21 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

It would be nice to see the character one last time. Maybe they could bring her back to help get Lucy away from Sidwell.

They are clearly setting up romantic intrigue with Sidwell, Lucy and Ava onscreen atm. I'd take that further and have Lucy marry him after already getting wise to his schemes, hoping to make a play and retake full control of Deception using his money, which would loop in Kevin concerned for her, maybe a returning Serena, etc. Then you have a few months of Lynn and Carlo Rota having fun dancing around each other since they both have such a facility for comedy, maybe him also squiring Ava around as a mistress, and you end up with some sort of Jonathan Kinder situation from AMC with a dead Sidwell at the end of it. Easy enough to do. And yes, I'd bring back Aunt Charlene to visit and cluck over Lucy if Maree is willing.

3 minutes ago, Vee said:

They are clearly setting up romantic intrigue with Sidwell, Lucy and Ava onscreen atm. I'd take that further and have Lucy marry him after already getting wise to his schemes, hoping to make a play and retake full control of Deception using his money, which would loop in Kevin concerned for her, maybe a returning Serena, etc. Then you have a few months of Lynn and Carlo Rota having fun dancing around each other since they both have such a facility for comedy, maybe him also squiring Ava around as a mistress, and you end up with some sort of Jonathan Kinder situation from AMC with a dead Sidwell at the end of it. Easy enough to do. And yes, I'd bring back Aunt Charlene to visit and cluck over Lucy if Maree is willing.

That could be a fun idea (I know they already did the Kinder-esque story with Ava several months ago but that seems to have been forgotten anyway).

It's interesting Lucy had a whole extended family that got a lot of airtime back in the day, but none made it into the 90's really. Decker was pretty much a dud, but I thought Colton was popular. Or am I wrong about that?

52 minutes ago, carolineg said:

It's interesting Lucy had a whole extended family that got a lot of airtime back in the day, but none made it into the 90's really. Decker was pretty much a dud, but I thought Colton was popular. Or am I wrong about that?

I got the impression both had their fans but Monty seemed to be so focused on cleaning house. Maybe she thought Colton was at a dead end once the Felicia and Frisco story was over (and had been for a year or two or however long).

Was this when Lynn was leaving for DAYS or is all of this what led her to go to DAYS?

Edited Saturday at 02:39 PM1 day by DRW50

I know soaps, especially in recent years, might seem very different year to year, but when I was watching some of Epiphany's funeral, I was struck by just how much has changed in 3 years. Beyond three of the cast members involved since passing away, there is also now-dead Sam, and then there was the jarring glimpse of Willow as town saint (braving Epiphany's service even as she is about to have a cancer treatment), wheeled around by Carly.

Edited Saturday at 02:45 PM1 day by DRW50

4 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

I got the impression both had their fans but Monty seemed to be so focused on cleaning house. Maybe she thought Colton was at a dead end once the Felicia and Frisco story was over (and had been for a year or two or however long).

Was this when Lynn was leaving for DAYS or is all of this what led her to go to DAYS?

I don't think Colton set the world on fire or anything, but there were places to go with him. Decker was more of a dead end to me especially with the revolving door of Dawns.

I think Lynn had her first child and then left. Exploring other opportunities was the reason. I believe she went to Days because she wanted to work with Wayne, but Lisanne was a dud and she hated the whole experience. I think she even asked to leave-it was rumored there were issues with her and Sabatino or Chappell or both lol. Besides she may have had a handful of scenes with Wayne anyhow. Lisanne was on the entire other side of the canvas and was never very fleshed out or relevant until she was murdered (by young Nicky Alamain).

7 minutes ago, carolineg said:

I don't think Colton set the world on fire or anything, but there were places to go with him. Decker was more of a dead end to me especially with the revolving door of Dawns.

I think Lynn had her first child and then left. Exploring other opportunities was the reason. I believe she went to Days because she wanted to work with Wayne, but Lisanne was a dud and she hated the whole experience. I think she even asked to leave-it was rumored there were issues with her and Sabatino or Chappell or both lol. Besides she may have had a handful of scenes with Wayne anyhow. Lisanne was on the entire other side of the canvas and was never very fleshed out or relevant until she was murdered (by young Nicky Alamain).

I found Scott Thompson Baker likeable when he was on B&B in a very thankless part, so I can see where he would have been the same as Colton. I guess it worked out for him as he got a juicy part on AMC.

Lynn's DAYS run is one of those which the soap press used to treat as a cautionary tale. I'm glad she was able to return to GH as that second run was the making of the character, even if I know Michael Logan always said her first run was much better and he couldn't take her in the '90s.

4 hours ago, Vee said:

There's a lot of kooky stuff in 1989, but Aunt Charlene is an absolute hoot. I've seen Maree Cheatham on many soaps but I had forgotten about Charlene, who I saw a fair amount of on PC as a talk-to for Lucy, etc. back in the day. I wish they'd have her pop up again today along with, say, the returning Serena to give Lucy a pick-me-up. MC is doing DOOL so she's clearly capable (or was 5 years ago when DOOL filmed her recent appearances!).

The tail end of Wes Kenney's General Hospital from what I saw definitely emphasized the comedy aspects. I think Janis Paige is also on around this period (late 1989) as a kooky relative of Katherine Delafield, who's character may have been the original owner of Wyndmere and Spook Island. I think there's a pseudo ghost story, but maybe I'm completely off. And then you had Elizabeth Savage as Jynx Henshaw, who was some wealthy sexpot from what I vaguely recall.

I think Port Charles pre-arcs is often undervalued for its commitment to the General Hospital lore surrounding the crossover characters. I know Charlene pops up first under Scott Hammer, who's run gives me such Bill Levinson vibes when ignoring the psychic spy crap (which is hard to do). I don't think she continues passed Barbara Bloom and Karen Harris' run.

I though a lot of the comedy stuff was passable, but lacked the real dramatic oomph that really doesn't return with any consistentcy until Riche.

1 hour ago, carolineg said:

It's interesting Lucy had a whole extended family that got a lot of airtime back in the day, but none made it into the 90's really. Decker was pretty much a dud, but I thought Colton was popular. Or am I wrong about that?

In Colton's final year, he has two major pairings and one chemistry test. I think he is briefly a televangelist or some sort of motivational guru at Tiffany's TV station who falls in love with criminal Olivia Jerome. In the brief bits I saw, Colton and Olivia were strong together, but I'm not necessarily sure that they had fan support. Colton's story mostly becomes about being Decker's big brother and opening the gym, which is located next to Duke's nightclub. When Katherine turns Duke's into Delafield's, there is an extended Katherine / Colton chemistry test while Robert is off on some story (I want to say something Faison related). I got the impression, this may be very misguided, that Palumbo wanted to do some sort of Robert / Anna / Faison triangle and may have even intended to play with Robin's paternity (they made sure repeatedly to say Robin's age and how Anna / Faison had been together a year prior to her birth). My main point is I don't think Katherine Delafield / Robert had the long-term story.

After the Katherine stuff, Colton is immediately thrown at Carla Greco, who is reconned into being Monica's favorite maid and who is clashing with the new lady of the manor, Lucy, Colton's cousin. Additionally, Carla's brother Frankie has been accused of being the man who stabbed Ned Ashton during a period where Decker has started to have blackouts. Colton plays white savior and takes the kid under his wing with the tension being that Colton wants to find out who actually stabbed Ned, and we are led to believe it was Ned. It turns out the knifer was Drago, which was tied into some insane Midvale story that ends with a sequence at a carnival that makes Casey the Alien look like high art.

Carla / Colton remain a couple for the remainder of their run dealing with Carla's ex boyfriend or pseudo love interest Rico raping her and then Colton becoming involved in the rescue squad of hostage crisis at General Hospital. Colton saves Carla's mother from the war torn country they come from and they become engaged. By the end of 1990, Colton and Carla have actually been written out, being sent off to Carla's fictional country to prepare a life together, only to be brought back briefly in 1991 to usher out Charlene and Frankie.

Colton is a solid (not always exciting) lead, but I would say he's basically replaced by Mac Scorpio.

37 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

I got the impression both had their fans but Monty seemed to be so focused on cleaning house. Maybe she thought Colton was at a dead end once the Felicia and Frisco story was over (and had been for a year or two or however long).

Was this when Lynn was leaving for DAYS or is all of this what led her to go to DAYS?

Monty pretty much gets rid of every single new character introduced since she left. The only ones I think she retains are Tom Hardy and Meg Lawson. Simone is written out and brought back later in the year after the Eckerts flop.

Lynn Herring goes on maternity leave in the late January, 1991, episodes after losing Scotty's baby that she has been passing off as Alan's. She isn't even around for any of the departures of her family in February, 1991, nor do I think she is around when Decker departs without fanfare in March, 1991. if I remember correctly.

Lynn leaves permanently during early Riche, in late March, 1992. I believe Riche and/or Herring basically said that Herring's contract was up for renewal and no one seemed to do much about it so she jumped ship. I think Riche had been trying to convince Rogers / Hughes to stay at that point and there was no headwriter. Lynn returns mid November, 1992, in the "Summer in Provence" story initially before being incorporated into Scotty / Dominique. I believe Lynn's return involved some disguise at some art auction with audience seeing Lucy for the first time since she left, which was suppose to echo, I suppose, the big mousy librarian to sexpot reveal from the 1980s.

Thanks @dc11786 . I always mean to watch more of that period, but your summaries are often more compelling than what is onscreen for these shows.

I agree that PC has more GH ties than given credit for. They seemed to try to revive them around 99-00 before stopping once and for all when the "books" begin.

I remember reading about the Colton/Olivia story. It sounded interesting. Is Olivia another of those characters who held on longer than she should have?

I didn't realize Lucy was gone when her entire family was written out. Maybe that was for the best as it would have been depressing to see her taken fully back to nothing.

I don't respect producers who dump any character they didn't create. Dominic Treadwell Collins at EastEnders is another who did that, IIRC.

Edited Saturday at 04:05 PM1 day by DRW50

@dc11786 Thanks so much for your detailed response. I always felt that Colton was basically replaced by Mac as well, but I didn't really recall all that nonsense he went through before he left lol.

Both Days and GH in 1992 were chaotic. I understand why Days jumped at the chance to get Lynn. I am surprised they never used her with Wayne to give Marlena/Roman some increased angst with a slight flirtation on Roman's part with someone else. Marlena/Roman had almost nothing to do in 1992 until Marlena gets thrown in a pit and the John/Marlena affair gears up. It would have added another layer to everything if Roman was tempted by someone else. But, alas, that's for the Days thread.

Anyhow, Katherine is another character I am intrigued by because her and Robert appear to have a following and she is dumped. Of course, it's probably Monty's vision, but I do think it may have been a poor decision as well. Although it is hard for me to see a character like that last through Labine or Guza's 90's.

In this Youtube channel, we have multilanguage and we can listen to GH in English from German episodes!!!!!

Great catch @MissPalmer

7 hours ago, DRW50 said:

I know soaps, especially in recent years, might seem very different year to year, but when I was watching some of Epiphany's funeral, I was struck by just how much has changed in 3 years. Beyond three of the cast members involved since passing away, there is also now-dead Sam, and then there was the jarring glimpse of Willow as town saint (braving Epiphany's service even as she is about to have a cancer treatment), wheeled around by Carly.

I still believe a lot of this would not have changed if not for Patrick Mulcahey. This team (most of which is back in place) seemed content to trot along with Michael and his saintly wife playing happy families and pumping out kids (and other tedious elements of the show, many of which persist in 2026) to appease Facebook seniors until something shook them up BTS. I def think FV would've inevitably fired or killed off Sam though lol. She was on a track for an exit long before this.

6 hours ago, dc11786 said:

The tail end of Wes Kenney's General Hospital from what I saw definitely emphasized the comedy aspects. I think Janis Paige is also on around this period (late 1989) as a kooky relative of Katherine Delafield, who's character may have been the original owner of Wyndmere and Spook Island.

I didn't know until I went to the insanely detailed GH wiki that Wyndemere was actually built by the founder of Wyndham's Department Store! And has a strange, spooky gothic origin story on par with something like Dark Shadows or Arkham Asylum from the Batman comics, where the estate's namesake (Wyndham) was supposedly haunted to his grave by ghosts. They could make more of that today for a Halloween story - I know they tried to do a bit of a ghost story (or faux-haunting) there around that time in '89, I assume when Wyndemere was first introduced.

25 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

Is Olivia another of those characters who held on longer than she should have?

I thought so. As a huge Anna fan it was a big ask to keep her on the show after everything that had happened, especially trying to walk her back from fully psycho.

I actually liked Colton but there really wasn’t much there after Frisco returns. He’s essentially a decent guy that doesn’t have the right kind of ties to build on in that era. He’s not part of the WSB/PCPD group, he’s not tied to the Quartermaines, and he’s not a doctor or in the medical profession for the hospital stories, or romantically involved with a core character. At that time on GH you really needed at least one of those ties to succeed. It’s not like Young and the Restless where stories rarely overlapped. GH stories really did a lot of crossover.

I adored Charlene and was sad when she left. Without those characters I don’t know if Lucy lasts as long as she did. It allowed more exploration of Lucy beyond just her schemes. Lucy seems to be an acquired taste but I have always loved Lynn and am happy for every second of screen time she has. I hate that GH never capitalized on Serena, especially since Carly was great and they had an opportunity to continue to grow her up in real time like Robin.

6 hours ago, carolineg said:

Anyhow, Katherine is another character I am intrigued by because her and Robert appear to have a following and she is dumped. Of course, it's probably Monty's vision, but I do think it may have been a poor decision as well. Although it is hard for me to see a character like that last through Labine or Guza's 90's.

I can see her as part of the renewed focus music that happened during Riche’s first few years though. I could see her as a partner in The Outback and playing music there. Or exploring another aspect of her talents and she plays in Mary Mae Ward’s recording sessions, etc. but I also don’t see her as a major player.

I did not really like her to be honest when this was airing. I had preferred the angst of Robert/Cheryl and original recipe Julian Jerome, and by the time Katherine and fake Duke were there I was ready for Robert/Anna.

That Duke story is another one of the strange things that happened in those couple of years between Monty tenures that hurt the show. All that time and effort setting it up and selling it only to have him die again just as he and Anna were reuniting. I know it wasn’t very popular, but I have also read people started to get into it and were pissed when they killed him off. At the time I remember not liking it but also not being happy with how it wound up. Then on the heels of that debacle comes Casey the Alien. Finola almost had Deidre Hall levels of difficulty selling some wild stories back to back.