I was wondering if the reason we were fed degrading and insulting stereotypes as they destroyed Eve's backstory was because it was too hard to find a way to fit Liz into the backstory that had been given in Hidden Passions.

This is what we were given in Hidden Passions:
 

a) she grew up an ONLY child in Boston
b) she grew up in a monetarily WEALTHY home, raised by two professionals of the Black Upper Class
c) while her family had money, LOVE was on the short supply. She was raised by nannies after her grandmother died when she was a child
d) she was a freshman at Radcliffe when she began singing
e) her parents turned their backs on her when she was pregnant with Julian's child, because it would be embarrassing to them in their 'social set' to have a pregnant unwed daughter around. Eve and her child were a 'social liabillity'.
f) it was clear that Eve DID grow up in the life that she described for her daughters - one of tea parties, debutante balls, horses, etc. She just 'went astray' the year she met, fell in love with Julian, got pregnant and was abanonded by him, and lost her child.

Now, was it hard to fit Liz and all her issues into this background?

Considering that it took me less than 24 hours to come up a plausible solution, I don't think so.

People have written to me that they put Liz as Eve's sister because JER wanted to parallel Simone/Whitney. If that is the case, then he should have stuck with the Hidden Passions model even more.

Let Eve/Liz be a replica of Whitney/Simone, with Eve being the golden child.  Liz is the also-ran. Not only is Liz the also-ran, but she should have been Eve's HALF -sister. A child conceived with another woman. A woman whose social standing was far from the Johnsons. The father didn't acknowledge Liz, but he gave the mother money from time to time. But, Liz didn't grow up in a house with servants. She grew up in an apartment with her maid/cook/seamtress mother. She KNEW who her father was, but she and her mother never spoke about it. She also knew who Eve was, and considering what a socially ambitious woman Eve's mother was, Eve's picture appeared in the social columns of the local Black newspaper. As her father grew more famous, Liz grew more resentful of Eve.

Then, Liz's mother got sick and contacted her father. Telling him that she was dying, she wants him to take Liz with him. He doesn't want to, but she guilts him into it. He goes back to his wife, and tells her that he's bringing his daughter into the house. She tells him that there will be hell to pay for it - she'll make sure of that.

So, Liz's mother dies, and she goes to live with her father and his family. The wicked stepmother lives up to her name in full, either ignoring Liz or belittling her - never a kind word from Tanya Johnson. Her father is a little better, but still, he keeps his distance from Liz because of what bringing her into his house has cost him.

And, then there's Eve.

Liz wants to hate Eve, but Eve is so full of love towards Liz. So happy to have someone else in the house, considering that she's been so lonely. Liz can't believe it. Eve is happy to see her. They share toys, clothes, everything. Eve doesn't even want her sister in another room, and they share a room, much to Tanya's dismay. The fact that Tanya doesn't like Liz makes her even more precious to Eve.

So, Liz and Eve are their own little world in a cold, unfeeling house. Tanya makes sure that EVE is the star of the family, maybe threatening Eve with sending Liz away if she doesn't stick to the program, so even though Eve doesn't like it, she's the 'perfect' daughter: student, extracurriculars, debutante, etc.

And, it pays off - Eve gets into Radcliffe.

Her first taste of freedom. She gets a taste of releasing herself from the straighjacket that she's been in all her life. And, she dares herself to go try her dream - singing. She gets in front of the microphone and she feels two things: at home and free.

But, remember the times, remember how sheltered Eve was, how restricted her life was.

Enter Julian Crane. She finds out that Julian is one of THOSE Cranes, and he's living this glamorous lifestyle, and she's only 18, and she's caught up in it. Before she knows it, she's in over her head, spiraling to a physical and emotional bottom.

For Liz, Eve leaving home had ripped the security blanket she'd known right from under her. Eve was the buffer to the coldness and harshness of her family.

Without Eve running interference, Tanya had direct aim at Liz, who she's resented from the moment Liz came to live with him. All the times Eve rebuffed Tanya for Liz, Tanya remembers. And, now, it's time for Liz to pay. Tanya has full reign over the house, which includes her husband.

Liz's father is no help because he resents Liz too. He knows of a time when his marriage was far warmer, and that was the time BEFORE Liz came to live with him. He HAD the daughter he wanted - Eve. Liz was produced because of a few 'rolls-in-the-hay', and that's how he viewed her.

So, when he gets drunk one night and crosses the line, there is no one to help Liz. Who would stand up for her? Tanya? Even if she DID know, she wouldn't care because she hates Liz, and Liz knows it. By this time, Warren Johnson has a sterling reputation, and back in those days, one didn't talk about the subject, and children weren't believed. So, Liz suffered in silence.

Liz finally went to the one person she thought would help her: Eve, but Eve was in the throws of her own addictions and unable to help herself, let alone Liz. Liz returned home to hell, counting the days until her 18th birthday, when she left, each violation hardening her heart, and pushing her towards the days she dreamt of revenge on all of them.

When she was 18, she left home, but not before getting a sizeable check from Warren, with the explicit understanding that she was never to contact him again. That was her payoff.

Liz could have found her way to Bermuda, bought the Inn, and have lived there until she came to Harmony. Inside festered a hatred of all of them: Warren, Tanya and Eve. She felt most betrayed by Eve, because it was with Eve that she let her guard all the way down. She trusted Eve more than anyone, and Eve betrayed her.

Last time she saw Eve, she was a drunk, drugged out sister.

Fate brings her to Harmony, to the hospital where the guy SHE loved is there with ANOTHER woman. And, WHO turns out to be his doctor?

Eve.

Eve is a doctor. Has a husband and a FAMILY. Is living comfortably and is well respected.

Eve's 'lapse' was but a glitch in a lifetime filled with privilege.

She wound up 'having it all', while all Liz had was her hotel.

Eve had her backstory from Hidden Passions, plus Liz had a chip on her shoulder the size of Texas, and the well of her hatred for Eve. And no offensive or degrading stereotypes for anyone.

So, does this work for anyone else?