vetsoapfan

--The Doctors (vintage NBC soap; currently watching eps from 1968) --The latest seasons of Chicago Med, Fire, P.D.; Grey's Anatomy and How to Get Away with Murder --Law & Order: SVU (season three, I am YEARS behind, LOL) --This is Us (the end of season two, sob), downloading season three eps to catch up Where is The Edge of Night streaming? I'd love to watch that again, if I can enjoy the Henry Slesar episodes rather than the dreadful Lee Sheldon garbage.

Lacey Bauer came and went very quickly. The actress was dreadful and the character, who was not developed well or fleshed out, never really had too much of a story. The writing back then was an inconsistent mess. If I recall correctly, Lacey was a gymnast who briefly became infatuated with Alan-Michael Spaulding, but that did not go anywhere and the character was dumped, never to be seen or heard of again. I don't remember if Lacey and Johnny had had problems in their relationship, or why she would not have responded to him.

I did not expect anything from this skit. I knew it would be dumb, not actually funny or clever. I knew it would mock and denigrate the soap, so I just don't see the point. Yes, it was mildly touching to see some of AMC's former castmates together again, but I felt like a dog who had been thrown a plastic bone. In the end, I'm still hungry for what I want: the real AMC.

The dreadful writing during the time of Johnny's introduction did the character no favors. Nor did the tedious, forgettable, cliche characters like the Valeres whom he was saddled with in his initial story. After following 36 years' worth of story, I simply could not accept that Johnny's branch of the Bauers even existed. His grandfather, Otto Bauer, was supposed to be the brother of Frederick, "Papa" Bauer, Ed's grandfather and Rick's great grandfather, but I did not buy it. Otto was never mentioned during any of the Bauers' crises or family celebrations from 1950 to 1986. No one ever mentioned notifying Otto or Johnny's parents, Jack and Lanie Bauer, when Papa died in 1973, or when Bill Bauer died (either time) or when Bert died. I always referred to Johnny, Jack, Lanie and that dreadful Lacey as the fake Bauers, because it seemed to me TPTB just threw them into the mix to placate viewers and shut them up, since die-hard fans of the show had been demanding the core family be resurrected in Springfield for years. But offering us fake Bauers was like offering a plastic bone to a starving dog. Why TPTB did not dig into the show's history and bring back real, established characters like Mike, Hope, Trudy, etc., I'll never understand.

No, Penny had not adopted Amy before she left Oakdale in 1968. Nor did she have Amy when she briefly returned to town in 1971. We know that Penny assumed Anton's name when she married him, because during Chris' and Nancy's 50th anniversary celebration, Frannie introduced her as Penny Cunningham, so Amy was not referred to as "Hughes" because Penny had kept her maiden name. Penny was a Cunningham too. I always assumed that TPTB had just used Hughes as Amy's family name to make her ties to the Oakdale branch of the family more obvious, whether it make factual sense or not. But maybe Penny had adopted Amy prior to her marriage to Anton in England, and given her the surname Hughes already, so that when Penny and Anton later wed and he adopted the girl too, Amy had already established herself as a Hughes and did not want to change her name again. I know that little nitpicky questions like this can drive soap fans crazy, LOL. It happens to me all the time too. :)

I applaud Brolden for the huge amount of time, energy and work that must be going into the compilation of this list. It will serve as an invaluable research guide for fans everywhere. Many kudos! The only thing that makes me blue is, so many episodes that have been saved and are available to watch again come from the series' later years, when it was not at its very best. When I scan the data from the 1950s to the 1970s, it saddens me to see that so many episodes from ATWT's halycon years are missing. At least we have many "later" episodes featuring the vets!

Really? That is so cool. I did not know about the existence of that first script, or I would have snatched it up too. I used to have the first script of AW saved on my ancient computer, but when that died I lost the script along with it. I have since learned to back up every precious document and file file on flashdrives.

Thanks. From past experience, we know that surprising goodies do pop up from time to time, but as long as no earlier episodes are known to exist as of right now, I won't go hunting. I'd love to get the very first show from 1937. You would think that somebody would have been bright enough to save the very first broadcasts of shows like TGL, ATWT, AW, etc. At least SFT's debut ep is floating around among traders, and TEON's second episode from April, 1956, too.

I did not say that the episodes were self-contained, I was referring to the stories, which had a beginning, middle and end, and ran for months rather than years and years. Other soaps of that period had storylines that went on forever (like the Mickey/Laura/Bill saga with the secret of Mike's paternity, on DAYS, which lasted ten long years). DS' stories are easier to watch because you know you are not going to age beyond 90 years old before you see how they end, LOL.

What is the earliest surviving episode from TGL's run? I have a radio broadcast from 1940. Does any extant material precede that?

I am so tired of these people. I have no sympathy that the internet has found and outed him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHLOzjcb_UA Can we no longer embed videos?

Yes, I think that and the original story introducing Barnabas were the show's "greatest hits," so to speak. Great stuff!

That, plus it has always had a huge, die-hard cult following, and is popular with kids, teens and men as well as women. I think programming directors think its "new" audiences may be bigger and more diverse than if they reran Peyton Place (for example). DS' stories are often self-contained and come to an end before another one begins. It appeals to nostalgia. All its episodes were saved. I'm sure there are many reasons why DS is chosen for syndication over other vintage serial-type programs.

((Sigh))

The hospital is pretty small and cramped, particularly outside of Matt's office. In the version of it we see, there would be no room for a staircase. Other soaps of the era like Dark Shadows had some HUGE sets.

If the idea of switching to color was to look more modern and appealing to the viewing audience, Colgate-Palmolive and NBC should have coughed up the dough to redo the paint, or at least minimize it to a degree. They could have kept green as the principle color of the hospital, but broken it up here and there with other, neutral colors on key walls. Of course the tiny budget would not have allowed them to completely overhaul everything, but painting a few sets a different color could have been done on the cheap. Still, this is a minor complaint. I am still thoroughly enjoying the series.

Well, I have now watched the first month's worth of available episodes, from December 1967 to January 1968, and I am thrilled to say that I am thoroughly enjoying this series. Rita Lakin and Rick Edelstein are handling the scripts and storylines beautifully. The drama is predicated on multi-dimensional characters and their interpersonal relationships which is absorbing on its own. No clones, time travellers, devil possessions or underground cities are necessary. Realistic human drama, family conflict, romance and heart are what the best soaps are made of, so bravo! The principle cast is talented, attractive, charismatic and the actors play well off each other. There are no bland "hair models" here. These pros can act. You cannot fake chemistry and the show lucked out in that regard. Nick/Althea, Matt/Maggie, Matt/Nick, Steve/Carolee, Althea/Maggie, John Rice and everybody, Karen Werner and everybody...all ooze chemistry. I feel that the minor supporting players like Ruth and Bill Winters (who have been featured only nominally so far) are less effective, but the show does not seem to be terribly invested in them. It looks like TPTB are focusing on the actors and characters who really shine. The only actress and character whom I find doesn't fit well at all is Betty Walker as Polly Merriweather, the elderly patient whom John Rice is treating. John supposedly adores her, but I see no true chemistry between them; their scenes seem forced, as if the writers and actors are trying desperately to show a connection that just is not there. The actress overplays her role, and her dreadful wig is distracting. I hope this storyline ends soon. Other than that, everything happening on-screen is quite absorbing. Liz Wilson is the kind of ingenue that all soaps want to have, but so many young female leads end up being nothing more than bland baby girls who engender scant interest at best. Liz is adorable and has spunk. The direction is also quite good. The main characters actually interact with and acknowledge the existence of the extras playing the hospital personnel, making the environment feel more realistic. (On most soaps today, the few extras we see walk around like silent zombies in the background, totally ignored by the principle cast.) There is often amusing "business" happening on-screen, which warrants the viewers' attention. In one of the latest episodes I watched, Nick and Matt had a heated argument about Nick's letting his bad temper get out of control--again--and Matt did a totally hilarious impersonation of Bellini ranting like a moron. It was great! I also like the Maggie and Althea friendship. Maggie calls Althea out on her nonsense, but there is no denying their close bond. If I have one complaint, and it's minor: all the green used as a principle color in the sets is too much. Green walls, green doors, green furniture, green coffee cups, in the hospital and in characters' home. Yikes! I also find it weird that none of the doors in the hospital have frames around them. Minor quibbles aside, however, this show is rocking. I know everything changes in later years (the Pollacks focus more on plot than characterization and relationships, and eventually the writing falls into the toilet and stays there), but for now, in 1967-8, The Doctors is a fine, vintage soap. Watching this show makes me realize how nostalgic I am for all my long-gone, past favorites.

Only 260 episodes starting with number 210? I hope they buy more after that, and not just show the same 260 eps over and over again. There's an Australian teen soap called Home and Away that was picked up by one of our local cable stations several years ago. The show by that point had aired for many years, but our station only bought the first 100 eps, and simply replayed those same eps repeatedly for years, instead of buying additional eps and letting the audience see what happened next. When the ratings sagged, the network used that as justification for dropping the show, but...duh. No soap viewer is going to want to watch the same 6 months worth of story for ten years, LOL. Would fans of, say, Grey's Anatomy or Game of Thrones be contend to watch the first 13 episodes of season one rebroadcast ad nauseum, instead of continuing through the end of the first season, then into season two and beyond?

Word. That first period, pre-Barnabas' arrival, was surprisingly good. I'm glad I bought the DVDs starting with episode 1, not just 210.

We would all be in bliss!

The fact that Ryan's Hope had been aired overseas allowed SoapNet to gather almost all of its episodes together and start broadcasting them here in the States several years ago. ABC had not saved them all. Thank heavens for foreign distribution.

Hmm, I had forgotten all about Capitol. It was never one of my favorite soaps, but I imagine its episode library could still exist. It would not be my first choice of classic soaps to see again (that would be Y&R starting in 1973 or AW from 1964 to 1975), but I'd give it another shot!

That would be great, although I am mindful of the fact that we have been lucky to get ANY of these vintage eps. Seeing material from 1967 through to the mid-1970s is a miracle, considering many of never knew TD episodes had been saved at all. I know I am dreaming in Technicolor, but if only Retro TV would consider buying and broadcasting another vintage soap after TD finishes its run. The station can continue broadcasting another round of TD repeats, but I'd be thrilled if they would add a second vintage serial with extant episodes like early GH (whose 1960s material is rumored to exist), or DAYS or Y&R episodes from the beginning (which we know for a fact still exist) to their line-up. Even Ryan's Hope or Dark Shadows would be nice, although they have already been broadcast in fairly recent years. P&G could sell Retro TV ATWT, AW, TGL, SFT and/or TEON from the late 1970s too!

Thanks guys. Personally, I would have preferred to start from day one, if possible. Black and white material does not turn me off, but after watching the first several eps from early December, 1967, I do think it was a good place to begin. Those eps have been great so far. I remembered enjoying Rita Lakin's run as headwriter, and I was right. She's very good. LOL, yep, she's already appeared!

Okay, here I go. After procrastinating for YEARS, I am finally going to start watching the available reruns of TD. I can binge-watch now and not have to worry about running out of "new" episodes to devour any time soon. I have been directed to one channel on youtube, whose uploaded material starts with the December 4, 1967 broadcast. Before I begin, does anyone know if there are earlier eps available on-line that precede 12/4/67? I prefer to start from the earliest-available date. Thanks.