kalbir

I really enjoyed 1989-1991 Calhoun/Long/Curlee era. SOD named GL most improved show in 1989. It disappoints me that the ratings didn't reflect how good the show was back then.

Knowing Bradley, he has a back from the dead storyline ready if needed. Sheila has been Bradley's "break glass in case of emergency" character for almost 30 years now.

You're welcome @Liberty City

@Liberty City Melrose Place thread

Aaron Spelling wisely cut ties between 90210 and Melrose early on, after Melrose episode 3 I think. He learned his lesson after the disaster that was The Colbys.

In that same era there was also Dondre T. Whitfield and Keith Hamilton Cobb on All My Children, and Thyme Lewis on Days, but I don't know if they were considered younger leads on their shows.

The P&G shows were effectively over in the aftermath of OJ plus CBS on the whole was a mess in that same era. AFAIK As the World Turns didn't enter cancel territory until like 2009. I don't think it was limping along in its final 16 years.

June 17, 1994 was the car chase, and we know the rest. Given the ratings data we have now, I say the real issues began in the late 1980s with Iran-Contra, Nielsen people meters, and 1988 writer's strike and it all culminated in the aftermath of OJ.

Possible tank job 2001/02: After four Top 10 seasons and one Top 30 season at Sunday 8 pm, CBS moves Touched by an Angel back to Saturday, where it was not a hit in its first two seasons. Touched by an Angel falls out of the Top 30 but returns 2002/03 on Saturday for what would be its final season. Possible sabotage 1997/98: CBS moves Murphy Brown from Monday to Wednesday and the ratings drop further (Murphy Brown went from 18th in 1995/96 to below the Top 30 in 1996/97). Later in the season CBS moves Murphy Brown back to Monday but the damage was already done and Murphy Brown is cancelled after 10 seasons.

OJ is 6 months away

It was a pattern across all three CBS primetime soaps to salary dump the long-time female cast members and bring on sweet young things hired on the cheap. I have my own theories for that but I will hold myself back from stating them so as not to derail this thread.

It also helped JFP first year that ABC big three were tanking at various times during that year and Days was a mess.

What to watch for in 1994. Y&R reaches 9s. Bradley first full year at B&B. Reilly Days continues to gain. General Hospital continues to gain. Nancy Curlee leaves Guiding Light writing team. Douglas Marland material finished at As the World Turns. OJ. Fall 1994, CBS loses NFL broadcasting rights, leading to the loss of several established affiliates in major media markets. I'm pretty sure this also impacts CBS daytime ratings in the aftermath of OJ.

@Janet Marlowe 1993 Reilly Days takes off and it would blow up in the aftermath of OJ. 1993-1997 Reilly Days was IMO daytime's biggest shake up since ABC huge rise and domination some 15 years earlier.

Y&R big event: Scott learns he has an illness and that Sheila survived the fire, thus he and Sheila are still legally married. B&B November 1993 big event Catalina Island remote where Scott dies. General Hospital in 2nd. Was this Luke/Laura return?

Clearly a tank job.

Maybe to a lesser extent Alexandra as well?

@Vee I loved your recaps of the peak years. I'm sure you're aware that you're now heading into the tank years. Perhaps you might feel differently than I did when I watched season 7.

I did not know this. I don't recall Melody Thomas Scott mentioning in her book that she was considered for Dallas. Besides, I don't get spoiled brat/princess energy from her. Say what we will about Charlene Tilton acting but she had the spoiled brat/princess game on lock.

Y&R big events: Victor meets Hope. Genoa City believes Victor died in a car accident. Y&R big events: Jill gives birth to Billy. Christian LeBlanc last episode until his 1997 return. Douglas learns Victor did not die in a car accident but after a brief stay in Genoa City, Victor returns to Kansas. Guiding Light July 16, 1993 Roger crashes Ed's party at the country club. Michael Zaslow Emmy winning episode. Reilly Days takes off and daytime is shaken. August 1993 B&B big event Brooke takes over Forrester Creations. To me that storyline was Bill Bell's last hurrah before passing the reigns to Bradley. Y&R in the 9s! Genoa City learned Victor did not die in a car accident. We saw during the classics the episode Victor reunited with Victoria and Nicholas and revealed he was alive to Jack. Sadly this is it for Guiding Light, stuck in 8th for the remainder of its run AFAIK.

@Sapounopera @DRW50 Maeve Kinkead Emmy speech credited Douglas Marland for creating Vanessa and Nancy Curlee for giving Vanessa new life, but no mention of Pamela Long. Maybe Maeve had beef w/ Pamela?

Given that Sally was older and plus sized, she could easily have been either a one dimensional villainess or strictly comic relief but it was the combination of Bill Bell's writing and Darlene Conley's acting that made Sally a complex and layered character. We saw Sally as a businesswoman and a mother, plus she even had a romantic life. On the male side of the equation, there's got to be that happy medium between six pack and dad bod.

@Soapsuds Thank you for the info re 1993 and 1994 As the World Turns. I don't think As the World Turns limped along in its final 16 years though. Y&R big events: Jack confronts Victor about Nikki's fall down the ranch stairs that lead to the premature birth and later death of Jack and Nikki's son. Victor leaves Genoa City and becomes the victim of a carjacking. B&B big event: Eric and Sheila get married.

This was around the time Douglas Marland passed away, but how long was his material on the air? I would guess until sometime in 1994 before OJ.

Marcus is free of worrying that he'll be cut out of the will.