LostinHarmony

The Noah and Theresa friendship mostly developed during what I call the show’s “missing years,” that chunk of episodes from the last few NBC seasons that were nearly impossible to find on YouTube for the longest time. Thankfully, as of about two years ago, most of those episodes have finally been uploaded by YouTuber Melissa Mosley, and as a bonus, many are the original NBC airings. Hearing the original "one-time licensed" popular songs, hits different. Some of the replacement tracks (like in the Canadian reruns or Sci-Fi airings) just don’t land the same, even if those versions are usually better quality than old VHS recordings. Now in terms of recasts, I agree, most of them got progressively worse. The only exceptions for me were Rebecca and Ethan. Even though Maureen McCormick (yes, Marcia Marcia Marcia) initially played Rebecca, Andrea Evans brought her own flair to the character and completely owned it. As for Ethan, losing Travis Schuldt was rough. He was Prince Charming. As a kid, I was genuinely disappointed when he left, especially during such a major storyline. That said, Eric Martsolf eventually won me over. He brought a more mature energy to Ethan, and in time, made the role his own as well. Funny enough, I actually thought the Bennett girls recasts started off strong. Deanna Wright was a fantastic Kay recast, she nailed it. And Jade Harlow was a solid replacement for Jessica. But then… it’s like they just stopped caring. Danica Stewart? I still don’t understand how she got cast. Her acting was painful to watch, and they had the audacity to give that version of Jessica the most intense storyline with Spike, prostitution, and a pregnancy arc. I also preferred Lena Cardwell’s version of Simone. When Chrystee Pharris took over, Simone became way more aggressive and mean. I’ve since seem the actress say she tried to channel TC’s anger since Simone was a daddy’s girl, but I’m not sure that direction worked. And by the time the final Simone was cast, the writing did her dirty. Making her suddenly come out as a lesbian after years of pining for Chad felt like a total slap in the face to longtime viewers. If they had made her bi-curious or questioning, that would’ve made more sense — but a full 180 like that, with no setup, just didn’t sit right with me. Don’t even get me started on the recasts for Paloma, Miguel, and Fox — those just kept getting worse as the show went on. I’ve always been a huge fan of Passions, it was wild, bold, and completely one of a kind, but if there was one consistent weak spot, it was definitely the recasts.

Happy Anniversary PASSIONS! It wasn't everyone's cup of tea but being #1 among teens 12-17 for its entire run, I felt like me and my friends must've been the perfect target audience because we were hooked and loyal even as it transitioned to Directv. It was like a "gateway soap" that led us to eventually fall for other soaps later on. Had it not been for Passions I wouldn't have later gotten into DAYS during the Last Blast storyline, and later OLTL under Ron (the Ford brothers helped with that initially haha.) I guess my point is even with its flaws, Passions still holds a place in my soap heart and I'm always happy to celebrate it and chat about it with other fans, even as I've matured into a BTG type of soap fan, which is the only current soap that holds my attention. I didn't initially start Passions from the beginning in 1999, it was actually during my summer break in 2000 that I stumbled across it. I actually went online and found the exact episode. Watching the episode it made me smile that Galen Gering and Brook Kerr are still killing it in daytime to my knowledge. Travis' version of Ethan was perfect for this "prince charming" type Theresa was so in love with. Passions really struck gold with Lindsay Hartley, it blows my mind she isn't nabbed by a soap, although I was happy to see her in a Lifetime movie recently. I would later catch up on the earlier episodes when they reran on Sci-Fi cannel, but starting where I did up until shortly after Josh Ryan Evans death to me was Passions at its greatest, I was hooked. I still hope for a Passions reboot one day, or even turn the book Castleton into a TV show, if you all havent read it by Tray Burch, the novel plays on Theresa and Ethan's children Little Ethan (EJ) and Jane as teenagers now living in Castleton where Charity and Faith lived. It's a great read for Passions fans with clever easter eggs scattered through out. Cheers to another year of memories.

So I'm reading Sweat by Marquis Kindrick (yes the gay urban erotica lol, don't judge) and was surprised to see a BTG mention and call out to Leslie and her many personalities. So random haha

Deleted, reposted in BTG main thread.

This final segment is steamy, I'm into Chelsea and Madison, and I cosign on the Joey and Vanessa chemistry. Glad to see movement on Martin's secret, although confusing, hoping for clarity soon. Also, thank god for productions being shot in Atlanta now, must be where all the fine black men are cause they seem to always be found for Tyler Perry's productions and now they're popping in on BTG.

BTG just started here in LA and its off to a good start, Kat vs Eva, and I love how when certain people on this board complain of dropped stories or characters the next day they appear (I'm looking at you this time Marcel haha). This is the best nu-Ted has looked since joining.

Today was a good episode, and the week for that matter. I think they've also done a better job with background music. The scenes in todays episode weren't as silent as they usually are in the background and it was noticeable. I think the show has found its groove well and I'm still invested.

Hidden Passions would've definitely made a great mini series, and if I recall correctly, wasn't Reilly actually paid to develop that and the Saturday morning spin off Harmony High. Both that never materialized. Salem High (DAYS) was also a thing at the time.

😂

It definitely did. Nothing major, but I clocked the minor changes too. Passions did something similar with its theme in the later years and people thought I was crazy, but the nuances are there if you're paying attention.

Speaking of Passions, Dana Sparks said she initially read for Ivy. Thank god that ultimately went to Kim Ulrich, she and Ben Masters had great chemistry.

You know, I was wondering why Jacob was on today and was nervous the whole episode because I thought he was going to follow Andre to Dani's and catch them together. Then he popped up at the house with Naomi lol

She's the best thing about Scream 3... huge Scream fan here. Yes, I believe he's connected to Martin's secret in some way too. He's easy on the eyes, hope he can act!

Another great episode, BTG is back on fire. I hope the rest of the week continues the upswing. Loved seeing certain family dynamics this episode that had not been explored previously.

I need to cosign on this becuase Jazmen's scripts are always good. When I see his name pop up at the beginning of episodes I know I'm in for a treat and this episode was no exception. Overall BTG has been a hit imo and has me watching soaps again, something I havent done in years. Sad to hear about Maurice but I'll stay tuned to see how everything plays out.

Whew! Juicy stuff incoming, cant wait. Havent been this excited for daytime in a long time. Love seeing the reactions, how rewarding seeing the final product of your work.

I noticed, I love the pettiness. Was waiting for someone to comment on it haha

"I fell in love with an inconvenient man." "Now you have to deal with the inconvenient consequences." Omg, I'm so ready for this show, I haven't been this excited regarding soaps in a very long time!

ESSENCE just did a story on Beyond the Gates for its audience with this extended trailer. I didn't see this posted here yet so I thought I'd share.

I don't post much here, but I'm excited for Beyond the Gates. I'm often told I havent experienced a "real" soap since my introduction to soaps was Passions at age 10 which I loved, unpopular opinion around here, and once it ended I got into Ron's OLTL which I also enjoyed and followed up to its cancelation. No surprise here, but I started tuning into DAYS during Ron's stint since I loved his OLTL work, so all I know in soaps are really James E. Reilly and Ron Carlivati's writing style. Excited to see this soap from the begining, as I'm from the DMV area and there is a real Farmount Heights, Maryland that boarders DC that she may have drawn inspiration from including the name from the luxury Fairmont DC Hotel. Also excited to see Daphnee Duplaix, always thought she was gorgeous on Passions, unfortunately her character Rachel had already left OLTL by the time I started tuning in.

I'm excited for Beyond The Gates, it's the first soap I'll be able to watch from the beginning live. As a kid, my parents and grandparents watched Y&R and B&B faithfully but 10-year-old me in a kids mind found them boring. Imagine being bored in the summer as a pre-teen without cable and stumbling across Passions in 2000 during the Prom Boat disaster seeing Tabitha and Timmy in his John Travolta tuxedo, Charity shooting lightening from her fingertips, and a hot shirtless Jesse Metcalfe (when I discovered it wasn't just a faze,) there's a reason Passions was #1 with the 12-17 demo. Generally speaking, I think the success it had with young viewers speaks volumes on why so many long-time soap fans disliked it, look at who was attracted to it. Those teens are now older which is why you're starting to see more adults show love for it IMO, it wasn't just a fever dream, there was really hell in that closet, courtesy Robin Strasser lol. As a kid, Passions was my thing, and its because of it that years later I continue to support the genre and got into OLTL in its final years under Ron and later DAYS during the time jump. That little kid that was obsessed with PSNS will be tuned into The Gates on day 1 and wishing it success. Side note: Happy for Daphnee Duplaix on BTG, I know most people think of OLTL with her but not only did she play Valerie on PSNS but years earlier she was one of Gwen's sorority sisters in the early episodes, happy shes got a leading role to shine in.

I don't know if this has already been mentioned but I just read “The Gates" will shoot at Assembly Studios in Doraville, which is owned by Atlanta-based Gray Television. It will not shoot at Tyler Perry Studios. Assembly Studios opened in late 2023 according to the article and has 22 soundstages. They'll be neighbors to the upcoming Peacock series “Fight Night” starring Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson and Samuel L. Jackson. More details here: https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/georgia-entertainment-scene/the-gates-the-first-new-soap-opera-in-25-years-will-shoot-in-atlanta/UJ5CQ625UVBR5NKQ7PPITAE6CM/

This month marked the show's 25th anniversary 🤯 man time flies. I must admit, I was addicted as a teen when I discovered it in 2000, a year after it premiered. It was the Prom Boat Disaster where they spoofed Carrie and I was intrigued by Tabitha and Timmy and Charity possessed by the evil pendant. Not to mention a shirtless Jesse Metcalfe and Galen Gering made me realize some things about myself during that time haha. I think a lot of the cult following was from younger folks which is why there is suddenly a resurgence online of people in nostalgia over the soap, we're now the age the show needed during that time which is trippy to think about. Sure, looking back on it, it was a bit silly, but it's the thing that got me into soaps and will always hold a special spot for me. Reading old ratings reports, its not surprising Passions excelled in the 12-17 demo. The show gets a lot of hate (some of it warranted,) but I wanted to show love for it. Here's a clip from Access Hollywood in 1999 previewing the soap. I've since caught up on the first year I missed via Youtube.

I must confess that I'm a Ron C fan and will miss him at DAYS, however, something tells me we haven't seen the last of him yet and he'll be moving to another soap, likely GH

I stumbled across this video while watching clips of Sunset Beach on YouTube, and the 2:35 mark outlining how they would promote the show made me think of you all regarding the marketing and promotion of The Gates...