Paul Raven

Great responses,guys. I could discuss this era 4eva. Thanx for the info on Paul/DD. Allen Fawcett (Kelly EON) was put on a retainer to take over as Paul if needed. Imagine how things would have been had there been a new Paul along with a whole new family. Maybe Bill would have waited a little longer to add more Williams while viewers got used to Fawcett. Conboy was called 'the Ross Hunter of daytime' and like that famed producer, who when he worked with Douglas Sirk created classic movies like Imitation of Life and All That Heaven Allows, but without Sirk his movies were glossy but shallow. Same with Conboy/Bell. There were a lot of aimless characters and stories in those years. Did Brock, formerly in love with Leslie have much interaction with her or was he too busy with Julia? Eve arrived with a bang with the claim that Charles was Victor's son but then she floundered. Wasn't it established she had a thing with Derek in the past and Charles could be his? Jill never saw Derek again? Paul seemed to keep hooking up with Nikki and declaring his love, but it fizzled out. He really lucked out with Victor/Nikki as much of the other pairings were failures.

Thanks for that comprehensive rundown. My statement on 79 was about the story direction rather than the ratings. There was nothing going on that would cause a sudden drop but I felt things were petering out and the expansion didn't help. Had the ongoing stories had exciting new twists and builup, the new characters could be introduced in the midst of it all but that wasn't the case. I think it would have been better for Lance to have been presumed dead at this point and the shock of the news brings Leslie's memory back. However, that coupled with her grief would leave her unable to care for Brooks. She asks Lucas for a divorce and rejects Jonas As Lucas was Brook's legal father, he would take custody and Lorie would use this to get Lance's precious son to herself by marrying Lucas., who always loved Lorie. I would have kept Liz pining for Stu and have Vanessa become involved with him-half to spite Lorie but also because she is discovering she can have feelings for a man (other than her son!) Lorie of course would be livid. When Stu realizes that Vanessa is too possessive he rejects her, which triggers her plan to frame Lorie for her death. Of course, along the way Les would recover and want her son back. Withdrawing Jill from the story weakened it. Would have been better to have the new Jill involved with familiar characters. Agree that Derek's motivation was murky. the show had never really done business stories so it was jarring that Chancellor was suddenly in the limelight. Perhaps Bill could have come up with something with Suzanne. Bringing in Derek's son Jamie might have led to something. The cult was one of those Summer teen stories that had no long term ramifications. If it had been the springboard to solidifying steve and Peggy... david winn was another of those bland leading men and Pam Peters just never seemed to click. Agree. Seemed much ado about nothing. Paul never cared for April who always came across as a wet blanket. Team Nikki for wanting more out of life. Using Brock as a romantic lead was jarring to the audience as Brock had always been the supporting/supportive character. Still not sure why Beau bailed. If contracts were renewed in Jan how come he was able to leave so soon. If he only agreed to say on 6 months, why give him his first big story? The problem with Jabot was that at first, it was isolated. Only those 3 characters were involved. Maybe Chris could have got a job there? Having Stu and Liz marry was a mistake in my book as it lead nowhere. They would have to be the happy tentpole couple, which isn't a bad thing but they never seemed to get the airtime in dramas surrounding their kids. I recall John Kelly Genovese saying that the intro of the Williams was too full on. Paul goes home one day and suddenly there's a dad who is a policeman, mom who's pregannt, brother who is a reporter, a teen sister and talk of another brother.He felt it was too much too soon and they should have come on more gradually.

The show is a mess. The story seemed to be made up as they went along. First the Tara story which was dropped and she was written out in a day. Then his various back stories. Hints that he was out to double cross the Newmans. The big Tuscan wedding. Then nothing to follow up and now he's out. Yet another marriage for Victoria that generated just a few months of story. Griffith and Morina need to be the next on the chopping block.

Getting back to 1980, looking back you could see the problems and opportunities Bill faced with the expansion. Y&R always had a very tight knit format linked to the Brooks and Fosters so immediately adding new faces was going to change the feel of the show. And by 79,some of the stories were losing steam. Lance/Lorie/Leslie/Lucas/Vanessa had been diluted by introducing the Jonas/Pris element. Same with Jill marrying Stuart and moving away from Derek/Kay. I don't think either of those stories were well received. Jill cheating her mother out of happiness seemed out of character and did anyone find Jonas interesting? I guess what I am saying is that the front burner stories were not super strong going in to 60 min format. Then you had John McCook and Brenda leaving. What did you guys think of the state of Y&R at that time and the choices Bill made?

The show is definitely suffering by having Darlene's love life front and center every week. The new agey boyfriend is not working for me -he presents as creepy. And she's barely broken up with Ben. If Darlene went backburner a bit, then they could explore other characters/stories in with more depth.

I get that , but at the time had Lauren thought Paul was dead, it would have been a great motivation for her to marry Scott (to me, that never came across as a great love match) Then when Paul is discovered to be alive it sets up a natural conflict b/w Scott and Lauren as he wonders whether she married him for the right reasons or as just a way to deal with Paul's death.

Hard to believe that Bell would get rid of Jeanne, but if that's what she said...Wasn't this one of the times she needed time off? So maybe it was a case of 'take the time and we'll see how things go' Maybe Jeanne saw this as pretty much getting the boot,especially if it was a low time in her personal life. I recall Traci and 'Tiffany' being mentioned but only in the Jerry Douglas era. How much earlier were the family mentioned? Agree, this is a fascinating time in the show's history. Messy for sure and that's without getting into the Victor/Julia/Brock/Michael story or the Derek/Judy Chancellor mess .

OK, thanks Broderick for that perspective. So maybe another problem (among all the other 1980 goings on) was the casting of Jack? Terry Lester had tested for Snapper I think when Espy left. How long b/w Bond's last appearance and Deborah's arrival? Edit Just read Will's response so maybe a month or so. Perhaps her sudden departure put a hold on the story progressing.

Thanks for that. So it looks like Sean Garrison was John Abbott #1. Maybe that didn't get mentioned because originally John was not going to be a major player. Although we did see him in that scene with Bond. Perhaps the plan was for John to be a stumbling block in the Jill/Jack romance and not another older man Jill was attracted to. As for Bond and the negotiations, surely contracts would have been signed off before she joined the show. Unless Bond started off as recurring? Maybe they agreed to that and then Bond's agent thought he had the upper hand? Though that seems unlikely as Y&R didn't seem to do that, especially with major roles.

Jill got the job at Jabot in May, so that is when Brett Halsey was hired also I believe. He had had two previous soap roles as Clay on SFT and Adam on GH but had done movies in the 60's and lived in Europe for many years and acted there. He wrote a couple of fiction books based on his experiences. One was about soaps and had me guessing as to what real life people he based the characters on. i think Bill just had trouble fitting in all these stories and couldn't get the Jabot story of the ground. Obviously he was not inspired by Bond as Jill. Although we never know the real reason actors are dropped. Maybe Bond had trouble with the pace of daytime or took John Conboy's parking spot?

Was amused by Connie Ford coming off all Helen Hayes of soaps with her 'Most of us are used to working in the the-ar-ter...' At that point when was the last time La Ford had been on stage?

Imani reappears to flirt with Nate - again, and Elena grimaces. They needn't have bothered taping that scene as it's been played several times. Just insert it from a previous ep. As for high drama, Phyllis is being sued by an unhappy client over the Escrap Club. Several minutes were spent on that nonsense. Business intrigue in the corridor at Newman Media. Amanda and Imani are going great guns at their new law firm! You know, the one we have never seen .

We saw scenes of Bond Gideon with Sean Garrett (?) as John posted here. The confusion lies with Garrett as he was never announced as playing John, it was always Halsey. The thinking was he was a temp for Halsey. We need now to solve when the role of John started and who played him.

That is so cool that we were able to match episodes.

Love of Life Sheila Webb ??? Alan's secretary 65/66

Ep 1869 Airdate Tues July 22 1980 Cast Greg Stuart Snapper Carl Casey Mary Nikki Paul John Jack Jill Matthew Sumiko Steve Peggy Sets/Scenes to be taped on each set Campus Park Steve Peggy Sumiko's Room Sumiko Matthew Sumiko Paul Hospital Room Mary Carl Casey Hospital Waiting Area Greg Stu Snapper Greg Snapper Nikki Greg Snapper Greg Snapper Jill Nurse John Abbott Office/Hospital Phone John Jack Jack Jill Jack Jill Snapper New World Commune Porch Paul Matthew Nikki Paul Nikki Matthew Sumiko Paul Nikki Paul Nikki Matthew Matthew Nikki Looking at synopses- Mary was in hospital after her miscarriage Liz had been shot,by a hitman ordered to kill Greg- hence all the characters also at the hospital Peggy and Steve were investigating the cult Looks like Jill got word at Jabot from Snapper about Liz

Nat Polen The Guiding Light early 1950's.

One Life to Live Julie Duncan ??? Old friend of Samantha Vernon, joins the Health Club and shows an interest in Marcello 1981 Father Campion also appeared in 1981

Another Life went with illustrations for its debut. I don't know the show well enough to know how close the drawings were to the characters.

The couple on the stairs is Jim and Mary Matthews.

Don't worry- he'll be forgiven, everybody will be best pals again and Devon won't give the kid another thought...

Wk 4 Pretty much regular programming and trends emerging. CBS domination of Thursday shows first signs of crumbling as NBC led by Cosby begins to win 8-10 timeslots beating Magnum and Simon Simon in the following weeks. CBS Sunday 9-11 Alice/Jeffersons/Trapper John don't hold Murder She Wrote leadin and are weaker up against movies. NBC leading Tuesdays lead by A Team. ABC weakening on Sat as Love Boat declines. 1. Dynasty ABC 26.1/40 Dallas CBS 24.8/40 24. A Team NBC 24.3/38 Hotel ABC 22.5/38 Cagney & Lacey CBS 21.6/34 60 Minutes CBS 21.4/35 Cosby Show NBC 21.3/34 Simon & Simon CBS 21.2/32 Newhart CBS 21.0/31 Riptide NBC 20.8433 Magnum, PI. CBS 26.3/32 Kate & Allie CRS 20.029 Knot's Landing CBS 19.7/33 Falcon Crest CBS 19.4/33 Family Ties NBC 19.3/29 Fall Guy ABC 19.2431 Cheers NBC 18.6/28 His Mistress NBC 18.3/31 Remington Steele NBC 17.6/30 Jefferson CBS 17.3/26 Scarecrow C Mrs. King 0138 17.0/26 'IV Bloopers and Prac. Jokes NBC 16.9/26 Hill St Blues NBC 16.7/28 V The Final Battle Pt 2 16.7/26 Green Bay vs. Denver ABC 16.5/28 Love Boat ABC 16.2/28 Night Court NBC 16.2/25 Highway to Heaven NBC 16.1/26 Webster ABC 16.0/27 Trapper John, M.D. CBS 16.0/26 Cover Up CBS 15.8/29 New Orleans vs. Dallas ABC 15.3/31 Facts of Life NBC 15.0/23 Benson ABC 14.7/26 NFL (Sunday,7 -7:30) NBC 14.3/26 Gimme a Break NBC 14.1 /25 Finder of Lost Loves ABC 14.1/25 Sentimental Journey CBS 14.0/23 Three's a Crowd ABC 14.0/22 20/20 ABC 13.8/23 Paper Dolls ABC 13.6/21 World's Greatest Mysteries ABC 13.6/21 Miami Vice NBC 13.5/23 V The Final Battle NBC 13.4/23 Foul Ups, Bleeps and Blunders 13.4/22 Diffrent Strokes NBC 13.3/24 Mike Hammer `CBS 13.3/23 It'sYour Move NBC 13.3/21 Grease ABC 12.9/20 T.J. Hooker ABC 12.8/23 St. Elsewhere NBC 12.7/21 Dukes of Hazzard CBS 12.6/22 Jessie ABC 12.2/21 Nairobi Affair CBS 12.2/20 Matt Houston ABC 11.9/20 Charles in Charge CBS 11.8/19 Partners in Crime NBC 11.8/20 Airwolf CBS 11.3/20 Hawaiin Heat ABC 11.1/18 Punky Brewster NBC 9.9/16 61. Ripley's Believe It or Not ABC 9.4/16 Dreams CBS 9.4/15 1 63. AfterMASH 0138 9.3/1 64. E/R CBS 8.9/14 Hot Pursuit NBC 8.8/16

Whatever happened to ashland? He seems to have become a supporting character when he should be instigating stuff. Devon needs to guzzle a giant can of STFU. He agreed to be a sperm donor. Abby and Chance are giving him access to Dom and he's acting all put out that he can't have a bigger role in the kid's life. Too bad. Traci was drafted in to replace Jack in her scenes.

Wk 3 World Series baseball on NBC pre-empted Tues,Wed and Fri and early Sun night programming. Presidential debates were on Thurs from 9. The Burning Bed starred Farrah Fawcett and was NBC's Monday movie. The Burning Bed NBC 38.2/52 World Series- Sunday NBC 29.7/49 World Series -Tuesday NBC 27.7/44 World Series- Wednesday NBC 28.0/40 Dynasty ABC 25.1/38 World Series post -Sunday NBC 24.8/40 Dallas CBS 24.0/37 World Series -Friday NBC 21.5/35 Bill Cosby Show NBC 20.8/33 Magnum, P.I. CBS 20.3/32 Single Bars & Single Women ABC 20.0/31 Murder, She Wrote CBS 19.4/29 Knight Rider NBC 19.3/28 Hotel ABC 19.2/30 Family Ties NBC 19.1/30 Fall Guy ABC 18.8/29 Falcon Crest CBS 18.5/30 World Series pre -Tuesday NBC 18.2/31 Jefferson CBS 17.9/28 TV Bloopers & Practical JokesNBC 17.8/27 Alice CBS 17.0/28 Scarecrow & Mrs. King CBS 18.9/25 V: The Final Battle NBC 18.8/28 Scorned and Swindled CBS 18.7/28 Trapper John, M.D. CBS 16.8/28 Love Boat ABC 16.3128 Benson ABC 16.2/28 World Serles pre -Wed NBC 15.5/27 Country Music Awards CBS 15.5/23 Three's A Crowd ABC 15.4/23 Webster ABC 16.2/25 Dlffrent Strokes NBC 14.9/27 Gimme A Break NBC 14.6/26 49ers vo. Giants ABC 14.8/23 60 Minutes CBS 14.5/23 Matt Houston ABC 14.4/23 FoulUps, Bleeps, Bleeps & Blunders ABC 14.3/23 Kate & Allie CBS 14.2/20 Hardcastle & McCormick ABC 14.1/21 VP debate analysis CBS 14.0/23 Call to Glory ABC 14.0/21 World Series pre -Friday NBC 13.7/25 Charles in Charge CBS 13.2/21 Partners in Crime NBC 13.0/23 Finder of Lost bares ABC 122/24 Mike Hammer CBS 12.9/23 AfterMASH CBS 12.8/20 E/R CBS 12.8/19 Paper Dolls ABC 12.7/19 T.J. Hooker ABC 12.5/23 Dukes of Hazzard CBS 12.4/21 VP debate analysis ABC 12.4/21 Cover -Up CBS 12.1/22 Airwolf CBS 11.922 VP debate analysis NBC 11.9/20 Hawaiian Heat ABC 11.8/18 Dreams CBS 112/17 Attack on Fear CBS 10.9/18 Jessie ABC 10.6/17 Ripley/'s Believe It Or Not ABC 9.5/15 NFL ibotball CBS 9.2/18 20/20 ABC 8.8/14