5 hours ago, Soaplovers said:

@DeeVee The actress that played Peggy was on a Locher Room interview and she was asked if her leaving the show was her choice, or the show's choice. She said the first time she left in 1977 was her choice because she and her hubby moved out west.. but when things didn't work out, she was bought back full time in 1979 and given next to nothing to do before she was let go the second time.

I think had Fran M opted to stay beyond 1977, the whole Roger story would have gone in a totally different direction because the Roger/Peggy connection and marriage seemed to still have a lot more mileage left in it that probably would have been explored in 1978 especially with the whole Ed/Rita/Holly situation ongoing.

When she came back in 1979, it was an odd time on the show where new stories had developed since she had left in late 1977 (The Phillip story, The Amanda story, etc) that there wasn't a place to fit her in. Had the Dobson's stayed beyond December 1979.. maybe they would have figured out where to place her.. but who knows.

Thanks. I didn't know she was let go the second time. There were still many in Springfield she had ties to. I guess Roger being beyond redemption at this point did limit her.

2 hours ago, DeeVee said:

But what really drove Alan most of the time was having to cover up something he did that was underhanded, or not exactly legal, although he would tell himself he did it for good reasons, (i.e. doing the baby switch when Elizabeth's baby was born dead). He was usually busy hiding something he did in the past, and that would force him to do more bad things, that he would also have to hide.

I quoted just that part because it summarized what went wrong with many soaps over the years.

Alan was a little shady yes, but not to the point where he intentionally caused someone direct harm.

Later on soap villains did things that they should have been punished for and it was allowed to slide or they were considered punished because someone wouldn't talk to them for a short time.

The moral balance was out of whack.

I could see Tom Hallick (ex-Brad Elliot Y&R) as a potential re-cast for Mike Bauer in the 80's/90's.

Maybe Rod Arrants as Ed. He would have been better than Peter Simon in my opinion

I always felt Rick was miscast with Michael O'Leary.

28 minutes ago, SoapDope78 said:

I could see Tom Hallick (ex-Brad Elliot Y&R) as a potential re-cast for Mike Bauer in the 80's/90's.

Maybe Rod Arrants as Ed. He would have been better than Peter Simon in my opinion

I always felt Rick was miscast with Michael O'Leary.

Mmm...Rod Arrants is the same age as Peter Simon-that could work.

I'm trying to think of a NY soap actor who could have been a good Mike recast in the 80's.

Dan Hamilton? 10 years younger than Dan but could probably play a little older.