GL now joins some illustrious company in the cancelled soap thread.

Let's share memories and ask questions here.

22 minutes ago, Soaplovers said:

He seemed like he could be someone you would run into if you ventured into a more high end department store and/or neighborhood.

That is SO FUNNY you said this because a while ago I watched some of the Peapack era. There was a scene of Raines in a drugstore, holding a shopping basket, and picking shampoo or whatever off the shelf.

Something about that seemed so ridiculous, I couldn't stop laughing.

Again, not entirely Raines's fault. Why did they write that scene in the first place?

But, yeah, I could see Bernau doing that and it not seeming bizarre.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by DeeVee

5 hours ago, Speed Racer said:

I don't think Raines was all that horrible, at least not to the extent that others here think. The guy had more talent than what we typically saw. Much of any skill he had was held abeyant.

My problem with Raines is he was simply willing to go with the cards he was dealt. Pure supposition on my part, of course. I suspect he didn't spend much time watching Bernau. I suspect he never complained to the brass about character assassination. I suspect he didn't complain about the eradication of the Spaulding brand.

A twirling mustache persona is light years away from who Alan Spaulding was. Dope-peddling is light years away from who Alexandra Spaulding was.

3 hours ago, Soaplovers said:

The thing about CB's Alan was that he could be just at home in an upper crust establishment, yet also had a warm down to earth aura about him. He seemed like he could be someone you would run into if you ventured into a more high end department store and/or neighborhood.

Ron Raines was too much of a cartoon and too Broadway to play Alan properly.

I agree Bernau managed to find the line. I think Raines could have too, but not as easily.

My biggest issues with Raines were a lack of charisma and lack of chemistry with leading ladies. Clearly, he had that in his stage career, but I rarely saw this in his work as Alan. Bernau is fascinating in every glimpse, whereas Raines would have been a slightly sourer grandfather in the Werther's Originals ads.

There also seemed to be no real long-term plans for him after the Mr. Tashiwa nonsense, maybe due to the frequent writer turnover in JFP's last year. The best they figured out being a pairing with Tangie does suggest JFP had another actor in mind, although I have no idea who. I wonder if she may have wanted Jed Allan. I think pages ago there was a list of potential Alans mentioned in Soap Opera Update or another magazine at the time. I can't remember the names. Joe Gallison may have been one, but I am not sure.

Edited 52 minutes ago52 min by DRW50

2 hours ago, DeeVee said:

That is SO FUNNY you said this because a while ago I watched some of the Peapack era. There was a scene of Raines in a drugstore, holding a shopping basket, and picking shampoo or whatever off the shelf.

Something about that seemed so ridiculous, I couldn't stop laughing.

Again, not entirely Raines's fault. Why did they write that scene in the first place?

But, yeah, I could see Bernau doing that and it not seeming bizarre.

There was a scene with Alex in the drugstore, eating some ice cream on a stick. It was hard for me to imagine Marj's Alex doing that, although Marj did seem to have fun with the moment (and her Alex was initially given a more common touch, like playing basketball with Buzz - I'd love to see Bev in those scenes).