beebs

LOLOLOL WUT? I'm not one for being precious about who plays whom on soaps, but there are some roles that you just, could not, and should not recast. File this one in the trash bin for me. Gotta make sure we protect the delicate sensibilities of Gladys and Ethel in Kansas, of course.

Eye cancer, if I remember correctly. I'm not sure if he has one glass eye or something, but I definitely remember it was cancer (which was promptly forgotten about). In fact, IIRC, it was basically a plot device to temper the animosity between EJ and Sami after the baby switch/kidnapping story ended.

I'm certain there's external CD drives you can purchase that connect to the laptop via USB. I'd be excited to hear what you have, hopefully this works for you! Love the photos @Paul Raven, I know some have obviously been seen here and there, but it's always nice to have them crop up! James Mitchell was fine back in the day, I tell ya!

I think, to do that, networks would have to really put their foot down about clearing the shows. Because honestly, at this point, if you're not at near-full clearance, you'd be lucky to clear 1M viewers. Regardless, it's not gonna happen on broadcast TV, that's for certain. That ship has well and truly sailed, IMO.

Realistically, more consistency behind the scenes, and, barring having stayed on CBS, they really needed to have higher station clearances. I think someone mentioned upthread how much of a self-fulfilling prophecy that was. The lower the ratings, the lower the clearances, the lower the interest from the network, the lower the ratings would sink, and the cycle continues.

Oh I saw. Had her on mute after awhile so I wouldn't have to see her posts, too. She was BRUTAL. Imagine having that much time on your hands and choosing to use it like...that. 😬 Can someone break into her house and find the rest of those ratings she had in her basement? LOL

Yeah, as much as I enjoy Gary Tomlin's writing at times, everything I've heard of his AW run screams incompetence.

Right? Too bad about JFPVanessaReardon's hissy fit over being given a warning or we could've had them by now. Oh well.

+1000 It's farcical at this point.

I like a lot of what I'm hearing. I'd love to see more, and for Y&R as well. MJ was done so wrong by DePriest, I much prefer your direction. And anything better than killing off Quinn. I'm assuming Chad is Chad Rollo, or did you use the same name on a different character? I did a similar treatment for DAYS starting in 1979 (as a number of you have read, it's in the blog section), but I find myself very overstretched with different projects and gave up early on. I like the idea of going back in time to try and write around the rules of life in a past time frame. Our lives are so connected now with technology and whatnot, that a lot of things that could be done now cannot be done then, and vice versa. I had Steve Olson involved in a bigamy story with his Parisian girlfriend Mimi and Mary Anderson, who he married to get at that sweet sweet Anderson $$$, whereas nowadays one quick google search and a phone call would upend that in about five minutes. I also really enjoyed touching on topical issues of that time that wouldn't be considered that cutting edge today (I had Doug & Julie struggling to conceive, which had been hinted at on the show at the time, so Neil suggests IVF, which was, of course, brand new technology at the time), and playing the emotional complexity and fears of the new procedure. I'd be intrigued to do a treatment for Y&R as well, maybe going back to 1980 or 82 when the Abbots really come into play, and maybe seeing what I could do if I continued on with the Brooks and Fosters instead. Who knows what my brain may come up with!

I'd be very interested in seeing this myself, if it can be passed along!

I think my favourite is still her telling Nina "I don't appreciate people SASHAYING into my offish!" with her ridiculous hat she probably stole from Phyllis Hyman's wardrobe.

Oh INTERESTING. Thanks @JAS0N47 as usual for the info. I'm surprised he was featured more heavily in '83. Seems like that was the last hurrah for a lot of the 70s vets before being cleared out for the Bradys. I do get the sense that PFS enjoyed writing for Neil far more than Ann Marcus, considering the numbers. But his appearances were always fairly consistent.

From what I read of his time in the 70s, he was FAR more central to the story up to probably 1979 or 1980. His mentions tend to drop off a lot after he finally divorces Phyllis, and Amanda is gone from the show permanently. Much of his story revolved around Amanda, Greg, Phyllis, Bob, and Linda. Once those characters were gone by 1980, I think they really struggled to find a place for him, even with his popularity with Liz. I suspect a lot of what made his character fit in the canvas ended up swallowed up by Alex Marshall. Even though he was popular with Liz, the mentions in SOD paint him as being increasingly the "go-to" doctor in that time, with his tortured romance with Liz being mostly an incidental thing more than a central driver of story on the show after 1980. I suspect a lot of this was also down to the youth obsession that took hold around then, leading to the fixation of Toad, Prissy Jessica, Clumsy Cassie, and Josh, before shifting to Bo & Hope after '83.

EPISODE 191 Written by A. Washington-Beeby Story Consultant: C. Nathaniel Richardson & Nick Monarco Will stands, leaning forward on the back of the sofa in the Kiriakis living room, as Gabi stands nearby with arms folded, more than a little stunned at her interaction moments before with Anjelica. WILL: Okay, what did I just walk in on? Gabi turns to look at Will, shrugging, as she stumbles over her words, trying to explain herself. GABI: I....honestly? I think I just...stood up for myself. Will looks somewhat confused, and probes on. WILL: Oh? Against Anjelica Deveraux? GABI: Yeah, I'm...I'm kinda amazed I had it in me. She's... WILL: She can be pretty intimidating, I know... Gabi nods quickly, her nerves once again returning. GABI: Yeah, I...she's not very happy I'm here. WILL: Yeah, not...not many of us are, Gabi. You really need to be careful whose bad side you get on. Gabi looks at Will, seriously. GABI: You mean yours and Sonny's? Will is somewhat taken aback by Gabi's accusation, and holds his tongue. --- In Sami's car, Kate holds Sami, cradling her motheringly as Sami cries. KATE: It's okay....Shhh....it's alright. After a moment, Sami leans back over into her own seat. Kate looks through her clutch for a tissue, and hands one to Sami, as Kate gives her some advice. KATE: Have you talked to anyone about this? Sami calms down a bit, wiping the tearstains from her eyes, as she explains her situation to Kate. SAMI: Yeah, EJ and I have been in therapy. KATE: That's good! And he can afford the best, of course. SAMI: Mom suggested we see Laura Horton about it. Kate tries in vain to hold her tongue, but can't quite manage it. KATE: Well, she's certainly...a therapist. Sami throws her head back against the headrest, annoyed by Kate's sarcasm. SAMI: Ugh, Kate-- KATE: Look, therapist aside, you're doing everything right to save your relationship, and so is EJ. You're talking about your problems, you're seeking help. EJ is doing everything he can to be there for you, isn't he? Sami nods, closing her eyes to try to stop herself from crying more. KATE: Then don't you think you need to have a little more faith in him? I don't think he's doing any of this with any ulterior motives. And you know me, I am one of the most suspicious people on the planet, and with good reason. So, maybe it's time you take stock of the man you've got right now, the man EJ has become these last few years. Sami sighs, mulling over Kate's advice. --- At the Salem Central Bank, EJ goes over the documents the bank has provided. He spots a curious transaction, and looks up from the documents. EJ: Sorry, this line right here, there's a transfer out of one of our business accounts...but I'm not sure what SCGWB stands for. The Bank Manager is handed the document by EJ. He scans it over, and nods, before handing it back to EJ. BANK MANAGER: South Chicago Great Western Bank. EJ smiles widely, knowing he's got a lead. EJ: Thank you. I ah...I think I've got all I need. EJ gets up from his seat, quickly shakes the bank manager's hand, before darting out of the office. He smiles as realizes this may be the clue that will help him destroy the evidence Nick and Stefano have against him, and Sami. --- --- Will, looking toward Gabi in the Kiriakis living room, sighs before he answers Gabi. He folds his arms, visibly uncomfortable, and trying not to misspeak. WILL: Gabi, you're not on our bad side. You know better than that. GABI: Well...I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if you were... Will walks up at Gabi, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. WILL: Gabi, I'm always gonna support you. No matter what. You and Ari...Sonny and I are here for you, but...I mean, we weren't exactly thrilled that you...unilaterally decided to move in with Nick with no warning. I mean... GABI: No, I know. I know. And I'm sorry, Will. I really am, but... Gabi looks around, before walking towards the double doors separating the living room from the foyer. She nervously checks the foyer and staircase as she speaks, before closing the double doors to give her and Will some privacy. GABI: I really didn't have....much of a choice in the matter. You know what's at stake, and... After Gabi shuts the doors, Gabi turns around to face Will, a worried look in her eye. GABI: And I'm worried that if we don't take care of this situation quickly, that all of us are gonna be in danger. WILL: Yeah, but, Gabi...why put yourself in the line of fire? You have Ari to worry about. GABI: I can handle it. I can handle it, I can handle Nick. Okay, Will? Just...look, just...I just told Rafe the same thing, but, trust me. Okay? After tonight, you won't have to worry anymore. I promise. Will sighs, shaking his head as he looks Gabi's way. WILL: How can I be sure of that, Gabi? Gabi goes to answer, but Alex enters the room at that moment, smiling warmly at Will, who turns around at the sound of the doors opening from the foyer. ALEX: Hey! Will! Gabi, good morning! WILL: Alex! Hey! I ah...I brought the papers you were asking about. As Alex enters the room, Gabi all but vanishes in Will's eyes, as Gabi's phone vibrates. It's Nick. ALEX: Amazing, I've just gotta say goodbye to Noelle before we head off. Anjelica's got her working as her assistant today, so she's nervous, just gotta...give her a little pep talk, you know. WILL: Yeah-- Gabi interrupts their small talk, heading briskly for the door. Gabi squeezes Will's shoulder quickly as she passes, as a half-assed goodbye. GABI: I gotta...take a call, you guys. I'll see you later? WILL: Yeah, for sure. Gabi heads out of the living room, into the foyer, her phone up to her ear as she answers Nick's call, a phony glee in her voice as she greets him chirpily, but with a miserable face. GABI: (into phone) Hey, Nick! What's up? ... At the Titan Building, Nick walks through the lobby on his cell phone. He has on his usual smug expression as he cheerfully responds to Gabi on the line. NICK: (into phone) Hey, Babe. I ummm...I was wondering if you could pop by my new office. ... Gabi looks to the side, a little confused. GABI: (into phone) Ah, sure? Did you need me to bring you something? ... NICK: (into phone) No no! I'm good, I ah...I just have a little surprise for you, that's all. ... Gabi looks nervous, but pretends to be excited by the news. GABI: (into phone) Okay, that's...exciting. Umm...I can't wait, I'll be right down? ... Nick presses the up button for the elevator, and smiles widely at the news that Gabi's on her way. NICK: (into phone) Yeah! No rush, I gotta iron a couple details out with Julie first, but I should be ready in about...half an hour? ... GABI: (into phone) I'll be there. ... NICK: (into phone) Love you. ... Gabi winces at Nick's assertion of love, and struggles to respond in kind, but ultimately does. GABI: (into phone) Me too. Gabi hangs up the phone, sighing heavily, frustrated by her continued charade. GABI: What are you up to now, Nick? ... As the elevator door opens in the Titan lobby, Nick grins from ear to ear, thrilled that his plans appear to be coming together. Nick thinks to himself about his plans as he steps on board. NICK: (voiceover) You'll never see me coming, Gabi. I got you right where I want you. The elevator doors close with Nick inside the elevator, still smiling widely. --- Kate and Sami pull into the underground parking at the Titan Building, coffees from the Java Café now in hand. They prepare to leave the car, when Sami looks over at Kate and smiles. SAMI: Thank you, by the way. Kate looks over at Sami, returns the smile, putting a comforting hand on Sami's shoulder. KATE: I know you're going through Hell. I understand. Just remember, you're doing a great job, and remember that you've got a fiancé who loves you, and is going to defend you no matter what. You just have to believe in him. SAMI: You're right. You're right, I'm...letting my suspicions run wild, and...I know EJ has no reason to hide things from me to hurt me. KATE: Exactly. Never forget that. As Sami and Kate step out of the car, Sami's phone buzzes. It's EJ. SAMI: (into phone) EJ! ... EJ stands outside the Salem Central Bank, the safe deposit key in his hand. EJ: (into phone) Samantha! Darling, I'm glad I got ahold of you. ... Sami shuts the door to her car, a deep concern in her eyes that Kate immediately spots. SAMI: (into phone) Wha...why, what's wrong? EJ: (via phone) Nothing. Actually, it's very good news, possibly...I just...unfortunately I'm going to need to go to Chicago to make sure. SAMI: (into phone) Chicago? Sami pulls a face, incredulous at EJ's story. ... EJ looks down at the ground, somewhat contrite. EJ: (into phone) Yeah, umm...something's come up, but it may fix things for us, for everybody. I just...I need to get to Chicago and sort it out now, so...unfortunately, I won't be back til' after the party tonight. ... Sami's face hardens, as she attempts to maintain a caring tone on the phone. EJ: (via phone) I'm sorry, sweetheart. I will make it up to you, I promise. SAMI: (into phone) That's...yeah. No, I...I get it. Just...let me know when you're back, okay? ... EJ: (into phone) Will do. Love you. ... Sami tries not to roll her eyes, as she answers EJ before ending the call. SAMI: (into phone) Yeah. Love you. Sami hangs up the phone, and turns to Kate, who now appears worried that all her hard work has been for nothing. KATE: What happened? SAMI: Oh nothing, I just know for sure now that EJ's been lying. He's absolutely up to something, and I'm gonna find out what. Sami storms off toward the Titan building, leaving Kate behind with a worried expression in her eyes, before Kate turns to follow Sami inside.

I also can't let go of his objections to his pairing with Angie at AMC back in the day. There's objection to a bad story, and then it steps over a line, and I feel his objections are just a TOUCH loud, and in the wrong places.

Carrie and Austin's son is apparently named Noah. I'm sure that'll change once he's actually onscreen, though 😛 Agreed on all counts. There is an embarrassment of riches to work with, and with such interesting histories to work with, the stories would write themselves if the writers would bother to do a minute of research. I still struggle to understand why Ciara isn't the daddy-starved brat Lauren Boles played. Nathan was underdeveloped, but would be great if he was fleshed out better. Hell, we don't even know who his FATHER is, over ten years later! Johnny should be the vaguely sociopathic DiMera heir apparent of the teen set. I have NO idea why they haven't cast him yet.

The show's problem is really that, while they invested a lot of time and energy into their young characters in the 2000s and 2010s, they didn't develop them as much as CHARACTERS, and they're paying for that now. The last blast crew are so generic they change personalities with every visit, and the 2010s teen crew, while better developed, don't follow through with the directions their histories suggest they should have. Chad should NEVER have forgiven Gabi, nevermind fallen for her. That not only negated the previous 3-4 years of story, but it also removed a lot of Gabi's thrust as a character to that point. She always felt inferior to, and unworthy, compared to the other women in her circle, and that motivated a lot of her choices, from hiring Andrew the Stalker, to sleeping with Will when she knew he was gay, to falling for and marrying Nick. She settled for scraps every time. While I do like that she finally had enough after taking the rap for Abbygabbylauragale killing André and grew a spine, the wind was definitely out of her sails for awhile. The leads now could easily have been Austin and Carrie, but that chance has also past. I'dve brought them back for the 50th, had Patrick Muldoon's Austin rediscover his love of music playing piano at TBD, and have Eve and him connect over their shared love of music. While Carrie is busy working a case (let's say Ben goes to trial and Carrie is his attorney, pissing off the rest of the family after Will's murder), Austin spends his free time coaching Eve back into singing, and eventually they have an affair (for some reason, I see PM having chemistry with KDP and not Austin Peck). Obviously, Carrie hooks back up with Rafe during this time. This could've carried years of story, and taken the pressure off the DM's. It's getting a little ridiculous at this point to focus the energy on them, really. You're right.

That one person was a writer. Guaranteed.🤣 The only type of person who would've gone "who would be the most dramatic person to be the babydaddy, hmmmm" is a writer.

Yeah, well. DAYS does that a lot nowadays. See revealing Eli is David's son in the same instant that we find out David drove his motorbike into a ditch and died. All offscreen. I miss Marlena's snark. She needs a snark partner, be it Kristen, Hope, or Mary. Deidre is great when she gets to show that side of Marlena. You're right as well, What I've seen of the reveal of Kellam's rape was riveting. But again, I think it's harder to give it 100% when the stories you're given are so...shall we say, fanciful. I had Noelle come to town married to a secretly bisexual Alex Kiriakis, and she can't figure out why her husband is disinterested in the bedroom, meanwhile Alex is sniffing around Will Horton, so Noelle goes after Eric. I love a good mess. LOL. But really, it doesn't make sense to tell the story without her. She's a blank slate AND a legacy character. It's a perfect opportunity, and they just didn't take it. True, and it sounds like Bell and PFS didn't either. Don was her distraction while she was married to Bob and lusted after Doug. Don was always very much on the sidelines. Frankly, I think they could've leaned into Mary's lingering feelings for Don instead and used THAT to make Marlena and Mary rivals instead. The history precedes it.

Agreed. I don't think the synopsies do justice to the work Deidre put in to sell these stinkers at the time. Liz should have been back so many times. I still think Noelle and Liz need to come back. When putting together my fanfic, I had Linsey Godfrey in as Noelle before the show cast her as Sarah, and honestly, agewise, I still think it's a better fit. I do get the sense as well that Marlena was, up until around 1980, very much on the B-story at DAYS. She just kept knocking what material she was given out of the park and when Rabin cleared the rest of the vets out in 1980, she was recentred as a more central figure. I do think a good headwriter would've really dug into Don's sense that Marlena was a consolation prize, and built something of an insecurity complex into Marlena's dealings with Don into it, rather than all the Donna nonsense. Or maybe have it COLOUR the Donna story, where Marlena feels like Don cares more about Donna than her because he sees Marlena more as a warm body than anything, and have Julie and Don maintain the kind of friendship that Julie and Neil ultimately had, existing largely to stimulate Marlena's insecurities about her relationship with Don. But no.

I mean, REALLY! Even if AMC wasn't generally your cup of tea, the stories were WAY more interesting than what DAYS was giving you at the time. And then at CBS you have Y&R? DAYS didn't stand a chance with The Misadventures of the Omnipotent Chandlers. Y&R on its WORST days in the 80s was a thousand times more interesting than what we've been reading about on DAYS.

It's funny, the stuff we're discussing is so clear in my mind, and yet, just months later, I have completely lost interest in writing the monthly synopsies I was doing. I know I'll get back to them in time, in one form or another, but like...it's surprising how quickly DAYS shifted to this whole slew of new characters I simply couldn't care less about. Most of the stories before, no matter how bad they were, were at least engaging enough that I got sucked into writing about them, and the characters, and everything. But Laemmle's characters were so bland that, with the exception of Jessica, who I find roundly unlikeable, and Liz, who was spared largely because I sense Gloria Loring really gave 110% every damn day than the writing, I really don't give a damn about these people, and they CONSUME about 80% of the column inches in 1980. No wonder the show was in trouble. I can definitely see how, considering the shift toward these bland characters and their romantic back and forth no one gives a damn about, Marlena would have shifted to become more central during this period. She's the only thing that really grounds any of the Kellam & Co. nonsense, and even though she's being written as a complete knob throughout the story, you care about what happens to her, Don, and Liz.

Who just happened to work for NBC! yeah, if it walks like a duck...

In a sensible world, the kidney issue would've been what finally brings the sisters back together, but they'd already reconciled by then because Ann Marcus said so. The kidney story was the next in a series of annoying domestic disputes between Don and Marlena that inadvertently showed just how poorly matched they were. Marlena was willing to give up a kidney for Sam, her own pregnancy be damned, and Don didn't even want Sam in the house. It's a miracle their marriage lasted another year, to be honest. I think PFS knew there wasn't much for Sam to do, knowing that, ultimately, she was hardly like Stuart Chandler, in that she wasn't SO different from Marlena that she would really add anything to the show, other than open the door to yet more doppelganger nonsense. The best course of action, IMO, was indeed to kill her off. I thought the letter-writing campaign was serious, but the protest...the more I look back on it and how Marlena was written mostly as part of the ensemble at that point, I really can't see it being legit so much as a publicity stunt. The public were way more willing to buy into that stuff back then, let's be honest.