Paul Raven

Was Irma ever seen? At what point was it established that Grandpa had a ladyfriend? I have read that when the show went to an hour Santos Ortega was made recurring and seldom seen, or married and written out?

Yes Penny at the end would have been a lovely touch. I wonder if there was any thought/reaching out when Santos Ortega/Grandpa Hughes passed awayin 75? Penny would surely have wanted to be there. Maybe at that point Rosemary was still anti ATWT...

In her book Ruth Warrick talks about her first soap role as Janet on TGL. After a fairly successful movie career, roles were drying up and she moved to NY and live primetime TV (various anthology shows) She met up with an old friend who now worked for P&G who pointed out that once she had appeared on the various programs that would be it for the season, and advised her to try daytime. She agreed and then Irna asked that she appear as an under 5 nurse .Ruth said she could do a screen test or Irna could watch her movies but Ms Phillips insisted she wanted to see Ruth on the show to gauge how she would fit in. Ruth agreed to the small role and got the role of Janet.

" I also find it odd that you have used a white person's photo as your avatar which makes me wonder if you want to be white. I've never encountered that before. I'm used to black people who are proud of their heritage and do not see it as one wrapped up in victimization and bigotry at nearly every turn." Maybe DD used the Sharon Case avatar because she was amused by the geeky 90's look? Really Jarrod - deal with your demons...

Just finished reading Ruth Warrick's 'Confessions of Pheobe Tyler' and thought I'd share a few tidbits. Ruth was out of work after Peyton Place and was having her annual lunch with friend Rosemary Prinz, who told her she was being courted by Agnes Nixon for a new show. Ruth reached out and asked for a role. Agnes said the only thing suitable was a grandmother part and Ruth convinced her she could play the grandmother to an older teen. Ruth said the money was not great, but she accepted on the proviso that she have a full year contract. James Karen was dropped as Linc#1 because he looked too old to be Pheobe's son. Ruth doesn't say, but I think he may have been cast before her and their original plan was for someone older looking as Pheobe. Paul Dumont was dropped because his French Canadian accent kept coming through. Karen Lynn Gorney left for LA but hated the lifestyle. Second time around she was frustrated by Tara and the final straw was when she recited a poem on air in a sing song voice, not as intended. She left 'by mutual agreement' Chris Hubbell Chuck #2 wasn't up to performing live on tape so was dropped. The only cast member she really slammed was Paul Gleason (David Thornton) who she alluded to being disruptive on the set.

Ruth Warrick noted in her book that Mary Lynn Blanks tried out for Tara on AMC 3 times over the years before landing the role, including in 1969 for the original cast.

I didn't connect Darlene's boss with his Mad Men character at all. Thanks for pointing that out. I still remember when he went all late 60's hippie inspired and was bursting out of very tight trousers.

Re The World of Mr Sweeny Not a soap, but I think it did have continuing elements and it was on daily. Hence many of the players are not 'soap names'. i guess actors more identified or adept at lighter with light comedy were used. Several of these actors were on more than once so I presume were playing the same characters. Oct 54 Mort Stevens McClean Savage Janet Fox Dorothy Patten Graham Denton Lydia Reed Mimi Strongin Nell Harrison Harrison Dowd Julia Folansbee Nicholas Saunders Charles Cooper Jean Cleveland Michael Dreyfuss Joe Latham Floyd Buckley Kay McDonald Fairfax Burgher Reynolds Evans Charles Mendick Marian Shockley November James Millhollen Lynne Rogers Jeff Harris Harry Greham Ruth Hammond Charles Cooper John Shelley Dulcie Cooper Beverly Lunsford Charles Mendick E A Krumschmidt Graham Velsey Cherry Hardy Carol Veasie Elizabeth Watts Jason Johnson Michael Mann Ross Martin Jeff Harris Aileen Poe Charles Egleston Peggy Fenn Charles Sari December Roy Fant Thomas Coley Carol Howe John Stephen Harold Stone Lisa Osten Dolores Bouche Morris Mason Lauren Welch John Perri Ethel Remey

Harley also? That is too weird...do we know anything about these characters?

Alex Marshall?? Wouldn't it be funny if that Alex had shared scenes with Marie Horton?

Touche!

Not sure this photo has been posted before.

Well today the budget doesn't allow for that many regulars and extras on set in one episode. I'm sure all that blocking and staging also meant a longer working day, which is off limits these days.

Yes, I agree that Kathleen's Nola might be very different to Harrold as there are several writer changes to come, and Kathleen herself says she wasn't sure who Nola was, but at the time people seemed to like what she did.

something about the role of Nola seemed to be a lucky charm for the actresses involved. I think both Kathleen Turner and Kim Zimmer also got a lot of positive reaction to their portrayals.

I stand by my statement that Geena and the kid are superfluous. Up against Lecy, Laurie and Sara is a tough gig and the writers are obviously not interested in developing that character. the actress is giving me no spark. Geena no investment in anything that is going on and no point of view. On paper the character might have sounded interesting but she hasn't brought it to life. The actress/character belongs in another sitcom.

Funny that as I had Kimetha Laurie in that request list and there she was in the next post! Also, do you mind if I add radio soap characters for some of the hoppers listed?

Found some ratings for syndicated programming: Syndication ratings Week ended Sept 24 1989. First figure is rating, second - number of stations airing that show and third percentage of coverage of the country. 1 Wheel of Fortune13.2 230 99 2 Jeopardy! 12.1 218 98 3 Oprah Winfrey Show 9.3 215 99 4 Cosby Show 9.0 204 98 5 Wheel of Fortune, weekend 8.5 204 91 6 Star Trek 8.2 226 97 7 Current Affair 8.1 185 95 8 Entertainment Tonight 8.0 162 95 10 Geraldo! 5.9 195 99 11 Mama's Family 5.4 170 90 12 Star Search 4.9 125 86 12 Family Feud 4.9 125 86 14 Superboy 4.7 166 91 15 People's Court 4.5 170 91

May I request Margaret Hamilton Ed Prentiss Valerie Cossart Matt Servitto Abby Lewis

Her role on Against The Storm - Lucretia Hale.

Wk 13 -Lucky 13 for The Bradys. 25.9/42 N Cosby Show 25.1/39 C CBS Sunday Movie 'A Very Brady Xmas' 24.2/39 N Different World 23.7/37 N Cheers 22.9/35 A Roseanne 21.3/33 A Who's the Boss? 20.1/35 N Golden Girls 20.0/33 N L.A. Law 19.9/31 C Murder She Wrote 19.3/32 C 60 Minutes 19.3/30 N Dear John 18.8/30 N Unsolved Mysteries 18.6/28 N ALF 18.0/32 N Empty Nest 17.9/28 N NBC Monday Movie 'I'll Be Home For Xmas' 17.5/27 A Moonlighting 17.5/27 N Matlock 17.0/29 A Monday Night Football 16.8/26 N In the Heat of the Night 16.7/28 C Knots Landing 16.7/26 N Night Court 16.1/24 N Hogan Family 15.5/23 C Designing Women 15.5/29 N Hunter 15.1/26 A thirtysomething 14.8/25 C Dallas .14.8/24 N NBC Sunday Movie 'She Was Marked For Murder' 14.1/21 C Murphy Brown 14.0/24 N Amen 13.9/23 A Hooperman 13.9/25 A 20/20 13.6/25 C Wiseguy 13.5/23 N Midnight Caller 13.4/24 N 227 132/23 A Full House 13.0/20 N Family Ties 12.9/20 A Wonder Years 12.8/23 A Perfect Strangers 12.7/19 C Kate and Allie 12.6/21 C Charlie Brown's Christmas Wed @ 8 12.3/19 C Newhart 12.2/22 A China Beach . 12.1/22 N Miami Vice 12.0/21 A Mr. Belvedere 11.9/21 C Falcon Crest 11.8/21 C Beauty and the Beast 11.8/18 N Day By Day 11.7/19 A MacGyver 11.5/20 A Just the Ten of Us 11.2/18 N Baby Boom 10.8/17 C Equalizer 10.7/17 A Dynasty 10.7/19 C Bugs Bunny Christmas Sat @8 10.6/18 N Chipmunk Christmas Fri @ 8.30 10.5/18 C Night Before Christmas Sat @ 8.30 10.4/17 C CBS Tuesday Movie 'The Promise' 10.3/17 A Free to Be a Family Wed @ 8 10.0/16 C Almost Grown 10.0/18 N Season to Be Smurfy Fri @ 8 9.9/15 C Paradise . 9.4/17 A ABC Saturday Movie 'The Toy' . 9.2/14 F America's Most Wanted 9.2/16 N Sonny Spoon 9.0/14 C 48 Hours 8.9/14 A ABC Sunday Movie 'Smoky Mountain Xmas' 8.9/16 N Tattinger's 8.8/14 N Magical World of Disney 8.7/13 A Mission: Impossible 8.6/13 F Married...With Children 8.2/14 A Moscow Circus 7.9/13 C Annie McGuire 7.5/13 F 21 Jump Street 7.2/14 C West 57th 6.8/12 C Simon and Simon 6.6/10 C TV 101 22 6.5/11 A Murphy's Law 6.4/10 A Knightwatch 5.5/9 A Burning Questions Thur @10 4.8/7 F Garry Shandling Show 4.2/6 F Tracey Ullman Show

Anne Seymour also played Sally Gibbons on Mary Marlin Kathy Marsh on Portia Faces Life Prudence Graham on Our Gal Sunday

Thanks for posting these. I never had read this before. Very interesting indeed. I wonder if Jacquie Courtney was on a similar pay scale to Rienholt? Somehow I doubt it, but I guess in those times she didn't expect to be... Wish a few other casts had banded together to protest about the state of their shows at various times.

Re One Woman's Experience: Each week one actor only was onscreen for 15 minutes daily to act out the story. Evelyn Juster was the actress appearing in the week of episodes entitled 'Fatal Decision'

From what I have read of consultants, they are simply there to offer advice and opinions that are not necessarily followed up on. It's a lucrative job for them. It's another long standing tradition, like focus groups, that TPTB believe to be necessary or useful for whatever reason. As for 'the Bells' being the real consultants, I don't believe they have had any control or influence for many years.