Khan

But wouldn't that make Sam a product of incest? I mean, in order for Stavros to have fathered Sam, they'll either have to retcon him back to being Mikkos' cousin, or retcon Alexis' own biological father.

Honestly, I don't even know why they made her a Cassadine, lol. And then, on top of that, she has a child with Julian Jerome? I think that's entirely too much baggage for any character. (If you're reading these boards, Mr. Mulcahey and Ms. Korte, I would seriously consider retconning Sam's paternity. Just saying.) Didn't Stefan shoot Katherine the first time he met her? Oh, yeah. That's exactly how I would want to launch my show's next big couple, lol.

Not to get too political or anything, but I think you also could look at real-life events from the last eight years or so and argue that this is a reaction to all the social and political upheavals that have been going on, both in this country and abroad. For many, the world might be changing too fast, so now they want to retreat to what is tried-and-true and familiar - which, in this case, means network soaps.

TBH, I had difficulty accepting that Laura had had a child that she told no one about, because I knew of the pain she herself had endured when she met Lesley - plus, you can't tell me that the same Laura who pulled a rifle or machine gun on Mikkos Cassadine and his henchmen BITD is suddenly so afraid of his idiot son and wife - but I think Bob Guza did an okay job justifying Laura's actions. However, once Stefan's initial arc or whatever was left of it was finished, that should have been the end of him, and of the rest of the Cassadines (save for Nikolas, of course). For me, the problem with Stefan/Katherine was that TPTB were obviously hoping to recapture the magic that SN and MBE had had as Patch and Kayla, but DAYS was a different show, Patch/Kayla were of a different time, and Stefan and Katherine were much different characters.

No offense, @Liberty City, but I wouldn't judge someone's acting skills on a few Hallmark movies. Those concoctions don't do anyone any favors, lol.

If only the Prospect Park dudes had gone behind the scenes beforehand and observed how soaps are produced.

I know I wouldn't have believed it, lol! Going into 2024, I was so sure that this would be the year when soaps were done. But, the sun also rises, lol! Yeah, I'm concerned about that as well. You're right, @DaytimeFan, in that "consolidation fever" has been going on for awhile, but it seems like the recent SAG/AFTRA/WGA strike has triggered the entertainment industry in a big way. Hollywood is definitely living in some interesting times at the moment.

I don't think it was so much Grayson as it was that his Dusty was an entirely different character from Brian Bloom's Dusty.

Frankly, I didn't think it was right for daytime even back then, during the late '90's and early '00's, when the soaps were taking beatings from the O.J. trial and the rise of those trashy talk shows, and when the genre as a whole needed to get back to basics.

From what I understand, though, the network's reversing their decision on "Star Trek" was kind of a double-edged sword. Yes, the franchise got another season, but with a reduced budget and without Gene Roddenberry's participation.

I've had only one poster adorn my bedroom walls, and it was of the "Beverly Hills, 90210" cast during that one "summer season" when I actually loved the show. (Boy, did I get over that obsession quickly, lol.)

I don't, lol! If I had my druthers, the "mob element" AND the Cassadines would have been phased out a long time ago (along with things like Crimson, Deception, the Metro Court, etc.) in favor of a renewed focus on the hospital and the complex and all-too-human personal lives of its' staff.* Claire Labine and Wendy Riche worked so hard to turn GH into a grounded, relatable show again after a decade or more of OTT supervillains and action/adventure storylines. To me, Bob Guza's decision to reactivate the Cassadines was a real step backward. Again, I'm not disparaging any characters connected to that family, nor am I disparaging anyone who's a fan of them, but I've questioned for decades whether families like the Cassadines really belong anymore on daytime. (Same goes for DAYS's DiMera clan, by the by, lol). (*Or, at the very least, I would have offloaded all that onto PORT CHARLES, because the show, after all, is called GENERAL. HOSPITAL.)

"Come home, Miss Rowell, all is forgiven!" First, Patrick Mulcahey comes out of retirement to co-head-write GH; then, Michele Val Jean leaves B&B to launch THE FIRST NEW SOAP OPERA TO PREMIERE IN TWENTY-FIVE YEARS; and now, this. 2024 is truly shaping up to be a pivotal year in the history of daytime. If this is true, then I wonder what prompted SONY's decision. Did something transpire BTS to force Kent out? Has SONY been planning this move for awhile, or...? Are they dissatisfied with DAYS's and Y&R's performance in the ratings and felt the time was right for a shakeup? Does TG have them running scared? Are they seeking a replacement for Kent, or are they phasing out his position altogether? So many questions, lol. Yeah, I'm wondering how this might affect JG and his current situation at Y&R, too.

I think it'd be hilarious if there were some sort of mixup and Chase got the male stripper that was intended for Brook Lynn's bridal shower.

Personally, I wouldn't want them back either, if I were handling the HW'ing duties on this show. No offense to the actors or to their fans, but I truly believe the time has come to bring these shows back to the kinds of characters and storylines that mean the most to viewers. So much is happening in our world these days, and I feel soaps as a whole really lost something vital when they stopped reflecting that reality.

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I agree with all y'all, lol. At the end of the day, ABCD/Disney is a corporation, and what are corporations about? The bottom line. Producing a daily, one-hour (with commercials) drama with a cast of 20-25 actors is a helluva lot cheaper than producing one with a cast of 60 or more, lol. No, I tend to think GH's current cast size (on- and off-contract) is all Frank Valentini's doing. I don't know what reason he has for keeping so many on the payroll, though, unless he's just so darned loyal and hates to see anyone out of work? If Ava is taking bipolar medication, she should be freaking the hell out: convulsions, hallucinations, whatever.

Premiere ad campaign: "Black is about to get a whole lot more beautiful."

That's nothing compared to some of our own families, lol.

I agree! To be fair, her role on ATWT was a thankless one.

OMG, yes! Yes, yes, a thousand times, YES!! IDK where Bekins would fit on the current GH canvas, but if I were Elizabeth Korte, Patrick Mulcahey, Frank Valentini or Nathan Varni, I'd make the room! Thanks, @DRW50, for that recap!

Two of the many reasons I loved watching DAYS back in the '80's.

They should chemistry-test him with Tracey Bregman for two reasons: 1. I think they would look cute together. 2. If their characters were to marry, her character's name would become "Lauren Laurent."

One thing about farm girls: they're a lot savvier than city folks ever give them credit for!

It's like what I always say: you can get away with acting like a diva if you have the goods to back it up. It's only a problem when your behavior is as shitty as your performance, or vice-versa. IMHO, GH needs Vanessa/Brenda, because Carly in particular needs Brenda. In fact, Carly probably needs Brenda more than even Sonny does, because Brenda - again, IMO - is the only character who can fight Carly's fire with fire of her own. IOW, Brenda brings out the best in Carly. (Or the worst, depending on how you look at it, lol). Carly by herself as a lead (anti-)heroine is okay, but Carly and Brenda...? That, my friends, is like having a license to print money.