Paul Raven

These discussions about the storylines for the Abbotts and others in the mid 90's speak to the difficulty that writers (Bill Bell obviously included) have in providing satisfying stories for frontburner characters after about 10-15 years. Bill never really faced this problem before as he was gone from ATWT by its 9th anni (did he start in 58?) and Days by 76? after 10 years. He didn't have to deal with the aftermath resolution of the Bill/Laura/Mickey and Doug/Julie stories or the challenge of bringing equally compelling stories to the forefront. As we saw succeeding writers had difficulty with that. And at Y&R, by eliminating the Brooks and Fosters , he didn't have to follow through with writing those characters for another decade or more. Even Irna Phillips departed ATWT after 14 years and when she returned she eliminated the Stewart family as obviously she felt constricted and more inspired by other characters. The only main character that had any longevity at that point were Bob and Lisa. Agnes Nixon did pretty much the same thing at AMC after 10 years or so.The Martin children, Phil,Linc and Kelly were all dropped. Only Chuck and Erica remained from the original concept. So maybe Bill should have made some hard decisions around this time... What story/character decisions might have benefitted the show moving forward??

Charme Allen The High Places 1944 Aunt Jenny temp for Florence Malone 1938 Edgar Stelhi The High Places 1944 Humphrey Davis The High Places 1944 My True Story 1947 Tennesee Jed Sheriff Jackson John Gibson The High Places 1944 David Harum 1943 1948 Young Widder Brown 1943 Just Plain Bill Arthur Britton 1946 Right to Happiness My True Story Rose of My Dreams 1948 Ethel Owen The High Places 1944 Margot of Castlewood 1938 Kitty Keene Lady Gertie 1938 Big Sister David Harum The Guiding Light Jane Gordon Ellis Katie's Daughter 1948 Joan Tetzel The High Places 1844 Snow Village

The real life and unexpected deaths of Brenda Benet (Lee DOOL) and Douglass Watson (Mac AW) obviously altered planned storylines.

Thanks for that. I was a bit hazy (and lazy) MJ on The Doctors Jenny on OLTL?

Yes it was very odd that Vanessa never had a child of her own. She had various'surrogate' children over the years. Nick Bellini was on The Doctors for years w/o any children conceived or popping up from the past. Ed and Carla on One Life to Live.

Lauralee always claimed she had no influence with her dad re Cricket, but maybe she didn't want to play pregnant and a mom, before she'd done it herself. Or she knew being a mom would limit her story possibilities. OR Bill didn't want to give her a child until his little girl experienced it herself.

Decided to post this here as Irna was most associated with ATWT. It's from Variety, early 1970. Irna Phillips, grand dame of daytime serials has terminated her exclusive agreement with P&G. The prolific writer of daytime strips gave up a pact that committed her services through 1976. She has been exclusively under contract to P&G for the past six years- her release means she has departed ATWT which has ranked as the highest rated daytime program for the past 12 years. Miss Philips, in from her Chicago home disclosed her change of status at a press conference set up by ABC TV to promote the webs new serial 'A World Apart' created and written by Miss Phillips daughter Katherine which debuts March 30. Irna Phillips will be story editor for the series on a non-exclusive basis. Miss Phillips said she asked for her release for three basic reasons. "First I want to help my daughter. A World Apart is the first series created by Katherine who has previously worked as a writer on ATWT. Secondly I wanted time to write my autobiography which will called 'The Ivory Tower' or 'Its A Mans World -And Should Be', she said, noting she favored the latter title. And lastly I wanted to be free! Miss Phillips interpretation of free translates to non exclusive. She expressed considerable dissatisfaction with the restraints the exclusive contract had put upon her creative efforts in the recent past, 'I'm a terribly self disciplined writer'', she said and in 40 years of experience I think I've learned what can and should be put on the air. I resented the continual tinkering and script conferences that were part of the exclusive pact. Its a rapidly changing world and daytime serials have to keep abreast or ahead of the times. There were things I wanted to do and couldn't so I got out. She has much enthusiasm for the new strip. 'Its indeed a world apart that we live in. Race is separated from race, parents are alienated from children and we hope to sew it up a little in A World Apart.' Asked if she had any control over the casting of her serials she said,' This is the first time-producer director Tom Donovan and I have some say in the matter and it helps. You tend to write for the actor or actress who plays the role and its nice to cast the part with someone whose work you actually like. All of which sounds like a writer rather than a story editor talking but Miss Phillips insists her daughter is the creative force behind the serial. She originated the radio serial concept in Chicago 40 years ago.Her 'Todays Children'was a long time staple on network radio, and was followed by The Guiding Light which marked her transition from radio to tv writer. She also originated the first half hour serial ATWT and created or co created Another World and Days of Our Lives. Interesting that she only lasted a year at A World Apart. I wonder if she and Katherine clashed? That exclusive P&G contract must have come about after she signed as aconsultant with ABC in 64 for a year. P&G musn't have liked her working for the opposition. Irna probably got top dollar from both of those deals. By early 72 she was back at ATWT. Maybe she insisted on more control as ATWT slipped from the top in her absence and CBS wanted her back. Anyway,always fascinating to read an interview and try to get a fix on where she stood. Someone needs to do a documentary on her, It's a pity her children were never interviewed.

On the production side, soaps never found away to incorporate regular outdoor scenes into the weekly mix. British and Australian shows have always done this but the US shows stuck to the indoor format even when there had been technological advances that made it cheaper and easier. Days had Salem Mall on the lot for a while and of course GL had Peapack, but we never got to see a park, outdoor cafe etc. I recall at one point in the early 80's P&G were going to move to a production center in New York for all their shows.Maybe that complex could have included an outdoor taping facility?

EON Nancy Mike had a child with first wife Sara, so why not Nancy. I believe Ann Flood was pregnant during her time on Edge but it was never written in. I know EON wasn't a family type show but at least one child for the Karrs would have been nice.

Delta Burke Pilots/Proposals Charleston Stella Farrell 1979

Barabara Ryan ATWT She was brought back in 78 after a brief stint years before. She was Kim's niece and Bob's stepdaughter but considering Bob's own daughter Frannie was finally dropped her longevity was impressive. So many other major characters came and went in that time.

Imagine if we didn't have this ridiculous SORASING. Chance would be early to mid 30's. Abby would be early to mid 20's.

Lovely photo tribute. Which got me thinking-are there any photos of Jerry with Joan Van Ark? Could we include Mommie Dearest for Jerry? A classic movie he was a part of.

Precisely. i haven't watched since the wedding and reading synopses etc, apart from Chance's 'death' I have missed nothing. The same character, conversations. I did skim through the Wed episode. OMG the 'courtroom' scenes were an embarassment-that whole story is played like an outline. There is potential but its not explored. Jessie Gaines gets a hotel room hideaway but they won't do an office set for characters (Jack,Lauren,sally,Chloe,Michael, Devon etc) that are wandering around empty restaurants. Noah has been back a few weeks and all we've got so far is some vague backstory. Faith/Moses has received no play. Abby and that damn doll. Most of the female characters are dressed like hookers. I will tune in to see new Chance and Jill.

Hopefully Y&R will have the Abbott children gather to remember John as an onscreen tribute to Jerry.

Days - Maggie Like several other characters in the 80's-Bill, Laura,Don, Marie, Doug,Julie etc Maggie departed Salem. But Suzanne was welcomed back and managed to stay on ever since, surviving Mickey and marrying Victor as well having retcon children created for her. At many points it wouldn't have been a surprise had Maggie left town or simply ceased to exist. But Ken Corday does have some loyalty to her.

I really hoped that Maree Cheatham would return for Days 50th as the only original actress from the Horton family still with us but no dice.

Yes I think that talk of GH being last was in reference to its timeslot, rather like Gl being celebrated as #1 wnen in fact it was #1 in its timeslot. The other factor re cancellation was that ABC owned GH so had full autonomy whereas P&G owned EON so the circumstances were different. ABC probably wanted to hang on to the mighty P&G as an advertiser.

Gyl Rowland Peyton Place pilot Selena Cross 1964

Didn't GL use the same weight gain/fat farm story when Denise Pence (Katie) was pregnant in 79? And AW replaced Laura Malone (Blaine) with Judy Dewey, supposedly as a temp. But Laura never came back and Judy took over the role.

That floppy hair is giving me Daniel Hall/Scott vibes. Hope he works out better than that character.

On point. Exactly what went wrong for Y&R. I still think Victoria and Nick were SORASED too soon.

When Millee Taggart was pregnant, Search for Tomorrow wrote a surprise pregnancy for Janet. Danny Walton was the result. ATWT I think Patricia Bruder's real life pregnancies resulted in David and Ellen Stewart having Carol Ann (Annie)in 1967 and Dawn (Dee) in 1969.

Kevin has barely been on and Chloe is a talk to. Not really sure what was the point of bringing them back although this sort of role is best.

An actress becoming pregnant is one real life event that writers have to deal with. Which pregnancies were written into the story and which were covered up ? Do you recall characters being written off or replaced so actresses could have maternity leave? The first real life pregnancy I think soaps had to deal with was Mary Stuart on Search for Tomorrow. When the widowed Jo was marrying Arthur, she was heavily pregnant and photographed from the waist up. When Mary got pregnant again, they decided to let Arthur and Jo have a son . Mary was upset when the Hursleys decided to kill the child as she closely identified her onscreen son with her real life child.