27 minutes ago, chrisml said:

Yes, I would agree that Anna Stuart's Donna was written as spineless towards the end of her first run. She regained a backbone on her return. I've always said if they had made Reginald less of a monster and made Mary his Achilles heel the character would have had more staying power and Denise Alexander would not have been stranded in storyline Siberia. They went the easy "moustache twirling" villain route with the character of Reginald. UGH. Sampler did what she could with Donna, but like Gabet, she was set up to fail.

Regardless of whose decision it was, I think it was extremely shortsighted to write off Nicole in the way they did. The previous year it was all about Cass and Nicole so as a viewer it felt that all that was for nought. I was initially resistant to the character of Frankie for that reason. 

Under Swajeski, Frankie is one of those characters you can tell the writer adores, to the point where no other character around her ever is on her level.

Edited December 25, 2024Dec 25 by DRW50

To me, the 3 actresses who played Nicole, along with fairly different writing with each iteration, it was if they were 3 different characters. 

And, with Anne Howard's Nicole, I didn't even really buy her relationship with Cass. With Kathleen, first time, that was the real deal. Then, later with Frankie, I had to figure out if I could let her be as important to Cass as Kathleen had been. Ultimately, I decided YES. Then at the end I had to decide again, but Lila didn't work for me, not with Cass, anyway. With Matt, yes, sure. 

I suspect this is weird. But, it is the way I am about Cass & romance. 

I want to wish Merry Christmas to my favorite bunch of people in this wonderful topic! I wish health, happiness, love and good luck in the next year for you and your loved ones. And I hope you are transported in the Another world of love and family every... single... day... of your life! Merry Christmas! 

@Contessa Donatella ❤️ 🎄

@Xanthe @DRW50 @AbcNbc247 @adrnyc @Jdee43 @chrisml @Efulton @denzo30

While we're wishing, I wish we got more of the backstory of Carl and Donna.

The idea of PS's Donna having no agency when Reginald returned made me think about what must have initially attracted Donna to Carl.  I assume, he was her way of getting out from under her father's thumb.  She learned to be a woman, a hostess, and a mother to Perry. 

So, it would've been fun to have Carl return and create a Carl/Donna/Michael triangle.  Michael reminded her of forgotten dreams, while Carl made her think about possibilities.  Michael wanted to turn her into a traditional/responsible mother.  And, Carl loved her appreciation for aesthetics.  In the end, Carl would be using her to gain intel in order to take over the company from Reginald, enabling her to get back to Michael.

But, I just want to know more about the part of her life when she was Mrs. Hutchins.

7 hours ago, Maxim said:

I want to wish Merry Christmas to my favorite bunch of people in this wonderful topic! I wish health, happiness, love and good luck in the next year for you and your loved ones. And I hope you are transported in the Another world of love and family every... single... day... of your life! Merry Christmas! 

@Contessa Donatella ❤️ 🎄

@Xanthe @DRW50 @AbcNbc247 @adrnyc @Jdee43 @chrisml @Efulton @denzo30

What a nice thing to say. It makes me think of Mac's toasts. And also it makes me sing in my head, You take me away to another world!

 

@Maxim That's very kind of you. Your detailed thoughts on late '80s AW has helped make me more involved a period I otherwise would not have been invested in.

The various updates to AWHP and the Ariana Munker clips were two of my main soap highlights this past year. Even after 25 years off the air, AW is still occupying our thoughts, surprising us, never letting us go. I hope that only continues. 

Merry Christmas to everyone who ever walked the roads of Bay City. 

8 hours ago, Maxim said:

I want to wish Merry Christmas to my favorite bunch of people in this wonderful topic! I wish health, happiness, love and good luck in the next year for you and your loved ones. And I hope you are transported in the Another world of love and family every... single... day... of your life! Merry Christmas! 

@Contessa Donatella ❤️ 🎄

@Xanthe @DRW50 @AbcNbc247 @adrnyc @Jdee43 @chrisml @Efulton @denzo30

Thanks @Maxim!

Merry Christmas to you too! 😉

16 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

@Maxim That's very kind of you. Your detailed thoughts on late '80s AW has helped make me more involved a period I otherwise would not have been invested in.

The various updates to AWHP and the Ariana Munker clips were two of my main soap highlights this past year. Even after 25 years off the air, AW is still occupying our thoughts, surprising us, never letting us go. I hope that only continues. 

Merry Christmas to everyone who ever walked the roads of Bay City. 

I love your words & thank you for sharing your thoughts. It's true that AW is, was, always shall be my favorite all time #1 soap opera. With Connie Ford who is my all time favorite actress & with Anne Heche who comes in a very close second & with Victoria Wyndham who is just the best Rachel there ever could be. Emblematic of the New York soap scene. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year! 🎄🎁🧑‍🎄🧝🛷🔔🍪🥛

Edited December 25, 2024Dec 25 by Contessa Donatella
typo

13 hours ago, Maxim said:

I want to wish Merry Christmas to my favorite bunch of people in this wonderful topic! I wish health, happiness, love and good luck in the next year for you and your loved ones. And I hope you are transported in the Another world of love and family every... single... day... of your life! Merry Christmas! 

@Contessa Donatella ❤️ 🎄

@Xanthe @DRW50 @AbcNbc247 @adrnyc @Jdee43 @chrisml @Efulton @denzo30

You've been such an asset. Your love for Another World is really quite special. You discovering this show renews our love for it, each of us is enabled to enjoy it all over again. And, take us away to another world!!!

 

22 minutes ago, Contessa Donatella said:

You've been such an asset. Your love for Another World is really quite special. You discovering this show renews our love for it, each of us is enabled to enjoy it all over again. And, take us away to another world!!!

 

And your love... and  endless knowledge and passion about and for "Another World" inspires me and excites me every time I watch a new episode. I know I can come here and share it with you and with all you guys. And every time I'm so surprised by the info I learn and history I absorb like a sponge. For which I am so thankful. So so thankful. 

Merry Christmas to all... in our Another World ❤️❤️❤️

 

Merry Xmas! 

 

 

Another World - December 23rd,  1988

It's time for Christmas 1988! The Cory's are receiving their guests, the mood is festive and even the regular toxic characters are acting warm and fuzzy. (Iris Wheeler with the baby - talk about irony and contrast!) We even have Vicky and Jamie arriving to a welcoming crowd of people who are deciding to forget for one evening how she trapped their Jamie with a baby.  

Speaking of Vicky, one of the best scenes in a long time... was just before the Christmas party - Bridget told her how absurd her behavior in buying the house without consulting with Jamie is. He words were once again so truthful, so wise and so... not heard by Vicky. If she only listened to Bridget. (But then it wouldn't be fun, would it... without the drama) I fear that Bridget is right and that Vicky is once again rushing Jamie and it will backfire.

Felicia Gallant's past is slowly coming out of the shadows, as her husband Mitch and Cass went on a secret mission to find her stepfather. Only they were met by a cold, sinister woman, who told them he left the house a month ago. This is getting more and more unsettling. 

Marley is in Another world of her own, not able to feel any of the Christmas excitement and joy. She is going to have surgery on Christmas Day! Her last chance to have a baby is depending on a Christmas miracle. And how important believing in the Christmas miracle is... In the end of the episode... friends, relatives, lovers, foes... all united together in the spirit of Christmas and togetherness. What a miraculous sight to see - Iris standing between Ada and Rachel, smiling from ear to ear. Sadly... this is not going to last. 

BUT... for one last time - Merry Christmas. ❤️ 

 

23 minutes ago, Maxim said:

Another World - December 23rd,  1988

It's time for Christmas 1988! The Cory's are receiving their guests, the mood is festive and even the regular toxic characters are acting warm and fuzzy. (Iris Wheeler with the baby - talk about irony and contrast!) We even have Vicky and Jamie arriving to a welcoming crowd of people who are deciding to forget for one evening how she trapped their Jamie with a baby.  

Speaking of Vicky, one of the best scenes in a long time... was just before the Christmas party - Bridget told her how absurd her behavior in buying the house without consulting with Jamie is. He words were once again so truthful, so wise and so... not heard by Vicky. If she only listened to Bridget. (But then it wouldn't be fun, would it... without the drama) I fear that Bridget is right and that Vicky is once again rushing Jamie and it will backfire.

Felicia Gallant's past is slowly coming out of the shadows, as her husband Mitch and Cass went on a secret mission to find her stepfather. Only they were met by a cold, sinister woman, who told them he left the house a month ago. This is getting more and more unsettling. 

Marley is in Another world of her own, not able to feel any of the Christmas excitement and joy. She is going to have surgery on Christmas Day! Her last chance to have a baby is depending on a Christmas miracle. And how important believing in the Christmas miracle is... In the end of the episode... friends, relatives, lovers, foes... all united together in the spirit of Christmas and togetherness. What a miraculous sight to see - Iris standing between Ada and Rachel, smiling from ear to ear. Sadly... this is not going to last. 

BUT... for one last time - Merry Christmas. ❤️ 

 

That was so much fun!

1 hour ago, Xanthe said:

Merry Xmas! 

 

 

Thank you for this. This my Another World - Corys, Matthews, Ewings and Loves plus Carl, Cecile, Brian, Quinn and Felicia. November 1982 to mid 1985 is my second favourite era after Harding Lemay's tenure.

Edited December 25, 2024Dec 25 by Efulton

12 hours ago, DRW50 said:

@Maxim That's very kind of you. Your detailed thoughts on late '80s AW has helped make me more involved a period I otherwise would not have been invested in.

Oh my, that's such a lovely thing to read. Makes me so happy. I hope you had an amazing Christmas day ❤️ 🎄

12 hours ago, AbcNbc247 said:

Thanks @Maxim!

Merry Christmas to you too! 😉

❤️🎄🎅❄️