Howard's way of landing a triangle on sunset beach

Had a chat with a colleague about 1980s dramas/soaps which turned into an animated discussion of 'Triangle
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/classic/titles/triangle.shtml
(only really heard of that via my Nan), 'Knots Landing' http://www.knotslanding.net/ (used to watch repeats of that with my Nan after school), 'Howard's Way'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/classic/titles/howardsway.shtml and Falcon Crest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4xhKHY91UE another Nan favourite). Those shows were great! They gave us Joan Van Ark (not Dyke as I called her today) and her amazing bulging eyes, introduced us to Nicollette Sheridan pre-Desperation (had rather a crush on her back then), and in the Uk brought us Kate 'I've been freeze-dried now' O'Mara (lately of Family Affairs and Bad Girls) and the dodgy guy off Eastenders.
I have many happy memories of sitting with my Nan and enjoying the crazy plots over a cup of tea :) We also used to love Sons and Daughters, where you would find many actors from Neighbours had started off, like Phil (remember him?) - he was really evil in S&Ds and killed someone! They were dangling from his camera strap (oo-er) and he let go - the dastardly crim!

My absolute fave though, has to be Sunset Beach. What a show! It was so bad it was good, and I used to tape it to watch after college/Uni, if I wasn't around. It didn't take itself seriously for more than a second. I loved the cheesy dialogue and wooden acting, wobbly sets, baffling plotlines and actors that would be replaced practically within an episode (cue voiceover man: "The character of Tamara Tasslebanker will now be played by Moira Whippenham"). It had quite a cult following when it was shown on Channel 5 here. In fact it was saved from the axe by loyal British viewers (i.e students), until it was finally laid to rest. I never got to see the final episode (sniff sniff) but I think it ended in the only way it could... It was all a dream! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH8ZBU2f68k&mode=related&search=