15 minutes ago, Tisy-Lish said:

Any opinions about Susan Sullivan's (Lenore Curtain on AW) new web soap?  Sorry I don't have a link, but it should not be hard to find.    I understand David Selby and Kathryn Leigh Scott (both from Dark Shadows) are in the cast.  

I posted a link in the Dark Shadows thread. I've only watched the first episode and part of the second but it seems alright - more engaging than some web soaps I've tried over the years. The audio is much better than many over the years, which is a big help. I like the premise and the performances and that the characters used to work on a soap together, but they don't get too cutesy on that topic (other than saying the name of the show was "As the World Twirls," which is just stupid).

I know Susan's been dealing with more health problems, but she still looks and sounds like herself and can still perform well. 

KLS looks great too. David Selby and Granville Van Dusen are also fine (maybe the first role the latter has had that doesn't make me sleepy).

I watched only part of Susan's first scene and her FaceTime conversation with Kathryn.   Susan certainly appeared very healthy, and as beautiful as ever... 

I'll try to watch more later.  

I'm sort of wondering why Granville Van Dusen was chosen for the cast.  I'm sure he's a good actor, but why cast with three former soap opera actors, and one (Granville) who isn't??  Why not cast another former soap actor and keep it all in the family??  

Edited October 30Oct 30 by Tisy-Lish

1 hour ago, Tisy-Lish said:

I'm sort of wondering why Granville Van Dusen was chosen for the cast.  I'm sure he's a good actor, but why cast with three former soap opera actors, and one (Granville) who isn't??  Why not cast another former soap actor and keep it all in the family??  

Granville was on Y&R and PC.

Does anyone know why Daniel Markel was fired as Sam Fowler? Below is his final episode, and it was a regular show. Sam and Olivia are enjoying dinner at Tops, which is a routine event. Then Markel is fired, and exactly two weeks later, Olivia gives Amanda a letter from Sam saying he has decided to stay in Italy. (When did he head off to Italy?).

Personally, I thought Markel was doing fine in the role of Sam, so it is puzzling that he was abruptly fired after 8 months. Does anyone have any insight as to what happened? 

 

9 hours ago, TheyStartedOnSoaps said:

Does anyone know why Daniel Markel was fired as Sam Fowler? Below is his final episode, and it was a regular show. Sam and Olivia are enjoying dinner at Tops, which is a routine event. Then Markel is fired, and exactly two weeks later, Olivia gives Amanda a letter from Sam saying he has decided to stay in Italy. (When did he head off to Italy?).

Personally, I thought Markel was doing fine in the role of Sam, so it is puzzling that he was abruptly fired after 8 months. Does anyone have any insight as to what happened? 

I wonder if they just wanted to wrap up the story. I liked him too. I also liked him on ATWT and he was abruptly fired for a horrible, horrible storyline with that guy who seemed more suited to softcore films. After that he left acting.

 

Two episodes from December 1981 I hadn't seen online from that amazing youtube channel. 

Thanks @Maxim ! I didn't know they were still uploading. Those seem to be original airings too. A wonderful find.

9 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

Thanks @Maxim ! I didn't know they were still uploading. Those seem to be original airings too. A wonderful find.

New uploads like this make me hopeful more of the early 80s would be available sooner or later. It seems like with each passing year... more and more treasures are being found. All credit of course goes to the uploaders. 

re: Daniel Markel as Sam

 to be fair, the writing just was not very good. I don't think  he ever got a chance because the show never seemed to have a plan for the character. Why bring him back if there's not a long-term story in place? That's always the problem with Swajeski's stories. 

I'm waiting for the end of the Taylor Benson saga and then I'm going to bail. The writing quality  has gone down and I know there are terrible (for me) recasts on the horizon who harm the show for me: Evans, Pinter, Buchanan, Green, etc. I had bailed long before this the first time, but I tried to give the show a chance on a rewatch, but it's rough.The show was really firing on all cylinders, and then in the aftermath of Jake's shooting and Kathleen's return, it collapses. 

12 hours ago, TheyStartedOnSoaps said:

Personally, I thought Markel was doing fine in the role of Sam, so it is puzzling that he was abruptly fired after 8 months. Does anyone have any insight as to what happened? 

It wasn't that long (3 months) before the character was recast with Brian Lane Green, whixh suggests to me that they were replacing the actor rather than resting the character. Brian Lane Green's Sam seemed less intense than previous versions and they chose to emphasize his singing talent which I'm not sure did much for the character really. I guess it gave him a reason to interact with his nephew Matt the music producer a lot? 

I haven't found any news items from the time to suggest any reasons behind the recast.

9 hours ago, Maxim said:

 

Two episodes from December 1981 I hadn't seen online from that amazing youtube channel. 

Thanks!

I don't think these have ever been uploaded before.

Thanks @Maxim 

Boy, seeing that kitchen and greenhouse set makes you appreciate the budget they had back then.

Having Alice, Pat and Marianne there kept some link to the past, but all 3 would soon be history.

Linda Borgeson was attractive and not a terrible actress but in no way could she fill Jacquie Courtney's shoes as Alice.

And David Canary might as well been playing any character, rather than Steve.

The whole plot was misguided. Having two of the most famous characters recast took away any impact.

The amazing uploads continue! 

Thanks @Maxim so nice to get to celebrate a "new" Christmas with our Bay City friends, and not far off Christmas. We could sure use that gift this year.

Our last Christmas with Jim or Pat...at least we get to see a semblance of a Matthews Christmas here.

Our last Christmas with Louise too (I still wish she'd been allowed a happier exit).

@vetsoapfan I know this is past the time of the AW you enjoyed but if you wanted to see any of the old Bay City friends, I thought you might want to know about these three episodes.

Edited November 4Nov 4 by DRW50