cct

I do not know why I'm going hard for "Bitch, I'm Madonna," at this moment.

Na-na-nuh-na-na!!

Miss Janet has always been one of my favorite artists. Rhythm Nation 1814 spoke to me at the time, and yes, it is dated and earnest, but at the time, it was influential. I remember one review likening it to Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?" in it's exploration of the day. It's also the album, IMHO, where the interludes worked the best. (I think the interludes are the only shot we ever have of seeing the "real janet," as there is always a high level of artifice surrounding the Jackson family). I was also into janet.; it always felt as if we were both exploring similar issues at similar times during the Control/RhythmNation/janet. days.

She hasn't put out anything since 2008's Discipline, other than greatest hits lp's. Damita Jo happened around the time of the Super Bowl fiasco (and yes, JT left her high and dry), and ever since, she's been away from the airwaves, a victim of the double standard for flaunting sexuality. (Is this NOT a few years AFTER Diana Ross fondled lil Kim's pasty at the MTV awards?)

Although a huge fan, I'm not immune to the criticism. Her voice is thin. Her albums can get samey, especially with the ballads, and in later albums, her voice is lost in all the production. The sexuality bit has worn tired, and it is particularly weary on Discipline, although there are several songs I enjoy on that album, as I do on all her albums. Unfortunately, after a big splash with the first single, nothing else was heard since.

I also enjoy Janet's one-offs like her collaboration with Shaggy for "Stella" and her collaboration with Luther for "Mo' Money" as well as the early collaboration with Herb Alpert, "Diamonds."

I particularly liked when Janet rocked out, as in "Black Cat," "If," and "What About."

And the whole lip-synching bit? I didn't really care. I was there to see Janet dance.

Is that Teresa Blake in this ad?

Looks like

Also, I never knew what McKay's was until now. I also didn't realize that establishment from that 1970 episode went on for so long. Can someone show me a video of McKay's from later on? When did it dissapear/leave?? Also, when was BJ's introduced?

They started phasing out McKay's in the mid-nineties when they brought on a coffee shop, Insomniac, like Starbucks/Friends' Central Perk, where Julia Santos worked for a while. After the coffee shop was Hayley and Mateo's two bars, Holidays and SOS. Then some time later in the early 00's, McKay's was back, but it was a different set and then only referred to that for a short time; it eventually became Krystal's. Then with AMC 2.0, we got Jane's coffee shop, Jane's Addiction.

Until Tom's daughter Laura was killed by a drunk driver in 1988. Tom sold it and opened a health club because he didn't want to be serving alcohol after her death.

Didn't the Goal Post become McKay's?

A little question. What is your definition of a classic movie? Are all movies made/released before a certain year to be considered classics, or are there any more criteria they have to meet.

And what about more recent movies? When can they be considered classics? I know Disney often labels their theatrical releases as classics almost instantly, or at least they used to. But how old should a movie be, or does age have nothing to do with it? I'm sure most people would now consider movies like "Star Wars", "Jaws" and "E.T" as classics, even though they were released comparatively recent.

IMHO, a "classic" is a work of art that will stand the test of time. For that to happen, there would have to be some level of quality to it. It also stands up to repeated viewings; something someone wants to see or hear time and time again. It is also a work that is highly influential and/or epitomizes a genre or style.

In this instance, Star Wars, Jaws and ET are classics, in that many people enjoy watching them repeatedly, their narratives have stood the test of time, and each of them are representative of ideas that would be referred to as a touchstone. Star Wars for science fiction genre, Jaws for the summer blockbuster and even suspense/horror, and ET for family films and all three as blockbuster movies.

Some movies can be labeled instant classics, because they are of such high quality and/or so beloved, they would fit the label. I'm thinking of when Schindler's List first came out. Many Christmas movies, despite the quality, fall under the "beloved" aspect. Christmas Vacation, starring Chevy Chase, comes to my mind as a "Christmas classic." It is also my opinion, however, the phrase "instant classic" is overused.

There is also a distinction between "classic" and "cult classic." For instance, Mommie Dearest is a "cult classic." Many of these movies are "so bad they're good" or beloved despite the quality (Pink Flamingos) or that they involve a certain actor (Clint Eastwood's spaghetti westerns) or genre (Blade Runner, Friday the Thirteenth).

When thinking of "classic films" for this thread, however, I believe the originator was thinking of movies that may have been prior to 1980. Possibly even just B&W movies. Most contributors have kept the thread in those areas.

Greg Gordon played Brian when I first started watching. He was Trask's little brother. He and Hayley had to carry around a "flour baby" for a school assignment and when it burst, Hayley washed it out of her hair. Kelly Ripa goes upstairs a goth brunette and comes back down a blonde, and stayed that way.

For me, Borlenghi, who I think came in early '91, was Brian. Eventually I got over the fact he was kind've dopey (unlike Gordon's Brian) and that he talked as if he were constipated and trying to push one out. The other two just weren't there long enough maybe. Although I did like Green's Brian with Dixie, as I couldn't see Cady with Borlenghi.

And has done some Broadway. I grew to like him--especially with Dixie but he seemed so miscast after Matt Borlenghi (who was Brian number 2 wasn't he? There was one briefly before?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eut83_KIsy8 A compilation of Erica and Brooke over the years.

"Pine Valley hasn't been the same since you left."

No, Ms.Kane, it hasn't. Such delicious writing; such performances.

I miss my soap.

When Julia was raped by Louie Greco and got pregnant as a result and wanted to end the pregnancy, Tom was among the non-violent protestors outside the clinic, waiving a sign.

This didn't surprise me at all. After all, Tom, as a character, had two major elements that affected his character during this "boring" time in the early nineties. One, he was Catholic; and two, he was a recovering alcoholic. Both of these factors mean that peacefully protesting at an abortion clinic and invoking God to help someone through troubled times was completely within Tom's character.

So...the 2008 election could've been an interesting storyline, if Tom were to have been a McCain supporter and Livia stumping for Obama, eh?

One of the things I liked about Tom's character, that I found missing in AMC towards the end and in today's society, is that Tom was a man of his beliefs, but didn't always try to foist them on others. I also never felt as if Tom were pandering or syrupy or holier-than-thou as latter-day characterizations of these "moral tentpoles" would become. And...I actually enjoyed Tom, despite my penchant for "grayer" characters (Gloria Marsh; Edmund), more colorful characters (Opal, Marian, Trevor) and outright villians (Adam, Arlene, etc.).

IMHO, no way did Edmund replace Tom, but perhaps Zack did replace Edmund for Most Likely to be a Moody Summab*&$h. However, Zack had nothing on Edmund for those brooding eyebrows.

I LOVE this song! Didn't think anyone remembered it. I think the lyrics are tight.

Love to listen to this one late at night, driving down the highway, moon roof open...

He's looking so good now. Imagine had he stayed on as JR

Meh. Jacob Young owned JR in a Way no one had since McCartney. Bennett has failed to impress as an actor. Even since AMC. (give me Bennett over Ridings any day, however).

One of the best songs of the 60s.

yes ma'am

Myrtle looks so spry!

I had a small donut hole during this time, because I don't remember this ish at all!! I remember talk of re-opening, but I don't remember it being in Cortlandt Manor!

The dialogue is incredibly clunky, and even the magnificent Jill Larson is not able to sell it. The whole thing sounds like she's reading off the bits of script she has taped to the lamp and other set pieces.

The one thing I will say about this clip is that everyone looks so fresh! Robin Mattson looks good, but it is a little out-of-character for Janet. (I will always be upset for AMC turning Janet crazy again just so Collins can do shtick and McTavish can have a convenient villian. Mattson did SO much to redeem the character.)

I do like the bit Belinda starts at the end to the Supremes. That kind of stuff was kind've missing on AMC in latter years.

Sounds like something I used to put in my hair.

That's my main problem with it. It makes no sense. Pratt basically just killed the character off only to recreate her again after only a few months, and then the character persisted for years afterwards! I don't understand. I could get killing Babe off, she did little if anything the last year she was on, but why kill her and then virtually bring her back in a boring incarnation with a poor actress. Never mind that they completely butchered Krystal's character to make her conception possible. I seriously have to wonder if Pratt was on mind altering drugs while he was watching AMC.

Getting rid of Babe only to bring her back in the form of Marissa was an effort to kill two birds with one stone. Let's erase all of the bad recasting (Baker) and baby-napping history (which was why fans hated the character) and bring back someone who is essentially Babe without the bad karma. It actually wasn't a bad idea on the part of Pratt (or whomever), but the reincarnation came in the form of "Grandma Boring." If Bobbie Eakes had found Alexa Havins in a brunette wig in that massage parlor, I think we might have been "all good" with the invention of Ms. Tasker.

Because love or hate Babe, Alexa Havins had charisma in spades.

Well, because Corvina was a shrewish pest and we knew there was no chance in hell Dimi would leave Erica for her. Just like school marm Laurel, sure Jack could be with her, but Erica knew she was no superficial competition, unlike tall, leggy Laurel numero uno.

Mmmmm....tall, leggy Laurel numero uno...I can still see her gams in the headlights of Jack's car...

And Corvina? Well, she wasn't horrible because she couldn't speak English or her accent was too thick. It was that she spit all over the place when she talked...the angrier she got, the more saliva!

Thay Lay-PORE, Da-MEAT-three!!

I wonder if this exhausted viewers at the time...

I haven't seen enough of Helga to say but I wish she or Corvina had a bit more "pop." I don't think Erica had a strong enough adversary in these years. I guess the closest would be Maria starting around 1995, but she wasn't supposed to be an adversary, and I thought she was a sanctimonious hypocrite.

Oh, I thought Helga was just great. I loved how she underplayed her a bit; made her more creepy in my opinion.

I think they attempted to make Maria her adversary, because it was convenient...the four Merricks at Wildwind, at each other's throats.

I loved it when Natalie took off her earring to answer the phone.

I'd love for someone more techy than me to create a montage of Natalie doing this!

Oh ok. I was thinking in 1991, when Gloria's snatch was stretched to its max.

+1 yoga class

This has a promo I've never before.

Mr. U in a "beauty shot!" LOL!

That is scary. She was a ho. Takes one to know one, I guess.

She was a ho with a heart of gold.

She could never be lumped with the vapid blondes, she carried with her a certain weight, like, "Damn, dis bitch done been through sumthin'..."

THIS!! I always got the sense there was something dangerous lurking... like she had quite a full life.

And yet...they never really explored her family. Wasn't her mother on for just a bit and she was like a religious nut? Memory faulty here...

I will +1 all the "Gloria" love. When she first came on, I thought she would just be a pawn in the "Who Killed Will?" storyline and disappear even faster than Craig did. In fact, she even began to annoy me a bit, due to her repetitious line, "And if you so much as whistle Dixie..." Clever the first few times; not so much after number 72. Her versatility may have had something to do with her longevity, and I do believe it was a perfect marriage of actor and character. When we began to see her vulnerability after "Who Killed Will?" and her genuine apology towards Dixie, that's when I began to see more potential in both the character and the actress. Her "little girl lost" vibe really worked for me. Then when she was paired with Stuart and Adam, well, I was sold, and I remember thinking at the time what a perfect match (albeit unforeseen by me) that truly was. Unfortunately for me, she departed during one of my donut holes, so I don't particularly remember her parting.

...and I will "always" remember her "tampon" commercial.