EricMontreal22

I agree. I remember when "Zendall" started, I was surprised at how enjoyable I found them (this was when they went into a relationshp for ulterior motives). They played off each other really well. It was when they became this supercouple that I fairly quickly lost interest.

Some of us discussed this in the Prospect Park thread... I'm curious to know the full context of the question and answer. The Brandon's Buzz audio interview with Susan Bedsow Horgan from a year or two ago brings this up specifically, and says they were nervous about making the change to his character so with Griffith and Malone she went and asked for Agnes' approval, and they got it, slightly to her surprise (and I have absolutely zero reason from her interview to think she's making this up). Apparently she also consulted on points about the story, at least at first. (As you say--but just to reiterate). Nixon didn't have much to do with the Irene Manning revelation, I don't think (that was the mid 80s, right--and in the Paley Center interview when someone asks her about the current Vicki/Nicki interview--this was from '87 I believe--she doesn't say much but says she's not currently involved in writing OLTL), but I think your point is valid--and honestly the incest angle, given what people knew by 1994, is not all that far a stretch from the emotional abuse that caused Nicki to emerge back in '68. Giving the benefit of doubt--I'm not sure if that quote really says "but no, I never would have approved of that story". It seems more like an aural interview where she's thinking more on the idea--and wants to make it clear that she didn't suffer sexual abuse from her own father. I guess....

Was this during Malone's run?

Aside from Guiding Light, Right to Happiness is my fave of the radio soaps I've listened to more than 20 episodes of. Though a spin off, I believe Irna passed ver the headwriting reigns to Happiness pretty early on. Of course it was one of the last four remaining radio soaps--I wonder whyt hey never tried it on tv. There's much debate, really about the true first. It depends on what you call a soap, and other semantics but they were all around the same time.

That was before Ivan came back with a robotic arm to mind control Larry, right? (Or am I mixing him up with someone else...) Agreed--it is. I love that he's getting quotes from everyone possible--not just the recent actors, etc--doing a soap history book as an olral history while these people are still around is a great idea.

No, but in the age when soaps were all getting bigger and bigger (richer people, etc) it may have not ben what the market wanted. I believe Ellen Holly's memoirs mentions the Loving thing. Anyway, she saw it as a bad thing (going to such a low rated show).

Right--I guess I meant more of a character, though I've only seen one clip of him but I guess the soldier stuck around for a while--in terms of hauntings... Agnes did want Carla and Saddie to move from OLTL when they were let go, to Loving (so I guess by 1986 or so)--I understand why Hall felt it beneath her, but maybe this was some recognition that the show needed more diversity.

Oh, I agree--especially for an Alden. But he has a charm that comes off well on camera. Yeah--I was gonna ask if it was one of Loving's first black roles.

Ah OK, I've seen her in the earlier clips then. I know(and love) Opal... I mean Egypt mainly from her 90s return. I've heard Agnes was often involved in story at Loving--especially around 88-89 (when people felt AMC was starting to be neglected leading to its overhaul with Behr), and I admit I find it fascinating and oddly appealing how so many of her ideas seemed to be a desire to go back to older AMC--while many would see that as a flaw.

OK, I am blanking... Who's Minnie? Randomly the background music is the Stock/Aitken/Waterman produced version of Don't Make Me Over sung by Sybil--a big UK success, but I don't think it was even released in the US... Odd (though at least they're playing real music, unlike nowadays when they can't afford it). The more clips of Chip as Curtis, the more i like him in the role. Far from brilliant, these clips from when Millee Taggert and Tom King (I believe) were HW are much more appealing than the corporate mess the show seemed to be under Ralph Ellis in the previous regime--not sure who was EP then, since it changed so much--if it was Joseph Stuart or Mary Ellis-Bunim. I always found it odd that after *so* many recasts, the original Curtis returned in the last year (or just before--as Dante's "pet").

Agreed completely. Sometimes when I say I liked Josh people seem to think that means I approve of the anti-abortion. Not at all. But it pissed me off double that they DID do that, and then they barely even scratched the surface of the drama that could have come from it. The only time I remember Erica and Josh really discussing it was as he died--as I said a touching but quick scene (from my memory). I was all for bringing back Jeff, but the casting sucked (as much as I like James in other things), and it was barely played anyway (I don't think he even had an exit), and I barely remember him interacting with Josh either. A lot of that is Megan's fault, certainly I think the anti abortion was entirely her fault--one of her totally crazy ideas Frons loved--but I do believe if it had happened under the regime say ten years earlier, with less network interference and focusing on always driving focus group faves, etc, she would have played it out better.

I admit, I liked Josh and had a crush on Colin E--so I'm biased, and I liked the relationship he was starting to have with his sisters, and I admit, liked the dynamic of a Kane *male* member (as much as the '00s were obsessed with the legacy of the Kane women--the legacy seeming to basically be rape by the end...). But I definitely agree with you overall--that was my bigger problem by far. Zack, particularly under Pratt, had been decimated, but then to have Josh leave for months because he had been embezzling from the casino (wha? why?) only to come back to steal more and then be brutally shot and ZAck to demand the heart and not even seem slightly conflicted at any stage even though Kendall loved Josh by that point... I guess that was Zack at his most Sonny--which people feared would happen when Pratt came on. The only good was I remember there being a pretty good death bed scene between Josh and Erica where they finally really expressed their troubled but loving feelings for each other, and a couple of other good Erica moments. But that was it. (I also never get why they didn't do more with Josh and Greenlee--I am not sure if that was under B/E or who--they had one one nighter and a few moments like being trapped in an elevator and I felt they had really great chemistry--Greenlee became much more interesting than she had been for years with Ryan, but it was instantly dropped). I remember some moments--like I said above, but maybe I embelished them in my memory--I should check youtube (but I do remember they seemed too short), but yes--that would work much more and it would be far more interesting to have Erica be conflicted and from her POV than from Zack.

I agree with what Kay Alden (reportedly) said, that at this point there's no reason to retcon Josh, it just would be more trouble and confusing to viewers than it's worth--and he's dead, even by soap standards. I still liked the character a lot by the end, and HATED Pratt's version of Zack going all killer and "SAVE HIS HEART FOR KENDALL" on him--but at that point especially mcTavish was all for over the top ideas, and I'm sure when she pitched the unabortion to Frons that's why he took to it, he seemed to like and encourage her gimmicks.

Ha! I never knew that detail.

Ah, OK I guess Tudor had just returned when I got into the show.

What years did she play Gwynne?

Were ratings slipping and Frons told her to pull out all the gimmicks? Because her first two years, especially in hindsight (or as a viewer coming off of the Sex and the City hour from Rayfield), really had a lot of great stuff--and a lot of great potential that was dropped with suddenly dropped characters, etc. And then it did really start on a lot of dark, weird, Ryan/Zack/Greenlee/Kendall heavy, gimmicky stuff. I think she still managed to have some really good scenes (I know that's not the HWs job--but when some well written and longer scene work exists on a show exists under one headwriter and not another, it does say something), but... And like I said, by midpoint in the satin-slayer story it didn't even seem like she was writing anymore--it was just autopilot.

HAHAHAHA Right

Yeah frankly his destruction started under Rayfield if not even a bit before (it was under Rayfield he would love Maria up and feed her drugs). McTavish at her worse is way too eager to do execs bidding, but I doubt it was her decision. That ELR interview is one I'd never read and just--wow. What an awful situation. Umm I have most initials down but who is TKFP

AH I completely forgot about Di--I liked her. Such a waste. I think I blocked out Fight Club Ryan that was just... odd. I guess it was going for something different in soaps, and I appreciated in a way that they tried to give Ryan depth with his abusive father, but it didn't work. (And then his sister was killed off by Megan's last major story the Satin Slayer--no wonder people found the show a mess and too dark in the second half of her 2000s reign). In this clip I will say at least they made the fight club look semi decent budget wise... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TjqmhQKrxY And I think, overall, I'd agree with you.

Oh I agree they had written him into a hole but the way he ended... blah. And yeah, I didn't know why he wanted to burn down the barn either.

I like it too! But hasn't Lyman retired from acting and onlydirects now?

WHy was she in jail again? Jill is very friendly on Facebook and has been saying consantly for the pat year that if it ever came back online she wants to be a part of it, to keep the faith alive, etc. Usually I just smile and nod to her posts, but I hope I hear something now that it seems to be back (I did suggest that she suggest she run Myrtle's boarding house ) Yes and she actually hid out in Llanview too--I think it was the same story--as a maid or something (oy I should go to bed...) The clips are somewhere. There were no OLTL character cameos though that I know of.

Quote: I actually liked Maureen more than Maria (way less whiny). It was also realistic that she wouldn't just morph back to Maria, but be more of a blend - Maureenia. However, when ELR decided to leave instead of giving the fans a "walk off into the sunset" ending for Edmund and Maria - they killed off the veteran character, let Brooke, sort of, have the last laugh, and then just had Maria move on... all around, not worth it./end quote (grr these quotes) Anyway, and look how they uncermoniously killed him off! I can't remember if he even got out of his wheelchair, but Jonathan killed him in the barn or something, right? Or am I totally off? Because at the time I remember just wondering why Jonathan would even target him... There was a lot of wasted potential there. Bobby Steggert (now a successful Broadway name) was good as Sam living with Brooke, being understandably angry at his mom, and with Lily. I think he just kina disappeared off screen as so many characters around that time did--from waht I remember, but I'd be even more angry if I found out Lily ended up with the killer of my dad...

Yeah my main complaint with the Maureen mess was what it did to Edmund (initially under Rayfield I believe). Locking hi wife up, trying to drug her (or did he?) etc... I forgot abotu Bermuda and those ridiculous terrorists.