Khan

I think that was the most honest answer anyone could have given for what, if anything, could have saved SaBa. The truth is, SaBa could have become as good as GL or Y&R was at that time, and it wouldn't have made any difference. I think viewers had given up on SaBa long before the network gave up on it.

I agree that Hogan Sheffer had a very nice team in place when he joined the show. Jeff Beldner, Hal Corley, Carolyn Culliton, Stephen Demorest and others were "leftovers" from previous HW'ing regimes, but they seemed to know how to ground Sheffer's more outlandish ideas in some kind of reality. It was they, and not Sheffer himself, who helped me stick with the show through that period. Once that "brain trust" was broken apart, however, I was pretty much done with ATWT.

ICAM! Compared to DAYS, GH and OLTL, JFP's first year at GL looked spectacular, lol. IIRC, Robert Calhoun didn't raise ATWT's ratings at first either. In fact, even after Douglas Marland returned as HW, the show remained in the middle of the pack. But everyone who was paying attention agreed that ATWT was improving; and, over time, the ratings did rise. So, it's possible the same could've happened for RC over at GL, except he didn't stay long enough for anyone to find out.

All GL needed at that point was a strong EP - and it'd have one with Robert Calhoun.

That reminds me of a story I read once about how Alfred Hitchcock, while collaborating with Ernest Lehman on the script for "North by Northwest," wanted the bad guys who were chasing after Cary Grant's character to try and kill him with a tornado. "But THEY are the ones chasing him," Lehman replied. "How are THEY going to send a tornado to kill him?" It's the same, screwy logic that suggests the WH is deliberately lowering gas and food prices because it's an election year; and no matter how times you remind them that the president has no control over such things, they don't believe you. Honestly, we are such a low-information populace, I wonder sometimes whether democracy is too good for us, lol.

At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if Heather Tom takes over the hair and makeup as well, lol. My dream BTG writing staff: MVJ, Susan Dansby, Michelle Patrick and PM.

I think the thing to remember is that every soap goes through growing pains and BTG probably won't be any exception. Like I've said before, unless this show does something really heinous at the start and portrays African-Americans in the worst possible light - which I doubt could happen, given the parties involved - I'll cut the show some slack as it works out the kinks.

I agree. Even if Roman and Marlena never reunited, it just makes sense at this point to rehire Wayne as Roman, simply because I can't see Josh Taylor in a central, patriarch role as I could Drake or Bill Hayes.

But what she really wants to do is produce! I hope not. I really want to see him join Michele Val Jean at BTG.

Frank Valentini hired him, so I'm pretty sure he can't act.

I think if anyone's going to be an Alice-like figure, it'd have to be Julie. There's just no way anyone would accept her with anyone besides Doug.

We can blame Brian Frons for that one, lol!

That's the most feasible option in my head as well. No offense to Josh Taylor, but DAYS needs Roman Brady now more than ever, and he's just not that guy. I say, let JT go (with the option to bring him back later as Chris Kositchek, of course) and beg/plead/cajole Wayne Northrop to return as Roman. In the meantime, give John Black a real send-off and give Marlena an appropriate amount of time to grieve. Then, down the road, test a Roman/Marlena reunion, with the two working out their issues as Marlena gradually accepts John's death.

I'm not surprised that JD Vance agreed with Tim Walz so much and so often. Midwesterners like Walz have this strange ability to help people meet in the middle, lol.

John Amos was treated so much better on the set of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," where he was allowed to portray an actual character (Gordy, the weatherman and NOT the sportscaster, lol) and not a stereotype. Plus, I thought he had terrific chemistry with the entire cast there, including Moore, Ed Asner, Gavin McLeod, Cloris Leachman and Ted Knight. I believe that if Norman Lear had not come knocking with GT, the MTM crew would have upped him to series regular eventually.

That's okay, all the other Aidans only appeared once.

No offense to anyone, but you have to be very secure about who you are as a heterosexual male to dance to that tune while wearing a tank top, lol.

But Drake's passing is a HUGE blow to the show nevertheless. In fact, I'd say it might the biggest blow DAYS has received since losing Frances Reid.

I think it's just like what you've said, @carolineg: Julie and Marlena's friendship was downplayed once Doug and Julie were "aged up" and Marlena, Roman and later John became peers with Bo and Hope. By 1984, it seems, they really wanted Doug and Julie to be second in line after Tom and Alice as the show's matriarch/patriarch, but didn't want the same thing to happen with Roman and Marlena.

I kind of liked seeing someone on GH (or any soap) who you'd normally wouldn't see, but man did that guy get old fast, lol.

That's awful news to hear, but I'm glad that the Sabatinos are facing it with a positive attitude. I feel like that's at least half the battle in these situations.

Frankly, I think even the title ("Our Private World") was lacking something.

Olivia Nuzzi: "This is all my ex-fiancé's fault!" Ryan Lizza: "I've no idea what you're talking about - and by the way, who are you?"

I'm not sure about that either. If nothing else, Levi will wind up on the "faith-based movie circuit" with Kevin Sorbo and Jim Caviezel. But I'd hardly think his career is DEAD. I mean, if endorsing Trump was a sure-fire way to get you blacklisted in H'wood, there'd be no second season of the "Frasier" revival with Kelsey Grammer OR Special Guest Star (and fellow MAGAt) Patricia Heaton.

Most GT fans would agree, @applcin. I actually think the writing got better once he left - that was due to Austin and Irma Kalish taking over as showrunners - but I do agree that his exit left a very big hole in the show's center.