The Best and Worst of One Life to Live

[UYI]

On 7/8/2016 at 7:44 PM, Melgaypet said:

 

Now that I'm thinking about it, OLTL didn't go to the doppelganger well all that often, did they? I guess they went with DID stories instead.

 

There were still a few out there, though. Two more notable examples are Marco Dane and Mario Corelli, and Carlo Hesser and Mortimer Bern. Oh, and Luna Moody and Suede Pruitt's late wife, Deborah, who supposedly looked just like Luna.

 

ETA: Oh! And Pat Ashley and her sister Maggie, who, (of course) tried to take Pat's life. 

Edited July 11, 2016 by UYI

[dubbel zout]

Doppelgänger/evil twin is a soap staple. I much prefer it to the DID crap. The way Ron, especially, used mental illness as a plot point made me queasy.

[TeeVee329]

There was also Colin and Troy.  I think that was my first soap experience of an actor being killed off and then returning to play their identical twin.

[Melgaypet]

1 hour ago, UYI said:

 

ETA: Oh! And Pat Ashley and her sister Maggie, who, (of course) tried to take Pat's life. 

 

Damn, girl. How do you know all this stuff? Your OLTL knowledge puts mine to shame and I'm pretty sure you're younger than I am. I had to look up Pat Ashley and I still have no idea who she was, except that she was married to Tony Lord.

I'm totally embarrassed to have forgotten about Carlo and Mortimer Bern and the crazy McIvers. Especially with all the jokes about the Ty Treadway wardrobe.

[UYI]

3 hours ago, Melgaypet said:

 

Damn, girl. How do you know all this stuff? Your OLTL knowledge puts mine to shame and I'm pretty sure you're younger than I am. I had to look up Pat Ashley and I still have no idea who she was, except that she was married to Tony Lord.

I'm totally embarrassed to have forgotten about Carlo and Mortimer Bern and the crazy McIvers. Especially with all the jokes about the Ty Treadway wardrobe.

 

You know what I've noticed? Whatever doppelganger stories took place on OLTL, they were usually during a time period when Viki didn't have DID. It would have been overkill otherwise.

Colin and Troy were shortly before Viki's 2002 DID story, though, the one where Ben went out the window. 

Edited July 11, 2016 by UYI

[dubbel zout]

I think at one point Ron gave us Viki and Jess having DID at the same time, which was definitely too much. Restraint was never something he practiced with much success.

[Melgaypet]

Right, during that offensively stupid custody trial for Ryder. And I think way back when Tess first showed up, Viki either split back into Niki or let her out or...something, to access her memories. Because "integration" is just a nonsense word that doesn't actually mean anything.

[TeeVee329]

What's crazy is that, from 2008 on, Jessica spent at least a portion of each year as not herself: 

2008 - Tess

2009 - Bess

2010 - Teen!Jess

2011 - Tess/Bess/Wes

That's WAAAY too much.

[Melgaypet]

TeeVee329, that's appalling. And lazy writing, too. DID was the worst thing that ever happened to the character of Jessica. Higley is to blame for that, of course, but I don't let Ron C. off the hook. He may have had no idea who Jessica was anymore after Higley ruined her, but that's no excuse. He could have and should have rehabbed her.

In fact, for a while, he did - the beginning of her romance with Brody, when they were both broken and trying to recover - that was good. Once Chloe's death was revealed, that should have been the end of the alters. I'd prefer them retconned right back out of existence, but I think that would have been impossible. But they never needed to show up again.

Let Jessica live her life. She didn't need to be victimized and/or crazy to have a story. For one thing, why didn't she have a job? She should have been at the Banner, being the next generation there and clashing with Viki over how to keep a newspaper alive in the modern age - kind of like Jeffrey and Viki did on the online version.

Edited July 12, 2016 by Melgaypet

[TeeVee329]

I do recall that there was a brief window - between Teen!Jess and her finding out she was pregnant with Ryder - where Jessica pretended to work at The Sun with Kelly, but it was mostly just an excuse for them to be in the same place so they could talk about their problems.

Speaking of worsts and Kelly, I'm of the belief that Kelly is one of the worst fictional journalists of all time.  I will never forget that she starts one episode saying she has to cover a trial (possibly the custody fight over Ryder?), but she shows up to it AFTER it's over because she was too busy schmooping all over John.  Way to go, Lois Lane.

Edited July 12, 2016 by TeeVee329

[Melgaypet]

Did she? I don't remember that. I thought the last time Jessica worked at the Sun was before Nash died. Not that she ever seemed very serious about a career, even at that point.*

Even so, ever since Chloe's death, which I held Victodd mostly responsible for, I hated the idea of her working for him. Maybe, since Real Todd took over again...but still, the Banner is Jessica's birthright. (Like BE is Natalie's - despite her going back to forensics.)

And Kelly was the worst. Her return worked for, like, two days, when she was in scenes with Kevin, but then, disaster.

* When was the last time Jess was serious about her career? I think during the days of Stephen Haver, though she was dumb as a box of hair about it. She then turned into Antonio's girlfriend/live-in babysitter.

Edited July 12, 2016 by Melgaypet

[Panopticon]

8 hours ago, TeeVee329 said:

Speaking of worsts and Kelly, I'm of the belief that Kelly is one of the worst fictional journalists of all time.  I will never forget that she starts one episode saying she has to cover a trial (possibly the custody fight over Ryder?), but she shows up to it AFTER it's over because she was too busy schmooping all over John.  Way to go, Lois Lane.

Hee!

10 hours ago, Melgaypet said:

She should have been at the Banner, being the next generation there and clashing with Viki over how to keep a newspaper alive in the modern age - kind of like Jeffrey and Viki did on the online version.

Now I'm bitter that this didn't happen.

We didn't see her there, but Jessica claimed to work at The Sun right until the end. When she came face to face with real!Todd for the first time, he asked if she was still writing and she told him she worked at The Sun. He was offended, having already ranted earlier in the conversation that Victodd was using Todd's own paper to slander Todd. It was one of the few long, intriguing, and substantive conversations that came out of that storyline, and it would have been interesting if the thread had continued. Why did Jessica keep associating so closely with the man who let her lock Natalie in the basement and refuse prenatal care for Chloe? If, as she claimed, she had a sense that Victodd wasn't who he said he was, why didn't she open her mouth about it until after the fact?

Please tell me about that rather than have Jessica dress up like a teenager in the hopes that that makes her look less silly chasing around her barely-out-of-college, usually-dates-teens rapist.

Edited July 12, 2016 by Panopticon
over-use of the word interesting isn't interesting

[TeeVee329]

10 hours ago, Melgaypet said:

Did she? I don't remember that. I thought the last time Jessica worked at the Sun was before Nash died. Not that she ever seemed very serious about a career, even at that point.*

I remember it vividly because I was shocked Jessica was working at The Sun.  And I remember someone - either at Serial Drama or on TWoP - making a joke that Jessica's editor probably smiled and nodded when she handed stuff in and then just trashed it, hee!

Edited July 12, 2016 by TeeVee329

[UYI]

I left out another doppleganger story:

Joe Riley and his twin brother, Tom Dennison, who was created in 1986 or 1987 when Lee Patterson expressed interest in returning to the show, but because Joe had been killed off for real in 1979, he needed a new character to play. Tom was Mari Lynn's father; he had her with Lee Halpern, who was involved with Max Holden briefly in 1987, and who later returned as Marty's nurse, I think? I can't remember. 

[atomationage]

On 7/11/2016 at 10:05 AM, TeeVee329 said:

(didn't Y&R at one point have two on canvas at the same time?  Ugh).

Yes, Tracy Bregman and Stacy Haiduk both played two characters at the same time.  On Days, Eileen Davidson was famous for playing multiple characters, but the last time we had a glance at Susan Banks, she was played by Brynn Thayer, formerly of OLTL.

I hated that era when the actors had that long hair.   I couldn't stand to look at them. 

[Rick Kitchen]

When Allison Sweeney of Days was pregnant a few years back, she was replaced on the show by a male actor, who was playing Sami pretending to be a guy.  Yes, it was pretty convoluted.  I saw an interview with Chandler Massey, who played Sami's son, Will, and he said that one day he was in his gym and the guy who ran the gym came up to him and said, "I used to be your mother."  :D

[drtslim]

Quote

but still, the Banner is Jessica's birthright. (Like BE is Natalie's - despite her going back to forensics.)

We all know that Natalie went back to BE to help out while Clint was receiving treatment due to being drugged by Triskelion.org (Show in my head)

[UYI]

Erika Slezak is 70 today! Here is winning her sixth--and final--Emmy in 2005:

[jsbt]

This is what I talk about when I talk about what OLTL could do and why it was so different. Second clip can be started around 4:09.

Edited December 10, 2016 by jsbt

[AndySmith]

A nice scene between Dorian and Blair. In many ways, Blair was more like Dorian than Cassie, no?

[UYI]

Happy Birthday, Erin Torpey! I'll never forget your Jessica. Here's her final scene in 2003:

[AndySmith]

Technically, this was her last scene ;)

[UYI]

21 hours ago, AndySmith said:

Technically, this was her last scene ;)

 

 

21 hours ago, AndySmith said:

Technically, this was her last scene ;)

 

I meant as Jessica! :)

[Melgaypet]

Fame10 ranks the 7 Worst and 10 Best Couples of One Life to Live. I have notes!

First of all, no Bo and Nora in the best? Boo. Also, I'd take off Dorian/David & Kelly/Joey, and put on Dorian/Joe. (Or Dorian/Herb, maybe. Of course Dorian/Viki is the truest OLTL supercouple of all.) And Jessica/Cristian? They were cute enough as teens, but please. Also, it bugs me that Cristian's name is misspelled. Luna/Max? No. Marty/Patrick? Eh. But they had their fans, I know. But Todd/Blair, Clint/Viki, Tina/Cord, and Jake/Megan all belong on the list.

I was delighted to see Jolie as one of the worsts. And Ford/Jess. (Nash/Jess don't belong. I wasn't a huge fan, but they were far from the worst. I wouldn't even put them in the top three worst Jess romances.) And "Todd"/Marty is number one, which, damn right. Though Sloan/Viki belong on there somewhere.

I wonder if the author is about my age, because except for Clint/Viki and Tina/Cord, none of these couples seem to go back further than the early 90's, which is about when my OLTL memories start to get more clear. No love for Carla Gray and Ed Hall, or Karen and Larry Wolek, or Larry and Meredith Lord, for example.

Edited February 27, 2017 by Melgaypet

[TeeVee329]

Joey and Kelly?  I wasn't watching during their first iteration, but I was never under the impression that pairing was one for the ages, and it certainly wasn't in 2011.  That choice smacks a little of, "Well, we need to stick Nathan Fillion in here somewhere so we can use a picture of him as the main graphic."

And I know someone who's not going to be happy Luna/Max made that list...

Edited February 27, 2017 by TeeVee329

[AndySmith]

Definitely a mixed list as far as favorites go. Glad to see Clint/Viki and Tina/Cord but really no Bo/Nora? And Joey/Kelly was just...eh. Joey/Dorian were much better, with better chemistry as well.

Quote

That choice smacks a little of, "Well, we need to stick Nathan Fillion in here somewhere so we can use a picture of him as the main graphic."

They even have him a in picture with Dorian, so not sure why they chose him and Kelly over him and Dorian, but, ugh.

I'd add Viki/Sloane to the list of worst couples as well.

[UYI]

On 2/26/2017 at 9:16 PM, TeeVee329 said:

Joey and Kelly?  I wasn't watching during their first iteration, but I was never under the impression that pairing was one for the ages, and it certainly wasn't in 2011.  That choice smacks a little of, "Well, we need to stick Nathan Fillion in here somewhere so we can use a picture of him as the main graphic."

And I know someone who's not going to be happy Luna/Max made that list...

THAT is not a good thing for me to see on my birthday today. NOPE NOPE NOPE.

For the record, I thought Joey & Kelly were cute, and have liked them better than what I've seen of Joey & Dorian. Yes, really. 

[Pete Martell]

On 2/26/2017 at 9:16 PM, TeeVee329 said:

Joey and Kelly?  I wasn't watching during their first iteration, but I was never under the impression that pairing was one for the ages, and it certainly wasn't in 2011.  That choice smacks a little of, "Well, we need to stick Nathan Fillion in here somewhere so we can use a picture of him as the main graphic."

And I know someone who's not going to be happy Luna/Max made that list...

I always wonder how Fillion fans feel if they go back and watch his OLTL run because other than the Dorian story it's mostly just about 3 years of marking time. I never had any interest in his Kelly pairing, or, frankly, any Kelly pairing.

[AndySmith]

Joey and Dorian were so smoking hot together. I always thought in terms of chemistry, they just had it.

[TeeVee329]

I did like their little moment when Nathan Fillon visited for Asa's funeral.

Nathan Fillion does seem to be the only adult Joey that's made a lasting impression.  I was only watching during Priest!Joey (who I hated) and Tom Degnan Joey (who was fine, but mostly just there to spotlight Kelly, Aubrey, and Cutter).

[AndySmith]

Quote

I did like their little moment when Nathan Fillon visited for Asa's funeral.

Yeah, it was a really nice moment.

[dubbel zout]

I also liked that it brought out Natalie's wistfulness at not growing up with the Bukes. Those scenes were really natural.

[Melgaypet]

2 hours ago, dubbel zout said:

I also liked that it brought out Natalie's wistfulness at not growing up with the Bukes. Those scenes were really natural.

They really were. And also when Kevin walked in on Joe and Dorian and Joey was all, "Don't say it!" Dan Gauthier's reactions were great. And later they all teased him about it, it was hilarious.

Edited March 2, 2017 by Melgaypet

[jsbt]

The moment with Joey and Dorian - where she asks if he thinks about them and he comes right up on her and says 'what do you think?' - was hot as fuck. The sexiest Joey ever was.

They miscast and marginalized Joey most of the time after Fillion left (though I thought Malone II made a noble if deeply flawed effort with Bruce Michael Hall's Joey as a sort of new Andrew-esque sensitive hero - he was my favorite beyond Chris McKenna and Nathan), and they never really bothered again after Fillion's brief return. Even/especially with Tom Degnan.

Edited March 2, 2017 by jsbt

[AndySmith]

The Dorian/Joey relationship was just good drama as well. The scene where Viki "accidentally" walks in them on the was great too.

Edited March 2, 2017 by AndySmith

[TeeVee329]

Again, I only saw them together during the 2010-2011 pairing, but I can't picture Joey and Kelly as some epic romance or endgame. 

If the show ever started up again, I'd like to see Kevin and Joey both show up at Llanfair with their suitcases, refusing to be on the same continent as Kel anymore.

Edited March 2, 2017 by TeeVee329

[UYI]

I'll just sit here alone on my little Joey & Kelly loving island. Y'all must think I'm lame, but so be it. (I don't dislike Joey & Dorian, though. Lord knows I'm all about older woman/younger man pairings.)

Dorian was actually in FOUR pairings where she was the older woman: Joey, David, and then Elaine Princi's Dorian was with Jason Webb, and Nancy Pinkerton's Dorian was with Dr. Mark Toland (Tommy Lee Jones!). 

Edited March 2, 2017 by UYI

[AndySmith]

The Dorian/Jason paring also crossed over into Robin Strasser's time as well, once she returned to the show.

Dorian and David were also a fun pairing, especially during the early & mid 90s.

Edited March 2, 2017 by AndySmith

[Melgaypet]

Ugh, Jason Webb. Or, as I have always remembered him, that guy with the stupid ponytail. I hated that guy with with the stupid ponytail and I was glad when he left.

[TeeVee329]

I did like, on the reboot, the conversations Jack had with Dorian and David re: their preferences for older women/younger men when he was getting involved with the teacher.

[Pete Martell]

The notorious Loon Lake, widely derided by the soap press at the time. No wonder! Those scenes with Alex and Cassie, from acting to scoring, are MST3K-worthy.

A few other bits too, including the adorable Christopher Cousins in what I hope was a deliberately bad accent, and hapless Stephanie with a man who looks (or maybe just sounds?) familiar to me.

[methodwriter85]

I can't picture anything more disgusting or low than Jessica the Retconned Kiddie Porn Star, or The Grossening.*

*The Grossening refers to the time when VictorTodd takes an amnesiac Marty and gets her to fall in love with him. It was the moniker for that storyline on the old TWOP site.

[UYI]

16 hours ago, Pete Martell said:

The notorious Loon Lake, widely derided by the soap press at the time. No wonder! Those scenes with Alex and Cassie, from acting to scoring, are MST3K-worthy.

A few other bits too, including the adorable Christopher Cousins in what I hope was a deliberately bad accent, and hapless Stephanie with a man who looks (or maybe just sounds?) familiar to me.

 

I could look at that shot of Karen Witter right there forever. Just STUNNING. 

[dubbel zout]

11 hours ago, methodwriter85 said:

I can't picture anything more disgusting or low than Jessica the Retconned Kiddie Porn Star

I can: Teen!Jess and everyone letting her run around Llanview as such. Ford dating her, knowing full well she was mentally ill. Ugh, I want to take a shower after typing that. 

[TeeVee329]

Ford purposely badgering Jessica during a brief emergence until she turned back into Tess - and the show viewing him as rootable - ranks as one of the most despicable moments in the entire show's history, IMO. 

Edited March 7, 2017 by TeeVee329

[jsbt]

I can't remember if Loon Lake was produced by Gottlieb or not. I don't think so.

I really loved Karen Witter as Tina - she may still rival Andrea Evans for me.

[AndySmith]

Quote

The notorious Loon Lake, widely derided by the soap press at the time. No wonder! Those scenes with Alex and Cassie, from acting to scoring, are MST3K-worthy.

1990 to 1992 was an...interesting era of the show, for sure. There was some good stuff, but there was some really questionable stuff as well. The cast though, usually did good work, so there is that.

[dubbel zout]

Ford was a terrible, terrible person. Death by Chandy was too good for him.

[Pete Martell]

3 hours ago, jsbt said:

I can't remember if Loon Lake was produced by Gottlieb or not. I don't think so.

I really loved Karen Witter as Tina - she may still rival Andrea Evans for me.

Karen was terrific, although I feel like she was only really Tina pre-Gottlieb/Malone, and after that was a different character with the same name (she was just able to play it off better than poor Krista Tesreau was). 

[dwmckim]

I also very much loved Karen's Tina - would have loved to see her back if Andrea wasn't able.

 

AE's Tina, to me, represented "ditzy girl".  Karen's Tina was Tina maturing and growing up and trying to be a better person.  (KT was Tina in name only).  I was actually disappointed with AE's return because it was too cartoony - it was as if there had been no character development the prior couple decades.