You also sort of saw Bill Bell attempt to recreate Liz with Sharon's mother Doris.

It's a shame this type of character is now seen as unworthy, mostly because soaps sneer at the lower middle class, even as this represents a huge portion of the country. Perhaps Bell's writing was condescending or patronizing towards them but at least it had some heart. Y&R seems to have lost any heart.

Julianna turned up in the very 1st episode of ER as a hypocondriac-i thought she might be a semi regular-always arriving at the hospital with some imagined illness.

Y&R should have kept her around over the years especially during the 80's and 90's.

it's great to read critiques from the 70's and get a different perspective on those times.Thanks.

You also sort of saw Bill Bell attempt to recreate Liz with Sharon's mother Doris.

And he was successful.

Karen Hensel is another of Y&R's underrated actresses.

It's a shame this type of character is now seen as unworthy, mostly because soaps sneer at the lower middle class, even as this represents a huge portion of the country. Perhaps Bell's writing was condescending or patronizing towards them but at least it had some heart. Y&R seems to have lost any heart.

+1.

There seems to be some good stuff on GH at that time which was overwhelmed by the constant new writers - I think both Sikking and McConnell were fired, which is ludicrous, when you consider Sikking's very strong work (in an unplayable role) on Hill Street Blues, and McConnell's great work on Santa Barbara.

Can't really comment on Sikking but I do think McConnell's character, Augusta McLeod could have stayed on as a foil for Peter and Diana Taylor despite having killed Phil Brewer (after all it was self-defense and she only got a short prison term anyway). Especially since Augusta had had Peter's baby and Diana was desperate for another child in later years.

Can't really comment on Sikking but I do think McConnell's character, Augusta McLeod could have stayed on as a foil for Peter and Diana Taylor despite having killed Phil Brewer (after all it was self-defense and she only got a short prison term anyway). Especially since Augusta had had Peter's baby and Diana was desperate for another child in later years.

What happened to the baby?

Judith said that she was told she would be the killer but that she would not be written out of the show. Then those writers (the Dobsons?) were replaced, and she was fired.

I've read that apparently Augusta placed the child in foster care before going into prison, although I guess it's possible Augusta took the child with her when she left town after getting out of prison.

I don't know why Peter didn't go for custody or anything, after all if Diana can have not one but two babies by Phil during her marriage to Peter than Peter should have at least kept his child with Augusta!

I guess that was a casualty of so much writer roulette. They could have brought this up during the time when Peter and Diana first got PJ/Steven Lars, though.