msc, I'm right behind you in cheering the appearance of Lovelady Powell as Mrs. Portia Fitzsimmons.

KLS has a vague but persistent memory of another actress having been cast as Dr. Hoffman before Grayson's definitive casting and I and a couple of other fans have wondered whether this might have referred to the Powers that Be having given Powell a stab at the role.  Presumably, for whatever reason, they tested her in it and she didn't work out.  

Powell is one of those actresses one wishes had been given a recurring role in the series.  Jane Draper and Cavada Humprhey are two others.  I don't understand why Portia Fitzsimmons didn't make at least one other appearance during the March-April 1967 storylines--it would have been appropriate.

Powell had a small but vivid role in the nasty, deftly made Shirley Maclaine vehicle, The Possession of Joel Delaney (1972).  She also appeared in the Happy Hooker, according to IMDB.

Best,

Steve

What a wonderful sly snap of Our Miss Hoffman here!  You can tell what she's fondly hoping is on the menu for "the rest of the night"!

Hubba-Hubba!

G.

I actually think the interweaving of Barnabas' introduction and early storyline, and the Jason story, works really well.

Both are predators, both charming in their way.  The contrast is that everyone in the family is well aware that Jason is bad news, an unscrupulous, scheming rogue, with a "winner take all" plan that is gradually revealed.  Whereas everyone in the family is fooled by Barn's "charming cousin from England" act.

I would write more about this but am less than stellar today... just wanted to put it out there that the counterpoint between these two stories gives an extra interest to that period of the series, in my own opinion...

G.

All excellent points, msc.  It is certainly interesting that the sidelining of what had been a major pivot of the plotline takes place fairly well in advance of Barn's arrival.

For me, the episode that cinches it that we're now in a very different world is when Liz wants to invite a married Vicki and Burke to occupy the West Wing of Collinwood.  Roger, of course, is appalled, but the scene where this plays out is very much just a sidebar to whatever is happening with Barnabas, Julia, and Woodard ...

G.

How extraordinary.  Judging from episode one of the first season, the only thing in common these two series have is that both feature characters who are vampires.

What's the DS section like?  I can imagine it mostly consists of people slagging how cheesy and lo-fi our beloved show is compared to the slick shiny new-fangled (sorry, couldn't resist) toy...

G.

Wow, Ralph Waite is still acting?  That's a name out of the past.

I would guess it was an intentional reference--EVeryone out in H'wood seems to watch DS these days...

G.

Very cool.  Too bad there was no actual footage posted with darling Joel!

G.