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.

@DRW50 Yes, I recall at least one interaction where they discussed that they both knew that Vanessa was really alive.

5 hours ago, Paul Raven said:

I suppose she could have hooked up with Henry and battled Vanessa?

Henry did date Barbara! He told Mike she reminded him of Stephanie Ryan, Quint's mother. But then she left town.

Apparently, he had a thing for redheads, because he and Bea were a quasi-couple for years. They never had it become serious. Other than a few snarky comments, Vanessa didn't seem too threatened.

5 hours ago, DRW50 said:

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

I'm going to say something that's probably going to be unpopular:

I hated those friggin' fantasies. You would think as a fan of old movies I would have loved them, but to me they were cringe and stopped the story cold.

Lisa was tremendously talented and I get wanting to take advantage of that, but if I wanted to watch a musical comedy, I would watch a musical comedy.

I only really started to appreciate Lisa because so few of those fantasy sequences survive today.

First off, it would've been brilliant to have Zas pop up in one of Nola's fantasies. The fans would've adored it. Marland would've eaten it up.

Two, the idea that Barbara was too tied to Roger to stick around is ridiculous. No one thought Ed was useless, obviously, and he was Roger's biggest foil.

Three, Barbara vs. Vanessa would've been flippin' fantastic. Barbara would've had no tolerance for Vanessa. At all. And Barbara was the natural successor to Bert's matriarchal role. Although they didn't know Charita would be facing her health issues so soon.

Bea didn't put up with Van much either, Bea wasn't one to involve herself in the dynamic between Henry and Van. It would've been interesting to see Barbara, who'd already dealt with Adam's reluctance to see Roger's lies then deal with Henry's indulgence with Vanessa.

15 minutes ago, P.J. said:

Two, the idea that Barbara was too tied to Roger to stick around is ridiculous. No one thought Ed was useless, obviously, and he was Roger's biggest foil.

Didn't Potter blatantly admit in an interview that they were getting rid of the older characters to make the show younger?

Since Barbara and Rita butted heads frequently, I could definitely see the same happening with her and Vanessa.

Come to think of it, it would have been awesome if Barbara had been around when the Alan/Rita affair hit the fan. She would have had a lot to say about that!

Edited 9 hours ago9 hr by DeeVee

4 minutes ago, DeeVee said:

Henry did date Barbara! He told Mike she reminded him of Stephanie Ryan, Quint's mother. But then she left town.

Apparently, he had a thing for redheads, because he and Bea were a quasi-couple for years. They never had it become serious. Other than a few snarky comments, Vanessa didn't seem too threatened.

I'm going to say something that's probably going to be unpopular:

I hated those friggin' fantasies. You would think as a fan of old movies I would have loved them, but to me they were cringe and stopped the story cold.

Lisa was tremendously talented and I get wanting to take advantage of that, but if I wanted to watch a musical comedy, I would watch a musical comedy.

I only really started to appreciate Lisa because so few of those fantasy sequences survive today.

Oh. Van was very threatened by Bea. She's convinced Bea is a gold digger and the Reardons will have Henry cutting her out of his will. Her energy is more focused at Nola, but she takes jobs at Bea too.

Uhm...I didn't like the fantasies then and I avoid them now. But Zas isn't in one either. LOL.

9 minutes ago, DeeVee said:

Didn't Potter blatantly admit in an interview that they were getting rid of the older characters to make the show younger?

Since Barbara and Rita butted heads frequently, I could definitely see the same happening with her and Vanessa.

Come to think of it, it would have been awesome if Barbara had been around when the Alan/Rita affair hit the fan. She would have had a lot to say about that!

When did Barbara leave? Shortly after Andy is sent to jail? So, August '81? So wasn't she still in town when it did?

7 hours ago, P.J. said:

When did Barbara leave? Shortly after Andy is sent to jail? So, August '81? So wasn't she still in town when it did?

I think you're right. Maybe she had something to say about it, but it's missing because most of the stuff to do with Alan and Rita is not available.

Just another reason to want those episodes to pop up one of these days!