There are some families who were brought in very quickly one on top of the other and managed to survive for the long haul, although the circumstances are very different.

The Frames, AW. Steve Frame was around for several years until his history was rewritten to bring in a bunch of siblings. Some of them made their mark, although I don't think any of the siblings of the 70s were all that popular, were they? Or they didn't stick around long enough to be popular. Sharlene, Emma, Willis. Willis lasted the longest. I guess Janice was the most memorable. Then the Frames had a long dormant period until Sharlene and Frankie picked up the torch in the late 80s. They barely held on to the end with awful Josie as their last survivor.

The Snyders, ATWT. I guess this might be a case of Marland being at ATWT for so long that his creations became a part of the fabric of Oakdale, less easy to dismantle. When Holden left in 1995, they did try to move away from the family. Emma was put on recurring, Caleb and Julie were gone. But the attempt to make the Kasnoffs the new blue collar family flopped and by 1997, with Holden back and Jack's arrival, the Snyders were in a new era.

The Reardons, GL. Their real highlights petered out after 1985, with only a few remnants who were written into other families (Maureen with the Bauers, Chelsea with WSPR and various people like Phillip, Fletcher, Johnny). Then Bridget and Matt came along, and Nola returned, although they were rarely written for as a family (Nola/Bridget scenes were often so depressing, as they were both treated with contempt by GL by that time).

There was another O'Neil who left with Brad, right? And then there was Didi, who was a very popular character, wasn't she? She worked well with Bo in the clips I've seen. I wonder what would have happened if she'd stayed around.

I think the main McColls were gone by the time Marland showed up. I don't know if he wrote out Kirk or if Kirk was going anyway. I know Mark Pinter said Marland told him Brian would be written out and this would take place over an entire year. From what I've seen my problem with that family, besides the shallow writing you mention, was the awful actor who played Whit.

Oh, Didi was an O'Neil? I had only heard of the character as one of Bo's great loves; I don't think I ever knew her last name.

Was Brad Jenny's ex, the father of the baby that died in the baby switch story and the guy who raped Karen? I remember coming across his exit on YouTube a year or so ago. If it is who I'm thinking of, I don't think he left with an O'Neil. He was kind of redeemed - David Renaldi had to fake his death because of some spy silliness, and Brad, who still loved Jenny, agreed to marry Jenny and then pretend to leave town together, when in reality David would be taking over Brad's identity and he and Jenny would be the ones running off together, while Brad would start over with a new name. I thought it was a cool way to write off the character so it stands out in my mind, but as far as I know he left alone.

You're probably right about the McColls. I never actually saw the father, and I probably saw them as harmless in the clips that I have seen because the actors were recognizable and I knew that they were short-lived and that Marland took over soon after.

The Snyders on ATWT were a textbook example of how to bring on a new family. Marland started with Holden, followed quickly by Emma. Iva was brought on , but it worked because she was tied into fan fave Lily's story. Gradually , Seth came on (tied to the Hughes family through Frannie.) By the time Caleb and Ellie were introduced, we had heard so much about them, we couldn't wait to meet them.

The Kasnoffs were an attempt by later writers to replace the Snyders. They failed miserably. Mike Kasnoff was a similar start to Holden Snyder, but Mark Kasnoff was just a Fabio-type prettyboy. Sarah Kasnoff was so unpopular that she quickly disappeared from the scene.

Yes, Didi was an O'Neill. That was their love story, Bo wanted to get away from Asa's name so he took a new name and went to work at her father's factory.

I thought Brad left with the Liz Keifer O'Neill. Maybe not?

Was it the Kirsten Vigard O'Neill who was in the cult?

You can see Whit McColl in some of these clips:

I actually don't mind the McColls, from the little I've seen of them. I don't know where they could have gone, but if Kim Ulrich had stayed I think Marland could have made her into one of the good girl/bad girl mixtures he was fond of. And young Cris Leblanc was cute and full of energy -- if he left it must have just been down to the show being in transition, the same reason Marisa Tomei was fired. It's too bad.

The father isn't THAT bad, he just has that very wooden acting I don't care for, like the Coleridge father on RH, remember him? His wig was livelier than his acting.

ATWT Andropolous

I wouldn't go that far, but Rosalind Cash was certainly the main draw and it didn't help that she passed away at the same time Claire Labine was leaving as head writer and ABC daytime in general was getting whitewashed after making some strides with diversity in the early and mid 90s. I liked the performers playing both Keesha and Justus (the original, that is) and the ties to the Quartermaines could have driven story for years. But it was a convenient point for writers and network higher ups who had no interested in developing characters of color to phase them out.

I've often thought that what might have helped give the family momentum that could have sustained them at that time was if Justus's sister, Faith (who was also Edward's granddaughter) had been brought onto the canvas before Mary Mae's passing. Given her name, it would have been ironic if Faith had turned out to be the one who took after the Quartermaine side of the family; she could have come to town eager to get her share of the newfound family wealth, butted heads with the Quartermaines who weren't so eager to share, been mentored by Edward to take over the family business after proving that she had more mettle for business than any of his grandsons, and just generally stirred up trouble for all kinds of people in Port Charles. Much to Mary Mae's horror, of course, and she and Justus would have tried everything to save Faith while Keesha might have resented her cousin. Of course, Faith would have felt awful for disappointing her grandmother after she died, and she would have grown up a little from that experience, but she still could have kept her edge a la Erica Kane after Mona died.

I agree this could have been a great story.

I still think it would be fun if they brought on Faith Ward. We dont know anything about her, and she only appeared once...So it would pretty much be a Quartermaine with just as clean of a slate as Maya and Zoe.

The Snyders, ATWT. I guess this might be a case of Marland being at ATWT for so long that his creations became a part of the fabric of Oakdale, less easy to dismantle. When Holden left in 1995, they did try to move away from the family. Emma was put on recurring, Caleb and Julie were gone. But the attempt to make the Kasnoffs the new blue collar family flopped and by 1997, with Holden back and Jack's arrival, the Snyders were in a new era.

True. I wasn't counting the Snyders because they were popular, but I've seen some of their intro and is it heresy to point out that Marland definitely broke several of his much-cited rules? But it was so harmless, because he really did write for the veterans and restore the Hughes and Stewart families (plus he had the luxury to do so...it wasn't a case of JFP killing off Maureen Bauer to help pay for Justin Deas' salary). I feel like he earned the right to graft this family that nobody else would have thought to add to white-bread, upper middle class ATWT. I think it's cool that after all he did for ATWT, 25 years later, his creation is as much a part of this historic show as anything else.

ATWT Andropolous

Poor Dani, what a mess her character became

The father died early on, right? I guess it was Steve and what, Frank, was that his name? Frank was fired sometime in 1985 or 1986? I wonder why they didn't keep Frank and Maggie around, since she was Lyla's sister.

AW had the Perrinis.Originally,for a number of years, Angie was the only family member seen,Then Rose and Joey arrived and were prominent.Joey and Rose were both given story,But,AW was in such turmoil at the time that hardly any characters stood a chance.

Clarice Hobson gained 2 brothers,Denny and Leigh and a father,Charlie who married Ada.They followed Clarice onto the show after a number of years of her being alone and were all dropped before she departed in 86.

Similarly,Blaine Ewing got a brother Larry,then Fred the father,Jeanne-long absent mother and finally Catlin(long lost brother).

On SFT,the Adamsons were introduced by the Corringtons. Laine and Sunny were sisters and Ted,the father.There was also briefly Todd,Ted's nephew(played by Kevin Bacon)Laine was dropped and Ted a little later,leaving Sunny to fly solo until the show's cancellation.

But it was so harmless, because he really did write for the veterans and restore the Hughes and Stewart families (plus he had the luxury to do so...it wasn't a case of JFP killing off Maureen Bauer to help pay for Justin Deas' salary).

That's one of the reasons Ellen Parker was fired?

Damn. No wonder I loathed early Buzz so much.

AW had the Perrinis.Originally,for a number of years, Angie was the only family member seen,Then Rose and Joey arrived and were prominent.Joey and Rose were both given story,But,AW was in such turmoil at the time that hardly any characters stood a chance.

Clarice Hobson gained 2 brothers,Denny and Leigh and a father,Charlie who married Ada.They followed Clarice onto the show after a number of years of her being alone and were all dropped before she departed in 86.

Similarly,Blaine Ewing got a brother Larry,then Fred the father,Jeanne-long absent mother and finally Catlin(long lost brother).

I've seen some of this. I think these characters could have helped the show if they'd kept them around. The Ewings were all quite popular weren't they? Or at least Blaine was before they recast her.

I always remember Larry because some "soap book of the stars" from 1980 or so mentioned that the actor used to be a stripper. Too bad they didn't work that plot into the show...

Also, GH's WARD's were sort of like this too.

I mean, they were on for a while, but then they completely fizzled out for a long time. And the last return of Justus didnt accomplish anything other than the fact that Sonny needed a new lawyer.

But, GH seems to be rebirthing them with Maya/Zoe...I am hoping Keesha will return, too.

The Wards were always an extension of the Quartermaines. They were the Q's extended black family. Thats the role Maya and Zoe will play rather than standing on their own as a new generation of the Ward family

The original Andropolous family were brothers Steve and Nick(who married Kim)Nick was killed off and Frank(a cousin)was introduced.

Frank and Maggie were written out by Marland shortly after he arrived.

There was also Sofia in the mix at one point.Was she Nick's stepdaughter?

OLTL Gordons

The Wards were always an extension of the Quartermaines. They were the Q's extended black family. Thats the role Maya and Zoe will play rather than standing on their own as a new generation of the Ward family

Yeah, you're right.

I just was saying that the Ward part of the family has been pretty much completely gone for over 10 years, except for the little pop up by Justus for those couple years (though he RARELY appeared with the Qs.)

GH Ashtons