Khan

Elizabeth Hubbard was right: in a sense, because we live with these characters for so long, we do know them. In fact, we probably know them better than we know some from our real-life families!

I agree. The thing is, Agnes Nixon wasn't the kind of writer who'd read about some current event in the newspaper and then graft it onto one of her stories. For example, when she wrote the cervical cancer story for GL's Bert Bauer, she didn't write it just to educate women about the need for regular pap smears, or just to give Charita Bauer material to play. From what I've read, Bert's cancer also served as a catalyst to bring her son, Mike, back home after a period away from the scene. And when little Molly on AMC became ill with leukemia, it wasn't just to raise awareness about bone marrow donations. Molly's leukemia, and how Travis and Barbara responded to that, also broke up Travis and Erica and Tom and Barbara and reunited Travis with Barbara. If I learned anything from Agnes Nixon, it's that stories borne from topical issues have to flow from the characters and their circumstances if you have any hope at all of enlightening the audience. Otherwise, you're just preaching to them.

As someone who believes that freedoms of speech and of the press are the bedrocks of a true democracy, I am heartbroken to see what has become of the so-called "fourth estate" in this country, as the media is corrupted more and more by dollars. There was a time when you could count on journalists reporting the facts while simultaneously speaking truth to power, but no more. Now, it's all about what raises the numbers, or what gets the most clicks or likes online. In the process, the media is delivering this country straight into the hands of fascists on a [!@#$%^&*] silver platter. America owes you an apology, Paddy Chayefsky. We thought you were being ridiculous when you wrote this movie. We didn't know you were, in fact, warning us about the future. So, they're gonna jeopardize a woman's health and life, to protect a fetus that probably will die anyway. Why doesn't the GOP admit that this is not about protecting unborn lives, but controlling women's bodies?

How do you know, @Toups? You say you've followed her career and life very closely, but is that the same as knowing her? For all you know, Taylor Swift could be playing her fans for chumps. She wouldn't be the first celebrity in any field who's one way with their public and the total opposite in private. Furthermore, @Soapsuds might have been wrong to call her a b_tch, and Travis Kelce's mom "ugly" and "fat," but I've seen people who aren't Taylor Swift or Travis Kelce's mom get called far worse on this board. Hell, I've done my share of the calling! But I really don't understand why you're taking it so personally in this instance.

I agree.

Just this week, I was talking about how we were long overdue for a "Peyton Place" reboot on streaming.

I agree. Most people in the world agree that Trump is one of the worst human beings ever to live. Nevertheless, the man sells newspapers and magazines and boosts TV ratings, because people just. Can't. Stop. Talking about him. (Now I know how white radio listeners felt when stations started having "Bee Gees Free Weekends.")

Proof positive that Nancy Curlee was the last, great thing to happen to my beloved GL.

For some reason, @Broderick, you're reminding me of this play, "Trifles," that I read either in junior high or high school, lol. I agree: ATG's premise was great for a 90-minute movie, but I can't see how it could sustain itself as a nightly or weekly series.

I think that's why I was drawn more toward the ABC soaps as a kid, and toward AMC and OLTL in particular. Their shows were earthier and had more of a sense of humor. At the same time, I loved watching ATWT and GL, because they seemed to know how to tell these wide-ranging stories that drew in a lot of characters at the same time.

Originally, their opening theme song was "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," but for reasons I'm not aware of, they changed their minds and went with that mess instead.

Democrats have long had what I call a "Chicken Little complex." To us, the sky is always falling, no matter what. We could win every single election between now and next November - heck, we could keep the WH and take back the House! - and we'll still be convinced that our party is on the verge of collapse. This is why I have learned to ignore the polls, ignore the media, ignore the naysayers and doom-and-gloomers on social media and ignore the grifters on the far-left who keep telling us that Biden is too old and feeble to run again. Because, they have their agenda - namely, to make us Democrats feel like less than dirt - and the more seeds of doubt they sow in voters' mind about Biden's capabilities, the more they succeed. In other news, I'm moving to Ohio, because if I have to survive all the idiots on the left AND the right, I might as well do it where I can stay high 24/7.

It's been my experience that women - and white women, in particular - are simply more attracted to men who are douchebags. They SAY they appreciate a man who is sensitive and compassionate about others, but very, very few actually mean that. [political]This is why Trump's numbers among white women never surprise me.[/political]

IKR? LOL!! The thing is, I still can't see what's so special about her. Maybe it's my age, or my gender, or my general nature that distrusts most people in life, but I think her vocals are even less polished than Madonna's, and her lyrics are still so banal and childish after all these years, too. (I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Taylor Swift is exactly what you get when you get a quasi-talented singer/songwriter whose knowledge of literature or life stops at junior high school). And while she is pretty, she's not what I call stunning, so what is it? Truthfully, if white America hadn't felt the need to prop her up after that black boogeyman, Kanye West, had the audacity to go on stage and say Beyonce was robbed of that stupid award, Taylor Swift would not be where she is at this moment. The only pleasure I get from all this is seeing her turn against her more racist fans by supporting liberal and progressive causes (even if the more cynical side of me thinks that's just for show). They're out there. It's just a matter of time.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels the same way you two do. And I'm not even a fan of Taylor's. I agree. It's all getting to be a bit much. Also, at the risk of over-generalizing, the more she's in the spotlight, the more her fans evolve from being just fans to being cult members. It's unsettling.

Which is ironic, because, I read somewhere that Bill Bell got his start in radio as a comedy writer.

Run while you can, Theresa! https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/golden-bachelor-gerry-turner-ex-girlfriend-speaks-out-1235683869/

Frankly, if I had been in Felicia Minei Behr's shoes, I would have brought Cliff Warner back to AMC...played by Terry Lester.

You thought he was joking when he said that? I thought he was pissed, lol.

Am I right that B&B is neither confirming nor denying that John McCook is retiring? If so, then one of two things is happening here. Either: 1. Eric isn't really dying. 2. Eric is dying, but McCook will come back later in a different role.

Hat on the bed? Just what you needed, Jo-Jo, more bad luck!

What I remember most about GENERATIONS was Aunt Mary and the moose head stuffed with diamonds.

That was one of the worst theme songs I've ever heard. If I had heard that back in 1977, no way would I have stay tuned to watch the rest of the show.

That's possible. Sally Sussman alluded to as much in the post-cancellation article from 1991 that was posted recently in the NBCD thread. On the other hand, as I've said before, I think folks at NBC knew going in that GENERATIONS was a dud and only kept it on the air for as long as they did both to humor Brandon Tartikoff, who had championed the show in the beginning and who left the network several months after its' cancellation, and to find a good enough reason to cancel it without looking as if they were taking it out on its' integrated cast. I think it took Andrea Evans' departure for everyone at ABCD to see that OLTL was in serious trouble. Her continued presence there helped to camouflage many of the show's problems at that time. And there, on the witness stand, sits Jenny Jones, basically admitting she knows nothing about anything regarding the production of her own show, and that she just shows up, grabs the mic, performs for the audience, collects her pay and goes home. It was a sad but telling moment for the talk-show genre. The "Who Killed Carolyn Crawford?" story notwithstanding, Douglas Marland and ATWT were on a creative upswing during this period after a year or two of being in the doldrums a bit. It's sad that Marland died when he did, because I feel like he was poised to do even greater things for the show in the years ahead.

Although many at OLTL and ABC tried to diminish Ms. Holly and her impact - not just on the show, but on daytime in general - they never succeeded. The mark she left was simply too indelible. I only pray she is at peace now, and that she truly knows how much we, her fans - but her African-American fans, in particular - respected, admired and adored her. Rest in power, Ms. Holly, and may God be with you and your loved ones always.