Paul Raven

Surely we (and Billy Flynn) are not going to be saddled with a character named Aristotle Dumas? This isn't 1970's Edge of Night.

Josh continues to try and milk Abbott/Newman rivalry. First it was Billy/Victoria, then Kyle/Summer, then Noah/Allie (that worked out well) and now Kyle/Claire. Do we have any inkling when Billy Flynn will arrive and who he will play? I'm sure Cole's illness will mostly play offscreen. What's in store for Nick and Sharon? Is it time to put them back together? I can't see any other romantic options. Nick has no children on the canvas to play off, as Christian is never seen. Sharon has only Mariah onscreen.

Lonely Women was Irna Phillips first new serial since Right to Happiness Lonely Women: NBC: June 29, 1942 to Dec. 10, 1943. (76 Weeks) General Mills Totals: 76 Consecutive Weeks - 380 Episodes Broadcast Irna retooled and renamed the show Today's Children but I don't believe it had any association with the 1930's version. Today's Children NBC: Dec 13, 1943 to June 2, 1950. (338 Weeks) IRNA PHILLIPS is one of radio's most famous writers. Since 1930 her serials have thrilled radio listeners. Just turning 40, she is probably the highest paid woman in the radio industry. For years she has been turning out more than two million words of serial copy each year-enough to make twenty good sized novels. At present Miss Phillips is supervising the writing of four famous dramatic programs. They are "Road of Life " "Guiding Light." "Woman in White " and "Right to Happiness, " To these is now added the new serial, "Lonely Women. This is the author's introduction. WITHIN the cycle of the hours there comés to each one of us, consciously or subconsciously, a split second in which we experience a sense utter aloneness—indefinable, indescribable, yet so poignantly real—that split second of aloneness which can never be shared with anyone. But because of the complexities of life, this split second of aloneness for hundreds of thousands of men and women has extended itself into hours, days, years. We've all heard at one time or another the expression "I never feel so alone as when I'm in a crowd. " We've laughed at the facetious remark "When I'm with you I'm alune. " "You can't know how I feel—how can you, you've never been in my shoes?"—" I wish you could have been with me"—"1 wish you could have seen"—"If only you'd been there"—"It's no f u n doing things alone " . . . common, everyday expressions that each one of us uses, hardly knowing that we do, not recognizing at the moment the universal theme that underlies these common, every-day expressions — the theme of loneliness. Thousands upon thousands of men and women have remained within the bonds of matrimony because they were afraid—are afraid of starting over again, alone. Th e mere physical presence of the other is enough to satisfy at least a small part of the need for some sort of human communion that Is so necessary to make us comfortable . Whether we should blame civilization with Its repetition of wars for the ratio that exists between men and women today is a little difficult to decide. However, we do know that there are more women than men in the world. Out of curiosity I called upon Webster to define the word "alone, " and this is Webster's definition: "Unaccompanied; solitary; single: unmarried" : and he adds, "Usually of women, with humorous or pathetic implication; as a poor lone woman. " Perhaps because there is no one as concerned with woman's destiny as a woman, it occurred to me that an audience primarily made up of women would be interested today, of all times, when men—husbands, brothers, sweethearts sons—are leaving their home s to defend those homes .. . it occurred to me that these women would be interested in a story of lonely women. Perhaps, too, I felt the woman who from time to time feels that hers is a humdrum existence of rearing a family, of preparing three meals a day, of waiting for the children, for the husband—t he woman who believes she sees glamour in the lives of thousands of women who are making their way, alone— w h o have careers, who are in constant touch with the outside world . . . perhaps I felt there was a message that could b e given to these wives, these mothers, these home makers. In the story of "LONELY WOMEN. " AT FIRST glance it might seem that being alone—feeling a sense of aloneness—implies depression, futility, unhappiness. This is not necessarily true. In fact, the sense, the feeling of aloneness can and often is an inexhaustible source from which come some of the most worth-while contributions to mankind . The scientist, the artist, the musician, the literary men and women throughout the ages have not been, as we so often think, alone. They have found an outlet for their aloneness in putting to work their God-given talents in something that could be shared by others. Neither you nor I nor hundreds of thousands like us have been given a divine talent; but in our daily existence we, too, can use our aloneness as an impetus to contribute something worth while to others. We may not be a Michelangelo, a Tschakowsky. an Einstein, a George Sand, an Eleonora Duse, an Elizabeth Browning; but we can create—we can express—we can give of ourselves . . . we can share with others those things that make up our daily existence. We women are in the majority . Th e effect that we can have on others can be as great if not greater at times than the contributions that have been made by men and women in the arts and sciences. In other words, we need not be alone—except in that split second that comes to each of us—that split second of aloneness which can never be shared with anyone.

Second only to changing jobs is changing apartments. OTTOMH Adam and Chelsea moved into Victor and Nikki's old home. Mariah and Tessa now live in Victoria's old house. Victoria swapped with Mariah/Tessa who were living in the Tack House. Chelsea was living in the apartment above CL. Did Kyle and Lola live there? Lily now lives in Devon's old penthouse. Devon and Abby moved to the Chancellor Estate where Abby was living with Chance. That's just for starters. Why don't these wealthy people just buy their own homes?

i love reading other posters alternate takes and scenarios. Yours would have really upped the tension.

The Amanda pregnancy was a blunder. Amanda and Sam were AW's best bet for a starcrossed supercouple. Young love destined to be turn apart by outside forces and misunderstandings . Battling for years to finally get together. Instead AW had them married and pregnant within a year.

Not sure when SS was officially cancelled maybe Dec 73? but I found these articles from Jan 74 The Secret Storm, half -hour daytime drama on CBS -TV, will continue on air uninterrupted, though network has canceled show after 20 years, replacing it with game show, Tattletales (Mon.-Fri., 4-4:30 p.m.). Storm has its last program on CBS -TV Feb. 8, and beginning Feb. 11, series will be carried on more than 140 stations in varying time slots via barter syndication by American Home Products, New York, through John F. Murray Inc., New York. Storm' signals changed. American Home Products Corp., New York, has dropped its plan for barter syndication of The Secret Storm, half -hour daytime drama, ending 20 -year run Feb. 8 on CBS -TV (BROADCASTING, Jan. 21). Spokesman would only say that American Home Products had made decision not to distribute series itself, but added that company, which holds rights to Storm, is now negotiating with several syndicators to place it back on the air.

Well at one point Aaron's contract with ABC guaranteed a new series on the schedule each year. I guess once his contract was up he was out the door. It would have been a huge financial commitment and as tastes changed and Aaron didn't ,ABC couldn't see the value. Spelling did have a number of flops along the way. He always brought up Family as a counter to the criticism that his output was trashy but that's because Family was the only show among many that wasn't trashy.

And now that Bill has been brought into this, we should have seen Ted interact with Bill previously, not only about Leslie but what sort of relationship they had as outsiders to the Dupree clan. And also looking at how they negotiate that relationship when divorce comes into play.

Where to for Dana? She's pissed off the Duprees (most of the cast), alienated her daughter and will she be welcomed by the Have Nots at the diner? Maybe she can befriend Ashley and Derek and liven up their story.

That's interesting. I wonder if we will ever know. Maybe Maurice just didn't take to the taping schedule of a soap. Or it could have been a personal/family thing. And perhaps DD and TMG aren't going to dish any juicy stuff due to professionalism and plain good manners.

I appreciate that you are using AI with the knowledge of it's limitations. Some posters take everything it produces as fact.

And of course Mama Ru herself appeared on All My Children.

The Saturday 8pm slot usually had the lowest rating of the NBC 4 sitcom lineup for some reason. NBC let Saturday night fizzle, They used 9.30 pm to launch 227 and Amen, both of which moved to earlier in the evening but they kept Empty Nest following GG for several seasons. Empty Nest should have moved to 8pm with their strongest new sitcom at 9.30, anticipating that GG would eventually falter. Instead they left them there and stretching the sitcom pool too thinly on other nights. When Grand talk over at 9.30 Thurs maybe Night Court and Wings could have been used on Saturday.

Dallas, Dynasty, Knots and Falcon Crest all had good runs but by 85 they had seen better days. I think they were a victim of the format. After several seasons seeing the same characters front and center viewers were bored. What was once fascinating grew predictable. JR, Alexis etc had to be front and center and after a while their schemes and shtick grew repetitive. JR remarrying Sue Ellen, Alexis constantly trying to get he better of Blake etc Unlike daytime, there wasn't the flexibility to bring in other stories and characters and maybe let the likes JR go backburner. That same mentality also invaded daytime with characters like Sonny and Victor still peddling the same stuff after decades. I guess the same could be said for MSW eg every week Jessica encounters a crime and solves it,but I think viewers come to that format with a different mindset.

Have to agree re MM. The goody two shoes character and writing doesn't help but maybe a more dynamic actor would help Brandon lift his game also. I found the song sequence a little OTT. First of all it should have been shorter and maybe the song fades out and just some music to accompany the montage. I think it would have worked better if Anita had have been alone after everyone left and started tinkling leading into the song, with Vernon coming in observing and then joining her for a close moment. Everyone standing around felt a little too much. And that closing effect with the two blackscreens meeting was unnecessary. Just a fade out would have been enough.

Ann Williams was the first Maggie Powers on The Doctors but left to have a baby. Maggie was successfully recast so Ann picked up the role of Eunice (Jo's sister on Search for Tomorrow) and played that role for 10 years before being killed of in 1976. That led to her role of Margo on EON.

Looking at those totals it seems most contract actors are on a 1 or 2 week average guarantee. I assume contracts are still operating on 13 week cycles so you would have to know the particular actors contract starting date to work out their guarantee. The question remains as to what actors listed as contract are actually recurring? Bryton ?

This is a common theme with long running actors and preposterous storylines. Firstly they may relish the chance to play something different after years as that character-Ok I have an evil twin, possessed by the devil etc-at least it's something new to play. Secondly, no matter how dumb the plot it keeps them frontburner and valued to the show and the audience. Better than being a talk to. Thirdly, as VW stated in the end they don't have the power to dictate story and too much complaining can backfire and set them up in a negative light. Not a good position to be in with your employers. So they just buckle up and give it their all or act out the script till it's over.

I think Hotel would have the similar demos as Dynasty W 19-49 would have been strong. St Elsewhere survived b/c it attracted wealthier/urban viewers and The Equalizer was probably stronger with men and younger viewers. So each had their own niche-good counter-programming. As for Aaron Spelling's influence over ABC in terms of scheduling, I don't know if he would have been happy with Charlie's Angels moving to Sunday, The Colbys scheduled on Thursdays or Matt Houston moved to Fridays. I think he just had to roll with the punches.

I did some research and the story wrapped up with Eric,a caretaker responsible for Georgina's death who then tried to do away with Laurie but a vision of Georgina spooked him and he smashed into a mirror, dying of glass wounds. So there was a supernatural element. I wonder if the Brody character in the credits was Eric Brody?

AI has it wrong. David was working as an aide at PV Hospital due to failing to save his brother's life and refusing to continue as a doctor. His true profession was revealed later. Edna had divorced him while he was in Vietnam and he had no reason to be in contact with her. He had no idea that he had a daughter. Ruth was Ruth Martin, she was still married to Joe, not Jeff. He was not deceiving Ruth as he believed that Edna was his ex. The poisoning story happened late in his run and probably introduced when they knew Gleason was leaving. AI's interpretation of him as conniving seems to based on that short lived poisoning story and other misinformation. For most of 76 he was involved in the Ruth/Joe triangle to the point where Ruth was ready to divorce Joe and leave town. Joe had to have surgery, David operated and Ruth suddenly realized she wanted to stay with Joe despite all the problems they'd been happening. David then got involved with Christina with Jeff and then Edna as complications. And he arrived late 75 not 76.

I'm pretty sure this ep is from Dec 73 From the Daytime Serial Newsletter Ian and Valerie Northcote are deeply concerned over Laurie's life being increasingly dominated by hallucinations and fantasies about Georgina, the former owner of the house the Reddins recently bought and are now living in. Doreen Post (Linda Purl) was involved in that story .Perhaps she was going to be revealed as Georgina's daughter? Wonder how that story evolved and whether it was wrapped up before cancellation? and thanks to @skylark

LOL. You're right and I know it. Wonder what Y&R actors think about BTG having all those sets and extras etc. When they're the #1 show and some upstart gets all the goodies.

There is no dispute that Jill Farren Phelps had a successful career in daytime based on longevity, but that does not preclude discussion and dislike of her decisions at various shows. Sure there may have been some misogyny involved BITD(we don't know as I don't recall JFP ever mentioning that) but the head of CBS Daytime at that point was a woman and there were other women involved BTS. I think that so long as an EP could deliver, or at least talk a good game they would be respected.