P.J.

As someone who criticized KM in the first weeks of the show and felt she was really struggling being "angry, shoot'em up Dani", I'm happy to say I agree---she's settled into the role. I mostly meant that I've warmed up to Bill. The rest of the males, however are still pretty bland and interchangeable. I'm surprised more focus hasn't been landed on Nicole. Anita may be the matriarch, but Nicole should be the heart of the show as she rebuilds her life.

On paper, a lot of this should work. Nicole feels like a classic heroine, and I've warmed up to Dani and Bill (a little bit). Eva vs. Kat could drive stories for years. BTG feels like it's working too hard and lacking focus.

A) I'm not watching any other soap currently. I get the same feeling from BTG that I did from GH, which I tried sticking with for years for Maura West. Port Charles was a huge sucking black hole revolving around Sonny. B ) The best I can explain it is this---it's a huge problem that after (what?) nine months, these characters are still bouncing from emotion to emotion per the plot. When I don't believe that Nicole loved Ted anymore than Leslie/Dana did---the writers haven't done their job. Characters don't seem to feel conflicted, no matter how much they tell me they do. One second Vanessa is moaning how much she loved Doug, the next she's bitching Joey is dumping her because he needs the thrill of screwing someone else's wife. Chelsea fell for Madison in about two days to give StalkerGirl someone to feel threatened by. The "big mysteries" of what happened to Martin to give him nightmares and The Articulettes breakup were wrapped up in a couple of messy weeks. And BINGO, they're no longer problems. (Leslie getting that trust fund and buying the house across the road to annoy everyone isn't as much a "problem" as a contrivance.) Stories don't feel like they intersect. How has finding out about a new sister impacted Martin and Kat's relationship? Has their parents' breakup affected their other relationships? *shrug* I don't know. The biggest point of Chelsea's kidnapping seems to be that Martin now owes Joey "a favor". While Eva and Kat occasionally hiss at each other, the only one it really seems to affect a wee bit is Ted. Oh, and the block of wood known as Tomas, who doesn't seem conflicted at all about screwing half-sisters. I know these are weak examples, but when nothing really "sticks", it's the best I can do. And btw, maybe I'm just too old, and too unhip, but the constant slang annoys me. By all means, be modern. But if I hear "bougie" one more time, or "Articulette Strong" (if "anything strong" was a thing back in the 70's, I missed it.) or DMV (which I had to google), I might throw something at the tv (which I know is also old-school).

Even before episodes were taken down, I hadn't found all of '89 up anywhere in English.

Maybe it's the lack of history. I don't feel any real emotional complexity to the plots. I guess I had expected more from Michele Val Jean, whose writing I'd heard so much about.

I know there are growing pains, but this show still feels really basic. In some cases, better actors could give some of the stories more weight, but for the most part, it just feels simplistic.

I hear what you're saying, and I suppose that it's not like GL veered away from incorporating current issues into their stories (yes, Bridget gets pregnant and realizes how much responsibility it is: Billy and Ed (well, Billy mostly) were always just a bad day away from taking a drink; even Olivia and Natalia's relationship (whatever one thinks of it).) And it's not like pushing a social issue story ultimately saved any soap. I just found it odd that I couldn't think of one. And even when they do try, like Meg having down's syndrome, a retroactive transplant story with Jesse, Reva pulling the plug on Richard, or even how Springfield accepts Olivia/Natalia, they are so ham-handed they usually fall flat. And it's not that CBS was afraid of okaying them---Y&R, ATWT and B&B all did some kind of AIDS story long before GL did. I mean, as much as I watch '89-'93, (at a point when Marland's ATWT was pretty vocal about safe-sex), the only reference I can think of regarding condoms was between Rick and Mindy, who's upset when she finds condoms and thinks Rick assumes they're having sex on a camping trip. Not doing focused story labeled as "social issue", kind of gave them the option to chicken out and drop it.

So, Johnny Fletcher then adopted little Billy Fletcher, who Roger later adored? Did Johnny Fletcher die?

And it's not like GL didn't reuse names constantly. I just wouldn't be sure how she got from Scott to Fletcher....

Forgive my ignorance, is this the same Peggy Roger was involved with? I'm really not sure how they dealt with Ed's alcoholism in the '70's either.

Yes--Billy's alcoholism would pop up, and he'd eventually go to a few AA meetings, but mostly it was about driving his story. Most shows probably would've explored Mo's quest to have a child, but it's a reoccurring plot enhancer, a point of contention between her and Ed. I don't think social issue stories were really a thing until the mid-80's, were they? Yes, shows would do cancer stories (Bert's cancer, and there was Jennifer Brooks' breast cancer on Y&R) or alcoholism stories as we as a society began to discuss them openly. I don't know how much they did with TJ's teen alcoholism story. Holly pressing marital rape charges was definitely one. But a lot of times, issues like Vanessa's pill addiction and even Reva's suicide attempt, were simply plot points. Even in the '90's, other than Lucy's rape and maybe Susan's HIV status (that was the girl Nick ended up marrying right?), I can't think of anything that comes close. Well, maybe Vanessa pressing attempted rape charges, but I don't think anyone much even suggests her getting therapy/counseling. Beth did, now that I think about it, after her rape.

Not to mention her fractured relationship with Blake, which never seemed to really heal. I don't really seem to recall Guiding Light doing social issue stories. At least not in the way Marland's ATWT did. (which could get a little preachy, admittedly) Characters dealt with situations, (Bridget's teen pregnancy, Billy and Ed's alcoholism, Sam and Mallet's paralysis) but there's not a lot of focus on educating the audience. If this makes any sense...maybe I'm forgetting parts of the stories.

Marland was smart, incorporating Tom Neilson's music into Floyd's storyline. While the "let's turn Floyd into a rock star" story was lame, Floyd's music gave him a way to express himself and showed you he wasn't a complete clown. Cynically, yes, Marland needed a sperm patsy for Nola, and maybe it was a way of keeping Lisa happy. What's up from the first half of '89 is a little spotty.

Give it a whirl. Start with who/what you like and build out. Trying to write for everyone at once is a lot to ask of yourself.

Junk food is about right. It's weird, I was so into ATWT because Maura had returned, and remember it so clearly. I remember some broader strokes, but most of GL is a blank. Another bandwagon type story that Guiding Light tried to jump on, and it didn't really work. Meg always felt like a stunt that they had no real intention of following through on. They really missed the boat on Peter/Maureen/Kevin/Jason/Jude/Zach/Leah. Legacy kids that we actually would've cared about vs the Rafes, Ashleys, Avas, etc....kids of characters only briefly tied to the canvas by their more obnoxious parents. I guess things got out of whack when Marina and Lizzie are out of order aged, and I'm sure younger kids in Peapack wouldn't have been ideal. (Except of course, that little matchmaker Emma...or devil incarnate Will...rme) but those kids should've been more than blips on the canvas.

Yeah, at the time, Tony was really the only blue collar in a world of doctors and lawyers (aside from the hapless Floyd.) At least that I can recall. And admittedly, he does treat other women (like Katie and Hillary) with respect. Admittedly, Van earns his scorn.

Honestly, I have no clue what Derek does other than mope after Hillary. I only know of him from some clip sets. I don't even think he takes part in a major trial in his "blink or miss it" time on the show.

I can not cite examples (as I don't watch he who shall not be named) but I would assume so. Hence the nickname "Contessa", and the way he later introduces her to the wonderful world of chili dogs (seriously, I had the misfortune to hear that tidbit. From crystal and designer gowns to jeans and chili dog stands SMH)

Tony is one of those characters that just doesn't age well. Macho without a Cause, if you will. Hillary had really bad taste in men. Even Kelly is a bit iffy, if you know what I mean.

LOL...in some ways, I think Vanessa was still a little put off she'd been dumped for a grandma (Jennifer), and a double murderess (Carrie).

I see what you're saying about the plottiness of it all (ugh...I'll see your Mark and raise you Tony on the useless humiliation scale..)

Oh, God, I can't ever see them having sex, much less being a couple. It gives me the heebee geebees. At any point. They just aren't each other's types. When they're younger, Josh isn't ambitious enough (or apt to let himself be "molded") for Vanessa, and Vanessa is clearly too high-strung and demanding for Josh. When they're older, the friendship is too established. Besides, each knew the other was too hung up on Billy and Reva. The only kind of story I can see is Nadine manipulating Billy to believe somethings going on, with disastrous results.

Well, in his defense, he was only 45 (and younger than Eileen Fulton) when Alan-Michael was born on screen. Given the way grandfathers on soaps were portrayed (gray-haired, escorting other older ladies to restaurants and never having romance again, I can understand his point of view. What he probably should've done is asked for Mike to have an unknown son dropped into his life.

I don't think you'll find anything in print about Don preferring younger costars. Reportedly, he also balked at being a Grandfather.

I forgot the Man of the Year debacle, but that body lands much more at Nadine and Buzz's doorstep than Roger's. Thank GOD, no, Josh and Vanessa never hook up---although it seems to be heavily hinted at at times in the '90's. Reva, during her post partum depression thinks that they're having an affair. (which naturally leads her to go chasing the men of Springfield to prove she's hotter than Van....RME) After Reva dies, and Billy jilts Van at the altar, there's a period where Josh and Van are leaning on each other (because of Billy's drinking) and both Billy and Nadine start getting a vibe that there's something going on there. Nadine even tries encouraging Harley to push them at each other (she doesn't realize Harley has feels for Josh) because she knows that would get Van out of Billy's life, but there's nothing going on. Even when Josh returns from Italy, and Billy goes to jail, Van and Josh share the house with the kids, and Josh helps her fight for custody of Peter. But shortly thereafter, Van is having sex with &&&&. When Van and Josh met, they actually actively disliked each other. It was hinted at in a recap that Josh made a pass at her, but I've never seen it in a clip. Of the three of them, Ross gets the most tail, but he is perpetually single for a decade after he and Carrie divorce. Van has brief affairs, but usually gets dumped (at least before marrying Billy.) Josh chases, but doesn't get a lot before Reva comes to town. LOL