I'd argue that GL was always pretty strong for CBS before that, that the only way it was going to be replaced that early was if they needed room for Capitol or later an expanded B&B. NBC let Another World coast under the radar for two decades and its ratings were awful. Also, GL had several spikes during the 90s so it didn't seem like a lost cause until the 00s really.

Rauch was a mistake as EP, maybe for a year or two to stabilize the show but they could've done better in the EP role. I don't know who tho. Felicia Meine Behr(wrong spelling), Joseph Hardy? Personally, I would've liked to see Garry Tomlin get a shot as GL EP. IIRC, One Life to Live won its only Best Series EMMY under his tenure.

June 19, 1982

Actor urges soap producer to revive his *dead" character by Lynda Hirsch

Michael Zaslow, the actor who played Roger Thorpe in "The Guiding Light" so well that his departure caused the character to be killed off rather than recast, wouldn't mind returning to "Guiding Light" for a few guest appearances. Zaslow, who left the show over two years ago, has been watching it lately and is very impressed by head writer Doug Marland's scripting —so much so that he called the production office and suggested that the ever-fantasizing Nola envision Roger in one of her fantasies.

Stated Zaslow, "Nola knew Roger before he was killed off, and it wouldn't be so unlikely for her to think about him." The producers were tempted, since Michael is a highclass actor with tons of fans who still recall Roger and wish that he would come back. But that's the problem. Even though Roger is "dead," many fans expect him to pop up again, since he was killed off once before only to return. This time, it's feared that if Roger even appeared in some fantasies it might lead to fans expecting to see Roger Thorpe return for good. In fact, one of the reasons Barbara and Holly Thorpe were axed was because their appearance on the screen caused too many memories of Roger. It doesn't pay for a dead character to be the focal point of a soap opera.

28 minutes ago, Paul Raven said:

In fact, one of the reasons Barbara and Holly Thorpe were axed was because their appearance on the screen caused too many memories of Roger. It doesn't pay for a dead character to be the focal point of a soap opera.

That's certainly one excuse...

We know that wasn't the reason why Barbara Berjer was let go. I always assume Maureen Garrett wanted to leave.

Re Barbara. As much as it's great to have vets around, Barbara no longer had much relevance to the story. All her children were gone. It would have been hard to keep her in the story. I suppose she could have hooked up with Henry and battled Vanessa?

Maureen signed for a year in her last contract. Doug didn't give her much to do, which probably contributed to her leaving. He probably felt Holly had run her course having been married to 2 leading men. Again Holly could have stayed but Doug wanted to bring on his own characters and Maureen might have been more expensive than some newcomers.

5 minutes ago, Paul Raven said:

Re Barbara. As much as it's great to have vets around, Barbara no longer had much relevance to the story. All her children were gone. It would have been hard to keep her in the story. I suppose she could have hooked up with Henry and battled Vanessa?

That could have been interesting, probably more than Henry/Bea, but I can see why the show moved on.

I do like Michael's idea of Roger appearing in one of Nola's fantasies.

I can't remember if they interacted in 1995-1996. A shame we never got to see her learn that he was one of Maureen's close friends.