te.

I think it has to do with overall demographics of the networks - ABC has always skewed younger, CBS has always skewed older. CBS was the first network I saw talking about the 25-54 demographic in prime time - and that was for a reason.

I genuinely wonder if the actor must've bombed during the reveal scenes or something that seems to be coming up with Ted & Nicole's anniversary party. It seems a bit odd to replace him right in the thick of it. I'm also confused by both Ashley and Derek's ages - both feel like they're in the 35-40 bracket, but at the same time she's meant to be contemporary with Naomi, who is in her late 20s (??) and has just graduated from nursing school... which would put her in her mid-20s maybe? I feel like her having issues in the past and turning her life around in her 30s would be an interesting angle to explore. It would also explain the hyperbole surrounding her becoming a nurse. The thing is that it feels like a lot could be done to integrate them - as others has said, have Silkpress's interference with Laura come and bite Ashley in the ass. I still feel like Hayley / Derek forging a friendship would be an interesting angle. And of course, Ashley and Naomi are supposed to be best friends - have them talk more. And of course, her mother is connected to Silkpress.

Killing Linda off was such a mistake as she was one of the stronger characters of the young generation, especially once they went full down the Paige-the-damsel-in-distress route. It's also obvious they sort of realised that they made a mistake as they tried to introduce Vanessa (whose acting left a bit to be desired lol) as sort of a femme fatale/young antagonist. Wouldn't surprise me, especially since she was so frank about not particularly caring for them pitting them against each other. Because from everything we knew about Abby, someone like Paige would've been more like an annoying bug. And of course, she's been pitching the "homeless Abby" story for years as the logical next step for her, so I think she also felt like the character had no real direction left to go.

Susan originally "died" in a fiery car crash off a cliff caused by Ava, but Clyde had kidnapped her and sent her to her ex-husband Edmund, who kept her captive.

Well, the answer is 90210. Doogie Howser was never strong in the overall rankings (#24 at its highest point), but I assume 90210 just about stole all those young viewers - especially those that might've started watching it as younger. They probably could've tried moving it away from the Fox halo, but I guess they had no other open slots.

Maybe the other girl just didn't want to act anymore? Doesn't have to be that deep tbh.

Well, we know they had to refilm a lot of scenes, especially since they had some production issues early on with equipment not arriving on time plus no real soap veterans on the daily production that knew how to shoot a daytime soap. IIRC, I think either Daphne or Karla said that CBS told them that they couldn't continue to delay filming which is why the lightning was odd in the first or so week since the proper equipment hadn't arrived. So, to me it's been pretty clear that it was likely meant to debut a bit earlier which seems to have thrown off some planning. Good to hear they're making a bit of adjustments to the scripts but I'd assume that cliffhangers might be thrown off for another few weeks at least as there's only so much they could adjust.

See, I think there's an interesting perspective here, which is how some gay people try to fit into the heteronormative and Martin, being a politician, has gone too far in that direction and effectively suffocating his partner. But so far it's been sort of blah - they're not talking about it other than Bradley wanting to go back to work... which could be any soap heroine story. I feel like there's a lot to mine there, but they're so far not doing it. Bradley's being written like a hausfrau - odd for a show with gay writers.

Heidi Montag is a nasty peeper: Please have her perform B&B writers!

I think this is the issue with the in media res storytelling they're doing - clearly they're acting as if the show has been on for 30 years and sometimes that works and sometimes it don't. Sometimes it hits that cozy feeling of having to known these characters for a lifetime... but sometimes things don't feel deserved even if they're acting as if it should be. Again, growing pains and I'm hoping it'll even out in a year from now. Soaps are a marathon and not a sprint after all.

TBH, I feel like they really need to work on how to end an episode, not just Fridays. Too many episodes just feel like they just... end. I don't mean you should have spectacular cliffhangers on the daily, but it their endings often come off as they were just told that they were out of time rather than an intentional episode ending.

The last few weeks have been unironically decent since the lid off Johnny's paternity was revealed - unfortunately, Ron's pets are still there and it seems like they will be for the forseeable future. Hopefully the new writers will at least quit the Gary Sue-ing of Leo. While I don't want a return to Sami's Days of Her Life, it's a shame Ali won't ever commit to anything long-term again. She absolutely sparked with every actor during her week and a half there, some she hasn't ever had scenes with. She's really a pro and it shows.

I know they were probably trying to be cute with Vivian and Sami leaving on the same plane, but I do hope something comes out of it. I'd bring back the neck-tie killer only to get killed off by another serial killer.

I said it when it happened, but I think Derek could function in that role. Hayley doesn't feel like a girl's girl and Derek's far enough removed from the drama to function as a talk-to. But maybe that's just me.

TBH, at this point I wouldn't mind a serial killer storyline that actually sticks this time around. Bring back some unloved characters to make it extra special.

Uh-oh, Peacock's in trouble, other streamers have come along and burst their bubble: https://awfulannouncing.com/peacock/streaming-expert-sounds-warning-on-peacock.html

Season 6 was refreshing after the soap opera drabness of season 5. It's funny that the season ended with one of the most memorable cliffhangers, the earthquake, when overall season five just isn't very good. Season six works because it's brighter, faster paced and slightly unhinged. It doesn't work quite as well on subsequent rewatches, but the first time it *is* quite a thrilling ride as long as you just let yourself go with the flow. Season 7 took all the worst tendencies from season 6 and amphiphiled them to the max. Too many guest stars, no real story arcs and just moving incredibly quickly. Maggie's alcoholism storyline where she acts a bit sleepy for a few episodes sure is something. And yeah, season 8 is an attempt to ground the show again, but they just went too far with it. Filerman hadn't been actively involved with the show since the early days and had no feeling for what worked and what didn't.

I think it helps that Phillip being a bit lighter helps set him apart from the other males in the cast at the moment. It fits JPL too as an actor.

I'd assume that CBS told them to get more experienced and recognizeable (probably white, lbr) soap actors and they sort of had to jam both Cady and Jon into there. It probably affected Vanessa the worst, because I very much doubt they had the whole casino plot in mind when they set up the show (which is why the casino set looks so dumpy). And of course, Pamela just comes across right now as they're making it up as they go along as I feel they would've otherwise dropped in that she was Dani's former agent earlier. They probably wanted to tie her to Dani because she was clearly seen as the break out character in the early weeks.

Spa sets are expensive... they can run a modelling agency from Dani's little couch / model room. Alternatively, they might redress the law office sets.

The Monroes only produced nine episodes in total as it was pulled from production before completing the entire 13 episode order.

Yup, I've always assumed it was meant to end with the cave in, but I guess with a lot more characters involved. That seems like a more Falcon Crest season ending cliffhanger than what we got.

GMA3...