1 hour ago, DRW50 said:

I do wonder how much of the hostage-holding was, as mentioned, down to Robert Tyler wanting to leave and Jessica Collins actually leaving. Up to that point they did have Tucker moving on (didn't he ask Angie on a date only a few months after Trisha died?).

I agree The City was always doomed (I'm still surprised the idea even went through), but if they had had stronger story in place from the start...that probably wouldn't have helped either, to be honest, as I don't think the show was run in a lot of places, but maybe it would have given more time for a replacement soap that was stronger than early PC.

I am surprised they even teased Tucker/Angie - no other interracial relationships on ABC up to that point had involved the leading man, from what I remember. If that relationship had gone forward it would have been interesting, a world away from anything with Tucker and Dinah Lee. I don't know what they would have done, beyond the basics (presumably he would have had conflict with Frankie)

What you mention about Trisha is why I think she could have potentially found a home in The City, as her lack of memory was a blank slate. One story I thought about was if Trucker and Dinah Lee died and she had to raise Christopher, who had no memory of her as she had no memories of him, and they would learn to love each other, but you may also see glimpses of Trisha unknowingly making some of the same mistakes Gwyn and Clay made as parents.

I might put her in a pairing with Danny too, as he schemes to get her money but then falls for her.

Angie/Trucker would've been intriguing. She's a beloved legacy character and could've challenged him. But, as you pointed out, soap operas at that time were very resistant to interracial romances. Neil and Victoria were squashed on Y&R quickly in 98/99 due to backlash that led to actual threats. Now, it's more commonplace. Trucker comes off so basic and stuck in a loop of being caught up in whatever woman he's with, and Dinah Lee's characterization is no better, and it's a wrap once the role is recast.

Phantom Trisha is exhausting, but I like your idea of her being in The City on second thought. She would've made a much better fit than Morgan Fairchild's Sydney Chase. I have nothing against MF, but why her and that character to launch the show? I have the first three months of The City (to see the beginning and how Cooper and Steffi wrapped up), and Sydney does nothing for me. Not even when she squabbles with Tess, who wears black almost all the time. Even on Loving, she's usually in black. It becomes noticeable after a while.

Danny and Trisha could've had potential. Much better than Ally and Danny. The chemistry was there, but the well was poisoned.

Jane Elliot could've also been part of the launching pad of The City. You can never go wrong with the sheer force of will with an actress of that caliber, but both she and Tracy Quartermaine always belonged on GH/Port Charles.

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27 minutes ago, CrazySexyQ said:

Angie/Trucker would've been intriguing. She's a beloved legacy character and could've challenged him. But, as you pointed out, soap operas at that time were very resistant to interracial romances. Neil and Victoria were squashed on Y&R quickly in 98/99 due to backlash that led to actual threats. Now, it's more commonplace. Trucker comes off so basic and stuck in a loop of being caught up in whatever woman he's with, and Dinah Lee's characterization is no better, and it's a wrap once the role is recast.

Phantom Trisha is exhausting, but I like your idea of her being in The City on second thought. She would've made a much better fit than Morgan Fairchild's Sydney Chase. I have nothing against MF, but why her and that character to launch the show? I have the first three months of The City (to see the beginning and how Cooper and Steffi wrapped up), and Sydney does nothing for me. Not even when she squabbles with Tess, who wears black almost all the time. Even on Loving, she's usually in black. It becomes noticeable after a while.

Danny and Trisha could've had potential. Much better than Ally and Danny. The chemistry was there, but the well was poisoned.

Jane Elliot could've also been part of the launching pad of The City. You can never go wrong with the sheer force of will with an actress of that caliber, but both she and Tracy Quartermaine always belonged on GH/Port Charles.

Dinah Lee was just carried by Jessica Collins. Instead of pairing her with Tucker I might have throw her back to Clay. She might have married him and became the lady of the manor, but then he got bored and started falling for Steffi, someone even younger than Dinah Lee, and she'd start to feel what Gwyn felt.

I love Morgan Fairchild but I was never sure why ABC worked so hard to court her as she was not a big name by 1995. I guess they didn't get what they expected, based on the crass and needless way they killed Sydney in the finale.

Jane was fantastic and lit up The City from her first appearance. It may have been better to have her there from the start, as you said, maybe initially poor and cut off from her family and slowly climbing the ranks.

Trisha being there from the start could have been interesting - maybe too much of a reminder of the Loving Murders, but then she wouldn't have any reaction to that anyway. There would also be some conflict with characters like Steffi who would be mourning her mother more than she ever could.

From "LOVING/The City" Soap Operas & Currently “GH,” Laura Wright Cameo- The BEST! Part One!

He also has several Cameos with Lauren Marie Taylor and Randolph Mantooth.

I didn't know she was still friends with Eric Woodall. Or that Jessica Collins tested for Ally.

Edited 12 minutes ago12 min by DRW50