Paul Raven

CBS pilot for the 80-81 season Our Shining Moment Four women whose husbands, brothers, fathers and lovers are overseas fighting in WW2. Stories will deal with the women's interactions and how they survive the war on the homefront. Rita Lakin was the writer for Charles Fries Productions.

Ivor Francis Pilots/Proposals T.H.E. Hospital Dr Royce Carruthers 5 day a week comedy serial for syndication 1979

Victoria Rowell exit interview 2007 ROWELL'S BITTERSWEET GOOD-BYE Dru's disappearance this week marks the end of Victoria Rowell's latest Y&R stint, which began in 2002 (she was previously on from 1990-1998 and again in 2000). The actress, who asked to be released from her contract, leaves with mixed feelings. "I have not only been in the business of acting, but I've been in the business of lifting the whole show," she says. "That being said, I have a responsibility to my audience, which by the way, is predominately African-American; you can quote me on that. I care about the whole design of the show, I care about the wardrobe, I care about all details. I cared about the paint on the wall of the Winters family home because I felt that we needed more contrast between the color of our skin and the color of the walls. Those are the kinds of things that I would actually want to discuss. That's my responsibility as an actor, a performer and an artist; to care about the whole show. I'm detail-driven and those things are important not only to me, but to the debt of gratitude that I owe to Bill Bell." As for her feelings about HW/EP Lynn Latham, Rowell says, "The word 'unhappy' does not exist in this equation. Lynn is a brilliant writer and she recognizes the importance of sussing out an actor's best strengths. She did the research, which I can't imagine how many hours she put into researching our characters and the history of the show, but she did it. And it shows. She's brilliant." However, if Dru is recast, VR hopes Y&R finds "an actress who continues to march the way I did for African-Americans on covers of daytime magazines. I hope they find an actress who continues to advocate for black hair and makeup artists. I hope they find an actress who continues to march for a black writer or two on the show. I hope they find an actress who continues to demand that an African-American actress will be allowed to go [abroad] to represent Y&R. I hope they find an actress who will continue to carry the baton to care about the minutest of details, who will care about all aspects of the show and want only the best for the show." VR adds, "Sometimes, caring too much just doesn't have an audience."

Thanks DC for that critique always enjoy your insights. I stuck with FR through its run but it never seemed to bring everything together. I thought season 2 was an improvement and maybe it would have taken off in Season3. The timeslot was the best place for it but a strong lead in was necessary. NBC was in the ratings doldrums at that point and there were precious few hits that could have boosted FR. The motivations and depth to the characters was lacking. I found Christina Raines to be a little bland. Kevin McCarthy I couldn't take to and Howard Duff was a caricature. One thing that bothered me was the characters names. It just felt weird to have a Claude, Eudora, Fielding, Lute Mae, Elmo, Skipper and Lane -not really names that were relatable.

requests Christina Chambers Joanna Merlin

New soap from Sussman. The first daytime serial featuring a black family as one of the "core" families (around which story lines develop) debuts today (March 21) on NBC (there are two feeds: noon -12:30 p.m. and 12:30 -1 p.m.). The series centers on three generations of two Chicago families -the Marshalls, who are black, and the Whitmores, who are white. Pat Crowley (Dynasty), Taurean Blacque (Hill Street Blues), Joan Pringle (White Shadow), Lynn Hamilton (Sanford & Son), Gail Ramsey (General Hospital) and Andrew Massett (Days of our Lives) head the cast. Generations was created by Sally Sussman (The Young and the Restless), who will serve as executive producer and head writer. The show is being produced at NBC Studios in Burbank, Calif., by her company, Old Forest Hill Productions, in association with NBC Productions. In a recent press interview, Sussman said she did not create the program specifically with the notion of being the first to focus on a black family. "The fact that they are black is almost incidental to the concept of the show," she said. "What we hope to do is to be able to tell stories about all the generations, not to necessarily focus on just the young people or the older people, but to focus between the relationships and the differing classes and their struggles and the way that they are dealing in the 1990's."

Roseanne hit #1 the week it took over the Tues 9pm timeslot. It had a rating of 27.7/40. Cosby was #2 25.3/40 The 9.30 follow up Anything but Love was # 7 22.6/34 The competition was In The heat of the Night NBC #21 17.1/25 and the CBS Tuesday Movie #75 6.4/10 Roseanne's success to this point was noteworthy. I think it was the first show that was moved to a lead in (8/9pm) timeslot in its first season. And one of the few shows to hit #1 in the weekly ratings in its first season. Cosby did it as did Beverly Hillbillies. Can't think of any others. Maybe Laugh In or Marcus Welby?

It was like Adam and Sally were only put together so they could break up, she could be paired with Nick to have Adam lose out again and create a 'triangle' Adam and Sally together had way more to explore as a couple without a poorly motivated breakup.

Those were the 3 P&G soaps that aired in a block so it was natural to air them together. although that promo put the shows out of order. Maybe there was one for each and they all got top billing. They may have done a LOL, Y&R and SFT ad as well to promote the 11.30-1pm block. Secret Storm was gone by early 74.

Lin Bolen was the daytime VP who initiated the expansion of AW and then DOOL. Remember the ratings fight in the 70's was fierce as each network bid for supremacy. CBS had been knocked from their longstanding #1 position and it was determined to regain it, and NBC and ABC both close competitors. When the expanded AW improved the 3.30 -4.00 ratings at nowhere near the cost of a separate soap, DOOL quickly followed suit. I think the issue with The Doctors might have been Colgate-Palmolive, owners of the show. There might have been reluctance on their part to pony up the extra dollars needed. Also, from a practical point of view, The Doctors did not have the studio space necessary for the extra sets required for a 60 min show. SOD mentioned DOOL going to 90 min but I'm not sure how far that got. As soon as the AW ratings came in there would have been 2nd thuughts.

Only along the lines that she had a different attitude to when she was on Days. At Y&R she decided to be 100% positive about her character, story, appearances, co-stars etc. I guess going from front burner at Days to being marginalized was a humbling lesson for her.

There has been discussions of Dark Mansions previously in this thread. Yes the timing seems wrong but according to reviews at the time the pilot was not well received. The fact that ABC ran it on a Saturday during Summer speaks volumes. Loretta Young was the original star but pulled out. I think the supernatural theme was a good point of difference but obviously the execution was lacking.

Yes I recall John Kelly Genovese in Afternoon TV review (why did I throw out those mags ?!) stating that under Marland and others that The Doctors was no longer living up to it's title and that very little hospital based intrigue was occurring.

Would anyone watching Y&R for the last few years know that Jack and Sharon were once married? Do Jack & Sharon even know this?

Marcus Welby MD on ABC It only ever played in one timeslot Tues at 10 but was programmed against the CBS Newshour and the last hour of the NBC movie.But once a month NBC pre-empted the movie for its own news series First Tuesday. Traditionally those newshours were low rating so MW had everyone turning to ABC. It was 8th in its first season. In season 2 it shot to No.1 helped by its lead in ABC Movie of The Week which was 6th. It was ABC's first No.1 show and it was unusual for a 10pm show to be first for the season. Once the opposition started scripted programs against it the ratings dropped and it spent the last couple of seasons out of the Top 30.

I can see Amanda and Imani fading away and Audra taking their place.

Y&R Billy/Amanda-weren't they sitting on rooftops together philosophizing at one point?

Nate has had a complete (unmotivated)180 in personality. Sean plays it well but Nate should have been more like this from the beginning. Really ,how many times are they going to rehash Victor out to crush his enemies? More of the same. Is anybody interested in watching Adam do this sort of stuff? A misfire from Day 1. Soap rule #1-don't marry off a couple unless you have a couple of years of story to tell. So Abby will now have 2 marriages under her belt. Following in Mom's footsteps. Good writing would give them some conflict,push and pull before finally divorcing . They've basically been backburnered instead.

Guiding Light Dec 9 and 12 1995

So the Noel/Donna love fest is over...

So Peacock has more cash to splash? Wonder why that is so. can anyone shed light on their business model?

Written on the Wind was another influence.

So will Esther disappear again after accepting the job? Where is Tucker planning to land the heliocopter?

Can't really see this working out. Mishael is obviously looking for other work. Amanda is not such a strong character that she needs to be there. She could just decide to care full time for her mom and after that why is she needed? Devon/Amanda is not some great love story at this point. Wonder how this will affect Imani/Leigh Ann Rose?

The music is quite something. Also noticed that very few characters ever looked one another in the eye. Very shifty people. i have never see Shelby Hiatt as Jane before. This must be Feb 75.