Khan

She had to be prepared in case there were paparazzi waiting outside the courtroom.

Yeah, Sean just stopped appearing one day, didn't he? He must've hooked up with Kevin Sheffield.

Speaking of the Montgomerys, when Bianca, Kendall and Zach were having all that drama over Bianca and Zach conceiving a child behind Kendall's back, did Erica mention the circumstances behind Sean's conception? If nothing else, Erica would understand the pain that Kendall must've felt. But that was during Charles Pratt, so I wouldn't be surprised to learn it wasn't discussed.

No, you're right, Dale. Both those events happened. I was referring to the first (meaning, 1968/1969) story. According to Soap Opera Weekly, Agnes Nixon wrote that Viki created "Niki" in order to deal with the trauma of her mother's death (and again, for the record, I agree that that was fairly lame). However, I give credit to Michael Malone for including that incident in his version of events. Aside from Victor's abuse and Tori's murdering him, he didn't create new-and-heretofore-unknown backstory like I think Sam Hall and Peggy O'Shea did in the '85 story. Neither do I. To me, that was just stupid, plain and simple.

No, you're right, Vee. I agree completely. If only because I don't want another retcon that would make the story even more complicated than it is already. I don't like the now-official explanation, but I'd rather just leave like it is.

Actually, according to the original story, the reason for Viki's split personality was that she witnessed Victor having a fight with her and Meredith's mother, Eugenia, that caused Eugenia to fall down the stairs at Llanfair, an injury that led directly to her death. The stuff with Irene in bed with Victor was a retcon, just as the revelation of the other personalities and Viki's abuse at the hands of her own father were retcons. You're right, Dale, it is a pretty lame explanation for her disorder. At the same time, though, I'm pretty fierce on sticking to canon, as it were. Just because it is more psychologically accurate to say her DID is the result of severe sexual trauma, that shouldn't give writers license to rewrite established history or suggest facets about a particular character who, quite frankly, wasn't originally created and/or written with those facts in mind.

I still would love to know what they had in mind for Lee Warrick. Perhaps Julie would have turned out to be Seth's mom?

Personally, I'd love to see SuLu show up one day in the pages of my mother's "Especially Yours" catalog.

Seriously? That's just...stupid. It's so stupid, in fact, I can't even come up with a word to describe their behavior except, well, "stupid."

True. But where are the peeps from ANOTHER WORLD? Did he not have any?

Please, as if I would debase myself in such a manner. (Anyone know any good lawyers?)

I'd like to know as well, LeClerc. I know John Callahan was having an affair with Amelia Heinle (ex-Mia), which caused much drama on-set, as well as the end of his and Eva's marriage. But surely, Megan didn't take that personally? (OTOH, maybe she wanted to tap Amelia's ass and was jealous? Who knows, really?)

I wouldn't mind if Dorothy Lyman allowed Larson to continue on as Opal, while she herself created a new role as Ray's or Opal's long-lost sister. I say I wouldn't mind, if only because I miss seeing Lyman on-screen, and I'm willing to relax a bit on my rule about prominent actors not rejoining a soap in order to portray a new and completely different character. If this were to occur, though, I would hope no one would be tempted to make any stupid "Don't I know you from somewhere?" jokes. This ain't Ron Carlivati's OLTL, for God's sake.

Actually, SFK, I wrote once a little story about how Belle, now out of prison, abducts Erica on an important night for La Kane (it was the launch of some business venture -- I forget which exactly) after weeks of stalking her, and then drags her back to her lonely house somewhere in New England. (Shades of "Misery," I know.) The twist, though, was that Belle kidnapped Erica, not to torture her some more, but to convince her to give her Erica Kane-loving son (picture a more kind-hearted version of "Project Runway"'s Jay -- burly, gay, definitely into funny-looking hats) his big break as a fashion designer. Belle loves her little boy, but she's dying and she wants to ensure he can live on after her. And the irony is that Erica is actually blown away by his designs! Of course, her adoration is enough for Belle's son, who hates what his mother has done, and who helps La Kane escape. Later, when the authorities have tracked Erica back to Belle's, Erica returns the favor by urging Jack not to press charges. And basically, the story ends with Erica forgiving Belle (as a mother, she can relate to why Belle did what she did -- even if she thought a simple phone call or letter might have sufficed), Belle dying in the hospital, and her son becoming a Pine Valley mainstay, setting up his design house in town, with help from Erica, Opal and (I think) Myrtle.

Either that, or the guy taking the photos was afraid Nouri alone would bore the hell out of readers.

IIRC, too, didn't Sen. Joseph McCarthy's Communist witch-hunt play a part in the feud between the Cleggs and McCandlesses?

I guess La Lucci was having none of these goofy shots?

I'm not sure whether I care for the story in question, if only b/c (unless I'm getting things mixed up) it put Travis and Erica's relationship on the road to ruin.

Yeah, you could see her as a waitress Fred would be leering at while Lamont or Grady would be telling him steadily to hurry up and order. Also: Helmut has no "h" at the end of his first name.

Forgive me, but that is the most ethnic-looking I've ever seen La Lucci.

Nah, she got bored once she didn't have to fight Verla for him.

My fave Binks, I must say, was the one who set her dollhouse on fire (Caroline Wilde)?

I think I'm distracted more by the sight of Erica catfighting with a woman half her age and young enough to be her daughter. But at least what she's wearing is more age-appropriate, IMO, than the parade of endless, strapless, sleeveless numbers that seemed to define La Kane in ALL MY CHILDREN's final years.

First of all, it was more than one year, Marisa. Second, yes, when you view the clip with Phyllis Diller out of context, it looks ridic as hell. But it was actually part of a sweet little story for Marcy Thompson. Ugh, whatev. I hate actors.