If you refer to the Dar Salaam Bible storyline which I referred to as 'disturbing' (and I was very restrained in my characterization), then I agree things really went south from there. Yes, it was action packed with video shots on different locations, hot pursuits, twists and turns, mistaken identities what have you...it had almost the entire cast involved some way or another, but I think it drained the show's resources and seriously backfired in terms of viewing figures around late 83' and the first quarter of 84'.

It was also a time when we saw early departures of major characters who were there from the beginning and that was clearly an ominous sign. I don't think the idea to introduce the extended Carpenter family was particularly engaging, although the Peter-Courtney-Vaughn triangle was interesting up to a point. I didn't appreciate the fact that Carla and Lori's characters were reduced to being the dutiful wives to the point they were actually functioning as their respective husbands' personal job assistants instead of having a dignified storyline of their own, but since both were just after giving labor, there were no viable options for their character development. The Vanessa storyline was captivating and Vanessa's casting fitted like a glove, but its conclusion unforgivable, just like Jeff's miraculous healing through divine intervention wasn't something I could accept as a dramatic vehicle for a soap. I knew very well I was watching a Christian soap with clear subliminal and not so subliminal messages and indoctrinations. I had no problem with the premise, more with the execution at times.

I can think of many more underlining stories that bored me during the last year: I didn't like Nancy's lawsuit against Ben with Dan Meyers as the new shady lawyer, the marriage scheme, Miriam falling for Jeremy of all people as a parable for something... I know what the purpose was, but it was still unacceptable to me. And then we had Ben getting national recognition and media attention, leaving the clinic for the Bedford institute without knowing he's a pawn in Brian and Vanessa's deadly schemes. The campus fake shooting story was not one I particularly warmed up to. The paternity/pregnancy story seemed like an unecessary complication to get Dan and Gil's characters some 'action' after a long lull. I did like Tina's addition to the show from the moment she walked in, although her connection to John seemed completely random. She was a hoot...up to the point where things got more serious. If I had to watch those episodes again, which I probably won't, I don't think my mind would change about how I feel about those stories. There is more to unpack here, but that's for another occasion.

Edited Tuesday at 02:16 AM5 days by YTG

I’m very early in the Lee Carrouthers episodes. I have very little sense of the character overall. He has political ambitions, but Sebastian Knight’s ambition seems much grander. Gleason is charming as Lee, and, on a network series, I imagine the story would have been a Kate / Lee / Amber triangle in the traditional sense. Lee seems found of Kate, but ultimately, he is not a one-woman man. And that they have made very clear. 

I have seen a few episodes much later in the run, and they rarely seem to have the same energy I find in the current lot, even when I have caught stuff from the lead up to the murder of Kate. I will be curious how I feel about the show by January, 1984. 

I also question some things in the long run. I like Kelly Gwinn as Lance, the enforcer, but I don’t think that is a character that needed to live on after the end of the storyline involving the mob. I know there was some chemistry testing late in the kidnapping story, but Burnett was a strong enough actress that she could have carried a story with anyone. Given her history with Nancy, I think pairing them with the same man would have made sense. I know the fate of Paul Mason, but I do think they should have tried to reunite Paul and Miriam as I think there was mileage to play there even without Paul being endgame for Miriam. 

I feel like Vicki Lang may have outstayed her welcome. The third actress has come on and I really just don’t care about her story. I think the second actress was miscast, but having her allow the falsified soil report go through was the beginning of the end for the character. With Gil firmly enmeshed in the Amber story, I just don’t see the need for Vicki’s story to continue especially as they seem to be attempting to move Peter towards Marianne. 

The Dar Saalam bible story was Vinley’s favorite, but I don’t think that it is anything I’ll enjoy. It seems very plot heavy. 

The DOMI story is something I am looking forward to in the final year, but I can see how the supernatural twist could be viewed as an about face on a fairly serious show. For years, I thought the idea of Russ going to hell seemed hokey, but seeing the build up now, I am understanding the deeper emotional and spiritual ramifications of that act. I still am deeply moved by Blue’s final moments. 

I will be curious to see how I feel about the other Carpenter clan. I do really enjoy Miriam and Charles, while also thinking it would be nice if Helen popped in more often. I imagine Randy Kraft and Ginger Burnett were considering leaving which is why that branch was added, but they were introduced many months before either actor left. I have to wonder how much steam that part of the show lost with Peter Davidson departing a couple months before the cancellation. 

Nancy’s best days do seem behind her, but I saw a few scenes of her explaining why she was suing Ben Martin and it seemed logical. I do think at some point Terry was going to have to distance herself from Nancy after all the terrible things she did. I am also curious to see her relationship with Doug Hughes, who I really liked in his brief appearances in 1981 during the Hollister Square storyline. If only Mitch Dunbar could have returned as well.

Without giving away too much, your instincts about Sebastian are absolutely correct.

Lance does return after he gets incarcerated. I won't disclose the circumstances, but I will say that for a newcomer soap actor, it was like winning the lottery because only few actors get to do what he did. It's not that the storyline had any credence, but rather the fact that it could have given him a career boost. Unfortunately it didn't and he would eventually retire and become a psychiatrist...

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/david-kelly-gwin-licensed-psychotherapist-new-york-ny/72575

There was a suggestion at some point that Peter and Marianne could have hit it on, that he could have been more than a friendly shoulder to cry on. Vicky #2's sudden departure (or what at least seemed like one for either contractual or other reason) created a problem and the story had to be exhausted. It seemed like the casting was rushed because 'Vicky' didn't look anything like Vicky, but she was more credible as an actress. The problem was her exit storyline which saw her get involved with... Lee Corathers' campaign. That's only one aspect that had to do with her eventually leaving, but I don't want to give away the rest. Let's just say the Corathers angle made sense, but her relationship with Peter made Peter look too foolish and altruistic beyond belief. BTW, Peter actually left 6-8 weeks before the show ended while others left a few months earlier.

Russ was certainly a very troubled man after his personal and professional upheavals, so I get that he was haunted by the ghosts of the past and that his near death experience or the fact that he was clinically dead for a few minutes made him have visions of going to Hell as a perpetual boiling pot.

The fact that Nancy sued Ben may have made sense, but it felt so contrived. I understand that Nancy would have eventually reach a point where she would want to take her life, but not in the way it had Ben involved. It was just too much, an unnecessary complication in my view because it dragged on and on and on. I remember having a hard time with it. Doug Hughes' role in all of this is barely memorable to be honest which just goes to show that the whole story arc got on my nerves. Doug approached Ben as a friend but was actually sent to him as a 'spy' to get dirt for Nancy's lawyer. Only later did he switch sides, came clean and helped Ben win the medical neglect claim.

The New Carpenters were indeed introduced a few months before Charles and Miriam left around the same time. They didn't arrive all at once just like the Philipps' clan was gradully introduced, but the first new Carpenter's identity wasn't disclosed. We only knew his or her private name for a while and it was only later that the connection to the Carpenters was established.

Edited Tuesday at 05:56 AM5 days by YTG

I loved Laura Laigh Taylor as Vicki. I thought the uptight, no non-sense Vicki who worked with Gene and didn't have he time of day for Peter was a nice running gag. I also didn't hate it initially when her Vicki started seeing Gil after breaking things off with her fiance. I thought that was fine. The second actress (Kathryn King, I think) was just too big a departure in the role. In story, I could see how Vicki might have spiraled after going from a relatively reserved young woman to having been bedded by town mattress Gil Prescott, but I don't think King had the experience to embed the kind of emotional depth that one needed to keep Vicki from falling completely off the cliff into a shallow woman scorn.

I was surprised to see how far into the year Vicki lasts. In an episode from the time of the murder, Vicki and Peter are engaged, I believe. I imagine her concluding story has something to do with the collapse of the Cantebury complex.

@YTG Feel free to say whatever you want and not worry about the spoilers. I have been reading about Another Life since 1998 so there are lots of things I have and haven't read about the show. When I first stumbled upon soap opera message boards in that time period, I never expected to see as many shows as I have now. I know Sebastian's fate, which is why I mentioned in one of my last marathon posts that I was very surprised to see the writers have Lee state that one day Sebastian will go too far in his pursuit of political power.

There are times I feel that Jason Vinley just redoes a lot of earlier stories, but with stronger emphasis on character and emotional fallout. For example, I have to wonder if the Russ joins the mob story was originally a part of Vinley's late 1970s Another Life bible. We get that very briefly in 1981 after Vince gets the doctor for Lori and Russ goes to work at the trucking company. As much as I love Russ' story in 1983 with the mob, Blue, and Lori, I really thought they could have drawn out Russ' work at the hospital longer, but I do see how critical Russ' role is in the overall tale.

A lot of the Amber / Gil / Stacey stuff feels like much stronger version of the Deena / Gil / Vicki story that the Barnes were stringing together towards the end. Peter returning to the construction company seems like a reset, but I also wonder at what point Jason Vinley was asked to start watching episodes again because I want to say Dave #1's departure from the show is around the same time as Babs first appearance.

You asked earlier about Dave's family when John Cardoza was in the role Dave's original (offscreen) exit was to go reconcile with his ex-wife/wife and I feel like Dave mentioned losing his family to his drinking, but I could be wrong about that. There were never any specifics given. I think the most substantial backstory relationship John Cardoza's Dave had was he had been friendly and worked with Dr. Alex Greely. I also think the abortionist angle was mentioned in 1981, but I'd have to review my posts for accuracy.

I agree that Vicki #1 was the best down-to-Earth Vicki who started off mousy looking and later grew out of her shell, very much like Stacy did, but perhaps she wasn't cast as a contract role at first. Maybe the writers at the time didn't have any concrete plan to use her character again, which is why Jill became Peter's next romantic interest.

You're right to point out that Vinley probably resuscitated stories that marked the show's 'lost' episodes with emphasis on Kingsley's underworld. He also brought back Eric Mason in person and an off screen Paul Mason since their early let off from the show was perhaps necessary, just like Helen's was, but they all had to return at a later point as Miriam got her life back on track.

I remembered now that when I watched AL when I was 14 years old, I couldn't fully let everything sink in and so for some strange reason I thought Blue Nobles with actually Russ' lost brother 'Tony' because it was my impression Russ would also stutter at times when he got really enraged. I can't come up with concrete examples, but I thought it would be a Greek tragedy if he unknowingly killed the brother he didn't know. How I could have concocted such a convoluted story is still a mystery to me.

What you're telling me about Dave #1 is coming back to me now and it pretty much makes sense. He was Jeff Cummings' cell mate when he was incarcerated after being mistakenly accused of harboring drugs at the book shop if I recall.

Speaking of Sebastian, I think I mentioned some time ago or maybe not that the actor playing him passed away before completing the storyline and so the script had to be adjusted. As a result, a few scenes were played by a different actor making it seem as though the original actor playing was still at the helms. They used old shots and other manipulations to disguise the fact he was no longer there. They even used a different voiceover without actually showing him during the reconstruction of the murder scenes, when Amber's neighbor, the eccentric Mrs. Schmidt, heard the shooting from Amber's apartment just after a heated arguement between Kate and a man with a deep voice. In fact, the actor who played some of the new scripted acenes was non other than Alan Sader (Harold) who had similar body measurements like Sebastian. If you rewatch those scenes or notice when Sebastian mysteriously disappears from the show with off screen phone calls between him and Lee, you'll know that's when the actor was no longer alive at that point. The second bullet theory which was a turning point in solving Kate's murder may have been an unforeseen development, but how could possibly any professional forensic unit not identify a second bullet after cordoning off the crime scene in the first place? Seems not plausible after thoroughly scouring a small size apartment... Besides, how could Amber possibly stay one more second at that place afterwards? and how could Miriam rent that space? And how conveniently would Miriam take over Amber's modeling agency without prior experience or background? Some really shabby writing there. That's why I say things mostly went South after Dave's trial was over and the identity of the killer revealed. At that time, Russ was developing a relationship with Blair Simpson, Amber's friend, but that was cut short because the writers decided to have Blair suddenly fade into thin air without any explanation and drag Russ into that ludicrous old Bible hunt and the final showdown with Lance.

Edited Thursday at 07:37 PM2 days by YTG

I forgot where I left off in my viewing so I picked up with 485. It was a good place to start as so many interesting things are going on.

The biggest shock for me is how deep the writers are exploring the issues in the Lori / Blue story. As I had hoped, they really seem to be leaning into the idea that Lori might have an abortion, or is at least not taking care of herself because she believes Blue is the father of the child. This is such a complicated angle to take in an abortion story on a Christian soap opera. Lori is presented as not completely mentally well, but she also isn't villainized. There is an undercurrent that society's view of the mentally unwell makes the situation worse for people than it has to be. McLeod's plays the subtext fine without leaning into it to heavily, which avoids the moralizing. While Lori isn't the villain, and we know Lori won't go through with it, it's interesting that they are going there with Lori's thoughts on abortion. She wasn't raped, but she believes she is. The child isn't Blue's, but Lori believes it is. Ben is clearly fraught about it, but he is still giving Lori her bodily autonomy. This conflict, Lori's decision, drives the tension in Ben and Lori's marriage and it feels very natural that we would be heading to a breaking point for the two characters. Terry's role as mediator also keeps Mary Jean Feton busy.

There was a nice scene between Dave and Ben where Dave starts sharing information with Ben that Dave had heard from Terry, assuming Terry had already spoken with Ben. When Dave's own history working in an abortion comes into play, Ben immediately rejects Terry and Dave's concern that Lori might be considering teriminating the pregnancy. Quickly, Ben starts to realize that Lori isn't the same woman he married after the attack. The characters' backstories are used to naturally drive the conflict in the story even if the over arching story may be a bit over the top.

The best moment though has been the reunion between Lori and Miriam Carpenter now that Miriam has been returned after months of being held hostage by Lance, Blue, and Ron. Also, like I had hoped, Miriam brings up Blue to Lori and it is a wildly satsifying scene. Miriam's newfound understanding of Blue, Lori's closemindedness regarding Blue's past actions as they relate to her, and Lori and Miriam's own complicated history mesh together to deliver a powerful conversation between two people. Lori remains strong in her stance that Blue is a monster, while Miriam tries to get Lori to see that Blue suffered terribly in life through his childhood in foster care. In a pivotal moment, Miriam struggles to understand how Lori can forgive her (Miriam) so easily after all the terrible things that Miriam did to her, but not Blue. This leads to Lori's confession that she is carrying Blue's baby. It's really intense and well done.

Miriam's return to continues to spider out in nice ways. Still believing the Redlons are responsible for her kidnapping, Charles insists his daughter stay away from them. Miriam makes it clear that the Redlons are her friends, and that she will not be kept from them. I appreciate this because those scenes of Mama Ione and her "daughters" Miriam and Babs were such warm scenes that may not have moved the plot, but enriched the storytelling by building such emotional ties between the characters. Another story is picking up the mantle in this direction, but in a slightly different way.

The Phillips story is more and more making sense to me. On a show like Another Life, there always needs to be a family that has such a disrupted moral core that redemption and the hopes of reconciliation will drive the story. We saw it very early on with the Cummings, semi-completed with the Slaymakers, in an unfinished way with the Carpenters and the Prescotts, and now more so with the Phillips brood. The interactions at the penthouse with Kate and her polar opposite daughters Stacey and Amber Phillips make compelling viewing. Flowers are delivered to the residence and there is a big to do about who they are from. Kate suspects they are from Gil for Amber, Amber thinking that they are from Lee for Kate, and Stacey hoping they are for Kate, but from Dave. This immediately plays into the Lee-Kate-Dave triangle, but also emphasizing the ongoing tension between Amber and Stacey. Amber makes a brutal cut when she says that the flowers could easily have been for anyone in the apartment, except Stacey. In the meantime, Kate seems very torn. She seems to still have deep feelings for Dave, but she seems to think that the past is the past. There is a nice bit of gossiping between Kate and Stacey earlier about how Gil seems very interested in a cool, calm Amber.

Of course, all of this coincides into the bigger moment, Dave's arrival at the penthouse to see Kate for the first time in years, unaware that Lee is there. Kate and Dave's reunion is tender and bittersweet with Kate later recalling the scene with her daughters saying that she felt more pity, than love, for Dave. Lee's presence also sets Dave off. They apparently were a part of the country club set together and have at least a passing knowledge of the other. Later, Dave recalls how in this moment he felt like he was in high school all over again. There's just such emotional richness in this story that it's hard not to stop what you are doing and watch.

The fallout of this incident sets out to be heartbreaking; Dave decides he's going to wallow in his misery at the Castaway Bar. In a case of strange bedfellows, it is Nancy who cozies up to Dave hoping that they can connect on another level. It is broke, desperate Nancy who ends up stealing Dave's drink, not out of kindness but out of her own selfish desire. It's a nice resolution complete with some fun sniping at Nancy from Ernie the bartender who won't serve Nancy because she has a tendency to not pay her tabs. I don't hate the characterization for Nancy, but she is such a bigger character to be just floating around the canvas. Though, I think they mentioned a stockbroker Ben/Dan Myers so maybe her story is about to change.

There is also some nice movement in the Monk story, finally. Carla and Gene have it out over Gene's desire to house Monk when Ione has offered to do the same. Gene makes it clear that he feels Monk needs a male role model, and that is something he wouldn't have on a daily basis at Ione's. It's an interesting point to make as Gene makes it clear he grew up without his father. The more surprising moment was the suggestion that Carla's concerns regarding taking in Monk aren't just about the fact that her new child will need stability that Monk is sure to disrupt, but that streetwise Monk doesn't fit into the surburban dream that Carla has been cultivating with her husband and children moving into Nora's old home. The hint of classism is a nice layer for Carla, who, under Kari Page, always seemed paper thin.

Monk meets with the judge and is freed. It is nice to see this resolved after what has to be nearly seven months. I am not sure if Joe James was unavailable or the writers felt the other stories needed more space, but it was a shame to just stall this story over and over.

There were some nice scenes and revelations in Russ' story. He is currently on the run because the police suspect he had a bigger role in the kidnapping than he did. Russ has hit up Peter for money and made a suggestion that Peter is going after Marianne. I was trying to figure out how this could play out with any real interest (Peter/Marianne) and I settled on Terry acting as the torn in their side knowing that Marianne hasn't given up on Russ. If Peter and Marianne were to be a couple, Terry would fear that Marianne would go back to Russ at some point and break Peter's heart. Also, Vicky's role in the Cantebury Complex report would certainly give Peter and Marianne different sides of the same issue to fight over as the outcome is sure to impact Prescott Development and their reputation. I also think the Peter / Gil friendship would be tested by Peter's interest in Marianne even if initially Gil might have been pleased to see Marianne move past Russ.

In episode 490, Russ has found himself back at the warehouse where he killed Blue having invited Marianne to join him. Lance has tracked him down and I think I see where this is all heading and I'm ready for it.

Early Vicki seemed to be a supporting player so that there was someone in the political set in the office with Gene. The Vicki - Peter thread seemed more like background noise with Peter interested in the older, engaged woman. I suspect that Susan Scanell's departure in mid 1982 resulted in a some story shake up. Originally, when Gil Prescott was introduced, it looked like Gil and Lori were going to have a much deeper connection than what played out. The Gil and Russ rivalry initially involved Sheila, but I suspect would have led to Lori and maybe Marianne down the line.

I think the Deena - Gil - Vicki stuff was the Barnes scrambling after the departure of Becky to create something big for the younger set. As you well know, most of this is all dropped (including Jill-Peter) fairly early in Vinley's run.

Honestly, I would have killed off Vicki by the point I am at now (April, 1983) if not before. Kathryn King may not have invoked much sympathy from me, but I'm sure Peter's reaction would and possibly allow Nancy to have a moment of humanity realizing she has lost her only friend. Of course, I would also let this lead to Nancy trying to rekindle her friendship with Miriam with Miriam letting Nancy in. I think having Vicki dead when the revelation about the Cantebury Complex came out would have led to more problems for Marianne and Peter as having Vicki unable to defend herself, Peter might see the need to defend her honor against Nancy's accusations. The new actress is more natural in the role, but she has such a nasty edge to her that we seem to still heading in the wrong direction with her. Though, I feel like they are also chemistry testing Peter with Stacey Phillips as Peter says he's now considering journalism as a major.

Going back to @YTG 's earlier comments about Paul Gleason, he does look younger when I focus on him. I am imagining him more as he looked in The Breakfast Club where I think his hair was more gray. I wonder what the original story was for Kate - Lee. In a recent episode, Sebastian Knight mentions Kennedy and Chappaquiddick. I wonder if that was the original plan with Lee's lover dying and seeing how that played out. Or maybe Lee himself was going to be murdered. I do think there were ways to do a lot ofthat is to come with slight variations in the story. Also, this early on, I wonder if they were considering Amber and Lee at all because I could see some chemistry between Woody and Gleason. Even a quiet CBS morning soap in the 1970s like Love of Life or Where the Heart Is might have tried that angle. Amber aborting Lee's baby would have also been incredibly messy.

I'm not to surprised that you thought Blue might be Tony Cardello, or another child of Vince's. There is so much talk of Tony and Blue's backstory was given such a large amount of story space for someone who ends up dead in a few months. There is also aslot of homoerotic subtext to the Lance / Blue relationship that would suggest that Blue might have been gay Tony.

Like Babs, Dave is introduced as someone (in this case Jeff's) cellmate). Jeff's charges were related to pornography being sold in the books store. I think it might have been bootleg VHS tapes, but it also may have been selling to minors. I remember it was college students who were looking to purchase the material.

I appreciate hearing your point of view on the Kate Philips' trial. Everyone I have heard from loved it, so it's interesting to hear about some of the flaws. I wonder why they were so quick to drop Amber when it seemed like she had such a significant position on the canvas. I'm not looking forward to the recast of Gil, which I imagine I am fastly approaching.

I was aware that Lee Tatum died during filming. I was very shocked, and saddened, to read that Kim Strong took his own life a year and a half after the show ended.

Speaking of Sue Scannell, she and her husband Robert Gilbert founded a production company called Gilbert Entertainment just before Covid broke out and they made an indie film called ATOMIC POOP released in 2023 which Sue actually co-wrote and directed. It's a 'cheesy' low budget alien invasion genre movie. They also had other short film projects which were submitted to the Long Island International Film Festival in recent years and the Indie Gathering International Festival.

Atomic Poop https://fawesome.tv/movies/10556359/atomicpoop&utm_source=social_share&utm_medium=website_fawesometv_navigator_api&utm_content=video_screen

On Sue's Instagram page, you can watch scenes from 3 short films she took part during the last year. One is called 'Too Close' and the other two are unclear. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DF3APcjoqzL/?igsh=NWtscHFqM2ozb3Ri

Edited Friday at 10:47 PM1 day by YTG

Thanks for sharing!

I'm wondering if any consideration was giving to bring back Becky. I don't see Susan Scannell returning because she was fairly busy in the New York soap scene, but I would be curious if any discussions were had about bringing the character back to Kingsley to disrupt Russ, Lori, and Ben's lives. Given Scannell's send off, this probably was off the table.

Watching some of those clips, I am curious how Becky would have been with Tony Cardello (I know I'm bordering on obsessing) given the clip with Susan's character speaking about her daughter in coma and her fight for gay marriage equality. I see an equally vicacious Becky singing in a nightclub that Tony ran with Russ brooding in the corner with his latest flavor of the week at how chummy his former pseudo wife and his half-brother are.

I've come to enjoy Marianne and Russ for what it is, but I cannot help but think how much more impactful all this current material would have been if it was still Susan Scannell as Becky in the role (and Jeannette Larson as Lori). Becky's connection to Vince was so special and Becky would have been devastated by the loss. Did Vince even get a funeral? I've lost track of where I stopped last and I think I missed a few episodes. Anyway, Russ killing Blue in Lori's name would have also given Susan Scannell some juicy material to react to. Becky loved Lori, but she was always in the shadow of the intensity of Russ' feelings for Lori. My heart just breaks for Becky thinking of how that would play out having the one, two punch of Vince dying and learning that Russ killed for Lori.

Vinley hasn't really done much with Carla's singing, which is such a shame. Kari Page's Carla was such wall paper and Elain Graham brings life to the character that doesn't always seem to be written on the page, which I appreciate about her. I do wish a little more was done with Carla, and I wish there was a slightly more complicated relationship between Carla and Ione.

Here is one demo reel I think you'll enjoy watching. Maybe you weren't aware of her body of work over the years. This is just a small sample. Not saying who to keep a certain element of surprise...

https://share.google/woQ0czgcHR8fubx3O

Edited 41 minutes ago41 min by YTG

Sue Scannell probably knew a few months in advance that she was getting out of her contract with CBN. The network allowed her to relieve herself from the contract and start working for SFT while she was still filming for AL. The entire story she had with Dave Cohen was the dramatic vehicle for her to get out of Kingsley and the one-on-one scenes she had with Dave in a secluded hotel room somewhere in the Big Apple while she was recording her first album were a way to ease her workload. It was also the catalyst for Russ to be lured by Sheila and for Dave to play the predator...and when she came back to Kingsley for the college graduation ceremony, she caught Russ with Sheila redhanded. Not coincidentally you had Carrie Weaver providing the 'proof' that Russ and Becky were never legally married by the justice of the peace which meant that Carrie would also finish her role on the show around the same time. How convenient...the point is they 'milked' that trainwreck the best they could so that Becky would rationalize she had no more feelings for Russ whatsoever and was ready to conquer the stage on a high note more determined than ever. Her send off scenes proved that the show runners knew how valuable she was for the success of the soap. I can't really speculate what would have happened if she stayed or returned. Her story went full circle for me, even if at the time Russ and Becky were a couple in real life. It's kind of hard to explain why would Sue want to move away when she had a good thing going. They separated in 1985 and I'm not sure if it was before she got the role on 'Dynasty' or as a result of it. In any case, there's no question Russ and Becky were the show's 'rebels without a cause' or if you'd like, its two young firebrands...On a personal note, way back in 1994 when I was in my twenties, I was sitting at a Doctor's office browsing through some magazines when all of a sudden I stumbled upon an entire page with a Russ and Becky photo. I don't remember if it had to do anything with AL or with them as a real life couple, but the magazine publication was from 1985, so I suppose they had some sort of 'soap notoriety' if you wish. Boy was I surprised seeing that years after the show ended.

I didn't remember Sebastian alluding to Ted Kennedy's car crash in Martha's vinyard back in 1969...im any case, I suppose Amber and Lee could have found a romantic common ground with the kind of insatiable ambition they both possessed. But Amber became so radioactive as the show progressed that she practically alienated everyone. She was heartless. Her only breakdown came when her planned miscarriage came to haunt her at a photo shoot and right before she left she called Dave 'Daddy' when she came to see him at his flat when Terry was there with him. There was really no where to go with her character, just like Marianne couldn't serve any purpose after Russ. There were no other men around and Peter was designated to repeat the same mistakes with women...

As for Carla, Kari page left because she got pregnant in real life and was about to deliver in early 83'. I have no idea why Elaine Graham left to begin with and what made her return because this was never meant to be a temporary absence. I think her relationship with Ione was explored when Gene and Carla fought over Jimmy and when they were trying to resolve their differences. When Kari Page joined, they were already patching things up and there was no conflict, plus she didn't have the temperament nor a good script to sink her teeth into. It was mostly lovey dovey all the time.

I have to say that Babs' name was not coincidental. Julie Jenny's mannerisms and accent always reminded me of Barbara Streisand's role in 'What's Up Doc' or perhaps a combination of comedic roles. Plus Babs would sometimes spice her language with New York Jewish dialect. Can't put my finger on it but I'll recognize it when I hear it. Maybe it was deliberate, like ''Dave Cohen' was deliberate and not 'Dave DiAngelo' since the actor who played him was Italian. I also always wondered why would Harold Webster bring the Davidsons a Menorah on the 1983 Christmas episode? I mean since when do people celebrate Hanukkah and what does it actually have to do with the birth of Christ? So I thought it somehow suggested that Harold may have been Jewish because there are a lot of Jewish lawyers or Jewish lawfirms in general. I would later find out that Alan Sader's father was Jewish. That isn't to say he was brought up Jewish. By the way, Michelle Seidman (Jill) is half Jewish. Her father was. How do I know that? because on her social media, she mentions the Jewish holidays plus talked about her late dad on one occassion. Kari page actually converted to Judaism. She married a Jewish guy and moved to Florida. Her acting career pretty much ended after she left AL. It's not like you can call it a career. She started off as a model and had a small role in a 1978 Faye Dunaway movie, but other than that wasn't credited for anything. The actress who played Terry's mother was Jewish (Naomi Riseman).

Edited 9 hours ago9 hr by YTG

Susan Scanell had a busy 1982. She marries Chris Roland on April 23, 1982. She first appeared on air as Kristen Carter on Search for Tomorrow the last week of May, 1982. Then about a month later she exits as Becky on Another Life. I dislike most of Becky's story after her miscarriage. I did like the final implication that Dave had lied to Becky and that he wasn't really a famous producer with Becky being his first star. Don't even get me started on the "not married" revelation. Wasting mother from hell Carrie Weaver on that tripe was disrespectful on multiple levels.

I felt like you could always revisit Becky. Jaded by her career, Becky returns to Kinsley and doesn't receive the warm greeting she was hoping for with everyone moving on with their life. I would have had her and Carla fighting for a position at a nightclub as a lounge act with the club owner having mob ties and drawing Becky into that life which would provoke some sort of response from the people who have loved her. I also would have revisited the idea of who Becky's biological parents were and maybe reveal she was the daughter of a minister or someone in the political circle. Russ and Becky would be a toxic end game because Russ would always want Lori so I would probably move Becky onto someone like Gil if they weren't going to keep Amber around.

Amber does seem increasingly hostile without any real moments of sincerity. This is one of my only complaints in the Phillips family story. There was a nice moment of jealousy where Gil gushes over Miriam when she and Charles are dining at the Greenbriar with Amber being furious about the lack of attention, but Miriam is so possessive. Everything is an object to her; everyone is just pawns in her game. Part of the issue is Amber's world is so narrow. I'll be curious to see how she interacts later on with Blair Simpson. I think I would have twisted the knife with Amber by letting her land a local public access talk show so that she could be a faux journalist and torment Stacey some more.

I think Elain Graham left Another Life for a travel production of Home, which she did for most of the fall and winter of 1982. She appeared with Samuel L. Jackson and S. Epatha Merkensen for the Negro Ensemble Company. I also feel like Elain Graham is known for speaking her mind. I did notice that they recently had Carla wearing a bit of a turban to cover up the new haircut Graham got. Kari Page was just very unmemorbale in the role. She also wasn't given much to do.

Streisand is definitely someone on the mind of the writers. In a bit in the last set of episodes I watched, Nancy calls a second hand store to speak about selling her mother's furniture. She gets the store owner's wife Rose and starts cracking up, and I believe mentions Streisand by name.

Babs is interesting. There is quite a gap, from what I recall, from when she starts until when she appears regularly. I remember her initial appearance in jail with Nancy (just like Dave with Jeff Cummings), but I don't remember her popping up again until what felt like several weeks later. The original appearance is definitely under the Barnes, but I cannot recall right now if Babs is featured much again until she is thrown out of the car. I feel like she is already looking into another life out of the prostitution ring before Vinley arrives, but maybe I'm wrong. I thought Babs' monologue about running into a former classmate who was now a wife and mother leading to Babs to want to start over was well done.

Jesus was Jewish. I have seen sitcoms do more of the blending of Christmas and Hannukah than I have soaps, but I do know there is occasionally an attempt at unity. The suggestion that Babs and Harold might have been presented as Jewish characters is intriguing and something I will think about more.

Jesus was definitely a Jew, no question about that, it's just that I never heard that Hannukah had anything to do with the coming of Christ, I mean it was a miracle that the oil lasted 8 days to light the Menorah at the Holy Temple in Jerusalem from what I remember from my Bible studies, but for Harold to bring it to the Davidsons is odd because they start a short conversation and never even once mention that it's a Jewish symbol as if they try to appropriate it to a miracle that Jesus did. I'm not a theologian or anything and like I said before I'm secular. I don't have a 'personal relationship' with Jesus nor do I believe in Heaven or in Hell. Sure, I'd like to believe in a metaphorical Heaven, but it's not like my life is centered around the Church or holy scripture...

Thanks for the info about Sue and Elain. I can understand why Becky would eventually form a shield between her and Russ which would leave her completely cold blooded and mentally abusive towards him when they had those final scenes at the dressing room before she made her triumphant entrance on to the stage. It's unfortunate Carrie Weaver would pay the ultimate prize for never showing her face in town again. She served her purpose as far as the writers were concerned and didn't have anything else for her other than being the domineering mother from Hell who would eventually tear Russ and Becky apart. Vince never wanted to see her again. One wonders what would have happened if Carla didn't give up her singing career and would actually have storylines revolved around her being an entertainer or working at a night club. That's no job for a married lady with young kids though... It worked with Becky because she was single and a songwriter-performer in real life. Not sure Elain Graham would have been a natural in that capacity.

Amber and Blair actually had a lot of potential because Blair could see right through Amber. Like many other characters, she first appeared for one or two episodes and would return after a few dozen episodes as more permanent, but unfortunately the character vanished into thin air with no explanation ever given. There was a hint at a possible connection with Russ (I remember them going out to dinner), but with a change in the show's direction with a new executive producer, This was all scrapped.

As far as the Jewish angle is concerned, Harold always striked me as a Jewish caricature, just like Dave Cohen was. They didn't call him 'Cohen' for nothing. You could say Vince Cardello was an Italian mobster, but I didn't think his character was a caricature. I'm not saying Harold didn't evolve as a character, but for quite a long time he was a very stereotypical type of lawyer, perhaps because of how unattractive and negligent he looked on the 9outside and how greedy and transactional he was on the inside (at least during his first months on the show before crossing over to the good side). It's not that he or Babs were Jewish or anything: it's just that there's something stereotypically Jewish that is implied either consciously or inadvertently in their mannerisms and the fact that it's Harold of all people who brings a Menorah to the Davidsons and Babs using Jewish dialect like 'Yatz' or 'Oy Vey' a few times made me wonder. Maybe she picked it up on the streets...who knows?

Edited 53 minutes ago53 min by YTG