EricMontreal22

Oh I wouldn't mind if Susan was asked about John--one of his first big storylines was kidnapping her (and then "kidnapping her") in the Destiny on the Danube arc. They definitely worked together and he was pretty major to the 90s of the show. But otherwise, I agree with you. No secret about the micromanaging, but glad to hear him say that. I'm more curious about the earlier comment--Lorraine came on as a favour to Agnes Nixon to try to fix AMC for its anniversary after Pratt's mess--we've basically been told that in interviews. Also, from the start I thought Lorraine said she didn't want to take on the responsibilities of a HW anymore and it was just an interim job? It is true that in 2011 it was announced she would be the new HW (and then, what, a week or two later the AMC cancellation announcement...) I mean obviously Vincent should know far more about this than myself, but...

YES to Julia Bar. I actually liked Billy Miller on AMC--I know many fans don't agree (it was one of B&E's better stories actually--the reveal of his true motives was drawn out but in a good way--for a long time I just thought he was a regular bit player, playing a friendly bartender who had a few lines at The Comeback). But it did seem a bit awkward to have him among actors who were on the show much much longer. I was never a big Babe fan, but Alexa's love for the character and show was nice to see. The host made one of his first real faux pas I thought when he asked for memories of John Callahan. His character was pretty much decimated by the time most of these actors came on, and, as they mentioned, they never had any real stories with him or even memorable scenes that I can think of. I wished Bobbie had confirmed that they immediately took Krystal in a different direction because I remember the first couple of scenes we saw on her (on the phone to her daughter) it was implied that she was going to scam her daughter and only connecting now that she was rich--and they showed her sleeping around in a cheap motel, etc. Then when she showed up in Pine Valley nearly all of that was out the window. Anyway, I welcomed the video, but yes, the least interesting so far (but I'm not too surprised...) Interesting about them being aware of David Canary's deteriorating health when he returned for the final few ABC episodes. I remember thinking his depiction of Stuart seemed off, but otherwise it was great to see him. Then when he appeared (very briefly despite being on contract) on the online version, it quickly was aware how wrong things were. From all I've heard, most of the actors really liked him. I thought that eventually him and Kate both got along (certainly they've joked about how much they hated each other at first). He seemed loved at, no pun, Loving...

I actually didn't see it as shade--at least not the way she said it, but maybe that's just me...

LOved the story about director Kaplan's notes (he was a regular at AMC from 1977-97) Interesting when they started talking about AMC being the best soap--something of course some actors, for a myriad reasons, seemed more keen to say than others (reasons like maybe they were on another soap for a long time, maybe their character didn't have the best writing, etc)

By 1992, when I started paying attention to the soap ratings, AMC was pretty consistently number 2--I believe this stayed until 95 or so.

Yep, when McTavish's final run at AMC really became awful. It barely even seemed like she or any other HW was in charge. Not because the writing was bad-and it was--but McTavish has had bad writing eras before, but it just really felt like suddenly no one knew what they were doing (Pratt's final months being similar).

I loved Tess on Loving--never really liked Hickland on OLTL. The Curtis stuff is kinda grimy and sleazy for Nixon--but I admit I have a soft spot when she goes out there with the Gothic drama and the story really appealed to me.

Jeez--thanks as always DC for such a thoughtful recap. I completely agree about Ceara's use in Loving. I know that when Agnes Nixon created her character and got Genie to accept it, according to Genie, she was offered a role that she "couldn't say no to" and that would cross over to various ABC shows. I suppose it was too hard to think of how that would work at GH... I have a lot of affection for the Carter Jones/Loving crossover, but that's mostly because it was what made me a steady Loving viewer. I can't say that it was a particularly strong time for the show.

Ha I loved him and yes, always had his pink haired clip from Geri's Bag it Up video in my avatar. A completely useless character who was on way too long, although I would prefer his storylines over Ryan's...

Which AMC livestream with Jon Lindstrom?

They also, especially under Tom Ellis, went heavily in a corporate business direction which felt devoid of character in the late 1980s... I agree about the campus. Agnes Nixon in her bible mentions how the campus will be used as the required "marketplace"--the term she always uses for a location where she can have characters interact, run into each other, etc. Traditionally she admits to rather awkwardly using the hospital as a "marketplace" (which is still true of many soaps--cuz, you know, we all go to the hospital so often in real life) and how the campus setting will mean they won't have to use that "tired trope". The campus also is a good excuse for different generations to mingle--students, young professors, older tenured professors and administrators, etc.

I don't like to argue with Erika, but that's the only time I've ever heard that Gillian was fired, and didn't want out on her own. It doesn't make much sense (especially, of course, since there was a Vicki between them). And yeah, Erika, for some reason, has always been a bit too kind towards Frons I think lol. In that respect I prefer Susan Lucci and Agnes Nixon's take (two women who are usually loathe to say anything negative)

Scenes from episode one (ie after the pilot) of Loving (this probably has been posted before, but I just came upon it)

I'll have to get back to you . 1983 often is mentioned as a strong year, though... On the AW thread, Will posted a link to the Bill Bell script archives... Which all seem to make sense except there is one for AMC that says beside it SERIES IDEA. ??? http://pdf.oac.cdlib.org/pdf/ucla/pasc/wjbell.pdf

Awesome! I knew that Bell helped create AW, but didn't realize until recently that originally it was credited on the show as being co-created by him. I always wonder why he never became HW when it was having trouble, instead going to DAYS and Nixon went to AW. And woah--why in that collection is there one for All My Children that says "Series Idea"???

Wow, DC, as always your analysis is indispensable--thank you. For some reason I always thought I started watching under Addie Walsh, but maybe that's just when I began paying attention to the credits, as I definitely started watching when I could when Ceara crossed over to the show (which was done well but seemed an odd choice--she hadn't even been on AMC that long, of course back then when I was 11 I didn't realize she was the actress who played Laura!). I didn't start taping it daily though until a year later (I remember Kate, I think, locking Jeremy and Ceara in a garden shed or something so that they'd resolve their feelings). In hindsight she probably would have fit better on Loving permanently than Jeremy, but of course her character was killed off camera when they were to move to Corinth (and Genie already had left the role). I wonder if Munistari was fired or quit. I admit even at the time, I thought it was a mistake how Haidee phased out the campus setting. Walsh's second tenure between Nixon and Brown/Esensten was very brief, and more of an interim job, wasn't it?

I guess I said around 87 because AMC seemed to be having problems after Babbin left as EP in 1986. Julia Barr in one SOD piece comments about the quick turn around of other producers who she thinks never had time to implement their vision (including the brief return of Jorn Winther). When Behr was hired in January 1989, there seemed a concentrated attempt to bring the show together. It's strange that Behr hired DePriest as HW but after 8 months Agnes Nixon herself, replaced her. I admit, I do love a lot of this era (and it was what hooked me on the show--I can specifically remember even though I was 11 or 12 noticing when Nixon's name was replaced by McTavish as HW in the credits), but I get your point. (DePriest often seemed to come in on soaps to help them when they were languishing but only stick around for a short while--I almost wonder if that was her preference and not due to being fired. She did the same on The Doctors in the late 70s. After AMC she quickly moved to OLTL which was beginning to have troubles, although she doesn't seem to have had much impact there, etc).

We're gonna have to disagree on Pratt. Like I said, his early months brought a renewed energy (and comedy) to AMC and were welcome--and then the bottom fell out. That said, *some* of my take is due to behind the scenes stuff (telling Susan Lucci that character back story was of zero interest to him, Agnes Nixon revealing--despite the fact that she rarely said anything negative about anyone--that the only time she was locked out and not welcome in the writers' room was under Pratt, etc). But his style was just a bad fit for daytime (the plot-oriented Melrose Place style) and AMC specifically. And his final months were a complete mess. Is 1987 considered a golden year or do you mean you consider it to be one? I know reading reviews in SOD from that time, etc, the Lazarre/Goldie story was over and over picked as a worst of the year (that said I like a lot of what I saw from 1987). I believe 87 also had one of AMC's rarer attempts at a full out adventure storylines with Nina and Cliff and the jungles (was that 87?) Yeah, I chalk that up to one of several instances under McTavish's final era where they brought back characters with good potential, and then squandered them. Of course it didn't help that initially Campbell's Bobby was tied into Erica the Showgirl's storyline! But I think his exit, after Anita left him, was trying to get money from Edmund to reveal who Zach really was and then he just kinda... left. Yeah, it became one of those non-stories. Kendall wanted Bobby to seduce Greenlee. But I don't remember there actually being much follow through whatsoever.

Oh wow. Yes I remember his interview where it was clear his later soap work was very much just for hire essentially. Suzanne Rogers replaced one of the ghost showgirls in the original production of Follies when it moved, after closing, to do a limited run in LA!

Damn, I missed it when it was up. Anyone have a new link??

Yes! That was the 25th week long celebration. (Which I loved although at that time, before I had net access and I had just started watching AMC in late 1991, I had no idea who half of the characters were lol). Here they are at 40:25 And yes the way Edmund was written in the end (locking up Maria/Maureen) and then being killed--accidentally I believe by Jonathan. Criminal!! I adored Edmund when he came on (though I liked him best with Brooke). RIP John.

Not to mention creating (kinda) the re-tool of Lemay's Lovers and Friends into For Richer For Poorer (both those soaps fascinate me so much) This is all I've ever seen of either To me as well. She was there from July 15, 1991 to May 25, 1992 which was around when I started watching. Under her Addie Walsh (who would clash with Grainger) was promoted to HW. (I started watching due to the first AMC cross over when Ceara and Jeremy stayed at the Rescott's--well Ceara did, due to marriage troubles). Grainger brought back Taggert (along with Guza)

She was mentioned when Mark would return--always some excuse as to why she stayed in Hong Kong (I think?) 😘

Had no idea that Sam Hall was at SB

87-89 were a bit of a transition time. Numbers were down. Jorn Winther returned as EP but just for an interim period (Julia Barr complained to SOD that they should have kept him as no one was given enough time to improve things). Yes, I remember Nixon speaking out about the return of the Hubbards in soap rag interviews. (Ironic, not too long after Charles Pratt would replace B/E and lock Nixon out of the writers' room)