'm vaguely remembering a moment where Anthony sarcastically commented on the varying things they'd talk about.) On the other hand, talk about material that could instantly date a given episode.

I'm a little surprised Travis/Erica/Jackson hasn't come up. Is that triangle not as well-regarded as I assumed?

And men stripping. Don't forget men stripping.

Mickey is giving me some Jimmy Swaggart vibes in the bottom left corner.

A relatively young choice, but how about Marley on Another World? Having her (and Vicky/Jake) deal with her new life as a lesbian would be more interesting than the rehash of their triangle. (And on a crass note, NBC in 1998 might not have minded the publicity/attention from rubberneckers for a lesbian character formerly played by Anne Heche!)