@Reverend Ruthledge , I can't argue why you liked Gentry in the role. Gentry's Ed was always intense, which absolutely worked with what they were writing from 1966 to 1969. Gentry was a great contrast to both Bill and an evolving Bert. I don't remember Gentry much as Ed, so thank goodness there is some of his work out there (though I have always wanted to see his work as Ed during his final months in 1968/1969). But as @vetsoapfan mentioned, MH was the one that, IMHO, brought into Ed some warmth along with the intensity. And Stewart definitely didn't have that Papa Bauer warmth, either.

@Mitch64 - that's interesting that they tried to get Hulswit back. Do you happen to know when this was?

2 hours ago, Mitch64 said:

Agree, but since MH was the Ed I saw until high school, he is kind of "my Ed." The 70th anniversary show, where they brought back Don Stewart would have been the perfect time to bring him back, and try to keep him there. With the fallout about Rick's paternity of one of Blake's kids, with Ed being stuck in the middle of Rick and Ross, (and his "step daughter" ) and references to Ed finding out Blake was Rogers, the storyline would have more depth to it then the "shock" value it was played. Of course, if we are dreaming, having him in place if they went through with a " Roger has ALS" would have really been interesting.

By that point, I wish Rauch had brought back both Hulswit and Stewart as Ed and Mike on contract. Hulswit for exactly the reasons you stated. For Stewart as Mike, I was amazed during the 60th Anniversary event at how many people Mike interacted with before he left for DC in 1984 that were still on the show. Plus (as I think we previously discussed), having Michelle's law-and-order uncle on the show when she was involved with the Danny and the mafia storyline would have lent more weight to it.

If they were going for a Marcy Walker/Robert Newman romance, it would've made more sense for Marcy to play a recast Morgan.

As that that was Marcy Walker biggest complaint, her character was not tied to anyone. Nor did it have any backstory. If she was Morgan, that character had a history with Josh and was connected to both the Bauer and Spaulding families.