Paul Raven

Good question. I guess a number of factors were at play. Firstly Cosby coming along put sitcoms back in the spotlight. That show drew all of the other NBC Thursday sitcoms into the Top 10 and just as ABC and NBC tried to find competing soaps when Dallas took off, the other networks tried to find their own Cosby/sitcom hits. Secondly the shows themselves were aging and because of the format it was difficult to keep things fresh. Dallas viewers expected to see JR scheming, Dynasty wanted Blake/Krystal/Alexis etc so the shows had to keep finding plots to service those characters, the backflip to that is that viewers also got bored seeing the same sort of stories. Also the networks had failed to find any other soap hits apart from the Big 4. Had Berrengers, Paper Dolls or Emerald Point taken off there might have been fresher shows to keep the genre alive. And like any shows they had a shelf life , in fact the soaps ran longer than a lot of other shows considered hits that may have gone on 5-6 seasons. Just a few ideas. I'd like to see what others can think of.

Well Sean/Nate is a very sexy guy. They should have always had Nate as a bit of a player rather than Mr Good Guy Noble doctor.

I was thinking about Y&R's original and early cast members who chose to leave and how that panned out. In most cases they seemed to want to move on to primetime and make their careers there. Janice Lynde got a pilot 'Roxy' that she, at least, was all hyped up about but it wasn't picked up and there were some guest shots before she went back to soaps on Another World and later One Life to Live. after that it was just small guest spots. Trish Stewart landed a primetime series shortly after leaving Y&R 'Salvage 1' with Andy Griffith but it flopped and Trish vanished from the scene, which is odd as you would imagine having a co lead on a series might work in her favor in gaining more work. Tom Hallick also had pilot 'Time Travellers' and 'Captain Nemo' but again no pickups and he also hosted Entertainment Tonight before a revamp. Back to daytime with Days in 84 and then guest spots. Jaime Lyn Bauer got 'Bare Essence' shorty after leaving but that was short lived and she did a few primetime things before going back to soaps on DOOL. Brenda Dickson got a small part on Falcon Crest before returning in 83. Bill Espy had a break before returning to daytime on AW. He never seemed interested in primetime. Beau Kayzer got a pilot 'Hardcase' but nothing after that. James Houghton had to wait a few years before Knots Landing and a season on The Colbys. David Hasselhoff is the exception - landing a hit in Knight Rider and moving on to Baywatch. So I guess, if the others hoped for a hit series things didn't pan out. Maybe having a soap past was held against them and there was just too much competition. Or timing/luck was against them.

Yes you're probably right. Thanks for pointing that out. I should have realized from Jack's shirt. He is always dressed now in suit and tie. I guess it was wishful thinking that a character might have an actual workplace. Will be interesting to see where the actual scene plays out-either Abbott house, CL or Society I guess.

So Christine is now DA. How does that work? Didn't she have that role a few years back and decide it was too much and resign? Can she just step into that role? If the current DA resigned/retired wouldn't there be a process, instead of cricket just deciding she was going to do it again? Looks like government departments work the same way as private companies in GC. Over coffee at Society, you decide to take over/purchase a company and within days it's done and dusted. Is making Chris DA is setting up a Phyllis on trial story... And from a SOD spoiler pic, it looks like Christine gets an......OFFICE!!!!

That was Week 5 of the season Mon CBS had a strong showing but Kate & Allie was #22 and NBC Bloopers won 8pm #24 ABC swept Wed Fall Guy/Dynasty/Hotel. Dynasty was #1 for the second week in a row. NBC Tues A Team/Riptide/Remington Steele. CBS Thurs sweep . I wonder how worried they were at that point about NBC's comedies. Maybe they thought NBC would be a strong #2, underestimating what a monster Cosby would become and how that would flow through the night. Friday went to CBS but they were unable to find a strong 8pm show. ABC took Saturday but Love Boat was only #33. Golden Girls was waiting in the wings to sweep in next season CBS took Sunday but viewers deserted at 9pm to see Brooke Shields in Wet Gold #20. Jeffersons was #27, Alice #40 and Trapper John #45

MARGO ALBERT THE DREFT STAR PLAYHOUSE "Suspicion" Lina Aysgarth 1944

Radio Life 3/2/51 THE FIRST hundred years of television are, like everything else are bound to be the hardest ... but a crew of Hollywood veterans recently took off for Gotham with the enthusiasm of a pioneer caravan, to try their luck at that first formative century. By the time you read this, they will be hard at work on television's first major daytime serial, aired five times a week from the CBS -TV studios in New York and aptly entitled "The First Hundred Years." The story of two newlyweds and their respective families, "The First Hundred Years" catalogues the often amusing and always touching ex- periences of the young couple's progress at "settling down." The venturesome quartet of Hollywood actors are people you've seen many times on the screen and heard many times on the air. They are craftsmen whose lives in Filmtown had settled down to the comfortable surety of "regular" assignments, established homes, proven careers. Robert Armstrong ... Nana Bryant . . . Jimmy Lydon . . . Dan Tobin. Stay West, Young Folks Most of their instincts as actors told them to stay out here in the West, podner, and enjoy the fruits of their many years of theatrical labors. But two instincts, inherent in all people who are inclined toward the bright lights, uprooted them summarily- curiosity and love of challenge. "The First Hundred Years" is not just a show, it is a full -time job. The actors report to the television studio at nine o'clock in the morning for final rehearsals on that day's show. As soon as the lights go out on the TV cameras, at 2:45 p.m., they reassemble for initial rehearsal of the next day's stanza and "punch out" at five o'clock, only to start all over again the next day. It's hard work, and it means giving up, for the time being, any opportunities they might have to make pictures, appear in stage plays, guest on other radio and television programs. But they love it! The Cast Comment Robert Armstrong, for iñstance, who has made 150 major movies since his debut in 1927, says: "My main ambition these days is to become a veteran in television, a record I've already attained in pictures." Bob believes that "The First Hundred Years" is a highly important experiment in the new field, aimed as it is at the daytime audience and programmed as a five -a -week feature. "The rehearsal schedule probably sounds a little rough to most actors, but I think it is the very thing that will help us to become proficient television performers in the shortest possible length of time. I have few qualms about leaving Hollywood to take part in the development of this new medium, because I have every faith that it will become increasingly successful as the years go by. And I want to be there to see it!" Nana Bryant, who completed work in Twentieth Century -Fox's "Follow the Sun " just before she entrained for New York and TV circles, has something to say, too. Comments Nana: "Television contains all the elements of stage, film and radio acting that I enjoy most, so why shouldn't I be enthusiastic!" The intriguing quality of her role as "Mrs. Martin," mother of the 'bride, in "The First Hundred Years," is that it is a light comedy role with definite personality that is maintained from day to day, from week to week, rather than from curtain to curtain as it would be in a play or radio show. "I feel that I'll really get to know Mrs. Martin so well that it will be like greeting an old friend as I walk into the studio each day. And that feeling of familiarity will take away from the rigors of the working schedule, I think." Before her role in "The First Hundred Years," Nana's only experience with television had been through a few guest -shots on local shows .where all the dialogue was ad-libbed. "And that's a little nerve - racking at best, without having one of those strange looking cameras staring at you all the time!" Jimmy Lydon, the engaging young juvenile who is probably best identified as filmland's Henry Aldrich, started out in the theater when he was about six years old, and since then has become an old timer in the legitimate theater and in pictures. Jimmy will be seen as "Chris," the bridegroom, in "The First Hundred Years," and he has this to say about the future: "Sure, I'm sorry to leave the many friends and my home in Hollywood. But I'm looking forward with great excitement to getting my feet wet in television -provided, of course, I don't get 'em wet up to my elbows! I've enjoyed working in the theater, in radio and in pictures, but I think television is the new and important medium of our time, and now I want to tackle that. Think I'm scared? Jeepers, you're so right!" Dan Tobin, another veteran actor, starts his story with a grin: "Y'know, when I first got out of school, I was a little confused about my future in the theater, so I took time out to see the world and went to sea for a while. Well, here I am at sea again, in a brand new business. But this time I guess the world -or part of it, anyway -is going to see me." Dan is definitely of the opinion that television, like radio and waffles, is here to stay. He is approaching his job in "The First Hundred Years" with mixed emotions -confidence in the eventual success of the venture, plus a certain degree of apprehension in regard to the assignment of making one show a full-time job. "It's a little like working with a stock company," Dan says, "where it's necessary to be ready with a complete role every day. However, in this case, the character remains the same . . . he just continues to develop." Milestone "The First Hundred Years" is a product of the creative mind and prolific typewriter of Jean Holloway, scripter of some of radio's top programs since she was in her teens. Jean originally wrote the series for radio, then tailored it to the requirements of television and went to New York to stand by while her brain child was raised to be a TV giant. The attractive writer will not remain in the East all the time, however, but will operate on a kind of commuter's schedule, returning to Hollywood every few weeks to keep up with her radio chores. It's a milestone in daytime television and certainly in the professional lives of these actors, whose decisions to cast their lot with the new field were not lightly made. Watch for them and remember when. in the years to come, they are honored as pioneers who were important factors in the development of an industry that is destined to be a tremendous influence in our whole way of life.

Re the motel set. Y&R does a better job decorating a dumpy motel room than a billionaire's penthouse.

Personally, I don't mind the tweets being posted, as I wouldn't see them otherwise and they don't seem random to me - as theyrelate to something happening on the show at the moment. Just another perspective...

So can anyone explain the Phyllis story? She has faked her death, which in itself has been glossed over, for what reason? To frame Diane? But as soon as she reveals herself,Diane would be off the hook and Phyllis would be in trouble? To cause pain for her son and beloved dotter? The whole set up is making no sense but Josh is getting paid and getting network approval for this drivel. I shouldn't be too bothered. In acouple of months,Phyllis will be back in everyone's lives and all will be forgotten.

The writers strike delayed the official start of the 88/89 season. lack of new product meant that schedules were revised to include movies, reruns to fill the gaps. A few series were especially commissioned to fill gaps in the schedule until shows were ready . ABC went to Australia to film episodes of Mission Impossible to play Sunday @8 instead of 'A Fine Romance' originally scheduled. That show finally debuted in the Thurs @8 slot later in the season. Trackdown was a Sat@8 reality series filling in foe 'Murphy's Law' CBS went with reality show 'High Risk' Tues @8 until TV 101 was ready for that slot and Dick Clark Wed @ 8 until Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore (Annie McGuire) sitcoms were available. On Saturday they had a sitcom'First Impressions' on the shelf which was teamed with reruns of 'Fran's Place to fill Sat 8-9 until Dirty Dancing and Raising Miranda were available. NBC were assured of a win with the World Series, Superbowl and Thurs/Sat night hits.

BETTY RUTH SMITH Painted Dreams Silvia Grey Ma Perkins Guiding Light Romance of Helen Trent She played the title role for 4 years 41-45 Married Bob Zech in 1945 .Had 3 children.Moved to Dallas in 1951.

La Lucci was irreplaceable. There was never a temp recast. When Susan took maternity leave, Erica was written out. If Susan was ever unable to work, they must have written around it.

That's one awful retcon that to me needs to be played down as much as possible. It has no bearing on current story and the two hardly ever cross paths.Have them interact occasionally but don't mention the relationship.

Those drawings are horrendous!

That author would only be using a press release about Thad. It's not unusual for pr people to play down soap connections, especially when the actor concerned has had other gigs considered more 'prestigious'.

Once Edge of Night went up against Somerset in 1975, it seems that was over. Guiding Light was against Another World as was Texas later on .Lovers and Friends went up against Search and so on.

Agree. That era of Search was so hard to make sense of with coming and goings , recasts and changed characters and plots. DC makes it much easier to sort out.

Y&R The artwork and decor items from Devon's penthouse. Total lot should raise about 50 bucks.

Constance Carson on Return To Peyton Place had an abortion in late 73 and am I right in saying that Cathy Phillips on Search for Tomorrow had one maybe in 72??

I checked out https://jacksondynasty.net/bold/ Some of those dates are wrong eg Liz and Stuart marrying in 1978. So some re checking might be necessary.

It will be great to see him under happier circumstances. I hope it's not all about Neil.

Phyllis will be widowed or divorced before the year is out #shortterm storytelling