I do think Tom and Margo were integral to ATWT for their first ten years. It seems like they, along with James, carried ATWT's early 80s. Then I would say that after a few years of HBS, Margo became the show's most relateable, central heroine - a sometimes bitter and self-righteous woman, but also very funny, very vulnerable, and never a victim, a real contrast to the younger and more fairy tale heroines like Sierra or Lily. That continued with Ellen Dolan in the role, as Tom and Margo were rock-solid, and had so many funny, light scenes, everyday scenes, contrasting with big drama.

After Ellen left, things fell apart, and they were never the same, even after her return. Aside from a few nice moments towards the end of the show, I often struggled to believe the same woman was playing Margo that I was so very fond of when I got hooked on ATWT in the early 90's. And Tom became beyond pointless, shouty, and devoid of any heart or humor.

Edited May 3, 201114 yr by CarlD2

Jill & Katherine

LOL

It's also hard for me (as a viewer of ATWT from the late '70's on) to think of Bob and Lisa as a romantic couple. While Lisa obviously mellowed over the years, I got the feeling Lisa was more of a social-climber than seriously in love with Bob.

And I don't consider James and Barbara a romantic couple either.

Contrary to most (probably) I got weary of HBS as Margo. I always saw her Margo as a hypocrite and borderline moron. I still remember yelling at her NOT to enter that secret passageway while 8 months pregnant to go after Babs' would-be rapist.

Edited May 3, 201114 yr by P.J.

I also don't see Bob and Lisa as a couple. Within a year or two of their marriage, Lisa was already cheating on him, and although she was sometimes jealous or pined for him later on, if she ever got back together with him she would have gotten bored quickly. Bob meanwhile never looked back after divorcing Lisa.

I think Bob and Lisa were good as friends and I always enjoyed scenes with Don and Eileen, but they were never a definitive couple in any supercouple sense. The story was mostly about Lisa's schemes and her restlessness.

Contrary to most (probably) I got weary of HBS as Margo. I always saw her Margo as a hypocrite and borderline moron. I still remember yelling at her NOT to enter that secret passageway while 8 months pregnant to go after Babs' would-be rapist.

Oh I can see why you felt this way! Going into the passageway, going to Greece and hurting Tom and Lien with this lie instead of just being honest. She could be very selfish or thoughtless. I just think HBS always played this off with vulnerability and hurt and it made you understand Margo. Her work with Gregg Marx after the miscarriage was some of the finest I've ever seen on a soap.

I think Tom and Margo did suffer from a lot of bad writing ie PTSD, mid-life crisis affairs (Emily, Doc Reese), and bad secrets. Not mention they were backurned and Margo had to prop Katie.

Again, I don't deny that Tom and Margo's stories toward the end of ATWT were often awful, but even when they were, there was never a doubt in my mind that they belonged to each other, or that they wouldn't work things out. Not even when Tom had that affair with Emily.

I don't think any of Erica's romances warranted top-5 placement. Her best was Dimitri IMO.

I disagree. I think Erica's best romances were with Jeremy Hunter, Brandon Kingsley and Mike Roy.

While Lisa obviously mellowed over the years, I got the feeling Lisa was more of a social-climber than seriously in love with Bob.

Maybe at first. As time wore on, however, and especially after her affairs w/ Bruce Eliot and Scott Eldridge's bio dad had fizzled, Lisa came to appreciate what she had had with Bob, and what she had thrown away in pursuit of a more worldly and glamorous lifestyle. Even as both moved onto other relationships, the thought of reconciling w/ Bob was never far from Lisa's mind. Unfortunately, Bob's pride wouldn't allow him to go down that road again. Plus, as someone else said, even if she had reunited with him, Lisa's need for glamour and romance would have botched everything again.

Again, I don't deny that Tom and Margo's stories toward the end of ATWT were often awful, but even when they were, there was never a doubt in my mind that they belonged to each other, or that they wouldn't work things out. Not even when Tom had that affair with Emily.

I disagree. I think Erica's best romances were with Jeremy Hunter, Brandon Kingsley and Mike Roy.

Wow, I forgot about Mike Roy. They were great together. She was also great with Nick Davis. I liked Jeremy better with Natalie. I think Jack and Erica work because Walt and Susan obviously adore each other and enjoy working with one another. There's a comfort level there that enhances their chemistry, but I would say that Dimitri was her most dynamic romance.

AMC: Tad & Dixie, Greg & Jenny, Phil & Tara, Cliff & Nina, Chuck & Donna

Chuck & Donna were a toss-up with Adam & Brooke. I went with C&D because ultimately they were more popular. They were extremely popular in the mid to late 70s through the early 80s. I don't think any of Erica's romances warranted top-5 placement. Her best was Dimitri IMO. His character and family were fleshed out. Erica and Jack obviously have longevity on their side, but he always just seemed to exist for Erica, without having much of his own life.

I'd go with the same couples in a different order:

1. Greg & Jenny

2. Cliff & Nina

3. Tad & Dixie

4. Phil & Tara

5. Chuck & Donna

I would agree. Greg and Jenny just were more iconic than pretty much all their other couples combined, and Cliff and Nina were next.

+1. Greg & Jenny were AMC's most popular couple of all time when the ratings were at their peak. I think Cliff & Nina would be a close second. As popular as Tad & Dixie were, and as much as I personally love them, I don't think they compare.

Edited May 3, 201114 yr by Steve

Wow, I forgot about Mike Roy. They were great together. She was also great with Nick Davis. I liked Jeremy better with Natalie. I think Jack and Erica work because Walt and Susan obviously adore each other and enjoy working with one another. There's a comfort level there that enhances their chemistry, but I would say that Dimitri was her most dynamic romance.

While I liked many of Erica's romances (Mike Roy #1 the first time; Jeremy; ) I was one of the few that never got the Dimitri thing. He never did it for me as a character or in the relationship but I'm not a big "romance" person for my couples. I like the strife and the battle to get back what always is taken away, so my favorite for her has always been Jack because that's what they've been about since they were hiding from Travis. I think Erica will be remembered with him if they end the show with them being together. If they don't let them have the happy ending (which would totally suck, IMO) than my feeling may change. IA about SL/WW's chemistry. It's a physical one as well as a closeness between them that they carry on to the characters. After reading Susan's book and her many compliments to him, it feels that much stronger to me now. I don't necessarily like these couples I've chosen but thought they made a mark on the show and will be remembered as such. So my choices for AMC would be:

1. Erica and Jack or Mike Roy

2. Jesse and Angie

3. Tad and Dixie

4. Greg and Jenny

5. Haley and Mateo

6. Zach and Kendall

OLTL:

Vicki and Joe

Larry and Meredith (they were big when I started watching)

Larry and Karen

Max and Gabrielle

Tina and Cord

GH

Luke and Laura

Leslie and Rick

Scott and Laura

Sonny and Carly

Anna and Duke

Robert and Holly

GH

Luke & Laura

Robert & Holly

Frisco & Felicia

Duke & Anna

Sonny & Brenda

DAYS

Doug & Julie

Roman & Marlena

Bo & Hope

Steve & Kayla

Jack & Jennifer

AMC

Phil & Tara

Cliff & Nina

Greg & Jenny

Jesse & Angie

Tad & Dixie

OLTL

Clint & Vicki

Cord & Tina

Y&R

Victor & Nikki

Nick & Sharon

Edited May 4, 201114 yr by OldGHFan

Some others

The Doctors

Matt and Maggie

Steve and Carolee

Althea and Nick

Mike and Toni

Re OLTL

Would posters put Karen and Larry up there?Shortly after their marriage she was turning tricks,hardly a great love there!

Erica and Jack are horrible and have been horrible for 20 years. He is her doormat, perpetually waiting for her while she checks out her options. He gives men a bad name. Mike gets my vote, but I wouldn't cite any Erica pairing as being a defining element of the show. She is what defined the show, not she and someone else. Whereas you can't have Greg without Jenny, you can't have Cliff without Nina, there is no thinking of Luke without Laura, and where Tina goes Cord is sure to follow.

Erica and Jack are horrible and have been horrible for 20 years.

Although Jack was right not to lie for Erica at Bianca's custody hearing, I feel like that should have been a definite and permanent parting for the two.