soapfan770

@Paul Raven Interesting to consider. I didn’t realize the show had received such low ratings for its 5th season despite it being an established hit by that point. Another ABC sitcom from that period that might be considered would be Taxi. The first two seasons the show aired at 9:30/8:30 Tues behind Three’s Company ranked at #11 and #13 respectively. Then from its 3rd season ABC moved it to 9/8 on Wednesdays to build a comedy hour with Soap. It bombed against Different Strokes and fell out of the Top. ABC then tried to air it behind an aging Barney Miller for the 81-82 season but ratings fell worse so ABC cancelled it and it moved to NBC for one more miserably rated season. Speaking of Soap, it held its own once moved to Thursdays at 9:30/8:30 but alas it flopped against The Facts of Life. ABC then bizarrely moved to 10/9 on Mondays after Dynasty LOL before it was cancelled.

Ratings for the week of April 20-26 1992. The end for so many 80’s shows was nigh as the season drew to a close. Who’s the Boss? and Growing Pains aired their series finales on Sat 4/25. The Growing Pains finale was nothing basically at all…basically a one hour clip show with the plot of the family making a move to DC and DiCaprio’s character had already been written out.

RIP Patrick Muldoon. I’d always pick his Austin over Peck’s any day. Plus I remember him as the not Richard Hart on Melrose as well along with Starship Troopers. Such a sad loss 57 is way too young kind of puts my own age and mortality in perspective as well.

Background on the short lived NBC quasi soapy family drama The Family Tree: The Family Tree was a short-lived NBC soap opera–style drama that aired in early 1983, exploring the emotional complexities of remarriage and blended families. The series was based on the 1982 television movie The Six of Us, which introduced the characters and premise later expanded into a weekly format. Premiering on January 22, 1983, the show aired on Saturday nights at 10 PM, a difficult time slot for serialized programming—especially a character-driven drama. Despite its thoughtful themes and ensemble cast, The Family Tree struggled to attract a consistent audience and ultimately failed to gain traction, leading to its cancellation after just over a month on the air. Its final original episode aired on February 26, 1983. In an unusual postscript, NBC brought the series back a few months later. When part of the network’s summer 1983 programming unexpectedly collapsed, NBC used The Family Tree as a temporary replacement, airing repeat episodes on Wednesday nights at 10 PM. However, this second chance did not revive interest in the show, and it was not renewed. The series centered on Kevin Nichols, a successful lumber company owner, and Annie Benjamin, a part-time real estate agent, as they attempted to build a new life together after divorce. Their marriage merged two already-established families, creating the kind of ongoing emotional tension and interpersonal conflict typical of a soap opera. Kevin’s family included his grown daughter Molly, who was already married, and his teenage son Jake, who lived with Kevin’s ex-wife, Elizabeth. Annie, meanwhile, had three children still living at home, including Toby, her deaf son. Much of the drama focused on the children’s difficulty adjusting—remaining loyal to their biological parents while coping with the arrival of a new stepparent. Leaning into soap opera conventions—continuing storylines, emotional confrontations, and layered relationships—the show aimed for a more grounded and realistic tone than many later primetime soaps. Themes of patience, resentment, loyalty, and adaptation were central to its storytelling. The cast featured Frank Converse as Kevin Nichols, Anne Archer as Annie Benjamin, and a young James Spader as Jake Nichols, supported by Melora Hardin, Joanna Cassidy, and others.

Jane Wyman’s Golden Globe acceptance speech for winning Best Actress for 1983:

Never in a million years did I think The Vine would morph into the new Stephanie Forrester 🤣🤣🤣🤣 (Although I’m a little confused on the connection as I thought Ivy and Electra were sisters…is her mother Jessica or something?)

Thanks as always @kalbir and @Paul Raven! LOL. I could see Redgrave pulling it off. I never quite understood how exactly Hartley became a semi-big name but I suppose in the era of only 3 channels and when you guest star on everything under the sun…

Thanks @Soapsuds and @Paul Raven One more April one to add to this list, this one April 7-13 1986, 40 years ago:

Triple yay here!!! 🎉🎉 I was legit concerned.

@kalbir @Taoboi @YRfan23 @Paul Raven @Antoyne @ranger1rg Well I finally waded into a this past week for better or for worse and here are my thoughts: First of all, whoever dressed Vivica A Fox in that same the same ugly green 1992 Knots Landing style pantsuit that Melissa Ordway had to wear like a year or two ago needs to be FIRED ASAP. Shemar and CK scenes were definitely the highlights as were the Lily and Tracy scenes. Actually I absolutely adored the Lily and Tracy scenes. On the flipside, not only does this feel like a whole repeat of last year’s Damien twist that still feel bitter about, but is also feels very RUSHED and lightspeed with characters given little time to reflect or breathing room. The Damien story still gives me heartburn and makes my stomach churn. Why is Audra’s “big secret” still a thing after we learned on how VERY underwhelming it was last fall? Cane and Phyllis are still the worst. It’s so obvious that Billy Flynn is bored and that he really regrets leaving Days. I couldn’t care less about whatever the latest Adam story is. Why is Chelsea even on this show again?

Thanks for the tag @DRW50 !!! @Franko it was 1975, I’m sure they returned home to Greenwich Village after the show 😊

Ratings for the week of April 10-16 1989 As we mentioned couple pages back Roseanne was now dominating as the 80’s closed, we have MSW at #4 as well. Other observations: Knots at #21 and is CBS’ 4th most watched series excluding the Sunday Night Movies NBC’s Dream Street pilot flopped HARD in a marquee/premier time-slot on Thursday night. Obviously traditional NBC viewers weren’t interested. Speaking of which, the much criticized Nightingales was at #41. Don’t worry, Grey’s Anatomy is only 16 years away… Wow at that shockingly very bad (for 1989 lol) low rating for a new episode of Moonlighting. Actually I shouldn’t be surprised between the bad Sun timeslot and overall terrible quality of the show by this point. Jessica Fletcher also slaughtered Alex P Keaton WWF had a 10.3 rating? I mean I remember wrestling being popular back then but not that high. Then again I never watched either.

We have discussed Season 7 before, but here’s some additional background details that were shared in a FC FB group: Regarding original storyline plans, the Nicole Sauguet storyline was indeed intended to last longer. Chase, presumed drowned, was to show up at Falcon Crest in disguised via plastic surgery, to start a romance with Nicole Sauguet to divert her schemes while plotting revenge against Richard & Angela. Also he would be making moves to reunite with an unsuspecting Maggie and Kevin. The outline for the first twelve episodes was done quite hastily and — for the first eleven episodes — mostly without the input of supervising producer Howard Lamont who was out of production suffering from a back injury. Due to these circumstances, the early episodes of the season (some of which written by non-staff writers) are much more inconsistent and less specific as usual. There are a number of contradictions in the shorter storylines in particular, e.g. the vague hints about what Chase put up as collateral for Nicole Sauguet's loan and — even more obvious — the Carlton Travis storyline, which lacks a reasonable explanation why Carlton blames Richard for his own pathologic guilt complex caused by his brother's death although Carlton apparently is not insane at all. After the filming hiatus, which enabled the writing staff to finish the bible for the rest of the season, the plot will become much more complex and less inconsistent. Despite many continuing threads, many storylines were tied up more quickly this season. Although "Falcon Crest" keeps up its serialized mode of storytelling, it developed a slight tendency towards episodic television this year by creating episodes with a beginning, middle and end to move even more rapidly than in the previous season. Freilich & Co. had hoped to make it easier for new viewers to pick up the story. Meanwhile Freilich had implemented a new special guest star policy will contribute to that aim as well. The producers decided to have at least one new celeb guest per month this season. Therefore, season 7 is the year with the largest number of rotating guests in the Tuscany Valley. However, on the downside, due to budget constraints, main cast members Ladd, Chi, Cullen, Sparks, and Callahan do not appear in multiple episodes.

Wow great find thanks @kalbir !!! Interesting to see Constance McCashin utilized for the PSA and to see a young Paula Zahn working as an anchor for KCBS. Was it any good? Andrea Martin, who had been an SCTV regular deserved better. The plot kind of sounds like the same premise for the Weird Al movie UHF that came out a couple years later. I’m surprised that CBS didn’t try to attempt to air the first eps on Mon nights behind K&A and then have Take Five air Newhart as an attempt of a sneak peek or try find foundation. Instead both shows went in blind in an already tight competitive hour against #17 Highway to Heaven and #31 Head of the Class, which by the way is now considered a taboo show thanks to Dan Schneider’s scandals.

Happy Easter! From 39 years ago this week, here’s the full ratings for the week of March 30-April 5 1987. As @kalbir noted this was Moonlighting’s series high. Some interesting things to note: CBS debut Roxie, a Kate & Allie quasi spinoff and Take Five, a new George Segal sitcom debuted on Wed 4/1/87 to very disastrous ratings and were cancelled and pulled after only 2 episodes. Mariah also made its debut that same night in Hotel’s usual slot and obviously flopped hard. I find it interesting that the Academy Awards only came in 5th place, when typically is was often the most watched tv program for the week.

For me after the first 10 eps of S12 were pretty solid, I was more interested in and entertained by the Sumner Group drama, Paige vs Linda, Nick & Anne shenanigans, Frank and the two-timing teacher than I was about the core four although I did like Mac & Jason. The S12 finale was a bit weird as I’ve read the Lechowicks had real no involvement and already out the door when James Stanley wrote that mess. It’s been said Romano may have already started as Stanley also wrote episode 2 of S13. Interesting that both Knots and L.A. Law aired high profile milestone episodes in the spring of ‘91 (300th for Knots had Gary & Val remarry, 100th for L.A. Law had Rosalind plummet to her death in an elevator shaft) and both shows would end up taking a serious creative downturn right after. Knots was lucky that the damage was salvaged and the show at least ended on a satisfactory note; NBC abruptly canned L.A. Law just as the show was undergoing its FIFTH revamp in 3 seasons. Interesting. I wonder if it airing on Mother’s Day had anything to do with the lower ratings? I actually do like this episode as @Khan pointed out this was Harry’s last appearance with “That’s all she wrote!” as I’ve read it was written as a possible series finale. I guess the bookend eps had also taken a bit of a toll? I really like Dennis Stanton and he is one of my favorite MSW recurring characters along with Harry and Michael Hagarty, but I will say his excess number of bookend eps in Season 7 kind of felt like a spinoff series occurring on the main show. Thanks as well @JAS0N47 !!!

@te. My bad my post didn’t upload my reply LOL but S12 was definitely stablized for the most part and had consistently still dipped into the Top #30. There’s two overall season rankings I have seen—Wiki and Primetime Encyclopedia mentions Knots came in at #35 while the TV Ratings Guide has Knots tied at #30th. Not sure which was correct.

You’re welcome @Soapsuds!! Interesting things to look at: -CBS Monday nights gaining momentum. It would get bigger the following season. -Who’s The Boss? ending the season at #43. Meanwhile on the same night Roseanne was #2. The Wonder Years had fallen to #39. -Knots Landing two hour finale ending at #10 against repeat Cheers and LA Law. I wonder if Dallas’ finale the week before had given it a boost? -Sisters premiered at #41 behind #22 Empty Nest season finale.

Happy 70th anniversary to ATWT!!! Miss this show everyday still but I’m so glad we have BTG living in its old timeslot these days.

Here ya go!

Season 12 question….Was it just me or does the story about Stanley Zbornak running around the Cul-De-Sac investigating Danny’s drowning just seem to run wayyy longer than it should? Like what was the point? Over milking of a guest star?

Not going to lie I could also totally see Ken Corday hiring Marland on in one of his Plan to Save Days circa 1999, only for it to end in disaster. I wonder if any of the ABC soaps would have flirted with the idea of hiring him in the late 90’s. But I also don’t see Marland writing any soaps after 2000. I could see P&G bringing him back in a consulting basis maybe like around 2002 but someone like Goutman outright ignoring him. Of course sadly we’ll never know. Heck he might well ended as Reilly’s Co-HW at Passions as his final writing gig 🤣😂

Fair points, especially as the show lost some longtime mainstays i.e. Frannie, Lyla, and Iva, OG Caleb passed away etc. But at the same time the show at least felt like Marland’s Oakdale to me for the most part. I’m assume Marland would have made the most of it but I do wonder if he would have had a say in keeping his favorites at the expense of others. I can’t picture Marland writing ATWT past 1994/95 though. I could easily see P&G rehiring Marland by 1997/98 and then have him fall out with MADD within a year.

Thanks for the tag as always @DRW50 I too always love seeing Janice. Especially early Janice here as she is so unassuming yet potentially messy. I thought for the most part 1993 and at least early 1994 was better than the dreary depressing 1992, although some of the stories happen to just be less memorable than the 1992 highlights.

Re: Brad’s past on Y&R. Sally Sussman stated in an interview the original plan for Victor’s investigation of Brad’s past was to have Lisa Mansfield resurface, but Latham nixed the idea with her own. What might have been… I believe Leanna was originally intended to be way more sinister and serious and some of this made it onscreen very early on. Once Leanna has scenes with TL’s Jack though the writing shifted and Leanna became more comedic crazy rather than be an actual threat. ATWT again with Lien Hughes coming and going in a rapid fire pace in 2001. No wonder the actress was so happy to return to Broadway.