Everything posted by kalbir
- Guiding Light Discussion Thread
-
ALL: Returns That Fizzled
GL was not in a very good place creatively in June 1994 (Nancy Curlee left the writing team three months earlier) and from the ratings it was effectively over in the aftermath of OJ, thus cancel territory in 1995. IIRC cancel rumors got really strong in 1996 when it looked like Bradley was preparing to expand B&B to 1 hour (which I suspected was being timed for the 10th anniversary in March 1997) but as we all know that didn't happen. That explains leaving at the end of initial contract and going to Days. Judi Evans was employed steadily for the better part of 16 years, from her joining GL in 1983 until the end of Another World in 1999. The gaps between GL/Days and Days/Another World were only a few months if I'm not mistaken.
- Guiding Light Discussion Thread
-
BTG: September 2025 Discussion Thread
@Liberty City I see what you did there 😄
-
ALL: Returns That Fizzled
@Maxim @DRW50 I believe Joanna Johnson quit in 1994, and if she did, she was smart to do so. I shudder at the thought of Bradley continuing to write for Karen. In the end it all worked out as Joanna went on to success as a writer and producer.
-
BTG: September 2025 Discussion Thread
I'm so ready for BtG to return on Monday. I'm hoping it will still be hot fire, whereas I have little hope that Y&R will improve from being mostly hot garbage.
-
ALL: Returns That Fizzled
Taylor pretty much replaced Caroline. Karen got lost in the shuffle because there were too many other females in the early 30s age range (Brooke, Macy, Taylor, Sheila) and not enough storyline to go around.
-
Y&R: September 2025 Discussion Thread
Budget mode.
-
Falcon Crest
I had no idea Susan Sullivan started on daytime. LOL at her saying the daytime soaps are becoming larger than life. I'm sure she wasn't referring to any of the CBS daytime soaps, mindful of the network that she was collecting checks from.
- B&B: Old/Classic Discussion & Articles
-
Another World Discussion Thread
Days also had an homage to Miami Vice, but theirs was in November 1985 and they went on location to Miami. Two NBC soaps paid homage to NBC's cool and trendy primetime drama. I don't know if Search for Tomorrow or Santa Barbara had a Miami Vice homage though.
- B&B: Old/Classic Discussion & Articles
-
The Soap Opera Masterpieces You Have Actually Seen
It was the combination of Roger return and Robert Calhoun becoming EP that got GL to finally hit its stride after some pretty bad years. Unfortunately the ratings during the Calhoun/Long/Curlee era did not reflect the quality of the show. It was easy to ignore Ronn Moss acting when he had Bill Bell writing for him and scene partners Susan Flannery and Joanna Johnson to carry him through their scenes. Ronn Moss acting got progressively worse in the 1990s, then again, Bradley writing didn't help matters much either.
-
ALL: Returns That Fizzled
We saw Sheila pregnant twice: once on Y&R which was Scott Sr.'s child that was miscarried and once on B&B which was Mary Warwick. The other kids would be rewrites.
- B&B: Old/Classic Discussion & Articles
-
ALL: Returns That Fizzled
Every Sheila return after 1998. I only watched Sheila 2005-2006 Y&R return and none of the B&B returns. Sheila is Bradley's "break glass in case of emergency" character.
-
The Soap Opera Masterpieces You Have Actually Seen
I say this all the time but it bears repeating whenever the opportunity presents itself. Bradley did not inherit his father's talent.
-
Guiding Light Discussion Thread
Despite the initial torridness of Roger/Mindy (affair with business rival's daughter), I believe Roger did love Mindy but they wouldn't have worked as a long-term couple because the specter of Roger's feelings for Holly would be lingering in the background. If you saw the Locher Room MZ tribute episode, Kimberley Simms credited the Roger/Mindy storyline for her growing as an actress and Mindy growing as a character, plus she mentioned that the Roger/Mindy storyline allowed the audience to see MZ as a romantic leading man and not just a villain.
-
B&B: Old/Classic Discussion & Articles
Felicia was brought on when Kristen was on the way out. For whatever reason, Bill Bell didn't explore the Forrester daughters' relationship. I could totally see a Kristen/Clarke/Felicia triangle happen. I remember there was some flirtation between Felicia and Clarke but it went nowhere.
-
The Soap Opera Masterpieces You Have Actually Seen
Guiding Light 1991 Alexandra exposes Roger at the country club. The culmination of the Robert Calhoun era and a master class in acting by Beverlee McKinsey. Bill Bell's last hurrah before he passed the reigns to Bradley.
-
1980s Trends
Dina first run ended in 1986. I think she just left Genoa City. I can't recall off hand if there was a proper exit story.
- Guiding Light Discussion Thread
-
1980s Trends
Y&R Dina Abbott Mergeron abandoned her family, lived a jet-set life, remarried a wealthy man, became widowed, inherited late husband's business that rivaled her ex-husband's business. Dina's introduction at the Abbott house where's she's dressed in a black suit with matching hat and veil was similar to Alexis's introduction at the courthouse where she's dressed in a black and white suit with matching hat and veil.
-
Y&R: September 2025 Discussion Thread
Hahaha. 90% of the show this summer was hot garbage.
-
Looking back...Primetime Ratings from the 80's
Primetime soaps tanked. Sitcoms made a comeback. Rookie breakout The Cosby Show became the sophomore slaughterer. Rookie that shocked the world Murder, She Wrote became the sophomore surprise. Simon & Simon, The A-Team, and Magnum, P.I. were old and busted. Miami Vice was the new hotness.