It was Broderick/Whitesell. I can't say I was ever that impressed by most of their OLTL run. It was the same bad mix of camp and seriousness that has plagued OLTL for a long time.

I actually like the 1985 version of Niki they should bring that one back not the goofy 1995/2002 version

AMEN. Niki Smith in 1985/86 was quite complex and a formidable character in her own right. Loved that period on the show, and loved Niki.

I can tolerate Niki is small doses. My favorite of Viki's alters is, Jean.

I never got the love for Jean. She has ZERO personality (no pun intended). She is literally an emotionless void with absolutely nothing interesting or exciting about her. My favorite was always Tori, but unfortunately she never gets any recognition. The only alters that get remembered are Niki and Jean

My favorite was always Tori

+1.

Edited April 13, 201114 yr by DeeeDee

My favorite is Tori too, but I think she was too complex for the show to ever know what to do with.

Jean had some dry one-liners and her repulsion towards her family was extremely entertaining.

I think it says something that originally it took them 15 or so years to bring Nicki back--and now it seems to be every other year.

My Jean love is more of an acting thing. I loved the way ES played her, and Jean's "alter impersonating Viki" schtick was my favorite of the three.

My Jean love is more of an acting thing. I loved the way ES played her, and Jean's "alter impersonating Viki" schtick was my favorite of the three.

I'm all altered-out. I don't think there needs to be any more alters. I actually think it's past Erika's time to have to

do these alters. And, I do not look forward at all to seeing Niki/Tess. Tess this time around is way over the top!

I'm not posting any spoilers or anything but i was thinking of Niki Smith because there are several scenes on youtube. Who can forget when Niki used to wear the red wig. I'm almost sadden that she hasn't worn it in her last several stins in town. I always thought it was weird that in 1985 it was like they were trying to reinvent Niki. They made her voice very hushed and almost sweet. They made her unaware of who Viki was but remembered bars she used to go to during her last stint. but a lot of the story was kind of fun. or at least the stuff i saw on youtube.

My favorite Niki moments was when she came to Viki in late 2001 and early 2002. She kept taunting Viki about the secret. she even wanted to come out to give Alison Perkins "a make-over" for framming Niki for the kidnapping of Jessica. It was before she had an extended stay in 2002. I always like it when Niki's Niki. Not pretending to be Viki or whatever. I like her when she is wearing Niki clothes and acting like Niki.

"I'm like a genie in a bottle: rub Viki the wrong way and here i am!" Niki 2001

Paul Rauch did reinvent Niki in some ways. For instance, Gillian Spencer's Niki and Erika Slezak's Niki in the 1970's did not wear the long red wig. Also, Niki's favorite waterfront bar was Ernie's, not Backstreet. That bit annoyed me because Ernie's had played such an important role in the early ABC story, right down to Marcy Wade's impersonation of Niki in 1971, an attempt to frame Viki for the murder of Vinnie Wolek.

However, the Niki who appeared in 1985 was actually closer to Gillian Spencer's wonderful, original portrayal of Niki than Erika Slezak's 1970's flashbacks. Erika did not have tapes of Gillian Spencer to compare performances, so she somewhat reinvented Niki into something more aggressive and over the top. Despite the historical inaccuracies of the 1985 story, I found it quite compelling drama in that Niki began to emerge as a real flesh and blood character with deeply genuine feelings. The writers created engrossing conflict from Niki's desire to lead her own life as Nicole Smith. What emerged was a story and character of enormous poignancy, rather than the silly, disposable plot device it is today.

Despite the historical inaccuracies of the 1985 story, I found it quite compelling drama in that Niki began to emerge as a real flesh and blood character with deeply genuine feelings. The writers created engrossing conflict from Niki's desire to lead her own life as Nicole Smith. What emerged was a story and character of enormous poignancy, rather than the silly, disposable plot device it is today.

Agree.

I'm with Ann: it's time to let Viki's alters "rest." They've been integrated and separated and integrated again so many times that I've actually lost track.