kalbir

@Speed Racer That's the time frame I watched in real time and online, and your observations are totally spot on.

I wasn't watching GL in real time during MZ illness/departure, but from what I remember, the soap press reported medical leave but then it was later revealed that it was a firing. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Sean Freeman, Jibre Hordges, Brandon Claybon can act. Alex Alegria can't.

Is Alex Alegria BtG's version of Ronn Moss?

I loved the Robert Calhoun era. GL was finally hitting its stride after some pretty bad years.

I will forever point out that Bradley did not inherit his father's talent.

You're two episodes away from Michael Zaslow last episode. After you watch, please share your thoughts on it. Thank you.

Remember too that nearly half of 1988 was writer's strike material.

1995-1998 William Roerick, Larry Gates, Vince Williams, Michael Zaslow all passed.

BF making the booty pop too? BtG has the Y&R males all shook. I cannot believe you all are checking for Joshua Morrow 🤣

Kat rushed into her first time. It was giving me feels of As the World Turns Lily who also rushed into her first time. We know that Kat gave the goodies to Tomas so he would forget about Eva. Andre 🥰 Loved seeing him in photographer mode.

I haven't thought of Basketball Wives in years. I watched one episode and it was too much for me. Gotta love Jackie Christie though.

I did not like how Ridge took advantage of an intoxicated Caroline considering that she had been raped a year earlier. Remember too that the initial storyline of Caroline overindulging in champagne leading to Ridge taking advantage of her took place during the writer's strike so it might not have even been Bill Bell's plan. Then again Bill Bell reused this storyline 6 years later on Y&R when Malcolm took advantage of Dru who had overdosed on cold medication but Bill Bell later said he regretting writing the Malcolm/Dru storyline.

Kat/Eva are the sister rivalry that's going to happen but I don't think Tomas is the guy they should fight over. Tomas is not any type of prize IMO.

Also MZ was 21 years older than Kimberley Simms. 1989-1997 he had four love interests 20+ years younger, two of whom at the time were like half his age (1995 MZ was 53 and Wendy Moniz was 26. 1996 MZ was 54 and Toby Poser was 27.)

In EB defense he's 84 and in recent years has gone through cancer treatment, so I give him a pass.

@Soapsuds Do you remember a Gregg Marx interview where he said that not long after he left As the World Turns Bill Bell offered him a part on Y&R but it was turned down? Given the timing, I'm guessing the part on Y&R was Dr. Steven Lassiter. @DRW50 @Tisy-Lish Re: Lisa/Lucinda, you raised some good points.

Did anyone think that Lucinda introduction as the new villainess diminished Lisa at all?

Damn Shanice, putting Ashley on blast like that. Derek is not a snack though. Andre OTOH.

Hahaha, dead.

I think the week of January 22-26, 1990. I remember the party was on a Friday and the end of the episode was an intoxicated Blake crashing the party.

The Cosby Show was such a big part of my childhood. I am so shocked about Malcolm-Jamal Warner. RIP.

Dani, girl you ain't slick. You know you want Andre all to yourself. Damn Shanice, you thirsty. Derek is no prize though. Ashley's game to make Derek jealous isn't gonna work. We know deep down she wants to be with Andre. Nicole needs to kick Ted to the curb. Carlton is waiting for her.

Hold up, MZ was being checked for BITD? I remember SOD Best of 1989 Most Intriguing Couple Roger/Holly write up described MZ as "dashing" but I never gave his looks much thought when I watched in real time. Then again, I was in middle school and high school when I watched in real time (Calhoun/Long/Curlee and first year of JFP/Curlee). From watching online I admit MZ looked better 1989-1994 than from what I've seen of his original 1971-1980 run, but if there was glow up I somehow didn't recognize it.

We can blame the decline of GL on many factors: Douglas Marland departure. Gail Kobe/Pamela Long chasing all the 1980s trends. Writer turnover during Joe Willmore run. Killing off Maureen Bauer. Nancy Curlee departure. To me killing off Maureen Bauer felt like the beginning of the end and Nancy Curlee departure felt like the end. GL was not in a good place creatively in June 1994 (Nancy Curlee departure was three months earlier) when OJ began and I feel it was effectively over in the aftermath of OJ.