kalbir

Daytime dramas could get away with a lot more stuff in the first half of the 1980s. Then AIDS happened and that changed everything. GL chased all the 1980s trends (action/adventure, supercouples, Dallas/Dynasty influence) but it caused long-term damage that took years to recover from, or some may say never really recovered from.

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. Seasons 8 and 9 were the off the rails plus budget mode seasons. Season 8 was a chore to get through and season 9 had a darkness and sadness surrounding it that made it painful to get through. The final two seasons were not necessary and I feel they only happened because CBS was in their third place primetime mess era.

Season 5 tanking was cemented. The storylines were so start and stop and most of them really didn't work. Also being head-to-head with the new hotness Miami Vice and Dallas weakening as a lead in didn't help matters either.

Sean Freeman is the hotness of BtG. Could he be BtG's Shemar?

Season 6 and 7 were the high-octane action-packed thrill ride seasons. Season 6 was an improvement over season 5 but it was still tanking and signs of going off the rails were showing during season 7. Funny thing is SOD liked seasons 6 and 7 in the Best of 1987 and 1988 issues.

I had no idea Kim Zimmer was not the first choice for Reva, as I can't imagine anyone else in that role. If there was any character that defined the final 25 years of GL, it was Reva.

I haven't seen any links to verify, but my TV listings are showing BtG pre-empted April 29 and 30 for soccer coverage.

Halfway through the month and most of it has been garbage time. There are times I'm like "what is this mess?"

The late season tanking is why the Spring 1985 cliffhanger is not as well-remembered as Bobby's car accident, Royal Wedding shootout, and Val's babies.

Season 4 war crimes storyline was like a mashup of James Bond and Raiders of the Lost Ark. The abrupt ending to the war crimes storyline derailed all the momentum that was built during the course of the series and signs of tanking started showing during the last 10 or so episodes of season 4.

I brought up Crazy Like a Fox in the Time Slot Hits thread.

You know it! There has to be some conflict in order for them to realize that they are meant to be more than booty call hook ups.

You're welcome 1985/86 was the turning point season of the 1980s. That season in real life, s--- got real with the AIDS crisis, Space Shuttle Challenger, Chernobyl. With the world around us changing so much, television viewers sought comfort and warmth and Murder, She Wrote and the big family and workplace/friendship sitcoms gave us that.

He's making the booty pop.

1984/85 the primetime soaps pulled out all the stops to out-do each other. That played a part in them all tanking the following season.

I saw some scenes in 1979 and 1980 episodes where Phillip, Freddie (Rick), Christina (Blake) interacted as children, so maybe the writers thought that Phillip and Rick wouldn't recognize Blake as they hadn't interacted in close to a decade (going by real time).

Passions did launch the careers of Jesse Metcalfe and Justin Hartley.

With Wink Martindale having passed, that means Bob Eubanks is the last one left of that generation of game show hosts.

40 years ago this week.

40 years ago this week.

Andre being there for Dani in a time of need 🥰 Halfway through April and we're at 90 pages. I can barely keep up with this thread. May sweeps could break the board 🤣

40 years ago. Week of April 15-21, 1985. A pivotal week in CBS primetime history. Murder, She Wrote shocks the world by finishing ahead of Dallas for the first time. Angela Lansbury let us think for an entire season that she was sweet and unassuming but at the end of the season she let us all know that she could be savage when she took down big bad Larry Hagman. Here's what happened on the soaps and the two rookie hits that week. The Cosby Show was a repeat of Play it Again, Vanessa (episode 8 ), original broadcast November 8, 1984. Murder, She Wrote - Funeral at Fifty-Mile (season 1 finale): At a Wyoming rancher's grave, a man shocks mourners -- including the deceased's daughter -- by claiming to be the true heir. This episode was also the season high. Dallas - The Ewing Connection: J.R. presents Jack's deal to Bobby and Ray. Lucy and her ex-husband Mitch meet. John Ross is rushed to the hospital for appendicitis. Falcon Crest - The Decline...: Angela alienates the Giobertis by offering Maggie the post of acting publisher of The New Globe. Lorraine and Emma search for Lance. Dynasty was pre-empted for a repeat of Hotel. Knots Landing was pre-empted for Space (Part 5).

Somehow I remember it being reported that James Reilly wanted Melissa Reeves for Sheridan.

The Abbott house set is 43 years old. I think maintenance expenses are an issue.

@DRW50 That promo looks to be from Summer 1987. I remember there were Summer 1987 promos that featured Addicted to Love.