I had a great time at the festival. I went Saturday and Sunday.  It was my first time to go; couldn't pass up the chance to go since I moved to NY earlier in the year. I thought to myself now I know how the nearsighted castmembers felt when they couldn't see the teleprompt because I couldn't see the nametags well enough to see if I recognized names. I talked to some really nice people in lines but did not introduce myself since I didn't think anyone would remember me (and I admit I was feeling a bit bashful), though I did introduce myself to Marcy Robins.

I had a great time meeting Marie Wallace, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Lara Parker, Jerry Lacy, John Karlen, Nancy Barrett and Betsy Durkin. I did not get a chance to meet David Selby, Donna McKechnie, Lisa Richards or Donna Wandrey, who I REALLY wanted to meet. She had left to go to rehearsal by the time I got there. I almost missed Nancy Barrett but she stayed a bit longer to sign CDs for a few of us that were close to her table when it was time to go to rehearsal.

(When I was in line to get Nancy Barrett's autograph on Sunday, I talked with a very nice woman, I think she was from Florida, who had said she missed on Saturday Diana Millay because Millay  suddenly announced she had to stop signing for a bit. I don't know if she posts on this board, but I just wanted to say the same thing happened to me later that day when I was almost at her table LOL. Oh well.)

My favorite moments: Jonathan Frid's call and the Grayson Hall panel.

I really enjoyed Betsy Durkin's talk and I have much more appreciation for her work on DS. She seemed really touched at her response and I felt very good for her. I too agree that she should have done Vicki in the dramatic reading.

I am glad to have gotten a chance to watch the WB pilot but I was disappointed some of the casting.

Wiley

I love Grayson in every scene she did but one of my favorites was when she told Ned Stuart she'd send him a bill. It just cracks me up every time I see it.

Unitarian Universalist here.

Quoting from AOL's dictionary, the second definition of rehash is "to present or use again in another form without substantial change or improvement" (the first is to talk or discuss again).

I may be in the minority but I do not consider the 1991 series to be a complete rehash of the original series. I've seen this term used quite a bit and just wanted to post my thoughts, because the same is being said about the WB version before we've even seen it.

The 1991 version was not done the same was as they original series, IMHO. While one could argue that the changes were not an "improvement" I do believe there were a number of completely new character interpretations (and a few new characters) and certain plot twists/changes that were not done in the original series. While basic themes/outlines were the same, these changes prevent the series from being a rehash as defined above IMHO.  Just a few differences that stick out in my mind:

* A HUGE change was the fact that Victoria was the supposed reincarnation of Josette, not Maggie.
* Another huge change was the fact that the past storyline played concurrently with the present-day storyline.
* A third huge change was how Barnabas was cursed. The attack was completely different and much better done. (though I prefer the words Lara Parker was given to say).
* Angelique makes an appearance in the present-day storyline. As we know in the original, her first present-day appearance was as Cassandra.
* The characters of Julia, Angelique and Maggie were vastly different than the original. Julia was harsher (and did not run Wyndcliff, and did not pose as a historian), Angelique was completely evil and non-sympathetic, and Maggie was not an innocent-girl-next door type. Also, Jeremiah and Barnabas were brothers, not uncle/nephew.
* Phyllis Wick had slightly more to do in the 1991 version.
* New characters/combined characters: Daphne Collins, Willie Johnson, Ben Loomis, Professor Woodard

Sorry this is so long...just wanted to share my thoughts. If I offended anyone else's views it was not my intention. :-)

I have not posted here in a long time but I am so excited about the possibility of a new Dark Shadows. I love the casting thus far and am THRILLED about Alexis Thorpe's casting...I loved her work on Days of our Lives from the start right up to her high profiled, completely tasteless write-off this past fall.

Wiley

Favorite set: Drawing Room at Collinwood.

Favorite Music: "A Darkness at Collinwood", "Joanna"; "Ode to Angelique"

Wiley

No doubt that if KLS had remained on the show to the end and played Samantha in 1840, Curtis would have felt the need to revisit that relationship yet again.

Oops didn't see the last part of your post and I just posted the same thing re: a KLS Samantha could have turned into another Josette re-hash.

Well, without my jester hat on, that Eddy behaves outwardly as if everyone is beneath him and that they should be his servant, while in reality in his deep subconscious he knows that the facade he puts on is merely that, a false front of 'know-it-allness' and arrogance. So his moment o'truth comes out by actually placing him in the role of gentleman's gentleman, literally licking the boot of his master.  There is a bit of irony there, too [esp. if he does the ironing for the shirts of the master] that he ends up treating those that he has looked down on for so long with an unknowing respect.  So maybe the Kiss of Truth could be called the Kiss of Irony.

I agree with this Ringo.... it would also humiliate Edward after the fact.