VelekaCarruthers

At the start of 1982 under Ellis/Hunt (on CBS) SFT was solidly in the middle of the 13 soaps pulling in between a 7.5 and 6.5 with high 20s share. The final week on CBS the show garnered a 6.3/23. The first week on NBC and mostly thereafter, the ratings were in the middle 3s with a 12 share! I I think under Tomlin 1 and under Glynn the show might have hit over a 4 and 14 but one week only or so. Capitol didn't get those numbers until middle of summer and in the first few months hit the 4s and low 5. By year end it was in the low 6s/23 share but struggled for the remainder of its run. NBC's Search was never going to get 6 / 23 shares but when they were solidly in the high 3s and 12/13 share they invariably fired the writers and producer. Dumb.

I've been looking at the ratings during and after each head writer switch. The ratings during Marcus' tenure (Oct 74 to April 75) were very good but at first not quite as high a Upton's (who was there six months prior. Marcus left when Mary Hartman was picked up as she was a creator and head writer). I've watched Marcus' interviews on Youtube; she discusses most of the soaps she worked on. She liked the money; she's not all warm and fuzzy about writing for them. She loved nighttime genres that gave her writing more flexibility than soapy dramas. But she was good at writing soaps. By April 75, SFT was no.2 in the ratings behind ATWT. O'Shea was next (lasted 18 months) and in May 75, SFT hit No. 1. When O'Shea left the show as still in the top five. O'Shea moved to OLTL in 77? but not as head writer so not sure why she left SFT. The Corringtons were the safest bet to keep long term. They needed to change direction by 1980 as the ratings were dropping but still very solid 6s/low 20s share). They should have expanded the show to an hour and given the Corringtons some direction and more budget. One has to wonder about two people who were with the show for a long time: Mary Ellis Bunim was promoted to EP when she was about 28, amazingly and a woman! She was talented but she went through at 11 head writer changes from when she started in 1974. Here's her list of writers: Theodore Apstein (January 1974 – May 1974) 5 mo Gabrielle Upton (May 1974 – November 1974) 6 mo Ann Marcus (October 1974 - April 1975) 6 mo Peggy O’Shea (April 1975 – November 1976) 18 mo Irving Elman (with James Lipton) (November 1976 – Summer 1977) 9 mo Robert J. Shaw with Charles/Patti Dizenzo (August 1977 - Spring 78) 6-9 mo? Henry Slesar (Spring 78 to August 78) 3-4 mo? Corringtons (August 1978 to May 1980) 1 yr/9mo Linda Grover/John Porterfield (May 1980 to mid July 1980) 3 mo. Gabrielle Upton (July 1980 to at least through March or April) Harding Lemay April to June 81 writers' strike Don Chastain (Summer 1981 writers' strike - replaced by Ellis/Hunt Dec 81 or Jan 82) Then Fred Bartholemew comes in when Bunim goes to ATWT (Oct 81?) and he brings in Ellis Hunt for the NBC switchover, they lasted 11 months. Mary Stuart is the other mystery to me: how was she to work with? Did she instigate many of the writer firings? Was she not involved at all. No other P&G show went through this kind of frenetic change. (The Doctors might be a close second but wasn't on as long and not P&G).

I think Whitesell had the shortest EP term on SFT of any prior EP; he was EP from Nov 22 1985 to maybe Feb 86 or early March; his first Another World EP credit is March 27 1986. He was paired with Maggie DePriest whose material started April 1 86 on AW.

Ryan Quan Jamey Giddens Katie Schock Tyler Topits Fran Myers (Script Editor)

I don't believe for one minute that Henry was Russell. I watched Somerset from the time Roy Winsor then Robert J. Shaw took over and the only period that was interesting or watchable was when I believe Winifred Wolfe was head or co head and introduced Dale (Ellen affair) and someone was harming/murdering older folks. Then it was terrible. The last six months was a slight improvement over the prior six months but nowhere near Henry quality. I also don't believe P&G would have put him on a competing time slot show. There is a Russ Kubeck born in 1952 from Connecticut but he would have likely been too young to get a head writing stint. Plus, Henry wouldn't have chosen that name as an alias. Look at his Wikipedia page for all the aliases he used. The real Russ may have been the 1952 Russ's father and used his middle name. Also I believe Kubeck may have been a name changed from Kupecky or Kubecky. Many changed their names during the Wars etc.

This episode was filmed the week of August 26, 2024 according to Jason47's production schedule list. Assume these scripts are written 4-8 weeks in advance of that date so June/July timeframe. Sonia Blangiardo is still listed as director this week so it'll be interesting to see if she's gone from Days by June/July air shows given she's a BTG producer since they assembled the crew.

Dan Curtis was a good producer and director but he didn't know how to structure a daytime show. After he fired Art Wallace (or Art left after the first 13 weeks and never returned) Dan was the head writer. There are interviews (video and print) with Sam Hall, Violet Wells and others on the writing team who say as much. Dan wanted cliffhangers and shock value daily. He was undisciplined. If you look at other soaps that aired during that time, they were better produced and acted. You didn't constantly see boom shadows and tips of cameras and have sets rattle and actors forget lines (daily). I loved a lot of DS but it was campy and poorly produced. When a scene or episode was flawless (which was very rare) it was a revelation. It could have been so good. They needed to slow down a bit but it was expensive to put on and I think the network was constantly nervous about the content.

Whitesell/Tomlin dropped replacement Steve in a matter of a few episodes; he was terrible. I'm looking these December 1985 episodes and I remember watching original air shows. I thought Tomlin was doing a very good job cleaning up the Braxton/Mayer/Nicholson mess. Tomlin had Louise Shaffer who was awful as Stephanie (never liked the actress onscreen in any role other than Serena / Josie) but Louise pulls it out the week of Dec 2. (Dec 2-5 are stellar episodes IMO). I wonder if Lisa P quit because she was paired with Godart who was 14 or so years older. She was islanded and she wouldn't have betrayed Stephanie. So that was a Tomlin fail. Domini is a revelation and Estelle and nuChase was improving. I liked him and Adair but I can see how they didn't need another Cagney/Suzi type on a 30 min show. The ratings were terrible under Tomlin/Whitesell and dropping into the high 2s with a 9 share. I can understand why they made a u turn with the flood storyline (plus I think in 86 their budget must have taken a huge hit because they were consolidating sets and reducing the cast). Tomlin had to contend with the departures of Lisa P and Jane K as well as deal with the bad Stephanie replacement. Of course, the show was still reeling from Sherry's departure and Erwin's horrible choice as her replacement. I don't understand why P&G didn't cut their losses with Louanne, particularly after Mayer's character assassination (having her sleep with Hogan). Joe Lambie was so fierce as Lloyd. What a talent. Loved him as Logan on Edge. Tomlin/Whitesell do get the ratings back to low 3s and 11 share by later March only to be dumped for Pam Long and David Lawrence for the final six months. P&G and NBC must have had a horrible relationship but the show constantly went through writer/producer changes going back to Mary Bunim in the 70s. From watching all these posted shows, I've built a list of producer / writer comings and goings and it's absolutely mind boggling. I'm still working on the list but will post soon.

Dan O'Connor was not listed with breakdown writers Tuesday, May 20th (I didn't see the credits on Monday). He was listed with the script writers. With Jamey also going, looks like Paula and Jean are cleaning out the Ron hires. We know Rick Draughon returned as breakdown writer last August, so his name should appear in the next several weeks.

Erwin Nicholson's last episode as SFT ep was 11/21. Whitesell started 11/22/85. Erwin was on board from March 8, 1985 so less than 9 months. Whitesell lasts six months (approximately) before P&G moved him to AW for two years where he primarily worked with DePriest. Whitesell was replaced on Search by no daytime experience David Lawrence who closed out the show's last six months.

I don't know if this counts for you but Bill Bell did a terrible short plot with an overweight character (Joann) who tried to French kiss Kay Chancellor.....if you google you'll find a link called Lezwatch.tv that has an article about it.

@GymnastGuyThanks for posting the three new Capitol 1985 episodes today. The two labeled March 12, and 13 are misidentified. The March 12 labeled one actually aired November 12 1985 which I figured out because Kenny Rogers' movie Wild Horses aired November 12th and it was announced over the "March 12" Cap credits. In addition, Craig Carlson is listed in the April credits but not the March. Craig left Capitol sometime after July 1985 before he rejoined OLTL in the credits by October 15, 1985; he was replaced on Cap by Radcliffe and Hamner. In these posted episodes Radcliffe/Hamner names appear in the March 85 episodes but not in the April.

The shirtless scenes increased under Nicholson as EP with Quinn, Hogan etc. They had focused on Steve Kendall under Joanna Lee in 1983 but not much bare skin on SFT overall. Louanne was a terrible recast. And don't get me started on Pam Long's horrible final six months as head writer with the Ireland plot and the convoluted Judge Henderson plot. I watched it daily until the end and cannot summarize either plot.

I don't think they were prepared for Sherry Mathis to exit. I think the scripts were written well in advance and they didn't expect her to go. Louanne was on the very next episode and a terrible recast. Erwin Nicholson made the same mistake in casting with Nicole on Edge but they gave the character some weeks or months rest before they brought in Jayne Bentzen, I believe. As I stated above, in rewatching these posted episodes, I am making a guess that Mayer/Braxton wrote many weeks in advance because of the Spring 85 writers' strike. While the strike lasted only two weeks, SFT is the only P&G soap that had writer credits through the two weeks of air shows that included the strike weeks. I also am guessing that Mayer was signed to a six month minimum (soaps typically have actors and writers on 13 week contracts) and Mayer was fired exactly at 26 weeks from the day his material first started airing. He was a disaster for the show and Erwin was tired and not what the show needed although scoring Lambie as Lloyd was his top achievement (he lasted a little less than 1 year).

Tomlin's first stint was from May 1983 to March 1984 (11 months) when he left to become co head of AW. He lasts about six months the second time. But he' paired with John Whitesell this time and the show was a wreck after Mayer/Braxton's 6 months.

Paul Avila Mayer lasted exactly 26 weeks at SFT and I'd love to know who and how he was hired. I suspect Ellen Barrett was behind it but she was fired or left three weeks before Mayer started. Interestingly, there was a 2 week writers' strike in spring 1985. Both ATWT and AW didn't have writers listed from about 4/1 to 4/15. Mayer/Braxton started on March 25 and continued to be listed through this brief strike which leads me to believe he was hired and wrote months of material before the strike. Given that he also lasted exactly 26 weeks, I'm assuming that he had he couldn't be fired before 26 weeks (whereas most junior writers were (and maybe still) are on 13 week cycles. As far as his storylines, the circus was the pretty awful as were all of his stories. He clearly had a terribly old fashioned view of women and teen girls. The whole plot was designed for TR to be in danger as he build the triangle with her, Ryder and Danny. Mayer's take on women was also apparent in his character assassination of Sonny as well as the relationships Sonny had built with Hogan and Liza. Sherry Mathis and David Forsyth were riveting in their scenes when they discovered their passion but when integrated into the canvas, it was a terrible decision. Mayer retired from soaps and became a psychoanalyst after his SFT stint.

Wonderful episode, Oct 28, 1985, just posted on Youtube notable for a few things: I believe this is Scott McKinsey's first daytime soap director debut; IMDB shows he started directing GL in Dec 85. The prior episode 10/25 was directed by John Zak who had been in LA directing Santa Barbara Introduction of Domini Blythe as Estelle - the best thing about the show in it's final 15 months. Lloyd Battista (Ray from Love of Life) plays Rivera. Viggo Mortensen acting debut as a thug/informant. I watched SFT during the final few years and Gary Tomlin started off strong, turning around Paul Avila Mayer's disastrous six months as head writer.

Head trip for EON fans and thanks to @GymnastGuy who's been posting tons of Search episodes on YouTube. SFT August 22 1985 episode Executive Producer: Erwin Nicholson who produced Edge for nearly two decades; this was his last job (9 months starting March 85 through Nov). Co -Head Writer (with Paul Avila Mayer) Stephanie Braxton who played Winter on Edge Actors: Joe Lambie (Logan) as Lloyd; Lois Kibbee as Grandmere (she stepped in for the Maureen O'Sullivan who had played the part for a few episodes, Lee Godart (Elliot) as Bella; Louise Shaeffer (Serena/Josie) as Stephanie. Other non Edge tidbits: Audrey Peters (Van Love of Life); John Loprieno (Cord OLTL) Of course SFT was filmed at EUE studios where Edge had taped. Most of the technical crew were Edge crew for decades. Background music same as Edge (Elliot Lawrence productions).

@Toups Tyler Topits listed in alpha order with the breakdown writers 5/12 Monday episode. O'Connor still listed as both breakdown and script writer. Kreizman wrote today's script.

Agree on Bruce Gray as Owen; they needed to cast star power. He was too lightweight against Kim and he had no chemistry with Frances Fischer except more gay buddy or daddy figure. I loved Nola and Eliot together though. Lee Godart should have been longer term.

I believe Henry Slesar intended that the Paige/Nola plot would play out over three to six months and Paige would be the new younger ingenue; but a few things happened. Sharon Gabet didn't renew her contract and the audience didn't like the Paige/Brian romance as it flirted with incest. Kim Hunter revealed in an interview that she as slated for 3 months but Henry asked her to stay on for an additional period. I watched Edge during this period when it originally aired and Margaret Colin was not great in the role. She seemed very green among the vets as was the dude playing Brian. He was poorly cast which was unusual for Edge. I think Henry started to get pressure from ABC and P&G to jazz up the show given what was exploding under Monty on GH at the time. I loved Kim as Nola and all the stories it generated for others. Miles and Deborah in particular. But the next who dunnit plot in this period was not one of Henry's best (at least for me the culprit and explanation were lame for Henry).

No. She never wrote for SFT

I thought she started to deal with medical issues that ultimately caused her death in 1994? Not sure but I thought I had read that she battled illness for quite a few years. Perhaps it started when she decided to leave the show? She was so fantastic. I will say that she and David Forsyth worked so well together; it was the only reason I watched Mayer's five months of storylines. Thanks for posting all these SFT episodes. Boy, the Nicholson/Mayer time was a mess of some positives but mostly negative. I wonder if Mayer was hired by Ellen Barrett (or if P&G tried to get Labine and Mayer although I doubt the budget would have allowed for both) then she was let go for some reason; and/or if Erwin had months left on his contract with P&G after EON was cancelled and they placed him there before he retired. Losing Sheri then Lisa Peluso was the death knell for this struggling show. Mayer's circus story was inane. Casting Michelle Joyner big miss; she was awful as was (and always after) John Loprieno. I don't know how that guy stayed employed on soaps for so many years. The positives were Joe Lambie, Lee Godart. Louann Gideon was lovely but completely miscast as Liza. Mayer fired four scriptwriters, only keeping Nancy Williams who went on to great work at GL for a decade then Passions.

O'Connor was listed as both breakdown and scriptwriter this week in the few episodes I saw and he wrote one script this week.

This show is pathetically bad.