DRW50

December 1983 Digest. John Kelly Genovese reviews Search. I didn't type the names of the actors, but if you want those, I will. Until recently, insiders hinted that "Search for Tomorrow" would bite the dust after thirty-two years. Shortly after Joanna Lee became the show's executive producer, that talk abated - with good reason. First, one must examine why such a television classic would drop from the top five to the bottom of the barrel in a few years. The original sin was not adhering to a viable, unified story structure, which had been ingeniously set up by Joyce and John William Corrington, the head writers who revitalized the show in the late seventies after a slightly anemic period. Theirs was an ideal bend of the new and the familiar, a carefully interwoven family set-up which could have carried the show for decades. Self-made tycoon Ted Adamson was designed as an overall catalyst much like John Dixon of "As the World Turns." His triangle with the widowed Collins sister-in-law, Janet and Stephanie, brought about the disapproval of Janet's loving dad, Stu, with Jo as the buffer. The love of Liza and Travis was a vital cog in the overall wheel - Liza being Janet's daughter and Travis, the nephew of Jo's unstable husband, Martin. Travis' history as a young New Orleans tycoon naturally brought about a combination of romance and action in that old world setting, with Ted Adamson's daughter Sunny, a TV reporter and journalist, caught up in these doings through family and personal connections. This ideal balance was shattered, however, when succeeding writers tried to milk the Corringtons' action-oriented trimmings with little regard for their story and character subtleties. The marriage of Liza and Travis dominated the show, with Liza getting kidnapped seemingly every other week and Travis fighting an endless parade of evil forces. The rocky romance of Janet and Ted could have resulted in a conflict-producing and often hilarious marriage, but instead dime-store romance novel techniques were applied. Finally, there was the unkindest cut of all - when simple, loyal Ellie Bergman dumped Stu for a French chef and waltzed out of Henderson with her king of Bernaise sauce. "Search for Tomorrow" was doomed, therefore, because it had become one big dead end. It's newer elements (i.e. Liza being kidnapped) had become as tired as its former elements (i.e. Jo being kidnapped). Except for a sensitive story in which young Wendy fell for a young imposter claiming to be her brother, "Search" was searching for an identity and replaying formula. Typically suicidal was the elimination of Janet and Ted, the two who held all the story elements together. Now Ms. Lee and her writers (headed by Gary Tomlin) have to pick up from square one and clean their predecessors' mess. Though the quality of the results vary, they are doing just that - and not wasting any time. Gradually, the Bergman family unit is flocking back to Henderson. Stu's son Tom is investigating the criminal doings of sly Warren Carter, who is also involved in a romantic triangle with best friends Wendy and Suzi. Danny, Stu's grandson, is another recent arrival. Humanness, in fact, has returned to Search." Powerful Lloyd Kendall is a dynamic character without coming across as a bellicose ass, hence Sunny's attraction to him is believable. Lloyd's son Steve is the sort of cool, assertive younger man who would attract a sexual and verbal powerhouse like Stephanie. And all sorts of plot lines have opened up since the discovery that Steve is really Martin's son. The romantic exploits of ex-prostitute Jenny and Steve's blind musician brother, Michael, were often on the sappy side, but at least Michael was portrayed as a positive force rather than a self-pitying boob. On the more mature side of the spectrum, Stu's new relationship with Dr. Barbara Moreno is a delight. And - thank God - Liza and Travis are more interesting now that their storylines are not so labored. True, "Search" still has some annoyances. Country star Rhonda Sue Huckaby is too overblown to be all that humorous (one Opal Gardner will suffice). The scripts tend toward the obvious, the sappy and the cute, as witnessed by Stu's hiring a bogus psychic to pick up Jo's "vibrations" when Jo was - yes, friends - kidnapped again. But compared to the strides "Search" has made in a mere few months, these are minor flaws which can be worked out with far fewer pains than what Joanna Lee and Co. have had to do with this once-limping warhorse. "Search" is not off and running yet, but it has regained its legs - just when we thought the nail was in its coffin.

I'm not sure about Rick and Murder She Wrote - it's not on IMDB. Why did the Dobsons return become such a misfire? Had they just been away too long? Did their anger over how they'd been treated show up in the material?

Yesterday I was watching some of the fighting between Rachel and Mac after she drove Blaine and Jamie out of town. It was so ferocious, and while it was at times a little hammy, I was riveted to the scenes, especially when Mac said he finally knew he'd married the woman everyone had warned him about, and Rachel said Mac wanted to turn Amanda into another Iris. There's an especially good moment when he grabs her arm - electric. It's a shame the show never really worked out a way to keep them at odds that didn't isolate the characters, as seems to have happened during the time Rachel was with Mitch and David Canary's Steve. I also really liked seeing Richard Backus/Ted Bancroft playing verbal tennis with Iris and trying to worm his way in with Rachel. It's a shame that they gave up on the character. The 90 minute episodes are your only chance to see Brooks and Louise discussing table arrangements in extensive detail

I was reading the SOD panning of the Eden split personalities story - they basically said the story made no sense, it was tough to tell some personalities (like Channing and Linda) apart, and that it made no sense that Cruz didn't recognize Eden just because she had a dark wig. They named it the worst story of 1991. Do you agree with that?

I have a lot of issues with her going back to "Lord." I wish she had taken her mother's maiden name.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIgl1Q1jrzQ

Gingrich, never likely to have a chance, but always a favorite of the media (he's the ideas man!!!), seems to have suffered the final blow, as the high echelons of his campaign staff have abandoned him. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/56631.html It looks like they wanted out after the bizarre decision by Newt and wife to disappear and take an expensive cruise. Some speculation that the new favored son will be Rick Perry, who has spent the last decade destroying Texas.

That's fascinating. It's kind of pathetic to sit back and look at how many times over the years soaps chickened out of telling stories about Asian characters. Were you surprised when they had Amy make a few appearances in the late 80's? Did you think she'd just been forgotten? In her last appearance, at Nancy and Mac's wedding, there was this strange moment, a way she looked at Paul, or her being nervous, that made me wonder if they were planning story for her that never materialized. Did it seem true to Penny's character that she would marry some race car driver (did viewers ever see him) and then spend the rest of her life in Europe with him?

April 30, 1991.

June 26, 1990. January 8, 1991.

January 23 and April 17, 1990 Digest recaps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZIT48HLjV8&feature=related Sorry for all the clips - I just thought this was the best way for fans to be able to see some glimpses of what made Mandy such a riveting character. It's a shame that the very very hard work of some previous uploaders was undone by stupid policies.

March 25, 1993. More of Mandy and Aidan. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFUs-hZW3LA&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVn7ungavp8&feature=related

That would make sense. That and the work for actors in the UK is probably drying up more with all the "reality" and entertainment shows. I am hoping that he will do a good job with her, especially in showing her vulnerability and keeping her grounded. He's done very well at this with Janine. I would like to see how she is with Janine as well as Rainie. And of course Pat. The early 90's EE does seem like a decent era for the show. Nothing huge but solid, believable characters, and also quietly integrated. The show also has great pacing. It's probably the least flashy era of the show - no Den or Angie, no Peggy. Sharon is more of a low-key glam. I do notice that Dot seems like a bit of a spare part, which is probably one of the reasons June left.

This is also the time of the buildup to Pete's death (which I always thought was a big mistake, and also kind of an odd storyline), and the sad story about Pat's breakdown.

The last available of October 1992. Mandy at the Fowlers, as Pauline and Arthur ponder whether she slept with Mark. February 1993. Mandy and Aidan.

This last part of the episode has a really good scene with Mandy and Mark.

This is the start of October, a few episodes before the above. This is closer to the time they are actually evicted. You can also see a bit of the rougher-edged Nigel before he became a more cuddly and saint-like figure.

Another episode. This surrounds the time that Ricky, Sam, and Mandy were thrown out of the place they were living in. Mandy was very close to Mark at this time, as you'll see.

They really do resemble each other. Some are hoping this means Daniella will be back too but I don't see that happening. I think the main thing with her is they weren't using cliches with her or trying to feed you reasons to pity her. It really has become such a tired cliche in recent years - Zsa Zsa's early days probably being the most blatant example (the "fun" thieving from the market, the predictable tearful backstory, the bitterness but she's a sweetie underneath, blah blah).

Mandy is a thief!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG8APegSeFI&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

This episode has Mandy and Sam in the cafe, then they have some fun while in a fancy clothes shop. You also get to see Ian as MC Hammer and Jules being mugged by Baby Spice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QzkGUiB1cE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6klTeJwjYE&feature=related

One of the best, if not the best, Emily/Barbara scene, at about 30 minutes into this episode. Melanie and Colleen really go for it.

Thanks for posting these. I wish the Kathy stuff was still around.

Thanks for sharing all this with us. I never knew Graham Jarvis or Madeline Sherwood were on GL. This has already been talked about a bit but can you tell us more about Olivia Cole's story?