My AMC Top 10

Looking back through the years I have loved AMC, there have probably been more favorite moments and storylines than I can count.  How can I possibly narrow it down to 10?  It wasn't easy.  There are so many storylines I have loved.  So many characters.  So many couples.   Here we go, in no particular order.

1) Erica and Dimitri's romance.  This is the stuff of fairy tales.  To me Dimitri was Erica's one true love.  Sure I've liked her with others, and I like her with Jack.  But Dimitri?  He was it.  The mysterious Count Andrassy, living in that big castle (which happens to be located in Pine Valley, PA - possibly next to the ocean).  Dark and gothic.  And so romantic.  How could Erica not fall in love with him?  Especially after they started out hating each other, sort of.   Dimitri was poised to take over Enchantment from Erica, but Erica would not go quietly.  She wasn't going to lose her company to Dimitri.  Sparring turns to romance and the rest is history!  Well, there's also deception, infidelity, drug addiction, miscarriage and all kinds of other good stuff thrown in.  Legendary!

 

2) Jenny and Jesse run away to NYC.  This was very early on when I started watching and it hooked me in big time.  The friendship these two shared was beautiful.  It wasn't marred by either one of them having a romantic notion.  It was pure and sweet, despite the seediness that forced them out on the run at the hands of Liza Colby.   Liza found out about Jenny's father Ray's crimes and threatened to expose them all to Greg.  Liza also falsely accused Jesse of rape.  With all this on their minds, the two ran away and spent the summer in NYC.  

3) Stuart and Marian hook up, fall in love, and get married.  Classic!  Pure gold.  Marian is trying to help Liza by seducing Adam and taking photos, thus giving Liza reason to divorce him.  What she didn't know was that she was actually seducing Stuart!  I am absolutely thrilled that I was able to find this clip!   It's one of the best, where a drunken Marian describes what an amazing lover "Adam" is to Opal. 

4) Natalie gets thrown in a well and Janet takes over her life.  Doppelganger stories aren't exactly rare, but this one was better than the average story and beautifully played by Kate Collins (Natalie/Janet).  Forever jealous of her more sophisticated and charming sister Natalie, Janet had all she could stand when Nat was getting ready to marry her love, Trevor.  Janet kept hearing her mother's voice putting her down so she decided she would just become the favorite daughter by kidnapping Natalie, stashing her in a well and marrying Trevor herself, as Natalie.  They even consummated their union, resulting in Amanda.  Mayhem ensued for years afterward.

5) Angie and Jesse are reunited at the train station.  It was so exciting to me when Angie returned to Pine Valley, and then to find out that Jesse would be too?   That was too good to be true!  Angie and Jesse (along with Jenny and Greg) were the reason why I got so hooked on AMC back in the day.  I had no problem going along with the explanation for why Jesse was gone for 20 years.  As a soap fan, you kind of have to accept the unacceptable and just go with it.  Most of the time I can do that, and just bask in the joy of having a favorite back.  This was one of those times.

6) Bianca gets Miranda back.  Keeping with the reunion theme here, after a very long story of the baby switch between Babe and Bianca, at long last Bianca gets her baby.  Having been pushed out a window by JR, who was certain the baby was his daughter Bess, Bianca is in a coma in the hospital.  Erica believes that Bianca is going to give up fighting for her life because she believed her daughter Miranda was dead and she could be with her in death.  But Erica wasn't going to sit back and let that happen.   With Jack and Tad's help (and a little divine intervention from Fr. Clarence), Erica got Miranda back, brought her to the hospital and all but demanded Bianca open her eyes and see her baby.   And she did!

7) Erica and Brooke's rivalry.  Through the years one of the things that always gave me great joy was watching Erica and Brooke spar (with Adam and Palmer's rivalry a close second!).  These two fought over everything from business matters to men, but mostly about men.  But through it all they had a grudging friendship and uneasy respect for each other.  

8) Alec tries to drown Arlene in liquor.  The relationship between Alec McIntyre and Arlene Vaughn was one of my favorite twisted relationships ever.  Alec was married to Hayley, Arlene's daughter, but that didn't stop him from bedding Arlene, on his wedding night to Hayley no less!   But Alec soon realized that sleeping with his mother in law was a bad idea and she could ruin everything for him (namely getting control of Enchantment).  Arlene got wise to his plans and wanted in on the action but Alec wasn't about to share so he plotted a way to get rid of her.   With Arlene laying in bed, he joined her, letting her believe they were going to make love but then he grabs her around the neck and literally pours liquor down the alcoholic Arlene's throat.  I will never forget my jaw hitting the floor while watching that scene!  So did Mateo and Hayley's when they walked in on the scene and stopped Alec from killing Arlene.  I think he's still in prison for that!

9) Noah and Julia... start to finish!   One of my favorite couples of all time.  Their love story was epic.  After fleeing from the hospital with a several facial laceration, Julia ended up being rescued by Noah.  At first the street hood plotted to make money off her by turning her into a prostitute, but he soon realized she was much better than that and so began a journey to true love.  I still remember my own outrage when Julia was raped by Louie Grecco and then watching Noah go from worry, to rage, to tender loving care as he bathed Julia after her ordeal.  *sigh*  They just don't make love stories like that anymore.

10) Liza, Tad and Marian.  Seriously one of my all time favorite storylines and it pretty much single-handedly gave Tad the nickname Tad the Cad.  Not that he wasn't already a playboy, but this was really taking it to a whole new level.  Lonely Marian caught the eye of young Tad while he was working at the Glamorama and the two began an illicit affair.  Tad didn't seem to mind bedding mother and daughter, but it was going to blow up in his face, big time, when Liza found out.  And it did.  But history does repeat itself when, years later, Liza slept with her daughter Colby's boyfriend Damon!

 

So there you have it.  Those are my Top 10.   Granted I could have picked a top 50 and still not been done.  There are so many more truly wonderful storylines and moments.  Hell I didn't even mention many of my all time favorites like Myrtle, Phoebe and Langley (oh did I love Langley's affair with Opal!), Adrian, Simone, and so many more.  Or memorable moments like Cliff and Nina's wedding, Ryan and Gillian's wedding, Reese and Bianca's wedding.  All the Crystal Ball's.  Brooke losing Laura.  Erica's breakdown at Mona's funeral.  Bianca coming out to Erica.  And David David David!!!  With so much to cover in 41 years of shows, it's hard to narrow it down!  Give it a try, I bet when you think you have your ten,  you'll end up crossing some out and adding others in too :)

FLASHBACK: Trevor and Laurel Wed

On May 23, 1995, Trevor Dillon married Laurel Banning.  After a brief marriage to Jackson Montgomery (in which he adopted Laurel's autistic daughter Lily), they divorced and Laurel wanted to make things right between her and the Dillon's after she was caught embezzling money from Trevor's wife Natalie's foundation.  It was Laurel who first discovered that Jane Cox was really Janet Green.  She became suspicious of Jane when she grew so attached to Trevor's children so soon after they started dating.   She looked into Jane's past and discovered she was Janet Green, Trevor's former sister in law.   But having gotten wise to Laurel's investigation, Janet cut the brakes on Laurel's car so she couldn't tell Trevor.  What Janet didn't know was Harold the dog, the dog she sent on a cross country journey, was back!  He stopped the wedding and at the hospital Laurel filled Jack in on her findings.  Jack was able to get to Trevor in time before he married Janet.  From there, Laurel and Trevor grew closer and closer and eventually wed.  Of course that wedding wasn't without incident!   Bitter and angry that Laurel foiled her plan to marry Trevor, Janet set a bomb in the church they were to be married in but when Janet saw that Amanda was in the church, she quickly ran in to disarm the bomb.  When running out of the church, Janet was struck by lightning and everyone thought she was dead.

FLASHBACK: AMC's First Opening

In the coming months, as AMC winds down its historic 41 year run, the PVB will do it's best to bring you some great memories of a great show.  The first one is AMC's first opening sequence.  It sure has changed hasn't it!?  

Gone But Not Forgotten: The Boathouse

It seems that one of the most used sets on AMC didn't make it to LA with the rest of them and with the cast.  The Boathouse on Adam Chandler's property.  Everyone went there to cry, to mourn, to laugh, to celebrate, to marry, to hide.   It was a one stop mecca for all things.  And now, sadly, it's disappeared.  Where has it gone!   Is Pine Valley, PA no longer on the ocean and therefore, the idea of a boathouse unnecessary?   No that's not it, Pine Valley still has the Yacht Club for all your oceanic voyage needs.  Alas, the park has taken the place of the all but forgotten Boathouse.  Well I didn't forget you Boathouse!   I remember Greenlee and Leo getting married there.   I remember Bianca and telling Leo she's gay at the Boathouse.  I remember Brooke spying on Adam and Dixie at the Boathouse.  I remember Aidan finding Lily at the Boathouse.  Oh so many Boathouse memories.   Where have you gone old friend!?

Remembering Nicky (Larry Keith, 1931-2010)

Yesterday, the Pine Valley Bulletin broke the news of the untimely passing of Larry Keith, All My Children's debonair Nick Davis from 1970-78 (with multiple recurring appearances until 2005). When viewers were first introduced to the Main Line town, Nick Davis (or Nicky as old friend Mona Kane referred to him) was the Valley's "James Dean;" an outsider, projecting a captivating air of intrigue. Viewers could not help but fall in love with him... neither could Phoebe Tyler.

Despite Nick's numerous "relationships" with women (all of which seemed to have the surname Tyler) there was always one woman who could put him his place. Despite all he did when he was teen, Nick always had an ally in Ruth Martin, the adoptive mother of his son, Phil Brent. Though having a stormy start, Ruth and Nick found a middle ground when it came to their son. They were each others' pillars through some of the most trying of times, including Phil's enlistment and deployment to Vietnam.



My favourite Nick and Ruth moment (and one of the last between Keith and original Ruth, Mary Fickett) was at the Martin family housewarming, 24 years after the clip above. In 1994, it would be Nick who would pull Ruth out of her emotional slump resulting from the destruction of the Martin home earlier that year. Nick reminded her that despite the fact that a tornado took her home, she would always be warm in the memories they shared.

To Larry, thank you for the memories.

FLASHBACK: May 19, 2004

Six years ago today, Ryan and Greenlee entered into marriage that they called a business deal. Kendall and Ryan were on the outs and so were Kendall and Greenlee after Greenlee exposed Kendall's fake pregnancy in court. Kendall, trying to protect Bianca, had been getting help from Ryan by faking a pregnancy to throw everyone off Bianca's track. It was really Bianca who was pregnant after being raped by Kendall's husband, Michael Cambias.


Kendall was not absolutely positive she could trust Ryan, even though he went above and beyond for her, but her feelings for him were still there. So when Ryan and Greenlee rekindled their friendship, Kendall was not happy and she wanted to get Greenlee out of FUSION. Ryan to the rescue! Being Cambias heir, Ryan went to Greenlee with a proposal. If they marry, she will then have controlling interest in FUSION because Cambias now had controlling interest. Greenlee, who had been falling in love with Ryan, happily accepted!

On a beautiful spring day, Ryan and Greenlee were set to marry at a castle. It was a perfect fairy tale... until Kendall showed up in a wedding gown! Kendall decided she was going to marry Ryan, not Greenlee so she locked Greenlee in the turret of the castle and made her way to Ryan, asking him for forgiveness and telling him that she had already spoken to Greenlee and that Greenlee was ready to back out if Ryan truly wanted to marry Kendall instead. Ryan was actually in love with Kendall and believing that Greenlee was OK with the change, he agreed to marry Kendall instead and the two danced together before the said their vows.

Ahh but Kendall's plans were about to be ruined! Having brought Simone with her, she sent Simone off to call the pilot so they could leave before Ryan and Greenlee got married. At least, that's what devious Kendall told Simone! But Simone heard Greenlee's screams from the turret and after much convincing, Greenlee finally got her to believe what Kendall was really up to! So they raced to the courtyard where the wedding was to take place. When Ryan heard what really happened to Greenlee, he was furious! Oblivious Kendall thought she was still going to marry Ryan so when Ryan told the Reverend it was Greenlee who he was marrying, Kendall threw a fit and attacked Greenlee!

As the women fought, Simone and Ryan tried to break them up. But it wasn't until they all fell into a pool that things got a point where Ryan could actually break them up. He grabbed Greenlee and carried her out of the pool, leaving Kendall there in shock that he had actually chosen Greenlee over her.


Simone took a dejected and wet Kendall home. Full of disbelieve about what happened, Simone tried to be comforting and listen as Kendall tried to come to grips with what she had done. Simone gave her these words of wisdom on how to get past it all, "Time and therapy, girlfriend. Time and therapy."

Ryan took Greenlee back to the turret to dry off and they discussed all that happened. Realizing they still wanted to get married, they headed back down to the courtyard after drying off and changing clothes. Luckily Greenlee brought a white halter top with her so she could marry in white! After Ryan found Reverend Lovejoy, the pair said their "I do's" But living happily ever after was not in the cards and another flashback, for another day!

Flashback: A Not so Classic Case of "I Do."

Back in 2001, Adam Chandler and Liza Colby wed for the last time. And as usual it was full of drama. Adam was recently divorced from Arlene Vaughn (don't ask!) and Liza realized she still loved him. But then, complications come into full swing! Ahh you remember the Libidozone filled ride on the Fidelity right? Well, Hayley caught her mother trying to seduce Mateo during that little soiree and seemingly killed her. Adam found Arlene's body and, in an effort to protect Hayley, he threw Arlene's body overboard!

Riddled with guilt, Hayley took on her mother's persona and as "Arlene" she called all the Chandler's to meet her at the Fidelity. Adam hired a hitman to kill Arlene once and for all. The hitman shot Vanessa by mistake, and it was revealed that Arlene was really Hayley! So with no Arlene, Hayley was put on trial for murder. Adam admitted in court that it was him who threw Arlene overboard but soon after his admission, Mateo showed up in court with a very much alive Arlene who was living it up in the Caribbean! Hayley was free to go, but Adam was placed under house arrest. It was during this house arrest that he and Liza married for the third time.

It wasn't long after this though, that their happy re-reunion fizzled. They divorced in 2003.

Soap Opera Digest Flashback: Hillary Wilson

Pick up this week's issue of Soap Opera Digest to see a flashback photo of Carmen Thomas Paris on her first day as Hillary Wilson (below). Did you know, Thomas-Paris actually auditioned for a role on Ryan's Hope. Someone at AMC got a hold of her reel, and Hillary was born:


Inspired by the SOD feature, Carmen dug up a cover she and Michael E. Knight (Tad Gardner Martin) shot in 1986:


They look like such a happy couple...too bad it didn't last.

Do you want Hillary and Carmen Thomas-Paris back in Pine Valley as much as we do? Make your voice heard! Reach out to AMC Producer Julie Carruthers at Julie.Carruthers@abc.com or ABC Daytime President Brian Frons at Brian.Frons@abc.com

Flashback: Soap Opera Digest 1996

Long before Bailey and Damon came to Pine Valley, there was Kelsey Jefferson (TC Warner) and Bobby Warner (Brian Gaskill), two teenagers who became parents way too young. Just like baby Stuart Colby, Kelsey and Bobby put Sam up for adoption hoping that he would have the life that neither parent could provide (though Bobby had a trust fund and was heir to the Cortlandt Electronics fortune, and Kelsey came from a long line of doctors including her grandfather and father).

The December 6, 2009 issue of Soap Opera Digest had a flashback photo of the "engaged and underage," lovers. Warner took the opportunity to tell the PVB some of her memories from that storyline:

"Little Sammy was two twin girls (Meghan and Alison Tuma), and very happy little girls to say the least! It was very hard to capture a sad moment from the girls faces during the many phases of being passed from the Greys to me, and back to the Greys. Even when Kelsey would be listening to the walk-man and ignoring the child, they still were happy girls!

One time, when they were being passed back and forth at the airport scene when Kelsey finally resided in giving Sammy back to the Greys and Bobby took Sam away - they cried! Each time they were in Brian's arms, they started to get cranky (they were tired that day... normally they were happy in Brian's arms).

If you remember in that scene, I wasn't holding the child. In the script, Kelsey was supposed to be holding the child. The girls cried each time in Brian's arms; we had to do our dialogue between cries.... That was tough! The Directors and Producers used the moment and went with it!

That scene helped win Warner a Soap Opera Digest Award, and garnered Eva LaRue (soon to be Maria Grey again) an Emmy Nomination for Best Supporting Actress for arguably the performance of her career so far.

For more on TC Warner and what she is up to now, join her Fan Club.

As for Kelsey, now that Scott Chandler (l. Daniel Cosgrove) is back in the Valley, wouldn't it be fun to see her come back and "claim" her "true love?"

Just saying.

FLASHBACK - June 24, 1997

Twelve years ago on this day, Erica Kane returned Maddie Grey to her rightful parents, Edmund and Maria. Oh what a tangled web of deception this was! On the day Erica was to re-wed Dimitri, happy and pregnant with his child, she collapsed on her way to the alter and suffered a miscarriage. It was difficult for Erica to live in harmony with back at Wildwind with Edmund and Maria, who were expecting a child, a painful reminder of what Erica had lost. Her suspicions about Maria and Dimitri's new found closeness got the better of her and Maria finally admitted to Erica that she and Dimitri had an affair.

Erica started to wonder if the baby Maria was carrying was actually Dimitri's and in a case of really poor judgment, Erica lured Maria to a cabin in the woods in the middle of a raging storm to confront her. Maria ended up going into labor but due to a flash flood, the roads were washed out and they had no way to get to the hospital. Erica delivered the baby. Maria begged her to take the child to the hospital so Erica left and tried desperately to get the baby to safety. But her car skidded off the road and went into the river. Erica searched and searched for the baby, but came up empty.

With all believing the baby had died, Erica went back to the scene of the accident and found a trailer nearby. Here was the home of Esther Glynn. And here is where Erica found Maria's baby. Making a deal with Esther, Erica decided to keep the child for herself and passed her off as a child she adopted from Russia. She named the baby Sonya Kane.

Watching Maria grieve for her child became more than Erica could handle though and she finally decided to give the child back to the Grey's. Furious with her deception, Dimitri washed his hands of Erica. She was sent to prison for kidnapping

FLASHBACK - June 7, 1996

Noah and Julia wed. *sigh*




And then celebrate their wedding night. *double sigh*



The quality is dark, but if you're a big a fan of Noah and Julia as I have always been, you get the gist. Oh my. They don't make couples like this anymore.

FLASHBACK - June 1, 1989

Once upon a time, before Pine Valley ever heard of David Hayward, there was a man (and still is a man) named Adam Chandler. Adam Chandler had an obsession with siring a son, an heir to the Chandler dynasty. At the time he was married Brooke English and it was discovered during their marriage that Brooke was unable to conceive. Not one to sit back on infertility or for that matter, go the usual routes to conception, Adam instead seduced and bedded his young maid, Dixie Cooney! With Dixie, only 18 years old at the time, the handsome and rich Adam was no match for the down home country girl.

When Dixie became pregnant, Adam plotted to adopt her baby with Brooke. But Brooke figured out his dastardly plot and divorced him. But this wouldn't foil Adam's plan to have an heir. Adam quickly changed his plan and convinced the young Dixie to marry him, thus legitimizes their child. But keeping Dixie around wasn't part of the plan. Adam soon began to make her think she was going crazy and eventually had her committed, taking custody of their son, Adam Jr. (now known as JR) for himself. Tad, who had fallen for Dixie himself, eventually saved her from the mental hospital and from Adam.

FLASHBACK - May, 1980

As the years in their marriage went by, the very distinguished gentlemen, Dr. Charles Tyler, was growing increasingly more annoyed with his wife, socialite Phoebe Tyler's meddling in other people's lives. At times it was so troubling for Charles that he would seek refuge in his office at the hospital where he served as Chief of Staff. He seeked out the calming and soothing affects that his secretary of many years, Mona Kane, provided him.



Charles had secretly fallen in love with Mona but because of his loyalty to Phoebe, he remained quiet about it. What he didn't know was that Mona had secretly fallen in love with him as well. Eventually when Phoebe's ways were too much for Charles, he told Mona how he felt about her and was thrilled to find the feeling mutual. Charles and Phoebe divorced, paving the way for Charles and Mona to walk down the aisle on May 1, 1980.

FLASHBACK: April, 1972

We here at the PVB, love to take trips down memory lane. So today we celebrate the 37th wedding anniversary of Joe and Ruth Martin!

Widower Dr. Joe Martin and Nurse Ruth Brent worked side by side at Pine Valley Hospital. But since Ruth was married, Joe could only be her friend and kept his growing love for her a secret. Still they grew ever closer as Ruth confided in Joe how her marriage was falling apart. And then when Joe's daughter Tara began dating Ruth's son, Phil, they had even more to talk about and listen to each other about.




Tragically, Ruth's husband Ted was killed in a car accident. It paved the way for Joe but ever the gentleman, he was there for her when she needed him. And I don't mean in a grief sex kind of way! Back in 1972, that particular act wasn't all that common. But as time went on, they grew closer and closer and before long they were the couple to go to if you needed advice, comfort, or friendship.

Everyone in town knew that someday they would marry and in April, 1972, in the Martin living room, around friends and family, they finally said their "I Do's." Joe's mother Kate welcomed Ruth into their home and family with open arms.



As the years went by, Joe and Ruth became a mainstay in Pine Valley society and as the stalwart couple that everyone respected. They have had their ups and downs, don't get me wrong. But love has always prevailed for these two and they remain the longest married couple in Pine Valley.

Today, they still live in Pine Valley, still work at Pine Valley Hospital but with significantly less hours and still try to help their children with their problems, especially Tad and Jake. And those boys could use all the help they can get!

So Happy Anniversary Joe and Ruth!!!!!

FLASHBACK - February 19, 1999

It was a snowy snowy day in Pine Valley. The bride almost didn't make it to the church on time. But with the help of a horse drawn sleigh, the Queen of Hearts made it to the alter in time to marry her King. Stuart and Marian were wed on this day, 10 years ago in a beautiful heartfelt ceremony where the couple said their own vows. After Marian poured her heart out to Stuart, Stuart surprised his bride by singing "My Cup Runneth Over" from the musical "I Do, I Do!" Was there a dry eye on the house on that day?

FLASHBACK - Thanksgiving 2005, Pine Valley Style!

I hope you enjoy this instant classic. Greenlee goes off on Kendall on Thanksgiving Day. Oh I remember it like it was yesterday. Who's side were you on? While I love both Greenlee and Kendall, but I'm on Kendall's side on this one.

Happy Thanksgiving from the PVB!!!!!

AMC FLASHBACK!!! September 6, 1978

Ahh Erica, she hasn't changed much in all these years. Back in 1978, after a bad break up with Nick Davis, Erica took up with former pro football player, Tom Cudahy, with the hope of making Nick jealous. When Erica decided to marry Tom soon after they started seeing each other, she secretly hoped the idea of her marrying another would bring Nick to his sense. Erica was overjoyed when Nick phoned her the day of the wedding, thinking he would propose to her. But he didn't, he was merely calling to tell her that he was sorry he couldn't attend her wedding.

Erica's mother Mona tried to talk her headstrong daughter out of marrying someone she doesn't love, and vowed to stop the wedding herself if she had to. But in the end, she kept quiet and Erica and Tom wed in a beautiful traditional ceremony.

After they wed, the couple went on a romantic honeymoon to St. Croix. It was one of daytime's first ever location shoots outside of the US.

FLASHBACK - August 12, 1997

Eleven years ago today, TransGlobal Flight 149 from NYC to Pine Valley crashed into the cliffs above the Pine Valley ocean. What a horrific day!! Happy again, Maria went to NYC with Edmund and Brooke, who were working on a story together, with baby Maddie. Maria had finally found out that Maddie was truly Edmund's daughter and not the product of an ill advised one night stand between Maria and Edmund's brother Dimitri. She was looking for the perfect time to tell Edmund the great news. But the return trip was anything but idyllic. Maria and Brooke switched seats so Edmund and Brooke could finish up the story. The crash threw Brooke from the wreckage and the only other conscious person she found was a stranger named Jim Thomason. Together they pulled an unconscious Edmund from the wreckage then went about the task of looking for Maria and Maddie.

Brooke found them, but Maria was pinned under a seat and could not free herself. Both Brooke and Jim tried to pull Maria free to no avail. She urged Brooke to save Maddie, which she did. But then the rest of the aircraft that was teetering over the side of the cliff started to shift with Maria still pinned inside of it! Knowing the end was near Brooke held onto Maddie and tearfully watched as that part of the plane fell over the cliff with Maria still inside. Maria was presumed dead and never had the opportunity to tell Edmund that that Skye Chandler faked Maddie's DNA results.