Efulton

I just started watching Santa Barbara from the beginning on YouTube for the first time since it originally aired. I really like the majority of the original cast and do not understand why so many were fired. Ava Lazar (Santana #!1) in particular had star potential. I suspect Mary-Ellis Bunim coming onboard a few months after the show premiered had a a lot to do with the cast changes. She left every show worse off than she found it.

I believe that you are correct. Blaine was very concerned about Donna's interest in Sandy.

Felicia Gallant was based on romance novelist Jacqueline Susann not Alexis Carrington. Headwriter Robert Soderberg had been friends with Jacqueline.

Are the ratings no longer being posted on this site?

I wonder if Guiding Light ever considered bringing Gary Pilar back as Mike since be played the role from 1963–1965.

I agree completely!! She should have been there until the end.

Rumour has it that he negotiated a year extension and part of the deal was that the producers fire Laura Malone (Blaine). Not sure how true it was but Laura was very vocal about how she felt Chris and Nancy turned on her for no reason.

That’s because Harding Lemay wasn’t writing Liz Matthews. His writing for Irene Dailey was the version of Mary Matthews that Virginia Dwyer refused to play.

I enjoy this chat. Those ladies are a lot of fun. It nice to see how close they are after 40+ years.

If you have not listened to this I highly recommend it. It found it very interesting.

Man do I love Linda Dano! I cannot believe that I still miss Another World after almost 22 years. Seeing her back on my tv makes me so happy.

I enjoyed Hugh Marlowe as Jim but Virginia Dwyer and Mary should have been there until the end. There is no denying Harding Lemay was talented but his arrogance and ego (along with Paul Rauch's) did long term damage to Another World.

I got this information from the Another World Homepage. Jacqueline Courtney (Alice Matthews Frame 1964): September 24, 1946 - December 20, 2010 George Reinholt (Steve Frame 1968): August 22, 1939 - November 11, 2013.

I didn't mind her short hair either. It was a bit shocking when she first appeared but she had such a beautiful face that it worked for her. Now the jet black hair she had at the 50th anniversary of soaps is another story..

I totally agree that she needed a much better romance with some fire. They should have put her with a younger man to do something unexpected with the character. After a few years of bad writing I really enjoyed Dec 1982 - to Feb 1985 so i probably ignored some of the questionable writing decisions because overall the show had improved so much.

I recently rewatched 1984-85 and I wouldn't say her return was botched. Alice returned much stronger, had a career, was mentor to Thomasina, was involved in Sally's story and had a romance with Mark. It thought she fit in seamlessly after being away from Bay City for so many years. Once Gary Tomlin and Richard Culliton left in early 1985 the writing went downhill for everyone and Alice was a casualty.

There a times when the death of an important character tells a good story - Susan & BJ (GH), Isabella (Days), Stephanie (B&B), Victor & Megan (OLTL), Will (AMC) but others make my blood boil. The decisions on Another World were extremely short sighted and bother me the most. Lee Randolph Bill Matthews Steve Frame Mary Matthews John Randolph Steve Frame (again) Julia Shearer Sally Frame Quinn Harding Frankie Frame Bridget Connell Ryan Harrison Lee and Bill were the next generation of the 2 core families. There was so much future story potential for them. I don't know what Robert Cenedella was thinking. Lee could have left town if the character needed a break. Killing Bill to free up Melissa for Somerset was a smart move in the long run eh? Killing Mary Matthews was the equivalent of killing Alice Horton, Kate Martin, Nancy Hughes or Bert Bauer. The PTB should never have allowed Harding Lemay's to do this. This was the peak of his arrogance and decisions like this are why the core of AW was gutted by the time he left. Each time the show tried to bring back the Matthews (1981, 1984 and lastly in 1989) they failed. Killing Steve Frame twice??! Come on. Seriously stupid. I can accept the first time due to the issues with George Reinholt and because a window was left open a crack for his return. The second time was completely unnecessary. John Randolph wast the most logical choice to take over for Jim Matthews as the wise patriarch of Bay City. As the longest serving cast member at the time Michael Ryan deserved much more respect than he was given. Julia was yet another young Matthews that was wasted. Faith Ford got the last laugh though. Sally was popular for a decade. A recast that did not work (mainly because of the writing IMO) should not have lead to the death of a legacy character. Sally could have simply taken Kevin and left town after finding out Catlin got Brittany pregnant. Quinn was beautiful, smart, had relationships with half of Bay City and Petronia Paley and James Pickens Jr had off the charts chemistry. With all the upheaval on AW in the early 80s Quinn managed to stay relevant and one of the few things the show did well during that time period was feature interesting African American characters played by incredibly talented actors. Frankie Frame - do not get me started. Not only was Bridget the only character in her age group she was played by a soap legend. Typical JFP move. Ryan's body could have not been found or he could have been shipped off to a long term care facility. There was no need to kill him onscreen. Lazy writing.

Yes indeed!

I have not seen the Another World episodes leading up to the launch of Texas since they first aired. I just remember really not liking the 1.5 episodes in general. I completely agree with you about Lee Paterson. Kevin is constantly miserable. I guess that is the point since he wants to get out of his marriage to Reena and return no Bay City. I also find that in his scenes with Elizabeth Allen (who I love!) he relaxes and shows some warmth. It's too bad there is not more of that. I have not seen these episodes yet but they sound great. I am looking forward to them. I love Nita. I think I remember Billy Joe sexually assaulting someone and not liking the character for the rest of the show's run but I may be remembering that wrong. I have only seen a couple episodes with Dawn and yes she does seem super green. There is something about Jole/Bart that gets on my nerves. I have not enjoyed any of his scenes so far. Maybe that will change. I suspect Catherine Hickland's stunning beauty may be blinding me from seeing her less than stunning acting skills. 🙂 I sent a link of episode 1 to my cousin. It made her year. We used to play Hitopah as kids. lol

I just watched the first 10 episodes of Texas after not seeing them since they first aired when I was 8 years old.I have to say I really enjoyed them and Iam looking forward to the next batch.I’ve read on this message board how the original setup was weak but I have to disagree.The original families - the Bellman’s (Striker, Victoria, Reena, Kevin, Samantha & Bart), Marshall’s(Kate, Mike, Justin, Paige, Dawn, Courtney, Ginny & Steven), Dekker’s (Maggie, Max, Rikki, Terry & Elena), Wheeler’s (Alex, Ryan + soon to be Iris & Dennis) and the Wright’s (Billy Joe & Nita) were interestingly intertwined and each family had unique dynamics. Most of the casting was spot on with several bright lights - Josephine Nichols (Kate), Jerry Lanning (Justin), Lisby Larson (Paige), Catherine Hickland (Courtney), Barbara Rucker (Ginny), John McCafferty (Billy Joe), Carla Borelli (Reena), Elizabeth Allen (Victoria) and Randy Hamilton (Rikki).It’s unfortunate that Lanning, Larson, Borelli and Hamilton never found another successful soap role.And damn Jim Poyner (Dennis) was cute and had leading man potential.Another World was shortsighted in not bringing him back to Bay City. Mike Marshall’s suicide, Iris being reunited with the first man she ever loved and the revelation that Alex is Dennis’ father drove story and shook up the canvas. I get some of the criticism - Iris losing her edge, Bart, Max and Clipper being annoying as hell and it was definitely more traditional and boring in comparison to its competition Guiding Light and especially General Hospital. But if you are looking for a classic soap to watch with big characters, big sets and big hair I say give Texas a shot.

I recently rewatched 1981 on YouTube and I thought the setup for Steve’s return was well done. Alice had returned to Bay City with Sally then got engaged to Mac. Jamie felt that he had been replaced at Cory Publishing and in Mac’s life by Sandy. Rachel was debating moving away with Mitch and was not happy about Alice and Mac being together. Steve returned and caused drama for all of them. If George Reinholt and Jacqueline Courtney had returned as Steve and Alice I think it could have worked. Corinne Jacker replacing L. Virginia Brown as head writer soon after Steve returned wrecked things as well.

Valid points. I only remember Judy Dewey and Anna Stuart having snarky interactions. I don’t recall scenes between Laura Malone and Anna. There may have been but I don’t recall.

I would disagree. Both of Blaine’s brothers were in in Bay City. As was her best friend Sally, ex husband Jamie, in laws the Corys, rival Donna. Blaine had many storylines before Sandy and could have after Sandy if the writers wanted to write it.

Liz “Let’s get back to The Doctors” Marie “I was talking about The Doctors”

I elfin LOVE Anne Heche!