One S/L still sticks in my craw: Emily as a prostitute. To quote KMH: "It's disgusting." I never got why they continually wrecked a key legacy character year after year.

Was he the one responsible for John Dixon disappearing with no explanation?

I would agree that too many characters were recast. Last summer, I had the month of July off to recuperate from breaking my wrist and I couldn't get back into this show at all, having last watched regularly around 1996. I just didn't recognize most of the cast and couldn't care less what they were doing. The worst recast of all for me was Dusty. Is that really supposed to be the same character played by Brian Bloom in the 1980s?!?

Neglecting the Hughes family, ATWT's backbone.

Removing the sense of history, family, friendship, and community that made ATWT a powerhouse show for generations.

Way too much airtime for Paul and Meg and Dusty and Janet.

Stories that no one had a reason to care about.

Letting Hogan Sheffer run the show into the ground.

Horrible, character-destroying stories, often involving Carly, Damian, or Emily.

The absolute gutting of Craig Montgomery.

Edited April 25, 201015 yr by CarlD2

Special themed holiday/anniversary episodes that were not based on the reality of Oakdale--the novelty factor faded rather quickly. (Should've saved expensive period costume budget for something better.)

For meaningless short-term stories/characters, let's not forget Sophie Duran.

I personally did not care for Paul's gift of psychic abilities, although I've been told that that was probably penned by Leah Laiman, who has a penchant for such stories. But then Goutman is the EP...

Was he the one responsible for John Dixon disappearing with no explanation?

I would agree that too many characters were recast. Last summer, I had the month of July off to recuperate from breaking my wrist and I couldn't get back into this show at all, having last watched regularly around 1996. I just didn't recognize most of the cast and couldn't care less what they were doing. The worst recast of all for me was Dusty. Is that really supposed to be the same character played by Brian Bloom in the 1980s?!?

The best is watching the Children of Oakdale in grownup scenes with each other, and trying to decide whether someone's trying to **** his or her half-sister or cousin-once-removed. Except for the Snyders, hardly anyone has a full-brother or full-sister.

Once again, I love Jay!

I really need time to think about this but, for now, a few thoughts.

1. When Goutman took over, the show was a mess but a hot mess can also be an opportunity for radical change. Instead, he went backward and repeated every mistake made by past writers and EPs. Firstly, the Snyder family was finished. Marland knew this and planned on working most of them off the show. Instead, Goutman made them the first family of Oakdale.

2. Locking Lucinda in the closet. She was the Y&R Kay of ATWT and a great mixer. The was no need for her to be basically retired. Not every character needs to be screwing their brain's out.

3. Destroying both the Hughes and Ryan families. He recasted Chris four times, didn't bring Andy back, killed off Jennifer, got rid of Will and never recasted Frannie. Also, loosing Bryant and Lucy. These characters were ATWT the next generation and were needed due to the overall aging cast. Who needs Janet and Libby when you could have Frannie and her off spring.

4. Forming 'bubbles' and the new production episode model. ATWT is not House, Brothers and Sisters or Grey's.

5. Recasting Lilly and Craig. I loved Hunt Block but there are many Bryce fans and either actor would have worked.

6. Even after the show was gutted, ATWT still pulled a 2.4 and came in at 4th place in the 2007/2008 season: FANS are loyal. In late 2008, Goutman let go or recasted seven major characters. Within one year, the show had fallen to 7th place due to the changes and lots of bad writing (PEG, JOSSIE, ZAC and ZOE, AMERIA). It was as if he and PGP were trying to kill the show and, as we see, they did.

This should be published. Then bronzed. I will add decimating any viable minority presence left in town.

I want to commend all the posters for their insightful comments. They've more than 'hit the nail on the head,' they have clearly shown what went wrong for this beloved show.

Goutman's published comments saying that he never listened to fans have irked me for the longest time. Again, thank you everyone.

This should be published. Then bronzed. I will add decimating any viable minority presence left in town.

Wow...thanx!

Agreed, he did away with African America actors and never worked the Latin angle (Latinos are the fastest growing minority group). Montega would have been a great place to start as well as Bianca Walsh.

Also, the issue of vets: use them or loose them! Goutman kept almost all vets on contract, paid them to do NOTHINg and then bitched about having no money for sets and new actors. Any character not used twice a week should be pulled off contract just as Y&R did with Lauren (Tracy Bregman). Also, there are ways to move uninteresting vets off canvus just like Bill Bell did. I would have rather seen Lisa dismissed as opposed to seeing her degraded.

Edited April 26, 201015 yr by Saving ATWT