7 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

I just saw that Dylan Cash's most recent Twitter activity was retweeting a complaint about the Esme and Spencer story in 2023.

Finally, solidarity.

8 hours ago, BadBoy93 said:

I was thinking about The Text Message Killer story arc from 07-08 and part of me wonders if they had other ideas for the killer than who it turned out to be. Was the introduction of Logan & Johnny meant to have led to that or was it always...who it was?

The original story was interrupted by a writer’s strike. So if Garin Wolf who went Fi-CORE and JFP knew the original plan they changed it into that hack ending with Diego Alcazar.

That whole period of time still pisses me off. They had the best set of young characters since the early 90’s with Coop, Maxie, Lulu, Logan, Georgie and Spinelli. And they never should have killed Emily or Georgie.

I know the rumors about Josh Duhon being difficult, so I still wonder if Logan was supposed to be another victim or the killer. Because after the strike ended those writers came back and got rid of him pretty quickly. None of it made sense, but it did fit the pattern of the show becoming bored with a set of characters after introducing them and letting the dominate.

6 minutes ago, titan1978 said:

That whole period of time still pisses me off. They had the best set of young characters since the early 90’s with Coop, Maxie, Lulu, Logan, Georgie and Spinelli. And they never should have killed Emily or Georgie.

I didn't care about Coop, but I did like that end of the canvas at the time. I think part of the predictable issue was that it was not mob-centric enough for Guza's team or Frons or whoever. So Johnny Zacchara comes in and everything changes. I liked Johnny and the gothic elements of the Zaccharas, but it was also more of the same direction.

17 minutes ago, titan1978 said:

I know the rumors about Josh Duhon being difficult, so I still wonder if Logan was supposed to be another victim or the killer. Because after the strike ended those writers came back and got rid of him pretty quickly. None of it made sense, but it did fit the pattern of the show becoming bored with a set of characters after introducing them and letting the dominate.

I think the show wanted to keep Duhon until he became too difficult and JMB complained. I believed Logan might have been the original killer, caught on, became Scott's son, Lulu's boyfriend and then the show just ditched him when it was too much trouble.

10 minutes ago, Vee said:

I didn't care about Coop, but I did like that end of the canvas at the time. I think part of the predictable issue was that it was not mob-centric enough for Guza's team or Frons or whoever. So Johnny Zacchara comes in and everything changes. I liked Johnny and the gothic elements of the Zaccharas, but it was also more of the same direction.

Again, Coop should have been Julia's son or Brenda/Julia's baby brother, but no. The show never even mentioned they had the same last name.

1 hour ago, Vee said:

I didn't care about Coop, but I did like that end of the canvas at the time.

At the time I thought he was cute, not a great actor though. But I also thought his involvement with Jerry Jax gave him some storytelling possibilities, as did his last name. He also becomes Maxie’s second dead partner (eventually of four, so she has a full set).

2 hours ago, titan1978 said:

He also becomes Maxie’s second dead partner (eventually of four, so she has a full set).

Now I understand why some think she and Spinelli made (and still make) such a cute couple! SPINMAX FOREVER!!

I was digging back into the early GH '78 stuff. Do we know when Mark Dante and Katie Corbin left the first time (I assume they wed after old Lamont passed)? What about Gina and Gary Lansing? I wonder how quickly Monty broomed all these people out. I know Gina was still there in November IIRC, or I may be wrong. I wonder who else they shoved out the door quick.

Katie and Mark left in August 78. Marland/Monty were smart in that they didn't do a massive housecleaning. GH had a couple of years with that previously.

Also it might have been a contract thing. Maybe Gerald Gordon had that clause that he would have to be paid out if he was written out early.?

Gina and Gary were wed in March 78 and there wasn't much story after that. I was surprised they made it till June 79. There was some sibling rivalry stuff with Gary's brother Howard and Gary's decision to become an author and give up medicine.

Gina and Gary realize their marriage is over because they have different goals in life. Gary goes to New York to pursue his writing career while Gina is off to Wyoming and a medical research grant.

Overall, the only character quickly dropped was Lana/Lisa, the spilt personality chick involved with Jeff.

11 hours ago, Paul Raven said:

Katie and Mark left in August 78. Marland/Monty were smart in that they didn't do a massive housecleaning. GH had a couple of years with that previously.

Yeah it was already so full of newish characters, it helped that Marland had ideas on using the Webber brothers in better stories, same with Monica and young Scotty and Laura. I assume Marland also decided to link Jeff to Steve, but I am not sure if that was already in place and he simply revealed it.

I think it didn’t hurt that the brand new characters they did bring on/were left as leads worked so well- Alan, Tracy, and Bobbie for earlier in 1978.

13 hours ago, Vee said:

Do we know when Mark Dante and Katie Corbin left the first time (I assume they wed after old Lamont passed)?

I still think whoever came up with the name "Lamont Corbin" had The Shadow in mind, lol.

The Decline and Fall of the Monty Empire

Week Five (Jan. 27-31, 1986)

"You know, everyone keeps saying what a great cop Frisco's going to be. But I'm going to be a great ... something."

-- Felicia

Laurelton, the mystery stuff: "... The Laurelton mystery is far from over," Anna declares on what ended up being the Friday episode. GH could have fooled me, considering that it started the week with a slight jump forward. In between the Jan. 24 and Jan. 27 episodes, Ralph Russell has died. Everyone except Anna figures that he killed Neil Johnson and Earl Moody. Anna's bothered by Ralph not having a clear motive, not to mention the whole weird vibes surrounding Laurelton. Once again, she visits there, because right now, GH is all-in on making that little podunk town seem especially fascinating. Anyway, as the week goes on, we see someone doing tasks like filing the engraving off a medallion on a chain like the one Russell had and the one used to strangle Earl with. The mystery person also tries getting rid of the jewelry, but it ends up in the possession of a derelict who ends this week in ill health. I initially assumed the show was going to tease the idea that the mystery person was Terry, Jennifer, or Ted, but instead, there's a cut from the trio leaving the Brownstone basement to the mystery person still at work in the furnace room. Because of this, we can assume the mystery person is either Patrick, Kevin, or some character to be introduced. That last option isn't too unusual, since GH keeps adding new Laurelton citizens, players in this boring-ass conspiracy. This week, it's the grieving Janet Russell, convinced by Jennifer to keep quiet with Anna.

Laurelton, the relationship stuff: I understand why GH didn't want to dawdle with Ralph Russell's last moments. The show intended to get everything in place for Terry and Kevin's wedding, which will take place in-universe on Friday, Feb. 14. The problem is, the Challenger tragedy happened Tuesday, Jan. 28, meaning the wedding got moved to Monday, Feb. 17. Anyway, Terry's excited about her upcoming marriage, Kevin and Patrick are getting along famously, and I laughed at nobody making even a half-hearted attempt to include Jennifer or Ted in the wedding party (Bobbie's the maid of honor, Jake's going to give Terry away, etc.). The Thursday episode has Patrick admitting that he found Terry "very attractive" back in the day, but that "the best man won." I'll be curious to watch the post-Laurelton episodes and see if there was any chemistry between Robyn Bernard and Guy Mack, or if that's why the show passed on giving Terry and Patrick a happily every after.

Cops and Lovers: I'm including Anna-Buzz and Frisco-Felicia in this section. At this point, Anna and Buzz aren't a couple, and they end the week at odds with one another. Buzz, still smarting from a face-off with Edward (see below), refuses to let Anna question the derelict while his health is so dicey. And to think, earlier in the week they made plans to have dinner when she got back from Laurelton, and she gave him a peck on the cheek. The two Fs still argue over Samantha and his ill-advised suggestion that Felicia major in home economics, but they also end the week emulating Yank & Jade by kissing passionately.

Sean vs. the Quartermaines: Jimmy Lee meets Dimitri Cassadine and his girlfriend Pilar, who seems to have eyes for the new man. It seems clear that the writers wanted to make Edward's humiliation seem extra-rich, so he spends this week as a sleaze. On Wednesday, Edward encourages Jimmy Lee to "use this Pilar to your advantage, if you know what I mean." On Friday, Edward (who is president of the GH board) is a dick about Terry's bridal shower gifts being kept in the staff lounge, and also sneers about the poor waterfront folks that Buzz and Yank will aid while out and about in the medical van. Wednesday also includes a strong scene for Sean and Monica, where they talk about her motivations. "(The Quartermaines) represented everything I've ever wanted. Money, power, respect." Sean's up front with Monica; he wants her, and wants to know why she's stopping herself. I'll always love Alan & Monica, but Sean's really making a case for himself here.

Mike's Paternity: Derek's attitude evolves during this batch. Lorena points out that for all his, Ginny, and Rick's attempts to be fair with Mike and one another, they're not necessarily acting in the boy's best interests. It would have been nice if Lorena talked about her own history -- I can't remember if she actually was adopted, or stayed in the foster system until adulthood -- but maybe that conversation will come soon. I did smile at Lorena's completely unsubtle use of "your dad" when mentioning Derek to Mike, especially when it was the three of them together. Anyway, Rick gets mad at another of Mike's lies (he cut school yet again), and this time, Derek draws blood. "Your son? Your son won't even live at home with you, Rick."

Other thoughts:

-- Different Times?: There's a lot of discussion about the nobility of law enforcement and how Frisco will be an especially ideal police officer. Part of me wants to think that the show is setting up for the Burt reveal, but I think it's honestly meant to make it clear that Anna, Frisco, and even Sean are unmistakably the white hats (well, off-white in Sean's case).

-- John Reilly narrowly beats out Leslie Charleson for the acting crown this week. He clinched it with a fine scene opposite Kristina Wagner on Friday:

"(Being in the WSB) made me come alive. The time I spent as an agent, I've never really been able to recreate in any other facet of my life. ... Oh, (I miss it) about as much as I'd miss my right arm. ... There is no way I could have maintained a long-term relationship with a woman when I was in the WSB. ... Some people thrive on a cop's life. It makes them stronger. And public service does a great deal for the soul."

I can't lie. Once upon a time, that's how I felt about journalism.

-- Different Times: The Brownstone gang relying on a bulletin board at GH (and, of course, the staff lounge) to plan Terry's bridal shower. Ah, the days before group texts.

-- In relationship news that surprised me, nurse Gabrielle, the one who played a role in Alan & Monica's current estrangement, also nearly did the same for Tony & Tania. Not only that, but Bobbie & Jake apparently aren't cohabitating.

-- This Week in Fanservice: Once again, Frisco sports old school athletic shorts-style boxers. We also get James Horan (as lawyer Brett Madison) pumping iron, although the camera is careful not to give an upshorts view.

-- This Week in Sam Behrens is Wacky: Jake does Groucho and Bogart impressions on Monday.

-- Also, in case you were curious, Mike and Robin apparently go to the same school. Either that, or there's a district-wide father's day.

I've been watching the murder of Diana Taylor storyline on youtube and she has to be one of the GH characters who has suffered the worst. two dead children within a few years, (it seems whenever I read about pre-Monty GH there is always a storyline about a child dying) her husband dies, and then after become a supporting character she is brutally killed.

10 hours ago, titan1978 said:

I assume Marland also decided to link Jeff to Steve, but I am not sure if that was already in place and he simply revealed it.

I think that was revealed pre Marland. Steve found out but Jeff didn't know

10 hours ago, titan1978 said:

I think it didn’t hurt that the brand new characters they did bring on/were left as leads worked so well- Alan, Tracy, and Bobbie for earlier in 1978.

Alan was introduced in 77 by the Elmans in their short stint. Tracy and Bobbie was Marland.

I don't understand, what would inspire Monty to want to pair Don Galloway with Finola Hughes in 1986? They are 18 years apart in age.

Finola was 26 in those early 1986 episodes. Finola and Jack Wagner are the same age. We were supposed to see him as some young guy beginning on the force, and Finola as an experienced vet heading the force? Her as the police commissioner was always a bit of a stretch.