Paul Raven

How about Leanna Love returning to do an expose on GC's various scandals. Barbara Crampton would knock it out of the park.

Bill Bell was smart enough to avoid supercouples because he knew how limiting they could be to character and story development. Days showed that to be true by having one to kill off one half , usually because the actor was leaving eg Roman/Marlena, Bo/Hope, Steve/Kayla and the audience was not interested in seeing either of them with anyone else, hence the endless back from the dead stories. Even with Nikki and Victor, he wrote them as flawed with definite character traits, so their split was realistic and interesting to watch. I agree he was sometimes to quick to split up couples, rather than try and get a few more years story from them. with long term characters that is important, otherwise we see 5 or 6 marriages and credibility is lost.

GL Morgan and Kelly - Doug Marland's young love front burner destiny couple. But neither truly belonged to a family-Kelly was a Bauer godson, Morgan loosely linked to the Spauldings, so once they split there were forgotten.

Doug and Julie on 80's Days. One of Days (and soaps in general supercouples) they were quietly shipped off in 84, with nary a mention after even though their daughter/stepdaughter was frontburner. When Doug returned solo for a short while,Julie was minimised (not sure how the relationship was treated) When Julie came back in 1990 on contract she was now the glamorous divorcee and again her love story with Doug was brushed aside. It was only when Julie was leaving that Doug returned and they reunited, restoring their legacy that continues to this day.

Where do I start ? The major problem AW faced, like many others, was a refusal to embrace the history and instead following a mistaken belief that new characters and stories were the answer to ratings woes. The Matthews and Frame families were a part of the show when it reached ratings peaks yet later producers/writers wanted to ignore that and expect viewers to embrace new families. even then the Loves and McKinnons were diminished as time went on. Sure, new characters are important but tying them into established characters is a way to keep longterm viewers watching. On the one hand they eliminated half the cast but then focused way too much on Rachel and Mac, creating stories that diminished those characters and their love story. Meanwhile viable characters like Pat, Nancy, Dennis, Jamie, Mike,Marianne etc were not used. Viewers want to see familiar families and their interactions, not fractured families and over exposed characters. The character of Pat was case in point. An original character played by a long term actress who was still vital and attractive but because she was over 40 was tossed aside. Instead Pat , who only had one marriage under her belt could have been used to usher in a new family by having Pat marry and have a couple of step children as Bill Bell did with Jill marrying into the Abbotts.

Not sure where to pst this but this thread seemed appropriate. Variety March 1969 reviewed the 'The Boys in the Band' for a second time, now that the original cast had moved on to LA and London productions. Most of the roles were taken by soap performers, many who were gay IRL Michael Lipton Konrad Matthei David O'Brien Matthew Tobin Leon Russom Christopher Bernau Ted LePlat Harold Scott and David Daniels were other castmembers. Interesting that so many closeted actors would take on gay roles on stage.

For someone who claims to care about mental health and privacy, he doesn't seem too concerned about those issues except when it comes to himself. He wrote the book and made the TV series for the $$$ as he wants the lifestyle he feels entitled to. His wife, a minor actress, now wants to fashion herself as some sort of humanitarian, again while living the 1% lifestyle.

Can't recall the details now, but the monologue Caroline had on Days about 2 customers in days gone by who were gay and because of the times never acted on those feelings. It was beautifully written and Peggy McCay sold it.

Just yesterday ....Y&R bored me to tears. Sorry, couldn't resist. Seriously that final scene when Katherine/Jeanne slowly mounted the stairs and Jill/Jess looked up was pretty heartwrenching, knowing that was Jeanne's last appearance.

Wasn't Gwen given dialogue originally written for Willis? Gwen was nothing like the original character. Not to reunite Alice and Steve in someway was ridiculous. Give Alice a fantasy sequence where she reunites with Steve. And if you're going to bring back core characters like Pat then give them some meaningful scenes, otherwise don't bother.

Who's The Boss ranked 21st in it's first Tuesday episode outranking lead-in Three's a Crowd which was 37th . that was a good showing up against A Team 3rd. As stated 84/85 was peak for nightime soaps but NBC was nowhere to be seen. Maybe Bare Essence and Yellow Rose had put them off. They had Berrengers in the wings but scheduled it for Saturday where Secrets of Midland Heights and Yellow Rose had shown there wasn't much appetite for soaps on Saturday. Maybe they should have placed Berrengers Tues @10 with the strong Riptide lead-in and no real competition. But I guess Remington Steele was doing OK and they didn't want to risk it.

Of course. and Agnes often had an interloper who had designs on the guy Jenny/Greg/Liza Steve/Alice/Rachel Cliff/Nina/Sybil Although that triangle is SOAP 101.

Bill Bell Younger sister has insecurities due to weight problem/skin condition Traci/Katie. De facto head of poorer family resents father who deserted Storm/Snapper

NBC saw some potential and wisely used it as lead-in to it's previously lower rating comedy block. They didn't use it as lead out for Gimme A Break for example. Hopefully ABC would have done the same-maybe Friday @8 to boost that night. Then again, they obviously didn't see much potential in Who's the Boss? Viewers found that show, even though it was buried on Thurs night. ABC quickly moved it to Tues and the ratings began to grow.

Bill Bell: Miserable grand dame resents younger beautiful woman for taking her son. Vanessa/Lorie

CBS must have been surprised/disappointed that Crazy Like A Fox was a shortlived success. Despite the strong MSW lead-in the opposing movies proved too strong the following season. Although CBS could boast of all its Thursday lineup in the Top 20, it was not to last. No other night had all shows in the Top 20 although CBS Sunday came close with only Trapper John missing out. ABC turned down Cosby because there was no pilot or script and I think they wanted a full season commitment. How different things would have been had ABC picked it up. But where would it be scheduled? Against A Team? Or to boost Wed @8?

A gender reveal party with pink spray. People can be so annoying.

Agnes liked her young love storyline where the protaganists were the innocent girl and the well meaning good guy who were manipulated by outside forces.But she really really only used it repeatedly on AMC. I guess Meredith and Larry on early OLTL would qualify. On AW , Steve wasn't the type. Loving had Stacey and Jack? On AMC,first there was Phil and Tara. Then Cliff and Nina, followed quickly by Jenny and Greg. But there really wasn't a next couple to follow that template. At one point when she took over the writing I think Scott and Becca were given that role.

There was a strike going on in primetime so Nicolas Coster was available . How and why he was approached/agreed is unclear. AW at that point seemed intent on erasing pretty much anything that occurred even a few years earlier.

1984-85 Cosby an instant hit that brings all 4 Thurs sitcoms to Top 20. Highway to Heaven, another hit for NBC. Crazy Like A Fox-looks like restoring CBS Sunday dominance. Out of the Top 20 AfterMash After a strong start it did struggle a little as the season wore on and Kate & Allie did far better, but CBS seemed to give up by putting it up against The A Team this season, where it was canned. Love Boat-the only Saturday show in that was Top 20. Fall Guy- Highway to Heaven took over the timeslot. The Jeffersons after a long run Scarecrow and Mrs King-already dropping in its second season-not a good sign. ABC Sunday and Monday Movie-NBC took over with their Monday movie. TV Bloopers- failed to maintain its appeal. 1 Dynasty 2 Dallas 3 The Cosby Show 4 60 Minutes 5 Family Ties 6 The A-Team 7 Simon & Simon 8 Murder, She Wrote 9 Knots Landing 10 (Tie) Falcon Crest 10 (Tie) Crazy Like a Fox 10 (Tie) Hotel 10 (Tie) Cheers 11 Riptide 12 Magnum, P.I. 13 Newhart 14 Kate & Allie 15 NBC Monday Night Movie 16 Highway to Heaven 17 Night Court

The circumstances were different-Mickey had amnesia, Victor was carjacked but overall it was the same template. And Bill used the plot of the novel written by one character- Lorie/Eric 'In My Sister's/Brother's Shadow' that detailed a private matter concerning another -Leslie's breakdown/Susan's rape. And the unlucky in love French restaurateur Robert/Pierre who marries the younger pregnant woman - Rebecca/Sally to give the baby a name. Producer Jacquie Babbin loved a murder mystery and introduced one eaach at AMC and Loving.

RONALD SYLVERS THE EDGE OF NIGHT Doctor Unknown Year 1968

Bill Bell used the man - Victor/Mickey - retreating from turmoil landing at a farm run by sweet/disabled woman - Hope/Maggie - and finds peace and love despite presence of distrustful, jealous rival - Cliff/Jay on Days and Y&R. Both times it was a success. Surprised Ridge Forrester didn't end up at a farm owned by a deaf woman... That story first appeared on radio in the 40's on Young Dr Malone, I think. Bill Bell said he used to listen to radio soaps.

Bill Bell liked to throw in a little quasi incest to spice things up -see Tommy/Marie on Days, Lorie/Mark, Cole/Victoria and Scott/Christine on Y&R. Was there anything like this on B&B? can't recall offhand.

So many tidbits are uncovered from synopses and articles from the actual time that show mistakes were made in later publications. Again thanks to depboy for sharing. Now we just have to find synopses from other soaps....