Khan

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You know what would have been good? Wendy tells Warren she is pregnant with his baby, hoping the news will force Warren to divorce Suzi and marry her. Warren, however, refuses to leave Suzi on account of that inheritance she is expected to come into very soon and tells Wendy to get an abortion. Frustrated, Wendy tells Suzi about the baby. Suzi is devastated, not just because of the knowledge that Warren has been unfaithful to her, but also because she has learned that she is unable to conceive herself. Then, events take an unexpected twist: just as Wendy is going to tell Warren about Suzi's infertility, Warren is killed in a freak accident, leaving both Suzi and Wendy alone, and Wendy still pregnant with his child. In an homage to the classic Bette Davis/Mary Astor movie, "The Great Lie," Suzi helps Wendy through a very difficult pregnancy. Wendy's joy at giving birth to her and Warren's baby gradually turns to panic, though, as she realizes she is not cut out to be a mother. Eventually, Wendy gives up her baby to Suzi and leaves Henderson for parts unknown. Wendy's decision sets the stage for a custody battle between Suzi and Stephanie, who is outraged that her own daughter (Wendy) has abandoned her grandchild to another woman. Here is another way it could go: let's say Warren does not die, but learns that Suzi is infertile. Warren has a choice to make: either he stays with Suzi and her money, or gives up the money to be with Wendy and their baby. Warren being Warren, he decides to stay with Suzi. A devastated Wendy leaves Henderson. Warren begins plotting to drive Suzi crazy, so he can declare power of attorney over her estate. Several months later, Wendy returns with her newborn in tow. Warren and Wendy resume their affair. Gradually, Warren's plot against Suzi unravels, and Suzi realizes her husband has been gaslighting her. Suzi turns the tables on Warren, making him believe she is out to get him. It culminates with Suzi pulling a gun on Warren and shooting him, but - surprise! - the gun is filled with blanks. Suzi reveals everything she knows about Warren's plans and offers him and Wendy a choice: the two could stay in Henderson and face criminal charges, or they can take the money that Suzi offers them and leave town, but leave their baby with her. Warren and Wendy choose the latter; they leave Henderson, and leave behind their baby for Suzi to raise. And Suzi's ordeal with Warren and Wendy becomes a real catalyst for her, as she resolves never to be anyone's victim again.

I am not sure, but I think he expressed as much during one interview or another. Just as he said he had sworn never to kill off another child (after killing off John Black Dickie Martin on DAYS) before going back on his own word and killing off Lauren's baby. I dislike bringing back people from the dead for one, very simple reason: I think to do so is insulting to everyone out there who has lost a loved one.

I think part of the reason for that was because Viki and Joe were now happily married after a decade or more of drama and considered to be OLTL's tentpole couple. I also think that was why Tina was introduced when she was in 1978 or whenever: Joey had not been conceived yet, as far as I know, and Kevin was not ready to be SORAS'ed, but the Rileys needed a new source of conflict that would not pose too great of a risk to their marriage. So, enter the teenaged daughter of Viki's former college roommate, who was young and impressionable and an easy mark for criminals such as Marco Dane. No doubt, if Lee Patterson had not elected to leave when he did, the bulk of Joe and Viki's storylines would have revolved around their continued efforts to keep Tina out of trouble.

I do not remember much about AB's stint on GH except reading Bob Guza's description of her character and her storyline with Vanessa Marcil and thinking it all was a big load of crap, lol.

I believe that the best way to have accomplished that would have been to bring on either Chris or Tracey first, as a wayward teen, whom Len and Patti would send to their grandmother, Jo, when they could handle them no longer. Of course, Chris/Tracey would cause trouble almost from the moment they hit Henderson, eventually causing Jo to adopt a "tough love" stance on her own grandchild that, in time, would straighten them out. Then, down the road, you could bring on Patti, Len and the other child for a special occasion - like, say, a high school graduation - that would trigger a bombshell revelation: Chris/Tracey once caught Patti having an affair.

I think that was part of the beauty of Bill Bell's writing: he could keep you waiting for years to see whether something like a mother and child being reunited would ever happen. Like one magazine said years ago, when it came to Y&R, the mantra was, "No story told before its' time."

I wonder how much of a fuss there was when Dorothy Lyman, who had won one year as Supporting for AMC, submitted herself as Lead the next year and won that trophy as well.

One name: Ana-Alicia.

I can envision Jo shooting Warren (or any villain) and then blocking it out psychologically, but I am afraid that Jo was the sort who would have confessed to the authorities the minute she remembered, even if it meant exonerating her nemesis, Stephanie, of the crime. If anything, Stephanie would have accused Jo of delaying her confession in order to make her (Stephanie) suffer; and Jo would have bought Warren's reformed act enough to take him into her home when everyone else had turned their backs on him - which, of course, would play right into Warren's plans. The longer Warren lived with Jo, however, and the more she extended kindness and friendship toward him, the more conflicted Warren actually would become over his plot to ruin Jo. For the first time in his life, Warren Carter would realize that even a low-life such as himself has worth, and that would be due to Jo's influence. But there would be a complication in the form of Warren's continued association with Brett Hamilton, Ringo Altman or another criminal - and maybe a plot to kill Jo and make it look as if she took her own life out of guilt over shooting Warren - that would result in Stu getting injured at Jo's house and Warren finally breaking down and revealing everything before apologizing to Jo and possibly fleeing Henderson for parts unknown, thereby leaving the door open for him to return down the road, played by a different actor (?), and causing (more) trouble for Cagney and Suzi as he wants to get to know Jonah again. But...back to Jo's hypothetical murder trial. As I have mentioned upthread, I would have had Jo on trial for killing someone, with her last husband, Martin Tourneur, being the most likely victim. Courtney Sherman Simon would have returned as Kathy to defend Jo in court, and Millee Taggart would have returned briefly as Janet to lend her support as well. Obviously, Jo would have been framed by the real culprit (don't ask me who), but Martin himself would have provided Jo with plenty of reasons to shoot him, as he would have become more physically and mentally abusive toward his wife in the weeks and months leading up to his murder. Then, at the climax of the special "live" broadcast, everyone's jaws would drop as the jury announces their guilty verdict. I would have used the trial and Jo's subsequent prison stint to bring back some former soap stars in short-term roles. For example, I would have had someone like Mandel Kramer (ex-Bill Marceau, EON) play the judge presiding over the trial. (Alternatively, I would have dragged former EP Fred(die) Bartholomew out of acting retirement to play the "honorable judge Fauntleroy"). Someone like Audrey Peters (ex-Vanessa, LOL) or Bethel Leslie (ex-Maggie, THE DOCTORS) would play at the warden at the women's prison outside Henderson, where Jo is incarcerated; and her assistant would be played by someone like Teri Keane (ex-Martha, EON, et al) or Mary K. Wells (ex-Louise, EON). Jada Rowland (ex-Amy, SS; ex-Carolee, TD) might play the head of a prison gang that gives Jo a hard time behind bars, while Rosemary Prinz (ex-Penny, ATWT, et al) plays Jo's wisecracking cell-mate, who, once released, could become Stu's new, recurring love interest. (Most of the ladies mentioned are just examples, but I do think RP and Larry Haines would have shared great chemistry if they had been paired together.) During her unfortunate incarceration, however, Jo would stumble upon a prostitution ring involving several of the younger inmates. All clues would point to the warden, but Jo, with help on the outside from Stu, would learn that the warden's assistant would be the true ringleader, leading to a climactic showdown between many of the women that results in the warden being injured, the assistant being apprehended and Jo having her sentence commuted by the governor in light of her efforts to expose the ring. In the meantime, Sunny would be using her journalistic skills to clear Jo's name, drawing the reluctant male A.D.A., who had prosecuted Jo, into her efforts to uncover the identity of Martin's real killer. Of course, Sunny's efforts would place herself in danger; and rescuing her from the killer (whoever they are) with Hogan's help would prompt the A.D.A. to confess his feelings for Sunny, initiating a triangle between him, Hogan and Sunny. Finally, when Jo is released from prison, so, too, is another inmate whom Jo has taken under her wing. Jo moves her into her home and in time helps her to track down the little boy whom she gave birth to while still incarcerated and was forced to give up for adoption.

"Then in 2002, Bierdz was again devastated when his older brother Craig committed suicide by blowing his brains out." Subtle.

Does anyone know roughly the dates when Joseph Hardy produced LOL? It is so fascinating to me that the same man who directed so many Broadway shows, including "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" and "Play It Again, Sam," also produced soap operas. ETA: AFAIK, Hardy also produced "A Flame in the Wind"/"A Time for Us", LIAMST, RH, LOVING, GH and KNOTS LANDING. Did he work on any other shows?

Wasn't she on an episode of "What's Happening!!"? And then, of course, she was on "Roots: the Next Generations" with Brian Stokes Mitchell; as well as on "A Different World" years later, as the woman who caused Dwayne and Whitley not to go through with their initial wedding plans.

I agree. Maybe Bill Bell had a mistake when he decided to kill off Phillip. Nevertheless, we saw Phillip die; and I have always believed that if we see the character die, then they should stay dead. I think the part of the story that I never will understand the most is Phillip's assertion that he faked his death, because he believed that neither Kay nor Jill would have accepted his coming out. God knows I am not the foremost expert on all things Y&R, but I think I know that that is not necessarily true. Jill might have denied it at first, because she always wanted her son to have the "perfect" life. However, I think she would have come around, realizing that his father would have wanted her to love their son and accept him for who he was and not for who they wanted him to be. Personally, I think Y&R made a mistake in reuniting Nina with her first child (Ronan). The fact that Nina had had that baby as a teenager and then had it stolen from her was, IMO, the event that defined her life most. It informed many of the choices that she would go on to make. Take that away, and I think you take away a lot of Nina's essence and drive.

FV seems to have deteriorated physically in the past several years. He is not as boyishly handsome as he was when he took over GH. Something tells me the stress of the gig is beginning to get to him.

I could see Bill Bell penning a similar tale for Y&R, but his take would be much slower, more complex and far less exploitative.

Stephanie should have been arrested, tried and convicted for facilitating the rape.

I don't recall whether Cleveland Amory ever liked anything, lol.

Perhaps it was one of those situations where people were reluctant to take the HW'ing position?

Every time I even think about that storyline, I just get mad all over again. I cannot stand what Megan McTavish did to that beautiful show.

In retrospect, GF should have held out indefinitely. Then, when TG's contract was up, they could have written out/killed off Bill and let him go.

Such a lovely photo of the two. It makes me wish all the more that more early ATWT episodes was available somewhere.

Someone should have asked him whether he was stoned.

I think it was a little of both. In my wildest dreams, Bill Eckert returns with a new face, and the actor portraying him is actually more successful in the part than TG was, lol.

I agree. @Vee said it a long time ago: TG never could get over the fact that Bill Eckert failed, even after 1250 character resets. He resented that he had to go back to playing Luke, so he did whatever he could to sabotage the character and his relationships with everyone, shitting on viewers' memories and goodwill toward him in the process. AFAIC, I am fine with Luke remaining dead and buried.