Paul Raven

Thought I'd start a thread for this obsure shortlived show rather than have things lost in the primetime soaps thread. Based (loosely) on a successful Australian nightly soap, NBC hoped the success of Soap and Dallas would flow on this comedy serial. NBC hopes viewers visit `Number 96' New series on sexcapades of apartment house residents is off to slow ratings start, mixed reviews from both critics and affiliates The numbers for the first three episodes of Number 96, NBC -TV's controversial new series, were, in this order, 29, 24, 20. Those were the audience shares, respectively, of the "triple premiere" episodes broadcast Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (Dec. 10 -12). In ratings, the numbers were 18.0, 14.6 and 12.1. In rankings among the week's 66 prime -time programs they were 34th, 55th and 65th. The series, which NBC sources say is a limited series of six episodes, was billed by NBC as "a daring new comedy -drama serial" centering on "the escapades, ro- mances and problems of 16 married and single, kooky, kinky and straight -arrow residents of [an apartment house] at Number 96 Pacific Way." Among the married, single, kooky, kinky and straight -arrow characters are "a nervous new divorcee . .. eager to embark on a swinging singles life "; "a chic, beautiful couple [who] experiment with ways to spice their marriage "; a widowed mother who "gets a taste of freedom and booze and likes both too much "; a retired Navy commander who "leches after beautiful, mysterious Lisa," and "an American 'princess' who wants to be a star and thinks the casting couch is the way to go." There's also a sex expert who's a transvestite. Number 96, based on a series of the same name that was highly popular in Australia in the 1970's, was presented in its NBC premiere as "the most outrageous show on television" and the show "they tried to ban" in Australia. In Soap style it began with questions about the fate of its characters. In the opener, one character identified apartment building 96 as "Sodom and Gomorrah West," and, among other things, a woman's body was described as "made for black leather," another woman invited a new male tenant to give her an oil rub, and a neighbor, seeing a new husband carry his bride into their apartment after the honeymoon, concluded that they must have had a good time because "I see she can't walk." The premieres received, at best, mixed reviews from television critics -and much the same reaction from a sampling of affiliates. One affiliate, for instance, said: "It is not class television" and "will trouble some of our viewers," but that he thought "some of the characters and situations were pretty funny" and, though he con- sidered the program "very suggestive," he "didn't see that it went over the bounds" because "the bounds [already] have been stretched so far ?' Typical of others was an affiliate who said he didn't like- the show, calling it "pretty lamely written and developed" and adding, "'.if you're going to be titillating, good God, be funny about it" There was also a suggestion that "the promotion was a lot more titillating than anything I saw on the show ?' One said he wasn't proud of the show, "but on the other hand, I look at the shows that beat us and I wouldn't be proud of them, either." (The first episode of Number 96 was edged by Vega$ on ABC; the second was beaten by 20/20 on ABC and Knots Landing on CBS; the third was done in by Dukes of Hazzard on CBS.) The affiliate offering that last opinion also suggested that NBC, `tin being good and straight- laced," has offered such shows as Di/f'rent Strokes and Facts of Life that haven't done so well in the ratings as, say, ABC's Three's Company. He added: "So maybe if that's what [viewers] want If NBC said the first two episodes got "pretty good" clearance, with 185 affiliates carrying each, but that clearances for the third dropped off to 174. The first episode's 18.0 rating and 29 share, NBC researchers said, were one of the best premiere performances of the season, and in New York its numbers virtually doubled those recorded by the long -running All in the Family in its own premiere. An NBC spokesman conceded that the ratings for the second and third episodes "didn't move the way we wanted them to :' but also noted that the worst came on Friday night, "a particularly tough night" in view of CBS and ABC strengths. But it is on Friday nights that the series is scheduled to pick up its weekly runs, or, as a memo to editors put it, "snuggle into" the 9 -10 p.m. time period "and just smolder ?' One affiliate noted that advance schedules did not show Number 96 in the lineup after early January. NBC sources said that, as in several other cases, only six episodes had been ordered, but that if the program should yet get hot in the ratings, there are back -up scripts that could be put into production to keep alive the escapades, romances and problems of the married, single, kooky, kinky and straight - arrow residents of Number 96.

Re Helen Shields Add Just Plain Bill 1943 Backstage Wife 1945 Rose of My Dreams 1946 Stella Dallas 1949 Right to Happiness 1956 Re Alexander Scourby Add Joyce Jordan MD Just Plain Bill 1944 Strange Romance of Evelyn Winters 1945 Re Sarah Burton Add Wendy Warren and the News Ma Perkins Front Page Farrell 1952 Re Mandel Kramer Add Just Plain Bill 1945 Front Page Farrell 1945 Re Martin Blaine Add David Harum 1950 Rose of My Dreams

Just read that Gerald Gordon and Sally Gracie, who played so well off each other as Nick and Martha died within days of each other in 2001. He was 67 and she was 80.

Re Kevin. When Melody fell pregnant,wasn't it the case that Bill Bell decided to use this and quickly refashioned the story to introduce Kevin and have him sleep with Nikki? That's my recollection.That was in Jan 82. But strangely enough in Dec 81, Victor had introduced Nikki to Rex Barber and he and Nikki had hit it off. So why didn't Bill just continue with Rex as that story was already in place? Maybe the actor playing Rex wasn't available or Bell/Conboy didn't like him enough to make him a major character?

That is from the Variety Archive (paid site) The radio and TV eps were the same content with slight tweaks to suit the respective medium. For 4 years the cast did the radio show in the am and TV in the pm.

The first TV episode June 30 1952 Cast Joe Roberts - Herb Nelson Meta Bauer Roberts - Jone Allison Kathy Roberts - Susan Douglas Bert Bauer - Charita Bauer Bill Bauer - Lyle Sudrow Joe and Meta have separated and Meta is worried how Kathy will fare. Kathy tells Joe she wants to move out and substitute college for a career. There were two sets and the show just picked up from Friday's radio episode with no background supplied to new TV viewers.

By the end the show had forgotten Betsy Dani Frannie Kristina Ryder Bianca Scott Andy and several others.

I wonder if Modern Romances used a lot of the same sets from week to week, perhaps just redecorated? Seems costly to have to create new sets for each weeks story. How far ahead were they with stories? Seems there was a limit of 4 main parts per week which could have been limiting. Although they were doing over a week what one live nightime drama was acheiving in one episode. A BTS look would be fascinating...

Guess Bill Bell had a lot of respect for Kenney and trusted his instincts. There was an interesting Afternoon TVinterview with Kenney from that time. Hope someone has it and can post it.T he only thing I recall is Kenney talking about dropping the moody lighting. That may have been a production decision as much as an aesthetic choice as there wasn't the time available to light the sets with the hour format.

May I request Vera Lockwood Burr De Benning Bill Morey Ron Randell Alan Coates

Based on what occurred on AW and soaps in general in the 80's/90's I could see Virginia Dwyer being seen occasionally as Alice's mother, without much recognition that she was once the lead matriach. Steve/Alice would break up several times as Mac/Rachel did.I'm sure the writers would have had Rachel get involved with Steve again and would have gone further with Mac and Alice involved (possibly married), That would mean that Rachel/Alice were always at loggerheads . Iris staying on might have meant a greater role for Dennis. Cecile could be involved . Jamie v Dennis could create conflict. With Iris around maybe Felicia and Donna may not have been introduced? Sally may have not been killed off but I can still see it happening as Alice becomes more isolated . Maybe Steve would have along lost child-that was often a go to for long established characters. Or kill off Russ so his previously unknown child could turn up to be mothered by Alice. A lot of possibilities...

I guess if he had have been on contract there would be no need for him to find another job.

Yes that is Trish Stewart, In SOD at the time it was stated that she had health problems that lead to her weight gain. What was Janice Lynde doing at that time? Was she on OLTL or not asked/declined to appear as Leslie? It would have been nice to have all the original Brooks girls together. This reunion was not about digging into past stories - just for us to know everyone from the past was doing OK.

Re Jay Meredith Her role on This Life Is Mine was Janie. Our Gal Sunday - Anna was a maid and Jay played her for 19 years. Add Young Dr Malone - Crystal Gates Portia Faces Life Linda's First Love John's Other Wife Second Mrs Burton Second Husband Aunt Jenny Front Page Farrell Dr Susan Lorenzo Jones Perry Mason

So the first Y&R day lasted at least 4 episodes...Surely Friday would have been a new day. but knowing Bill Bell -maybe not?

Great summary and observations. Beau Kayzer also departed, short circuiting the Brock/Julia storyline.

The Bennetts Add Barney Hughes

Martha Greenhouse Add The Verdict is Yours 1958 Sylvia Sydney Add Pretty Kitty Kelly Ann Shepherd Add Big Sister TV broadcast 1946 Toni Darnay Stella Dallas 1945 Lorenzo Jones Jada Rowland Road of Life Second Mrs Burton Connie Lembecke Portia Faces Life (radio) 'German girl' The Goldergs 1944 Valiant Lady (radio) 'Amanda' This Life Is Mine 'Cecily Thorpe' 1945 Linda's First Love 1949 Peter Capell This Life Is Mine 'Andre DeQuaira' 1944 Charita Bauer Your Family and Mine 'Anita Barnett 1940 Just Plain Bill 1949

From that I infer that Bond was recurring when she first came on ? If she was on contract I don't think her agent would have been able to make any demands. If he /she was doing so, Bond should have been p***ed!

re Linden Chiles Add All My Children Dr William (offered Cliff a research job)

re Zaida Coles Add Another World and Edge of Night both pre 1969

Just reflecting on the Stuart/Liz discussion and how it ultimately fizzled out. On paper it united the core families and should have served the show well moving into the hour format, With Stu and Liz actively involved with Jill, Snapper and Chris, Lorie, Leslie, Peggy and Greg they should have been see regualarly in strong supporting roles. But from memory and looking at old summaries that didn't seem to happen. it's no secret Bill Bell was challenged with the longer format and juggling established characters with newbies. So marrying Stu and Liz was bit of a dead end. Maybe Liz could have been left pining for Stuart but realizing that they were from two different worlds. Keep her as 'Mom Foster' And use Stuart to usher in a new family. I'm thinking Marla Adams as Dina Abbott,cosmetics heiress with an indulged playboy son Jack. Stuart falls for Dina.and they marry Then her ex John returns and they are still involved because of Jabot. Jack could bond with Stuart and John tries to win back his son's affections as well as re-unite with Dina. Lot's of story possibilties especially with Jill involved with Jack and John. Then the other Abbott daughters return. All of this could have started in 1980, rather than waiting till 82 to usher in a new family. I could see Lorie involved with Jack on some level. Chris working at Jabot for her stepmother.

Kristen's infamous bachelor pool party

From 1979. Dr Irene Kassorla conducts a therapy session. I thought Lesley was a part of these? Maybe they did some w/o her? Slick, are all these actors part of your GH Master List? L- R Shelly Juttner, Daniel J Travanti, Jonathan Banks. Dr Kassorla, Deborah Winters, Linden Chiles, Joan Hotchkis, Mary Ann Mobley.

Could you please include Charlton Heston George Hamilton Sylvia Sydney Martha Greenhouse Gary Giem David Spielberg