Franko

Ryan Lochte is thrilled to no longer be the dumbest Olympian in recent times.

If the scene happens sometime before 1987, it ends in a draw. After that and Maddie unmistakably loses.

Ah, I missed Susan. Just looked her up -- apparently she was only on for eight episodes.

Speaking of the revolving door, how much longer does Wesley Eure have left at this point? Has Melinda Fee jointed the cast yet as the new Mary? ETA: Just looked it up. Eure apparently is done in January 1981, but Mike will return that May. Melinda joins in January, with Mary returning after an absence beginning in November 1980. Oh, and David and Scotty will be back in March 1981.

The Obama Center has such a nice ring to it, no? (Although I'm sure we'd all prefer if the TT was taken down and a new, less evil structure/facility existed.)

I know we've talked about it before, but Gloria Loring must have had one heck of an it factor for audiences to root for Liz in spite of where the character started out and stick by her by the end.

Liz left Don to spare him humiliation, which I guess also helped solidify her as a good character/heroine.

Slightly related, but I feel like 1983-84 was the last hurrah for DAYS' "normal" middle-aged or close enough set at that time. The Mickey/Maggie/Don and Liz/Neil/Marie triangles were wrapping up or would peter out, and Doug and Julie would be on their way out. Alex was there, but overshadowed by Stefano.

The winner of the "MAKE IT STOP!" award for October goes to ... A classic soapy image in general, so often used. I mean, who doesn't spill their guts to their boss of only a few months ... ? The same damn image in one month?! I'm not sure why I can accept a network of investigators and informants with the DiMeras, but not with Kellam and Max ... Maybe it's because it's happening so often in a short period of time. It does happen. My mother is closer to her ex-mother-in-law than she was with her own mother. I'm seriously beginning to wonder if Claus von Bulow watched soaps (other than Dark Shadows). Not to trivialize what's going on in 2021, but I'm fascinated by the time element both in fiction and reality. Kellam seems to be riding out the clock to Election Day (which was Tuesday, Nov. 4, 1980). Some U.S. politicians seem to be (publicly) riding out the clock to Inauguration Day (which, as I write, is 10 days and less than 90 minutes away). Good lord ... they didn't even frame this as postpartum depression or anything, just that Sally's first resort is considering infanticide (and so soon after D.J. Craig's death). MAKE IT STOP! I can't remember if Dee said in the 30th Anniversary Scrapbook that she didn't like all of the Kellam story, or just the ending. I think the only stuff from 1980 she liked, and even that was by extension, was when they referenced D.J.'s death when Marlena counseled Stella Lombard (and I get the impression it's largely that she liked working with Elaine Bromka).

I mean, it's not hyperbole. He was willing to let Biden die (by exposing him to COVID at the debate). He was willing to let Pence and any number of legislators die on Wednesday. He was willing to let anyone die from COVID. He apparently has no concept of valuing any life outside his own.

I'm just waiting for one of the arrested to say, "Senator/Representative (or certain other persons) _______ gave me the Capitol map/hired me to do this, and I have proof!" At that point, the fan will be hit with enough s**t to stop turning.

Sad nod.

And you *just* know at least one of those creeps took a poop or pee wherever the hell they felt like. Hawley is getting his just desserts, but let's not let people like Ted Cruz, Ron Johnson, etc. off the hook. ETA: I'm appalled that it happened, and fascinated as hell about how NO ONE thought to cover their asses here. Evidence, evidence as far as the eye can see.

Great to have you back! MAKE IT STOP! I wouldn't figure poverty would be an aphrodisiac, but you be you, Liza. She does seem to be emulating DALLAS, with Kellam and/or Maxwell in the J.R. role. The problem is, Larry Hagman already had years of built-up audience goodwill, and even early on, his wings were slightly clipped. Where's the Jock Ewing? Where's the Bobby? This reminds me of Raymond Burr and Charles Rocket in Delirious. "I already told you, I was not responsible for your mother's death!" "If she really was my mother." Again, DALLAS. J.R. did the same thing with Lucy and her mother, Val. Seriously, shout out to Alice here. Marie and Jessica aren't the only ones on an emotional rollercoaster. Chris, you tremendous dumbass. Seriously, why didn't he put Mary down as a reference? It's DUDES! And they're being boring! Say, can we change things and make sure plenty of harm comes to David? Thank God (?) Renee is only a few months away, because right now I'd give anything for Lee to vamoose. We'll have to see if she comes across any better over the end of 1980 and into 1981. If I remember right, Suzanne was fond of this storyline. She singled it out in the 30th anniversary book. I'm sure it had to be fun playing opposite a young stud for a while.

By any chance, is this dude's last name "Bennett"?

I was also fascinated by how much makeup Monica was wearing.

Answering this 'cause I was the one who wrote it. No, I know Maeve and Julie are two different types of characters. I was just amusing myself imagining someone like Maeve ending up in crazy, DAYS-esque shenanigans. Of course, as countless parents will attest, it starts out funny and then ends up with tears.

Now, of course, the real fun would occur if Max had acted exactly as Stefano did. Imagine him being drawn to Maeve!

Correct on both counts. PFS was ripping herself off. (from the old Who's Who in Salem page) In early February, 1982, Tony DiMera went to Rome, Italy, to visit his powerful father, Stefano, who was making plans for coming to Salem to move the DiMera business and build a family there. Stefano had asked Tony to bring slides of the life and people of Salem. Tony had recently held a gala at his home which he had secretly taped for his father. Viewing the images from this party, Stefano got to know the good people of Salem before he arrived, acquiring a great advantage over them. However, he also wanted to see the female scenery. While watching the video, two women stood out to Stefano: Dr. Marlena Evans and Julie Williams. Marlena, Stefano thought, would make a great addition to the DiMera family as a bride to Tony. He believed her to be a great choice to give birth to a future DiMera heir. But Julie...Stefano wanted Julie for himself, despite the fact that she was married. A third woman, Kayla Brady, also caught their eye and they believed her to be very valuable in the future, although Tony warned Stefano that her brother was a captain in the police force.

Oh, this is just whetting my appetite that someday, the elusive Alan and Monica wedding will show up. Did we ever determine that it did 100 percent air? Heather being upset about Susan attending with Peter Taylor, and Tracy apparently making an impact on the guests, makes me think that yes, it was an on-screen event. "It's not every day you meet a lady doctor ... on the day she's facing indictment for murder ... is it?" (Truer words were never spoken.) Funny to see that Sanka ad, since Robert Young figured in the MAD parody from 1982, "DeGenerate Hospital." Speaking of commercials, might we someday see an immunization ad with Baby Yoda? Huh ... never knew he's Dr. Richard Webber. This episode is a good example of why talk-to characters are needed. I really love Gail's interactions with Monica and Lesley. And on the opposite end of the spectrum, her and Tracy's loaded conversation at the end. Interesting that there was no Genie in this episode. Still, Laura dominates the episode nearly as much as Lesley. Alan's stare as Monica kisses Rick goodbye is EVERYTHING.

Lest we forget, the house was a wedding present from Miss Ellie. Not to mention that within a few years, Gary had his inheritance from Jock Ewing, Val was a bestselling author, Karen was a businesswoman remarried to a man employed by the state and Laura was involved with a politician. And yet to David Jacobs, KL was about "us" while DALLAS was about "them."

I think it was in Waggett's Book of Lists that it was said Ilene was fired because of gaining weight (which she claimed was a side effect of some medication). The experience, if true, must have been sobering and humiliating. In the OLTL oral history, she mentioned staying a certain size to keep being hired.

Like develop dissociative iden -- whoops, getting ahead here ... And no, I don't actually think the show was laying the groundwork for that plot. If I remember right, Smith Island was still a peninsula until sometime before 1993. Supposedly Bo could drive his motorcycle all the way to the Horton cabin. No, but now I want to know. Spill, spill! Again, for all the good that's coming out of Doug and Julie's reunion, he's still being written as not as bright as before. And can we please leave Julie's boobs alone? Good god, guys! Read the room! RIP Margo. Mike's going to be relevant -- and younger -- for portions of the next 20 years, so to facilitate this, you no longer exist. "I love you." "There's a guy threatening to kill you." "Will you marry me?" "Um ... sure!" Interesting that the insurance investigator is sharp as a tack for Lee's story, yet able to be manipulated for Alex and David's story. I assume it's not the same person handling both cases. MAR-Y, MAR-Y, MAR-Y! Gawd, what an awful exit for a legacy character. David/Guthrie wasn't technically a massacre victim, but he might as well have been.

I'm going to assume Reginald was also somehow involved in real estate/developing, what with the Love Tower. And I think at one point it was actually VICKY (of all people) who owned the hospital.

I think that's the first time I've ever seen ATWT airing either that early or that late. Okay, big one for tonight. A while back, I did my hometown, Grand Rapids, Michigan, as it looked on Thursday, Sept. 17, 1992. Now here's the whole state, plus portions of Canada and Toledo, Ohio. CBS (Nine affiliates: Detroit/Kalamazoo/Escanaba/Lansing/Cadillac/Sault Ste. Marie/Toledo/Alpena/Saginaw) 9 a.m.: Joan Rivers/Sally Jessy Raphael/CBS This Morning end/Jenny Jones/Jenny/Jenny/Cosby Show reruns and That's Amore!/Jenny/Vicki! 10 a.m.: Cristina/Family Feud/Regis & Kathie Lee/ALF and Cosby Show reruns/Feud/Feud/Feud/Feud/Feud 11 a.m.: The Price Is Right (Across the board) 12 p.m.: News/News/Y&R/News/News/News/Love Connection/People's Court 12:30 p.m.: Y&R (except in Escanaba, airing the second half-hour of the show) 1 p.m.: News (Escanaba only) 1:30 p.m.: B&B (Across the board; also aired at 4 p.m. on CHBX, CTV in Sault Ste. Marie) 2 p.m.: ATWT (Across the board) 3 p.m.: GL (Across the board) 4 p.m.: News/Oprah Winfrey/Oprah/Maury Povich/Maury/Maury/Oprah/Highway to Heaven reruns/Jenny Jones (Donahue aired at 5 p.m. in Detroit and Kalamazoo) NBC (Seven affiliates: Detroit/Grand Rapids/Lansing/Traverse City/Cheboygan/Toledo/Bay City) 9 a.m.: Maury/Jenny/Regis & Kathie Lee/Vicki!/Vicki!/Sally Jessy/Regis & Kathie Lee 10 a.m.: Jerry Springer/Highway to Heaven reruns/Matlock reruns/Montel Williams/Montel/Springer/Matlock reruns 11 a.m.: Faith Daniels and Doctor Dean/Infatuation/Doctor Dean and Classic Concentration/DD and CC/DD and CC/DD & Faith/Classic Concentration and Night Court reruns 12 p.m.: News and Classic Concentration/News and CNN News/News and Rush Limbaugh/Whoopi Goldberg and Faith Daniels (this may be a typo, unless Whoopi's show was offered in 30 and 60-minute formats)/Whoopi and Faith/Unknown -- presumably news or Whoopi/News and Faith 1 p.m.: DAYS (across the board) 2 p.m.: AW (across the board; also aired on CHBX and CKCO, CTV in Sarnia) 3 p.m.: SANTA BARBARA (except in Detroit, airing Montel; also aired on CHBX and then-independent WGPR) 4 p.m.: Sally/Maury/Full House and Married with Children reruns/Matlock reruns/Matlock reruns/Maury/Cosby Show and MASH reruns ABC (Nine affiliates: Detroit/Grand Rapids/Battle Creek/Marquette/Lansing/Traverse City/Sault Ste. Marie/Toledo/Flint) 9 a.m.: Company/Regis & Kathie Lee/People's Court (2 episodes)/A Closer Look with Faith Daniels and One on One/Sally Jessy/Regis & Kathie Lee/Regis & Kathie Lee/Regis & Kathie Lee/Sally Jessy 10 a.m.: Regis & Kathie Lee/Geraldo/Newhart and I Dream of Jeannie reruns/Candid Camera and Cosby Show reruns/Donahue/700 Club/700 Club, Vicki!/Maury 11 a.m.: Jenny Jones/Joan Rivers/Home/Home/Geraldo/Home/Home/Home/Home 12 p.m.: News or filler 12:30 p.m.: Loving (across the board) 1 p.m.: AMC (across the board) 2 p.m.: OLTL (across the board) 3 p.m.: GH (across the board) 4 p.m.: (There was an Afterschool Special that day, but normally, Oprah/Growing Pains and Head of the Class reruns/Heathcliff/Oprah/Oprah/Oprah/Oprah/Brady Bunch and Laverne and Shirley reruns/Donahue