Just now, Franko said:

I wonder if the producers regretted that it was tied to Frisco & Tania, a pairing that didn't even last a year.

All he needed was just a little more time to be sure what he felt wasn't all in his mind; and when he had that time, he realized it WAS all in his mind, lol.

Edited Thursday at 11:15 PM2 days by Khan

Denise Alexander as a celebrity guest on a 1976 episode of the NBC gameshow The Magnificent Marble Machine!

Thanks @Jdee43 great find

Interesting that NBC would have an ABC performer on the show. Better to have someone from Days for cross promotion, rather than highlighting the competition. But then Anson Williams was from ABC and Gary Burghoff was on a CBS show,

MMM was something Lin Bolen was responsible for scheduling. It was an expensive production that didn't pay off in ratings.

Did they go to a celebrity version to try and get a bump in the numbers?

On 4/21/2026 at 9:02 PM, Vee said:

If they hadn't been so fixated on the Balkan saga

Coming back to this, I can’t believe they wasted Adrienne Barbeau and Daniel Benzali on such a lackluster overall story. And then to saddle Brenda with a kid that was fathered by a dead rando instead of Jax. And as @carolineg pointed out, the time in Rome was such a waste, as was Brad Rowe.

Charles Pratt is a nightmare to me as a HW, he certainly should never be in total control. But one thing he got that Guza did not was there has to be some excitement, especially on a show like GH. The pace and style of Vanessa’s first return has Chuck Pratt’s fingerprints all over it. There is plenty of Guza there too, but it had an urgency that was missing with the later return.

10 minutes ago, titan1978 said:

Coming back to this, I can’t believe they wasted Adrienne Barbeau and Daniel Benzali on such a lackluster overall story. And then to saddle Brenda with a kid that was fathered by a dead rando instead of Jax. And as @carolineg pointed out, the time in Rome was such a waste, as was Brad Rowe.

Charles Pratt is a nightmare to me as a HW, he certainly should never be in total control. But one thing he got that Guza did not was there has to be some excitement, especially on a show like GH. The pace and style of Vanessa’s first return has Chuck Pratt’s fingerprints all over it. There is plenty of Guza there too, but it had an urgency that was missing with the later return.

It was a real shame to waste good actors plus Brad Rowe like that lol.

And you are correct. The pacing was so off. Practically nothing happened for 3 months and we had very repetitive scenes of people recapping Brenda's love life (including her) for weeks. Then the wedding, the kidnapping, the kid, the break up, etc. were wrapped up in another 3 months.

I assume the Balkan story got changed and the Dante baby idea was scrapped, but it literally made no sense. Not even in a wacky Stefano Dimera kidnaps Marlena in a cage way. These two big time, dangerous criminals were playing the long game with Brenda? Suzanne spent years working for her? Created a charity? Then decide to strike when Brenda has everyone from Jason to Jax to Sonny protecting her? What? They had approximately 5 years to kill while Suzanne was her closest confidante and didn't.

The Decline and Fall of the Monty Empire

Week 17 (April 21-25, 1986) -- Part I

Ruby: "Can I, um, offer you some advice?"

Kevin: "Well, anything from Bobbie's aunt, I'll take."

Ruby: "Well, your life's pretty good now. Don't let petulance and anger screw it up for you. ... Okay, I better get in the kitchen and get on with my chili."

Laurelton, the Frisco stuff: Kevin's declared not guilty of murder halfway through Tuesday's show. Monday's cliffhanger concerned his jury being deadlocked. We'll soon find out that Kevin's innocence is false, but in the meantime, GH teases its audience with a few days of "What's next?" Kevin and Anna spend the most time picking up their pieces, but there's also some reckoning for Frisco, Patrick, and Terry.

Anna: "When you wear this badge, you have to do many things that go way against your own personal sense of morality."

Frisco: "Really. To be a cop, I have to play dirty, is that it?"

Anna, after a pause: "Criminals play dirty. What choice do you think you have?"

Frisco: "Lucy Coe is not a criminal!"

If I didn't have enough reasons to be thankful for the reveal of Lucy's true colors, it's apparently what's going to toughen up Frisco. I want to have more sympathy for him, and really, there's more disillusionment as 1986 goes on, but right now, it's like, why even be a cop? The correct answer is that GH apparently needs a male hero to pick up Tristan Rogers' reins.

Frisco: "What about the people in between, huh? What about the Lucy Coes?"

Lewis: "The means justify the ends. You do what you have to do."

Spurred by Lewis, Frisco decides not to chicken out. The young man's humiliated early in Friday's episode. Felicia, her professor's star pupil and poised for work as a bookkeeper, stops by the police academy. She unwittingly demonstrates the logic and steps needed to safely disarm a gunman. Frisco and Sam both wind up "dead" in Lewis' exercise, and Eric's admonished for his shoot first, ask questions later attitude.

After letting jealousy make him insult Felicia -- he's seeing Lucy, someone who needs him -- and fearing he's been stood up, Frisco makes amends. Ruby doesn't offer any wise words before this, just a sympathetic ear and some light flirting. Felicia takes things up a notch by walking into Kelly's in handcuffs, then dropping the key down her top.

Frisco: "Do you know what the penalty is for trying to seduce a cop in this state? Hmm? You have to spend the entire evening in the arms of the arresting officer."

They kiss, and the key drops to the floor.

Felicia, laughing as she puts both arms behind Frisco: "Guilty as charged!"

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by Franko

50 minutes ago, carolineg said:

It was a real shame to waste good actors plus Brad Rowe like that lol.

And you are correct. The pacing was so off. Practically nothing happened for 3 months and we had very repetitive scenes of people recapping Brenda's love life (including her) for weeks. Then the wedding, the kidnapping, the kid, the break up, etc. were wrapped up in another 3 months.

I assume the Balkan story got changed and the Dante baby idea was scrapped, but it literally made no sense. Not even in a wacky Stefano Dimera kidnaps Marlena in a cage way. These two big time, dangerous criminals were playing the long game with Brenda? Suzanne spent years working for her? Created a charity? Then decide to strike when Brenda has everyone from Jason to Jax to Sonny protecting her? What? They had approximately 5 years to kill while Suzanne was her closest confidante and didn't.

They didn’t even let Suzanne go full psycho on her. It was a lot of skulling around, then she ended up killing Theo herself IIRC! Not even Brenda/Jason/Sonny! We should have gotten something more epic like the killer reveal in Scream 2 for Suzanne. I don’t want to spoil something, but then again, the movie is almost 30 years old lol.

I think Guza was so distracted trying to sell Dante/Brenda that the whole thing kind of fizzled out once he got pushback about it. All that talent as far as performers and it was much ado about nothing. But that was also JFP/Guza- ashamed to have some fun because they were serious and making a drama.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by titan1978

1 hour ago, carolineg said:

Suzanne spent years working for her? Created a charity? Then decide to strike when Brenda has everyone from Jason to Jax to Sonny protecting her? What? They had approximately 5 years to kill while Suzanne was her closest confidante and didn't.

49 minutes ago, titan1978 said:

They didn’t even let Suzanne go full psycho on her. It was a lot of skulling around, then she ended up killing Theo herself IIRC! Not even Brenda/Jason/Sonny! We should have gotten something more epic like the killer reveal in Scream 2 for Suzanne.

Whenever I'd see her on GH, I just kept wishing she would go upstairs to check on Phillip and not come back down. (IYKYK)

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by Khan

1 hour ago, titan1978 said:

They didn’t even let Suzanne go full psycho on her. It was a lot of skulling around, then she ended up killing Theo herself IIRC! Not even Brenda/Jason/Sonny! We should have gotten something more epic like the killer reveal in Scream 2 for Suzanne. I don’t want to spoil something, but then again, the movie is almost 30 years old lol.

I think Guza was so distracted trying to sell Dante/Brenda that the whole thing kind of fizzled out once he got pushback about it. All that talent as far as performers and it was much ado about nothing. But that was also JFP/Guza- ashamed to have some fun because they were serious and making a drama.

Yes. Suzanne ended up killing her husband because........I can't remember lol. It was a lot of weirdness because she gave her grandson away to save him from Brenda and then gave him back after some minor hijinks. I am not sure if Suzanne was ever originally intended to be evil. She called Jason herself to make him come and protect Brenda. Why?

I think Guza's big twist was Dante/Brenda's baby and the Balkan was going to a secondary bread and butter Sonny/Brenda villain. It all got lost when Dante/Brenda wasn't the vibe and he realized the Balkan had to be the main story. To me this story is the main reason Guza got fired finally.

33 minutes ago, carolineg said:

To me this story is the main reason Guza got fired finally.

And if it wasn't, it should've been, because I do think there came a point when Guza was just SPENT creatively and GH needed a fresh set of eyes, so to speak. Unfortunately, little did we know, lol.

31 minutes ago, carolineg said:

To me this story is the main reason Guza got fired finally.

Agreed. And in true JFP fashion she hired a lackey to replace him. Which was a sign to me ABC was close to done with GH, and I was surprised it lasted long enough to outlive Frons. When they didn’t even try to look outside Guza’s team for a change in tone I was pretty certain they were just letting it and Jill limp to a finish.

Just now, titan1978 said:

Agreed. And in true JFP fashion she hired a lackey to replace him. Which was a sign to me ABC was close to done with GH, and I was surprised it lasted long enough to outlive Frons. When they didn’t even try to look outside Guza’s team for a change in tone I was pretty certain they were just letting it and Jill limp to a finish.

ICAM!

21 minutes ago, Khan said:

And if it wasn't, it should've been, because I do think there came a point when Guza was just SPENT creatively and GH needed a fresh set of eyes, so to speak. Unfortunately, little did we know, lol.

He was spent creatively for sure. I do get it. He was with GH a long time and it was clear he preferred a certain type of story. I am sure he was frustrated he couldn't make a Brenda/Dante story work the way he wanted, but I have always said I don't think he has much fondness for the Sonny/Brenda pairing.

21 minutes ago, titan1978 said:

Agreed. And in true JFP fashion she hired a lackey to replace him. Which was a sign to me ABC was close to done with GH, and I was surprised it lasted long enough to outlive Frons. When they didn’t even try to look outside Guza’s team for a change in tone I was pretty certain they were just letting it and Jill limp to a finish.

I am too! I thought GH was toast and 2011 didn't do much to help that. I do think Garin Wolf tried to change the tone slightly in his brief stint, but I also don't think a ton of effort was made to drastically change things until Ron stepped in.

Week 17, Part II

Patrick, to Kevin: "It's great to have you back where you belong. So, how's everybody been treating you?"

Old lady being wheeled away by a nurse: "I'm not getting out of this hospital a minute too soon! Can you believe they're letting that man come back to work?"

Laurelton, the O'Connors stuff: There's an alternative universe where it wasn't Kevin all along, and he remained on the scene for at least 1986-87. In this more low-key world, significant time is spent on Kevin rebuilding his professional life, finally having a happily ever after with Terry, and ending up on good terms with Anna. That last one writes itself; Robin gets sick and Kevin heals her. For better or for worse, GH just wasn't that kind of show at this time.

For the record, Lucy and Sarah aren't around when the not guilty verdict's read. I thought it was interesting that Anna and Brett's dismayed reaction shot doesn't come for 20 seconds.

Red, to Jake: "I hope you're satisfied, counselor. ... I know what I saw that day at the airport. ... No, you're the one who's making a mistake. You just let a killer go free."

Tuesday's episode has an odd moment with Sheriff Broder, Ted, and the O'Connor parents. Ted says they've all had three long years wondering just who was Earl Moody's killer, but it's time to "put the past behind us once and for all." Tim O'Connor, who, by the way, is back to being at odds with Patrick, thinks that maybe it's better that they not know who did it. That's pretty insensitive from a guy who lost three in-laws to the killer and had everyone in his immediate family except him and his wife be suspected of murder. I guess in this world where Kevin and Patrick didn't do it, Tim would have.

In-universe, I think the Laurelton four know that Kevin did it, but are too much in denial or fear to say so. Whether they've always known it or have finally reached that conclusion remains to be seen. On Thursday, Tim starts to imply that he thinks Patrick is the killer. It's also revealed on Thursday that Earl was killed in the same room as Ted, et al. and that it happened when the lights went out.

Okay, that's just stupid as hell. We've seen the room where it happened. It's not that big. Did everyone but Kevin just stay where they were, too terrified to move while their longtime acquaintance or relative was being killed? They couldn't all have been tending to the lights. And how long does it take to strangle a guy, anyway?

Moving on ... Patrick rewards Bobbie and Jake, who gave Kevin a discount on his defense, with a Paris vacation. Jake leaves with a growing seed of doubt about Kevin's innocence. Meanwhile, Patrick goes to Laurelton, where he gives Sarah the use of Earl's house, makes her his proxy at Purity Water, and establishes a salary for that role. Sarah initially fears she's being paid off for her testimony, but comes around in a surprisingly touching way.

Patrick: "I need you to look after my interests, so to speak. I need ya."

Sarah, whispering as if in ectasy: "Oh, your uncle used to say that to me. Normal voice Oh, Patrick, you know I was very important to him." (I'll just bet she was!)

Patrick: "I know that. And you are very important to me too, Sarah."

Sarah, whispering again, and tearing up a little: "Oh, imagine. ... Just imagine me. Getting back to normal volume Me. Important to somebody. Oh, you know the people here in Laurelton never thought that I was important to anybody!"

Anyway, the Laurelton guys learn what Patrick's done. I still think Tim should have been killed off during Laurelton II: Sarah's Revenge. Maybe Jim McKrell wasn't available. Back in Port Charles, Kevin and Terry continue having lousy sex. Since February, Terry's been presented as the one who's not pulling her weight, but I wish it would have turned out that Kevin just wasn't a good lover. That would have really sent him over the edge.

Terry's determined to find out just who the killer is, so she can finally move on and be Kevin's wife. She also doesn't like Kevin's idea of leaving the Brownstone and/or Port Charles. Patrick returns from Laurelton in time to keep Terry from using Jennifer's brandy to make her unofficial truth serum. He ends Thursday's episode by telling Terry that she must forget the past. (Hmm ... maybe Patrick also has some barely suppressed doubts about Kevin?)

Friday's episode includes Kevin's initially awkward return to GH. I smirked at the student nurse running like hell once she realizes they're alone together. As the episode goes on, various folks (from Alan to Yank) assert their confidence in Kevin and that everything will soon be back to normal. The episode includes not one, but four visits to Lucy.

Lucy, to Terry: "I've learned my lesson. ... Never tell a lie and never fall in love, because they both bring you nothing but pain."

After Terry, Lucy's visited in the library by Frisco, then Patrick. I watched these scenes carefully, trying to see if there'd be any red herrings for the finale. Truth be told, there aren't. Lucy briefly mentions Brett and Jake, but we already know that the latter's in Paris and the former hasn't shown up in the episode, so he's not likely to be the mystery man. Frisco ends Friday's episode having afterglow with Felicia, so he's not going to suddenly show up at Lucy's. And the way Lucy and Patrick are interacting, they clearly have no established intimacy. That leaves just Kevin, who for his part, has claimed to Patrick and Terry that he doesn't like Lucy.

Which brings us to Lucy's big scene. As a standalone piece, it's a well-deserved classic. In context, it's frustrating. It won't be confirmed until next week that Lucy's seeing Kevin, but based on who she's been interacting with so far, it's really not hard to figure it out. Classic JER, like the unnecessary staggering of Roman finding out about Marlena & John's affair and that John was Belle's father.

In my next post or two, which will come tomorrow, thoughts on Laurelton, the Anna (and Buzz) stuff, Sean Swindles the Quartermaines, and the domestic storylines (the Webbers, Bryan & Claudia, Tony & Tania).