VelekaCarruthers

Jamey Giddens name gone from Days 6/6/24 credits.

Was Susan F. partnered with Ann Howard Bailey? I know they were close

Scab writer Don Chastain on SFT Maggie DePriest stint on AMC and OLTL Karpfs on Capitol Corringtons GH, Capitol, OLTL David Cherrill (who took over from Ellis/Hunt) on SFT Gary Tomlin's two SFT stints Mayer/Braxton SFT As you can see SFT was one of the worst as far as firing head writers. As bad or worse than the doctors. Swajeski supervised the scab writing team on AW for over five months which included Iacubuzio, Mimi Leahey, Michael Zazlow (yes Roger Thorpe) and his wife Susan Hufford, Nerissa Radell (who I believe is the wife of an exec or lawyer for the P&G advertising company that supervised AW at the time). The scab material was lively and somewhat interesting. Lemay's material starting in September was boring and uninspired. NBC and/or P&G wanted the scabs and got them back.

Today's Days script by Jamey G. The episode is posted on YouTube for a while. I'm watching it and his dialogue is too cute by half. If he ends up back doing breakdowns I can see why. Writers in same order as Friday's episode.

Margaret DePreist set the example for hack head writing (which led to the likes of Higely, McTavish, Reilly) on AW, AMC, AW again and OLTL. She was awful and never lasted in any of those jobs. Her only successful stint was following Smith's six months in 1981 at Days. I think she lasted about 2.5 years.

The mistake was throwing out Dorthea Ann Purser who had been guided for nearly a year by highly experienced Soderberg. DAP was doing fine but they canned her for Culliton and Tomlin. Under DAP, the show was classy and reminiscent of Lemay's time. DAP had done admirable work on Texas as well. P&G and NBC interference and lack of discipline.

Days credits today Ron Carlivati Ryan Quan Jeanne Ford Kate Schock Fran Myers Sonja Alarr Kirk Doering Jamey Giddens Dave Kreizman Henry Newman Dave Ryan and Chris Dunn Appears they eliminated breakdown positions and rehired Jamey as script writer, moved Dunn and Ryan to script writers. And Sheri Anderson (who may have been on scab staff) is not with the return writers...at this point anyway.

I meant to type 5/24 episode was written by Lepard (whose name appeared in the outline writer title credits) and script writer, Kate Hall. Clearly, Lepard wrote the Friday breakdown.

I believe Cathy wrote the breakdown on the 22nd or they would have listed her with the other script writer.

Early November

Both Meredith and Mauve were uninspired Long creations. I always felt that Long was looking to recreate her Ashley character from Texas with both of these women.

The Corringtons were never successful head writers beyond SFT with Mary Bunim as producer. They should have left all three at SFT for more years. The Corringtons were hired to replace Hall/Slesar in 1984 and lasted a few months; they were hired on Capitol and lasted less than a year and GH in 1982 (by Monty no less) and lasted a few months. Joyce was brought into GL by Phelps several months after Curlee quit but she didn't last (I think she consulted/wrote breakdowns/edited scripts). Joyce also spent time on Santa Barbara but that also lasted six months or less.

Whose names have appeared as script writers this week since Sonja Alarr on 5/17?

Wonder if Lloyd Gold and Cathy Lepard have also been fired?

Well, Chris Durham who was on Ryan's Hope did a playgirl spread in 1984

Mulcahey entered soap writing in 1980-81 and worked with the Corringtons, Marland (Nixon indirectly at Loving), Dobsons and Nancy Curlee. All great head writers. Yet Mulcahey never had what it took to be a successful head writer, if he had, he would have excelled at it before now and not when he's in his 70s, coming out of retirement and after years on a show like B&B that has never been about quality writing. Korte is a staff writer who also doesn't have what it takes to be a charismatic head writer either. Again, if she had the skill she would have been elevated (and succeeded at least for a time) before now. EK/PM version of GH was absolutely terrible from a creative storytelling perspective despite a few good Tracy scenes here and there. PM was a great script writer in his day. The real problem with GH has been Valentini who hires hair models and is more concerned about everyone's facial filler and botox being up to date, and bigger blame goes to the execs in charge of him and the show over the years. The daytime version of the Sopranos played itself out two decades ago yet here we are with Sonny/Jason/Carly. It's stale, tired and uninspired. On top of that you have so many one dimensional performers who bring nothing but pretty head shots to the screen. When has the show discovered new talent who sizzles on the screen (don't get me started on the overrated reaction to the dude who played Spenser recently, capable but nothing like the young stars back in the day). For those of us around who remember: Brian Bloom, Jon Hensley, Grant Alexander, Tichiha Arnold, Crystal Chappel, Judy Evans, Sharon Gabet, Larkin Malloy, Genie Francis, Tyler Christopher etc. It's just not there on GH and hasn't been since Frank took over. Yes, there are amazing vets who chew scenery i.e. Maura, Cynthia, Jane. But their presence on the screen highlights the problem I've articulated above. It's a split personality of amazing talent and minimal or no talent. GH can't be saved unless and until FV is gone and there's a Disney exec who wants to see multi-dimensional actors portraying compelling non MOB story. IMHO

Can we grow up already, Camila. If it's about Albert others who protected him, either come out with it or stay quiet. This message looks like immature click bait and it's not a good look girl.

A former head writer taking on a new role is not all that uncommon. Hogan Sheffer came back to ATWT as an outline writer. Richard Culliton twice left as AW head writer and became break down and/or script writer. There are many other examples. Chris has been with ABC for years and GH for years, makes sense to keep him. No one ever complained about his outlines. But the show still sucks under EK/PM worse than before, sadly.

Has SCOOBYDOO Ron C posted recently about when his god awful scripts start airing?

I'm rewatching end of Paul Rauch era and first few Conboy episodes where the writers finally break up Beth and Bill Jr. Wow, I had forgotten that monumentally icky and stupid coupling. Was that a Millee Taggart/Lloyd Gold pairing or a Gold/Dunn?

Recently been reviewing April 93 through Dec 95 and I'm impressed how Caso tried to keep Marland's writing team together for so long after his deal (18months approx). At first, he brought back (in June 93) John Kuntz who had been with the show for six years (departed six months prior) and added Mary Ryan (who would last 2 years as outline writer) then return for 2 years in 2001. Garin Wolf returned December 1993. Then 1994 started a big influx and exodus of writers, just as happened on GL. In Jan 94, Richard Culliton came in as an outline writer followed by Millie Taggart who wrote a handful of scripts in early spring of that year before she was pulled over to GL to write by committee when Curlee quit. Then, this surprised me. Lemay returned as story consultant from May to July of 94. This is when they also added Scott Hammer as dialog writer and Christina Covino (outlines and scripts) who had been a writer and production assistant on ABC nighttime show, The Commish. By August 94, vet writer Nancy Ford was gone (but returned in April 1995 as outline writer, lasting 9 months) as was editor, Koechl. End of August Sally Sussman was added as an outline writer (she lasted less than 4 months) and Susan Kirshenbaum as a script writer. By late November, Backus was out, Wolf/Culliton/Packer were head writers. Lorin Wertheimer (assistant to writers) was added as script writer in spring 95 (fired by Valente in May 1996). Caso was replaced by hack John Valente by end of June 95 (he lasted 18 god awful months). (Tom Wiggin wrote a few scripts that summer as well). By end of August, Valente had started to disassemble the writing team. First to go was co-head Wolfe (after an 18month return post Marland death), leaving Packer and Culliton as co heads. Addie Walsh was added as outline writer and longtime writer, Meri Post was fired (having worked on the show since 1985 with a small break or two during that ten year period. By mid December, Packer had been fired, leaving Culliton as sole head writer (through Jan 96). Hammer, Ford and Mary Ryan were also out. Demorest was added (after a 1 year sabbatical after ten on GL) as was Iacubuzio, both as outline writers. Franz was also out after ten years as script writer, replaced by Louise Shaffer. Then, we enter 1996........I have to say P&G/CBS were big into throwing the kitchen sink at the writers' rooms of both ATWT which lost Marland in spring 93 and GL which lost Curlee spring 1994. Neither show easily recovered, if ever.

Marcy Walker? Over-rated, should never have been nominated. Solid actress but could never touch some of the others in this category.

Many things impacted Slesar's story around the Paige plot. Sharon Gabet agreed to return to the show after five months and as we all know who watched it spun over a year of story. The Paige story wasn't working for whatever reason but probably because Henry saddled the plot with an incest love story between Paige and her non bio brother. It was out of place, didn't work. Plus, the actor who played Brian had no chemistry with anyone on the show. When Henry aborted the Paige plot after six or so months, he asked Kim Hunter to stay beyond Mansion of the Damned and put her with a leading man on the which led to a huge plot development and months more of story through summer of 1981. But even Henry's clunker stories were gold compared to today's soaps. He had at least one other big clunker before he was fired (EDEN plot, nuff said). Again, casting was an issue with Chad. The casting was 95% spot on but when they missed, they really missed. Not only Brian, Chad (later), Kelly no. 1 (later) and a few others. But overall, the show under Henry is classic and unique. No other daytime writer could match his brilliance with story, character, dialog and climaxes.

Let's give Pam Long and Kim some love. This is one of my favorite episodes (for the Reva scenes) from Pam's problematic second term (don't get me started on Johnny's cure or Rose/Rusty). Kim won the emmy off of these scenes and Don Chastain (ATWT script writer and former Tom on GH) is excellent. This is one of those times Kim drove it home without chewing the scenery and of course, the script was written by the amazing Melissa Salmons. Pam's issues were in the casting of other characters i.e. Morgan as Dylan. Terrible from the start and throughout. Couldn't hold up next to all the powerhouses. And same for the girl playing his gf. Unwatchable. But Carl Evans and Beth E were fire....Quality

Wheeler was in over her head for the times; even the most seasoned producers would have had huge challenges coming in on budget after the severe cuts. Look how bad Days has been for years on a shoe string budget. What I will say about Ellen is that she maintained a solid writing staff and they were people who knew and loved the show (Kreizman, Hurst, Gold, Dunn and Swajeski). I never had a problem with their writing (generally). Goutman, on the other hand, first got rid of Broderick and Walsh on ATWT, for Laiman who was never successful on anything but Days and the show was doing fine under Broderick finally. Wheeler got rid of one of the worst head writers in history, WESTON. And once Sheffer had his nervous breakdown, Goutman stuck with Passanante who never had a stellar moment in ten years as head writer. I say the true and inexcusable damage to GL was under Phelps and what she did during her last year + with disassembling the writing room with her utter need for control. We'll never know the full story of Curlee's departure, but here's how Phelps handled it. Over several months she brought in Leah Laiman, Millie Taggart, Peggy Sloane, Joyce Corrington, (rehired Demorest after five week departure) only to fire him 8 months later, Tom King, Craig Carlson before bringing in Doug Anderson as head writer (he lasted seven months) after the show had started to settle down with Demorest/Taggart as head writers (after Phelps forced committee writing with five HW then four when she drove Mulcahey out when his two year contract ended) - they should have been given a chance to stabilize things. Doug Anderson was a college professor who knew nothing about writing a show. Then, P&G made matters worse by hiring Liabson who had petered out on Another World a year earlier and paired him with the Dena Higley's twin, Megan McTavish (I give her credit for one of the coffin nails too with the Brent plot, killing Nadine etc). 94/95 set the show back a great deal. I'm sampling the Rauch/Estensen/Brown era after having watching the original run, and they were FIYA for a while. To me, Rauch did his best overall producing on this soap during his era there. The sets, music, credits, clothes, casting, were mostly superb. They get blamed for the clone story but that idea came from Wendy Fischman and Brown discusses this in his Locher interview, but he doesn't name names. It was reported to be Wendy's idea at the time. Even the Labine tenure had quality too it. The severe budget cuts were insurmountable and ridiculous and sad. it is painful to watch that last year although I did rewatch the final week and I cried. I didn't cry at the end of ATWT; there was nothing left to feel about that show. And whatever criticism one can level at Pam Long, her era lived until the final episode.