14 minutes ago, P.J. said:

Honestly, I can rarely recall a beard making that much difference in looks. Beardless Josh? Nope. Bearded Josh---muy bueno. (although honestly, RN's just not my type.)

Oh I actually love a beard and think most guys look better with a beard or some scruff. But, I think it's the 80s mop on his head that's too much for me. The 80s style for men, for me, usually isn't my thing. Although Riker in ST:TNG was perfect, much better with the beard, but still tidy up top  

Who is your type in Springfield?  

3 minutes ago, alwaysAMC said:

Oh I actually love a beard and think most guys look better with a beard or some scruff. But, I think it's the 80s mop on his head that's too much for me. The 80s style for men, for me, usually isn't my thing. Although Riker in ST:TNG was perfect, much better with the beard, but still tidy up top  

Who is your type in Springfield?  

Oh, back in the day it was John Wesley Shipp, Michael Tylo and Grant Aleksander. Now it's Jordan, Jerry and Rick Hearst.

1 minute ago, P.J. said:

Oh, back in the day it was John Wesley Shipp, Michael Tylo and Grant Aleksander. Now it's Jordan, Jerry and Rick Hearst.

Not bad choices!  

The first half of '89 must have some kind of hangover from the '88 strike. It's a mess. And not in a good way. 

54 minutes ago, P.J. said:

Honestly, I can rarely recall a beard making that much difference in looks. Beardless Josh? Nope. Bearded Josh---muy bueno. (although honestly, RN's just not my type.)

This is SO funny that you bring up beards. 

When Alan was first introduced on GL, I didn't think that much of him, as far as handsomeness. I thought Bernau was attractive, but that was about it.

Then, when they did the desert island story, he grew a beard. And I was, like, hmm, he looks really good with the beard. Of course, as soon as Alan and Hope were rescued, he shaved off the beard. I was SO sad. 

It's no secret that I did not care for Daniel Pilon as Alan. BUT...towards the end of his time on the show, he grew a beard. And I was like, hmm, he looks really good with the beard. I could maybe get into him as Alan with the beard. And then, of course, he was permanently off the show.

Fast-forward five years, and they announce Alan has been recast. I watch the first episode and see Ron Raines, who has a beard...and it does NOTHING for me. 15 years, he kept the beard the whole time...NOTHING. 😂

I don't mean to always be picking on him, but like you said, just not my type, I guess. 🤷‍♀️

Edited July 31, 2025Jul 31 by DeeVee

"I also do like the last one that had a bittersweet tone to it, and actually looked like a party in someone's yard. There was one of the "Ed-less years" where Rick and Abby took time out of the party to screw...obviously no writer ever threw a big family party as that is the LAST thing on your mind when you have 50 people in your house."

 

Wanna bet!?   How wrong you are...I am proof.  I had a great time throwing parties for family, friends, co-workers....lol.

People would show up early to my house, not late.  I was good with it.

Be yourself and everyone will have a great time.  Be an uptight/nervous host, serve cheese-and-crackers, onion dip and other staid nonsense, and your party will suck.  The Bauer July 4 BBQs were a snore, for obvious reasons.

 

23 minutes ago, P.J. said:

The first half of '89 must have some kind of hangover from the '88 strike. It's a mess. And not in a good way. 

I have seen worse in the mid 90s on. 

@Speed Racer I agree.  I thought Roger's and Sonni's Independence Day dinner was more interesting than the 1989 Bauer Snorefest BBQ. 

The 93 one with Holly/Michelle/Roger/Ed at Cliff House was better too. 

I didn't see the 2001 one, but all the ones I have seen seemed boring. The only one I think was pretty good was when Bridget/Julie/Hart/Kat were first introduced.

Edited July 31, 2025Jul 31 by MLH

5 minutes ago, MLH said:

I have seen worse in the 90s on. 

Oh, I don't doubt that. It's just that I love the second half of '89 so much. This feels like a completely different show. When Nadine sounds like the smartest person in the room...you know the world has turned inside out.

48 minutes ago, P.J. said:

Oh, back in the day it was John Wesley Shipp, Michael Tylo and Grant Aleksander. Now it's Jordan, Jerry and Rick Hearst.

It's so funny how your reaction to actors can change over time.

I couldn't STAND Tylo back then. I loathed that whole Indiana Jones/Jane Eyre hybrid storyline, so I didn't like him.

Now, I watch the same stories, and I think, dang, he was a handsome dude.

22 minutes ago, DeeVee said:

 

I don't mean to always be picking on him, but like you said, just not my type, I guess. 🤷‍♀️

lol...meanwhile, I'm remembering Ross in his cheesy mustache circa 1983.

1 hour ago, P.J. said:

The first half of '89 must have some kind of hangover from the '88 strike. It's a mess. And not in a good way. 

1989 picks up when Springfield learns Roger survived the fall off the cliff in Santo Domingo. Once Robert Calhoun becomes EP, then GL will really hit its stride. 

SOD named GL most improved in 1989, and I think the combination of Roger's return and Robert Calhoun becoming EP were the main factors.

Edited July 31, 2025Jul 31 by kalbir

32 minutes ago, DeeVee said:

It's so funny how your reaction to actors can change over time.

I couldn't STAND Tylo back then. I loathed that whole Indiana Jones/Jane Eyre hybrid storyline, so I didn't like him.

Now, I watch the same stories, and I think, dang, he was a handsome dude.

Oh, those ascots. I do think the adventure aspect of Quint/Nola sold him for me.

13 minutes ago, kalbir said:

1989 picks up when Springfield learns Roger survived the fall off the cliff in Santo Domingo. Once Robert Calhoun becomes EP, then GL will really hit its stride. 

SOD named GL most improved in 1989, and I think the combination of Roger's return and Robert Calhoun becoming EP were the main factors.

While I'm not blaming the Reva focus per se---the Will/Sonni/Josh/Reva story is eating the show, yet nearly completely disconnected from the other half of the show. The town is full of lackluster characters---Blake, Meredith, Rose---driving story.   It just seems like the show is treading water waiting for Roger to take off that damn mask.

1 hour ago, P.J. said:

While I'm not blaming the Reva focus per se---the Will/Sonni/Josh/Reva story is eating the show, yet nearly completely disconnected from the other half of the show. The town is full of lackluster characters---Blake, Meredith, Rose---driving story.   It just seems like the show is treading water waiting for Roger to take off that damn mask.

I agree and somehow I don't mind that the Sonni/Will portion is so prominent. When it's just Will and Sonni, I was/am riveted. Reva and Josh are a bit lackluster in comparison. I like Elizabeth Dennehy and Alexandra Neil and I wish the writing had been better for them. Obviously, Stringfield comes in and lights up the screen, but she also had consistent writing on her side. The writers decided on what to do with her character. Dennehy's Blake changed so often I'm surprised the poor woman didn't get whiplash.

3 hours ago, P.J. said:

Oh, those ascots. I do think the adventure aspect of Quint/Nola sold him for me.

Tylo had great cheekbones and an aura of mystery and chemistry at various points. I think the phrase, "I'd like to know less about you," applies to him. Once they got into so many complicated secrets and he had to settle down there was less to be interested in. In the long run I'm still not really sure if making him Henry's son was worth it, although that story probably is what kept Henry and Vanessa on the show through the 1982 and 1983 purges.

It seems like GL had purges through almost every year in the '80s...