P.J.

Well, one could have said the same thing about Craig. Or Roger. From what I've seen, Andy seemed to have real feelings for Hope. Obviously Andy wouldn't have been some "deep history" dive into GL's past, but it would've been an on ramp to bringing back Holly sooner (had MG wanted to) or Barbara, and played across the canvas---Ed and Mike watching Hope fall for him after her marriage to Alan ended, Maureen's perpetual need to see the good in people irritating them both; Billy and Ross livid at the effect on Vanessa and Trish, Katie realizing she was still damaged from the end of that romance, Alex feeling some need to keep A-M's legacy safe having her join forces with Mike and give them that romance that was teased. I don't doubt Marland had the same respect for GL as ATWT, he just didn't have the same tools. Other than the Bauers and perhaps Sara, I can't think of characters that pre-dated the Dobson era on canvas at the time.

Now I remember having discussed Marland's papers ending up in UW-M a while ago in the thread. I don't know if the UW would digitize them and make them accessible to the general public. That would be fascinating to read.

sigh...I wish Tom (or anyone) had also run into some long term document for Marland's GL. LOL..."Clem".

Two, maybe two and a half. I'm surprised he didn't at least do the Phillip reveal. I'm not really sure what history he could've tapped into at that point. He fleshed out Ross by giving him a past with Vanessa. It seemed like the plan was to go Mike/Jennifer. Marland really didn't have a Bob/Kim on the canvas when he came to GL. The Dobsons had kind of round-robin'd the characters to death by then. I still boggle at the Mike/Liz/Justin/Jackie/Alan merry go-round. I think he definitely would've brought back Ted LePlat had he had the time. Marland loved pot-stirring bad boys.

Or a very lame Hallmark movie. lol While I can't stomach those scenes with Matt---I found myself smiling at some of the original Vanessa peeking out with Michael. Spoiled, sulky and demanding her own way. MK deserved so much better.

like I'm supposed to believe Matt could even spell poetry...RME I believed that as much as Vanessa hanging out in jeans and playing badminton or whatever it was on her funeral reel (which they practically stole from Mo's funeral, but I digress... double RME) Vanessa would've curled up with the London Times to do the crossword in ink.

Amanda is only in a handful of episodes around the end of 2000. Peyton List assumed the role in December 2001. She appears just as Carly's leaving Oakdale for France to wind up in the Spa. Her arrival stopped Craig from pressing Carly to accompany her on the trip. Hunt Block didn't start until mid-2000, ergo Lucy wasn't in town.

*Sigh* the show should've let Vanessa keep her dignity and let her walk out on Matt for x, y or z reason. Bill could've stayed with Josh and occasionally visited Mom in Europe.

LOL...too true. But in saying that Mo would have to have amnesia, I implied that you couldn't write Mo going along with it. OTOH, I thought it would be completely in character for Roger to allow Michelle to believe Mo had died, no matter what kind of "feeling" he had for the child. It was hard enough for the writers to justify Reva and Vanessa allowing their families to believe they were dead.

Of course he would. He let Blake think he was dead for 15 years or so, didn't he? Mo would've had to have amnesia, of course...but Roger would've done it in a heartbeat for any number of motives. Random thought---imagine Vanessa being the first to find an amnesiac Mo and having to work with Roger to help Mo get her memory back. *sniff* Hence, the "I'd do anything for you," line.

I'm not particularly fond of Anna Stuart's time as Vanessa either, but Maeve went on maternity leave. Anna starts (or the first episode I've found with her in it) Sept 7. The video quality is poor, but part 3 cleans up a little. Anna's in the part from September to December 1981. My playlist is Vanessa Guiding Light 1980-1983 if that helps. I swear she did commercials. But it wouldn't surprise me if she hadn't done anything else of noteworthyness.

I just imagine Sonia worked with someone at GL on something else ---'cause I don't understand why anyone thought she could act.

I've been rewatching GL, and Sonia Stuart always grates my nerves as Vanessa. It's too bad they couldn't have simply shot her from behind for all of the scenes, and then had Maeve dub in the dialogue. Thank God it's always just a day or two. The funniest time I've caught is New Year's 1991. Sonia's Vanessa comes to the party with Ross, dressed in a sedate black dress and bolero jacket. The next episode, Maeve is back--Ross is gone (to help Phillip) and Vanessa is spilling out of a flame red dress.

Lord knows she wasn't well-received on ATWT or B&B.

Maeve Kinkead, Guiding Light. When we discussed this in the GL thread, someone described it perfectly--Maeve had the cold, internal seethe down pat. While others (coughcough) would've relied on screaming crying jags, Vanessa would shiv you with an icy stare and a few well-chosen words. Ditto.... Others: Maureen Garret Lenore Kasdorf Cindy Pickett Bev McKinsey Lisa Brown Kathryn Hays Marie Masters Maura West

I never really realized how much Elvera and Robin look alike. Do we know which writers turned down the GL job, necessitating more Labine? I'm not impressed by Labine's work, and the stories she liked having written aren't an argument in her favor. I realize she had to work with the actors who were there, but the entire San Cristohell gang were duds, imo. I will never understand why execs don't understand that the audience has invested a lot of time in a show's vets, and build on that. No, I wouldn't have wanted to see a Billy/Holly/Buzz triangle, but if the audience is reacting to actors who know how to freakin' act, as opposed to a bunch of wooden mannequins not even in Springfield.

I haven't seen enough to know if the writing simply drastically changed for Jackie, or if Carrie Mowbrey was just a complete washout in the role. As much as La Zimmer grew to annoy me, it's hard to imagine anyone else in the role.

Cindy Pickett doesn't get nearly enough recognition. The Dobsons must've loved writing for her. It's ironic that JE's stay is so brief. I'd also love to see more of the disintegration after her marriage to Ross. From what I've seen, they really make Vanessa look like the culprit.

I've become such a fan of classic GL this year, I would take anything from the Dobson era to '93. from the Dobson era: anything Chris Bernau/Lenore Kasdorf/Cindy Pickett related from Marland: early Ross/Vanessa (including Vanessa's suicide attempt), Andy Norris and Carrie Todd (in particular the revelation that she'd killed Diane and Joe Bradley) the Long years: there's a fair amount of this up, but whatever fills in the gaps. There's nothing more frustrating that watching episodes and hitting a gap. I can't believe Josh's accident isn't up in English. Quint and Nola's reception in it's entirety, because there's a section where Billy and Vanessa are getting to know each other, and the translation is bad. And of course, Beverlee McKinsey.

It's hard for me to remember that Phillip and Samantha are brother/sister. But i suppose that's because she was on canvas for such a short time. I really do dig the GA/CTE connection. I wish we'd gotten more of Rick Hearst and GA together, but c'est la vie. P&G seemed to really stick with their group. Not only HW, but everyone. I'm watching early 90's GL episodes and see lots of names pop I know...Melissa Salmons (who wrote some of my favorite Carly/Jack scenes a decade later) Jen Pepperman, Susan Dansby. Not to mention the Cullitons, Goutman (at some point, I know, I know...but he's a hell of a director.) etc. I do get a little fuzzy on when Craig went to prison...'84-ish? But yeah, Craig really became a romantic hero under Marland.

I think it took Robert a little longer to flesh out the role. There's not a lot really asked of him those first two years, and all he had for family was Trish, who enabled him more than challenged him. He spent a lot of time carping about HB and Billy, who were off-screen. Craig, otoh, was always seeking Lyla's approval. Ironic that Marland wrote for smarmy Josh, then ended up reforming Craig.

It was Betty Rea. I think I read that she was the casting director for GL from the late '70's to the mid-90's. Both JvD and Maeve mention her with their casting. It's funny, when you want to think of something, you can't. I know I missed most of Mike/Ed and Justin/Ross aren't on together that long. But other than Phillip/AlanMichael, I can't really think of GL's brothers. But other than Billy/Josh, the Snyders from ATWT are my faves, and they only interact as a group for half the time Billy/Josh do.

I didn't mean it to sound like a criticism of Robert. It's just a situation that makes you go "what if?" Josh and Craig initially are very similar, with Trish/Josh having the same kind of brother/sister dynamic as Margo/Craig. I can see Scott fitting into the Lewises, but I can't see him having chemistry with Zimmer. It's harder for me to see Robert on ATWT, but I can't put my finger on why. I truly consider Billy and Josh the best set of brothers I watched on soaps. And yes, being the "calm" one is often the harder and less lauded role in any kind of pairing.

In a Locher room interview, Robert Newman said he and Scott Bryce auditioned for the role of Josh. He got Josh and Scott ended up at ATWT. I gotta admit, the idea of Scott and Jordan Clarke playing brothers leaves me intrigued.

That is probably the biggest difference I've noticed in rewatching episodes. The scenes are long and juicy. Sometimes I wonder why soaps ever got a bad rep for being slow. Although that could be my binging episodes.