alwaysAMC

Bummer, I liked this show.

Final chapter summaries from Kim's book below. Overall, easy and fun read. I'm happy to have spent the time and money. Chapter 19 - she talks about the ‘So Long, Springfield’ tours they did after the series finale aired. They went to several cities where GL demographics were strong and spent the weekend with fans, reminiscing about the show. She mentions that Frank Dicopoulos (Frank) was a teddy bear, never had a bad thing to say to or about anyone. He is a gung ho company man. She said Michael O’Leary (Rick) was the funniest person on their show, ever. She recalls when Robert Newman (Josh) made a flub in his lines that made it to air, which viewers called in about - he was supposed to say ’10 million bucks’, but it came out as ’10 million ducks’, and it was a running gag for years with them. She talks about how Grant Alexander (Phillip) and Michael O’Leary were best friends and shared a dressing room their entire run together. Michael was messy and Grant was a neat freak, so they were like the odd couple. Grant would always complain when Michael’s underwear was on the floor. As part of the tours, they had an entertainment session where actors/crew members would sing or play music. Robert Newman and Ron Raines (Alan) would sing, and so would Kim. She mentions she’s been able to sing the national anthem at a few sporting events. She recalls singing on GL at the Blue Orchid nightclub, doing “Proud Mary”, and she was so into it that she lost her balance dancing and almost fell off the bar, but the waiters caught her. She said the director didn’t stop or pan away, so you can see it happen on the episode. She talks about how much she loves fans and would rarely ever get upset when asked for a picture. When traveling internationally, she would get recognized because American soaps were widely shown over there. One time in Italy, a group of young men recognized her. She said Chris Bernau (Alan) loved going to Italy because he was so famous there and never had to pay for a thing. Chapter 20 - she reflects on her career and says if she had to do it all over again, she wouldn’t have changed a thing. She is happy to have been on GL as Reva. The reality of finding work again after the show ended was daunting. An overweight 55-year old woman is hard to sell to anyone these days. People who don’t know Reva Shayne don’t care. She wanted to work in television, because movies were a different beast, and she didn’t like the idea of sitting around bored on a movie set everyday. She liked the fast pace nature of daytime TV. She was thankful to get back on OLTL as Echo, which was a full circle moment for her. At the time of writing her book, she said OLTL was the last standing soap opera to be produced in New York, and she thought that was sad. But, she was happy to be back at bigger sets, and she even said it was a joy to see real ice cubes again. At GL, they had to use plastic ice cubes that got washed and reused. Epilogue - she comments that as she was finalizing her book, ABC just announced that AMC and OLTL were being cancelled. She is heartbroken, but says all good things must come to an end. Every end is a new beginning. But, she asks - how many out-of-work soap opera stars does it take to start a network… “I’m just sayin’”! ______________________________________________________________________________________ I found the Proud Mary clip online, go to the 6:20 mark to see her almost fall. Bolger looked like a good time there haha.

Oh yes, the music - yeesh. Appreciate the updates/spoilers - I read through them and am quite interested in seeing how some of those things play out. I've got so many years to get through though, we'll see if I even remember this stuff when the time comes haha. I really can't believe Abby would use such language though LOL - how funny. Sad to see how that relationship turns out. I noticed recently that Amy Ecklund got nominated for an Emmy, so I can't wait to see what she turns out. Yes, the Proteus reveal! And yeah, I got the sense that I probably should have watched the last few days as it's hard to fit everything into a single last episode. Maybe another weekend I'll do that haha. Ah yes, the finale had Frank and Blake meet up where they were going to meet each other's mystery online dating pen pal, and they realize they were talking to each other this whole time. Ahh interesting, well, I'm glad we got Vanessa on AMC so it all worked out, but glad he was kicking himself there haha.

Well - I had a few drinks tonight and came across the GL series finale on YT and said why not, even though it's generally against my will to skip ahead haha. -The show looks like a combination of MTV's Undressed (if you remember that) and some UK soap operas. -A young Dani Dupree was on this show! Wow. -What happened to Eleni? Poor Frank seems alone. -So many young characters that I don't know. -Fletcher and Alex are together, which is cute, but what happened to Holly??? -Josh calling Reva and telling her to meet him at Cross Creek haha - always happens. Their scenes are like repeats of what I'm watching right now in 1996-1997 haha. Like literally the same. Josh tells Reva to wait 9 months for Annie's "baby" to come and then he'll be ready for her; here he tells Reva to meet him at the lighthouse in 1 year and he'll be ready. Yet, in both eras they say they love each other and want each other. Get it together Jeva haha. -What is Reva wearing? It looks like she just rolled out of bed in her 2000s pajamas haha. What happened to Kim's wrist - why is she wearing a blue bandage? -Robert Newman still looks good after all these years. -Jonathan Lavery is on this show! -Matt Reardon has a daughter?? Who is the mom?? Where is Vanessa? -All the sunglasses in this episode are awful - Josh, Frank, the blond girl - all awful. -For some reason, Grant Alexandar looks more handsome than he ever did in the 90s to me. -Frank and Blake are end game?? Wow. And they now have a baby together?? I can't recall them ever having scenes together in my 90s rewatch. I miss Blake's red curls. -Mindy is back! And this is who Rick ends up with. Of course I'm now wondering about Abby and where she went haha. -Billy is wearing a shirt that's like a dress haha. Good to see him. -Tina Sloan looks amazing after all these years. And Lillian ends up with Buzz?? Wow. I love seeing the lighthouse at the end. How sad that GL is over.

This is why I love GL, which is something I saw/felt way more in 1995 than I did in 1996.

This is such an odd decision to me, because I really love the Alex/Amanda rivalry. I also didn't know they fired Dusay, how awful. But, my personal gain as I LOVED Dusay on AMC as Vanessa. Being Vincent Irizarry's mother again, plus Josh Duhamel's mother... it was so good.

Ahh interesting, ok - so Harley is just here for the ball and then back full-time in the summer. Good to know. I just realized that Dylan's return was also short-lived. 😕 That would have been interesting with Zachary. You're right - Brody is VERY pretty, and I'll be sad when he leaves because my eye candy is gone haha.

Happy to hear it Kit Fisher! Wow, I haven't thought of that name in a long time. How funny the soap world truly is. I'm glad they're still married and doing well! I don't think they really teased Zachary/Lucy. He was brought on to save A-M/Lucy on their boating honeymoon, but after that, it was mostly just Lucy being friendly to him. I never got flirty vibes. Once he set eyes on Michelle, Lucy was never really in his orbit again. Zachary's mentor occasionally reminds Zachary that his job is now done since he saved A-M, but that's about it. I guess Rauch thought hey, we got Harley back, Lucy is now redundant. I wonder if Hearst had stayed in the role, if things would have been different. I love that you kept a running list in your mind like that with the ending credits/characters I always love seeing them and how they occasionally change the pictures out. They actually played the credits and pictures more often than just Fridays. There are some days where they don't play any credits at all, but there never seems to be a rhyme or reason to it.

I’m up to January 20, 1997. The ending credits have changed, for the worst IMO. They removed the character pictures and just left the lighthouse in the background. Rauch put his EP credit first now, followed by the writers, then director, and then rest of the producer team (previously it went writers, director, EP and then other producers). That’s telling… Company went back to its old design, but looks smaller in size. Meanwhile, the diner just got a new design and looks much larger. I kind of miss the old diner, it was cozier. Dylan is back! He and Reva have a nice reunion, and casually discuss how he never wanted her to visit while he was at his blind facility (dumb, but at least they acknowledged it). His laser treatments allow him to see again, but the lights are still harsh and give him headaches. He just met up with Bridget who is so happy to see him. I really hope this helps Bridget get over Hart because that was cringe how desperate she got over him. The Jan 3 episode is the first time I personally could tell a difference in Zaslow’s speech, during his scenes with Hart. This is so sad to see, I feel horrible about the whole situation. Leo then tells Roger that Vanessa is in Lucerne and he goes to visit her. These scenes were so good, but man it’s hard watching Vanessa tell Roger how her body is failing her, while Zaslow himself is just about to go through that in real life. It’s like he’s watching his near term future and that’s so sad/scary/chilling. Maeve really nailed these scenes, I really enjoy her acting style here. So Jenna came with Buzz’s son Coop, but he doesn’t know he exists. She’s now crying alone in an empty house because Buzz is with Reva and she keeps bouncing around this ball like it symbolizes something. She did have a couple of episodes with Eleni, who has lost her Greek accent completely now. But, that’s nice to finally see Eleni be involved in anything. Lots of flashbacks here with Buzz/Jenna and it’s obvious that she’ll be his storyline to get him out of Reva’s orbit, who are now basically just playing roles in a marriage because they both know they’re waiting for Josh to be ready to get back to Reva. Well and now, Reva broke up with Buzz and he left to the airport to leave town for a while, but runs into Jenna on the tarmac. She lies and tells him she’s the nanny to this baby he just met and then asks the real nanny to fly him away to Chicago, and she and Buzz go back to Springfield. I’m questioning her decision to let her baby just leave like that. Jenna does sound like a posh, strict yet distant, British stepmother on a Disney movie when you listen to her. Now Reva is officially out of the diner and the ‘Buzz and Reva’s Place’ is over. Very happy about that. I also think Buzz is much more tolerable with Jenna than anything I’ve seen throughout 1995-1996. Buzz seems way calmer, slower and not so spazz, I’ll take it! Aw, Rick just told Abby that he loved her, by using sign language. That was such a heartfelt scene. I really do like this couple. Michelle is obsessed with Zachary and wants to go away with him now that she’s 18. Zachary keeps kissing her and then pushing her away and telling her he has to leave town. They get into a little car accident in the snow and are left to freeze, but J shows up and saves them because J was so concerned for Michelle. Zach is told by his what, mentor/guide?, that he must leave in order to save Michelle, unlike Mary back in the day who I guess wasn’t saved. Michelle is heartbroken. I found it odd that Michelle was begging for sex in the trapped car so she wouldn’t die a virgin. I’d be using that time trying to figure out how to survive, although I guess sex might warm them up a bit haha. So Nick/Susan showed up at Christmas to get Alex out of the ‘Spaulding mess’, yet it’s really Lucy and A-M that decide to leave Springfield to get out of the ‘Spaulding mess’, I guess. Lucy just told that to Buzz and they had what seemed to be a preemptive heartfelt hug goodbye. Its really sad for me, because I was so invested in Lucy/A-M throughout 1995 and into their wedding in early 1996, but once the A-M recast came and his feud with Phillip was the main storyline, my mind changed immensely. Lucy barely had anything to do and they made A-M pretty unlikeable. I wish the folks in charge would have given this couple attention so they could survive post-wedding vs. ship them off the show because they didn’t know what else to do with them. Do we know the real reason why they left? Fired by the new EP, fans didn’t like the recast, actors wanted to leave…? And now, just a day after Buzz hugs Lucy, enters Harley on Jan 17. Frank/Eleni surprise Buzz at the diner and he gives her a big hug… I’m looking forward to this big 60th Anniversary ball that everyone is now getting ready for! I guess this is why there was nothing at all for NYE this year, with this ball happening only a few weeks later.

Great write-up! LOL at Karen Huger in that picture.

Sara A. Bibel (“The Young and the Restless”) She was also with All My Children Love her!

Kelly had zero airtime in that trailer, that's not good for her. I love Angela.

Thank you

Selfishly, I'm on vacation next week and wouldn't have been able to watch BTG anyway, so I'm not mad But otherwise, I'd be annoyed too.

I felt the same way! It humanized her, which is needed from time to time.

Happy to finally see Leslie again today.

That's immediately what I noticed too, along with BTG going from .25 to .16, Wed to Thurs, which is opposite. Did the BTG audience go outside the house on Thurs while the GH audience stayed in? I'd be curious to see the streaming results for those two days on Paramount and Hulu.

A Martin/Smitty kiss - finally!

Lisa Vanderpump shoutout! Hahaha... Good to see Anita back, that was much faster than I expected.

Ah man, bummer to hear the lack of diversity in 1999. In 1995, we had a strong Black family (the Grants) that were featured, and then the Williams father/son duo that came in late 1995, but McTavish totally destroyed ALL those characters with a gross storyline. We lost Sid and David Grant first. Then lost Gilly. And once Griffin's assassination storyline ended, he and Vivian haven't been seen in several months, so I'm assuming they're on their way out too. Marcus and Dahlia are only on like once a week, if that. I've noticed as of early 1997, the diversity is lacking pretty bad too. The only other person I can think of right now is Eleni, who is Greek, but this new actress has slowly lost her Greek accent over the last 20 months...

LOL! Co-sign all of this

This makes me sad... haha.

Thanks, @P.J.! Very helpful. That's interesting that Vanessa knows her baby is Buzz's. I'm curious to see where this goes and if Vanessa plays any part in this when she ultimately returns later in '97. Thanks That's interesting. I noticed right away that she was listed in the ending credits on her first episode back, but I'm curious to see how long it takes before she ends up in the opening (because you know how obsessed I get with those things haha). I got the sense that Rauch was like, ok, Reva has been back for 20 months now, why are we killing the Jeva fans. Within 2-3 weeks of Rauch being EP, Reva/Josh finally got physical, Annie became crazier than ever + Josh clearly is ready to dump her, Reva called it off with Buzz, and Alan is nowhere near their orbits now. He moved quickly on his vision, it seems. Those Cross Creek scenes were SO good - well-acted and even better directing/camera work.

I’m up to January 2, 1997! Ok, things are really getting good and I can already tell a huge difference with the new writers and EP. We’re back to good soap opera! They also stopped doing the freeze at the end of each episode, which I kind of miss. Dec 12 - Zachary visits Vanessa again, and sadly the experimental treatment isn’t working for her. Then, Hart and Dinah decide to vacation at Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, which, of course, happens to be where Vanessa is. Good ol’ soap opera trope. LOL and now a nearly blind Vanessa is being told by a nun of a loving couple on a hotel balcony overlooking the lake (Hart/Dinah) and how she loves to see young people still have romance in their lives. Meanwhile, Dinah/Hart talk about the beautiful convent they can see from their balcony and make out a lovely woman in a wheelchair with a nun (Vanessa). Dinah/Hart want to get away from all their friends that showed up (thanks to Roger, who is now there), so they escape to the convent to have dinner and walk right by a blind Vanessa, but don’t see each other. Then Roger shows up and talks to the nun and Vanessa hears his voice and realizes he’s there. This is getting so good! Holly guessed the truth about Blake’s twins and their fathers, and Blake finally broke down and told her. Reva and Josh both end up at Cross Creek and sleep separately, but the next morning, there was palpable tension and they wanted to give into each other badly. Josh almost joined her in the shower but stopped, and then finally he confessed his love for her and they kiss. I’ve gotta say, I felt something there during these scenes with these two, they’ve got something. Meanwhile, Annie is convinced they’re getting together so she got Buzz to drive them up to Cross Creek to catch them. The Dec 16 episode is very hot, I have to admit. The direction and camerawork was strong and they did some different things, with Annie/Buzz in the car, then Annie walking up to the cabin while shirtless Josh and Reva are in bed making out and about to have sex. Sadly (I can’t believe I’m saying this), Annie interrupted Josh/Reva from fully having sex. I wanted them to in that moment haha. This is the first time where I’m not really rooting for Annie and Josh, probably because it’s so clear that Josh is now over Annie since her intervention. Reva hides while Josh/Annie talk and overhears Annie tell Josh she’s pregnant before he’s able to tell her he wants a divorce. Later, back in town, Annie announces to everyone at Christmas that she’s pregnant LOL. Now Buzz gets a letter from Jenna and she says she’s been thinking of him lately and wants to visit Springfield. He calls her and acknowledges Henry and Vanessa’s deaths, which makes her sad. They show a flashback of Buzz/Jenna, so I’m assuming they were in a relationship at some point. I don’t know anything about Jenna, but this is perfect timing since it seems like Reva/Buzz won’t be together much longer haha. I hope I like Jenna - what’s her backstory - related to anyone on the scene right now? Oh and she shows up on the Christmas episode with her son Henry, flying back to Springfield. Her first stop is to Company where she talks to Michelle and Matt, reminiscing about Vanessa. What is her connection to Vanessa? It seemed like they didn’t trust each other at first, but then they grew to love each other and have a strong friendship. Curious their backstory here… Then we get to Christmas and everyone is invited to a surprise party and the host happens to be Billy! Great to see him back. He’s out of prison, on a furlough for good behavior, and will live in a halfway house for a bit. LOL at the banjo playing in the background of his scenes. Great flashbacks here with Bill/HB and Josh/HB. Oh Reva - she sees Billy and runs up, pinches his butt and says “Billy Lewis, I’d recognize that backside anywhere” and laughs with glee haha. Tylo is back as Quint now for the party. And wow, a Nick and Susan return on 12/27 and 12/30! What a nice surprise. They came to convince Alex to leave with them and get away from Alan and his Spaulding hell. Then, Roger and Amanda announced they’re getting married haha. Another year down! Moving onto 1997…

Yeah, it was cute. They also had a psychic come onto Wave and predict Hayley was pregnant with Enzo, just like it happened in real life on Regis.