I remember when this article came out. It was spot on.

*Wants to teleport back to 1991-1997* AMC was so good then.

Damn, I remember that article too. I was all about AMC until around 96 or 97. FMB's departure pretty much coincided with Disney buying out ABC, and I noticed a difference in the show around this time. Not just the obvious crap that went against the show's grain, like the voodoo nonsense. They'd done this type of silly stuff in the past (Lars' reveal as a Nazi, the Damon Lazarre stuff, for example), so these weird elements weren't entirely foreign to the show, but this time there was a more subtle change in tone I can't quite put my finger on. I still watched, though, but the bottom really dropped out when McT returned in 98/99.

Damn, I remember that article too. I was all about AMC until around 96 or 97. FMB's departure pretty much coincided with Disney buying out ABC, and I noticed a difference in the show around this time. Not just the obvious crap that went against the show's grain, like the voodoo nonsense. They'd done this type of silly stuff in the past (Lars' reveal as a Nazi, the Damon Lazarre stuff, for example), so these weird elements weren't entirely foreign to the show, but this time there was a more subtle change in tone I can't quite put my finger on. I still watched, though, but the bottom really dropped out when McT returned in 98/99.

Once Bianca's anorexia story was over, AMC was pretty much DOA for the next year and a bit. Wasn't that a Broderick left-over too? Tad and Dixie though was fun. McT always (until the end that is) seemed to get them.

what was so bad about the 1993 recasts?

what was so bad about the 1993 recasts?

Two words: Melody Anderson.

Cheap, I for one didn't like nu-Charlie or nu-Brian.

The soaps were all so good 1991-1994. They were on fiyah in 1993.

I had stopped watching AMC in early 1996. Like EricM I began watching without mom having it on the channel in around maybe 1989-1990. DAYS got me while AMC was weak coming out of McTavish's crazy turn in 1994-1995 and LB being forced to do DAYS like stuff on AMC. There were also just too many new faces everywhere on the show for me between the Santos family and teenagers. Here's some more articles from McTavish's 1993-1994.

Two words: Melody Anderson.

Cheap, I for one didn't like nu-Charlie or nu-Brian.

Haha, good point. I forgot about her. She was dreadful. I hated NuBrian as well. I didnt mind Charlie though but then again I wasnt used to the previous ones

Christ, does Brian Frons want this show canceled?! Can we at least get some fluffy camp co-Head to balance all the dark, misogynistic crap she writes?

Oh, and if she gets on board: get ready for the AMC/GH BabySwitch.

Jason/Sam cross over to Pine Valley to get a lead on Jerry Jacks's whereabouts when she goes into labor at the same time as Annie(pregnant with JR's baby). They detour to Pine Valley Hospital where a sly Jerry Jacks swaps the babies at birth. Six months later, Jason and Sam's baby dies.

But Jason, in his all knowing, infinite wisdom, doesn't believe that the baby they buried is his. This leads to a year-long crossover stunt for both shows that involves Spinelli investigating everything that happened. He runs into Cara, who he begs to come back with him to Port Charles(Cheap21 will refer to Cara as "Pine Valley Brenda"). She briefly crosses over to become Spinelli date and attends a party at the MetroCourt with him. Maxie becomes jealous, Carly's snarls can be heard all the way to Pine Valley, and of course, Sonny becomes enamored with this successful woman(this is after Vanessa leaves). Cara notices Jerry Jacks at this party and remembers him as the guy who was hanging around the nursery at the hospital that evening. One thing leads to the next and the truth is revealed and Jerry Jacks is presumed dead(AGAIN). A custody case ensues with Pine Valley(Liza, Caleb, Jack) and Port Charles'(Alexis/Claire/Diane) biggest legal eagles.

When Annie/JR lose, a tearful, three hour AMC/GH mashup(pre-empting OLTL) happens where a tearful Annie refuses to believe that the baby she has raised for over a year could be theirs. In the GH part of the episode, Annie gives the baby back in a tearful release.

Ratings go up, McTavish stays to write more rapes, and Guza(who always gets his way) is so enamored with Cara/Lindsay Hartley that he demands to keep her on GH as Sonny's new love interest.

+1

When the baby switch happens, she'll have Annie keep the secret about the baby being Jason & Sam's and would probably even have Annie invite Sam to the baby's christening

Edited January 9, 201115 yr by Stiletto

Melody Anderson, she was horrible. Maybe she wasn't horrible but I loved Kate Collins and she was no Kate Collins.

The Tad/Ted, storyline, as preposterous as it was, held my attention, and I actually enjoyed it. I love that still photo of Dixie trying to save an unconscious Tad in the river.

I know this was McTavish's story. Sometimes her outlandish stories worked, and sometimes they didn't. I think it's all about execution.

They should just hire Jean Passanante and put AMC out of its misery.

Isn't she on OLTL? They hire her, the show really is a goner. I can't believe how far AMC has slunk in the demos. Aren't they getting the same kinds of demos GL & ATWT were getting?

They should just hire Jean Passanante and put AMC out of its misery.

How does Jean Passanante have anything to do with the conversation going on in this thread? lol

Edited January 9, 201115 yr by Adam