Y&RWorldTurner

This EW special is fab too: EW: 30th Anniversary of Madonna’s Debut Album Lucky Star: Madonna's Debut Album, 30 Years On

There's so many great articles that have popped up this week about the 30th anniversary of the release of her debut album. How Madonna Became Madonna: An Oral History Three decades later, looking back on the making of the superstar's debut album The 'Vicious Competition for Credit' Over Launching Madonna's Career 'Madonna' Turns 30: A Look Back at the Queen of Pop's Debut Album

It's funny though, wasn't it Kate Harwood who hired him at EE initially? And here she is, almost 8 years later, hiring him as EP. I really don't trust her judgement.

It's sad that her tenure was so underwhelming, given her long history with the show. Many of DTC's stories were so over-sensationalized the last time, but that works for press attention, which they may going for again. He'll be EP this time though, so it will be interesting to see what his story producing team looks like.

Michael French is returning: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/eastenders/posts/David-Wicks-Returns-to-EastEnders

Meredith was always too good for the trash she was saddled with on The View and Today.

The Born This Way era really killed the momentum in her career, and really, it was badly handled by her, her management, and her record label. That, and it was just a terrible album.

Anna Wing (Lou Beale) has passed away: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/eastenders/posts/Anna-Wing-1914-2013 http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2013/jul/11/anna-wing-lou-beale-eastenders

Jimi Mistry is joining Corrie: http://www.itv.com/coronationstreet/news/jimimistryjoinscobbles/

Surprising introduction, but probably unnecessary: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/eastenders/posts/Cindy-Junior-arrives-in-Albert-Square

He's appeared sporadically over the years, but nothing meaty until this season.

That story just presented Roger as stupid and foolish, something he never intentionally was. I didn't start to really like Dinah until Rauch came aboard.

I didn't think 1997 was all that balanced, though I loved her, it felt like Cynthia Watros was on every day that year (and frankly, carried the show and that story on her own). Though, 1997 definitely felt like a shot in the arm given the boring mess the show was from 94-96, for the most part.

http://www.itv.com/coronationstreet/news/toddscomingback/

I think the Reva ghost story started at VERY END (like last 2 weeks) of JFP's reign, before she was switched to AW. Most of the execution was done by Laibson.

They went through several HW's during the 94-96 era and three EP's (JFP, Laibson, and Rauch), very quick transitions too.

Whatever happened to Google search?

They can both share that distinction, if you ask me.

I think part of that was down to Brown, acting-wise, she just couldn't shake Iva out of her system. I guess, subconsciously, she associated Nola with her youth, and Iva was who she was closer to as an adult.

I know a lot of people (particularly ABC soaps fans) claim that the P&G soaps were formulaic, but honestly, I enjoyed them for different reasons. Simply put, GL was more of a community soap to me, ATWT was more of a family-oriented soap, and AW I think was best at stringing together characters that would be peripheral to other soaps and making them a foundation for the show that in the end really wasn't about core families, but became more and more about friendships and loose ties.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb2hyuEvQHs

Samantha Womack is coming back for a 6 month stint: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a482183/eastenders-samantha-womack-returning-as-ronnie-mitchell.html

It hurts me to no end that Sheffer's era is considered some kind of renaissance period by many (particularly in the soap press). While the first year of so of his run might have had a "fun quality," it was simply NOT ATWT, and the show just moved further and further away from what made it unique during that period, and I don't think it ever recovered.

I don't even know what to make of Mercedes from what I've read of her over the past two years or so. The character just seems like someone totally new, and I can't believe I used to hold a soft spot for her during her earlier years on the show (even when she did some questionable things). It's a perfect example of how bad and uncharacteristic writing can totally destroy a show or love you've had for a character.