MarlandFan

17 hours ago, Soapsuds said:

 

Swoon...James Wlcek as Linc.  

Thanks to the SORAS-ing of Dan, Ellen was a great-grandmother(!) by the early 1980s. As such, the character was considered unexciting for youth-oriented storylines. Also in the early 1980s, Henderson Forsythe, who played her husband David, was often away doing movies and plays for extended periods of time. Without a husband on the canvas, Ellen was placed on the back-burner. 

I came to love Andy and Courtney as a couple - especially when each matured and had a more adult grasp of their personal issues. I loved their growth and was definitely rooting for them. Their Christmas 1992 wedding made me very happy.

Doug Marland died a few months afterwards and I think his portrayal of marriage between two young people would have been handled better then it ultimately was. 

8 hours ago, DramatistDreamer said:

Someone posted a full four hours worth of CBS Daytime lineup from 1986 on YouTube. Unfortunately, they left out Y&R (probably to avoid being cited for copyright violation) and the episode of ATWT had already been posted elsewhere on YouTube years ago. The lineup wasn't one that I recognized, so either it was pieced together or from a completely different part of the country, with a different time zone from the Northeastern one where I grew up. The video was uploaded a year ago.

If this is the video you're speaking of, it's not the actual daytime line-up. The person spliced together programs from other videos to create this.  

8 hours ago, Khan said:

I'm watching the first episode of "Secrets of the Chippendale Murders" on A&E, and guess who shows up in archival footage?  That's right: Brian Starcher (ex-Hank).  Unfortunately, he was clothed, lol.

Starcher was such a handsome guy and a good actor. I never understood why his career disappeared after ATWT.  He had a non-speaking part in 1988's "Working Girl" and one role in "Babylon 5" but, other than that, he seems to have never worked again. 

12 hours ago, Joseph said:

Ok I wanted to ask, How About Original Grown Up Frannie Hughes??? Never knew about or saw anything with her so can someone give me an opinion? Was shocked to know The was someone Before Julianne Moore

I believe the first "adult-ish" Frannie was actress Terri Vandenbosch. Sadly, it appears she has passed away:  https://soaps.sheknows.com/as-the-world-turns/news/3808/as-the-world-turns-alum-passes-away-at-46/

Regarding the comment about Ellen Dolan not knowing the current whereabouts of Anne Sward: while these characters and actors are "family" to us the viewers, they were in actuality co-workers to each other. I am close to some of my co-workers, and not-so-close to others. Some personalities don't gel and perhaps Dolan and Sward were merely coworkers. Also, both MC and HBS left "World Turns" of their own choice and during a period when the soap industry was pretty flush with ratings and funds -- so their memories and relationships may be more positive than Dolan's who stayed until the (very) bitter end and was essentially fired (cancelled). Also, as a previous poster mentioned, both MC and HBS had a longer working relationship with Sward. Dolan stayed with ATWT for an additional 15 years after Sward left and interacted with a multitude of incoming/outgoing co-workers. I don't think the "lack" of a current connection between Dolan and Sward indicates a failing in either woman.

Alan tried to have Lisa Brown on several times, but she declined.  While she had been very content to be behind-the-scenes for the past decade or so, both he and Martha Byrne were hoping to convince her eventually.  But then she became ill and I'm certain all her energies were spent trying to get healthy. 

21 hours ago, Mitch said:

I really wish they had brought back "Chuckie" with his dad still alive (hey if James could do it) and the old past would come to the fore. Scott Eldridge was too boring but I am sure Marland would have made Chuckie as politely dull. 

 

I remember reading an interview with Fulton in 1992 after the Scott reveal. She mentioned that Marland had asked her about Chuckie's death and if it had happened offscreen. She told him "no", that the child's body and Lisa's grieving over the body had been portrayed onscreen.  So clearly Marland had considered bringing Chuckie back, but realized it would be a betrayal to the show's history. 

I agree about Scott being dull. When I first learned that Joe Breen had been cast as Scott, I was excited because of his great work on GL. But Scott (as written) was a wimpy sad sack who (obviously) had mother issues. Even back in 1992 it seemed very problematic that he should get sexually involved with his boss (Lucinda) and after that relationship ended, he moved right into a relationship with the doomed Neal. Then the actor began to physically change from his health issues -- and then he was replaced. And then Marland died.  Scott as a character (and as a long-lost brother to a core character) never caused the fireworks that he should have. And before any major correction could be made, Marland and the character were gone.  I liked the direction the new Scott took (as an unpredictable troublemaker portrayed by Doug Wert) but by then I had basically stopped watching the show.

The rapid aging of Ellen (from single gal to great-grandmother in 20 years!) meant that actress Patricia Bruder became a peripheral character by the early 1980s. Eileen Fulton was very smart to insist on a "no-Grandmother" clause in her contract throughout the 1970s.

Regarding the August 1986 episodes where Tom found out he had NOT slept with Barbara:  I love that Marland had Margo forgive Tom and decide to return to him prior to she and Tom realizing the truth. It was love that brought them back together, not the revelation that he had not cheated. 

The late-May 1986 classic episode where Frannie remembers Marsha killing Doug Cummings is the Holy Grail of YouTube. That episode and Chris's Labor Day birth are the two that have never been posted. Hopefully, one day someone will discover an old video tape in their attic...

This episode not only showcases Eileen Fulton's "on-target" performance during the menopause storyline -- it's also an example of how perfect the 1986/87 years were for ATWT.  I'm so grateful to those many fans who kept their VCRs running so that we can still watch this amazing show today.

1 hour ago, Soaplovers said:

Rosemary Prinz's had a great interview, Louise Shaffer had a great interview, Sharon Gabet's 2 interviews were great,and finally Susie Pratt totally took over.

I think if the guest is strong willed, the interview will be good because they run the interview...and he just follows along.

Eileen is pretty vocal (her Emmy foundation interview says as much)..so I'm hoping she has her wits about her.

In the late 90s, I attended an ATWT discussion panel at the Paley Center in NYC. Of the nine cast members present, Fulton, Byrne, and Zenk were the most effusive and enthusiastic. All three ladies connected with the audience and were 100% happy to be there.  I look forward to Eileen's interview.

23 hours ago, DramatistDreamer said:

For the love of Eileen Fulton, I wish these episodes were of higher visual quality (they're not the worst, but definitely not the clearest visual quality) but "Lisa" is in rare form in this episode. Her scenes with Barbara, Tonio and Lucinda, which extends into the next episode are standout, imo, despite the occasional over the top outburst (meant to evoke menopause and Lisa going through the "change of life"), Eileen is really quite good here.

I especially enjoyed the scenes where Lisa goads Tonio (who begins to suspect that Lisa knows about he and Barbara having had an affair). The way she needles and taunts him is actually fun to watch--she does the same thing to Lucinda in the next episode too (also fun) and Eileen looks like she is in her element.

 

I've written only one fan letter in my life and it was to Eileen Fulton during the menopause storyline. I thought she did a great job.

I appreciate Alan for A.) coming up with the idea of these amazing soap reunions, B.) setting them up, C.) keeping them going. I'm sure it's time-consuming and sometimes stressful. So, thanks to Alan!

I've downloaded every 1986 - 1993 episode available on YouTube to my Dropbox account.  If ever they are pulled from YouTube (hopefully never), I wanted to ensure that I'd still have them.

Regarding the Frannie/Sabrina casting: I remember Don Hastings discussing how time consuming it was to halt taping in order to re-dress/hairstyle Julianne Moore as the other character.  That was probably a major factor in the decision to cast two separate actresses in 1991.

I know I'm the minority here, but I did not appreciate Jon Hensley's acting abilities. He seemed to struggle with lines and his range ran from A to B.  He was a gorgeous man (especially in the 80s) and lucked out by landing in a super-couple that lasted for decades, but if there was any lack of chemistry with the various Lilys, it was due to him.

I believe Rattray was there for a full three years, from very end of 1989 to the very end of 1992.

Heather Rattray definitely made Lily her own. She helped move Lily to adulthood and made us feel Lily's anguish during the miscarriage/ Holden's amnesia/ the Aaron deception storylines.

Regarding the "hair and makeup" times/lengths: I don't think the actors were in the chairs the entire time. Some may have taken 10 or 15 minutes, others perhaps longer. But I'm sure there was some buffer time between the hair/makeup time and the on-set call.

I believe Susan's contention that Marland received royalties for characters he created.  He was a major, Emmy-winning soap writer when he joined ATWT and I expect his contract called for several perks that most head writers did not receive at that time (or since). He had already created two soaps ("Loving" and "A New Day in Eden") and was at the Bill Bell/Agnes Nixon level. I'm sure that part of the reason he agreed to take on the 30-year old ATWT was that he would retain rights to characters he created. 

While I appreciate Alan coordinating all of these soap actor reunions, he can be a very frustrating interviewer. He interrupts a great deal - and at inopportune times. Suzenne was going to expand on several topics but at her slightest pause, he jumps in and cuts her off. I'm sure we could have learned a lot more about Louden and Morrison and the post-Marland era if he would just let her speak. She was game to talk about everything.  And it sounds like she had a friendship with Marland -- we could have learned about that as well. Again - I'm glad these interviews are taking place - but there are so many missed opportunities.

It's very frustrating to watch these interviews with the ATWT producers and learn so little about the origin/inspiration/details behind the storyline decisions. He has Vivian on and never once asks what it was like to work on the show during its 80/90s Renaissance and the shock of Marland's sudden death or the P&G EP musical chairs period. I mean, this woman is a walking encyclopedia of soap opera history - and yet Alan ignores it.