As for the 2004 episodes I think we're about to see Randolph Mantooth take over as Hal again. He had temped the year before but this time the casting was a little more permanent with it lasting a year. My biggest complaint I think was the change of physique. They could have gone with James Kiberd again but didn't. Not to mention Mantooth looked like a lot like Michael Zaslow .

When in 1998 did Region stop announcing? I've always thought it was a mistake to get of him.

Don't remember when, but they had the cast do the announcing for a while after that. They didn't need him anymore though, with no sponsor tag in the opening credits. It was like, "Yeah, this show is called As the World Turns, thanks Dan I can read."

I've only seen it going for big amounts of money.

Is there anything interesting in it?

To be honest, not much. What was cool about it was that it was a collection of all the SOD synopses for the full year with (I think) a few other interviews and features mixed in (I'd have to dig my copy up and look at it since it's been awhile since I've read it). SOD did those with several other series, but I *think* the only ones I've actually seen are ATWT, AW, and DAYS. The ATWT seems to pop up on ebay far more often than any of the other series, though. I don't think I really paid that much for mine (definitely not more than $20 and I really doubt it was even that much, probably in the $10 range or under).

Thanks. The Daytime TV Library series are just fantastic, but I know little about the SOD things, other than the cover.

They could have at least had a few more cast members doing fashion shows. I never got to see Helen Wagner wearing mod clothes...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SckXcnviWYw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATwK3kK6IPU&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDn6e5l-pdE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1nJxijUGWs

Betsy Palmer and Pearl Bailey played friends of Ellen after her divorce.Who is the woman in the first pic?

Edie Adams, I think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDouCXUrBqY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGeM3RwzYMw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn6Iewtz0vk

Although the clips above happened WAY before, whenever I see Susan, Emily and Alison together, I think of when poor Mama Stewart learned that her two daughters were a prostitute and a meth-addict porn star. Happy Mothers Day, Susan!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VikALBTUzBM&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiiZnKGlnko&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

When in 1998 did Region stop announcing? I've always thought it was a mistake to get of him.

Dan was fired in July 1998, as part of the cost cutting scheme. I too feel that it was mistake to let him and other announcers go. Some considered announcers a hoary leftover from the early days of soaps, but I felt they added a continuity that is sadly lacking today. Even Michael Logan complained to P&G and was basically told that he needed to get a life.

I think announcers held a special place on P&G soaps, as P&G soaps represented family and home. I guess P&G was ashamed of that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b9Ul6xWx_s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyIRI928mI0&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzwzNJsKtHo&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWN2RACaSNs