P.J.

They didn't have a plan on how to make her crazy so Reva could reclaim Joshua? Quelle suprise.

I remember the Roger and Holly story being very controversial. I don't think there was a "push" for them to reunite, but there were always fans who thought they should. There's no arguing that Maureen and Michael were fascinating to watch, but I don't think the story of them reuniting went over well, or ever would have no matter who wrote it.

1. I don't think anyone liked Nola's story. Viewers who hadn't watched her first run wouldn't have understood why she had been so adored. Viewers who knew her were let down on multiple levels--no Quint, no kids, and a depressing story. I don't even think she spars with Vanessa that much, and newer viewers wouldn't have understood that dynamic either, or how much Vanessa had changed since those days. 2. I think I recall Dinah/Hart/Cassie dividing the viewers. Dinah and Hart had been through a lot and just kind of thrown away for the flavor of the month Cassie. I'm not sure anyone really saw Hart as a prize, but Bridget had been a fan favorite, and pushed along into the role of also-ran for Dinah/Hart. Then presto, in walks a leggy blonde and Hart can't drop Dinah fast enough. Being pre-internet, I'm not sure it qualified as a fan war, but it was probably was for GL. And Cassie and LW were kind of a flashpoint for fans. Dinah/Hart fans resented her, Danny/Michelle fans hated her so much that GL scrapped some kind of story for Danny/Cassie (LW and PAS had worked together on Loving/The City) and then Richard/Cassie fans became loud and vocal. (or obnoxious, depending on your POV) 3. I just remember how bad-boy wannabe Jesse was. God, what a horrible actor.

Any role would've been more interesting than Eve Guthrie. I'm surprised they would've offered FH the role, when she seems a lot more of a glamour puss. Both Josh and Trish arrived in '81, Trish around June and Josh in October. Trish was also involved with Mike Bauer, although that never seemed more than going out to dinner and a few kisses.

I think I was more focused on the word "repressed". As in, everything is so super serious, and the minute anyone strays from the straight and narrow, there's bad things happening and consequences. With Vanessa, after Billy jilts her, she can't have some hot little affair. Nope, she sleeps with one of Billy's clients and not only does he immediately start threatening to go after custody, Henry is scowling at her and Bill's angry because he knows she's going out. And then she's nearly raped and drifts into a dull and listless relationship with Fletcher, who is practically proposing marriage a week after the trial ends. Yes, it's beautifully written and Vanessa's POV is front and center about how she's got tons of responsibility and she has to work twice as hard to get the same respect her male colleagues do. Not that there aren't consequences for Billy because of his drinking, but no one really disapproves of his relationship with Nadine. They acknowledge he's free to screw whoever he wants. Obviously, story is built on actions and consequences, but there wasn't a lot of fun times sometimes. Honestly, I revere Marland, and Curlee's stock has risen in my eyes since rewatching '89-'93. (I honestly believe that Vanessa gets a soft reboot largely in part to Curlee, who had been there in the early '80's and knew Vanessa and Billy inside and out.) But there were times his ATWT was dark, and while I can't recall Curlee's GL being as dark, there were times it drifted in that direction. I can appreciate short-term characters and the spark they give to storyline. But Jenna wasn't intended to have her arc and leave---they kept giving her silly story after silly story.

I can't exactly argue with that idea. Sometimes it seemed like they only reason characters got noble was to further the plot. What drives me crazy about the Nadine/Billy/Van triangle is how Nadine makes a chump out of the both of them. Even when Van dumps Fletch (YAY!) and wants her man back, Nadine pulls out the weakest damn argument (because Nadine's pregnant, wouldn't it be the loving thing for Van to do to not tell Billy that she wants him back....RME) But I still love the Curlee era.

I think it's because she saw right through him. (at least when they return to town in '89.) Roger was able to pull the wool over other women's eyes. They fall for the hurt little boy, who convinces them that only she could possibly really understand him. Plus, Holly is the only one who can offer him redemption, which he craves but doesn't really want to work for.

If you're speaking in the strictest sense, and asking if Van would make the first move to form a friendship...probably not. Van was a little too reserved to ask for help or offer her assistance out of the blue. If you're just asking if Van would've been Holly's friend, the answer's yes. In fact, they had started to be friendly when Holly encouraged Van to pursue the charges against Jack Kiley when Van was ready to give up. Holly then put a crimp in it when she outted Ross and Blake's affair. Van didn't approve of hurting either Ross or Blake that way. They were both very upfront and direct women. And business women in fields dominated by men. You could even argue they fell for self-destructive men.

I admit, I'm not sure what drives Holly. I don't think she wanted to be with Roger really. I think she understood that it was an obsession, and not love. But when she has chances at love, she thinks she doesn't deserves it, so she self-sabotages and gets more obsessed with Roger, if that makes any sense.

Well, Michael sold Roger having compassion for Vanessa in spite of their history in those scenes in Switzerland. Maybe not enough to show up and hammer some nails later, but in some private moment between them. Even though it makes zero sense for Vanessa to even speak to him after the crap he pulled on Henry. Yes, GL had filmed overseas. But not since 1982. Although honestly, has any soap filmed outside the US since the 90's, other than B&B? Did Hart really deserve a funeral? The magic ball says....NO. I'm not sure the show was obsessed with Switzerland, but it was somewhere Vanessa had gone before. I believe she went to private schools there, and when she walked out on Billy in '84, she spent the last months of her pregnancy there.

LOL...**** always was an idiot. *sigh* if only they'd freed her from him, I'd have been so happy.

Well, didn't we know Nola would raise a brat? There are so many times I wanted Van to tear people new pieholes, but she'd become too much of a lady for that. I had just remembered that HB's funeral was just after Vanessa returned home and thought he had died thinking she had died. HB's funeral was better. Good grief, I watched some of Phillip's funeral, and they had a 5 minute sad montage of Phillip clips with a melancholy version of Hold on to Love in the background.

Oh...I guess I missed that. Damn, the one time I wished Roger's lie was true (Van not wanting anything to do with **** , LOL) Otherwise, I'm not sure why they were that surprised. Roger swore up and down that he saw Van leaving Springfield after she supposedly died. Only he'd just had shock therapy or something. thanks for letting me know!

Jenna was one of those over-the-top characters that just never quite fit on the canvas, no matter how hard they tried. I know the writers tried selling Van and Jenna's friendship, but not even for Henry's sake would Van have befriended that woman. Not been a complete bitch to her....sure. Support her over Nadine? YEP. But more? Nope, not 'Nessa. Re Holly: I can't recall the particulars, I'm guessing this is the fallout of her exposing Ross and Blake? The thing about Roger was that even if he had some justified position or concern, he just couldn't help but twist it to his advantage. He was only in the position to fire Holly because he deceitfully became her and Ross' "silent partner". @alwaysAMC you're going to have to tell me if people ever find out that Roger visited Vanessa. I kinda doubt it.

Was that the joint interview with Liz Keifer and Wendy Moniz? I recall Liz mentioning in some interview that she didn't like having to say those things as Blake. I think that's also the interview where one of them says how out of touch the writing was surrounding Van's memorial service, with everyone so blase about the fact they thought she'd burned to death in an accident.

Who was talking about Warren? He shows up earlier than I thought, he's in the June 22, 1983 episode.

Holly was always all over the place. It's right around this time that Van tells her that she thinks her and Ross would be good together, and Holly kind of off-handedly admits that they're not even dating. But three months later, she's all upset that Blake and Ross are mattress dancing. *shrug*

I couldn't stand Jenna. She and **** would've been perfect together. lol

Reva Shayne would've been a grandmother before she was 40. She was pregnant at 17, and Dylan had to be about that age when Daisy/Susan was born. LOL...just realized that Reva had four children after Daisy/Susan was born!

Poor Ross---always wanting some wounded dove, always fascinated by some scheming seductress.

I'd love to see more of Amanda and Lucille's relationship.

I feel like we all have overhyped '89-'93---it'll never live up to your expectations.

Kat was Kathryn Speakes, played by Nia Long, and Hamp's daughter. She's Bridget's friend and dated David (Monti Sharp). I think Nia left in '94, and they didn't recast. Billy's diction at times is bad.

Like, which CBS publicist ghostwrote this column? I agree with Dee---Kelly and Morgan were wildly popular, but Vigard didn't have enough charisma? *sideeye*

I can see your point about Andy and especially Mark, who has an oily charm about him from minute one. (Poor Van, at times, she seems one date away from a Looking for Mr Goodbar scenario...) I don't really recall Andy interacting with Barbara or Holly much, which you would assume they'd do to try and flesh out the character's motives. Even Roger had Adam. It's not that I can't appreciate Cullen's presence in Springfield,, but for the most part Amanda is such a victim that it's hard to believe she'd ever get it together enough to run a international business competently. She's never dynamic, even when screwing her mother's husband. I don't think it would've been hard to refresh the viewer's memories of Diane Ballard, even in the late '90's. You still had Ross, Vanessa and (sometimes) Ed for flashbacks (although I can't recall Ed and Diane having scenes), and Alan was still there as a character.