kalbir

The trouble might have even started in 1982 after Douglas Marland left. In the 1980s rating thread we saw during the second half of 1982 Y&R becoming CBS's highest rated show and GL dropped to 2nd among the CBS shows. Yes, Spring 1983 to Summer 1984 Gail Kobe/Pamela Long got the ratings up but it was too much chasing 1980s trends. We saw that wasn't sustainable and the ratings from Fall 1984 onward reflected that.

We all point to OJ as the beginning of the end but with all the ratings data we have now, it seems as though the real issues began in the late 1980s. I say it was the combination of Iran-Contra, Nielsen people meters, and 1988 writer's strike that started everything that culminated in the aftermath of OJ.

Y&R November 7, 1991 we saw during the classics. Brad and Traci remarry. B&B November 8, 1991 Sally gives birth to CJ. The YT channel has this episode dated August 25.

ED 1988 departure and TL 1989 departure were huge blows to the show. The Abbott family balance was totally thrown off with Ashley and Jack recasts. I've pointed out before that I thought Bill Bell lost interest in the Abbotts when Y&R was off track (Fall 1994 through first half of 1997) but with the way he wrote Ashley and Jack after the recasts, he might have lost interest in the Abbotts even earlier. I think Bill Bell writing started showing signs of losing interest in the Abbotts around 1987, overlapping with Cricket eating the show, Ed Scott becoming EP, and Traci role being reduced.

@beebs I took your 1990/91 season end ratings and updated the net differential for the 11 shows that were on from 1987/88 to 1990/91 and the new rankings are B&B +0.3 Y&R +0.1 As the World Turns -0.6 Guiding Light -0.8 Another World -1.1 Loving -1.1 All My Children -1.3 General Hospital -1.4 Santa Barbara -1.5 Days -1.7 One Life to Live -2.1

The Vietnam story was a rewrite since it went against established history. In 1983 when Dina arrived, it was said she left the family in 1971. The rewrite had Jack serving in Vietnam in 1971 so that made him an adult when Dina left.

This week was Jenny Jones show debut. This week was Jerry Springer show debut. Y&R this week was the masquerade ball. This week Montel Williams show went national. Y&R this week the masquerade ball concludes and Michael Corbett departure. Guiding Light this week Alexandra and Nick meet. Four weeks in a row that CBS entire line up is in the Top 5 😍 Two of ABC's big three tanking is quite the contrast from a decade earlier. Four new syndicated talk shows have premiered and I think that played a part. Keep an eye on Santa Barbara clearances as well.

Today (December 6) marks 25 years since Michael Zaslow passed away. RIP.

Reilly Days shook up daytime on a level not seen since ABC huge rise some 15 years earlier.

I take it you weren't a fan of the Reilly years? I still can't believe that James Reilly was a part of that early 1990s Guiding Light writing team with Nancy Curlee.

It still boggles my mind that Cane lasted for like 12 years.

TL Jack had so many layers. Playboy on the surface but deep down a lost little boy with mother abandonment issues that was always seeking his father's love and approval but messing up while doing so and not being able to live up to his father's expectations. Those layers got lost with the recast.

Seems as though writing was an issue at Days from Leah Laiman departure in 1989 until James Reilly arrival in 1992.

Agree, seasons 4-6 were the peak of Knots Landing.

One 1990s miniseries that hasn't been mentioned yet is Alex Haley's Queen. I thought Halle Berry did a really good job in it, and she was quite early in her acting career at that time.

JFP's third week and Guiding Light gets its first weekly win over General Hospital since 1984. Y&R this week: Traci learns she is pregnant. CBS entire lineup in the Top 5 😍 This week was Maury Povich show debut. We are now at five years of Oprah, four years of Geraldo, three years of Live with Regis and Kathie Lee. Keep an eye on Santa Barbara and Loving clearances over the fall.

I don't know about anyone else, but to me Knots Landing starting tanking in the aftermath of Val's babies. Empire Valley became a mess and Joshua's descent into madness and eventual death was difficult to watch.

Rage of Angels (1983) and its sequel (1986) were NBC. CBS had Master of the Game (1984), If Tomorrow Comes (1986), Windmills of the Gods (1988), Nothing Lasts Forever (1995). Memories of Midnight (1991) and The Sands of Time (1992) were syndicated. ABC had A Stranger in the Mirror (1993) but it was a movie not a miniseries.

On the male side of the equation there was Sidney Sheldon.

I'm pretty sure Nicolas Coster was on As the World Turns by Summer 1994 so the timing doesn't work. Jed Allan first appeared on 90210 in Spring 1994 so timing also doesn't work there either. I'm thinking JFP's choice might have been either Roscoe Born or Lane Davies.

The Long and Winding Road (season 6 finale) was the only Knots Landing episode that finished at #1.

Not to derail this thread, but I don't deny the impact of The Cosby Show in both television history and popular culture. Perhaps you are right and I was being a bit too harsh.

Of course JFP brought over her friends from Santa Barbara: Justin Deas, Marcy Walker, Marj Dusay. One casting during JFP run I'm curious about is Alan return in Summer 1994. It's surprising that GL cast a virtual unknown actor in such a pivotal role (at least to daytime viewers anyway; I know Ron Raines was a musical theater actor before he was cast on GL) and not a big soap name. Maybe the friend JFP wanted for the part wasn't available or not interested.

Judith Krantz recycled actors in her miniseries. Lindsay Wagner - Scruples, Princess Daisy Barry Bostwick - Scruples, I'll Take Manhattan, Till We Meet Again Stacy Keach - Princess Daisy, Mistral's Daughter Robert Urich - Princess Daisy, Mistral's Daughter

From the annual ratings, there is an increase from 1990/91 to 1991/92. How that's translated on a weekly basis we'll be seeing soon in the 1990s ratings thread.