Planet Soap

1 hour ago, SoapDope said:

She was hit by a car if I remember correctly. 

Yeah, confirmed it:

7 hours ago, DRW50 said:

 

Didn't she also get plastic surgery? I can't remember.

I believe she did.

That was perhaps my favorite Y&R storyline of the late 90s. Nikki looking so pale and lifeless in hospital scenes was so grim, serious, and realistic. Soaps couldn't pull off something so unsettling like that today effectively.

The best part was that it lead to vilianess Diane which fueled years of animosity between Nikki and Diane, and later Diane vs. Phyliss which was gold! The biggest joke had to be Victor and Nikki "remarrying" after 10 years only for Nikki to sleep with Brad (lol, who didnt Brad sleep with) the next year. 

On 11/14/2019 at 9:18 AM, vetsoapfan said:

 

I totally agree.

 

During the 1980s, when science-fiction/fantasy storytelling started to infect and decimate the soaps, I was aghast because I gravitate towards well-written, well-acted continuing dramas about family dynamics and interpersonal relationships. Fortunately, primetime TV has stepped up to the plate, and has been producing many fine, adult dramas for serial fans to enjoy. I have series like This Is Us, New Amsterdam and A Million Little Things; I no longer have to cringe through the horrifically stupid sci-fi camp being dished out on my once-beloved daytime soaps.

Now that prime time is doing serialization better than daytime, the only reason for soaps staying on the air is familiarity with the charachters and obligation. The fact that Marlena's story has been going on for 40+ years means ive invested too much time to give up watching her. 

Some of the 1998 videos he posted, I saw on archive.org before his channel launched such as the two October episodes where Sharon's arm was broken.

Id like to see the 90s/early 00s era red intro make a comeback, maybe in a different color to give it a 2020 flare. B&B had the right idea when it brought back its early 00s intro. Then again the show's current quality dosent deserve that intro.

Either GH or DAYS is the next to go. Hate to see either of them off the air but the way things are going on both shows...   Meanwhile, GH should consider releasing all of their non veteran cast members who have no storylines from their contracts.

He responded to my comment to hide his videos, i was willing to email him the link to DTS t(not post it in the youtube comments). Hopefully he/she reaches out.

SONY! Never showed classic episodes of DAYS, B&B or Y&R on SOAPnet, hardly ever shows classic reruns in daytime, and wont release its soaps on streaming...because they'd rather a century's worth of television sit in a basement vault somewhere. P&G and ABC soap fans have it good!

Looks like firehawk just got taken down (as predicted). At least most of his content is on archive.org. Literally just watched one of the channels videos this morning.

I commented on one of firehawk's videos that they should disguise the video titles. At least a few of his videos are already up on archive.org. Would hate to see a repeat of that Brandon channel where all the 98-01 videos got deleted.

Jessica Tuck. Somedays she looks good, but in the prison scenes...

What is the general feel around her chachter...typical stunt cast or valuable charachter?

On 10/24/2019 at 11:37 PM, kalbir said:

@vetsoapfan From the 1970s I'd watch the Katherine/Jill feud and the early storylines of Paul and Nikki, but that's really it. I'm not drawn to the original 1970s characters as much as most people here are, probably because they were phased out by the time I discovered Y&R. 

With you on that one. The Kay/Jill/ Phillip triangle is the draw factor from the 70s for me. Anything 89-02ish on streaming would be GOLD. That's when Y&R got its look and story line down to a solid formula.

In watching 90s episodes it really seems like they didn't know where to go with Nina after David Kimble died. The Ryan/Cole/Victoria stuff went on a while! Kind of like Sammy, Austin, Carrie etc.. on DAYS.

Similarly after Marge (and the breast cancer scare which I never saw) I'm glad they finally got around to giving Kay and actual story line in '98 where she fought Jill for the house. I've said this before, but It's amazing how she obsessed over Phillip for years when Rex was a far better husband----never heard her mention him much in years prior.

When it comes to Nikki, some might not agree, but I liked when they got her involved in business plots. It gave the character something else to do other than being at the ranch all day and seeking fulfillment from her man of the moment. It's annoying how she and Victor just can't settle down after almost 40 years...it's time they use another plot device other than relationship problems between the two. (The same goes for Nick and Sharon). 

On 10/11/2019 at 7:25 PM, victoria foxton said:

 

 

Wow! Strasser called her out by name! If JFP is clearly an issue, why does she keep getting hired

10 hours ago, AbcNbc247 said:

Hearing Monica say to him, "You're a Quartermaine" made me cringe.

Monica sounded like a clown. The only way to redeem her saying that is to figure that Monica's so desperate for family she'll take anyone with Quartermaine ties at this point. What a shame, the writers gave her Oscar, Drew, and AJ just to kill them all off. Pointless!

Meanwhile, GH teased us with Carly and Sonny reuniting for 7 years. Now that they're back together, their storylines have been just dull. Maybe they should ressurect AJ and have him want revenge against Sonny & Carly (w/o making him a victim) and the Corinthos clan will get an interesting storyline again.

Lol, Monica is really saying that Franco is now Drew.  

This isnt even a case like Roman Brady/John Black or two Todds where the charachter believed they were someone else for YEARS. Franco literally got trurned into Drew--while Drew was alive, to Drew's dismay--like 3 months ago, now he has a claim to Drew's life since he's dead? 

Why are they making Sam so weak these days? She used to seem so capable and supposedly badass, but now she looks like she can't last a day in jail.

Tamera Braun returning has been dissapoingting IMO, perhaps because Im used to her as petulant Carly 2.0. Idk, maybe it would have been more interesting to see her in conflict with Sonny and Carly. Sarah Browns return as Claudia was better done.

On 10/4/2019 at 2:54 PM, KMan101 said:

 

lol agreed

When it comes to Ron C, his writing isnt boring. His reign on OLTL--though its quality was far from the show's heyday--was never dull. The 2012 prison break finalie was exciting. Similarly, the hype he wrote around GH's 50th anniversary was huge and well done. My only issue with him is that he delivers a butchered product. There were too many historical rewrites under his tenure on OLTL, and too much focus on the show's teen scene. (Either that was his decision or Frank V's, I'm unsure.)

Backtracking, in catching up on more of the James E Reiley era, though his 90s work is probably miles ahead of what DAYS is airing now, there was too much sillyness such as Susan Banks. Some of it was funny, but I couldnt help but question how much was Corday willing to allow. Ultimately, IMO, Rieley included too much cartoonish nonsence that overshadowed the rest of his show. His OTT work was also damaging to the genre in that it reinforced the "silly " image of soaps.

Lastly,  DAYS's lighting and overall production seemed to still look decent into the mid/late 2000s compared to some of the other soaps. The 2010s up to now however...

6 minutes ago, j swift said:

My objection to Todd is his placement within the Lord family dynasty.  Although Victor never had as many long-lost-children crawl out of the woodwork as Stephano Dimera,  Tony and Todd seemed unnecessary additions to the family tree, when the story of Tina's paternity was the focus of the show for years.  Not only did we get the inexplicable inheritance that one only gets on soaps when an illegitimate child, not named in the father's will, is suddenly given riches, but also Victoria's allegiance to Todd never held water.  Viki was kind to Tony, but never defended him like she did Todd.  Not to mention that Irene seemed to have had Tina and Todd when she was rather young, but her best friend Viki never knew that she was pregnant (perhaps Viki was in Eterna at the time?).

 

It all reportedly stemmed from the coincidence that the character was given the last name Manning.  However, the writer at the time never planned for the backstory so it was all rather convoluted.  Somehow, he had to have a father with the last name Manning, but still be related to Irene, which was just dumb.  

I didnt mind that plot, but the Manning last name thing was indeed convoluted. Considering how deranged Todd was he fits as post 90s rewritten Victor Lord's son.

LOL, they just kept re-writing things when it came to Victor Lord Sr. First he's an overbearing dad, then he's a sex addict, then he's a child molester, he has a plethora of ilegitimate children (Todd, Victor Jr, Tina), Dorian killed him, no Viki killed him, no he's alive...wait was that actually him in 2003?

He was basically OLTL's Phillip Chancellor, a long dead charachter that had bigger historical impact post mortem than alive. 

On 9/30/2019 at 4:57 AM, Chris B said:

 

Don't forget David Shaugnessy! I thought he did a great job in the early 00s of refreshing the look of the show while keeping it Y&R. I also loved Ed Scott. The other two I can't speak too much on because I haven't seen enough of their material. With Ed Scott in particular, I remember being devastated when he was let go when they started the merry go round of HWs. It's a shame as well because giving all those HWs EP titles I feel spread them too thin and left them without someone to reign in bad habits. I feel LML would've worked with Ed Scott as EP and her not being allowed to fire Kay Alden and Jack Smith (right after returning after taking time to grieve his sons death!) and every other long term writer...

Agreed. Under them Y&R still remained solid from 98-01, despite Bell's lessening his role in 98. That team helped Y&R remain decent from 01-05 aswell. Too bad Kay Alden's return a few years ago basically did nothing for the show. 

Did the writers ever question how low they were willing to drag the charachter? The dead baby lie would have been the end of alot of charachters but Todd kept going and Blair kept forgiving! (What a shame Jack Manning turned out to be later in life). Inspite of it all I must conceed in that Cassie and Roger had great chemistry from 00-03. The dead baby lie plot and it's live week conclusion remain one of my all time favorite OLTL storylines. Next to the rape that had to be the second most heinous thing Todd got away with. 

What are your general feelings toward the charachter of Todd Manning?

I found Howarth to be superior to St John in the role, St John gets his props though! I also liked that Howarth managed to make the charachter humorous in 98 and 00-03, despite the sick things he was doing like faking DID and giving away a baby. This in comparison the the outright angry Todd from 92-95. When St John first came on I liked that he was animated (almost as if he were trying to mirror Howarth) but once he settled in, the charachter became just heinous. When he did things like beat up Cole, bully Langston, push Starr off the boardwalk, and help Jack get away with killing "GG", the charachter became unlikeable. Even worse, Blair and Starr kept falling into the habitual forgiveness rut with the charachter. (Howarth's 2011 return basically negated the latter but still..)

Todd's crimes almost hit harder than those of say Stefano Dimera being that they were somewhat realistic. Leading a gang rape, selling a baby because you thought it wasn't yours and so on. Hell, he makes Sonny Corinthos look soft!

IMO Guza under Riche beats Guza under Phelps. Guza in general beats anyone who's been writing GH post 2014, and that's an unfortunate statement considering the damage he did to that soap.

Growing up in the 2000s, I thought GH was the bomb until I watched older episodes online and realized what I was watching was a far cry from what came before. The contrast between 90s and 00s GH became fully evident to me when I saw numerous classic episodes during the 50th anniversary marathon.

Case and point, the mob plots had more weight and impact to me from 93-95ish, I believe under Levinson then Labine. The mob stuff was wayy more serious with plots like breaking Frank Smith out of jail, and Luke's house getting shot up. There were earthy concequemces and not as much of the glorification of Sonny as we see today. The mob plots today lack any sort of dramatic impact, they're almost comical to say the least. The last time any mob drama hit hard for me was when Michael got shot in 2008, or the Metro Court fiasco in 07. 

I wanna know why they fired Riche in favor of soap killer Phelps aswell?

Speaking of Luke and Laura I enjoyed them under Labine in the 90s because they appeared more domesticated than their action adventure plots in the 80s. However, 95-02 basically shat on Luke and Laura with the mob violence, Nickolas' intro, Stefan, the rape revisitation, Lucky's death and the Felicia affair. Not to mention Laura going mad in 02. I liked some of those plots but it's interesting how it basically destroyed the couple. 

On 10/2/2019 at 2:18 AM, vetsoapfan said:

 

Word.

 

I loathed Luke. And I detested how GH turned from an intelligent, adult drama under Douglas Marland and Pat Falken Smith, to a low-brow cartoon in the 1980s. UGH. The only time I began to tolerate Luke was under Labine's pen. Otherwise, I spent the years wanting him gone.

 

#LauraAndScottyForever

On that note, alot of DTS commemtators cite Luke and Laura's Ice Princess saga as the turning point of soaps from a theater play like tv drama to over the top plots. Guiding Light, DAYS, and ATWT especially seemd to be influenced by this, particularly in the 80s. Wondering if you all agree?

In my own bias, GH should have been #1 and Y&R #2. GH quite possibly had the biggest impact on soaps in the 80s. Likewise the Monty & Riche era were gold. GH also had the best disaster storylines such as the Metro Court hostage crisis in 2007. Y&R had the best presentation. Serious, mysterious vibe, lavish production value (sets, clothes), dark mood lighting, ornate directing in the late 80s-early 00s, the best background music (back then), and the best consistent usage of veteran cast members such as Victor Nikki and Jack (despite how played out they might be at this point, lol)

IMO:

1 GH

2 Y&R

3 ATWT 

4 OLTL

5 AMC 

6 GUIDING LIGHT

7 DAYS (love days but too many over the top plots like devil possession and new Salem etc..)

8 B&B (enjoy b&b aswell but too many repetitive romance plots)

On 10/2/2019 at 4:49 PM, Khan said:

No doubt, if PC had stayed on any longer, they would've had to go so far out, even the rabid fans who loved the Rafe/Alison [!@#$%^&*] and the Caleb/Livvie [!@#$%^&*] would have turned away in droves.

Port Charles takes away from the illusion of General Hospital for me. No one on GH minus the cross over characters are aware of vampires running around the town?

They basically negated that in 2013ish when they retconed Caleb to be a serial killer who believed he was a vampire. 

1 hour ago, Gray Bunny said:

 

It's funny you say that about GL, because aside from them going completely off the charts from 1998 through 2001, GL was always a down-to-earth slice of life kind of show, like ATWT and AW (fellow P&G soaps). This was TPTB's way of competing with then-popular DAYS, along with the over-the-top NBC sudsers, Passions and Sunset Beach (low rated, but high demos, especially Passions).  They came back down to reality from 2002 til the end. 

 

 

+1  I wish Bryan Dattilo was on contract. I never understood why Lucas is always given the scraps. I don't care if he's not as tall as EJ or Austin. 

I agree in that GL started going off the rails in the mid 90s with Amish/ghost/clone Reeva and Annie 2.0. Prior to that they didn't seem too extreme to me (from what I've seen).

Supernatural and OTT stories have their place but soaps, especially given their budgetary limits and prior attempts,  should stay clear of them.