1 hour ago, DRW50 said:

Soapcentral's bio claimed that Jessie and Simon had a son offcamera (named after her father?) and that Lillian would mention visiting Calla, but those bios often had some fancruft. I never heard any mention of them, even though it would have made sense to bring back Jessie later on (Beth likely would have ended up screwing her man).

Calla is a flop of a character, remembered only for a VD shame story, and was likely just brought on because Lisby Larson was a big name on Texas, the previous Kobe/Long soap.

I can't remember if I showed you this before (if I did my apologies) but it is one of my "favorite" Jessie scenes - Simon decides to woo her with a puppet.

Guiding Light - Jessie has a date with a puppet (1986)

YES! I totally remember you posting that puppet date clip last year and I had no idea that was this girl Jessie. How interesting... but weird that she left that same year after the date. I thought that scene was really cute and endearing, I really bought into their coupling just from that episode. Online it says Jessie and Simon left town together, so at least they stayed together LOL.

Re: Calla - What's VD?

Also - watching part 9 of that wedding series, I instantly recognized AMC's Chuck Tyler!!! I had no idea Richard Van Vleet was on GL, let alone as Ed Bauer - wow. Was he popular as Ed back then? He was a handsome guy.

@alwaysAMC no, he wasn't. He was only in the role for less than 2 years before Peter Simon's came back. I thought he was underrated-showed more emotion than stoic Peter Simon's.

I need to add that it didn't help that you had a recast Phillip and Ed from 85-86 plus Kyle who was a replacement for both Alan and Josh. In 1986, all four came back.

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by Spoon

25 minutes ago, alwaysAMC said:

Re: Calla - What's VD?

Venereal disease.

1 hour ago, Mitch64 said:

Not his fault, he just wasn't GA's Phillip..he should have been someone Alex brought in to run the company who...I don't know, had actual business experience. He could have still been at odds with Simon (Alex looks so stupid here if she thinks this Flock of Seagulls guy could be Brandon,the Root of All Evil's son.

But he was doomed to fail just because of the writing. He had WAY more chemistry with MKA than he did with JE, and they never had him in scenes with MOL, so who knows there. His Phillip spent time writing that stupid novel and it just looked crazy that India (who was madly in love with Phillip) or Beth would even consider Simon or Jackson before him. He just tutted Alex constantly and his Phillip was just there.

Ha.. I remember watching the reveal at the Student Center TV lounge and everyone in hysterics...Didnt dumb Jessie go running out into a field or something when she found out?

May you rot in soap opera hell for digging that up! : )

What I love about that Jessie puppet sequence is the beauty shot. I don't think GL even had beauty shots much longer so one of the last being a moose amuses me.

You're right that he had a real spark with MKA. I don't know why they never paired India with a man who would actually want her.

I have never seen the reveal or Jessie's reaction. I guess I should look for it.

I wonder if they should have just written Philip out for a while and cast Bolger as Simon. That would have been a year earlier but they could have made it work (was it Long who created Simon or was that all Ryder?). He could have feuded with Lujack. Bolger would have been believable as Simon - a con artist, one with a heart, and probably some added bisexual sleaze appeal.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by DRW50

Calla was like a prototype for Nadine. Aging, blonde gold diggers.

Here's a question, if Ross wasn't saddled with Blake-- would they have continued the revolving doors of lovers (the 80s) or would he have settled down with some other character? I would've aged the kids in the 2000s (over loser characters like Ashley Wolfe and Joey Lupo) and make the marlers a core family. They already had Dinah driving story and most of the Spaildings on canvas were biological Marlers.

3 minutes ago, Spoon said:

Calla was like a prototype for Nadine. Aging, blonde gold diggers.

Here's a question, if Ross wasn't saddled with Blake-- would they have continued the revolving doors of lovers (the 80s) or would he have settled down with some other character? I would've aged the kids in the 2000s (over loser characters like Ashley Wolfe and Joey Lupo) and make the marlers a core family. They already had Dinah driving story and most of the Spaildings on canvas were biological Marlers.

I think we would have mostly just seen him in his lawyer role and not with a serious love interest. I think he would have ended up like Frank or Billy often were in their last decade on the canvas.

8 hours ago, Mitch64 said:

"When Jordan returns in '97-ish, he's more of the support character. He's there when family needs him. I caught some silly scene when he's helping Bill break out Olivia from a nut hut or something, which is kind of funny...but a little sad, knowing he used to be a force to be reckoned with. As much as Zaslow or Deas were always lauded for their work, Jordan deserved lead emmy consideration for his work as well. He won a supporting actor emmy around '06-'07, which was long overdue, imo."

Jordan we know had his issues, even Maeve had a hard time working with him...I think he was just glad to have a job, and for once GL did the right thing by keeping him around (with an out for them.) What made Billy great was he was one of those characters, like Nola at a certain time and India in her return, who just liked to stir sh*t up, and did it with a twinkle in his eye. You need those kind of characters, not bad, not self righteously good, who just liked to throw a wrench into something out and watch everyone scarmble. I think that is why he worked so well with self controlled Van, he needed her to keep him centered and she needed him to remove the stick that sometimes got up her ass.

And honestly, this is one of those times I should've been less up in my feels while posting. To it's credit, GL did bring him back, and while it may not have been the way I wanted, Billy was still a vital part of Springfield. These are by no means just token appearances. It would've been infinitely worse for me if all of the sudden both of Bill's parents just suddenly ghosted him, and only shown up for the occasional wedding or funeral (ala Hope or even Ed).

And while he might not be everyone's favorite, I rarely hear anyone say they ever got sick of Billy, the way being forced into nonsensical stories has a tendency to disenchant viewers. (coughRevacough).

Billy and Van work for a lot of reasons (gee, you'd never know that, because I so rarely post about them...lol). I think they ground each other in good ways. They aren't Josh and Reva, which may have been equal at one time, but just became and endless string of Josh forgiving Reva for (insert lie/stupid move here). Billy and Van loved each other for who they were, not who they could've (or had) been.

2 minutes ago, Spoon said:

Calla was like a prototype for Nadine. Aging, blonde gold diggers.

Here's a question, if Ross wasn't saddled with Blake-- would they have continued the revolving doors of lovers (the 80s) or would he have settled down with some other character? I would've aged the kids in the 2000s (over loser characters like Ashley Wolfe and Joey Lupo) and make the marlers a core family. They already had Dinah driving story and most of the Spaildings on canvas were biological Marlers.

I'm not sure the show would've invested in getting Ross a viable love interest, had they busted Blake/Ross up. As adored as JvD was, I think the show would've just used him as the town's lawyer, Dinah's dad, Phillip's uncle and possibly aged the twins to give him story.

1 hour ago, alwaysAMC said:

Was he popular as Ed back then?

No. He was probably the least popular Ed. His recast coincided with the storyline where Ed made Claire pregnant with Michelle. I think that p!ssed a lot of viewers off. Clearly, they were trying to make Ed more conventionally attractive and less dour. Also, I think maybe some felt he was playing Ed as though he was Chuck Tyler.

As @Spoon pointed out, there were SO many major recasts around that time. There was nothing at all wrong with Bolger; as pointed out, he was handsome and sexy. But the storylines combined with the strangeness of the new actors worked against them, IMO.

30 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

You're right that he had a real spark with MKA. I don't know why they never paired India with a man who would actually want her.

Oh, goodie, I get to complain again about how they never took advantage of MKA and Chris Bernau's chemistry! Even though the storyline was utter crap, I really enjoy watching their scenes together. It's like India's major character feature was trying to trick men into marrying her. SO many things were done poorly during that period.

34 minutes ago, Spoon said:

Here's a question, if Ross wasn't saddled with Blake-- would they have continued the revolving doors of lovers (the 80s) or would he have settled down with some other character? I would've aged the kids in the 2000s (over loser characters like Ashley Wolfe and Joey Lupo) and make the marlers a core family. They already had Dinah driving story and most of the Spaildings on canvas were biological Marlers.

Here's a thought: bring back Hope to pair with Ross. If AM was off the canvas, there wouldn't be a strangeness about age.

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by DeeVee

17 hours ago, DRW50 said:

I still wonder if any wedding for a couple who had so little impact and a story that fell so flat has ever cost this much. Stunning visuals and gorgeous wardrobe in many cases. I often think of these clips whenever I think of a GL wedding (and the couple aren't even in many of them!), but I wish they could have used that cash for a better purpose.

The fun entrance for Louie also reminds me that a character who often seemed to be there for light relief got a depressing side exit. I guess at least he got an exit.

You do just want someone to interview whoever was in charge (or whoever's left) and ask "WHY is this so over the top?" They could've cut this back by 2/3 and still had a wedding that would've rivaled Quint/Nola or (later of course) Josh and Reva's. It can't be only because of the Infinity story. I almost wonder if GL hadn't wanted to marry Beth and Lujack, but VI's leaving put a crimp in that plan. And left them with no option but Mindy and Kurt. (Kurt could've spent 20 years on this show and not been worth all this hoopla.)

36 minutes ago, P.J. said:

You do just want someone to interview whoever was in charge (or whoever's left) and ask "WHY is this so over the top?" They could've cut this back by 2/3 and still had a wedding that would've rivaled Quint/Nola or (later of course) Josh and Reva's. It can't be only because of the Infinity story. I almost wonder if GL hadn't wanted to marry Beth and Lujack, but VI's leaving put a crimp in that plan. And left them with no option but Mindy and Kurt. (Kurt could've spent 20 years on this show and not been worth all this hoopla.)

That would make a lot of sense.

38 minutes ago, DeeVee said:

No. He was probably the least popular Ed. His recast coincided with the storyline where Ed made Claire pregnant with Michelle. I think that p!ssed a lot of viewers off. Clearly, they were trying to make Ed more conventionally attractive and less dour. Also, I think maybe some felt he was playing Ed as though he was Chuck Tyler.

What I've seen of him as Ed seems very overwrought, which isn't how I see Ed. I'm not sure if he is easier to watch on a day-to-day basis.

1 minute ago, DRW50 said:

That would make a lot of sense.

Honestly, I can't see Lujack dressed up as Prince Charming. Or Beth even wanting a wedding like that. It was definitely a Mindy thing.

Which possibly means it would not have been inflicted upon us if VI hadn't left the show.

Seriously, I can't think of any other soap wedding that even comes close to being this over-the-top. Not even any of Erica Kane's weddings. Cliff and Nina's--MAYBE. But no one was dressed up like a Disney prince.

20 hours ago, P.J. said:

I'm going to regret asking...but Jeffrey kept Hope away from Michelle?

Billy is a pot-stirrer in the '80's and early '90's. While he's not the patriarch of the Lewises per se, I think his arrival kind of energizes both Josh and Trish, who were a family unit, but didn't have a lot of conflict between them. He also antagonizes Alan, and later Reva. He's actually the Big Bad in the first go-round of Josh/Reva. (He's either sickened that Reva is sleeping her way through his family, or obsessively jealous, take your pick.) When Kyle comes to town, he takes him on. When Billy comes back in '89, he becomes Roger's foil. (While almost everyone else in town also is, he's really the one who sort of enjoys the thought of taking Roger on.)

And of course, he brings out a more sympathetic, rootable side of Vanessa.

When Jordan returns in '97-ish, he's more of the support character. He's there when family needs him. I caught some silly scene when he's helping Bill break out Olivia from a nut hut or something, which is kind of funny...but a little sad, knowing he used to be a force to be reckoned with. As much as Zaslow or Deas were always lauded for their work, Jordan deserved lead emmy consideration for his work as well. He won a supporting actor emmy around '06-'07, which was long overdue, imo.

Re: Michelle/Jeffrey

Marina suspected that Edmund did something to Michelle and started investigating. Jeffrey figured out that Edmund took her baby and then told Marina that Cassie was Hope's mom. He wanted to spare Cassie's feelings and not bring up the suspicions at the christening. At the hospital, he was hostile towards Danny, who is as soft as cotton mobster. Once there is rock solid DNA proof (for a soap that is) that Michelle and Danny are Hope's parents, he still tries to encourage Cassie to file for custody and has an oppo file on Danny. All of this is presented as though Jeffrey is a stand up guy and I just don't get it. Michelle had her baby stolen, and Jeffrey basically didn't care.

The 80s version of Billy sounds like my kind of guy. He's easily entertaining from all that I've seen so far. And I did see the scene of Billy breaking Olivia out of the nut house. It stuck with me because a young Quinn from Scandal was the nurse lol.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by CrazySexyQ

6 hours ago, DeeVee said:

This was one of the major problems with GL during the mid-80s. They cut most of the characters from the Dobsons/Marland eras (some left voluntarily, like Robert Newman and Chris Bernau). They introduced a bunch of new characters, most (except for the Lewis clan/Reva and Alexandra) who flopped and were out of there very fast. And, of course, Charita Bauer passed away, which was a major blow to the show.

Even some that succeeded (i.e. Lujack) lasted a short time because of problems backstage.

Not a good period for the show.

Let's not forget the numerous changes in producers and writers in the 1980s also played a part.

GL was very fortunate in the 1980s that they avoided cancel territory. Of course Capitol showing no growth and B&B not being a hit right away also helped.

Similar to the wedding convo, are there are any particularly memorable proposals? I feel like even the prominent more overtly romantic couples mostly have pretty quiet proposals/engagements. I legitimately can’t come up with any (outside of doomed proposals like Ross finding out about the Blake/AM tryst from the random taxi driver).

6 minutes ago, DeeVee said:

Honestly, I can't see Lujack dressed up as Prince Charming. Or Beth even wanting a wedding like that. It was definitely a Mindy thing.

Which possibly means it would not have been inflicted upon us if VI hadn't left the show.

Seriously, I can't think of any other soap wedding that even comes close to being this over-the-top. Not even any of Erica Kane's weddings. Cliff and Nina's--MAYBE. But no one was dressed up like a Disney prince.

Well...I don't think anyone can. lol. But I could see Lujack and Beth's wedding being at the crux of the Infinity reveal. It wouldn't really change the dynamics of Billy shooting Kyle, except maybe casting a little doubt on Billy's motives for being there or how happy he was before "snapping" and shooting.

That dress probably weighed as much as Krista.

19 minutes ago, CrazySexyQ said:

Re: Michelle/Jeffrey

Marina suspected that Edmund did something to Michelle and started investigating. Jeffrey figured out that Edmund took her baby and then told Marina that Cassie was Hope's mom. He wanted to spare Cassie's feelings and not bring up the suspicions at the christening. At the hospital, he was hostile towards Danny, who is as soft as cotton mobster. Once there is rock solid DNA proof (for a soap that is), he tries to encourage Cassie to file for custody and has a file on Danny. All of this is presented as though Jeffrey is a stand up guy and I just don't get it. Michelle had her baby stolen, and Jeffrey basically didn't care.

The 80s version of Billy sounds like my kind of guy. He's easily entertaining from all that I've seen so far. And I did see the scene of Billy breaking Olivia out of the nut house. It stuck with me because a young Quinn from Scandal was the nurse lol.

Thanks! Yeah...I don't recall that at all. But it does renew my dislike of ol' Jeff.

Billy, bless him, was never as stodgy as Josh. The only real difference between '80's Billy and '00's Billy is he's less angry. Rewatching the '80's, I'd forgotten how violent he could be.

30 minutes ago, GL95 said:

Similar to the wedding convo, are there are any particularly memorable proposals? I feel like even the prominent more overtly romantic couples mostly have pretty quiet proposals/engagements. I legitimately can’t come up with any (outside of doomed proposals like Ross finding out about the Blake/AM tryst from the random taxi driver).

Well, it doesn't help that there are some gaps in episodes. But you've got a point. I believe Quint proposed to Nola just after nearly getting killed by Rebecca. Not exactly fun, happy times. I like Billy and Van's second proposal. They've had a bet about who will win a client, but at the end, each tries to convince the client to give it to the other. They meet up in the dining room where they'd first met, expecting to lose. the bet was, if Vanessa won, Billy would run an ad proclaiming her the better business person. If Billy won, Van had to propose to him, and he had the option to decline. The client, Agatha, knows what's going on between them, and chooses neither of them. But Billy reveals that he's run the ad, proclaimed his love and asked her to marry him. Van comes prepared to get down on bended knee (she's brought a rug as to not ruin her dress). They both end up on their knees and sort of accept each other's proposals.

But I wouldn't have organically remembered it, and don't really recall any others. But other than Carly and Jack's from ATWT, I don't think I remember any.