Planet Soap

I can see that. From the 90s Malone days onward Nikki Smith became more of a cartoon, especially in 2001 under Gary Tomlin. I never understood what Nikki Smith's actual motivation was after the '90s. I know some of you loath it but I liked the Tess story (under Con Carlivati). Tess had an actual motivation, sperate love in Nash and stuff to do other than being a random cartoon who wanted to live free. Bad move by (William J Bell?) killing Cassie. So much storyline and Bill was invested in this child only for her to get killed off in a storyline that did not advance the show in any way. I'm glad that she was brought back as Mariah as stupid as that story was.

It is amazing how Erica Kane when from the star of the show --she literally had the biggest picture in the photo album openings-- to a diminished character after (correct me if I'm wrong) 2000? Why would this show do this? Some say it's because she got old. Similarly, Viki stopped being the center of OLTL after her DID story ended in 1996. But (again, correct me if I'm wrong) I feel like Viki was still more centralized than Erica. Agreed. She's an iconic character and I don't care to see the show without her.

Agreed. Luke raped Laura. It was wrong. They should have never wrote that in the plot to begin with. But since they did, the only answer was to acknowledge that the rape happened, and after working through things Laura decided to forgive Luke. Simplest way. Any attempt to try to reframe it as a seduction, or retcon history is wrong. When exactly did they start trying to call it a seduction? From scenes I've watched it was always acknowledged as a rape. Does anyone have a scene they can share? Interesting, I never thought of Rick/Blade as the andwer to posessed Marlena. I'm more think of Vicki's DID and her acting evil and out of character was a more direct comparison. 1995, what a year for divas going off the edge! Erica Kane on drugs, Marlena possessed, Viki had DID! As demeaning as sperm gate was for the leading women of Y&R it was well crafted. It spanned from 1999-2004, soaps today cannot write long-term overarching plots effectively. And the trigger for the whole thing was Victor divorcing Diane to be with Nikki after the Veronica shooting. Amazing.

I agree. Or they have avoided the whole scenario to begin with. Again Luke and Laura should have happened, the rape should NOT have. Were they thinking because L&L had feelings for each other the audience would have accepted this more than a woman falling in love with a random rapist off the street??? IDK.

I think her actual name was Mamie. Another poster stated that she was named after Bell's housekeeper. White people such as First Lady Mamie Eisenhower also had the nickname Mamie as her real name was Mary. Regardless naming a black person Mamie is a no-go because of its similarity to "mammy". Jill's abuse to Mamie felt racist, but in all fairness she was just as abusive to Esther. Even Katherine spoke to Esther like a child.

Exactly! One thing I liked about old school Y&R is that even if the substance wasn't hot, the decoration was so it distracted you from that. I see teases that Jordan and Ian Ward will have some scenes together. I didn't care for Ian's character at all, but I'm curious to see what he can do in tandem with Jordan. I'd especially like to see those two veterans acting together.

Wow! Good observation. They really didn't give Erica a child (that made it to term) until 18 years into her run! Very problematic. I liked when Veronica Redd took over. She gave the character more backbone especially against Jill. Yeah. Brad took over by 1996, that story aired in 2001.

Ultimately I think the expansion to 30 minutes was damaging to the genre. The fact that Another World agreed to be a 90-minute scripted series 5 days a week is insane. I like 30 minutes because there's less filler in an episode, it keeps you from having to expand the cast massively to fill the hour, and the writers only have to pen out half the dialogue.

But I question where GH would be today without Luke and Laura. I think the rape should not have happened, but the pairing should have. It amazes me how badly Genie is treated despite being one of the most popular actresses in Daytime. Why was there so little regard by Monty and other regimes for the person who helped define supercouples and soar GH into pop culture? Tony was not the whole show. The AJ paternity and Heather Webber stories helped elevate GH as well. At least today Laura finally has somewhat of a matriarch status.

We all revere scribes like Agnes Nixon, Bill Bell, Douglas Marland and Irna Phillips, and Executive Producers like Gloria Monty. Are there any story lines, tropes, or actions that they took that you did not like??

Victor Newman lived at the ranch until his divorce from Nikki? He lived in the Penthouse in the 90s during his marriages to Ashley, Hope and Diane. He then moved back into the ranch sometime between Joshua Landers' murder and around his and Nikki's 2002 remarriage. Loved the Penthouse set! Has Nikki ever not lived at the Ranch since she first wed Victor? What a way for Jack to stick it to Victor! Sleeping with his ex wife in presumably the same bedroom Victor had and raising Victor's kid in his house!

Wow! I never paid attention to the weekends thing!

I agree with NLG's decision but I also find her constant political commentary and virtue signaling to be irritating.

Agreed. Building off of what you said, I find GH, as bad as it is, to be easier to sit through than Y&R (or B&B). Things actually happen on GH, and we get storyline variety. I like that stories aren't just romance and corporate like Y&R. We get mob, medical, business, spy, police, and syfy all in one soap lol. Too bad its just bad it's written with too many characters.

IMO, Brooke should be remorseful for sleeping with Bill, Deacon, Nick and Hope's boyfriend because they were in relationships with her family members. In those specific instances, being proud in a Samantha Jones way would complicate the children always forgiving her trope. Last I can recall was Brooke sleeping with Bill while he was married to her sister Katie...then getting pregnant at 50, trying to pass Eric (her "true love's" dad) off as the father, then miscarrying.

??? I never meant to imply that I had to explain to you what the Guza era of GH did. I was actually agreeing with most of what you said. I tagged your comment not to explain to you what happened with GH back then, but to piggyback off of what you said.

Yup! Once I saw Guza and Ron Carlivati listed I went ... Uh oh! Hopefully JFP doesn't touch this show. And hopefully BTG is nothing like the current CBS soaps' quality. Guza helped destroy GH, and eroded characters like Luke. Yes GH temporarily got its life back around the 50th anniversary under Ron and Frank, but it's remained crappy since 2015ish. Poorly crafted storylines, overloaded cast, harshly bright lighting, lightning paced scenes and stunt casting. I enjoyed Guza/Phelps GH growing up, but grew to dislike it after watching Riche's GH. Now after years of Valentini I like Guza/Phelps' era again, lol. It was better written, acted and more exciting. I wish network executives could look at message boards like these filled with analytical soap critics, before making writer and storyline decisions. Instead they appear to rely on easily impressed fandoms that will accept anything, as a barometer of show quality....not to sound snobby.

Pros of Guza: his GH had exciting action storylines like the Metro Court hostage crisis. He was able to give the show masculine appeal with mob plots. His show was far more entertaining and well written than the current GH. Cons of Guza: Under Executive producer Jill fahren Phelps, Guza accelerated General hospital's focus on the mob and made it a crime action show. GH was a more balanced, human emotion, "This is Us", type show under Executive producer Wendy Riche. Idk if this was more Phelps or Guza, but under his tenure, several longtime characters like Bobbie were back burnered, demoted to recurring, or killed, as Sonny Jason and Carly became the central focus.

I love that Y&R is finally opening the vaults in this dire era of soaps. I also like that they take the time to digitize clips instead of ABC who just throws GH on the air in standard definition whenever they rarely air a classic episode.

Whatever became of Restless Style?

Could they have not rebuilt both sets like what they're doing now with the Newman Ranch? As someone mentioned the Abbott living room and Sharon's cottage are still there. Y& R full episode 1997:

I hope all those clips are being saved for when that account eventually gets taken down. Good to see The Newman Ranch returning. I hope they find a new decorative big blue plate to replace the old one. The destruction of Gina's and the Newman Ranch were two of the stupidest moves in Y&R. I also hope to see the Chancellor Estate more. What goes through these producers heads? "Let's destroy a classic long-standing set for shock value and not rebuild it." ? Sometimes such moves advanced plaque, I don't think the show benefited in this case. I agree that Mamie wasn't reflective of a black female audience. Though I liked her, Mamie gave house slave vibes. It's in her name. They gave her character more backbone when Veronica Redd took over. It just occurred to me that she was 40 something years old playing a woman of John Abbott's age -- 60 something.

Alexis' monoluge was great today. Sometimes death denial scenes in soaps can be cheesy but she did good. Her best work to me was whang she chastised Sonny and Jason at Kristina Sr's funeral then dropped her ashes.

It was a great episode and tragic conclusion to the Jason and Sam super couple. But Why kill Sam off in such a permanent fashion? Could she not be brought back at her requested pay rate under a new regime? Does Frank assume he will run GH until the end? Why not recast with Lindsay Hartley to give Sam some new blood??? So many questions. Regardless, despite Kelly's recent dull acting and little storyline, it still hurt to see a character that I grew up with killed off.

Add to the list...Veronica Landers Y&R I always mention her lol. Because Veronica shot Nikki Victor divorce Diane to be with Nikki again, turning Diane into a villain. It also lead Diane to try and steal Victor's sperm which helps set off the sperm gate fiasco... Which resulted in the births of Kyle and Abby. It also played a role in Diane casting her vote against Victor in the hostile takeover of Newman enterprises.