Thanks again Carl. I love reading these. The scenes of Jenny breaking down after losing so many of her closest loved ones sounds great too.

I do agree with Eric. With the Buchanans and Delila coming in, we lost Katrina, Karen, Will, Ina, etc. Obviously, they all weren't by choice, but 1985 saw almost an entirely different cast.

It seems like a lot of characters hung around mostly through the strength of the Karen/Marco/Jenny/Brad/Larry stories and as those characters waned, the supporting players were weeded out one by one. I think Will Vernon was dumped right after Sam was killed...kind of a slap in the face for fans of the Vernon family. What fascinates me is how long the Buchanans and the Karen-era characters did mingle with each other. It seems like Rauch, or the producer before him (Jean Arley?) got rid of most of those who weren't heavily tied to the Buchanans or Viki. I'm kind of surprised Larry made it through.

Rauch must have gotten rid of Will and Samantha then. I know he took over in the summer of 1984 which I think is when all that happened. I have got to say I am happy Larry made it though. OLTL seems to be the worst soap when it comes to keeping long-term characters, usually through their own fault.

I remember Schemering praising Rauch and the Corringtons (not sure on them, might have been another writer) for the scenes of Will taking Samantha off life support. Then he said the show collapsed in crime dramas.

OLTL tended to write out a lot of characters, or even worse, write them out then bring them back just to kill them off or waste them. The last few years were especially bad for this. It annoys me thinking of the wasted story in killing Melinda solely so that Gina Tognoni could have an excuse to look pained.

June 7, 1983

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vpmF1Ke78k&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqiRfZntoSc&feature=related

I can't help it--as much as I love so many characters/couples on the show today, I'll always miss these three and what might have been .

Fan fiction/rewrites from 2003 are looking more and more appealing now.

And to lighten the mood a bit--for me, anyway, lol--I give you this:

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

I could watch this forever...I need a gif of this STAT!

Oh, and this of course!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZCo_CFhcGc&feature=related

Edited January 13, 201213 yr by MissLlanviewPA

FanFic is to much fun for OLTL. Only because they have missed so many good story opprotunities over the years, so sad.

Thank you for letting me know! I took a break for a day or so because I've been trying to find the 1983 recaps I have. I don't have all that many, but will post what I have. 1984 is closer to when more Youtube material is available, but just let me know if you also want to see 1984 issues.

Thank you so much! It's so much fun to read these, and it helps take my mind off of the cancellation a little bit. I started watching in 1987/8, and I've always wondered about the early- to mid- 1980's. Honestly, I would love to read any early- to mid-1980's recaps that you have, but don't let me take advantage of you!

Oh I enjoy doing this - it's nice to remember the show's history and it makes me feel less silly for having all this stuff in scans. It takes some time but I'm going to try to do up to 1984 or 1985.

Here's a fun little OLTL quiz....

http://www.chron.com/life/article/Quiz-Were-you-a-true-OLTL-fan-2494929.php

August 2, 1983

Which characters coming and going did you mean?

Edwina for one. Just characters that seemed to have major story but no real historical significance in terms of what their story did for future stories or characters on the show (if that makes sense?)

Thanks again Carl. I love reading these. The scenes of Jenny breaking down after losing so many of her closest loved ones sounds great too.

I do agree with Eric. With the Buchanans and Delila coming in, we lost Katrina, Karen, Will, Ina, etc. Obviously, they all weren't by choice, but 1985 saw almost an entirely different cast.

That's pretty much what I meant-- In the AMC thread Carl mentioned how the show seemed gutted in 1989, but (and this isn't to say AMC or OLTL is the better soap at all, just an observation), OLTL seemed to do this more drastically and less gradually every few years to an extent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE9mWbTak2g

Edwina for one. Just characters that seemed to have major story but no real historical significance in terms of what their story did for future stories or characters on the show (if that makes sense?)

I forgot about Edwina. You're right. They did seem to have quite a few characters who had few ties to core names. I know they made her Ivan's daughter, but that seemed to have zero purpose.

That's what I like about OLTL, is that they often had characters who didn't have to be related to core characters, and who could stand on their own. It's one of the reasons why I didn't like the idea of "Fish/Kyle/etc. failed because they weren't CJ!" or the meaninglessness of having Rex and David as Buchanans. That just becomes bad fanfic.

That's pretty much what I meant-- In the AMC thread Carl mentioned how the show seemed gutted in 1989, but (and this isn't to say AMC or OLTL is the better soap at all, just an observation), OLTL seemed to do this more drastically and less gradually every few years to an extent.

OLTL tended to change so much, and to be anything at any time. It had so much potential to revive. While I don't believe RC or FV could have ever made an OLTL I would feel connected to, I'm sorry it never had the chance to live on through PP.