I don't think Roger Davis is way worse than the average DS performer.  He didn't seem to have a clue about his lines sometimes... but he made up some good ones.  In this way, he fit right in with what was goin on.

  It's funny to watch him and Jonathan Frid in a couple scenes where they obviously can't help cue each other!

  Anyway, I do think he was the best match for Vicki -- better than Mitch Ryan & Tony George.  I thought the latter two were too old for Vicki... I know Frid was about the same age, but I never thought of him as older, somehow.

  I thought the "romantic" scenes between Vicki & Peter/Jeff were more real than they ones with either Burke.  He was better in the HODS movie with Maggie's Vicki, when he had some more takes.

  I believe there was a very small time period when KLS was doing both the bunny and DS jobs... They did not want it known that she was moonlighting as a worker in the Playboy Club, as you can imagine!

  I believe her name was different... "Bunny Kaye" comes to mind... but, it might have been something else.  It was fairly soon that she hung up the bunny ears and switched over to working exclusively at the Collinsport Inn.  KLS is a dear lady... very sweet.

  I went to the Book Party for "The Bunny Years" in Brentwood.  I chatted with KLS and got to sit in the front table nearest to her as she spoke.  There was a couple at my table who fretted about their yacht.

  There was also the widow or some relative/heir to Grauman's Chinese Theater.  KLS had published a book on the theater.  I loved talking with her about all the Hollywood legends.  The lady was very thankful to Katie -- found her professional and fair with the book.  She was very, very happy she decided upon KLS.

  Katie was a wonderful "hostess" & we all admired her and the book.  In hindsight, it's clear that the "bunny women" were ahem... *ahead* of their time in some way --  though certainly they were not feminists in the traditional sense.

  I had a splendid time at the gathering.  I think Red Buttons visited our table foursome for a time.  I believe he may have spoke mostly about the passing of Frank Sinatra.  I was happy to meet him... a sweet, funny, giving guy.

  I wish I written down memories at the time ... oh, well...

  Here are my "Top 50" favorite characters...

1. BARNABAS COLLINS
2. ANGELIQUE
3. VICTORIA WINTERS
4. COUNT ANDREAS PETOFI
5. QUENTIN COLLINS
6. DR. JULIA HOFFMAN
7. LAURA COLLINS
8. SARAH COLLINS
9. ARISTEDE
10. MRS. JOHNSON
11. CHARITY TRASK aka PANSEY FAYE
12. WILLIE LOOMIS
13. NICHOLAS BLAIR
14. MAGDA
15. CYRUS LONGWORTH aka JOHN YAEGER
16. ELIZABETH COLLINS STODDARD
17. GABRIEL COLLINS
18. DAVID COLLINS
19. BUFFIE HARRINGTON
20. REV. GREGORY TRASK
21. ROGER COLLINS
22. SUKI FORBES
23. CHRIS JENNINGS
24. BEN STOKES
25. MAGGIE EVANS
26. ADAM
27. JEB HAWKES
28. CAROLYN STODDARD
29. DAPHNE HARRIDGE
30. JOE HASKELL
31. AMANDA HARRIS
32. HORACE GLADSTONE
33. PROF. T. ELLIOT STOKES
34. GERARD STILES
35. JASON McGUIRE
36. ROXANNE DREW
37. WILLIAM HOLLINGSHEAD LOOMIS
38. CHARLES DELAWARE TATE
39. ABIGAIL COLLINS
40. BUZZ HACKETT
41. MILLICENT COLLINS
42. HANNAH STOKES
43. BETH CHAVEZ
44. MICHAEL HACKETT
45. SANDOR
46. JENNY
47. JOSETTE DuPRES COLLINS
48. JUDITH COLLINS
49. FRANK GARNER
50. KING JOHNNY ROMANO

  I enjoyed your Joan Bennett website... thank you!

  I think it would be best to do 1968.  The new and old show -- if and/or whenever they start -- will be on pretty much the same storyline is being proposed here (Ep #210 and on).

  I'd start it at 1968, when Vicki returns to the present.  That's where the 1991 series left off... so, that seems like a fitting place.

  I would hope someone could alert us about the episode to "air."

Like --
  VHS, vol. 48, show 3
  DVD, vol. 9, show 28

...but whatever you decide is fine with me.  I know the whole show pretty well.

  The problem with 1841 PT was the removal of all the story elements that made the show work...  I think that was probably their best bet, all things considered.  So, it went back to the pre-Laura gothic with a hint of supernatural elements (and had similar success).

  But, the real reason for my posting is to wonder about the stuff being said about Keith Prentice.  I liked his madness.  I think he was one of the better things about 1841 PT... I liked Morgan as far as that character went.  I liked Pennock's Gabriel, too.  I thought Karlen and Barrett were wonderful, as always.

  What didn't work, for me, was the relationship between Bramwell & Catherine.  I think it was just so... dumb.  Especially her, did she love him or not... who knew... who cared!  I didn't like them not being Barnabas and Angelique, of course, but after you get past that, and judge the work on its own, the whole thing didn't work.

  I did like the Bramwell & Daphne thing.  That was very nice.  That was a more believable relationship.  You could actually undestand the motivation/love between them... they made that work, Jonathan Frid & Kate Jackson.  You could really feel and understand what their motivation and why that was a tragedy.  I thought that the last scenes with them were very effective.

  I hope you let us know about the Joan Bennett site... please.

  It always bothers me when people put down her work on DS.  She was hardly ever given anything to work with, and didn't think we'd be watching it today.  When she was given something to do, she was wonderful.  Look at the episode where she looses her mind to Laura in 1967, or the reading of Edith's will in 1897.

  I would like to see or hear or read a transcript of the Joe Franklin show sometime.

  I heard it from one of the writers associated with DS.  I was stating my opinion that DS should be done from a present, possibly alternate/parallell time from the original series.

  The basic outline would be -- The brooding David Collins returns to Collinwood with his son (from an unnamed first wife) & his new bride (a Vicki-type heroine); mysteries ensue, naturally!

  TPTB feel the the strongest initial storyline, and greatest chance for success, is the "Introduction of Barnabas" and the events that follow his getting out of the box... IE 1967, HODS, 1991.  I thought a "next generation" type approach would be better & more modern.

  I thought you could maintain continuity with the old series by hinting that the old show might exist in a parallel reality -- or, might also be the actual past of the "new" show.  Then, you could use elements as you wanted, and let some "die."  I thought it should respect the old series, but be modern/unique.  I thought that approach would be the greatest chance for success... still do!