Paul Raven

Thanks @DRW50 Must have been a surprise for viewers to see Nancy after a few years as though she'd never been away. And then vanish again.

Courier Express 18 January 1981 It's hush-hush right now, but very soon it's probable that another famous one will bite the dust in soapland. And it's another case of moving out the "old" to make way for the "new." Helen Wagner has portrayed Nancy Hughes on ''As the World Turns" since the original pilot was made and the series debuted April 2, 1956. Wagner met recently with the producers and writers of the show to renegotiate her contract. After being one of the character spokes on "ATWT" for nearly 25 years, financial considerations weren't a major negotiation factor. The actress pulls a hefty salary, as befits her long-running status on the show. However,she was concerned that the character has been progressively shoved in the story background and has, on occasion, been required to "act silly and out of character," according to an observer. Wagner reportedly asked for assurance that her character would become more prominent in the story, and the writers dismissed her request. In retaliation, Wagner announced she won't be re-signing her contract, which expires in several weeks. Wagner was born in Lubbock, Tex., and trained to be a singer. Early in her career, she appeared with the St. Louis Municipal Opera, as well as in Oscar Hammerstein's musicals, "Sunny River'", and "Oklahoma." She also toured in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, playing the mezzo leads. Despite occasional tours in plays such as "Streetcar Named Desire" with Lee Marvin and "A Lion In Winter," Wagner has devoted her career to the soap opera business. It is, therefore, a sad comment on the current state of the soap opera business that ATWT" would callously allow one of its guiding forces to take a hike. The old folks on soaps are dispensable when the focus shines on younger characters. In turn, it's economically necessary to build a new and younger audience. But in the process, all too often, viewers who have invested decades in a soap must sit by and watch their loved ones get the short end of the stick in story preferences. Wagner still has a few weeks left in her current contract and there's a possibility that she still may swallow her pride. But at this point it appears that Wagner and Nancy Hughes won't be around on the daytime tube, which also leaves in question the fate of Nancy's husband, Chris, played by the only other remaining original cast member of - "ATWT," Don MacLaughlin. In another report it was stated that Nancy did not appear at all in Jan 81.Probably the first time that had happened and Helen saw the writing on the wall. Although I wonder how that happened. ? If she was on a 2 a week contract was the plan to have her appear more often later to make up her guarantee? Or were they just paying her anyway? Looks like Helen was offered fewer appearances in the new contract. Don accepted recurring at some point and was hardly seen. Somehow she turned up for the location shoot of Tom and Margo's wedding in 1983. Maybe they were taping nearby her home and someone approached her to attend? Very odd. Did she have any lines? Then she returned in 85.

I think that will be Chelsea and the kidnapper in a creepy mock ceremony. The kidnapper could be Craig, Allison's husband.

Mmmm...this whole Leslie trust fund thing. She has enough to buy a house opposite the Duprees? And agree about the CC thing. Would be more interesting to see Leslie have to make an application and an interview, feeling inadequate up against a snooty committee. And maybe she resorts to some scheming to get accepted. eg seduces a 'respectable' board member. It's like they want her in the midst of things and tore through story to do it. I was hoping that as a new show BTG wouldn't have to resort to these type of contrivances to move plot.

I think Tom and Margo married in 83, but yes they hold the record. Kim and Bob married in 85 and were still together at the end. Matt and Maggie on The Doctors married in 1965 and divorced in 1982? Mike and Nancy on EON married in 1962 and were still together in 85.

Well Alice was already a grandmother to Julie, so when Julie had David she became a great grandmother and when David had Scotty a great great grandmother.

That's where the set situation comes into play. If they had a small eating area in the hotel off the lobby, Leslie could encounter him there .Or a hospital cafeteria. Ted wouldn't want a scene in public so would be forced to talk to Leslie. The change in actor has changed the character. MJ's Ted was Mr Romance and Nicole seemed to eat that up. Even in light of the changed circumstances that chemistry b/w them seems to have died. They are not even recreating flashbacks to better times to make Nicole torn over Ted. Instead she's turned stone cold. I's think that underneath her anger there would be some feelings left, especially that she's witnessed how unhinged Leslie can be. She could see what Ted is dealing with.

Courier Express, 1 August 1971 Lumb, Dru Leave 'Another World' WHEN GEOFFREY LUMB of NBC-TV's "Another World" retired from acting this season, his role of lawyer Mitchell Dru was also retired. Executive producer Lyle B. Hill felt that no other actor could take his place, so the part was eliminated from the daytime drama series. Lumb and his wife will reside in southern Spain.

Jon Michael Reed's column at the time While "Guiding Light" is taping sequences on location in the Canary Islands, Kristen Vigard, the freckled red head who originated the role in early 1980, has been "dropped" from the Cast and replaced by a blonde soap opera newcomer, Jennifer Cooke. Several sources claimed that Ms. Vigard has been repeatedly chastised by the production office for frequent lateness on the set and laxity in learning her scenes which disturbed co-workers. The straw that broke the came!'s back apparently was drawn two weeks ago when production had to be halted due to Vigard's absence. Ms Vigard's performance as Morgan has been lackluster, to say the least. Despite obvious efforts by beadwriter Doug Marland to shape the character into the "teen queen" mold, a la Laura Baldwin on "General Hospital," on the show Ms. Vigard was woefully deficient in emotional range and projected zero personal charisma. Al the more mystifying, then, that she possesses impressive theatrical credits for an actress not yet out of her teens, including "Home to Stay," a CBS movie with Henry Fonda, and "I Remember Mama," a Broadway musical with Liv Ulmann. The grind of doing a daily serial, after all, isn't everyone's cup of tea, at least not Vigard's.

Tomas' tattoos alone should be enough to have him arrested.

Everything about the Cane return is bad, including the couch. First Cane secretly acquires mega wealth in 6 years with the help of his father, a drifter who was always struggling to make any real money. Tries to worm his way back to Lily by lying to her and his kids. Smart move. Wants to buy up all the companies. That will really endear him to GC residents. Claims someone was trying to kill him. What happened to that? Expects people to head to the train tracks to pay him a visit. With a vast reservoir of talented people available to work for him - aligns with two numbskulls like Billy and Phyllis, who have a series of failed business ventures behind them. Guess little Sam is playing with Christian...

Vern, why use the stairs when there is an elevator in your living room? Maybe he wants the exercise? I would have liked to see Leslie spitting out a few feathers from Anita's sleeve detail after the slap.

I thought both the Anita/Leslie scenes and the June scenes were well written and played. The only problem remains that they should have been the culmination of a few weeks of story rather than something that happened a few episodes ago. There were more angles/beats to play in both stories.

ABC misread the market. There were enough primetime soaps airing. Maybe Paper Dolls could have worked but not as 9pm show. Love Boat/Fantasy Island were falling so ABC orders Glitter and Finder of Lost Loves, more Aaron Spelling glitz.

The type of writing that BTG must avoid.

Maybe she auditioned for Samantha...

Texas and Santa Barbara come to mind. As for Leslie, I'm find with her being an antagonist, scheming etc. But it needs to be paced and balanced. If she's continually annoying people and trying to ruin their lives and they put up with it, then no thanks. eg Phyllis and Victor on Y&R. After the stunts they've pulled, for people to even speak to them is nonsensical and makes everyone look bad. How many years did viewers call for Phyllis to be charged over her hit and run? When they finally revisited that, she came out the victor. Leslie should not be an outright villian. A villian should have a limited shelf life, which in soap terms can be up to a few years, providing there is an ultimate punishment.I guess we'll have to put aside the hit and run and attempted poisoning if Leslie is to stay.

Me neither. He mentions the date in an 1958 interview. So it seems Karl Weber came on in 56 and lasted into 57. Terry says Arthur was written off to Puerto Rico for a few months until his return.

It's pretty hard to avoid a past spouse/lover in GC. Adam- Sally, Chelsea, Sharon Chelsea- Nick, Billy, Adam Nick - Sharon, Sally, Chelsea Sally - Jack, Adam, Nick, Billy Billy- Victoria, Sally, Phyllis, Chelsea And so on... And they are all madly in love at one point and then pretty much ignore or treat indifferently until they fall in love again.

That brings up the question- are the contract players on 3 year contracts?

So who has been receiving the trust money up until now? As for Leslie,having her as an attempted murderer is a step too far. But that decision was made, probably in keeping with today's soaps letting this sort of stuff go unpunished. I don't like it either. It's just lazy writing.

You might be thinking of Shepherd Strudwick who played Jim and does resemble Wesley Addy.

That's so interesting to see the soaps airing in the evening. I wonder how long those markets kept that up? If they rated well you would think that the stations would want to keep them there. But maybe there were other factors involved.

Thanks all for the correction. I guess if a 7 yr old who knew how to swim accidentally fell into a pool she might panic and not be able to save herself. Apart from that time has apool at the ranch been mentioned before or after? We were always aware of the Chancellor and Abbott pools.

When Jack rescued Nick from drowning in the pool,that was the Ranch I believe. What was the set up for that? Why was Nick in trouble?