Actually, Passanante started with the Proteus story. It was the summer of 2001 when all the teens were druggies and throwing raves at the boathouse. Tad wanted to find out who was supplying Pine Valley with all the drugs. Chris Stamp came to investigate and the drugs were being smuggled through Enchantment or something. Simone was faking an affair with Mateo. Then Culliton took over soon after this and Vanessa was revealed to be Proteus in late 2001/early 2002. She faked multiple personalities – “Rosie Wells” (her 1940’s movie star persona) and “Nessa” (her sweet and innocent farm gal persona) – so the cops would think she was insane and no charges would be filed. Wasn’t the Proteus money in diamonds? I remember Leo dropping them in the water and Vanessa going bonkers.

Actually, Passanante started with the Proteus story. It was the summer of 2001 when all the teens were druggies and throwing raves at the boathouse. Tad wanted to find out who was supplying Pine Valley with all the drugs. Chris Stamp came to investigate and the drugs were being smuggled through Enchantment or something. Simone was faking an affair with Mateo. Then Culliton took over soon after this and Vanessa was revealed to be Proteus in late 2001/early 2002. She faked multiple personalities – “Rosie Wells” (her 1940’s movie star persona) and “Nessa” (her sweet and innocent farm gal persona) – so the cops would think she was insane and no charges would be filed. Wasn’t the Proteus money in diamonds? I remember Leo dropping them in the water and Vanessa going bonkers.

See that's what I heard...

And I LOVED the drug stuff with the teens and then Stamp finding out that Enchantment was the place they were going through - and that led to Erica/Chris Stamp.

Then I loved how Vanessa was revealed as Proteus and her going 'crazy' with the different multiple personalities was amazing. Marj was EXCELLENT and deserved some recognition for that work. Especially when she tied up Greenlee and then had that whole 'scene' at the Valley Inn (or wherever it was)....she came in with the wig just going crazy. That was one of my most fav. scenes of AMC ever.

**Sorry, this has all gone off-topic to Proteus now....lol

Actually, Passanante started with the Proteus story. It was the summer of 2001 when all the teens were druggies and throwing raves at the boathouse. Tad wanted to find out who was supplying Pine Valley with all the drugs. Chris Stamp came to investigate and the drugs were being smuggled through Enchantment or something. Simone was faking an affair with Mateo. Then Culliton took over soon after this and Vanessa was revealed to be Proteus in late 2001/early 2002. She faked multiple personalities – “Rosie Wells” (her 1940’s movie star persona) and “Nessa” (her sweet and innocent farm gal persona) – so the cops would think she was insane and no charges would be filed. Wasn’t the Proteus money in diamonds? I remember Leo dropping them in the water and Vanessa going bonkers.

Passnante did the drug story starting Laura and then JR and the teens but there was never any mention of Proteus at that point. I don't think Passnante intended for her story to go past the summer. It was to all wrap up probably with Marcus Sweeny's father being the bad guy.

Culliton came on and thought the show was too disjointed, none of stories linked up so he came up with Proteus as a way to make the show a cohesive entity.

Chris Stamp, under Passanante's originial plan, was to have been involved with a rival cosmetics company, spying on Enchantment. Culliton made him a federal agent instead.

Sounds like writer burnout or Mctrash is purposefully ruining the show.

No, they didn’t mention “Proteus” by name, but there was talk of a drug lord terrorizing Pine Valley. I remember this being around July 2001. So I still think Passanante first set the story into motion, but then Culliton made it his own and ran with it.

I liked Proteus initially, I thought it was an interesting idea. But the Mateo/Simone angle no one cared about, and it went on too long. Richard Culliton is often a hit and miss HW and that was part of it, but he also did a lot of good things at AMC during that time IMHO.

I seem to recall reading that Agnes was very upset when Brian Frons had demanded they end the Vanessa story in 2002 (when she and Leo "died") , because she had wanted to do more with Marj Dusay. But then Agnes and Culliton were removed, and they brought in those awful temp writers. Lena or no Lena I hated those people. And as much as I did not care for Chris Stamp I thought the way they wrote him out was so weird. Those goofy scenes in the woods in the middle of nowhere with rock music and little Maddie.

It's also funny that Simone was originally brought in as this slinky "woman of mystery" working on all these covert activities with Mateo, and now she's just comic relief. The character never really clicked.

I think one of Culltion's strong points were the romantic couples. He did those good with Greenlee & Leo, Kendall & Ryan, Anna & David, Brooke & Edmund. He wasn't too good with the larger plotting. But I really enjoyed the scenes with the couples. Simple scenes - like waking up in the morning, having breakfast, ect. I miss that.

I liked Proteus initially, I thought it was an interesting idea. But the Mateo/Simone angle no one cared about, and it went on too long. Richard Culliton is often a hit and miss HW and that was part of it, but he also did a lot of good things at AMC during that time IMHO.

I seem to recall reading that Agnes was very upset when Brian Frons had demanded they end the Vanessa story in 2002 (when she and Leo "died") , because she had wanted to do more with Marj Dusay. But then Agnes and Culliton were removed, and they brought in those awful temp writers. Lena or no Lena I hated those people. And as much as I did not care for Chris Stamp I thought the way they wrote him out was so weird. Those goofy scenes in the woods in the middle of nowhere with rock music and little Maddie.

It's also funny that Simone was originally brought in as this slinky "woman of mystery" working on all these covert activities with Mateo, and now she's just comic relief. The character never really clicked.

Yup. Richard and/or Agnes had a big story planned for Vanessa/Erica. The seeds were dropped: a casting call went out for 'Eric Kane', Erica got flowers from her dad on her birthday, but Frons put an end to that. Now we can see why. A story with a bunch of older people and using the show's history is not his cup of tea.

The writing is just horrible. I have always held AMC to higher standards than this. It is sad when Days is much better than AMC. Don't get me wrong I like, Days but I never expected much from the writing.

Why would AMC not write for Brooke and get rid of Opal only to bring on silly characters. Does ANYONE care about Colby, Sydney and Sean??? Not only are the characters useless, but the storylines are Paris Hilton shallow. At least on GH, the young crowd have some meat to chew on (Lulu's pregnancy as it impacts on her, Dillion and Georgie).

And don't even get me started on Dixie. I was so looking forward to her return and giving her the benefit of the doubt when it came to kate and why she was lurking for soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

long. But now not only can I not stand the character, every character that is connected to her is tainted by the sheer stupidity of the writing and I just don't mean Zendall.

I think one of Culltion's strong points were the romantic couples. He did those good with Greenlee & Leo, Kendall & Ryan, Anna & David, Brooke & Edmund. He wasn't too good with the larger plotting. But I really enjoyed the scenes with the couples. Simple scenes - like waking up in the morning, having breakfast, ect. I miss that.

Agreed.

And do you remember the Wednesday themed episodes?

The only one I remember was the all women episode...the bridal shower. But there were several in a row..I can't remember what the other "themes" were... They weren't publicized, which I liked.

The writing is all over the place, not one single storyline right now makes any sense at all.

It's also funny that Simone was originally brought in as this slinky "woman of mystery" working on all these covert activities with Mateo, and now she's just comic relief. The character never really clicked.

It took me a little while to like Simone, but I really started appreciating the actress during the storyline when she was sleeping with Greenlee's dad (not Jackson, the other one). I also liked the ditzy Simone and I think Teri Ivens does great with comedy (her scenes with Tad were really funny) , but the problem with that is they didn’t give her much depth. I love a silly character (like Opal), but they need to show her as more than just the office goofball. Teri once again showed her diverse skills after Ethan died in the explosion, but it was like 2 scenes... and that was it. Simone seems to have an identity crisis. This probably appears to be the case because her first few stories were very dramatic, and then – out of nowhere - she was made a ditz. Everyone has different sides to their personality, but we need to see more of her (not just at Fusion) to get a clearer picture of who she really is. I remember her father (the overbearing doctor) and her brother (the kid who overdosed on heroin). These were two things that really went nowhere. How about we revisit them? I think a great story would be that Simone is very sad, lonely, and doesn’t really know who she is so she uses the dimwitted/horny act as front to hide the pain. They should explore her demons.

Terri Ivens was a find, they'd be stupid to get rid of her.

Terri Ivens was a find, they'd be stupid to get rid of her.

But stupid is what they are all about, and it is a real shame.

But stupid is what they are all about, and it is a real shame.

Yeah it is a shame. It's as bad as As the World Turns having an amazing actor like Trent Dawson, but yet never giving him his own storyline like he deserves.