But I think when Ed came back under Taggert, he was in a place to be patriarch and he was written accordingly. He had been held captive but he was tougher (even threatening Carmen in a really good scene.if only Ed was around the whole time Carmen and he had a good push pull there.) and sadder and wiser, and more open in his quiet introspective way. Ed at this time had done it all and made a good sounding board. Its too bad that soaps were so loud and cartoony by then that the writers following had no idea how to use this quiet man and instead threw the town patriarch to loud obnoxious Buzz.

I remember that scene with Ed and Carmen - it was 1997 when Gentry was back in the role, correct? I could actually see Ed being a patriarch with Gentry in the role. Gentry gave Ed some "bite" and made it believable.

I'm also not criticizing Pam Long as a writer. A lot of characters came "alive" again under her pen (some of whom were long standing vets). However, things like the "Dreaming Death", Branding Spaulding's alive, etc., were tough to live down.

I remember that scene with Ed and Carmen - it was 1997 when Gentry was back in the role, correct? I could actually see Ed being a patriarch with Gentry in the role. Gentry gave Ed some "bite" and made it believable.

I'm also not criticizing Pam Long as a writer. A lot of characters came "alive" again under her pen (some of whom were long standing vets). However, things like the "Dreaming Death", Branding Spaulding's alive, etc., were tough to live down.

No..it was Simon in the 2000s. Why didn't Gentry last?

LOL..I loved the Dreaming Death..but I was a kid at the time. Brandon not so much but I did like the Cabin Mystery up to a point and the doll and the "ghosts," were only seen by Annabelle and were more like flashbacks to the past. Ms. Piper was a more of a camp then the actual house and ghosts. Her ridiculous schemes and poison and tying Annabelle up over a hot stove..YIKES. Would have been more fun if snoopy Nola had been the one with the storyline and they could have just killed Quint at the end (I know the Qualos would've rioted but he had no where to go as a long term character...) and had Nola inherit tons of Spaulding stock to be a thorn in the side of Alex.

The Reardons seemed to have a decent presence up through 1985. From what I can tell, Pam Long said she would have continued writing for Nola and Tony.. but the actors left so she wrote them out. There was an interview from early 1984 where she said she loved the character moments where you sat at a table with a cup of coffee and talk about anything.. but that TPTB (proctor and gamble) wanted her to focus more on plot. She also said that she couldnt see anyone playing Amanda except for the actress who played her.. and indicated that the actress choose to leave on her own.

I actually like the Pam Long era better then the Marland era to be honest.

My issue with the Reardons wasn't Long, per se - I don't love Marland's writing for them either. I actually don't care for his Tony at all, and Bea seems like she would be living next door to Maw Green and Little Orphan Annie during the Depression-era strips. I think he does a good job with Nola (although the transition from bitch to comedic heroine isn't very smooth), and Maureen, but they just don't seem like a family to me.

I haven't watch as many of Long's full episodes, so maybe that changed, but nothing about them clicks as a family for me.

A large portion of a blackout episode. This is already on Youtube, but most in clip form, so you may enjoy seeing it all put together. It starts at around 30 minutes, or a little later. Many good scenes, although my favorite is probably Jenna's fairy tale, or the Maureen/Roger scenes, or, of course, Blake/Ross.

I'm reminded of how much I wanted to punch Lujack/Nick's father in the face.

Today's soaps would have had Julie and Dylan screw in the elevator.

Edited January 16, 201510 yr by DRW50

Aww. I loved the Jenna and Michelle scenes. I still hate that they killed Jenna all those years later. She was the only thing that made me care for Buzz at all. After she died, Buzz could've followed.

Roger and Maureen scenes were good too. I loved GL as a child at this time and even more now as an adult. I loved that despite Roger being a pariah, he still had Maureen in his corner somewhat. I loved that she always saw some good in him.

I'm guessing this is when Holly finds Ross and Blake in bed, the following morning. Doesn't Liz Keifer debut shortly after this? I loved the Bloss story. Especially when Holly became spiteful and printed those pics of Ross and Blake in flagrante delicto.

Was this around the time Ed and Lillian had their affair?

I think Blake and Ross have a few encounters after this and Holly walks in on one of those.

Ed and Lillian have sex during the blackout.

So this story is basically the beginning of the demise of Maureen.

No..it was Simon in the 2000s. Why didn't Gentry last?

LOL..I loved the Dreaming Death..but I was a kid at the time. Brandon not so much but I did like the Cabin Mystery up to a point and the doll and the "ghosts," were only seen by Annabelle and were more like flashbacks to the past. Ms. Piper was a more of a camp then the actual house and ghosts. Her ridiculous schemes and poison and tying Annabelle up over a hot stove..YIKES. Would have been more fun if snoopy Nola had been the one with the storyline and they could have just killed Quint at the end (I know the Qualos would've rioted but he had no where to go as a long term character...) and had Nola inherit tons of Spaulding stock to be a thorn in the side of Alex.

Sorry, Mitch - you are right, it was Simon, not Gentry.

I also agree about the DD storyline - Nola should have been the one who saw the "ghosts". That was more in character for her and less for Annabelle.

I never saw Quint as much of a long-term character, either. Nola versus Alexandra - now that would have been fun to watch.

So this story is basically the beginning of the demise of Maureen.

Corrent. This is one of the last GL "events" that I truly enjoyed watching, because it really jump-started some very interesting storylines (Ed/Lillian, Blake/Ross, etc.).

I think Blake and Ross have a few encounters after this and Holly walks in on one of those.

Ed and Lillian have sex during the blackout.

Ed and Lillian only kiss while trapped in the garage. The actual deed occurs closer to October 1992.

Ed and Lillian only kiss while trapped in the garage. The actual deed occurs closer to October 1992.

Dan

I never saw Quint as much of a long-term character, either. Nola versus Alexandra - now that would have been fun to watch.

The only scenes they had together was during Bev's time off for her husband's death. Alex is trying to con the Chambelin's into selling their stock...(which was revised time and time again...) and giving them below what it was worth. That goofy computer kid figured it out and ran programs and Nola presented them to everyone's astonishment. I would have loved to see Bev and Brown together and Bev rolling her eyes at Nola but then becoming friends, much to Van's annoyance.

Ed and Lillian only kiss while trapped in the garage. The actual deed occurs closer to October 1992.

Oh good. I'm glad they didn't actually have sex in the car...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwTSA3hqsP4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4wDvwp6jzo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4VcgzLsFn8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDzwP2ccCss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAIemDciFdM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwTSA3hqsP4

What was everyone's take on this era of the show?

Edited January 19, 201510 yr by YRBB

Abysmal.