DRW50

It would be interesting to see Carol dealing with Liam, but I wouldn't mind if they all go. I just hope they can still write for Carol. It was interesting to see how many immediately assumed he was quitting for good (where else would he go??). Didn't the Mirror also claim he was leaving because of the baby swap? Come on. Everything these days is slanted into some sort of Eastenders failure.

That's interesting. Besides what you mentioned, all I can remember is Ellen Burstyn appearing on the show as Dr. Kate Bartok.

From the December 1954 and January 1955 issues of TV Radio Mirror. Never was a wedding more clouded over by ominous thoughts than that of Vanessa to Paul Raven. Even Van found it hard to forget the unknown secret of Paul's past, though she had determined not to let it come between them. Will the day come when she must forget that decision? Will the curiosity of her sister Meg make that day come even sooner than it had to? Can a bride ever forgive her husband for allowing business to break up their honeymoon? Vanessa might be able to if she did not suspect that Paul's sudden return to his home town had something to do with his first wife. What will she do when she discovers what Judith really intends to do - and how much power can she put behind the effort? Will the vicious Judith get unexpected help from Van's sister Meg?

From the December 1954 and January 1955 issues of Radio TV Mirror. Bertha Bauer's campaign to revive the marriage of Kathy and Dr. Dick Grant acquires several assistants - her own husband and Dick's father among them. Dick's friend, Dr. Jim Kelly, once felt the same way, but how would he feel now if Kathy, of whom he has become so fond, showed new interest in her ex-husband? Is Dick too involved in conflict with Dr. Thomson to wonder about his personal life? Dr. Dick Grant has only his own indecision to blame as he finds himself under the brusque authority of Dr. Thompson, the surgeon hired by Dr. Baird to fill the position Dick could have had. Will nurse Janet Johnson find in Dr. Thompson the tool she needs to carve her revenge against Dick? Meanwhile, Dick's ex-wife also courts trouble as she tries to forget her marriage in a round of gaiety.

Have you read all the synopses from Digest then (on L&F)? If not let me know and I'll post them. I wonder if the show might have been better off embracing a certain trashiness. Was it too clinical? What if they had tried to advertise to non-soap viewers? Wasn't this around the time of Interiors? This sounds like an Interiors-type of show. Thanks for sharing the episode details with us. What you mentioned sounds fascinating, especially L&F. I wish more of Lemay's work was available. What I have wondered about more than once is why they pulled it off the air so fast the first time around. Was the show just too expensive? Was this because Lemay was burnt out and they felt the show couldn't go on in its present state without him? I know the ratings were bad but hadn't other shows started out with poor ratings?

From the December 1954 and January 1955 issues of TV Radio Mirror. Bert Ralston shows every sign of wishing to become a part of New Hope's quiet, simple community, but there are at least three people he has not convinced. One is Reverend Dennis, who knows people too well to be taken in by Bert's smoothness. Another is Sandra Talbot, who has good reason to know Bert's true character. The third is young Babby Dennis, who doesn't like shaking hands with the stranger in town. When Sandra Talbot came to New Hope, she did not expect to fall really in love with Grayling Dennis. Surprised by her own unexpected sincerity, and frightened by the pursuit of Bert Ralston, whom she knows to be dangerous, Sandra feels she must forsake Grayling and the new life that had once seemed possible. Will Grayling's worried family be forced to stand by helplessly as this becomes his excuse to start drinking?

I have an interview with her in a magazine from around 1965 and she was still on the show.

December 1954 RTM. Every aspect of Carolyn Nelson's life underwent severe strain while her husband was Governor, and at the close of his term she was more relieved than regretful to go back to private life. Does Miles share her feelings? Or does he miss his prestige and eminence enough to take a dangerous chance to regain them - a chance that may lead to more trouble than even Carolyn suspects?

I have some others too, although a few are very similar to this. I will post a few more. It's too bad these shows had to end. So many seem fascinating and radio soap is so unique. This was an Irna show wasn't it?

It's jumpy video, but there's a Capitol ad at about 9:35. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8HnsPPd6aY

Another April 1985 episode has been put up. The video isn't good but it's still watchable. Some great Bob and Kim scenes not long after their wedding. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIK9nDseVFA

Thank you for reading them - I have one or two more from 1982 that I don't think have been posted. When I have a chance I will put them up. There's always Doctors-related stuff but I know it can get repetitive so I'm glad to know someone is enjoying them.

I guess I must just be weird because I liked both eras. The only time I really disliked the show was the season with Ben/Cathy, and then the Ben the spy stuff. I also disliked the time when the main stories were Paige and the dirty-looking cop and the Danny Waleska mess (weren't those around the same time). And of course the last two seasons. To me Sumner Group was fun and quirky and generally full of interesting characters. I liked the supporting characters too, like the funny episode where they left the blow-up doll at Mack and Karen's house. Do you think it's because I watched reruns instead of watching once a week?

Is it wrong that I think Karl is one of the hotter guys on the show. I agree with you about Deirdre. Honestly the character was never the same without Ray Langton but she at least had some integrity and consistency. The decision in the last few years to turn her into a sputtering idiot was a huge mistake.

I think the camp element worked with specific characters, and LML was fortunate to have those characters already there. For instance, I thought that most of her stories for Karen - aside from the Meg stuff which I did not like - were very clever in basically writing around what was a one-note caricature. The stalking, her relationship with Mack (which was allowed some fun and sexy moments), her battles with the delicious Linda. I thought she generally did a good job with material for Paige and for Greg. Paige did not fit into the old Knots Landing which was fading away by the time she arrived but when the show was reshaped she was a natural - a glossiness, a sheen, quick wit, yet some heart underneath. Greg was fun and yet also brooding and complicated and soulful. The story about Mary Catherine's death was a real sucker punch which Devane played brilliantly. I also liked the Sumner company stuff. The only material I strongly disliked during LML's era was the Meg custody battle, Mack becoming a bellowing self-righteous ass, Abby's exit story, the destructive writing for Olivia, and Valene's stories. The contempt that LML and Lechowick felt for Valene, and for Joan Van Ark, was palpable, and unfair. I was also very disappointed with how Lynne Moody was treated, although I don't know if that was LML or the network.

Thank you for contributing this. I remember reading an article from around 1971 or 1972 in Daytime TV which talked about CBS' 11-year reign being ended. From what Schemering and Dean Santoro said it seems like the story with Dan/Paul/Liz/Susan might have been too much for some. Did you personally have any issue with Irna's stories, or do you feel those were also scapegoated?

I don't think the show would have lasted. The changes they made were probably right, although I will never believe that Ginger had to go, and the fact that they brought her back for the reunion movie tells me someone agreed. I also think they struck a balance for a while but then it started to get into heavy character damage around 1986-1989 or so, the time of Valene the victim, of way too much of selfish, bellowing Mack, the tedious attempts to keep Gary/Val apart at any cost (they should have been reunited after Jill at the latest), limiting Greg's stories by taking Meg away from him. They were lucky that the new characters they brought in like Paige and Sumner were able to carry so much of the show and that Karen was still a viable character. The show lost a lot of its heart, especially thanks to what they did with Val and Laura, but skillful producing and writing offset this, generally, with a few exceptions (that awful spy story with poor yummy Ben and the hideous Jean Hackney, the DIRTY COP!!! season with Paige's unwashed boyfriend, the TIDAL ENERGY season, and quite a few of the last Abby stories - I don't think LML or whoever got Abby at all, with the boring Michael York story and with that last Japanese takeover story, which made Abby seem cold and empty, and was only redeemed by a few fun moments like Abby singing "Don't Worry Be Happy" in the elevator). They also managed to really nail humor and sly wit in a way I don't think any other primetime soap did. The worst for the self-contained episodes I would have to say is Falcon Crest, because the story with Emma's memory of Jason's death stalls out to the same scenes each week, Chase and family and Angela and family are both too isolated from each other, and there are too many scenes where Chase or Maggie are somehow stunned at the idea of Angela being a liar or selfish. They go on and on about how selfish and controlling "Angie" is and they knew in the very first episode that Jason was a broken man and probably not close to Angela, then you get another cliffhanger where they read a letter written to Aunt Aggie, or whoever, detailing this and they make a shocked face for the freeze frame.

So I guess that's one of the reasons John left. Do you think if Trish Stewart had stayed Chris might have lasted? It seems like Bill recycled several of her stories for Cricket, so he must have had some investment in her.

I was wondering if you know which actors were most resistant to the show going to an hour? I read something about the cast "fighting" this, and while this wasn't a surprise (I know quite a few left or almost left because of this) I wondered which were most upset and which weren't that bothered.

I think the self-contained stories worked moreso than the first seasons of Dallas or Falcon Crest, but some of them, like Sid's wife, did deserve more focus. I would have kept Karen Allen around for that. In other cases I think self-contained was better, like the "mother" episode. I never saw Ginger as a Mary Sue because she was not the show's lead. Karen and Val were more of Mary Sues, especially Karen. I thought Ginger was a shy and fragile woman who could have surprising strength. What I liked most about Ginger was she was quiet and thoughtful and you could usually see what she was feeling - you felt a connection with her. Kenny was probably suited to another show. The premise of his character did not work within the setup of Knots Landing. I also think they made a mistake having Abby pursue Richard instead of Kenny. The early seasons had much more characterization and a peacefulness. Later on the action was ramped up but at the expense of the characters, especially Valene.

Do you think if the show hadn't worn Janice down she might have stayed as a lead or I guess it might be one of those things where so many factors were involved, we don't know for sure. Victoria's Leslie was never really a lead was she?

Poor Liz. I still miss her. I have probably asked you this before, but did you notice Janice's Leslie being phased out? Or was it very sudden?

It's pretty blatant, although I guess that is more typical of that era. Brian was so handsome for so long (up to Beggars and Choosers - although he still looks fine now, don't get me wrong), I can see her going a bit gaga in person. Not very professional though, although typical of the 70s magazines. I love them. He didn't seem to be on the show long (I don't even know if it was six months). I guess it worked out well for him, but I wonder if Greg might have been around longer if they hadn't recast with Hauser. It's nice to hear about how helpful Julianna McCarthy was.