P.J.

Limped.... I don't think it limps until '00, or whenever the San CristoHELL stories start. There is still good storytelling from '94-'99 in fits and spurts. And there's still a good core of actors anchoring the show. (Even though honestly, I have no desire to watch it, which seems like a contradiction.) When they tried to make make Reva into some fairytale Princess, and then subbed in Cassie--it's the ship listing dangerously. Springfield suddenly isn't Springfield, it's San Christohell North. You start losing actors, getting bad recasts and stunt casting (ugh..Ricky Paull Goldin is my personal low benchmark and then there's Nancy St. Alban...ICK)

I know people liked it. I didn't. I don't know why I seem to dislike every special episode they try.

His lack of ties certainly did make him unique. Sort of like Ross, although Ross was always more in the thick of the action than Fletch.

Oh, I think in general, Fletcher was liked more than we do here. If not for the relationship with Vanessa, I wouldn't think less of him. He'd be an average, unremarkable, even sometimes funny guy. I'm sure the reason they threw him at Van was the fact he's the least threatening guy on the canvas at the time. I'm sure he even seemed patient and devoted. It's just in hindsight that the optics aren't that good. And I think it's kind of telling that everyone seems a little shocked they hooked up. Other than Ed, it's one of Van's more puzzling relationships.

LOL...yes. Specifically in Vanessa's case, Fletch is the anti-Billy. Clingy, grateful for every scrap of attention, dull, and not about to contradict her about anything. LOL. Sort of like a pre-&&&& . A walking, talking Sominex, which admittedly, after her last two years with Billy, she needed the break. Ol' Fletch seemed to like wounded birds. There's Hillary (who was sick), Claire, Maeve (break up with Kyle), Maureen (barren earth mother), Chelsea (break up with Johnny), Alexandra (daddy issues and off a break up with HB) and Vanessa, who reeling from getting dumped for Nadine and then nearly raped. Then there was Holly, who was never arguably stable after being raped by Roger. Vanessa never would've looked at him twice otherwise. Sorry Fletch fans. He is the perpetual last minute invite to round out a dinner party. And then he'd show up in a rumpled suit with two different colored socks and that stupid reporter hat.

Yes, it was the episode from the vault that I could only hear the vocals from. *shrug* not sure why, maybe I'll check it out later. Trekker me never watched Enterprise (or actually anything past Deep Space Nine, which I would've checked out of if not for Worf.) I wanted to, but I think it started out on the CW or whatever, and I couldn't get the channel. UGH---yes, that's Fletcher. If you watched the entire episode, you know it starts out with Billy finding out they were sleeping together after the Jack Kiley trial. It's an emotional gut punch, as he's finally ready to admit he's still in love with her. And yes, it's a beautiful shot of Maeve, and you know Vanessa's still hung up on Billy (as if that was ever in doubt, lol), no matter what she claims to feel about ol' Fletch. Yes, that's Sherry Stringfield in bed with Ross. There's only a few more episodes with her before Liz Keifer takes over. There's also a couple of good ones in '93. One is right before Maureen's accident, set to a song by The Judds. And there's another on in late '92, set to Hold On To Love. I'll look that one up. That's the 9-24 episode, after Vanessa admits she's still in love with Billy, but Billy is deciding to stick with "pregnant" Nadine.

Because I had to know, I tried to watch the horrible montage. For whatever reason, I couldn't see the episode, just hear the vocals. The fifteen seconds or so that i heard convinced me that you're right, it's horrible. It must've been specially written for the show. Why is a mystery. I'm not sure when montages became a thing, but I couldn't really find GL using them until '92. (Other than maybe couple specific ones like Beth and Lujack's beachy-montage) There's a really good one that ends the 6-8 episode, set to Carole King's "In the Wee Small Hours" and then at the end 7-2 episode concluding the blackout, they used Linda Ronstadt's " 'Round Midnight." I think Second Chances only really existed to give Holly a hit list. Not that she really needed one, even if people didn't interact, everyone knew everyone's business.

that somehow is even more disturbing...

You just gotta torture me with that....LOL.

Well, I think the answer about why Bridget wasn't Jim's kid is fairly simple---you couldn't write Jim being a deadbeat father with a troubled daughter. Not knowing Bridget's parents made it easier to give Bridget that personality. (although GL's troubled daughters are certainly not exclusive to blue collar characters) As much backstage turmoil as GL had, I wonder if some of the HWs even knew these core families had other members. You can add to the non-kid list: Maureen, India, Dylan, Samantha, Kat, David. I mean, it took them 15 bleepin' years to give Ross a kid on-screen (surprise children don't count). Not to mention Rick. I mean I get that you don't need every one droppin' babies with every relationship, but it is shortsighted.

I don't recall Blake talking about him, period. Or really Holly for that matter. Blake's judgment of him might have been somewhat skewed, as he wasn't Ed (when she was young) or Roger (who's love she kept chasing). Prime examples, Trish Lewis and Justin Marler. Both of whom had plenty of family still on the canvas for years, yet, other than the odd mention (or appearance at weddings or funerals, at least for Trish), NADA. Maybe it's not that surprising, as I can't think of a soap other than ATWT under Marland (yes, the irony) that ever regularly made mention of family members with the occasional update on what they were doing. (Craig and Sierra had Lucy off-screen, Seth was writing, and Frannie/Sabrina were in Montega doing good works) I doubt Roxy would've ever gotten out of that mental hospital if they hadn't needed a quick, can't hate him for leaving exit for Johnny.

I just wanted to punch Ted in the throat during that fight. But Nicole kind of dodged any responsibility for having that confrontation in public. Shanice was the best just lurking behind the desk all agog. Is it just me, or does it look like Samantha is stuffing her bra to look more mature?

I loved how Billy had "ol' Roj" 's number too. And wasn't afraid to let him know it either. Everyone else in Springfield just steered clear of Roger. If not exactly cowered in fear, then stayed far, far away. Other than Chris Bernau's Alan, Billy was Roger's best opponent.

That was the summer of 2006, I believe. It led to the revelation that Maddie had been raped by her brother-in-law, and her sister was the slasher. I think the sister's name was Eve. I mainly remember it because Carly and Jack were broken up, and he almost went on a date with the woman.

LOL...OMG!! And imagining them terrorizing Roger to get to the bottom of him seeing Van on her way out of town! Of course, we couldn't have nice things....*sigh* Add me to the list of wishing Holly's ex had appeared in town. Springfield could've used a truly charming mover and shaker, as opposed to the endless parade of muscle-bound, idiot mannequins they brought in (usually to service Reva's story.)

I know I sound like a broken record re: Reva, and I assume that if you examined most of her friendships, they're all lopsided in her favor. Billy just has the misfortune of being the last man standing, so to speak. Billy and Nola really don't interact that much. There a little bit around the planning of Billy and Vanessa's wedding. And a funny bit where over a heated game of poker that Billy ends up pulling Van out of harms way when Nola's ready to slug her. But honestly, I don't think I've ever caught a direct, one on one conversation between Billy and Nola. I could see them conspiring to help Vanessa when she was sick or something...and goodness knows anything would've been more palatable to me than the bland drippiness of &&&&.

What's the point that Roger crosses the line from misguided to amoral?

It is just so amazing to me that anyone would've thought that Roger could "be straightened out". Maybe I can cut Bert slack because this was so much earlier in his story, but it still annoys me that Maureen "was friends with" him.

Now I remember the recap. That's the Christmas Vanessa spent dead. I would maybe rewatch, but I'm just not into Billy and Reva's "friendship".

Well, there was the 50th anniversary week showings of fan favorite moments. But it still tickles me that Vanessa 's first Christmas with #### is her reminiscing about the Lewis's. I'm not sure what they did in '96. But otherwise I don't recall them ever digging out clips. Other than Roger/Holly around the time they returned to Springfield. Did GL ever replay classic episodes like ATWT did a couple of times?

And watching that wedding segment, it seems to be a mistake they make repeatedly. Eleni had two wedding dresses that looked like they threw every tablecloth in the studio over her and stitched them together. There's big skirts and puffy sleeves a-plenty. Oh, and about that '92 show (which I can't really stand)...they had access to those clips in '92. That they only made the effort in a prime time special was a choice. ATWT was doing stuff like that years before. The clips they used in the thirtieth anniversary show was a treat for the fans. Yet a year earlier, the best GL can do is random photos for Bert's tribute.

Honestly, I remember being so disgusted at Parker/Liberty. Not because it was anything approaching remotely suggestive. But because I knew Mick was 15 and Meredith was 21. Nola was older than Morgan. Morgan was still in high school when she came to Springfield. Nola was out of school. Genie Francis looks 30 in that TV guide cover. Ironically, in that clip, I like Maeve's wedding dress the best. As stunning as Reva's dress is---it doesn't fit her personality. Reva would've worn something much more body conscious and glamourous. And shout out to GL's most iconic scenes---Van and Nola's cat fight.

Hearing it was shot over three days, I now know why Vanessa wasn't at that wedding, even though she was dating Ed. I wouldn't take a pregnant woman out on a three day location shoot either. Certainly not to wander dirt paths over tree roots.

At some point, they try and pass her off as Reva's cousin Dolly. Just numbingly stupid. It wasn't Morgan's gown I was cringing at, it was Hope's. Vigard looks beautiful and delicate in that gown. Maybe I'd have a different opinion (or at least a less harsh one) if I saw Hope moving in that dress. But it's the difference between wearing a dress and the dress wearing you. Elvera looks like one of those dolls your grandma crocheted to sit on a made bed.

eeek. Poor Elvera. She was a pretty girl. There she is just lost under a monstrosity and a hairdo from hell. I'm not sure it's fair to blame Marland. He had just taken over. Weddings just weren't the big production until Luke and Laura. Ross and Carrie's wedding is dull as dirt. Even Morgan and Kelly's (while the scenery is beautiful to look at) is people wandering around the woods.