Planet Soap

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.

Yup! The three women in this picture were the most beautiful on the show at the time. Honorable mention to early 90s Lauren & Tracy. Cassaundra was an old school Hollywood type beauty. She had this mysteriousness and glamor about her. Nina Arvesen reminds me of Brenda Epperson in the face. I love the gas lighting scenes during the George Rollins murder storyline. Peak Y&R. 1989-92 was a particularly strong time for the show. She should have lasted longer. Mary Jo Mason had a similar mystery about her.

Indeed he was. I stand corrected.

Hopefully someone didn't do this already... What was a character who's storyline impact far outlasted their run on the show? GH Frank Smith was only on the show for brief stints in 1979-80; 93-94; 2015 and drove years of story for Luke, Laura and Sonny. Y&R Phillip Chancellor II died in 1975 after a 2 year run yet moved stories well until Katherine's death in 2013 and beyond. OLTL Victor Lord Sr and Irene Clayton Manning. Both characters were on the show for a short time, and "died" in the 70s. But Victor's death and Vicki's subsequent DID from his abusive were stories for the show's entire run. Irene's diary and the paternity of Tina, Todd and Victor Jr would drive story up to 2011!

Thanks! GH has such a fatty canvas I feel like they could have trimmed it by cutting a newer performer than a veteran character. Agreed.

Yes soap should have romance. I think it's so done to the death however, on B&B and Y&R that interesting to see how GH doesnt centralize it. The way how Jason and Sam barely interacted leading up to what I suspect will be her fatal surgery. Hard to think these two were a super couple 12 years ago. Even Sonny had more of a heart-to-heart with Sam.

Perhaps this qualifies as classic GH because it happened 9 years ago... Why was Duke killed off again in 2015? He was a popular old school character brought back and then they just got rid of him. This is something very JFP and Guza but it happened on Frank's watch.

Did anyone record the Michelle Stafford anniversary episode. It should hopefully be filled with classic clips.

I totally agree. And what bolstered the business story lines back in the day was the camera angles and background music because presentation elevates substance. Y&R and B&B we're the only two soaps with interesting business stories.

I want to believe that Ed can help improve the show drastically. We didn't get much when Kay Alden returned however, so I won't get too excited. I always said Y&R was pretty good from 1989-2001, and I now realize that roughly corresponds with Ed Scott's tenure. Hopefully he can bring some of that magic back. CBS has gotten complacent with Y&R and B&B's #1 & #2 status. It's good to see CBS somewhat trying with its soaps, even launching a new one.

Exactly. Is Monaco not cognizant that she has been phoning in her scenes for the last few years. She always sounds disinterested and bored. And I agree that Sam rarely had an identity outside of Jason/Sonny's woman. How popular was Sam when she first came and was messing with Jax? I get it. After 20 years on a job, salary cuts are offensive. But ratings/soap budgets are declining and she hasn't acted well in years. My question is, was Kelly the only person asked to take a salary cut?

Elizabeth and Ric were a random pairing to me. For her to end up with that guy after Jason and Lucky, and then Zander got into the mix somehow. Someone said Ric and Ava should get together. I would love to see that! It would be Ric and Faith all over again, two messy toxic souls!

IMO, Jill's lack of support is her own fault, especially after what she did to John two years prior. I will say the beginning of the Kay vs Jill feud is Katherine's fault. She drove her husband away, and literally drove him off the cliff.

Finally Phillip III's "death" scene has been posted in English (1989).

Yup! I likened his performances to Ron Moss on B&B. Even if they weren't the strongest actors they were their characters and the fans loved them! I never followed DOOL too much growing up. After watching 80s/90s episodes available on YouTube a few years ago, I fully understood John Marlena's impact. This was playing in my head after finding out the awful news.

Oh noooooo! This is huge.

There was a YouTube page that had GH clips from 1963 to 76 but it was taken down. Shame. In 2024, the search for Lucky so he can be a liver donor for Lulu reminds me of 1996. It was a creative tool then to use Lulu's aplastic anemia to introduce Carly and Nicholas simultaneously. I'm surprised the writers didn't think it was redundant to make both Bobbie and Laura reveal secret children concurrently. When did Bobby first express she didn't know who Carly's father was, and when did Carly start asking? When I looked up the history of Carly's dad John Durant, it was interesting to learn he was yet another casualty of Manny Ruiz. Did you all think Ruiz was a good villain? So many deaths between 2005 & 2007 involved either Manny or Diego Alcazar!

The post below from @titan1978 sums up Kristina perfectly. Exactly, Kristina is a spoiled self absorbed mess and Alexis is protecting her. Kristina's apology isn't sincere because she admits having no regrets for trying to take custody of TJ's baby. Of course no surrogate can predict how their emotions are going to change during the pregnancy, but thats too bad🤷‍♀️ You volunteered to do something so see it through. Kristina is not a victim in this at all.