In Doug Watson's early scenes with Carmen Duncan, I almost felt as though I were watching a dumbed down version of the Mac/Iris relationship. The writing was so superior when McKinsey played the role, and I'm not sure Duncan could've skillfully played the subtleties and nuances that Harding Lemay's writing called for. Yeah, Duncan's Iris was definitely loosely molded on Joan Collins (as was Domini Blythe's Estelle Kendall on SFT), though the Dynasty hoopla had already subsided by the time Duncan was cast, so you have to wonder why they would cast in the Alexis direction.

In Doug Watson's early scenes with Carmen Duncan, I almost felt as though I were watching a dumbed down version of the Mac/Iris relationship. The writing was so superior when McKinsey played the role, and I'm not sure Duncan could've skillfully played the subtleties and nuances that Harding Lemay's writing called for. Yeah, Duncan's Iris was definitely loosely molded on Joan Collins (as was Domini Blythe's Estelle Kendall on SFT), though the Dynasty hoopla had already subsided by the time Duncan was cast, so you have to wonder why they would cast in the Alexis direction.

Not to sidetrack, but I loved Domini Blythe's Estelle, and even created a role I wanted her to play . I was in college at the time, but she struck me as a diamond among jewels back then.

Even though the two Irises had very different acting styles and very different takes on the character, each actress was/is larger than life. That's why both were believable.

The character itself was written very differently. For instance McKinsey's Iris was a "woman of leisure" -- there's no way she would have worked at Cory Publishing, or anywhere. It would have been beneath her. Yet Duncan's Iris was career-driven. One could argue that she molded herself into that as a way to prove her worth to "Daddy" -- but I believe that would have been the last tactic McKinsey's Iris would have taken.

I was so excited when Rachel opened the Cory Mansion door on a Friday and said "Iris??!!?" And so disappointed that Iris turned out to be a shrill, rather manic Australian woman. I grew to like Carmen Duncan well enough -- to the point I was pissed that the show got ride of her -- but she was never really Iris to me.

I think Linda Thorson would have been an interesting Iris.

Considering Linda's rep at Emmerdale, I can imagine how she would have been on a set with Victoria Wyndham...

That might have been more entertaining than Victoria Rowell vs....well, anyone. (Sorry, I had to say it!!!)

Hahahaha, Carl. My ex was in the original Broadway cast of Noises Off with Linda. I saw the show at least a dozen times. I'd never seen a performance deteriorate like hers over the run of a show. She was perfect at first, beautifully directed by the superb Michael Blakemore but as time went on she mugged incessantly and shook her ta tas and butt like crazy. I think she hoped to land a sitcom but it didn't happen. Before she landed the job on OLTL she was up for a role on AMC which never materialized-Opal's sister, Ruby. I gather that Ruby and Opal were estranged and Opal was to look her up after she found out she'd married a rich man.

Edited May 18, 201510 yr by TimWil

I never heard that about there even being a Ruby. You may want to mention it in the AMC thread.

From Monika.

"Two, four, six, eight -- all us girls are three months late!"

Sorry, I'll go away now.

Thanks for posting the picture, Carl. I actually also sent it to Jacquie's daughter, Jennifer. She was thrilled as she had never seen that picture before, and commented that she thought her mom had the least attractive dress of the four. LOL

It seems.early.Alice was more teeny bop per/perky then the Alice of later years. Odd to think Steve frame in a weird way did a number on both her and Rachel.

Speaking of Susan Trustman, she is a painter now - using her married name of Susan Leider. Here is her website:

http://susanleiderart.com/about

TV Picture Life

A 30 FOOT fan letter? Holy cow!!!

Some of those official start dates are way off!

TV Picture Life