GH: Classic Thread

[dc11786]

I am sorry to hear that Michael Cole passed. Harlan was a part of the Monty II revamp that I haven't given much attention to or spent much time on because he has appeared so little in my sporadic viewing of 1991. Given the rocky nature of Monty's second run, Cole probably didn't have much of a chance. He's definitely a more rugged businessman than daytime was traditionally putting forward in terms of being more salt of the earth man of the sea who happened to make lots and lots so of money from salvaging. I think there was somewhere to explore with that, but I am not sure they properly did. I can't imagine that the Cartel angle was part of the original Monty II outline so I am not surewhat hope he had once things feel apart rating wise so early into Monty's return.

I wonder what would have happened if Monty hadn't gotten rid of him before she left. If Harlan had managed to survive a few more months and been around at the start of Riche's run. Would Riche also have dumped him or could Harlan have usurped some of the role that Romero and Halifax did in the Bill / Holly story? 

 

[DRW50]

Much of the December 11, 1980 episode.

General Hospital- December 11, 1980 (partial) : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Two and a half hours of L&L clips from December 1980.

General Hospital: various "Luke And Laura" Scenes (December 1980) : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Edited December 15, 2024 by DRW50

[j swift]

Some SOD articles about the hiring of Harlan aka Michael Cole.  When we reviewed the Breaking News of SOD from the 90s, there were a couple of stories about the casting, and various names being considered.  Obviously, a lot of early plans were changed along the way (i.e. Kelly/Brenda).  During that period AMC and GH were both looking for a Tr^&p-like character, and Manhattan Lives (the DOOL Marlena spin-off), was going to have one as well.

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Edited December 15, 2024 by j swift

[carolineg]

Thanks. GH obviously decided to just cast Julia and dropped Kelly/Brenda.  Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think they even mentioned a second daughter until Brenda was cast on screen.

Of all the ideas during that period that were dropped it's interesting they brought a sister for Julia back.  I suppose with KMc being so young they needed another female to play off Jagger/Karen and Julia's sister was at least connected to the canvas.  

I wonder if there were plans to make the Barrett family larger and more important than it ended up being- it all fizzled out by 1993 with Brenda being the only one left.

[Vee]

You could still do it today with more distant relatives if Brenda and her kid ever came back. There was a lot of dysfunctional history there for a character (Harlan) who so briefly appeared.

[carolineg]

I think you could make a case to bring Julia back with a daughter or son (it could even be AJ's or Ned's) if you brought Brenda back.  Julia could buy Deception again or even take over Crimson.  It might make Nina or Natalia redundant, but I am fine with losing both those characters.  Make Julia's son/daughter around Michael's age, add Brenda's son to the Joss set, Brenda of course fits in with the whole Sonny gang, and Julia could mix it up with Tracy, Ned, Lucy plus judge Brenda's inevitable bad decisions and you have got yourself a place for both of them on canvas fairly easily.

Of course this would never happen and I'd dump about 10 characters before adding the Barretts back in, but it actually wouldn't be hard if the show wanted to go that direction.

[Vee]

Oh, both Natalia and probably Nina would be dogmeat if the show got reset lol (and I say that having liked Nina a lot this year). I can see bringing in Julia to visit (or even recast if they wanted a contract player and a bigger name than the lovely Crystal Carson) or bringing on other children of hers in at some point, but I was thinking more distant relatives you could make from scratch who could somehow challenge Brenda's claim to any of the Barrett empire. Sure, they didn't exist in the '90s but who cares?

[carolineg]

Distant relatives would be a cool idea.  We know so little about the family and the options are endless.  Considering Brenda didn't know her own mom faked her death it would be very easy to bring relatives back that she didn't even know existed.   The show would have to make me believe Brenda even cared about the Barrett empire though.  She hasn't given it a thought since 1993 lol so I would think Julia would at least be needed to facilitate that feud.

[Vee]

I mean, I assume part of the Barrett wealth has gotten her to where she is now or has been used in her global ventures, humanitarian or otherwise. Or some relatives or siblings or cousins, illegitimates or whatever of Harlan's could try for the piece of the pie. It's easy to work through.

Edited December 16, 2024 by Vee

[carolineg]

It is easy to work through if anyone at GH actually cared to.  What kind of relatives/characters would you bring in?

[Vee]

I don't know, probably heretofore unknown siblings of Harlan. Or Brenda and Julia's cousins, or whatever. You name it! Anyone out for a piece of the pie trying to snake it out from under Brenda.

Edited December 16, 2024 by Vee

[dc11786]

Brenda is definitely mentioned in December, 1991. The curlyqgrl summaries state Julia mentioned her sister Brenda around Christmas. I thought she was mentioned slightly earlier at the time of Harlan's funeral, but given the reference I remember (Brenda was off skiing) it's possible the reference was to Brenda skipping out on Christmas, and not her father's funeral. 

I imagine Kelly (Brenda) Barrett of summer of 1991 would have been involved in some sorta quad with A.J. and maybe Joey Moscini and Ava Eckert (if she also being introduced, but I don't know if she was for sure). 

If I recall correctly, Bill Levinson and Maralyn Thoma very early in their run lay the groundwork for Julia and Ned which sorta solidified Julia's direction once it was decided that Holly and Bill would be the long story. I think Brenda and Jason would have been the easier route to go with Julia's connection to the Q world. I also suspect that given more time Levinson more than likely would have tried Brenda with A.J. and / or Ned. 

The Barretts introduction in 1991 is interesting. Monty insists on the large working class Eckert clan and then also introduces a more "realistic" Quartmaine clan by having the Qs facing financial ruin again. I know @j swift article state how suave Harlan was suppose to be but I felt he was more rough around the edges due to his career field. I think Tracy and Harlan might have been the plan at some point before it was decided that Harlan was going to be in the Cartel, which I would hope wasn't the original plan. 

[Vee]

From what I saw of his introduction it definitely was. It felt very strange as I didn't think Cole looked his best.

[carolineg]

Thanks!  I never thought Brenda or even a second sister was mentioned before VM was cast.  Everyone seemed a bit surprised Julia had a sister even Ned.  Anyway, I remember Julia mentioned something about Brenda being too busy skiing or in Europe to attend her dad's funeral but that was when Vanessa was already airing so that might be what you are recalling as well?

I think Brenda was always initially meant for AJ or an aged Jason.  If they introduced her in 1991 I seriously wondered if she would have lasted as a character.

Sauve is definitely not how I would define Harlan, but throughout the years the way Brenda and even Julia would speak about him after his death it seemed like he was?  I know someone upthread said Cole was an alcoholic and not in the best place so maybe that was the idea and then the show saw Cole was not in the best place and pivoted a bit. 

[titan1978]

While I was reading this all I kept thinking was Julia has more actual ties now than Jagger did, and would have fit in pretty seamlessly compared to how hard they tried to shoehorn him in as just a name from the past. Add in Brenda too and everything fits quite easily.