kalbir

The third new episode of Roseanne to finish ahead of a new episode of The Cosby Show. That week's Murder, She Wrote was Trevor Hudson's Legacy. Google description: A famous writer's memoirs are about to be published, shortly after his death. However, the editor admits to Jessica that the book is largely fiction, constructed by him around the rambling notes of the dying man. Then, the editor is found dead. 1988/89 Knots Landing had a ratings rebound. I think once it was known that Donna Mills was departing at the end of the season, lapsed viewers came back. I brought up Moonlighting in the Tank Jobs and Sabotage thread. My feeling is that Robert Iger had enough of the backstage drama so Moonlighting got sent to Sunday 8 pm and killed by Murder, She Wrote.

Do not give Josh Griffith ideas.

I feel your pain.

Thanks @DRW50

Dynasty was Joan Collins career resurgence that became her career-defining role and forever cemented her as the diva of all divas of 1980s primetime soaps.

Falcon Crest peak for me was Lana Turner first episode until the end of the war crimes storyline. Falcon Crest starts tanking not long after the abrupt ending to the war crimes storyline and it also didn't help that Dallas ratings began dropping in that same time. I describe seasons 6 and 7 as a high-octane action-packed thrill ride. Exactly. Earl Hamner was not a soap opera guy like David Jacobs or Aaron Spelling or Bill Bell. Family drama was more Earl Hamner style and that's something CBS should have realized. SOD gave seasons 6 and 7 best primetime show in 1987 and 1988. SOD gave season 8 most ruined show in 1989. Then again 1988/89 so many shows felt off as it was the writer's strike delayed season plus changing times. Season 8 was a chore to get through. All the character progress was ruined. Season 9 had a darkness and sadness surrounding it, and it was painful to watch. I can only imagine how those who watched in real time must have felt.

Douglas Marland was last credited October 1982, then came Pat Falken Smith and later L. Virginia Browne. February 1983 was the EP change from Allen Potter to Gail Kobe, and the HW change from L. Virginia Browne to Richard Culliton and Pamela Long.

Season 7 goes from tanking to off the rails. I can't pinpoint the exact moment season 7 went off the rails, but the core families shrunk and the supporting characters and guest stars in short arcs didn't really work. Falcon Crest had all the ingredients to be a great show but the execution squandered the potential. To me, network interference and backstage drama were the reasons why.

Silk Press Sheila vs. Darlene, I could be down for that.

Hahaha, so true. I think so too.

You put GL in cancel territory in 1985? In theory GL should have been in cancel territory in 1989 when it became CBS's lowest rated daytime drama but it wasn't until 1995 that the cancel rumors began.

1978-1982 ABC big three huge rise and domination shook up CBS and P&G. That's why all the changes to the shows.

I know. Even Aaron Spelling non-soaps had backstage drama. Whenever I've seen group interviews with Melrose cast members, they all seem to genuinely like each other. I was surprised to find out Joan Collins didn't have beef with Diahann Carroll. You'd think Joan Collins being the diva of all divas of 1980s primetime soaps would be jealous of an actress brought on to be her rival but from what I've seen online, Joan and Diahann got along and became friends and remained so until Diahann passed away and Joan posted a memoriam to Diahann on social media.

You're welcome @soapfan770

1982-1989 GL went through so much turnover in the producing and writing ranks. GL was very fortunate to survive the 1980s, mainly because Capitol showed no growth and B&B wasn't a hit right away.

Some CBS promos from that week. April 1, 1987 commercials (Vol. 2)

Same. Carlton/Nicole are off the charts heat generating. Kial/Nicole are barely lukewarm. Y&R/B&B in the Bill Bell years was never about sweep stunts. OMG has the apocalypse arrived?

Dynasty and 90210 had backstage drama that rivaled what was onscreen, but surprisingly Melrose kept the drama mostly onscreen.

When most people think of Days, its the supercouple era and Reilly that first come to mind. I'd watch the Bill Bell years to see elements he later used on Y&R/B&B and actors and actresses that later appeared on Y&R/B&B.

Not sure. JC was 84 when she passed in May 2013. She would have been 85 in October 2013. Jerry Douglas was 84 in 2016 when Ghost John last appeared. Jerry passed in November 2021 three days before what would have been his 89th birthday. Marla Adams was 82 in 2020 when Dina was killed off. Marla passed in April 2024 at age 85. She would have been 86 in August 2024.

Also America's Funniest Home Videos had taken away a good portion of the Sunday 8 pm audience. Remember 1989/90 and 1990/91 America's Funniest Home Videos finished ahead of Murder, She Wrote in the seasonal ratings. Of note is that this was the last episode of Knots Landing that would finish ahead of a new episode of Murder, She Wrote.

It's coming across that Nicole is having a ho phase, which is ridiculous at her big age. That's s--- you do in your 20s, not when you're a grown ass woman of nearly 50.

Is that JM's son that's on B&B standing next to him?

@Soapsuds @soapfan770 Week of May 12, 1991 was Murder, She Wrote season 7 finale, The Skinny According to Nick Culhane. This episode was the season low.

Totally agree.