Khan

I know you have to write to the strengths of an actor, even a recast, but I often feel as if doing that is the reason why so many of RH's oft-recasted characters seemed so inconsistent (for lack of a better word). The quality between one actor and the next varied too much, IMO.

It's nothing, though, compared to how Marland originally saw Lily and Holden (or "Clem," as he was SUPPOSED to be named). In the original story projections, their relationship possessed a real fetishistic (sp?) streak, including one scene where Lily actually whips the "Holden" character w/ her riding crop.

I think so, too. According to at least one interview I've read over the years, Marland was deeply dissatisfied with ABC pressuring him into truncating the Lily Slater story on LOVING. (Supposedly, ABC wanted their MOW, "Something About Amelia," to be the groundbreaker in stories about familial incest, but I don't know whether that was the truth.) Re-telling the story with Angel and Henry Lange, therefore, was Marland's way of rectifying the error -- just as the DID story w/ Royce Keller was supposed to be his way of re-telling a similar story w/ his GUIDING LIGHT character, Carrie Todd Marler (played by Jane Elliot), as he saw fit.

Actually, P.J., I don't think it was. IIRC, Lily and Dusty were supposed to be endgame (yes, I know, that dreaded word, lol) with Holden as the obstacle. That's why he came across so strongly in his first meeting with the two. However, it became apparent to Marland and then-EP Robert Calhoun that Martha Byrne generated more 'heat' with Jon Hensley than she did with Brian Bloom. Holden truly was supposed to be Lily's biological uncle until that point (although, that was a secret that wasn't supposed to be revealed right away). Altering Iva's parentage, therefore, allowed them to proceed with Holden and Lily's romance "down the road" w/o undoing the bulk of Marland's other plans, including Holden and Emily's ill-fated relationship and Lily's losing her virginity to Dusty, which had been included in his original, long-term story projections. Ironically, Robert Calhoun admitted in one interview during that time how "green" Colleen McDermott was as an actress, but that he remained excited about her and wanted to get her into acting classes right away. Guess the classes didn't take, huh, Cal?

Others might disagree, but I think TL made for a better replacement (even if Davies was the "once and future Mason"). But I also think all three men had chemistry with Nancy Lee Grahn (Julia).

Wow, I totally do not recognize her there.

I would as well, if only because I am curious as to how Bill Bell, Kay Alden and the rest of the writing team were able to transition Y&R from being a fairly traditional two-family soap that emphasized social (and sexual) issues to one that seemed more glamorous and melodramatic by comparison.

I think so. IIRC, someone (MTS?) remarked in one interview how unusual (meaning, plot-driven and action-heavy) the story was for Y&R at that time and how, as soon as the strike was over and Bill Bell returned to the show, the story was quickly forgotten. Also, I could be wrong, but I think that was Paul Tulley, who was OLTL's original Dr. Larry Wolek, portraying Edward.

No offense to anyone on this board, but...Jeremy Renner is "hot"? Srsly?

Whenever I think about Roma Downey, I immediately hear her say, "Hel-low, I'm Moanica!"

Several years ago, I read a soap magazine article that the webmaster at Ryan's Bar Online had posted on the site; and in that article, the writer expressed the opinion that RH, while still good soap opera, would have made for a better primetime series, given the relative narrowness of its format (a large, multi-generational Irish Catholic family and their family business, a neighborhood tavern). I believe it was written during the period when Labine and Mayer were attempting to position Sarah Felder's Siobhan as the new heroine of the show in the wake of Kate Mulgrew's decision to leave. Anyway, I wonder whether that particular argument still holds merit.

Short of an alien abduction, yes.

I'd have to agree. Not that I didn't still enjoy GUIDING LIGHT throughout the mid- and late-'80's, but...yeah. I wish the show had not let go of so many wonderful characters.

Zarf?

It's weird, but as much as I love Sherry Mathis' Liza, Gideon looked more like Millee Taggart.

If it helps any, I think that is Dan Hamilton (ex-Hal Shea) to the far right on the top row -- so maybe '74 or '75?

And this is what he's up to today: http://dhfa.net/bio/

Frankly, I think the real fault lies with the writers for penning such uncharacteristic dialogue for that character. I mean, if you, as the writer, really knew Carlotta like you're supposed to, then would you really have those words coming out of her mouth?

IA. Moreover, you never needed to question so-and-so's decisions or actions, b/c Marland provided the motivation necessary to understand why he or she would do whatever they would do. Conversely, there were times during Hogan Sheffer and Jean Passanante's tenures where I would watch and then say to myself, "No one would EVER behave that way unless they were clinically insane."

Christianity teaches us that God designed man to live with woman (and vice-versa) and that sex, which is verboten between unmarried people in every circumstance, is strictly for the procurement of offspring. So, yes, they believe gays should not express their sexuality -- which is to say, any sexual or romantic feelings toward others of the same sex -- in any way. Homosexuality itself is not the sin, according to the Holy Bible, but acting upon the tendency is; and either you "pray away the gay," so to speak, and ask God to remove those tendencies and/or redirect them toward those of the opposite sex, or you make the conscious decision to remain celibate -- which, of course, allows you to remain chaste in that sense and enter the kingdom of Heaven upon your departure from this life. Or something like that.

It is a tad disconcerting to see the actor who portrayed three of your favorite characters (Sky Whitney, Kyle Sampson and Travis Montgomery) look so differently in middle age.

Tony Craig's (Draper) face looks...odd in that particular photo.

Meanwhile, up in the attic....

I realize she had a reputation for being a bit of a diva, but I believe Dixie Carter was one of the classiest, most "together" women out there.

Same.