Ghosts of GH Past Viewing Party: '80s, '90s, And All Eras Of Non-Suckitude!

[Pete Martell]

It's weird to think within a few weeks you have promos that have such good, natural, soap drama to promos that are so much about nothing and so self-reverential that you kind of cringe watching.

 

[SlovakPrincess]

Is this when the show brought back TG and it became All About Bill Eckert for a while?  

I actually don't remember minding it THAT much at the time, mostly because kid me was just happy the alien shit was over and Robert and Anna were about to get back together.  Jenny annoyed me to distraction, though.

[Pete Martell]

On 9/9/2017 at 10:28 AM, SlovakPrincess said:

Is this when the show brought back TG and it became All About Bill Eckert for a while?  

I actually don't remember minding it THAT much at the time, mostly because kid me was just happy the alien shit was over and Robert and Anna were about to get back together.  Jenny annoyed me to distraction, though.

Yes.

Speaking of that, do you know what this story was about? I guess this is the girlfriend I read about being shipped off with the Eckert grandparents and cousin not long after. 

[pianogirl73]

I'm watching the ice princess story and I have to say that the guy who is playing Tony Cassadine is the worst actor I have ever seen. It's painful to watch.

[SlovakPrincess]

On September 16, 2017 at 4:13 AM, Pete Martell said:

Yes.

Speaking of that, do you know what this story was about? I guess this is the girlfriend I read about being shipped off with the Eckert grandparents and cousin not long after.

I guess this girlfriend must have been pre-Julia Barrett (or before Bill and Julia really got going as flirty enemies, then couple).   I don't remember her, but I do kind of remember these scenes, and a very short-lived plot line where we found out Bill was possibly captured and tortured during some period of time he was in the military.  Maybe during the first Iraq War?  And he had PTSD?  I feel like that got dropped fairly quickly, though. 

[SlovakPrincess]

For those of you who do not care for Luke, please enjoy the schadenfreude of him accidentally sitting on a cactus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZkypOEyxUg

You're welcome.  

Edited September 21, 2017 by SlovakPrincess

[dubbel zout]

I was hoping that would be a blooper, not something scripted. 

[TessHarding2]

The Spencers.  

When scenes were 10 minutes long without a commercial or a scene change.   Compelling.  I can't take my eyes off of them.  One of the few retcon preposterous stories that I didn't mind because it was well written and well acted.

 

[SlovakPrincess]

On September 21, 2017 at 11:23 AM, dubbel zout said:

I was hoping that would be a blooper, not something scripted. 

Sorry, no actors were actually harmed in filming this scene!

It is kind of funny later when Luke has to shyly explain to Sean Donnelly (who he's just met) that he has cactus needles in his ass.  Not the best first impression ...

[Pete Martell]

[SlovakPrincess]

That's sort of bizarre that they bothered to make a whole promo without including any of the big stories or characters from GH at that point in 1985 (I think it would have been Frisco / Felicia and Robert doing aztec treasure stuff at that point).  The rest of it looked hokey and boring as hell, lol.

 

In regards to the aztec treasure stuff, I'm enjoying the fun-stupid of it all as I watch the '84 clips of that story ... but they are straight up killing me with all the cartoony background music, which is jarringly different in every scene.  Here's Luke limping around to clown car music!  Now Luke is getting cactus needles pulled out of his butt, which gets its own, separate theme apparently!  Here's Robert exiting a car to weirdly intense saxophone music - literally, just getting out of a car and ringing a doorbell and the music sounds like he's about to get murdered!   ... and now Robert is checking out Sean's pool, which also gets its own theme.  OMG STOP IT, MUSIC!!

Edited October 11, 2017 by SlovakPrincess

[SlovakPrincess]

Having finished Aztec Treasure 1984 (apparently just Part One of the Aztec Treasure, since 1985 is all about it, too), I must  say I really ended up enjoying Luke in it.  Maybe he just works for me in small doses.   Or maybe it's that most of the other characters ended up annoying me.

- It's a good thing Felicia and Frisco are so pretty, because by the end of this thing, they have had the same conversations about forty times.  "My family, my heritage!" "I'm trying to protect you!" "My treasure, I'm a princess!"  Also not sure why she (and Frisco) lead with "she's a princess!" when explaining her situation to others ... which just makes the listener immediately disbelieve them.  Why not just say "she's got a family inheritance people are trying to steal from her, and these guys are violent."  

- Mariah (Felicia's grandmother) is kind of a moron.  Like, I realize the family fortune is diminished until they can find the damn treasure, but invest in one decent bodyguard or private investigator so you're not relying on random people staying at your hacienda (Luke and Laura) or who have a crush on your granddaughter (Frisco) to help you out and eventually get a cop (Robert, who actually has no jurisdiction in either TX or Mexico) involved.

- The entirety of '84 for R and H is Holly getting mad because Robert is protective of her to the point of being sexist when he won't let her be his partner in adventures.  She is right (and she's gonna be even more pissed off in '85, I imagine, when she finds out Robert had a first wife that he actually did work with, as well).  But trying to make her point by sabotaging Robert and Luke's jeep (so they break down in the desert,* in the middle of them trying to clear Luke's name of murder) is not cute.    

- Everyone is oblivious to the fact that Sean is a bad actor, even though he shamelessly flirts with Holly behind Robert's back, sends them off on a wild goose chase at one point and then offers a lame apology.  Robert is the one who should realize something is off here, but he trusts Sean too much from their WSB days, so nobody else questions Sean, either.

 

* To be fair, she does specifically set it up so she'll rescue them in another car later in the day, and so that they then have to include her in the rest of the adventure .... but I was so annoyed at that point, I almost wanted the plan to go horribly awry somehow ... although that would've meant Robert and Luke dehydrating to death in the desert heat or getting picked up by the cops and thrown in a Mexican jail.    

All in all, Luke behaves pretty well and calmly for the person at most risk (wanted on a false murder charge) while Robert and Holly have stupid couple fights and everyone worries about Felicia's crappy treasure.  

Edited November 5, 2017 by SlovakPrincess

[Neptune]

[Oracle42]

The Spencers! I miss them.

[Neptune]

[Pete Martell]

 

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

We gather together...

[dubbel zout]

All that hair! Hee.

[UYI]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRiT4kqpW

[Neptune]

 jason backing away 

[Melgaypet]

Becky is soooo pretty. And wow, everyone else (but Greg) has terrible hair. Even Kim Mc.

Yes, I watched the clip on mute, what of it?

[Neptune]

[Pete Martell]

Merry Christmas everyone.

 

 

 

[Pete Martell]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgSijpiaCHo

[SlovakPrincess]

The blooper reel from 1984 is pretty funny - especially the Burt Ramsey actor's reaction to TR burping and ruining the scene.  Hee.  He seemed really offended at first, lol!

Also, it must be said that Stella was probably the best of the maids/butlers the Qs have had over the years.  She's a hoot!

Edited December 28, 2017 by SlovakPrincess

[Pete Martell]

[Pete Martell]

[SlovakPrincess]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMTbpO2_miE&list=PLr-NBx40ViNjIgxGNBRxQLbbSjwwFe0ei&index=83

Interesting scene from January 1985 that suggests Frisco always had it in him to take off and leave his family and friends behind.  Here, he's shutting down because his father (who he didn't talk to for years and with whom he never reconciled) has just died.  He's threatening to blow up his TV career, shuts Felicia out, and even says he's thought about going out on the open road like a trucker.  

[SlovakPrincess]

Random observations as I watch January 1985 clips instead of doing something productive ....

Robert always pronounced "appreciate" as "appre-SEE-ate" without a "sh" sound.  It's cute.

The guy who played Mikkos (the only Cassadine who was ever worth a damn, in my opinion) comes back briefly to play his cousin Petros.  His old-time, over-the-top sci-fi acting is always fun for me, I really liked that actor.    

The Sean / Monica flirtation is fairly amusing - unless you're Alan! - but I can't find any clips to really explain why Monica and Alan's marriage is (once again) on the rocks at this point.  

[Box305]

I love the 1984 blooper reel. I had watched the other years that were on YouTube many times and when I saw it get posted and saw how long it was, I was so excited. 

[Pete Martell]

[SlovakPrincess]

In the middle of the story leading up to Bobbie’s husband Brock getting killed ... putting aside how annoying I find his daughter Terri, it’s a pretty solid story.   

Right now Robert is happily telling everyone he’s looking forward to a fun night without police work.  So it’s definitely gonna be a night that ends in violent murder.   Nice going, buddy, you jinxed everyone! 

Edited March 26, 2018 by SlovakPrincess

[SlovakPrincess]

Poor Alan.  First Monica doesn't care that a medical journal has named him Doctor of the Year ... and then Amy basically tells him he needs to lose weight.  (Skip to 1:48).

 

Edited March 28, 2018 by SlovakPrincess

[Pete Martell]

 

I'd forgotten Terri was still on the show at this point. I guess she had to be though as she was at Tony and Bobbie's wedding.

[cleo]

I've been watching some eps from the late 1990s. This is the first time, as I never watched GH until a couple years ago. One question: Sonny is supposed to be a mobster. Do they ever say what he actually does? Like in the story about Emily and the heroin, he makes a big deal over not being involved with the drug trade. Which would leave prostitution, gambling, gun running, extortion, murder for hire...don't know what else. It bugs me not knowing, bc everyone acts like he's this honourable criminal but every mob enterprise I can think of involves hurting/exploiting the weak, or giving the tools (guns) to hurt people. I suppose gambling would be the least offensive. Theft? Stealing truckloads of stuff and reselling? 

Also re Jason- I really hate what they did to him with the accident, and I found the endless scenes of him attacking/criticizing his family for daring to care about him awful to watch and I mostly skipped them. 

I watched Jason and Robin break up- ironically he was accusing everyone else of limiting him in his life, and believing he could do nothing, but he was the one who limited himself by believing he could do nothing other than work for Sonny. 

Also ironic (or just stupid)- Jason makes a big deal about Robin not choosing for him and then I gather Sonny did exactly that for Brenda? I do think Brenda would have made a great mob wife, telling the cops off, etc. 

I've watched most of the 90s, will probably end around here bc I have zero interest in the ongoing saga of Carly and her babies and her men or Jason. I will probably watch some of the Cassadine stuff and then go back because I haven't seen most of the 1980s yet. (I've watched 78 ish to 81 ish that I could find, then 94ish to 98). 

[Melgaypet]

1 hour ago, cleo said:

I've been watching some eps from the late 1990s. This is the first time, as I never watched GH until a couple years ago. One question: Sonny is supposed to be a mobster. Do they ever say what he actually does? Like in the story about Emily and the heroin, he makes a big deal over not being involved with the drug trade. Which would leave prostitution, gambling, gun running, extortion, murder for hire...don't know what else. It bugs me not knowing, bc everyone acts like he's this honourable criminal but every mob enterprise I can think of involves hurting/exploiting the weak, or giving the tools (guns) to hurt people. I suppose gambling would be the least offensive. Theft? Stealing truckloads of stuff and reselling? 

They leave it vague, for the most part, which lead to many jokes about the Gummi Bear Mob and the selling of bootleg gay porn. I'd say yes to all of your list, plus protection rackets and the like. Human trafficking would also make sense, though they'll never so much as hint at that on the show. I also vaguely remember Bob Guza giving an interview in which he admitted that Sonny would have to be involved in the drug trade somehow in order to keep his power and position.

[dubbel zout]

Didn't Sonny ship arms at some point? Or did he only allow them to be delivered through his sea lanes/piers/distribution system?

[cleo]

3 hours ago, Melgaypet said:

I also vaguely remember Bob Guza giving an interview in which he admitted that Sonny would have to be involved in the drug trade somehow in order to keep his power and position.

Yeah I figured the whole 'no drugs' things was very unrealistic. 

[Box305]

On 4/1/2018 at 8:04 AM, Pete Martell said:

 

I'd forgotten Terri was still on the show at this point. I guess she had to be though as she was at Tony and Bobbie's wedding.

Ick, Colton Snore. 

[SlovakPrincess]

On April 1, 2018 at 8:04 AM, Pete Martell said:

 

I'd forgotten Terri was still on the show at this point. I guess she had to be though as she was at Tony and Bobbie's wedding.

 

Random shallow thoughts:

- This is probably Robert's best hair era.

- Anna and Robert's little conversation at the door is cute (although I can barely hear what they're saying - other than Robert saying "I'll pass!" about saying hi to Duke ... LOL).  As is her pulling him over to the couch to ask him what's worrying him.   Her dress looks super-uncomfortable, though!  

- I forgot how Anna's house during this period was completely, boringly off-white for some reason.  Probably in-character, since Anna probably wouldn't give a crap about interior decorating ...  

- I have no memory of any of these plot lines, at all, although this would have been in the time period when I was watching the show after school as a kid.  Literally no idea what is happening at all .... LOL.  

 

ETA:  Heh, kinda awkward for Duke that Anna is holding Robert's hand and laughing with him on the couch for part of their conversation.  

Edited April 14, 2018 by SlovakPrincess

[Pete Martell]

[SlovakPrincess]

Kind of love to see Angry! Monica scenes!  Poor Amy didn't know what hit her.

Watching '84 and '85 episodes have given me a new appreciation for Tony and actor Brad Maule.  It's one of the characters I was indifferent to in my childhood viewing, but I should've given him more notice.

I don't remember anything about Ruby's friend Trixie, but she's kinda fun.  They used to put work into making colorful minor characters and hiring good character actors to play them.

 Jimmy Lee's bachelor pad with the ugly diagonal-stripe wallpaper ... later gets floral wallpaper slapped on it and becomes Anna and Robin's first little house in PC.  

[SlovakPrincess]

There must be a story behind what the heck is going on with TR's haircut at this point in 1985, which apparently was so drastic they wrote jokes about Robert needing to wear a hat at work into the script.  LOL.

Also, maybe a bit of foreshadowing here -- Sean brings up the WSB "golden rule" of agents being forbidden to marry.  Robert changes the conversation pretty quick!

[TheMediaHo]

At one point (though I think it was later than 1985), TR's hair had gotten pretty bushy, to the point where he could pull it back into a small ponytail. Then one day, out of the blue, he showed up with it practically shaved off. Hence, hats and jokes.

[SlovakPrincess]

The Brock murder plot in ‘85 is pretty good, but I lose my mind a little every time Bobbie’s defense attorney Jake scampers off to Robert’s office to talk about the case and SHARES PRIVILEGED INFORMATION.  WTF?!  Just because Robert doesn’t want Bobbie to be the killer and wants her to be acquitted is no reason for Jake to blab everything to the police commissioner for cripes sake!  

Also Holly was breaking in and entering the Webber home to try and find evidence that Ginny is the killer ... and Robert didn’t freak out when he found out.  

Uh, buddy, not only are you majorly getting fired, but the evidence will be tainted if anyone finds out your wife (who is not a cop) illegally went in to look for it!   

Ok, I’m done law-geeking out and ranting about a story that aired decades ok, lol .. 

[Pete Martell]

[SlovakPrincess]

For all of its sheer lunacy, the Aztec Treasure story mostly worked great.  Except for Felicia's ex-fiancee Peter.  He looks too old for her, he's an obvious weirdo creeper with no social skills, and they provide no explanation for how recent college grad Felicia even met this guy, and why she was ready to marry him before meeting Frisco.    They pretty much put no work into that part of her backstory, and it's jarring.

Robert and Holly griping to each other through the winter of '85 about how bored they're becoming with their lives ... oh dear.  It's like they tempted fate, since the shit is really about to hit the fan.  

Am I supposed to feel bad for Ginny in the Brock murder story??  I ... really kind of don't.

 

Sean and Bobbie's first meeting is funny.

Sean: I'd like to buy your penthouse.

Bobbie:  Are you sure?  My husband was just murdered in it.

Sean:  Sure!  Doesn't bother me!

[ulkis]

4 hours ago, SlovakPrincess said:

For all of its sheer lunacy, the Aztec Treasure story mostly worked great.  Except for Felicia's ex-fiancee Peter.  He looks too old for her, he's an obvious weirdo creeper with no social skills, and they provide no explanation for how recent college grad Felicia even met this guy, and why she was ready to marry him before meeting Frisco.    They pretty much put no work into that part of her backstory, and it's jarring.

Wow. Sounds like Ron did a good job when copying the character for writing the character's son. (Ron retconned a son that courted Maxie to get his revenge because of what F&F did to his dad . . . terrible, terrible story/character. All of the compaints you make about Peter applied to the retcon character.) 

Edited May 10, 2018 by ulkis

[dubbel zout]

12 hours ago, SlovakPrincess said:

For all of its sheer lunacy, the Aztec Treasure story mostly worked great.

Like the later Ice Princess story, it had a pretty strong internal logic, something desperately lacking on the show today.

The Levi nonsense worked on one level for me—revenge for what F&F did to his father—but the reveal was way too out of the blue. Ron relied waaaaay too hard on long-time viewers knowing the show's History!

[Oracle42]

And then he got pissy about long-term viewers guessing his Bill Eckert story and gave Luke Not!DID instead

Edited May 10, 2018 by Oracle42

[SlovakPrincess]

Although even that explanation for Levi doesn’t entirely make sense — at some point, Sean's henchmen turn on Peter and one keeps trying to kill him.  Felicia even gets him medical help when she finds him bleeding from stab wounds ... (which is how Tony gets shot in the head, for which Frisco blames Felicia for a time, but that’s a whole other thing).

Of course, I haven’t finished the story yet, but F and F are the least of Peter’s problems as of winter ‘85, is what I’m saying ...