Patrick D
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Everything posted by Patrick D
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Yes, that would’ve been much more interesting. I’m not sure the writers ever delved into who Beth really was after Beth C started playing her. She always seemed to serve plot to me. I thought if Mindy (preferably Kimberley Simms) came back and built a connection with Matt, it would have been more conflict for Matt/Vanessa since Vanessa was close to her (vs the Dinah/Vanessa/Matt retread of Blake/Holly/Ross) and vixen Beth. And then throw Nick in since he and Beth never interacted, if I’m remembering correctly.
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Agreed. I think new characters are necessary and important to keep the canvas of the show dynamic. But it felt like Guiding Light had so many characters at the end (aside from a core group and returning favorites) without ties to core families. Agreed, and it also effects the budget....showcasing Zimmer constantly ( and I DO like her..not that MUCH of her) gave her too much power and allowed her to write her own ticket...when its an ensemble you can say "Here's the deal, if you don't like it we have Vanessa, Holly, Alex, Amanda...whoever over here with story...." Yes, exactly. I liked her too but I think that's why the early 90's worked so well when she left. The show was an ensemble and a lot different characters/actors were featured. It was a huge loss (Rae) but Rauch said to Mimi Torchin I believe that they had to compete with Skinamax (remember those bad old soft core porn movies..) so they had to cast model types...(as if anyone is watching soft corn porn at 2 in the afternoon and if they are they arent going to turn it off to watch models fully clothed in pastel business suits...) Remember Jim Lemay went from being played by a normal looking guy to being played by that muscle guy who I believe was in some of those movies...but he was still boring and no one cared when he died in that fire (R.I.P. to the actor tho..) Compete with Skinamax! haha. That tells you a lot right there how the network execs weren't interesting in building/retaining their fan base. Agreed but JFP went way too dark...look at the Bauer set, it is bright for Christmas and then they kill Mo and the house is constantly shot dark..okay, storyline reasons there but the whole show was in shadow, along with Mo dying, the recasts, Alex being a cartoon shrew schreeching, Buzz taking over the show and all the women allowing this troll to obsess them..it all became depressing. But agreed on Rauch, the blinding lights on every damn set constantly looked terrible matched with the pastel clothes. The Spaulding mansion with Alan there and Alex gone should have been lit dark and more masculine, Carmen's house should be dark and isolating as her life should have been potrayed...etc. True, it got pretty dark at times under JFP. And the Frank/Marion story didn't help. They did lose a lot in those recasts of key players. I thought Buzz worked at the beginning as a foil but definitely not for the long term. Still can't understand why or how there was so much emphasis on the Coopers. Agreed...we spent so much time in Gradyville...why? Though I think Wheeler struck a good balance during her years, bringing people back like Van and Matt when needed for the story, she attempted to get Simon, Alex was always around (though admittedly not written correctly) and not driving story (which both she and Alan should not have been doing at that time..) Why they couldnt have just brought back Mindy earlier for Rick (his only successful pairing beside Abby IMO) leads me to believe Wheeler had better intentions then Gautman, she just didn't know how to pull it off. That makes sense. Glad she brought back Vanessa and Matt. I wondered if they chose not to put Kinkead back on contract or she didn't want to work that much. And yes, two characters that weren't ever brought back to their full potential were Alan-Michael and Mindy (Kimberley Simms). And they should've never let Ross go (RIP JVD). Thank you, @Khan!
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The early 90’s were the best. The characters and relationships were very well defined and stories involved a lot of characters. A soap is at its best when it’s about all kinds of relationships: lovers, families, friends and rivalries. I think soaps get it wrong when they focus on the idea of super couples. It gets tired quickly, and as was already mentioned, the stories get more ridiculous and they’re often isolated with maybe one other character in a triangle. And it repeats and repeats. Curlee and Demorest’s stories were rich, well-drawn and complicated because they’d involve other relationships and dynamics. It extended the stories in more plausible and interesting ways. I just recently watched again the Alexandra reveal to Billy about Roger’s affair with Mindy. Alex, Mindy, Billy, Roger, Vanessa, Nick, Nadine, Fletcher, Hamp, Holly and Ross. Really great actors, almost all 40+, excellent writing and everyone with clearly drawn motivations, perspectives and relationships. Betty Rea cast trained actors - when did she leave? That might’ve accelerated the decline? Because the caliber was still there with some, but never again with an ensemble like this. The show at that time was also darker, sexier and moodier. Rauch was praised for brightening the look and feel in the later 90’s but I think it exposed lower production values and made it less intimate and consequently, less exciting. Having a darker vibe lended to the melodrama, as did a lot more closeup shots because the actors were skilled at filling each moment in scenes. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that in the end, so many characters from this era were brought back. If they knew that was how to end it, why didn’t they try to return to what worked earlier and keep the show going?
