EricMontreal22

It really had its own special appeal, and I think you sum it up well. Actually, when the Seattle network started airing it after Nightline at midnight or so for its last 6 months (I as in grade 11 or so, so could stay up that late by then lol) it actually really felt "in place" as a late night soap for some reason--I'd enjoy unwinding to it right before bed. It never was too strong on story, honestly (though I think the writing for the final 6 months was very strong--lots of great character work, a good mix of drama and genuinely funny comedy like when Tracy hired actors to play her Quartermaine family), but the characters grew on you an were largely strongly defined especially once they settled on the final cast, and the style really felt fresh. I know much of the soap press didn't agree (and the first few months had some of the camera work trying too hard) but. I really think ti never had a chance with its time slot. If it had been late afternoon it could have caught more of a teen and university student audience who might have taken to the younger (dare I say slightly hipper) characters, mix of styles, and 30 minute episodes, but nobody I knew in university would watch a show at 11 am (where it originally aired here--with he news at 11:30 and then AMC). Though they probably would have make the cast teens, it actually would havge looked a lot better than much of the programming MTV tried at the time. I don't know if it was because it was greenlit before Disney bought ABC or what, but once it got on air there seemed very little faith behind it, though I understand it was expensive to shoot which is probably what ultimately did it in. " At times, the show reminds me of the European soaps (both the British and the German)." I definitely agree. When Burke moved to AMC I kinda hoped SOME of the City innovations would carry over there, though I guess they didn't wanna rock the boat too much. And yes, I loved Lorraine too. I also liked Nick--I know at one point Roscoe said it was his favorite role because it was just so refreshing to play a realistic guy and not a psycho. Even Zoey who at first came off too wanna be hip, grew into her own (and I liked her with Richard--ABC was all about Aussie hunksthen--Ingo was big on GH, and of course Richard and the despicable horrible Tanner Jordan on AMC were bothcast around the same time with well liked actors from Aussie teen soap Heartbreak High--which I admit I loved when it would air before school here in Canada).

Yes, apparently Nixon picked Russell herself, and helped fit him into the show. I wish someone would ask if Nixon was a DS fan... It;'s true that every so often she seemed to go for gothic stories (of course not to the same level), and she has said that she always wished she had had the foresight of Dan Curtis who, despite the cost, saved the show's videotapes, but that's all I've heard. And yet, Dark Shadows' co-creator and first HW (pre Barnabas) was Art Wallace who was a story consultant for the early years of AMC, and there were a few other connections. Of course some of this could have been ABC's suggestion (although Nixon owned her shows at the time,) but... Many DS fans and books have mentioned how it was Russell who gave Barnabas and other characters a more melacholic, soulful persona with long monoogues, etc. He truly was one of the best soap HWs, IMHO, it's too bad more of his work doesn't survive (OLTL did seem to suffer, ratings especially, for a while when he took over in terms of finding its style, partly as he seemed to do a more operatic version of Nixon's social issue stories OLTL had been most noted for--I wonder if he ever considered using Nicki Smith? Wiki said somewhere that he made the focus a bit less on social stories and more on haunting character studies, and that makes sense) From what I saw, I think Hall did a fine job, but wasn't quite up to the standards of when he wrote with Russell. That early 80s era pre Ruach is so confusing writer wise--the Corringtons replacing Hall, then Hall quickly replacing them with (I think) Slesar, etc. I wonder if Hall left on his own or was fired--ratings still seemed to be decent when they felt the need to change EP. I don't have a copy here, but I seem to remember Schemering's book said the Corringtons' year or so was too mob and violence heavy and confusing, and the blue collar family they introduced were not too popular. I think Peggy O'Shea had talent. Rauch wanted an increasingly campy, "rich people" show, and she seemed to still manage to include some depth and psychology into his concept--so I don't blame her for the direction the show was taking. It was still pretty strong on tis own terms. When she left (did she pass away?) and her associate writer S Michael Schnessel took over is when the show REALLY went all camp.

Don't forget they brought him back (was that under Rauch or just before) as a GH style Supervillain who implanted Larry with a mind control gadget and had a robotic arm! The network may not have cared as much--or it may have also been that OLTL's ratings were finally at the time on an upswing (as most of their shows were really hitting their peak). I really wish I could see more of AMC and OLTL from this era (77-80) as I think both shows were so strong, and they also seemed like they really complemented each other (down to OLTL being more urban and gritty, etc).

Me. Last year PP said, before it crashed, that Canada would be included as they knew how many viewers they had. I hope that keeps--maybe iTunes will allow it--I admit at this point I'd be willing to pay (within reason).

I agree with his view--to a large extent too, although I think part of the trap he did fall into, was the typical soap "supercouple" problem. And wow--I knew he had a rep at the time for having an ego--and I'm sure some of it was just his age but some of that interview made me just laugh, even if many actors prob feel the same about their talents. I do kinda enjoy how he sorta slams the show saying his role would never change--and at the same time keeps saying that he hopes they're open to him returning. Is he still acting? His official webpage is almost all links to self published sci fi he's written (!) that I think is based on his Andromeda character... Thanks for the link--I totally see what you mean Carl about Trevor and Michael I always wanted to see more of Brad--though the actor was straight and married, and Michael's was straight I think, Brad seemed more comfortable playing gay, and I remember people at the time saying that (as they manly patted each other on the back and gave each other bear hugs). RIP Daniel McDonals who played Brad and had some Broadway leads, who died suddenly at 47 of a brain aneurysm (I think.) Didn't she run into Donald Trump or someone at Nexxus? (or was thatg this episode lol)

Way way back in the early 90s, Canadian Jr High schools incorporated key episodes of Degrassi as part of our "Health" (aka mainly sex ed) classes. But even as a kid I never liked Kids of Degrassi...

Thank you kindly, Sir! Like I said I suspect it's the second one--not the first, very Melrose type one.

Random question, but this came up with a friend of mine. Does anyone know which of the two themes composer Michael Gore wrote? He's Lesley Gore's brother who is responsible for most of the Fame soundtrack, the infamous Carrie musical, as well as a few other one offs (Whitney Houston's All The Man I Need, which he originally did for a flop album for Linda Clifford he produced, he did the theme for Terms of Endearment and, randomly, the soap Generations, as well). Judging by his usual style and chord progressions, I'm guessing the second one, but anyone know?

I miss Enchantment OK, 'fess up, has anyone actually smelled the Fusion perfumes (were there two?) that were released... I believe they were exclusive to Wallmart (which says something right there--the last time I was at Wallmart was last year when I was desperately searching everywhere for the OLTL tribute magazine and had heard they were carrying it--the place smelled like McDonald's...)

I just read that article too--and wow. A great piece, and really true (back in the days when ew started and briefly had articles that were not quarter page soundbites).

Blah--it just seemed to me at the time like we were meant to wait for him to die because Al's spirit deserved his body. Vee--I somewhat agree with you. As bad as some of Malone's stuff was, if that was his origin al intention I think it may have been handled better (in terms of everything, pacing, sensitivity, etc). Since Higley took over (and maybe it was her idea to bring it in that direction) it was a mess. And Mark had barely even been on the show since the failed Love Shack or whatever it was called storyline of Malone/Griffith.

Of course Higley making him a gay psycho killer really did it in. I know when Josh Griffith left in Feb or 2004 he explicitly said it was because of network (ie Frons) interference. Broderick left as Associate HW then too, but I think it was due toher contract just being done--Malone lasted till sometime in the Fall.

I think this came up in another thread recently, but the Heaven Can Wait story was ick for me because it really seemed like for some reason (cuzhe was a bit of a jerk?) the real Michael "died" simply so Al could take over. Why did Al deserve the body more than this guy who seemed nice enough? (I can't even remember how Michael's spirit died--did Luna kill him? ). Also, at the time many people seemed to like about the four times we saw the Michael actor more than Al anyway. Yeah some were mad they killed off Al so soon, but people seemed over it by then.

I think he had JY do his hair for him... LOVED the It's not just a storyline, it's a legacy tag line too.

I actually thought it was surprisingly pretty decently done. Of course because of the type of song it is, her part couldn't be auto-tuned which may have been for the best. Maybe you just dislike the song (still after how horrendous Kurt singing Being Alive from the same musical, Company, was earlier this year, maybe I just expected the worse). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yW66pScmEs

Yes it seems brand new to YT. Thanks so much!!

I think the show was in great shape--I guess probably after Nixon's year long stint--but I don't believe ratings had any climb until the Murders, which worked as designed.

I honestly can't remember too well. During the Tad the Cad marathon they have an episode from '97 with Marian Tad and Liza which implies there was--but at the time it first aired I was more invested in other stories, and obviously that episode made it seem like he was with both again. I think the drunk thing makes more sense for all of the characters by that time. AH OK, to quote Celine, it's all coming back to me now....

I forgot all about the call girl aspect and the DA. Wasn't he Madison's husband? Did Randi kill him and Jesse helped her hide the body. Jeez it's sad how many stories I'm starting to forget.... ANd don't forget there was a round 2 around '97...

Yeah I wonder if they were already trying some City type things (though of course it was still traditionally filmed). I do remember Frankie--kinda, I guess he was one of that first wave of characters who moved out (like Bernard and Azure C the transexual or whatever...) As much as I love Morgan Fairchild, I think The City really came to life when Tracy moved in (not just cuz of her, everything just started to mesh)--but I found the switch strange too--of course a number of soap actors have moved back and forth between being producers or especially writers, but usually once they move behind the scenes, they only return for cameos (Francesca James, Gillian Spencer, Ellen Wheeler, Pam Long, Megan McTavish... I'm sure some would hope some of these people would have returned to acting instead of producing or writing...)

Ha Frankie doing some dance modelling shot to Rupaul! Thanks for posting that. Did Frankie make the move to The City or was he already in film school or whatever--I can't remember. I do think by the time Jacob was on they already knew they would be rebooting and he'd be going with Angie to the new show--she was underused on Loving but I did like how her and Jacob kinda were the anchoring couple on The City. A lot of characters added in 1995 were obviously set up to be City characters. Forgot that Jane Elliot was a producer on Loving...

I agree, I just think it was redundent. Wasn't she an actress? And.... I forget (of course she was hinted to have come back and killed Sidney in the finale). I loed the City pretty much a few months AFTER that story on, so I guess it gave it some momentum story wise, but...

Yeah it was a really bad idea to basically open City (after a few months anyway--I think it was 6) with a NEW serial killer story that was set up and advertised so similarly to the Loving murders. I am positive someone thought ratings weren't climbing fast enough and mandated it--but it was way way too soon. And regardless--as has been pointed out, most of the potential victims were characters people barely even had grown to know yet, so the huge threat of the Loving Murders didn't exist.

I started watching under Addie W's run, but she never seemed to be given a chance. Though the show went through so many changes (as it always did) who knows. I did like a lot of Taggert/Guza's run, and I largely loved Nixon's (kinda strange and gothic) return, when the original Curtis returned as Dante's "pet"

Yeah, Jackson arrived to whisk Sydney away for her exit (well until we saw her feet in the finale )