Franko

Early '93. Roman and Marlena were going to a Marx Bros. festival. He was Groucho -- she was Harpo. They ended up roping in John as Chico. I agree with you on Deidre, which is why I'm especially curious about who could have pulled off P.T.

There's quite a lot to digest (pun intended) here! Late spring 1993 ... so as a replacement for Santa Barbara, or in the half-hour before Days? Of course, by that point, Days had reignited John and Marlena. Also interesting to note that Northrup's return contract was only for a year. I'd love to know who some of those wish-list actors were, namely for the Waterfield father and P.T. Barnum.

I think what danfling means is that there wasn't an Erica/Jason/Margo triangle.

No. This was the period when ABC dominated the Daytime Emmy nominations. Only two NBC actors -- Deidre Hall and Paul Stevens -- were nominated in 1984, and both lost.

Slight correction on the Margaret Whitton entry. She was in Major League, not A League of Their Own. Also, if her work in Big Girls Don't Cry ... They Get Even is any indication, she would have killed as a mom on 90210 or one of the WB soaps. "(paraphrasing) Maybe you shouldn't tell me, if I'm such a dumb bunny."

That's Gabriel Damon, best known as the voice of Littlefoot in The Land Before Time (or Spot in Newsies).

That was the day of the Challenger disaster, which occurred at midday (11:39 a.m.). I'm positive all of the soaps were preempted that day -- can 100 percent confirm <i>Days</i> and <i>Santa Barbara</i> were.

It sounds to me like The Doctors received one of NBC's patented 11th hour cancellations. I'm not sure TPTB would have gone to the trouble of SORASing Erich and Stephanie, introducing the Langleys, writing out Nola and killing off Mona and Billy if they knew the finish line was so close.

I remember that episode! With Mary Jo and her art teacher, Miss Eulalie! (Sorry, had a moment.)

Five newcomers (well, sorta) in two weeks is pretty astonishing. The Brady reruns returned 6/30, same day as Showoffs premiered. Ryan's, Rhyme and You Don't all debuted on 7/7. By 1976, Showoffs would be gone, Let's Make a Deal would be in the noon slot and Edge would be in the 4 p.m. slot.

In what would have been the last episode of Life With Lucy to air (had ABC aired all the ones filmed), there's a scene where she performs at a talent show, speak-singing an especially maudlin version of "Sunrise, Sunset." I can't get over the fact that for many audience members, their last impression of Lucy would have been that of an old woman lamenting her obsolescence. As for Michelle, yeah, she's really "on" during this interview (Thursday, Oct. 30, 1986). For the record, Johnny was off that night. Cosby guest hosted Tonight, with Bob Melvin, Carmen McRae and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Letterman had Jack Hanna, Harry Shearer and David Sanborn.

OLTL was kinda pick-and-choose with paternity reveals in those days. Wasn't Dr. Ivan Kipling supposed to be Edwina's biological dad at some point? And I should know this, but Brad did get brought up to speed about Mary/Kristine being his daughter with Katrina, not Jenny. right?

Put me down as someone who also really liked "In This Life" in that scene. It also was a highlight of the Bette of Roses album.

I know, right? He must have stories like you wouldn't believe.

According to IMDB, Capitol. From there, it was a couple more years writing-producing for Bob Hope, then onto Inside the Actors Studio.

I'm guessing 1986. And I remember that anniversary episode, too. That was the first time I'd seen footage of the nursery accident and the waterfront stalking.

Thanks! I should note that by 1990, the crowd at a Quartermaine party was easier to weave through.

Alan makes it to the top of the stairs and there's a whole bunch of happy maids.

Speaking of that, who all can we name? 1. Random socialite. 2. Amy 3. Stella 4. Tommy Hardy 5. Jeremy 6. ? (Diana?) 7. Howard Lansing 8. Luke 9. Ruby (note Mitch and Susan throwing discretion to the wind) 10. Bobbie 11. Jessie and Dan 12. Audrey and Steve 13. Claudia and Bryan 14. Laura and Scotty 15. Tracy and her champagne

They couldn't do that sort of thing two years prior and I'm not sure they can do it now, 38 years later.

Marlena Laird directed that episode, right? I love Alan caught in the throng of well-wishers and drunk Tracy. "And you know what, for the good name of Quartermaine," indeed. My second favorite moment is Bobbie apparently not liking getting brushed off.

One exhibition of deluded thinking deserves another:

I've always thought of Robin as a little bit Bette Davis-ish.

As far as I'm concerned, that was a hallmark of Passions. Glacial-slow storytelling that usually went nowhere in the end. And I never missed an episode. With nearly 20 years hindsight, though, I'm questioning why I was ever supposed to root for Theresa.

Gotcha. For a minute I wondered if there was the danger of a wardrobe malfunction.