Lust4Life76

It's interesting Peter Bergman tried to discredit her by calling her crazy in respects to her claims, when he just admitted on the Locher Room last Thursday that he once tried to give Agnes Nixon story direction on where he believed his character, Dr. Cliff Warner, should be going! (Needless to say management interceded and he kept his job, but still!)

God, I dream of this day in my current job...I am so glad that you took a leap of faith and landed on your feet. One more thing...I was really touched that people mentioned Claire Labine, as a collaborator in writing story for people of color on "General Hospital". I remember people watching the show during this time and enjoying it immensely because of the diversity and issues she brought to the forefront. In a way "GH" inspired the networks to make her "Ryan's Hope" to be more outrageous than planned, so it was only poetic justice her "RH" reel the Hospital back in from the days of Lassa Fever and Ice Princesses.

Thank you for this information Mike. I also really enjoyed your posts on the "Race and Racism" in the Soaps" Thread.

I spent a majority of my day reading all but 15 pages of this post, which I will finish tomorrow... In reading all of the things people contributed and commented on so far, I have to say, if only the writer's room of our existing dramas were this diverse and constructive. Granted there were moments of tense exchange, but nobody said the conversations about race would be comfortable, in fact, I hear that to achieve progress they're going to be uncomfortable. This is where I imagine, as part of her research, Agnes Nixon drew the voices for her characters, and though audiences related to one character or another, we understood or became aware of many points of view... One of the posts that stuck out to me, and I apologize, I think it was @victoria foxton, (I've read so many pages) who may have posted to the effect that "All My Children's" drama and differences in characters was inspired by the Vietnam War that rocked our country, and how the show created 3 years of stories from that event alone... So, why can't our shows tell those stories in a way they once did? I mean, long ago are the days "As the World Turns" had to forbid any character to speak of President Kennedy's assassination, when it was said assassination that interrupted CBS' "previously scheduled programming"... (Forbidden, until Rosemary Prinz, as she revealed to Alan Locher last Friday on his show, accidentally went up on her lines as Penny Hughes and alluded to the strife in our country...) How atavistic is the genre, that in spite of the "Classic Episodes": Couldn't Genoa City have had a protest (peaceful or otherwise) at Chancellor Park in response to George Floyd, and the characters responses to it? Couldn't General Hospital's Dr. Monica Quartermaine have had the capability to instruct America on COVID procedures as our nation, as well as our world, went through it's own personal drama? Did Bold and the Beautiful need a boost from scandalous Carol Baskin to pimp their show, making me think twice about the "couture" (or the quality) of its production... And not to be insensitive, but couldn't Salem Place dramatize a mass shooting that might create viewership to tune in to see the reality that continues to divide our country, and respect the rule that in this type of event - nobody returns from the dead. And I already figure (per previous posts, I think one that involved a Twitter thread), executives are too afraid to tell those stories... It seems the networks have failed us? Then what can we do? Respectfully, Erik

Sent one, thanks again...

I just checked the video/chat and yes, it was you Eric... Thank you for answering, and sorry, I didn't catch that it was your name associated the first time I read the post... If you would be willing to share, I'd be very grateful...I was interested in Agnes' bible for "All My Children" and her early story projections. I was also interested in, if you have "a" full script sample, either for radio or "All My Children". Thank you again, for any assistance you give... Erik

I was told by a fellow viewer that if I wanted to see Agnes' work I could find it at the Northwestern College archives. I was curious, does anyone know how to access the online archives for Northwestern to look at Agnes' work? I am on the site, but all I am finding is the ability to request files that I would have to view in person when visiting the library. Is there anything just scanned in? Thanks for any help, Erik

I was watching Alan Locher's "Locher Room" today, and they did a tribute to Agnes Nixon. I was told by a fellow viewer that if I wanted to see Agnes' work I could find it at the Northwestern College archives. I was curious, does anyone know how to access the online archives for Northwestern to look at Agnes' work? I am on the site, but all I am finding is the ability to request files that I would have to view in person when visiting the library. Is there anything just scanned in? Thanks for any help, Erik

With releases of a few mid-late 70's episodes of "One Life to Live" on YouTube... I am intrigued by the character of Cathy Craig Lord (Dorrie Cavanaugh, Jennifer Harmon)... It almost seemed to me the character had so much more longevity - the daughter of the show's patriarch Nat Polen as Dr. Jim Craig, and with familial/romantic ties to the Woleks and the Lords. She was also a reporter for the Banner... I always wondered if her character was written out (possibly if Harmon wanted to leave and the demand of recasting) and replaced her character with that of Edwina Lewis, played by Margaret Klenck... I could see in lieu of Cathy being dumped by Tony, becoming embittered and taking it out on Viki and Karen (like Edwina tended to do), as well as becoming a cohort to Dorian. Speaking of Dorian...the first two Dorians are present in these releases: Nancy Pinkerton and Clair Malis. Very interesting takes on a character Robin Strasser left her mark the most on. Anyone a fan of either actresses' previous work? Don't know if there are any "One Life" legacy fans, but would be curious to hear your take.

Thanks for the response...confused, wasn't Kirby long gone, and Fallon "dead", so Nikki was more of an "in between", along with Lady Ashley, from Fallon back to Fallon... Though I appreciate Joan Collins and the work she did on DYNASTY, I don't know why she would comment on working with Berger...she barely had any scenes with him except for group scenes, none of which even showed them together. The only ones who seemed to share time with Berger the most was Fallon, Jeff, Blake, Krystal and Claudia. Only actors experiences there was Pamela Sue Martin (Fallon) was shocked when Berger thought they did their bed scenes naked, and Pamela Bellwood (Claudia) was esteemed by Berger as one of the nicer cast members.

Question, watching season 5, and intrigued with the Nikki Simpson character. Was she originally slated to be Peter DeVilbis' wife, or were producers hoping Susan Scannell would catch on so she could be a Fallon replacement as it looked like Pamela Sue Martin was not returning. Has Susan Scannell ever spoken about her time on DYNASTY? I'd be curious as to her experience? Thank you! Erik

Aw, thank you OZ, dc11786 has been helping me, when I don't go AWOL, I hope we can collaborate and maybe create something - the objective would be to send a script or two to Chris Marcantel, maybe to be read by some cast members/fans? You never know...

I was informed by some that the document was not loading, let me post here for all to see, remember, this is bare, bare bones...

Thank you one and all, thank you dc11786 for the in depth info... The reason I was asking was because I was so inspired by the videos/chats Chris Marcantel (original Curtis) created, that I wanted to create a LOVING reboot. Let me share some of the very, very barebones idea I have for a premiere cast...Anyways, was just wondering what you all thought: LOVING.docx

LOVING Children questions... 1) Lorna Forbes ultimately married her lawyer Zach Conway...did they have a child offscreen? 2) Did Steffi Brewster have a baby with Cooper Alden? I know Cooper had one with Ally Rescott named Tyler but I thought Steffi was showing signs of pregnancy once her character moved over to "The City". 3) Ann is not Jack Forbes' biological mother, just his adoptive mother? 4) Was Rick the bio-dad of Heather, or did it turn out to be Jack in the end? Thanks! Erik

I loved watching the first two episodes (and partially a third episode) of LOVING posted, as have most of you... I came into watching LOVING in late '85, early '86 after Marland had left, and most of the original cast had gone to make way for creative development that essentially would make LOVING a "lite" version of sister soap ALL MY CHILDREN. In the early 90's, there was an annual publication called "The History of the Soaps". I mainly purchased it because I was a big fan of ONE LIFE and ALL MY CHILDREN, and I wanted to know their respective histories. However, I was always curious as to how other shows began their epics too. LOVING was one of, if not the most intriguing to me with initial stories in comparison to ones I initially tuned into to pale by comparison. If you're a fan of LOVING you have followed the "Ladies of Loving", "Gentleman" and "Fans" specials put out by Chris Marcantel (original and only Curtis Alden)? Even he has opinionated himself that the show never should have veered away from it's original intent - to be a socially conscious "modern day soap". You all have made wonderful observations - "Rita Mae" being "Opal-esque", the family dynamic of the Donovans; the connection between Doug and Ann (I loved Shannon Eubanks "Ann", she reminded me of Erika Slezak's "Viki"). That they had yet to cast Patrick Donovan - and even when the Donovan patriarch was cast, it's not like he had anything memorable to do - better to have made Rose Donovan a widow and give seasoned veteran Teri Keane more story. Of all the incest, progressive priests, liberal media, AIDS, and Vietname Veteran PTSD tackled...I am surprised the show didn't premiere with an even more diverse cast - maybe the Slaters could have been African-American? Did anyone ever here the rumor Shana Sloane was intended to be black? Also, I wonder what longevity LOVING would have had if it hadn't been a network show but a cable show? So many "what ifs", it's fun to speculate...

Okay, so I wasn't crazy for thinking Catherine O'Hara's "Violet McKay" reminded me of Another's World's Beveree McKinsey's "Iris"? Check it out...

Here are the other three trailers...we had to stop short of episode 5 because of Covid-19... Episode 2... Episode 3... And Episode 4...

Hi Dylan I am so honored, thank you...we even have a character with the same name as yours... I have included an attachment of the first trailer we ever did... And also, I have the podcast and it's free: http://bartelltheatre.org/2020/lust-for-life/ The episodes run an hour and twenty minutes, BUT each ACT/Part, was written and separated by commercials so to run the length of a daily installment as I had observed when I listened to the radio version of "Guiding Light" and a more esoteric radio soap "Hearts in Harmony". Thank you again! Erik

Shamelessly asking...but would anyone reading be interested in listening to my podcast of my soap opera that I wrote? I am always up for constructive criticism...

Oh my God, this is an awesome post and your kick off story has to be similar to many of our writing journeys, starting with the desire to create something when we were so young... For me...I remember it was the summer of 1990, Paul Rauch's last year on "One Life to Live", and his final summer story was that the cast of the mock soap "Fraternity Row" went on a location shoot at an island resort called "Badderly". At the same time their was a mafioso convention and the cast had to 'pretend' they were mafia as well. Long story short, it kicked off the romance of Jake Harrison and Megan Gordon, and ultimately their was a twist where Jake had dishonored crime lord Carlo Hesser's daughter Charlotte (Audrey Landers) and there needed to be satisfaction, so Jake was going to get shot. Just before Jake's shooting, for luck, Megan gave him a pin (a souvenir from the soap's infamous underground city story line). When Jake was shot, the bullet ricocheted off the pin, as he wore around his neck, and Jake was miraculously spared. At age 13 I cried "bologna!" because this was a show I remembered had a celebrated history; that had light skinned black Carla Gray pass for white; Karen Wolek testify she was a common hooker on the witness stand; and had Victoria Lord splinter off into an alter-ego that hung up her marriage to dashing cowboy Clint Buchanan for the better part of a year and a half! And then it dawned on me...as it seems to have dawned for many others posting here, that if I was having issues with the writing of my favorite soap, than I should just create my own. Though I wasn't initially inspired by the movie "Delirious" (by the way original poster, have you ever caught John Candy's work in the SCTV soap send up "The Days of the Week"?); the movie that inspired me was "Soapdish", in addition to the satire publication MAD Magazine's irrational send up of a soap opera update. I will attach a file to this post to show you, but I was inspired in creating my characters based on the magazine's caricature art of some of the genre's most distinguished personages (Linda Dano, Stephen Nichols, A Martinez, Jackie Zeman, Arlene Sorkin, MacDonald Carey, Susan Lucci, Debbi Morgan, Tristan Rogers and Marcy Walker). I didn't necessarily aspire to write satire (which I did with my current creation "Lust for Life") but I definitely aspired for campy. I had a fashionista/bitch named Tabitha plotting against her elderly father with his doctor and her lover Dr. Marc DeForest; a renegade/anti-hero named Eric hating on his do-right brother-in-law Colin for being sexually compromised by a nympho nurse, Lindsay at St. Clare Hospital...Theirs would be stories of lust, betrayal and the occasional abduction or bomb scare to heighten the stakes. I think I called it "Worlds Apart" only to learn a variation of that title had already been used ("A World Apart"), so I switched it to "To the Ends of the Earth"... Even though I initiated my creation, for decades I stayed paralyzed in that pre-planning stage of my saga. What prevented me was a sense of direction, good direction that I could trust from a professional, because there really weren't many books, aside from Harding Lemay's and that was a rare find. Resources I could personally refer to that had been written by somebody in the genre like Bill Bell or Claire Labine that took the genre seriously to comment on what was needed to tell a soap of our own. So I had to listen carefully, that's all I could do before the internet boomed, but to listen to the creators in interviews, like Douglas Marland, who laid down the law of great soap writing. Soap Digest was a favorite resource, as was Soap Opera Weekly, expertly written in their constructive criticisms and observations gave me some great takeaways... ...Eventually, I was given an opportunity and therefore gave myself permission to see a creation (the aforementioned "Lust for Life") to fruition because I felt learned enough. My personal experience in keeping focus was I was treating the creation as to how I would perceive the actual profession itself. I took it seriously, but I had fun. I would compare any theater producer or director's demands of me akin to a network's, night and day of course BUT I could only wonder and sympathize about the demand, the pressure the paid writers experience day to day at their network jobs. The frustration they feel when they work on a story wanting to tell it in full only for an exec to put the kibosh on it because nobody is interested in that specific piece, and that 'whatever' that overrides it is more in vogue. Some of my favorite learning moments, was in asking (per Douglas Marland) the cast about their characters to write for that actor; just hearing that voice and making creative decisions. Continuity is another, which is an undertaking in itself. I can see how easy it is to make mistakes. And it is those mistakes, as I would confide with my director about, are what makes you think differently of some of the stories and the writers I, or you, might have criticized. Even though I feel I have a handle on writing a soap opera...I so wish I could take a class from a master, whom I consider to be Kay Alden, or Lorraine Broderick. Erik

Oh my GOD, this Brad Carlton in a cage ordeal is SURREAL!

I wish somebody had a copy of ONE LIFE TO LIVE's masquerade ball in 1981. First of all, you had Asa Buchanan dressed as Robert E. Lee...but yet, Sadie Gray was in attendance, and she went as the Statue of Liberty to counter him.

I remember Sharon Wyatt (ex-Tiffany, GH) had experienced some unpleasantness regarding the weakening of her jawbone that it had to be operated on. This was back in 2011, 2012...does anyone know how things are going for her? Also, speaking of 'General Hospital'. I been watching some of the classic Ice Princess storyline, and I like the character of Alexandria Quartermaine, played by Renee Anderson. Whatever became of Renee Anderson? She had some decent acting chops that she could have continued her work on soaps after GH. Thanks! Erik