Soaplovers

If you think about the same could have been asked about SFT.. which started as a story about Jo navigating life as a young widow with a young daughter... but the show had a rebirth in the mid 70s by expanding the scope of the canvas focusing on Jo's family, Stu's family, and a bunch of younger characters that were connected to both families either through blood or friendship. LOL's biggest problem was always the time slot. They were usually aired before 11 AM.. and even when the Labine's revived the show creatively (from what I hear Depriest maintained what the Labine's were doing)... it never reached higher then 8th or 9th place.. and even though Marcus was working her magic.. the show was moved to 4/3 PM so it was usually not aired by certain affiliates.. or were being killed by Edge of Night on ABC... (hence why I think Marcus tried adding younger characters to appeal to the afterschool crowd).

I can't recall for sure.. but I think Marland said The Doctors was his learning curve and that whatever mistakes he made writing the soap, he learned from on his future projects (though I don't think he truly did with the onslaught of Snyders hogging airtime right away). So I'll be interested to see if his trademarks were shown on this show or not. I know he created Sara, Barney, and Luke Dancy... but I think Depriest brought on Virginia and Nola. The problem I noticed with Cenedella was also pacing. A whole week focused only on the Erich kidnapping case and nothing else? He didn't have anything else on the backburner waiting to take over once that story was resolved.... he should have spent that time building the Tom being ill story... and showing Toni struggling with balancing motherhood and work as a single mom. Though I did love MJ/Alan as a couple.

I agree.. her stint on AMC was pretty good.. she had some good ideas that when Agnes Nixon resumed head-writing she ran with. Cenedella's 6 month stint on The Doctors had both highs and lows for me. Highs: More character driven scenes (Lots of good scenes between friends.. great Althea/Maggie scenes especially) Penny wasn't so one note (the Pollocks made Penny so one note).. she and Althea scenes were always tentative under him.. they loved each other, but each were afraid to say what they truly felt. Plus, I liked that Cenedella gave Penny a friend in MJ. Alan was likable.. and he was paired with MJ under Cenedella.. and you could see he cared about her, but it was played that if Toni came to him to say she wanted to reunite, he would have. Plus, it was eerie how much MJ and Toni looked alike (transference anyone). Billy/Gretel was a cute little teen romance that didn't eat up airtime (Everyone thought Marland started it.. but Cenedella started it). Jerry Dancy... finally a guy that is evenly matched with Penny... guess Cenedella started the Dancy family with Depriest and Marland both building on it. Lows: Not enough action. After the Steve/Carolee/Karen custody was resolved... there was nothing to put in it's place. Killing off Dr. Tom... Ironic that Cenedella wrote Tom as someone other than a clone of Nick... only to kill him off. It just happened too quickly before we got a chance to know the real Dr. Tom Neutral: The Conrads... Eleanor is interesting... but she seems more troubled then outright crazy. Too much telling and not showing in this case. Why Althea would keep dating Scott baffles me (actually no it doesn't). From reading summaries a long time ago, it seems like Depriest shifts things... and looks to show Eleanor as being the one to root for.. and Scott/Wendy not as much. Once Depriests brief tenure ends.. I'll analyze my thoughts on it.

@vetsoapfan wow, I am suffering from whiplash. All the stories turned on a dime quickly once Cenedella left and Depriest took over (only 3 episodes have aired of her brief tenure)... and the character of Ann kind of did a 180. Miss career woman Ann who confessed in one of Cenedella's last episodes that she was taking stock of her life.. that her career was good.. but something was missing... by Depriest's 1st episode was saying she'd always been in love with Steve.. that her other relationships were meaningless because it was Steve she wanted and her life had no meaning.. but now she is going to get happiness. I'm like 'say what'.

I think that is why the show's attempts in 1993 and 2003 to have Holly/Ed become a couple never worked because Simon/Garrett had friendship chemistry in spades.. but not romantic chemistry. Since it's Pride Month... I can remember reading confirmation that Garrett was a lesbian and breaking it to my mom (who was a big Holly fan.. both actresses in the 70s and was excited when she returned in 1988). My mom didn't believe me.. she kept saying 'but she has such great chemistry with men.' and I said 'that's why it's called acting'. She said that she couldn't imagine having to hide who you are to have a career, and at the time, was glad actors/actresses weren't hiding in the closet anymore.

It's a shame the show was cancelled just as it appeared as if Ann Marcus was finally getting the show some focus and consistency. She had introduced several new characters that were more modern and likable.. and were mixing them up with the veterans. Even though Dana is green, you couldn't help watching her and her acting partner either. I do wonder how that story would have turned out (was she really Bruce's daughter, or was her mother in her diary mistaken).

I think Shannon was as close to a girlfriend as Lily had... especially in the mid 90s.

There were hints in 1976/1977 that LIsa was still interested in Bob.. but she wasn't aware of it except her mother Alma called her out on her being jealous of attention any woman placed on Bob (at the time it was both Joyce and Valerie). At this time, Kim was married to John and in love with Dan Stewart.

I'm gathering this is right before Broderick/Miller were demoted as headwriters. Between this episode and the end of December 1989, it's like a completely different show.... Julie/Nico were still a couple..kind of.. with Cecily trying to play matchmaker (by end of December.. Julie has just left town and Nico/Cecily are a couple).. Erica/Jack aren't a couple at this time..but become a couple by end of year... Angie/Cliff are a couple here.. but end of year, not so.

I think for most of the 1970s, Lisa is married and in love with Grant while fighting Joyce... so I'm sure Lisa was more of a terror to Jennifer then she would have been to Kim.

I used to wonder how Chris and Peggy reacted to the Lorie/Leslie feud.. if they choose sides, etc. There were a few monthly summaries from late 1975 where Lorie was caught in a compromising position with Peggy's boyfriend.. and Peggy freaking out assuming that Lorie was trying to steal her boyfriend.. so that answered that question for me

I'd rather they had five instead of six. Although Gina is from the east coast, so I could see her not having a filter... and Emily's story seems interesting with her sister being her surrogate, as well as, being a step mother. I do recall reading that Tamra/Shannon had a fight.. but by season end, they were having fun together again. I do think Tamra should recall how upset she was at Alexis/Jim when they opted to keep socializing with Simon after the split... since I do recall they were couple friends in the past. Plus, Emily was a former friend of Tamra... so I'll be curious to see why the estrangement and why she's trying to be friends with Tamra again.

well today's batch of episodes saw the introduction of Depriest as headwriter so after 6 months, Cenedella is officially gone. Reading about the Steve/Ann story back in the day, it seemed to indicate Ann was totally at fault and Steve was innocent... but seeing these episodes, it looks as if Steve was pursuing her while she was trying to be sensible.

I think AMC started saving their episodes in 1976, Agnes insisted on that in exchange for her agreement to expand that show to an hour.

I do remember reading that Katherine knew Philip was cheating on her..and wasn't sure who it was.. and thought for a second it was Lorie... and that Lorie/Jill kind of had one another's # as well in those early scenes. I read some monthly summaries a long time ago around 1978.. and there were instances of Brock/Leslie interacting with one another.. it was during the time Brad/Leslie were having marital issues and she was pregnant with his child.. while Lori was off in another storyline with Lance/Vanessa during that time. I also think the early years being isolated worked because from 1980 to around 1982/3.. Jill/Katherine really didn't interact all that much. Youtube used to have a scene or two when Deborah Adair was playing Jill... and in that match up.. Jill was the one who you rooted for while Katherine was the one that you despised... and she tried to stop the wedding and only backed off when Liz told Katherine that if she did anything to sabotage Jill's wedding, she'd lose her for a friend.. and Katherine had to back off. In the 90s (up till 98)... Katherine was always trying to interfere and sabotage Jill's life.. while Jill was usually happy not to have to be around her. Kay Alden ruined that vibe with the stupid house story and then turning Katherine into a saint.

According to Tamra's instragram, her son with Simon is turning 18 next week and than he will be on the show.. so if true, I guess she will have secured herself a season 14 slot (since two of her kids would/could be featured on the show....hmm). Apparently, the housewife rumored to be downgraded on the upcoming season 13 of RHOC is Gina... due to her starting a divorce proceeding (not sure if she or hubby that started it)... and she didn't want it featured on the show. So I'm guessing the show is editing the trailer and possibly the first episodes. If all true, this could be a season 9 all over again.. but that was a good season so maybe lightening will strike twice.

Where he and Julia Duffy have good chemistry. So I often think chemistry can make/or break a couple. I didn't much like who Iva married to.. but he seemed like a nice guy with a solid career.. and was willing to be a step father to her child with John Dixon. At that point in her life, it made sense Iva decided on friendship/stability over passion/excitement she had with Tad, Kirk and to a lesser extent John. I often think Iva's quick write out had to do with the fact that the Marland outlines the replacement team had run out.. and her character had a more natural conclusion to her arc hence why she ended up leaving. I do wish she had been allowed to visit more especially in 1994/95/96 when Lily was going through the pregnancy, gas lighting, and losing Damian. And I do agree her Nola return had her playing her more like Iva.. but I did notice in 96/early 97.. she was acting more like Nola of old... but then the writing got weird for her with that obsession story... but she had a few fun fantasies on her return like in the old days.

Even good writers like Pam Long and Douglas Marland make errors.... Marland didn't really write a lot of the Dobson characters well (Katie, Amanda, Rita, etc) and he killed off an effective villainess (Diane Ballard) for a murder mystery and some of the characters he created (Vanessa, Tony) really flourished once Pam Long took over. I had wished Pam Long had just decided to have Hillary leave town so that she could have been bought back later instead of killed off (to think of how wonderful the Roger/Holly/Ed/Maureen stuff in 1988/1989 would have been enriched more if Hillary had been around).

Given the kind of life Iva had.. I could understand her being a downer... and her all too brief pairing with Kirk made her come alive. The only other time Iva came alive was when she won the cruise and got a make over and had the time of her life. Considering that she was raped by whom she thought was her cousin, had a baby at 13/14, gave the baby up, and basically ran away from home.. I'm surprised she was only lethargic. While I didn't like who she ended up with, he seemed like a nice and steady guy... and that was what was needed in her life..imho. When people mention Sam, I'm hoping everyone meant the first Sam... the tall, sarcastic Sam and not the sappy recast.. right?

I liked the isolation that Bill Bell did for Y & R... because that is real life. I'm all for character interaction, but it has to make sense. I recall Nina left the show just as it was starting the process of making the show less isolated and more of a community feel... so it was jarring when during the 'funeral' for Chance that she was hanging out with Ashley, Jack, etc... since she'd never interacted with them on screen (unless it was done off screen). I do know that Leslie in her last months was hired by Victor to help Nikki become cultured by teaching her the pianos, etc. And we've seen Nikki play the piano on and off over the years even with her grandson Reed.

@Cat The only reason Days has maintained some of it's identity is because Corday still has a voice/control (sometimes too much) over decisions.. hence why the music is still the same and some of the elements remind me of Days of old. Why Sony/CBS even thought hiring Mal Young was a good idea still boggles my mind.. did they not look at his resume over in the UK? He was responsible for turning the long departed UK soap Brookside (a UK daytime version of Knots Landing about residens on a cul da sac) from an introspective soap into a plot driven dreck that ultimately drove away viewers in the long term. While his touch might have worked on a soap like Days... it isn't a fit on Y & R.

THIS!! And remember until Nikki and Victor met in the fall of 1981.. they hardly interacted with one another.. and both were on the show at the same time for over 18 months.. so when they interacted.. it worked because he wasn't the type to go to a strip club and she didn't have any dealings with Chancellor/Jabot back than.... so it never made sense for them to to interact until Douglas dragged Victor to the Bayou (and I recall Victor wasn't too keen on strip clubs).. and he saw Nikki perform and was entranced. I also recall Ryan/Victoria were the young star crossed lovers for almost a year... and one episode had Ryan at Gina's lamenting not being able to be with Victoria.. and at the same time, both Chris and Nina were at Gina's.. and Chris was trying to get Nina back out into the dating world.. and Chris saw Ryan and had the two meet... and than Ryan/Nina had a one night stand.. and the rest they say is history in regards to that triangle.

Someone had once pondered a long time ago about how Douglas Marland would have written Y & R.. and I said he would have been all wrong for the show... since the show was not about a community.. but about people in separate bubbles going about their lives with little to no interaction.. like in real life.

Oh yes... I remember Nikki started taking up needlepoint in the mid 90s.. and viewers wrote in saying that they wished they could stage an intervention because she needed one stat.

I don't recall Phyllis and Mari Jo interacting.... I recall Phyllis/Malcolm interacting and an early scene of her and Dru not meshing well together in the mid 90s. I remember Mari Jo/Jill interacting quite a bit. Until the late 90s, a lot of times characters hardly ever interacted unless it was at a big event and/or during 4th of July or NYE. A lot of the actors said they would love the holiday episodes because they would get to work with other actors they normally never worked with. Kay Alden was the one that started mixing the show up a bit with having characters interact, etc. I kind of liked how Bill Bell did it a little better because if characters interacted, it was always a nice surprise and sometimes led to new stories