Efulton

I recently rewatched 1984-85 and I wouldn't say her return was botched. Alice returned much stronger, had a career, was mentor to Thomasina, was involved in Sally's story and had a romance with Mark. It thought she fit in seamlessly after being away from Bay City for so many years. Once Gary Tomlin and Richard Culliton left in early 1985 the writing went downhill for everyone and Alice was a casualty.

Yes indeed!

I have not seen the Another World episodes leading up to the launch of Texas since they first aired. I just remember really not liking the 1.5 episodes in general. I completely agree with you about Lee Paterson. Kevin is constantly miserable. I guess that is the point since he wants to get out of his marriage to Reena and return no Bay City. I also find that in his scenes with Elizabeth Allen (who I love!) he relaxes and shows some warmth. It's too bad there is not more of that. I have not seen these episodes yet but they sound great. I am looking forward to them. I love Nita. I think I remember Billy Joe sexually assaulting someone and not liking the character for the rest of the show's run but I may be remembering that wrong. I have only seen a couple episodes with Dawn and yes she does seem super green. There is something about Jole/Bart that gets on my nerves. I have not enjoyed any of his scenes so far. Maybe that will change. I suspect Catherine Hickland's stunning beauty may be blinding me from seeing her less than stunning acting skills. 🙂 I sent a link of episode 1 to my cousin. It made her year. We used to play Hitopah as kids. lol

I just watched the first 10 episodes of Texas after not seeing them since they first aired when I was 8 years old.I have to say I really enjoyed them and Iam looking forward to the next batch.I’ve read on this message board how the original setup was weak but I have to disagree.The original families - the Bellman’s (Striker, Victoria, Reena, Kevin, Samantha & Bart), Marshall’s(Kate, Mike, Justin, Paige, Dawn, Courtney, Ginny & Steven), Dekker’s (Maggie, Max, Rikki, Terry & Elena), Wheeler’s (Alex, Ryan + soon to be Iris & Dennis) and the Wright’s (Billy Joe & Nita) were interestingly intertwined and each family had unique dynamics. Most of the casting was spot on with several bright lights - Josephine Nichols (Kate), Jerry Lanning (Justin), Lisby Larson (Paige), Catherine Hickland (Courtney), Barbara Rucker (Ginny), John McCafferty (Billy Joe), Carla Borelli (Reena), Elizabeth Allen (Victoria) and Randy Hamilton (Rikki).It’s unfortunate that Lanning, Larson, Borelli and Hamilton never found another successful soap role.And damn Jim Poyner (Dennis) was cute and had leading man potential.Another World was shortsighted in not bringing him back to Bay City. Mike Marshall’s suicide, Iris being reunited with the first man she ever loved and the revelation that Alex is Dennis’ father drove story and shook up the canvas. I get some of the criticism - Iris losing her edge, Bart, Max and Clipper being annoying as hell and it was definitely more traditional and boring in comparison to its competition Guiding Light and especially General Hospital. But if you are looking for a classic soap to watch with big characters, big sets and big hair I say give Texas a shot.

I recently rewatched 1981 on YouTube and I thought the setup for Steve’s return was well done. Alice had returned to Bay City with Sally then got engaged to Mac. Jamie felt that he had been replaced at Cory Publishing and in Mac’s life by Sandy. Rachel was debating moving away with Mitch and was not happy about Alice and Mac being together. Steve returned and caused drama for all of them. If George Reinholt and Jacqueline Courtney had returned as Steve and Alice I think it could have worked. Corinne Jacker replacing L. Virginia Brown as head writer soon after Steve returned wrecked things as well.

Valid points. I only remember Judy Dewey and Anna Stuart having snarky interactions. I don’t recall scenes between Laura Malone and Anna. There may have been but I don’t recall.

I would disagree. Both of Blaine’s brothers were in in Bay City. As was her best friend Sally, ex husband Jamie, in laws the Corys, rival Donna. Blaine had many storylines before Sandy and could have after Sandy if the writers wanted to write it.

Liz “Let’s get back to The Doctors” Marie “I was talking about The Doctors”

I elfin LOVE Anne Heche!

I think the called Marj Dusay when Charles Keating was fired and Ms. Wyndham called in sick. They did not end up needed her though.

Ava Lazar was my favourite Santana as well! I definitely agree with them! There is a long list of reasons why but at the top are getting rid of what was left of the Lockridges and Andrades and focusing too much on Cruz and Eden.

John Hutton's Peter Love was interesting and somewhat popular The recasts and writers changing Peter's personality really ruined the character. I liked all 3 Nicole's. I never understood why Lauri Landy only lasted a few months.

When I rewatch episodes on YouTube I am shocked at how boring many of them are. I like the cast though. Two of my favourite soap stories are from Texas - Hi-to-pah and Ashley getting washed away in a flash flood and being returned to her family at Christmas by angel. I was only 10 years old when I watched those stories so... Thanks. I remember Billy Joe but I have no memory of Nita. Ricky Dekker! 😍

Thank you!

Hey Texas fans I am hoping you can help me out with a few questions I have. Was Nita Wright (played by Ellen Maxted) Billy Joe Wright's (played by John McCafferty) wife or sister? And how was the character written off the show? How was the character of Maggie Dekker (played by Shirley Slater) written out?

Jamie never learned a lesson in his life! For clarification Jamie was in a triangle with Cecile and Sandy. Jamie and Blaine were long over before she got involved with Sandy. Unless I’ve forgotten them getting back together before Richard Bekins left.

Mary Page Keller was great as Sally but I LOVED Jennifer Runyon in the role.

Killing off Lee Randolph and then Bill Matthews were big mistakes by Robert Cenedella. Both roles could have been recast or brought back later if the actors wanted to return. They should have been the next generation of the Matthews and Randolph families.

Yea Emma’s farm all of the sudden being in Bay City was really a ridiculous rewrite. I remember reading an interview with Chris Robinson where he said the show wanted him to resurrect a Frame brother (I assume it was Willis) but he wanted to create a new character so that is how he became Jason. I haven’t been able to find that interview though.

Josie and Sharlene came on during the strike. Jason Frame was a Margaret DePriest creation from December 1987.

I agree that Caroline being Australian was most likely a part of a plan for her. One that would have been much more interesting than what Joy Bell got to play. Which is too bad because she was an interesting actress. I think it its highly unlikely that Carmen Duncan being Australian had anything to do with Caroline being Australian though because Iris was not Australian. Do you recall if Iris' new accent was ever addressed or were we supposed to not notice it?

I don't think Carmen Duncan being Australian had anything to do with any storyline Lemay had planned. I suspect it was purely about the actress being liked by the powers that be. We Love Soaps: You were instrumental in bringing Iris back in 1988? Harding Lemay: Yes, well, with a different actress. And she wasn’t Bevey McKinsey. She was Australian, actually. I wasn’t there when they cast her. https://www.welovesoaps.net/2009/08/harding-lemay-interview-part-four.html

I wish Harding Lemay’s storyline projections for his return were available. He talked a bit about his plans to We Love Soaps but I would love to know more.

(The Real) Steve Frame died in Australia and Willis and Gwen moved there so I wonder if Caroline was intended to have a Frame connection.

I’ve read a lot of complaints about how Jacqueline Courtney was wasted but when I rewatched 1984-85 on YouTube I didn’t agree. Yes she was there to support Sally but she also had a romance with Mark and was a mentor to Thomasina. I thought her reintroduction was effectively done.