NothinButAttitude

For some reason, I had it in mind that you were talking about doing the ALS story in '04, when Sebastian was introduced. My bad. On the other hand, weren't James Harmon Brown and Barbara Esensten the HW's when Zaslow left? Yeah, I wouldn't have wanted them to write that kind of story either. By the end of '97/start of '98, which was the last time I watched GL on a consistent basis (meaning, an average of 4-5 times per week), I had soured on those two and their brand of storytelling. Seeing how horrid they became, yeah, I wouldn't trust them with something so delicate. But I thought they were decent around the time they were at GL, so they might've pulled it off.

True. We had no Matthews or Frames on the canvas with the exception of Josie. They could've brought back Russ, Olivia, Sharlene, Alice, etc. Just like on ATWT he could've brought back Penny, Don, Ellen, Dee, Annie, Iva, etc. Goutman is just abysmal and it makes me happy to know that he isn't working at all in daytime.

I still get pissed how he wasn't open to any returns at the end of the show with the exception of John Dixon. Sucks that we didn't get any visits from any other Hughes, Stewarts, or Snyders.

Very true. After seeing how SB's Craig was compared to the Craig I was used to (Hunt Block), I'd be peeved as a long-term ATWT fan too. His arc into becoming a model citizen and loving husband was all stripped away when they basically made him into a common criminal/international terrorist of some sort. Wasn't Dusty studying to be a doctor when Brian Bloom left the show? I always wondered why they dropped that and brought him back as a mobster-like character. Do you think it was b/c Hogan was influenced by GH? He has said in interviews during the time he was at World Turns that his favorite male characters on soaps were Sonny Corinthos and Victor Newman.... My Craig memories are foggy…but he wasn't sweet and innocent at the beginning….although we thought he was…once the whole Betsy story hit the roof in 83…we found out he was evil….tried to kill Steve in a truck explosion…and I believe he was the one who got caught in that truck and he was the one injured and I think became impotent….went to jail……Lila, his mother, looked like a fool because she believed all his lies….she finally wised up to his dirty dealings..and shady life….I believe she told him off ….later he got out of jail…don't remember how….became a good guy and then Steve was the one that became the bad guy….When Scott Bryce returned after the miscast of Hunt Block and Meeks and Linderstorm….Lord…what awful recasts….I was thrilled….that didnt last as his character was written horribly and trashed…..SB complained about it….Goutman fired him….then after that I think started the MB firing from Goutman as well.. Jeffery Meeks gave me vibes that he would've been the perfect Rick Ryan recast. I never bought him as Craig. So I was elated when I heard the original Craig was returning. I understand why SB was pissed about how Craig regressed as a character and actually worsened when it came to his actions. I grew to love SB's Craig b/c he just fit in perfectly with the cast. It was good to see him opposite Byrne and Hubbard again. He even had stellar chemistry with Maura and Cady, who go on to lack that same chemistry with Lindstrom. I just hate how all the soaps in the 90s felt that they needed that one town pariah character, who emulated either Stefano (on DAYS) or Alan (on GL). I felt they wanted to put Craig in that role, which was totally against who he became. I hate that ideology. That's why I feel like Hogan hated writing for characters like Bob, Tom, Jack, Ben, Hal, and Holden and it showed. Hal, Jack, and Holden only got stories around that time b/c they were tied to Hogan's favorite female characters: Lily/Rose, Carly, Babs, and Emily.

I didn't want them to have a happy ending. Just closure. I think it would've been poignant to see Roger and Holly get a true ending between the two of them. It would've pulled at my heart strings to see Roger and Holly remarry and Roger to discover he had ALS. Holly would be upset that her time with Roger, after being reunited, is being robbed and cut short. Blake would be distraught over losing her father and worrying about if the disease is hereditary and able to spread to her or her kids. That's better than the story they went on to have post Roger leaving--Holly going on to stalk people and kidnap their kids, and Blake engaging in another tryst where she questioned, who the father of her child was (again).

Very true. After seeing how SB's Craig was compared to the Craig I was used to (Hunt Block), I'd be peeved as a long-term ATWT fan too. His arc into becoming a model citizen and loving husband was all stripped away when they basically made him into a common criminal/international terrorist of some sort. Wasn't Dusty studying to be a doctor when Brian Bloom left the show? I always wondered why they dropped that and brought him back as a mobster-like character. Do you think it was b/c Hogan was influenced by GH? He has said in interviews during the time he was at World Turns that his favorite male characters on soaps were Sonny Corinthos and Victor Newman....

But they wouldn't've wrote the story as MZ died in late '98.

I do wish that they would've brought him back in the final years of the show much like I've said I wished they would've brought back Frannie, Sabrina, Andy, etc. I hate how this show strayed from it's long history and brought on characters with no connections to the canvas.

MZ & MG had a chemistry that was unmatched. Despite all the heinous things Roger did to Holly, I wanted those two to end together. I hate how MADD fired MZ instead of giving Roger and Holly the proper ending they deserved. I would've found it more compelling for the big, bad Roger Thorpe to become stricken with ALS (much like MZ) and to succumb his ailment than to be written off and to have some bastard child (Sebastian) come back and avenge him. I think MZ and MG would've given EMMY worthy performances had they just wrote MZ's ailment into the show.

What were many of your thoughts on Ric Ryan? Especially his two stints in the 80s?

Shannon isn't happy about Vicki's one-on-one tonight. But what I took from this video is David's body language. This man wanted no parts of the drama and Shannon basically strong-armed him into responding. And she wonders why her hubby finds solace elsewhere....

I could see that. I know a lot of people on here and on SOC that wishful cast her as Hope on Guiding Light too.

I've liked what little I've seen of Meg Bennett as Julia on Y&R but after that stint on GH, I was not impressed with her anymore. Maybe because the story was stupid altogether. An actress I would've loved on a P&G soap would be Julia Barr. She just had that P&G heroine-esqe look to her. Do you all think she would've made a good Natalie or Carol?

But reading up on what the character has done, it pales in comparison to soap vixens nowadays. But I guess different times, different morals. I'm surprised they never brought her or Carole back to mix it up with Tom and Margo.

I think the show is doing very well in the ratings if I am not mistaken. I don't think it's doing RHOA numbers but it's doing well. This show has a huge cult following. Especially with celebs who admit to watching the show (Jennifer Lawrence being one of them). I actually think this show might could help BH a bit.... But I am over Scheana and her excessive whining thus far. She makes me want Stassi back so she can come and blow up Scheana's little playhouse b/c she's loving being the new 'Queen Bee' a bit too much.

Can we get rid of the Shamea bitch already? I don't like her and she wreaks of thirstiness. Sit back and learn the group dynamics first. Jesus! Shamea obviously came on to try and get at Kenya when she ain't ready for that roller coaster. Sheree and Kenya's frenemy-ship is gonna be gold! The shade those two threw at each other tonight was EPIC. You can tell it is all in good fun. I don't see why they didn't give Sheree a peach. She's delivered in all three episodes she's been back. Kim Fields is a bust for me at this point. It's like she ain't even trying to assimilate into the group. Her peach should've went to Marlo, who stays giving us hilarity and drama. Oh and Phaedra's low class comment about Kenya's skin tone and comparing it to doo-doo was gross. #SelfHatredIsReal I am ready for next week when Cynthia Lui Kang's bicycle kick the hell out of Thotlandia.

Judith Chapman was playing Natalie around this time, correct?

No. She debunked the rumor about her using a helicopter to get to work.

Nene is the classic case of someone who can dish it but cannot take it. That's why she stays losing.

OMG! Wasn't he hot! And I agree that they need to pay Rik Makarem whatever he wants to stay. We need that sexiness back on-screen.

Yes, boo! Yes!!! That's why I was all for Magali giving Dawn the 'fever' this season. She asked for it. When Magali tried extending an olive branch, she turned the calvary against her. When Dawn tried, she expected Magali to cower and toe the line and she didn't. Dawn is on that Nene sh-t where she wants to play victim when her back is against the wall. She knew she treated Magali like crap s1 and was trying to fix her image. I've never bought it. Her true colors popped out again in the finale when she took a shot at Magali for no reason. Re-watching s1 has been a refresher and reminded me why Magali is justified in her actions.

Thanks for sharing this, @soapfan770! I'm going to enjoy reading this.

IMO, I'd drop all three of them at this point. This has been the second time they've done this and it nearly killed RHONY. You already have Bethenny, Dorinda, and Carole signed on. I'd bring back Jill and cast 4 new women. Bravo needs to learn to pay a lot of these women dust when it comes to contract negotiations. RHOA S8E2: Many people are saying they didn't enjoy tonight's episode but I did. I gotta start off by giving Phaedra props for not kicking Cynthia while she's down ... yet. We all know that Phaedra will bury the hatchet one sec and turn on you the next. Cynthia gets props too for being honest and open about her situation. It's refreshing. Pinto Bean's party for Duke was so awkward. He looked like he wanted to flee for the nearest exit throughout that entire scene. And the tea being spilled on him that he allegedly had a past with a trans-woman and his love for porn stars was too much. Some things should be left unsaid. Also, her assuming that 13 wks = 2 months was embarrassing. She needs to learn to just shut up b/c she exudes stupidity each chance she's onscreen. Phelony and Kandi's heart to heart was so anticlimactic. I feel like Phelony played Kandi like a fiddle to get her off her back for the time being. I am glad that Don Juan picked up on it and brought it to Kandi's attention. Sadly, Kandi is so desperate for Phelony's friendship that she didn't even pick up on it. Phelony deflected the entire exchange and Kandi didn't even take note. I am enjoying this season. It isn't as toxic as seasons 6 & 7 were. This season is giving me seasons 4 & 5 vibes where it was messy but fun messy.

Diane Parrish/Bonnie Langford > all the other women. OMG. I died laughing at Gillian. She didn't know what the hell she was supposed to do but she committed. The men totally stole the show. Especially Jonny, Danny Boy, Jay, and Shane. Overall, it was cute. I enjoyed it.