P.J.

I never found Jennifer that interesting, I sure didn't need her to return. Between a recast Morgan or Amanda, Amanda would seem the better choice. They could've set up a Vanessa/Matt/Amanda triangle, starting with reigniting the animosity between Vanessa and Amanda, who never did get along while they worked at Spaulding. They could've worked Ross and Josh into that, playing off a long established history. I mean, anything would've been better than what they gave Toby Poser to play. It just never felt authentic that Vanessa would worry about her age or looks. Especially when Maeve aged so gracefully over the years. She and Collen Zenk must be related.

*claps* thank you! They also had this episode! I'd seen the one after it, but not this one!!!!

Well, it corresponds to the German episode 2481, the 31st episode of '89, and four episodes before the start of Alan Michael and Harley's wedding. I'd forgotten that Nadine was Alan's "nurse/attendant" and had a fling with Ross before latching on to Billy.

I couldn't prove it, but I think a lot of Matessa fans thought Kurt McKinney was really hot, and had no idea Vanessa had been in charge of her own orgasm since 1980. The thing with rabid uber-fans is that the couple ends up being so "perfect" for each other that if someone decides to leave, almost by necessity both actors go. If Maeve hadn't come back in '97 (I think, it starts with Michelle and Bill's graduation), Matt would've mostly likely faded into the background without much of a whimper. As for Matt---(as I've recently tortured myself watching '07-'09 for Billy/Vanessa clips), it is creepy how he just hangs around town after the divorce, being Dinah's "friend" and trying to jump back into the sack with her whenever she breaks up with someone else. Not that anyone could match Chris Bernau, but Ron Raines was about as subtle as a jackhammer. It would've been awesome to see Vanessa scheme her way to the top, figuring it was long past time a Chamberlain showed them how it was done.

I haven't watched Roger's return, but other than a couple of scenes during her post-partum, not that I've seen from mid-89 on. Roger's pretty much ensconced in the Spaulding side of town. Roger was involved with Sonni of course, but she's pretty much out of the Lewis' sphere by then. I don't think Josh ever found out about those pictures either.

And throw Roger into that mix, who would've only been too happy to explode that bomb...oh, the possibilities. It is weird how HWs/EPs "reinvision" their characters from show to show. Wasn't there a number of older ladies/younger men relationships seemed to trend there for a while?

while spouting poetry..... *sigh* SMH

Wow....really Lucy and Matt? *boggled* I haven't wanted to say it, but I thought they were toying with the idea of Josh/Vanessa going way back to Reva's post-partum. It was just odd that Reva's whacked out hormonal brain went there, when she'd never, ever, ever really seen Vanessa as more than a boring blueblood priss. Then Vanessa steps up around Josh's house, and Josh is angry with Billy over jilting Vanessa...if Robert Newman hadn't left....who knows. Then it's really coincidental that Josh returns when the Peter custody fight starts looming. It was sure to cause some kind of friction for Billy/Vanessa.

Hal/Emily, ATWT.

Soapcentral lists Roerick's last appearance on 12/12/95, about two weeks after his death. Gates, 10/19/95, (d. 12/16/96) HB dies 9/11/97. Hamp's last airdate is in '95. (God, he died at 39) I think you've nailed it---Matt is the Reardon equivalent of Frank Cooper. One of those "shut up and look pretty" characters. He's a less "hillbilly"/noncorporate version of Billy, meant to keep Vanessa from being too snobby. He doesn't really stand on his own. Even in '07, after he screws Dinah, I have no idea why he hangs around town, doing essentially nothing. I did just catch clips of Vanessa tearing a strip off Vicky Spaulding towards the end of the clone story. YIKES, she is out for blood. While the stuff with Matt is pabulum, Vanessa is definitely less deferential in corporate stories. Although some of that's probably a consequence recasting both Alex and Alan. I think it depended. Henry and HB were both integral to core families, so I think they were both still in the crawl (or some version of it). (Sometimes they were very lazy about the credits.) But someone like Carey Cromwell (Wanda) wasn't, at least that I recall. OTOH, Jordan was out of the credits and edited out of the opening in about two weeks.

Not that I ever doubted, but she's one of those people no one ever seems to have a bad word about. One of the few Locher room get togethers I ever bothered to check out was the Lisa Brown tribute, and it was because of Maeve. It sounded like she and Lisa had stayed in touch.

In happy news, it's Maeve Kinkead's birthday today!

You're very welcome! I'm trying to watch Guiding Light in order, so I understand your dilemma. In case I haven't said it lately, your work is very much appreciated!

Nola/Buzz had something to do with Buzz falling down stairs and getting amnesia. That is all I wish to recall, I just remember it was HORRID. Unpopular opinion---I was never a fan of Nola's fantasies. As a tween I thought they were boring, as an adult they just seem like an overblown gimmick. I can't even with Matt (or Great Value Boy Toy, as I like to call him.) I know people liked him and Vanessa, and I even understand why Vanessa had to move on from Billy. But some skank ass ex-gigolo? GROAN. Nola could've come back to town waving Spaulding stock in Van's face (which she'd have gotten in the divorce settlement). Having to deal with Nola constantly questioning her business decisions would've driven Van crazy. Vanessa faked being dead for a year in there, but at least it would've reestablished Nola with the viewers. Anything was better than what played out on screen.

The HW merry-go-round just stuns me. After the Dobsons, the longest consecutive tenure is Krietzman? JFC.

am I dreaming, or does he return summer '94?

eeee...I forgot about the Joe Lando flyby in 93. I hope CBS footed that bill.

Christopher Bernau/Daniel Pilon/Ron Raines as Alan Spaulding. Chris Bernau's Alan had this sense of command about him. He was on top of everything, and if you crossed him, he suffered no fools. But I never doubted that he loved Phillip with every fiber of his being. Ron Raines' version is nothing but a lot of hot air, who rarely seemed even to like his son. The less said about Pilon, the better. And Carrie Mowery as Jackie should be on every "worse recast" list. She's walking dishwater in the role.

Vanessa and Alan, GL---sweet baby Jesus, Alan was only ever interested in Vanessa for her Chamberlain stock, she'd stood on the sidelines watching his parade of broken marriages and mistresses for years...but suddenly (after her 1st marriage to Billy tanks and a fling with Ross doesn't work), she's fine with the idea of being a trophy wife while Alan grooms his next mistress, Reva. I mean, it's obviously just a speed bump to Reva/Alan, but I really do thank God Vanessa got sent to Venezuela. Reva and almost everyone other than Josh--her dip into HB's bed is particularly disturbing. Carly/Holden and Jack/Katie, ATWT---my blood pressure spikes even typing that out.

Brolden's created a thread of ATWT episodes. According to him, it's 1/10/86. The thread is on page two, and will probably be an enormous help.

Honestly, it's like they treated the fans like idiots. Like the only way we'd remember "hey, that's Nola and not Iva!" is with some wacky, fantasy laden story. Like a) the P&G shows hadn't been swapping actors like baseball cards for the prior 20 years and b) a week's worth of bitchy scenes between her and Vanessa wouldn't have made it plain.

LUCKY you! Did SoapClassics do a DVD? I got a couple of the ATWT dvds, but never really check out what (if anything) they did for GL. I'm not exactly sure what, but he gets arrested and Geoffrey Scott steps into the role late summer.

*sigh* I just rewatched Billy and Vanessa's second wedding. While it's wonderful, it's also kind of sad--like the end of a book. William Roerick is obviously not well. Larry Gates' appearances have dwindled, and they and Vince Williams die in the next couple of years. Jordan gets fired. While I know there's some good stuff coming up before Reva's return knocks the show back into "Reva 24/7" mode, I'm reluctant to watch.

The difference I speak of isn't about AS' preparedness. While her Vanessa has the same elitist air, it lacks Maeve's tightly wound, controlling edginess. Early Vanessa is always playing an angle, ready to shiv you in the back, and childishly possessive of Henry. If Maeve's maternity leave hadn't fallen into the climax of the Diane Ballard murder, GL might've just sent Vanessa on a trip until she could return. LOL...it's no wonder the Vanessa/Ed fling is easily forgotten and rarely referenced. Maeve sleeps with and gets dumped by Mart Hulswit, Anna makes up with Mart, gets early Peter Simon and must break up with him. When Maeve comes back, it's on the arm of Mark Pinter. I think that's kind of what started me down that road. It is a weird coincidence.

I did think of one---Sofia Landon Geier, which obviously wouldn't have worked at the time.