Unpopular opinions: cancelled soaps edition

[DeliaIrisFan]

I agree that each year from 1993-1995 brought major developments, many of them mentioned above, that changed the genre as a whole for the worse.  But here's another potentially unpopular, related opinion: I would argue the brief period right before that—and, for a handful of shows, well into those three years—was actually setting the stage for the '90s to be one of the best decades in soap history.

Looking back, a number of the soaps in the early '90s were taking significant steps toward the 21st century.  At least, they got a lot closer than just about anything that I've seen on soaps since, more than 20 years into the millennium.  And they actually had long-range stories with momentum.

I think it's significant that Y&R, AMC, and ATWT of that era were, respectively, the three top-rated soaps for a few years there, after the over-the-top '80s came to an abrupt end.  Admittedly, I wasn't watching any of those three at the time.  But I can't help but wonder if those shows, which were (at the time) relatively grounded and diverse, sparked a trend that at least indirectly made some of my favorite soap eras possible: Nancy Curlee, et al's work at GL and Claire Labine's tenure at GH.  Not to mention the Malone-Gottlieb era at OLTL, which I know is just as beloved by many other fans.

Of course, then DOOL's ratings went up—during the OJ Simpson trial and the demonic possession story, as discussed above—and the pendulum swung back in the opposite direction, and off a cliff...

[Bill Bauer]

He was the Michael O' Leary of ATWT. Always overestimating his comedic talent. 

[vetsoapfan]

And both of them became impossible to tolerate, and had no viability as romantic leads whatsoever. Barbara even glancing at Henry was a bastardization of her character.

Edited October 4, 2021 by vetsoapfan

[Liberty City]

Based on clips I've seen, I do like her more, as well.

I feel like a lot of people enjoyed Sabine Singh as Greenlee. She definitely got shafted for ABC could do their "real Greenlee" campaign, only for Rebecca Budig to leave a year later.

Laura Wright, to me, is also the definitive Carly. I think she's combined both Sarah Joy Brown and Tamara Braun's Carly as one, and also carried the weight that Jennifer Bransford did eff up a bit to her version of Carly.

As a non-One Life fan, the forced nature of the Llanview cast-offs was beyond off-putting. They were put onto the canvas as if we were meant to care about them from the starting point. It was clear Ron Carlivati was catering to his pets, and it did not result well. Carlivati's 2012 was bad.

[DemetriKane]

@namkcuR I loved Sabine too! Another unpopular opinion, I never been impressed by Rebecca Budiq's acting.

@AMCOLTLLover Loved Ryan also. I adored that character so much. I had so many hopes for his character.

[zanereed]

@Mitch: do you know *when* TPTB were trying to get Hulswit back in the role? This is the first time I've heard that he was ever approached to return after firing him in 1981. If it was during 1997, and he declined at TPTB then decided on Gentry, that's fascinating. However, as you said before over in the GL thread, the Bauer that should have been brought back during the Santos storyline would be *Mike Bauer*. That would have made much more sense and more interesting than Ed, even though the storyline involved Michelle. Regardless, Uncle Mike would have came back to protect Michelle as Ed would still be in Africa at that point. I even think that Don Stewart would have come back full time if they asked him to.

@vetsoapfan: I guess I don't see the opinion of Mart Hulswit as the best Ed Bauer being an unpopular one

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, but you know my opinions already when it comes to TGL.

[Mitch]

Hulwist being asked...I don't know the for a fact (but I write it as if I do..) but I read that someplace..I thought here or maybe...the dreaded Datalounge! I think bringing Mike back and having sexual tension with Carmen would be kind of interesting...(but in my GL world Carmen would NOT be the cartoon Cruella DeVille mob boss, but more "mob adjacent" and protecting information that may include her dead husband's dealings with a certain Brandon Spaulding which Alan himself wants covered up.)

 

[vetsoapfan]

I believe that among long-time viewers, Hulswit has the edge on Simon, but since so many viewers today are too young to have watched the Hulswit era, Simon is the first and principle actor they know in the role, hence their preference for him. Since the Bauers are such a core part of TGL, and since the family had been so stupidly gutted over the years, I suppose I would have taken Simon on screen over NO ONE playing Ed...although that's not singing out his praises too much, LOL.

[lilyredd]

I have many for ATWT- Craig and Lucinda should have been lovers for more than one night. They should have had a mutual sexual obsession. Skip the Iva relationship. 

Lucinda should not have betrayed Barbara- their friendship was fun and needed by both characters.

Iva would have been more interesting if she had not devolved into a saintly paragon of virtue. This was a woman who was the adopted daughter of a poor fertile farm family sent away because the Snyders could not afford all their kids, gets raped, runs away, gives the kid up, pornography etc. I would have liked her with the spunk she showed up with in ‘85. Let her be just as messy as Lucinda. She knew Lily preferred her and wanted her to be her mom - so play it up - take back what is “yours.” Do not accept Rod/Josh the rapist or his marriage to your sister or your rape child calling the rapist dad. 
 

Along those same line, while Iva loved Lily but she should also be repulsed by this child of her violent rape. I would like to have seen her not always put Lily first and their relationship to be just as rocky as it was with Lucinda. 
 

Emma was a terrible mother. 

Iva should have fought to keep Aaron and won. 

[amybrickwallace]

I agree with this, but then BW joined the show as I started to watch it regularly in the summer of 1997 so I was unfazed by the sudden recast. I thought he sold being a recovering alcoholic, the black sheep of the Quartermaine family and a guy just plain down on his luck most of the time.

[Nicholas Blair]

Though I did not see a lot of Billy Warlock's work on GH, I thought he was outstanding.

[amybrickwallace]

He did terrific work, and I hated the way he was made out to be a bad guy in 2002-03 and was let go. Of course, Saint Jason has to be elevated more.

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[Nicholas Blair]

Oh, we are so on the same page about this! I even wondered if certain actors felt threatened by the quality of his work.

[Vee]

I always loved Billy on GH and always will. But I don't think it can be denied that Sean Kanan was a singular presence and considerably sexier as A.J. He should still be there today, provided he keeps his mouth shut on Twitter about his politics.

Edited October 8, 2021 by Vee

[amybrickwallace]

The only pairing that Skipper aka Kung Fu Chick aka Courtney had that worked was with AJ, so of course they torpedoed it and ruined him in the process. 

Edited October 9, 2021 by amybrickwallace