21 minutes ago, Contessa Donatella said:

Maybe it's me. Maybe it was Connie Ford. I always loved Rachel. 

I didn’t mean Rachel. I meant about soap characters, in general 

31 minutes ago, AbcNbc247 said:

I didn’t mean Rachel. I meant about soap characters, in general 

Oh. I didn't realize. The person you were replying to WAS talking about Rachel, so I thought you were, too. I get it now. In general, sure, me, too. 

6 hours ago, vetsoapfan said:

There has never been a television character whom I loathed more than Rachel. There were four specific times when I got so mad, I actually swore at her through the screen, LOL.

Well now we have to know the other three.

5 hours ago, AbcNbc247 said:

That’s perfectly fine.

I’m sure we’ve all done that once or twice. I know I have 😂😂😂

I sheepishly admit, I yelled and/or swore at my TV a lot more than "once or twice."🥺😬

I had the likes of Lisa Miller, Rachel Davis, Lorie Brooks and Dorian Cramer to contend with for YEARS!😡

2 hours ago, j swift said:

Well now we have to know the other three.

Oh dear, what have I started?😝

Well, of course, the time Rachel cornered Alice in the Matthews home and triumphantly told her that she, Rachel, was carrying Steve's baby almost made my head explode. 

When a money-strapped Russ saw how much Rachel coveted all the nice things Lenore Curtin had, he went out and spent a huge chunk of his meager funds on starting a crystal-goblet set for Rachel, just like the one Lenore had. He was all proud and sweet when he presented her with the very first one, and assured her he was going to keep adding the others as he could afford them. Rachel became enraged and bitterly complained that gifting her with just one goblet at a time was stupid ("What am I going to do with just one?"), and hurled it against the wall, smashing it.

Seeing the obvious cracks in their marriage, Russ told Rachel they need to have a serious talk about where they were headed, and told her to be ready for it when he came home from work. Rachel--being Rachel--took a dose of sleeping pills shortly before his arrival, and so when he returned to the apartment, she dismissively told Russ that she could not stay awake and therefore there would be no discussion. Russ, impotent with rage, was left to watch as Rachel just rolled over and went to sleep for the rest of the night.

After Alice had had a miscarriage and divorced Steve, he married Rachel and moved her into the country house which he had specifically built for Alice. Rachel found the baby bunting which Alice had originally bought for her lost child. She immediately shipped the bundle to Alice, with a note that said (something like), "I thought you might want these."

After Steve divorced Rachel, he and Alice wed for the second time, but they were soon separated when Steven went to prison. Alice had a nervous breakdown and was in a very precarious emotional state, living without him in their country home. (Aunt Liz, at least, moved in to care for her.) Even knowing how unwell Alice was at the time, Rachel marched into the house to torment her, announced that Steve never loved Alice the way he loved Rachel ("We had the kind of love you'll never know!"), and really drove the knife into Alice by demanding, "Where's the son YOU'VE ever given him?"

AAAAUUGH!!!

I realize now, that are many more instances which precipitated my fury than I thought.

The Aunt Liz Audra Lindley played would have ripped Rachel to shreds; I was disappointed when Harding Lemay had Irene Dailey's version of Liz simply sit meekly by, teary-eyed, as Rachel was abusing her niece.

I had been ready to open up a fresh can of whup-ass on Rachel for six long years!

17 minutes ago, vetsoapfan said:

Oh dear, what have I started?😝

Well, of course, the time Rachel cornered Alice in the Matthews home and triumphantly told her that she, Rachel, was carrying Steve's baby almost made my head explode. 

When a money-strapped Russ saw how much Rachel coveted all the nice things Lenore Curtin had, he went out and spent a huge chunk of his meager funds on starting a crystal-goblet set for Rachel, just like the one Lenore had. He was all proud and sweet when he presented her with the very first one, and assured her he was going to keep adding the others as he could afford them. Rachel became enraged and bitterly complained that gifting her with just one goblet at a time was stupid ("What am I going to do with just one?"), and hurled it against the wall, smashing it.

Seeing the obvious cracks in their marriage, Russ told Rachel they need to have a serious talk about where they were headed, and told her to be ready for it when he came home from work. Rachel--being Rachel--took a dose of sleeping pills shortly before his arrival, and so when he returned to the apartment, she dismissively told Russ that she could not stay awake and therefore there would be no discussion. Russ, impotent with rage, was left to watch as Rachel just rolled over and went to sleep for the rest of the night.

After Alice had had a miscarriage and divorced Steve, he married Rachel and moved her into the country house which he had specifically built for Alice. Rachel found the baby bunting which Alice had originally bought for her lost child. She immediately shipped the bundle to Alice, with a note that said (something like), "I thought you might want these."

After Steve divorced Rachel, he and Alice wed for the second time, but they were soon separated when Steven went to prison. Alice had a nervous breakdown and was in a very precarious emotional state, living without him in their country home. (Aunt Liz, at least, moved in to care for her.) Even knowing how unwell Alice was at the time, Rachel marched into the house to torment her, announced that Steve never loved Alice the way he loved Rachel ("We had the kind of love you'll never know!"), and really drove the knife into Alice by demanding, "Where's the son YOU'VE ever given him?"

AAAAUUGH!!!

I realize now, that are many more instances which precipitated my fury than I thought.

The Aunt Liz Audra Lindley played would have ripped Rachel to shreds; I was disappointed when Harding Lemay had Irene Dailey's version of Liz simply sit meekly by, teary-eyed, as Rachel was abusing her niece.

I had been ready to open up a fresh can of whup-ass on Rachel for six long years!

Love your memories!!  I also remember some of these scenes.  Rachel really was a very bad woman who caused lots of trouble for the Matthews family. The ratings went through the roof and remained high the entire time Rachel was a bad-girl.  Vicky Wyndham as Rachel was even more evil than Robin Strasser's version.  i wonder if TPTB ever regretted softening Rachel and turning her into a heroine...

53 minutes ago, vetsoapfan said:

Oh dear, what have I started?😝

Thanks. This was a great recap (I felt like I was there). I've seen some fans say that the show ramped up Rachel's nastiness when Victoria Wyndham was cast. Do you think that's true? Or had Rachel just been more low-key for a while in the Robin exit/return (and Margie Impert's brief run)? 

It does make me wonder why some fans at the time rooted for Rachel and Steve. 

On 3/22/2025 at 1:18 PM, Mona Kane Croft said:

Personally, I believe Russ was always in love with Rachel, hence his rather fast forgiveness of her (although that took a few years), and their life-long friendship after the forgiveness.  And his love for Rachel may have been one of the reasons he had so many marriages, and difficulty finding the "right" woman.  I've also believed, had Russ been recast with a more dynamic actor (perhaps the return of Sam Groom??), he and Rachel may have eventually reunited years after Mac's death.  Just wishful thinking on my part, I realize.   But I love a good romance.  

I remember a couple of times in the late-70s or very early 80s, Russ called Rachel "Honey" in the middle of some conversations.  I doubt it was scripted (or perhaps it was), but the word just seemed to slip out of David Bailey's mouth so naturally.  I think Russ never stopped loving her.  

I like that idea. If only they hadn't cast (and stayed with) an actor who felt so remote. A disappointing casting choice considering the rest of the Matthews family had a warmer sense about them.

1 hour ago, DRW50 said:

It does make me wonder why some fans at the time rooted for Rachel and Steve. 

This was during my infancy, of course, but I was always more anti-Alice, than pro-Rachel&Steve.  

Steve always gave me the creeps. I think it was the baritone voice and the greasy hair.  So, it didn't matter to me which lady ended up with him.

However, I never liked the character of Alice until she returned as a doctor.  She always seemed so fragile.  It made me nervous. 

And, I think the writing was well-balanced between Rachel being cruel, and Rachel being motivated by her anger over feeling rejected by her father.  It doesn't take a Freudian to draw the through lines from Gerald to Rachel, as well as from Jim to Alice.  So, Rachel never felt unhinged.  I think her triggers were clear, and Russ was too obtuse to read them properly.   As a result, when she later faught with Iris they both understood that they shared the same pathology despite class differences.

BTW when George Reinholt showed up on OLTL with now an even more out of date, but still greasy haircut, it solidified that I was never going to be a fan.  Meanwhile, Jacqueline Courtney updated her look between shows and I was a big fan of Pat, and the later iteration of Alice.

On a seperate note: I finished the Texas book, so I went back to AWHP to read the synopses of the transional period, it is remarkable how story time was wasted on superfluous expansion characters, as well as the establishment of Summerset, Point Clare, and the Houston clans. 

Edited March 23Mar 23 by j swift

5 minutes ago, j swift said:

This was during my infancy, of course, but I was always more anti-Alice, than pro-Rachel&Steve.  

Steve always gave me the creeps. I think it was the baritone voice and the greasy hair.  So, it didn't matter to me which lady ended up with him.

However, I never liked the character of Alice until she returned as a doctor.  She always seemed so fragile.  It made me nervous. 

And, I think the writing was well-balanced between Rachel being cruel, and Rachel being motivated by her anger over feeling rejected by her father.  It doesn't take a Freudian to draw the through lines from Gerald to Rachel, as well as from Jim to Alice.  So, Rachel never felt unhinged.  I think her triggers were clear, and Russ was too obtuse to read them properly.   As a result, when she later faught with Iris they both understood that they shared the same pathology despite class differences.

BTW when George Reinholt showed up on OLTL with now an even more out of date, but still greasy haircut, it solidified that I was never going to be a fan.  Meanwhile, Jacqueline Courtney updated her look between shows and I was a big fan of Pat, and the later iteration of Alice.

Thanks. Glad to hear your perspective.

2 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

Thanks. Glad to hear your perspective.

I loved Alice just not as much as I loved Ada, Rachel & Pat. To me Pat was by far the most interesting Matthews. 

Just now, Contessa Donatella said:

I loved Alice just not as much as I loved Ada, Rachel & Pat. To me Pat was by far the most interesting Matthews. 

She also fascinates me, the little I've seen of her.

2 hours ago, vetsoapfan said:

Oh dear, what have I started?😝

Well, of course, the time Rachel cornered Alice in the Matthews home and triumphantly told her that she, Rachel, was carrying Steve's baby almost made my head explode. 

When a money-strapped Russ saw how much Rachel coveted all the nice things Lenore Curtin had, he went out and spent a huge chunk of his meager funds on starting a crystal-goblet set for Rachel, just like the one Lenore had. He was all proud and sweet when he presented her with the very first one, and assured her he was going to keep adding the others as he could afford them. Rachel became enraged and bitterly complained that gifting her with just one goblet at a time was stupid ("What am I going to do with just one?"), and hurled it against the wall, smashing it.

Seeing the obvious cracks in their marriage, Russ told Rachel they need to have a serious talk about where they were headed, and told her to be ready for it when he came home from work. Rachel--being Rachel--took a dose of sleeping pills shortly before his arrival, and so when he returned to the apartment, she dismissively told Russ that she could not stay awake and therefore there would be no discussion. Russ, impotent with rage, was left to watch as Rachel just rolled over and went to sleep for the rest of the night.

After Alice had had a miscarriage and divorced Steve, he married Rachel and moved her into the country house which he had specifically built for Alice. Rachel found the baby bunting which Alice had originally bought for her lost child. She immediately shipped the bundle to Alice, with a note that said (something like), "I thought you might want these."

After Steve divorced Rachel, he and Alice wed for the second time, but they were soon separated when Steven went to prison. Alice had a nervous breakdown and was in a very precarious emotional state, living without him in their country home. (Aunt Liz, at least, moved in to care for her.) Even knowing how unwell Alice was at the time, Rachel marched into the house to torment her, announced that Steve never loved Alice the way he loved Rachel ("We had the kind of love you'll never know!"), and really drove the knife into Alice by demanding, "Where's the son YOU'VE ever given him?"

AAAAUUGH!!!

I realize now, that are many more instances which precipitated my fury than I thought.

The Aunt Liz Audra Lindley played would have ripped Rachel to shreds; I was disappointed when Harding Lemay had Irene Dailey's version of Liz simply sit meekly by, teary-eyed, as Rachel was abusing her niece.

I had been ready to open up a fresh can of whup-ass on Rachel for six long years!

BTW I also am enjoying your new fan reviews or rewatch reviews, whichever they are!!!! Your descriptions of Rachel then are spot-on. 

@Toups Perhaps, you can add the following to your writer archives! I love daytime writers and have been curious for years about Sam Ratcliffe. He must have been well respected to be hired and rehired at the soaps (most times at AW which is why I'm posting here). He died in Dec 1995 at age 50. Here's what I've pieced together of his soap writing history.  Tidbit: on SFT last episode Liza meets a Travis look a like named Sam Ratcliffe! 

 

Another World

script writer October 1979 - ?

Days

December 79-March 80 (13 weeks/13 episodes)

 

Another World

script writer: July 1980 to December 1980

 

Days

script writer 3 episodes in Jan / Feb 1981

 

Texas

co-head writer March 2- Nov 6 1981 (other than the 12 week writers' strike)

 

Guiding Light

script writer January to June 1984

 

Another World

script writer July 1984-March 1985

 

Capitol

Breakdown Writer October? 1985 to March 1987

 

ATWT

Breakdown Writer: May 1987 to Jan 1988

 

Santa Barbara

Co-Head Writer/Breakdowns: January 1990 to December 1992

 

Another World

Breakdown Writer: December 1992 - December 1995 

 

33 minutes ago, VelekaCarruthers said:

@Toups Perhaps, you can add the following to your writer archives! I love daytime writers and have been curious for years about Sam Ratcliffe. He must have been well respected to be hired and rehired at the soaps (most times at AW which is why I'm posting here). He died in Dec 1995 at age 50. Here's what I've pieced together of his soap writing history.  Tidbit: on SFT last episode Liza meets a Travis look a like named Sam Ratcliffe! 

 

Another World

script writer October 1979 - ?

Days

December 79-March 80 (13 weeks/13 episodes)

 

Another World

script writer: July 1980 to December 1980

 

Days

script writer 3 episodes in Jan / Feb 1981

 

Texas

co-head writer March 2- Nov 6 1981 (other than the 12 week writers' strike)

 

Guiding Light

script writer January to June 1984

 

Another World

script writer July 1984-March 1985

 

Capitol

Breakdown Writer October? 1985 to March 1987

 

ATWT

Breakdown Writer: May 1987 to Jan 1988

 

Santa Barbara

Co-Head Writer/Breakdowns: January 1990 to December 1992

 

Another World

Breakdown Writer: December 1992 - December 1995 

 

I love Samuel D. Ratcliffe. I believe he was known for some of AW's comedic writing. And, Carolyn Culliton told me in a tweet last year that it was Sam & Gary Tomlin with their heads together in the Writer's Room that they conceived of the idea for Carolyn the gorilla & then went on to develop it & write it. 

1 hour ago, VelekaCarruthers said:

Perhaps, you can add the following to your writer archives! I love daytime writers and have been curious for years about Sam Ratcliffe. He must have been well respected to be hired and rehired at the soaps (most times at AW which is why I'm posting here). He died in Dec 1995 at age 50. Here's what I've pieced together of his soap writing history.  Tidbit: on SFT last episode Liza meets a Travis look a like named Sam Ratcliffe

The zoo keeper in the final week of AW episodes was also named Sam Ratcliffe.  He was the zoo keeper who took care of Carolyn the Gorilla.