Liberty City

Oh, they absolutely were banking on the crossover viewers from both shows. But, ultimately, it blew up in their faces. And see, I didn't find the production bright and cartoonish, I found it dark and yellow. I swear, Frank Valentini and company brought the OLTL cameras (not built for HD) over to GH, and it was so jarring to see. Plus, some shots had horrible cropping. I may bitch about DAYS' production... but whew, GH took the claim first. It was so bad to look at, and then Valentini took a paint brush to so many sets, and everything looked B A D. Well, I am sure [some] would, but I'm all set on it. And, after that really off-putting/cold Blair cameo in 2023, I'm all set on it. We've got a large enough cast that really needs to be slashed (not trimmed, SLASHED) going into 2025. WHEW. I can only imagine. 😭

I could have seen the "writer" trying to pull that kind of storyline had TOLN's production not forced ABC's hand, re: OLTL characters. And, honestly, the absence of Sarah Webber is one that should be remedied at some point.. Rebecca Budig was right there, ijbol. Oh, I fully understand it, but it felt like there was an assumption predominately GH fans should have/would have cared about the loss of Cole & Hope after only three/four episodes of watching them. Now, had they lasted a few months, maybe? But three/four episodes? No. As a regular GH viewer, I felt nada but annoyance... plus, the immediate onslaught of OLTL characters being force-fed was so off-putting. Again, as a non-OLTL, that's my POV. I get it, from a OLTL viewer experience, it must have been wonderful to see "their characters" again, and had it been AMC characters (whom I felt would've worked better at GH than OLTL, especially if we had been given Lorraine Broderick), I might've felt differently. And, honestly, I didn't mind the D.I.D. storyline with Kate (who I will never acknowledge as "Connie")... and, at the time, I liked the Kristina recast but, looking back, it was ill-fated. They really said, "Less Alexis, more Sonny" with Lindsey Morgan as Kristina (a.k.a. "the Mob Princess").

Am I the only one who suddenly begins speaking in a British English accent when watching British telly? And finds it hard to switch out of?

As a non One Life viewer, I again question why I should have cared the kid was killed off, and why we needed a multi-month storyline of Starr (poorly crying) trying to avenge the death against General Hospital characters. Yes, but it was within the first episode.... like, they came on, in a car... and then BOOM died, so we didn't even get to "know them". I knew some backstory of Cole & Hope, but wasn't a One Life viewer, so it felt like forced-care as a viewer via script where their deaths were concerned. It was poor writing and execution, as if we should have automatically cared for these characters, and for Starr's loss. If anything, it turned me off to her more than it should have. Fans should be lucky Kassie DePaiva wasn't offered a contract (which, if I recall, semi-pissed her off, didn't it?). The only positive that came out of the whole One Life saga was the hiring of Maura West (caused by TOLN's production of AMC/OLTL).

Either The Young and the Restless or Santa Barbara would be my third, honestly. General Hospital could also rank there.

Just be thankful it wasn't in his One Life role, and we were forced to care about why he was there. 🤣 I'm still wondering why I should have cared that Starr's baby and her boyfriend were dead within an episode of debuting....

Honestly... I try to forget that era of the show so much... it was towards the end of the "writer's" tenure, and it was messy as ever-hating-fück. I dreaded watching. And honestly, I won't lie: he and Emme Rylan (ex-Lulu) did have some chemistry. But, the role of Dustin missed a lot of marks... so many anvils they could have played on with him, and they never did. If Y&R had brought Rylan back as Abby, I could have seen Mark Lawson being cast as Chance, and them continuing their work there.

The Edge of Night, Search for Tomorrow and One Life to Live likely would not even be on the list if it were mine, honestly. The top three seem solid, although, I [could] possibly see another number-three.

Finally catching up after long last. Made it through April and May 2024 yesterday; am in June right now.

I don't think they are. But, Chris Clenshaw revealed the attacker would be revealed in February, for the 40th anniversary.

It was a bad character, derived from an even worse storyline: the birth of Charlotte, and everything surrounding it.

You are very welcome.

This list puts a smile on my face, aside from a few of the rankings.

Days of Our Lives week ending January 3 (x) Monday, December 30, 2024 – Episode #15020 Holly thwarts Tate and Sophia’s plans. EJ finds himself in a bind. Sophia questions Ava. Jada has a proposal for Paulina. Tuesday, December 31, 2024 – Episode #15021 Rafe is stunned to see an old enemy. Sophia's mother reprimands Tate. Doug III offers a sympathetic ear to Holly. Paulina gets a warning from EJ. Brady gets some news that could change his life.

Days of Our Lives week ending January 3 (x) Wednesday, January 1, 2025 – Episode #15022 Alex and Stephanie secure dates for NYE. Chanel and Johnny throw a New Year's Eve party. Belle surprises EJ. Jada notices something different about Rafe. Gabi is reluctant to join the party. Thursday, January 2, 2025 – Episode #15023 EJ flirts with Belle. Chanel confronts Johnny. Philip and Stephanie both make admissions. JJ and Gabi take the next step in their relationship. Friday, January 3, 2025 – Episode #15024 Paulina supports Chanel. Abe offers a sympathetic ear to Johnny. Javi interrupts JJ and Gabi's special moment. Joy and Alex share an awkward morning.

That's not exactly what Deidre Hall said at all. She said she thought that's what sent the "writer" away. Her exact quote was: ❝ Body & Soul is done, and I think that's what sent Ron away. ❞ Michael Fairman agreed; Susan Seaforth Hayes didn't mention anything about it sending him away, either. She merely mentioned there were "some laughs" and "some cringes with Body & Soul" but was more-so speaking of the forthcoming regime change, in compliment.

The hiring of Bree Williamson as Claudette was so.... weird to me. And very much a "Hey, this is someone I worked with and am giving them a job, even though they were leaving the last show I worked at!" And, I cannot help but wonder how Jessica Tuck would have worked opposite Cynthia Watros, because she did well against Michelle Stafford (which is not a difficult task).

🤣 And both were the "writer" too, so whewwwwwwwwwww again!

Ahh. Such a long, long time ago, whewwwwww

Was it Patrick or Nikolas?

💯

It did work; even Cady McClain was signed to a one-year deal, so her return was an in-the-works thing pre-cancellation, so Broderick obviously had plans for long-term story-telling, and it's a damn shame she never got the chance to do it.

Credits for Thursday, December 26, 2024: Created by: Frank & Doris Hursley Executive producer: Frank Valentini Head writers: Chris Van Etten, Elizabeth Korte Writers: Suzanne Flynn, Scott Sickles, Anne Schoettle Director: Allison Reames Smith