Twenty million people tuned into Steve and Betsy's wedding on ATWT in 1983 but by decade's end it was who? Kirk and Sam drove stories for years until both literally disappeared. After the search was called off neither was ever mentioned again.

I'd add Carly Manning on Days and Abby Bauer on GL to the list. Both were leading ladies with hugely hyped storylines and both became footnotes not long after. Even though Carly did return her eventually and surprisingly return the second run was mostly forgettable unfortunately.

Y&R definitely has had quite a few in its more recent history(post 1982 of course!) such as Cole, Brittany Hodges(remember 2003-2005?), JT and Mac, Raul and tragically Olivia.

but Carly isnt forgotten bc she's Melanie's mother. She's been referenced alot since she left. Her connection to Daniel has at least made her a name that new and current viewers should know

GL: Rita Stapleton Bauer and Carrie Todd Marler.

I loved Rita, but a lot of story revolved around her. She might have been mentioned the first few years after Kasdorf left, but after 1984ish, nothing.

Carrie Marler was only on for a couple years, but she was front burner the entire time. No one ever mentioned Ross' crazy wife again after she was shipped off to merry old England.

What is this? Sounds like a brand of jeans.

Gloria from All My Children was very frontburner during her time on the show, married one of the leading men yet after she left it was as if she never existed. They didn't ever even reference her. Which I always found weird because Gloria seemed to be a pretty successful character? I was young (so I fell for whatever the show spoonfed me) but her pairing with Adam seemed to go over well with viewers. And I liked her! And wild mane of hair!

I loved Gloria. Sadly though, since she really had no ties to the show, wasn't related to anyone, and had no children with anyone, once she left, there wasn't really a reason to mention her again.

Bringing back Carrie to give story for Ross could have been workable. Who do you think could have been in that role in the late 80's/90's to replace Jane Elliot?

I loved Gloria. Sadly though, since she really had no ties to the show, wasn't related to anyone, and had no children with anyone, once she left, there wasn't really a reason to mention her again.

True. I bet this is why every new writer gets their pet character knocked up as soon as possible. See Chelsea on Y&R and Sage...on Y&R.

Ellen Stewart on ATWT.Original character,drove one of the earliest frontburner story that provided 10 years of story.Mother of Dan,Dee and Annie.Stepmother to Paul. Grandmother to Betsy and Emily.Ex mother in law of Kim,Susan etc.

Yet by 1975 she was written out for the first time and by the mid 80's had very little story or prominence.dropped altogether in 95.

Teresa Blake nearly left AMC in 1995 because she spent most of the year without a storyline. Then it picked up around spring 1996, but I'm not too surprised she was forgotten, as she was just a filler for women who weren't in the story (Dixie, Erica).

She had a terrific, terrific exit though, far more than most exiting characters had in that era. I guess it helped that Megan McTavish had been the one to create her and wrote most of her stories, and had just come back when Teresa was leaving.

Gloria Baldwin Fisher Abbott Bardwell Bardwell Bardwell Bardwell

Bringing back Carrie to give story for Ross could have been workable. Who do you think could have been in that role in the late 80's/90's to replace Jane Elliot?

Good question. I'll have to give that some thought...

Gloria Baldwin Fisher Abbott Bardwell Bardwell Bardwell Bardwell

Barf. Nasty skank!

Barf. Nasty skank!

Don't sugar coat it, tell us how you really feel!! LOL-LMAO

Gloria went from abused woman to a one-note joke!

Samantha Marler on GL. For a while they were trying to ship her and Dylan as a new young supercouple but suddenly switched her with Daniel St John. When Daniel turned out be evil, she went off to be with her father, never to be seen again.

Gloria is partly why I stopped watching Y&R. I did NOT understand why she was on EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Samantha Marler on GL. For a while they were trying to ship her and Dylan as a new young supercouple but suddenly switched her with Daniel St John. When Daniel turned out be evil, she went off to be with her father, never to be seen again.

I liked Samantha. She was front burner for 3 years. I guess they didn't need her anymore once they brought in all those women in her same age group. Bridget, Kat, Julie, etc.

I liked Samantha. She was front burner for 3 years. I guess they didn't need her anymore once they brought in all those women in her same age group. Bridget, Kat, Julie, etc.

Sam was even in the car with Reva right before she jumped out as Reva drove off the bridge. I'm surprised Sam was never brought on later on being both Ross' niece and Phillip's bio sister but I do remember her vertical wheelchair tale for better or for worse. Didn't she have an off-screen exit?