Paul Raven

For the record (and hopefully further discussion) Love of Life's headwriters

John Hess

Harry Junkin

Don Ettlinger

John Pickard and Frank Provo

Loring Mandel

Robert Soderberg

Robert J Shaw

Roy Winsor

Eileen and Robert Mason Pollock

Ray Goldstone

Paul Roberts and Don Wallace

Esther and Richard Shapiro

Claire Labine and Paul Avila Mayer 73-75

Margaret DePriest 75

Paul and Margaret Schneider

Gabrielle Upton

Jean Holloway 79-80

Ann Marcus 80

For the record- The Doctors headwriters (with approximate timelines)

Orin Tovrov (creator) 63

Ian Martin

James Lipton

Rita Lakin (I have read this stint began in 66)

Rick Edelstein

Ira Avery and Stanley H Silverman

Eileen and Robert Mason Pollock (early/mid 70's till 75)

Robert Cenedella 75

Margaret DePriest 75-76

Douglas Marland 76-77

Ethel and Mel Brez 77-78

Linda Grover 78-79

Elizabeth Levin and David Cherill 79-80

Ralph Ellis and Eugenie Hunt

Lawrence and Ronnie Wencker-Connor

Harding Lemay

Barbara Morgenroyh and Leonard Kantor 82

For the record -WTHI headwriters

Lou Scofield and Margaret DePriest (creators)

Gabrielle Upton

Cornelius Crane

Rick Edelstein

Pat Falken Smith

Robert and Elizabeth Haggard

Claire Labine and Paul Avila Mayer

This indicates a lot of behind the scenes changes over the 4 years.It seems Scofield and DePriest didn't last long.I have seen Rick Edelstein listed as a writer for other shows and Cornelius Crane is listed on IMDB as having written for Strange Paradise.

I read on another site that the Haggards were in fact another well known writing team, using an assumed name for some reason.

Does anyone know why there were so many writer changes on the show?

A description from an old soap book,circa 76

The Doctors is an NBC show in the half hour format.It is,according to the announcer,'dedicated to the brotherhood of healing'.

Like General Hospital,The Doctors has gone through many transitions in the past few years. Families that have endured the inevitable purges are the Aldriches and the Powers. Dr Matt Powers is the patriach of the show,head of hospital and family. None of his positions is secure.

The Doctors is a traditional soap which bases much of its story on marital conflict,love triangles,blackmail,amnesia etc.It has also treated the topical problem of euthanasia,through the dilemma of a young girl connected to a respirator without any chance of recovery to a normal life.(The legal language here was quite close to that of the recent Quinlan case.)

This past year,The Doctors began to move away from its core storyline of Matt and Maggie. There's been more sex,more drugs and many complaining letters. The audience is older,and "more staid and very righteous,"according to one of the programs decision makers. They can accept kissing,but not bed scenes-not even between their favorite characters.

The show does other interesting things. On the doctors we have the first doctor in soapland who operates unneccesarily(thogh we've suspected many others). There is also a story developing around male menopause.

At present,The Doctors seems to be in one of its transitional periods. The direction of the storyline is unclear. There are rumors that The Doctors may be cancelled,and if so,this will happen in the spring.However the ratings for the show are nowhere as low as the recently cancelled Somerset,and it may well survive.

Just discovered that MJ's sister Betsy was played by Carol Potter (Cindy Walsh 90210/Joan Cummings SuBe)

Also,Millette Alexander apparently subbed as Maggie early in the show's run.

In addition to her sister Betsy, MJ had a brother -Darren,who was seen onscreen in 77.

Doug Marland often gave characters siblings who didn't always become major characters.

I enjoyed Flamingo Road but it didn't measure up to Dallas or Falcon Crest at their best.

Something about the writing/storylines/characters was missing the mark.

Perhaps it was the original concept from the 40's movie that dated the show.

I thought Titus Semple as the villian didn't work as the JR type character.

Things definitely improved in the 2nd season with the arriva lof David Selby and other changes.

NBC gave serious consideration to reworking it as a daytime soap.

Here's an overview for those interested

NBC: May 12, 1980 - May 4, 1982

Developed for television by Rita Lakin and Lorimar Productions (the producers of Dallas and Knots Landing), this one-hour prime-time serial was based on the best-selling novel by Robert Wilder and the 1949 movie starring Joan Crawford as Lane, a former carnival girl who becomes a powerful force in a politically corrupt Southern town.

Season 1: 1980-81

Pilot Episode (2 hours): May 12, 1980

Our story begins with Lane Ballou, a singer with Coyne's Traveling Circus, being left behind when the carnival is run out of the sleepy town of Truro, Florida. She attracts the eye of the deputy sheriff, Fielding "Field" Carlyle, who is engaged to Constance Weldon, the spoiled, adopted daughter of the town's wealthy paper mill owner, Claude Weldon, and his neglected wife, Eudora (they live on the prestigious Flamingo Road). Lane and Field embark on a secret affair, and she begins working at the Eagle Cafe as a waitress with Annabelle Troy, who is dating Claude and Eudora's son, Skipper. The idealistic young man wants to work for newspaper publisher, Elmo Tyson, whom he admires for his struggle to free the town of corruption. However, Claude refuses to allow this to happen since he stole Eudora away from Elmo long ago--and she is still in love with the man. After being falsely picked up for prostitution, Lane is then railroaded to prison by Field's ruthless boss, Sheriff Titus Semple, who wants his ambitious protege to marry Constance and become a politician. The corrupt sheriff rules the small town with his intimate knowledge of every skeleton hiding in every resident's cluttered closet.

Upon completion of her sentence, Lane defiantly returns to Truro, where Lute-Mae Sanders, a former madam and the owner of the local bar, befriends her and offers her a job as a singer. This, of course, infuriates Titus, who confronts Lute-Mae, but she knows a few secrets of his and Lane is able to stay. Although upset by Field's marriage to Constance, Lane now becomes friendly with regular bar patron Sam Curtis, a land developer who is the political power--and campaign manager--behind Field's candidacy for state senator. Falling in love with Lane, Sam is determined to win her affections, but she's torn between him and her lingering feelings for Field. Meanwhile, Eudora catches Claude comforting Lute-Mae, who is secretly Constance's biological mother (Claude has never told his wife that their daughter is really his own illegitimate child--the result of his affair with Lute-Mae). Claude lets Titus talk him into torching his financially-troubled mill in an insurance-arson scheme, but tragedy then strikes when Annabelle dies in the fire at the mill, where Skipper planned to meet her so they could elope. It turns out that the girl was secretly Titus's daughter.

Original Cast

Lane Ballou: Christina Raines

Fielding Carlyle: Mark Harmon

Sheriff Titus Semple: Howard Duff

Constance Weldon Carlyle: Morgan Fairchild

Claude Weldon: Kevin McCarthy

Eudora Weldon: Barbara Rush

Lute-Mae Sanders: Stella Stevens

Skipper Weldon: Woody Brown

Sam Curtis: John Beck

Elmo Tyson: Mason Adams

First Appearance

Michael Delano as Frank Coyne: He starred as Dr. Mark Dante on General Hospital (1976), Johnny Venture on Rhoda (1976-78) and Reverend Sung on Soap (1979)

Glenn Robards as Jasper, the Weldon family's butler

Special Guest Star

Dianne Kay as Annabelle Troy: She was starring on ABC's Eight Is Enough as Nancy Bradford (1977-81)

This TV movie aired as the pilot for the series and was repeated on December 29, 1980, a week before the show premiered.

1-2. "The Hostages" (2 hours): January 6, 1981

The regular series picks up where the TV movie left off: Field and Constance honeymoon in the Bahamas where she makes friends with another couple, Nick and Terry, who invite the newlyweds to sail home on their yacht. The Carlyles are then kidnapped by their new "friends", who work for a drug kingpin, Lorca, seeking revenge on Titus for doublecrossing him. Lorca orders the kidnappers to kill the hostages once the ransom is paid. Field ends up being shot, and Titus pays the ransom demand. After rescuing the couple, Sam realizes that Lane still loves a wounded Field and leaves. Meanwhile, Skipper has turned to drink since Annabelle's death.

First Appearance

Peter Donat as newspaper editor Elmo Tyson (replacing Mason Adams)

Special Guest Stars

Joe Penny as Nick Walker: His first TV role was as Sal DiVito on Forever Fernwood (1977); he later starred as Jake on Jake and the Fatman (1987-92) and Vic Musto on The Sopranos (2000) .Recently appeared on DOOL

Judith Chapman as Terry (Natalie ATWT,Charlotte RH.Ginny GH,Sandra OLTL,Gloria Y&R)

Alejandro Rey as Lorca: He starred as Carlos on The Flying Nun (1967-70) and Karl Duval on Days of Our Lives (1976-77)

3. "Illicit Weekend": January 13, 1981

Constance is disappointed when Field can't take her to Tallahassee where he's making a campaign speech. When he discovers that Field has invited Lane along instead, Titus flies Constance there to surprise her loving husband. She arrives at Field's hotel room just as Lane is leaving through another door. Ms. Ballou later tells Field that it's over between them. Meanwhile, Eudora is furious with Claude for selling her land to Sam.

First Appearance

John Shearin as Deputy Tyler (who replaces Field in this job) Mike TD,Evan Y&R,RogerLOV

4. "The Titus Tapes": January 20, 1981

Frank Coyne, who runs the carnival being held for Field's campaign, tells "old friend" Lane that a cop is after her. He wants $5000 to keep quiet about her unsavory past or he'll go to Titus. She then gives Lute-Mae's money to Coyne, who leaves town. However, when recording bugs are found in her bar, Lute-Mae accuses Titus of bugging her place to blackmail her. He later listens to a tape of Lane and Coyne's conversation, while Lane and Sam kiss and make up.

5. "A Mother's Revenge": January 27, 1981

The arsonist who set the Weldon mill on fire now wants money from Claude to ease his guilt from Annabelle's death. Her grieving mother, Mary Troy, arrives in town after leaving 20 years ago because of her pregnancy. She is determined to find out what happened to her daughter by Titus, who had forced himself on her while drunk. After Sheriff Semple threatens him, the arsonist reveals the truth to Mary, who tells Titus she won't reveal his secret before leaving Truro. Meanwhile, after learning her husband's political rival once might have been a Ku Klux Klan member, Constance reveals the damaging secret in front of the townspeople, which makes Field furious.

Special Guest Star

Alice Hirson as Mary Troy: She later played Lois Morgan, the mother of Ellen (1994-98) Eileen OLTL.Maevis DAL

6. "The Fish Fry": February 3, 1981

With his popularity at an all-time low and fed up with Constance's manipulation and interference, Field gets drunk before an election speech at a fish fry, but he does get through it on his own--and, surprisingly, the townspeople really, really like him.

First Appearance

Charlie Robinson as Phil, the main bartender at Lute-Mae's

7. "The Election": February 10, 1981

Titus has George, the son of Carl Turner (who's in charge of Sam's land project), arrested because his father wouldn't hire Cubans to work for him. Once Carl agrees to hire them, his son is released from jail. Meanwhile, Lane goes to the Weldons' victory party with Sam, who asks Elmo to endorse Field in the state senate race. After winning the election, Field meets Lane outside, where Constance later finds the couple kissing

8. "The Jealous Wife": February 17, 1981

After discovering Field and Lane locked in an embrace, a jealous Constance asks Titus to run the tramp out of town, but their efforts fail.

First Appearance

Michael Baseleon as Slade, a killer who's after Lane: He starred as Dr. Tony Perelli on General Hospital (1980)

9. "Trapped": March 3, 1981

As Skipper prepares to leave Truro behind to accept a job in New Orleans, his father is seriously injured in an accident that the boy blames on himself. Sam comforts Constance after she learns of Claude's accident. Skipper decides to take over the mill until his father is well. Eudora overhears Lute-Mae calling the hospital to learn about Claude's condition.

10. "Bad Girl": March 9, 1981

A seemingly innocent young girl, Christie Kovacs, sets her sights on Skipper and seduces him. Christie's boyfriend, Tony, doesn't like her sleeping around with Skipper, and her overbearing older sister, Alice, knows the truth about her sordid past. Meanwhile, Constance wants to close down Lute-Mae's, and Lane is terrified when an old acquaintance is killed in an "accident".

First Appearance

Denise Galik as Christie Kovacs (Rhonda GH)

Joel Bailey as Tony (Lindsay SB)

Marcia Rodd as Alice Kovacs

11. "Secrets": March 10, 1981

Constance is bent on destroying Skipper's new romance, and he tells Christie that they're through. She then beds down with Field. Eudora tells Skipper that she was to marry Elmo, who was poor, and that her marriage to Claude was one of convenience. Meanwhile, Slade is tracking down Lane, who learns from her carnival friend, Beth MacDonald, that three people with whom they shared a secret past recently died under strange circumstances. Lane and Sam go away together, and she learns that he and his ex-wife, Vanessa, are business partners.

First Appearance

Sandra Kerns as Beth MacDonald

Special Guest Star

Trisha Noble as Vanessa Curtis: She starred as Yvonne Holland on Executive Suite (1976)

12. "They Drive By Night": March 17, 1981

A mysterious killer, Slade, draws closer to Lane. Field is involved in an auto accident that could ruin his political career. This episode originally aired as a two-hour episode with episode 15.

13. "Hell Hath No Fury": March 17, 1981

Constance seeks revenge on her estranged husband by having a romantic tryst with Sam, who is angry when Lane rushes to comfort Field after he injures Christie in a car crash. After their afternoon delight in a hotel room, Constance and Sam thank one another and return to their lives

14. "Bad Chemistry": April 2, 1981

A chemical leak from the Weldon mill contaminates Sam's construction site, forcing both companies to close down. Field agrees to use his clout as head of the environmental committee to persuade the state senate to allow the mill to reopen--but only after Claude agrees to a quiet divorce for him and Constance. Meanwhile, with the help of Titus, Slade draws closer to Lane. Christie is paid to leave town forever, and Skipper says goodbye to the unforgiving girl. This episode originally aired as a two-hour episode with episode 15.

15. "Hurricane": April 2, 1981

After learning that Beth, the last of her friends who shares her secret about a killing that occurred several years ago, has been found dead, Lane confides in Lute-Mae that she has to leave Truro because of Harrison Brand, whom she once lived with. He kept her like a prisoner and has killed off all her friends. But it's too late for Lane, who is finally caught by Brand (Slade's boss). However, Hurricane Michelle forces them to take shelter at Lute-Mae's, along with Field, Constance, Sam and Claude. Meanwhile, Eudora is trapped with Elmo at The Clarion during the storm. Field and Sam stage a fight over Lane in order to get Slade's gun, resulting in Slade's arrest and Brand being shot to death during a struggle. Furious to discover Field comforting Lane, Constance reveals that the divorce papers she had drawn up are fakes and that she and Field are still married. In a rage, Field struggles with Constance, who falls from the second-floor landing at Lute-Mae's.

Special Guest Star

Charles Cioffi as Harrison Brand (Kirk AW)

Season 2: 1981-82

16. "The Arrangement": November 3, 1981

The second season picks up where the first left off: Constance Carlyle undergoes surgery and ends up paralyzed from the waist down. When Lute-Mae seeks out Claude for comfort in the hospital, a shocked Eudora overhears their candid conversation revealing a long-kept secret--that they are Constance's biological parents! A reporter for a national scandal newspaper attempts to decipher the unsavory facts surrounding Constance's fall, leaving Titus to inform Field that he must reconcile with her or jeopardize his political career. Claude threatens to press charges against Field for pushing his little girl, but Constance agrees to keep quiet if her husband will continue their farce of a marriage. He agrees to this blackmail.

17. "The Victim": November 10, 1981

Titus is reluctant to investigate when Lute-Mae is raped by Scott, an emotionally disturbed delivery boy--and the son of an influential Flamingo Road family. Even though the sheriff refuses to press charges, Lute-Mae and Lane eventually get justice for the crime.

Special Guest Star

Peter Horton as Scott: he is best known for his role as Gary Shepherd on thirtysomething (1987-91)

18. "The Substitute": November 17, 1981

Sam befriends a Cuban girl, Alicia Sanchez, and her fiery older brother, Julio Sanchez (who becomes Constance's physical therapist). Meanwhile, as he and Sam square off in a confrontation over Truro's Cuban barrio, Titus attempts to cover up a secret involving the barrio that could destroy the Weldon family. Field campaigns aggressively to renovate the barrio until he learns the identity of its slumlord: Claude!

First Appearance

Gina Gallego as Alicia Sanchez (Santans SD)

Fernando Allende as Julio Sanchez

Carmen Zapata as Lupe Sanchez, Julio and Alicia's mother: She also starred as Carmen Castillo on Santa Barbara (1985)

Julio Medina as Luis Sanchez, Julio and Alicia's father who works for Sam

19. "The Intruder": November 24, 1981

Wealthy Michael Tyrone arrives in Truro and uses his girlfriend, Vanessa, in a plot to get her ex-husband, Sam, out of the bidding for a valuable section of waterfront property where he wants to build a gambling mecca. Claude catches Field in a restaurant with another woman, reporter Sande Swanson. Tyrone wins the bidding war.

First Appearance

David Selby as Michael Tyrone

Cynthia Sikes as Sande Swanson -recently on Y&R as Sabrina's mother

Special Guest Star

Andra Akers as Vanessa Curtis (replacing Trisha Noble)

David Selby (of Dark Shadows fame) turns up the heat in Truro--and on the show--with his arrival. He's terrific as Michael Tyrone, who bears a striking resemblance to Mr. Selby's next role as Richard Channing on Falcon Crest--they could be brothers! Also, let's not forget the beautiful Cynthia Sikes as Field's future lover, who has a few sordid secrets of her own.

20. "The Stranger": December 8, 1981

Lane is distressed by the unexpected appearance of Charlie Banks, her long-lost piano-playing father, and she later reunites with Sam. Ruthless business tycoon, Michael Tyrone, turns to Titus for help with his plans to purchase--and then demolish--the Cuban barrio to build a casino resort. Eudora actually owns the barrio, not Claude, since the legal documents are signed in her name. She refuses to sell the barrio to Tyrone. And it is implied but never confirmed that Titus is Lane's father!

Special Guest Star

William Windom as Charlie Banks: He starred as Amos Krebbs on Dallas (1980), but he's best known for his roles on the sitcoms, The Farmer's Daughter (1963-66) and My World and Welcome To It (1969-70)

21. "The Powers That Be": December 15, 1981

Tyrone asks Constance to help him change Field's mind about opposing the building of his proposed gambling resort in Truro. He tries to gain Field's support by showing him how easily he can ruin his political career. To help her mother (whose addiction to painkillers causes her to collapse), Constance gets out of her wheelchair (she had regained the use of her legs but pretended to still be paralyzed to keep Field in line). Of course, who happens to come along just then--Fielding, who sees that his wife is able to walk again. He then re-evaluates their relationship, while Claude puts Eudora in a mental hospital and forges her signature to sign over the barrio property to Tyrone.

22. "Little Foxes": December 22, 1981

On Christmas Eve, Tyrone wants Titus to evict the Cubans from his newly acquired barrio property. Constance seeks the attention of Julio. Lane and Lute-Mae disagree over how to handle Lute-Mae's boyfriend--and the bar's handyman--Tony, who has borrowed money from the bar to finance his gambling losses (he was involved with Christie Kovacs during the first season). Eudora is discharged from the hospital after her bout with drugs. The battle over Tyrone's casino pits Eudora against Claude, and Tyrone loses the barrio when Eudora learns that her name was forged.

23. "Old Friends": January 5, 1982

Angry over losing the barrio, Tyrone buys the local bank and forecloses on Claude's paper mill, making Field the new owner. Sam and Lane pick up where they left off.

24. "Strange Bedfellows": January 12, 1982

Titus faces tough competition for re-election when Elmo throws his hat into the ring. Field becomes emotionally involved with a young reporter, Sande. Constance has a tryst with Julio.

25. "Heat Wave": January 19, 1982

Constance travels to Tallahassee to meet with prospective casino investors and rendezvous with Julio. Field has the mill's books audited. Learning that Lute-Mae is Constance's natural mother, Tyrone takes a sudden interest in Ms. Sanders, whose romance with Tony ends after he blackmails her. Alicia invites Skipper to dinner.

26. "To Catch a Thief": February 2, 1982

Julio is arrested for the theft of Constance's jewelry, and their affair is in danger of being exposed. Sam proposes marriage to Lane. Tyrone takes Lute-Mae to the race track, and she learns that he wants her to run his casino.

27. "The Explosion": February 9, 1982

Deciding to silence Elmo's newspaper before Skipper's editorials ruin his plans for legalized gambling in Truro, Titus plants a bomb in the Clarion's office. Skipper and Alicia are working late at the newspaper when the explosion occurs. They both survive, but Skipper is seriously injured and loses his sight. Tyrone seduces Lute-Mae, and they begin an affair. Sam and Lane almost elop

28. "Chance of a Lifetime": February 16, 1982

Titus announces his suspect in the Clarion bombing at Lane and Sam's lavish wedding and frames Elmo for the explosion. Skipper's blindness could be permanent

29. "Double Trouble": February 23, 1982

Constance uses Julio to spy on Field and his lover, Sande, and then uses Tyrone to get even with him. Sam and Lane's Caribbean honeymoon is interrupted by the presence of Michael Tyrone in Nassau. Eudora smothers Skipper with maternal care and prevents Alicia from seeing him.

30. "The Dedication": March 2, 1982

Michael Tyrone uses Constance and Field's lover, Sande, to force Field to use his political power to help him dominate Truro. Julio proclaims his love for Constance to Field. Alicia eludes Eudora's guard and sees Skipper. Titus and Tyrone secretly plot Truro's future in gambling.

31. "Sins of the Father": March 16, 1982

Field gets the upper hand on Titus when he is given a record of the sheriff's crooked dealings. Tyrone's real reason for being in Truro is revealed: he is intent on avenging the death over 20 years ago of his father, who was unjustly hung for a murder he didn't commit. Fielding's father, Judge Andrew Carlyle, and Titus, who was still the sheriff back then, had the man receive the death penalty, and now Tyrone wants everyone connected to these two men to suffer. Tyrone's secret relationship with Field's lover, Sande, is also revealed to us--she's his sister

32. "No Dice": March 23, 1982

Tyrone moves to secure Field's support as the gambling bill nears a Senate vote. Field realizes that his girlfriend, Sande, is in cahoots with Tyrone in a plot to blackmail him. Depressed about her role as Field's mistress, Sande pretends to attempt suicide. Sensing his parents' obvious disapproval of their romance, a blind Skipper elopes with Alicia and moves her into the Flamingo Road mansion.

33. "The High and the Mighty": March 30, 1982

A plane carrying Sam and Field crashes in the Everglades under suspicious circumstances--they were returning from a fact-finding mission concerning Tyrone's private dealings in Nassau. Lane learns she is pregnant.

First Appearance

Esther Rolle as Julia, Tyrone's mysterious voodoo high priestess: She starred as Florida Evans on Maude (1972-74) and Good Times (1974-79)

34. "The Bad and the Beautiful": April 13, 1982

Tyrone uses voodoo to begin his destruction of the people of Truro--starting with his sister, Sande Swanson, who has a serious accident (her car goes off a cliff) when she returns to Truro to tell Field and Sam the truth about her brother. When she later dies, Field vows vengeance upon Tyrone. Lute-Mae realizes that Tyrone's marriage proposal is a sham when she learns that he is having an affair with her daughter, Constance, who has fallen in love with him.

35. "An Eye for an Eye": April 20, 1982

A deranged Lute-Mae goes gunning for her ex-lover Tyrone. Rather than giving in to Tyrone's threats, Field resigns his senate seat to stop the bill that would legalize gambling in Florida and moves to divorce Constance.

36. "The Harder They Fall": April 27, 1982

Tyrone plots to drive Titus insane and, out of spite, he tells a devastated Constance that he slept with Lute-Mae--her real mother! This bit of shocking news sends the poor girl to confront a hospitalized Lute-Mae, who is in a sanitarium. Gangsters are gunning for Sam.

37. "Murder, They Said": May 4, 1982

There's a surfeit of suspects when someone takes a shot at Tyrone--the whole town of Truro hates him. Constance tries to get Julio to kill Michael. Eudora asks Claude for a divorce. Tyrone's death leads to the arrest of Lute-Mae, who confesses to shooting him to protect Constance (whom she suspected was guilty of the crime). However, Titus Semple is blamed for the crime--he was framed by Tyrone, who blamed the sheriff for his father's execution. And in the final scene in a mountaintop monastery, a hooded figure is revealed to be Michael Tyrone, who is alive and well after faking his own murder (we never discover how he is still alive, but it's alluded that he may have been resurrected through the occult/voodoo).

Behind the Scenes

A month after the show's cancellation, NBC briefly considered bringing it back as a half-hour daytime serial, mainly because of its large female following--and to help out the network's ailing daytime lineup. However, most of the regular cast had already moved on to other projects--including David Selby, who joined Falcon Crest the following fall--so the steamy saga of Flamingo Road sadly did not continue.

Scorecard

Marriages: (3) Constance & Fielding, Lane & Sam, Skipper & Alicia

Murders: (2) Sande Swanson (killer: her own brother!); Michael Tyrone (accused: Titus Semple, but it appears he was framed by the "deceased" Slade's murders during the first season

After Mona's death,it was revealed she had another child-James Langley.James and his wife Marilyn came to Madison.

How was this explained?

Did James know of his parentage?

Any details would be much appreciated!

Thanks Matt.

I read that Steve actually married Ann,before divorcing her and remarrying Carolee and that Ann had his child in Brazil.

Was Steve aware of this child,and if so,did he make any attempt to trace Ann and his child?

As regards Winston Croft,I am wondering wether Mona had already married and divorced him before she arrived on the show.

Winston did appear,played by Philip Sterling,Daniel Keyes and Richard Whiting.

Stacey Wells was Jason's stepdaughter.Was Doreen her mother,or had Jason had another wife?

Re Doreen Aldrich

Jennifer Wood originated the role and Pamela Lincoln took over.

I read ages ago,somewhere,that Pam Lincoln was the wife of an exec who was friends with The Doctors producer(Chuck Weiss?)

When she finished at Love of Life,her hubby requested a job on TD and presto,she was th new Doreen.

Whether that was true or not.....

Anyway,Doreen ended up having Carolee kidnapped.I guess he developed an obsession with Steve.Mel,Carolee's abductor raped her.

Mel was played by Robert Burton,who was in several shows around that time but never stayed long.

Doreen thought she was dying(not so)which may have accounted for her going off the deep end.

She was shot and rushed to hopital.SOD says Mona contacted her father to come to Maidson,but that was the last mention of her.

The writer at the time was Linda Grover.

Incidentally Kathy Glass was playing MJ at the time and this was before Doris Quinlan joined the show.

Thanks for all your replies-I am learning new stuff,as deatails on TD are sketchy.

In an earlier post I referred to the Matt/Mj romance not Mike/MJ.I agree that Mike/MJ was viablr but not Matt/MJ.

Ann Larimer tried to break up Steve and Carolee,by stashing Carolee in a sanitarium.

Why was Carolee institutionalised?Did this occur at the time Carolee Campbell left the show?

I think Ann may also have been involved with Nick at some time.

Jerry Dancy was portrayed by Jonathan Hogan and not Jerry Lacy(he was playing Rick on LOL at the time)

This is a SOD summary from around April 76

After Mike's stormy session with Mike, he has all the symptoms of a heart attack and is rushed to the hospital by the trauma unit. Fortunately, he is found to be suffering only from stress. Maggie is relieved, but Nick still wants to examine Matt thoroughly and Hank urges Matt to stay home for a few days.

Martha's friend, Ernie, had been suggesting to Mike that he consider working in the police lab, when Maggie called to tell Mike that Matt was in the hospital. She insisted that under no circumstances should Mike join her, but has kept her previous promise to keep him posted on Matt's condition.

When Mike relays the stress diagnosis to Martha, she suggests that perhaps Matt is going through male menopause.

Eleanor is continuing to have her problems. No matter what womanly wiles she tries on Scott, he will have no part of her, sexually. She complains to Althea that both Wendy and Scott are merely doing their duty with absolutely no love involved. Althea rages at Eleanor for burdening her with her problems. Althea has also advised Eleanor to forget the past and go on with the future. Scott shows up at the height of Althea's outburst and takes Eleanor away as Althea apologizes for behaving rudely.

Dr. McIntyre had run into Eleanor as she was on her way to visit Althea. McIntyre is at the hospital for an interview with Matt. The meeting goes very well and Matt tells McIntyre a decision will be reached in a few days. Matt showed up at the hospital in spite of Hank's advice to the contrary, as Hank knew he would.

M.J. tries to talk Steve into calling in the police again to find Carolee. Mona, at Ann's contrivance, interrupts M.J.'s meeting with Steve.

Mona asks Steve to come home and help prepare for Erich's birthday party. Ann takes it upon herself to call a booking office and hire an entertainer for the party, but wishes to do so anonymously.

Jerry has told Penny an unbelievable story about his mother. After saying his mother dreams of someday having a five room apartment, he tries to locate her in Switzerland where she's skiing.

Erich's birthday party ends in disaster. The only thing Erich really wanted was Carolee's return. He's convinced himself she's on her way. Erich even implored Billy to check flight arrivals of planes from New York.

Jeremy, the clown, arrives and for awhile manages to bring some brightness to the party, but gloom descends when Jeremy admits that Dr. Ann Lorimer hired and sent him to entertain. Erich is deeply hurt and Billy races off to have it out with Ann. His anger has been heightened by Mona's taking Ann's side and telling everyone how grateful they should be that Ann sent Jeremy.

Billy Warns Ann

At Ann's office, Billy explodes, will accept none of her explanations, and rushes out after threatening to keep an eye on Ann and make certain that she will never worm her way into Steve's household.

Eleanor might just as well not be in Scott's household, either. Scott treats her so perfunctorily correct, while ignoring her sexually, that Eleanor is beside herself. Wendy suggests Eleanor take one day at a time. Eleanor is curious to learn if Scott is interested in another woman, but is afraid to find out.

Wendy has told Penny that Scott is becoming ragged around the edges and thinks Althea should see and be with Scott. Penny, coming down with something, says Althea is too moral to see Scott while Eleanor is in the picture.

Scott has visited Althea earlier to plead his own case, only to find Althea having dizzy spells. Nick comes to look her over, can find nothing wrong, but insists that Althea have a full time nurse. Until she does, Nick will stay with her.

Earlier, Penny had refused to move back home after Althea turned down Penny's request for a loan. Penny had hoped to use the money to transfer to another school for the summer.

Dr. McIntyre is getting settled in when Stacy enters looking for Dr. Wilson and mistakes Dr. McIntyre for a cleaning man. He offers his services to Stacy after he introduces himself, but Stacy says she's crazy and no one can help her.

No one can help Joan Dancy, either, but her mother reads about her in the paper and books a flight home.

Mrs. Dancy tries desperately to awaken Joan. She refuses to believe her daughter cannot be saved. She berates Jerry for not having told her the truth about Joan's drug addiction. Jerry shows his mother a plane ticket he bought for Joan two years ago. He'd begged Joan to use it, fly to New York and enter a rehabilitation center. Jerry insists that no one could have saved Joan; that all he would have accomplished by telling Mrs. Dancy the truth would have been his mother's death as well as his sister's.

Matt runs into Mike and Toni in the hospital cafeteria. Matt and Mike each make an effort to break through the barrier that separates them.

Matt is Mending Fences

in several directions. He's calmer now and is even agreeable to taking a vacation. Maggie is ecstatic. Matt amuses her further by his sudden compassion for the love between Greta and Billy, though he does admit his concern over where that love might lead.

Billy has turned to Greta for comfort after delivering an ultimatum to Steve. Billy, upset at finding Ann again in the house with Mona, has demanded that Steve must choose between An and the kids.

Now Billy, aware that he's only a foster child, feels he may have gone too far. He fears that by forcing Ann out of the house, he may have achieved getting himself pushed out, instead.

Ann is determined to change Billy's mind about her. She is also determined to help Steve finish an uncompleted manuscript. Steve wasn't even aware that Mona had given his rough draft to Ann.

Rico, unhappy in his relationship with Stacy, has turned to Penny for consolation. Penny is recuperating from a minor illness at Matt and Maggie's. She's refused to stay in the hospital as she now refuses to be a substitute for Stacy. Penny does agree to consider future dates with Rico.

Nick finds it necessary to baby sit with Althea in order to keep her at home. He verbally paddles her for having driven alone to the hospital.

Stacy Moves In

Stacy is moving in with her grandmother and Uncle Steve. As she unpacks, Mona sees a sculpture Stacy has done. She is ecstatic as she places the piece on the mantle. She thinks the piece is absolutely marvelous! Stacy begins to look at it again. She approaches it with an almost breathless awe, as if seeing it for the first time. "It's nice," she says. The words seem like such an understatement.

Althea is concerned that she has recurring headaches and blurred vision. She looks at her x-rays with Dr. Iverson and they both concur: the x-rays show nothing. Why then, the blurred vision? Althea decides to talk with Dr. McIntyre.

Maggie is very worried about Matt. He's obviously in a weakened condition.

Steve Confronts Ann

Billy's ultimatum has struck home. Steve tells Ann that they can no longer see each other. Ann, a true diehard, agrees to stay away from the house, but not from Steve.

Toni, unaware that Steve has gone to Ann, goes to Steve to tell him that she intends to keep a close eye on his actions towards Billy.

Penny goes to Althea to apologize for her past behavior and declare a truce. While there, she encounters Scott. Scott had arrived a few minutes before to declare his love for Althea and ask her if she would marry him. Althea had admitted that she would, but reminded him that he has a wife at home.

Mrs. Dancy has been told by the doctors that even in Joanie were to regain consciousness, chances are she would be little more than a vegetable. Mrs. Dancy, however, has put all her faith in God, and continues to fervently pray for a miracle. The doctors agree that nothing short of a miracle would bring about Joanie's recovery.

Penny and Althea are on the way to a hamburger lunch when Althea abruptly stops the car. She admits to Penny that, for minute, she didn't see the car in front of her. Is her vision problem a physical one or is it, as Dr. McIntyre suggested, her way of blocking out an agony she doesn't want to see??

Some amendments to my previous post.

Luke and Jerry were the first Dancy's on the show.I don't know who came first.

I'mnot sure when Marland began writing but I think he created Virginia Nola Sara and Barney.Not sure about Joan.

Margaret DePriest preceded Marland and Mel&Ethel Brez and Linda Grover wrote before Levin/Cherill took over.

Karen Werner was Erich's dad.Dr Dan Allison was Billy's dad.

I have only seen Billy's name spelt this way.

In a Marland story,MJ adopted her nephew Ricky,who was abused by her husband Tom.As MJ and Carolee were cousins,I wonder who Ricky's father was.

Mona is often listed as Mona Aldrich Croft.Winston Croft was her husband but I know nothing of how they came to be married and divorced.

Hopefully there will be more posts on The Doctors.

Great thread on a show that doesn't get much attention .

Some thoughts/comments.

Marland set up the Dancy's to add new blood to the show.Despite many changes the show still had the solid core of the Powers and the Aldriches.

Was Joan already on the show and Marland used her to create a new family?

Shw was the victim in a 'pull the plug'story involving Paul Summers and Matt Powers.

I remember an interview where Marland said he inherited the story from a previous writer and he learnt from that experience in that if you inherit a story that's not working,wrap it up quickly.

The problem was that succeeding writers killed off Virginia and Sara.Her death scene may have been well written,but long term it damaged the show.Mike(a legacy character) and Sara had lots of story to tell and his second marriage was over way too quickly.

Also Jerry and Penny were written out and then Penny(another legacy character-Althea's daughter)was killed off.Later Jerry returned played by the guy who plays Locke on Lost- a good actor but hardly a leading man.This was in the 80's when all the shows were going for sexy young actors.

The Nola/ Mona rivalry had the potential to be another Jill/Katherine type story,but Jason was killed off.

The show was well set up for the future with Lee Ann,Jessica ,Michael Paul,Erich and Stevie .

The show had a promising young love couple with Luke/Missy,but she was killed off(anyone see a pattern here?)

Also,the show never cast a successful Mike Powers(i thinkit is the most recast role in history)

They recast MJ when Kathy Glass left for no reasom.Matt became involved with MJ(a dumb story)

80/81 saw some bad plots as the ratings fell.

I wonder if things would have bee different if the show had expanded to 60min like DOOL and AW.

The line up would have been Days at 1,DRS at 2 and AW at 3.

The Doctors final weeks from SOD summary

Billy has been murdered.Phillip tells Paul that Felicia Hnt has been impersonating her daughter Adrienne,Paul goes to arest Felicia ,but she has vanished.

Felicia has aged and begs Jean Marc to give her more serumbut h says it's too late.Felicia vows that Jeff will not marry Adrienne and rushes to tell him the awful truth-that it was she he came t love.

Before she can sa anything,Jeff welcomes her to Madion an tells her how much adrienne means to him.Felicia realises Jeff will never be hers.

So Adrienne an Jeff are married.Paul arrests Felicia for the murder of Billy Aldrich.

Paul arrives home to find Natakie holding a pair of black shoes. She tells him she remember seeing those shoes run by her the night of Billy's murder.Paul isBilly's other killer!

Adrienne declares her love for Jeff at the New Year's Eve reception.She says she's loved him since she was a little girl and knew they would be together.Jeff believes her,not knowing he fell in love with her mother.

Luke tells Julia he's not sure about them.Maybe Natalie is the one for him after all.

Danny tells Kit that Robin may come back to Madison.Mike and Kit make it clear to all they're in love.

With Felicia exposed,Jean Marc drops his plan to experiment on Althea.

Ivy leaves Madison to try her luck in New York.

Steve and Carolee take stc of a dismal year - his illness and Mona and Billy's deaths.Both believe the worst is over.

Matt and Maggi agree to remarry.

Barbara Morgenroth and Leonard Kantor were the final writers.

Gerald Straub was the exec producer.

Some info on From These Roots

It ran on NBC from 3.30 -4.00 from July 58 till Dec 61.

The lead in was Today Is Ours which premiered the same day but lasted only a few months and then Young Dr Malone which outlasted FTR by about a year and in fact replaced it when FTR was cancelled.

The competition CBS The Verdict Is Yours ABC Do You Trust Your Wife/Who Do You Trust?

At the premiere,Liz Fraser,a fiction writer, had just returned to Strathfield,a New England own,to rejoin her father Ben and work as areporter on his newspaper,The Record.

Ben was the patriach of the wealthy Fraser family.

Lis often confided in Kass,the family maid,played by Vera Allen.

Ben's son,Ben Jr, wed Rose Corelli.They had marital difficulties.

Dr Buck Weaver loved Liz,but Liz loved playwright David Allen and Maggie,Buck's receptionist loved Buck.

Eventually,when Liz married David,Buck married Maggie on the rebound.

Barbara Berjer was only supposed to play on the skids actress Lynn Franklin for a few episodes,but was so popular she stayed for most of the showsrun.

Lynn married director Tom Jennings,but was eallyin love with Liz's husband David.

Since both Liz and david were writers,their marriage began to suffer from career conflict,and scheming Liz took advantage of their difficulties to get David for herself.

FTR concluded happily,with Liz and David staying together and experiencing career success.

Eric,thanks for starting these posts about long ago,much lamented soaps.

Some more WTHI info:

As previously posted,the show was sandwiched between Love of Life and Search for Tomorrow-in fact it replaced LOL at 12.00,where it had been scheduled since 58,when it expanded to 30 min.

The competition on ABC was Bewitched reruns from 68-70,the short lived flop soap The Best of Everything in early 70,That Girl reruns 70-72 and the game show Password till 73

NBC aired Jeopardy for all of WTHI run.

Here is some stuff that i found on the net years ago and saved.

Created by Margaret DePriest and Lou Scofield, this wonderfully bizarre daytime serial was innovative (i.e. kinky) for 1969 with its theme of sexual entanglements within and around members of the same family, the wealthy Hathaways (who were originally introduced on Love of Life). Uncomfortably nestled between two long-running conservative soaps, Love of Life and Search for Tomorrow, Where the Heart Is upset many with its steamy storylines. Some affiliates in the South refused to air it, while CBS received thousands of angry letters from viewers who claimed they were offended by the unwholesome soap--but, of course, continued to watch. And if this wasn't enough for a brand new show to endure, the network put it up against NBC's Jeopardy, one of daytime's most popular game shows.

Our Story Begins: 1969

In the first episode, Kate Hathaway was mourning the recent death of her tyrant father, Judge Daniel Hathaway. However, her brother, Julian Hathaway, a widowed English professor, was rejoicing over the old man's death, which he had fantasized about since boyhood. The black sheep of the Hathaway family--shallow younger sister Allison--returned home to the suburban town of Northcross, Connecticut, for their father's funeral. She was accompanied by her weak-willed husband, Roy Archer, who had jilted Kate years ago to run off with Allison on the eve of his and Kate's wedding. And now, much to Kate's chagrin, her baby sister decided to stay in town after the funeral.

Meanwhile, Julian was worried about his new wife, Mary, who was much younger--and attracted to his college-age son, Michael! The young man blamed his father for his mother's suicide years ago and had now fallen in love with his stepmother--who returned his feelings. But before this sordid little romance could bloom, along came Vicky Lucas, the spoiled daughter of hoodlum Ed Lucas (who worked for the Hathaways).

The Vicky Lucas Years: 1969-71

Michael felt sorry for the pretty blonde Vicky, whose mother was also deceased, and the lonely, desperate girl was convinced that she could make him love her by becoming a lady (with helpful lessons from Allison). Discovering that Michael and Mary were in love, Vicky schemed to break them up, and one night she finally succeeded in seducing the young man. Their lovemaking, of course, resulted in an unplanned pregnancy. Michael then did the honorable thing and married her for the sake of the child, despite his continued feelings for Mary.

After Roy was killed in a car accident, Allison married Dr. Hugh Jessup in 1970, but he soon had an affair with dark-haired Christine Cameron, who liked married men (she was having an affair with Ruth Monroe's husband, Tony, when the show began). When his young mistress became pregnant, Hugh left Allison and moved in with Christine, who gave birth to his illegimate daughter, Katina. Hugh's mother, Harriet Jessup, was shocked by her son's embarrassing behavior, but she told her husband, Ben, that she still planned to be a grandmother to the innocent baby. A betrayed Allison was comforted by her friend, Laura Blackburn, and she was enraged when Harriet took a liking to Christine (whom Allison had dubbed the "Hester Prynne" of Northcross).

Kate fell in love with wealthy businessman Steve Prescott, and they planned to marry. But then a crooked politician, who had been exposed by Steve years ago, had the man beaten up, and he developed amnesia, forgetting he loved Kate. Ellie Jardin took Steve in and fell in love with him, and they became romantically involved. He eventually regained his memory, but poor Ellie was murdered by thugs in 1971. Meanwhile, Steve's younger brother, Terry Prescott, dated Lois Snowden and wanted to move in with her, but she made up excuses to avoid living with him. Nan and Joe Prescott were Steve and Terry's parents.

When Christine began to receive harassing phone calls and nasty, anonymous letters (calling her a filthy whore and Jezebel), Allison was the prime suspect. She was very upset when even Hugh and Kate thought she attacking Christine for revenge. Poor Christine finally had to be hospitalized as the harassment caused her to pass out from high blood pressure. She was eventually kidnapped and nearly murdered by her true tormentor--her deranged babysitter, Will Watts, who had spent time in a mental institution after he had killed his wife for leaving him for another man. After this horrible experience, Christine was devastated to learn that a bored Hugh was sneaking around with his estranged wife, Allison (of all people)! Allison was quite amused by this unlikely scenario of a man cheating on his mistress with his wife. Christine then ended her relationship with Dr. Jessup.

After hearing Michael profess his love to Mary, a devastated Vicky drove off into a snowstorm and crashed her car. She lost the baby and was paralyzed in the accident. Now Michael couldn't leave her because of her condition. However, Ed Lucas soon discovered that his daughter could really walk and threatened to tell Michael that she was faking her paralysis to keep him by her side (he had never thought the young man was the right guy for her). Vicky then blackmailed him by threatening to reveal that he hadn't reported all his earnings from the club/restaurant he owned to the IRS. She knew about his connection to organized crime--a numbers racket with sleazy businessman, Arthur Saxton. The girl vowed to destroy her father if he ruined her marriage to Michael. Meanwhile, Mary, who was now pregnant by Julian, felt guilty about the accident and Vicky losing her baby. As her punishment, she decided to take care of the "paralyzed" girl. Then one day Mary discovered that Vicky had been lying about her condition and vowed to tell Michael about his wife's many months of deception. As Mary tried to leave to go to Michael, Vicky accused her of being pregnant by him--not Julian--and said she was going to let everyone know it. She then vindictively pushed Mary down a flight of stairs. Poor Mary suffered her own miscarriage, and Vicky, who had gone off the deep end, was committed to a mental institution (1971).

The Liz Rainey Years: 1971-73

After breaking up with Hugh, Christine Cameron met the debonair John Rainey. Upset when he revealed that he was married, she refused to let herself get involved with another married man and ended their relationship, even though he insisted that his marriage had ended a long time ago. A miserable Christine missed John terribly, and he refused to give up on their relationship. His estranged wife, Adrienne, was holding up their divorce because her social position was very important to her. After she began seeing John again, Christine hated herself and decided to see a therapist about her addiction to married men. She went into counseling with Adrienne Harris, not realizing that the woman was actually John's wife!

Meanwhile, Adrienne's bitchy daughter, Elizabeth Harris Rainey (who was raised by her mother until she married John), began dating Michael, who was now divorced from Vicky and a lab technician. She then had a secret affair with Michael's father, Julian, who was now estranged from Mary and suffering a mid-life crisis. He believed her story that she had broken up with his son. When Julian decided to end their affair, Liz got pregnant on purpose, but this plan backfired when he now refused to have anything else to do with her or the unborn child. The girl now cried crocodile tears to Michael, whom she had moved in with. The young man was extremely understanding when she revealed that her pregnancy was the result of an affair with an older married man who had dumped her (before she began seeing Michael). Unaware that this man was his own father, nice guy Michael agreed to marry her and claim the baby as his own.

Middle-aged sisters Loretta and Margaret Jardin (relatives of the late Ellie) lived with their younger brother, Robert Jardin, who managed the family fortune. Margaret frequently taunted her sweet and mentally slow sister about her lack of intelligence. When Robert began dating Kate Hathaway, money-hungry Margaret became quite concerned about the couple's budding relationship since she was afraid that she and Loretta would be kicked out on to the street if he married the woman. She then convinced Loretta to be rude to Kate in hopes that she would reconsider her romance with Robert. When Robert eventually learned that Margaret was trying to destroy his relationship with Kate, he did kick her out of the house. A hysterical Margaret--who also had some incestuous feelings for her brother--chased after him, pleading for another chance. She then "accidentally" ran over Robert with a car, killing him (1972). The crazy woman was quickly sent away to an institution. Kate then finally married Steve Prescott, and they adopted Peter, the mute son of the late Ellie Jardin.

Liz was quite suspicious when she saw Christine coming out of her mother's office, but Adrienne denied that she was counseling her estranged husband's mistress, which would be highly inappropriate. Liz didn't believe her mother and suspected that Adrienne was encouraging Christine to end her relationship with John (which she was). After Liz discovered Adrienne's file on Christine, she blackmailed her own mother, who desperately wanted to reconcile with John. Adrienne was thrilled as her devious plan seemed to work when Christine suffered a nervous breakdown due to her psychological problems. She now pretended to be the girl's friend by offering to help her get baby Katina back from Hugh, who wanted custody. She then gave Hugh's lawyer questions that caused Christine to suffer a relapse and get put back in the sanitarium, far away from John. When Adrienne learned of her daughter's pregnancy, she used the information to plead for a reconciliation with John--for Liz's sake! But he was reluctant since he still loved Christine. Adrienne then went to visit Christine in a mental hospital, where she cleverly manipulated the poor girl into suffering a complete emotional collapse. John then reconciled with his estranged wife, but their reunion didn't last long as he soon learned all about her scheming ways.

Michael brought Liz home to meet the family and introduced her to a shocked Julian. She later told her ex-lover that her baby was a Hathaway and that a Hathaway man was going to be a father to the child. After her marriage to Michael, the nasty Liz tortured Julian with threats that she would spill the beans to a clueless Mary (whom Julian had reconciled with) about the baby's true parentage. Poor Julian began having violent stomach pains and developed an ulcer, causing him to turn his English lit class over to Loretta Jardin, a recovering alcoholic high school teacher who had studied literature (Robert Browning) under Julian. Continuing to seek revenge on her former lover, Liz now started spreading rumors that Julian was having a torrid love affair with Loretta. When Michael started to turn to his ex-wife Vicky (who had recovered from her breakdown and become a much nicer person), Liz escalated the rumors at Northcross University by implying that Julian was engaged in a scandalous menage a trois with Loretta and Mary! After Adrienne finally spilled the beans to Michael that Julian was the father of Liz's child, the furious young man felt betrayed by both his wife and his father. Michael threatened to tell Mary (who had given birth to Julian's son Daniel) the truth if Julian didn't.

Behind the Scenes: 1972-73

An interesting casting choice that brought much attention to the show in 1972 was Despo--the Andy Warhol star--who played Athena Stefanopolis for two weeks. Also that year, original cast member Bibi Osterwald decided to leave the show to star in the short-lived sitcom Bridget Loves Bernie, so her character, Stella O'Brien--the Hathaways' longtime housekeeper--suddenly moved to upstate New York to care for an ill aunt.

Although the show's ratings were quite respectable when it was officially cancelled on February 12, 1973, CBS felt that the cult audience the soap was attracting was not what the advertisers wanted: younger viewers. News of the unexpected cancellation inspired 35,000 viewers to write passionate letters protesting CBS's action. Ending its run the same day as Love is a Many Splendored Thing, Where the Heart Is was replaced by the more contemporary The Young and the Restless, which succeeded in beating Jeopardy in the ratings to become one of daytime's most popular soaps.

The End: 1973

After her adopted son Peter died in a fire (1973), the usually stalwart Kate Prescott, who had always been the good daughter trying to please her father, suffered a nervous breakdown, causing a split personality named Betty to emerge. She began having blackouts and bizarre mood swings in which she'd become the nasty tramp, Betty, who wore revealing lingerie and tight miniskirts and danced lewdly in front of children. The poor woman mistakenly thought she was dying of the same brain aneurysm that killed her mother.

In the show's last episode, Steve took Kate away on an extended vacation to the Caribbean after she realized that her alter ego, Betty, was taking over because of the neglect she had felt from her parents. John confronted his stepdaughter, Liz, and accused her of being a liar--and every bit as bad as her mother. He then begged Christine for another chance, and they reconciled. Adrienne and Liz decided to move in together and stop their lying ways, and Adrienne promised her daughter that she would help her raise her baby alone. Mary forgave Julian for having an affair with Liz and knocking her up. Julian went to visit Michael at Back To Nature, Vicky's millhouse, and assured his son that he never intended to hurt him (since he didn't sleep with Liz until after she claimed she had broken up with Michael). Michael never wanted to see his father again, but he was persuaded to forgive him. The final scene ended with the two men embracing after they realized there was hope for the future of the Hathaway family.

Critique

Having never seen Where the Heart Is, I can only give my opinion on what I've read about the show--and it sounds totally addictive. A father and son in love with the same woman! A man cheating on his mistress with his wife! A woman running her brother over with a car! Split personalities! Deranged babysitters! Sounds like juicy drama to me. And what a cast--James Mitchell, Priscilla Pointer, Barbara Baxley, Rue McClanahan, Louise Shaffer, Joseph Mascolo and Marsha Mason! I definitely would've tuned in to watch. However, I do believe the show was ahead of its time. Trapped between two far more conservative soaps and up against Jeopardy, I doubt that many housewives were prepared for such a racy show in 1969. It's unfortunate that it didn't catch on with the masses, but if it had been a great success, then we might not have The Young and the Restless today. And that's the way of the world, folks--but Where the Heart Is should be fondly remembered as a daring drama for its day.

Scorecard

Births: (2) Katina Cameron, Daniel Hathaway

Marriages: (4) Michael & Vicky, Allison & Hugh, Kate & Steve, Michael & Liz

Murders: (2) Ellie Jardin (killers: thugs); Robert Jardin (killer: his sister, Margaret Jardin)

The Cast

Roy Archer: Stephen Joyce (1969-70)

Laura Blackburn: Marsha Mason (1971)

Christine Cameron: Terry O'Connor (1969), Delphi Harrington (1969-73)

Baby Katina Cameron: Kara Fleming

Adrienne Harris: Priscilla Pointer (1972-73)

Daniel Hathaway: Joseph Dolen (1972-73)

Julian Hathaway: James Mitchell (1969-73)

Liz Rainey Hathaway: Tracy Brooks Swope (1971-73)

Mary Hathaway: Diana Walker (1969-73)

Michael Hathaway: Gregory Abels (1969-73)

Vicky Lucas Hathaway: Robyn Millan (1969-71), Lisa Richards (1972)

Ellie Jardin: Zohra Lampert (1970-71)

Loretta Jardin: Alice Drummond (1971-73)

Margaret Jardin: Barbara Baxley (1971), Rue McClanahan (1971-72)

Peter Jardin: Michael Bersell (1970-73)

Robert Jardin: Keith Charles (1972)

Allison Archer Jessup: Louise Shaffer (1969-73)

Ben Jessup: Daniel Keyes (1969-72)

Dr. Hugh Jessup: Rex Robbins (1970), David Cryer (1970-73)

Ed Lucas: Mark Gordon (1969), Charles Cioffi (1969-70), Joseph Mascolo (1970-72)

Ruth Monroe: Nancy Franklin (1969-70)

Tony Monroe: David Bailey (1969-70)

Stella O'Brien: Bibi Osterwald (1969-72)

Dr. Joe Prescott: William Post, Jr. (1970-73)

Kate Hathaway Prescott: Diana van der Vlis (1969-73)

Nan Prescott: Katherine Meskill (1970-72)

Steve Prescott: Laurence Luckinbill (1969-70), Ron Harper (1970-73)

Terry Prescott: Douglas Ross (1970-71), Ted LePlat (1971-72)

John Rainey: Peter MacLean (1971-73)

Arthur Saxton: Bernard Kates (1969-71)

Lois Snowden: Jeanne Ruskin (1970-72)

Will Watts: Robert Symonds

Malibu Shores NBC Sat 8-9 March -June 96 10 eps

NBC attempts a teen soap. Students from upper class Malibu mix with their counterparts fom San Fernando Valley

Cast-Kerri Russell Greg Vaughn (Y&R,GH) Susan Ward (SuBe) Randy Spelling(SuBe) Michelle Phillips(KL)

Four Corners CBS Tues 10-11 Feb-March 98

A widow struggles to manage her late husbands ranch.

Cast Ann-Margret,Kamar De Los Reyes (OLTL) Justin Chambers (AW) Doug Wert (ATWT Y&R)

After a 2hr pilot CBS played just one episode.

Around 2002 ,Fox ordered a Dark Shadows pilot with a younger cast but it wasn't picked up.

The Survivors ABC Sep 69-Jan 70 Mon 9-10 Up against MayberryRFD/Doris Day on CBS and NBC movie.

Based on a Harold Robbins novel and starring:

Lana Turner (Falcon Crest)

Kevin McCarthy(Flamingo Road)

Jan Michael Vincent

Ralph Bellamy

George Hamilton

Louise Sorel (DOOL)

Donna Baccala (GH)

Despite lots of publicity the show bombed.

The Monroes ABC Thurs @9 Sep-Oct 95

About a Kennedy like political family

Starring William Devane (KL) and Susan Sullivan (AW,FC)

Cancelled after 4 airings

Valley of the Dolls CBS 6hr mini series Oct 81

Based on the landmark novel and movie about 3 women and their misadventures in searching for fame and fortune.

Starring

Catherine Hicks (RH)

Veronica Hamel

Lisa Hartmann (KL)

David Birney (LIAMST)

James Coburn

Jean Simmons

A 65 episode syndicated series followed in 94.Not sure how it tied into the original in terms of story but some original characters were included.

Cast included

Sharon Case (Y&R)

Kamar De Los Reyes (OLTL)

Lauren Koslow(DOOL)

Kevin Spirtas (DOOL)

Sally Kirkland (DOOL)

Al Rabin and Becky Greenlaw -former Days producers were involved.

Kade,the young actors in question that appeared in both shows were

Linda Hamilton

Doran Clark

Marilyn Jones

Daniel Zippi

They did not play the same characters and there does not appear to be any connection between the two shows apart from both being from Lorimar Productions.Obviously,someone behind the scenes was enthused about these actors and wanted to give them another chance-or maybe it was some kind of contract thing.

Dark Shadows NBC Jan-Mar 91 Fri @9 then Fri @ 10

A lavish revamp of the daytime soapwith a great cast

Ben Cross, Joanna Going(SFT,AW) Jean Simmons,Roy Thinnes(GH,OLTL) Michael T Weiss(DOOL)Julianna McCarthy(Y&R)Ellen Wheeler(AW,AMC, current GL exec producer)

This debuted as a 4 hr 2 parter before weekly 1hr eps

I thought it was very well done but the ratings were poor-maybe because it almost immediatedly shifted back to 1790 for the bulk of the story before the current day characters were established.It would have been great to see how it evolved.

Gloria Monty,legendary GH producer,was involved in a summer soap called 'The Hamptons'.ABC Jul-Aug 83

It was about two families linked by romance and co-ownership of a department store chain.The setting was NY and of course The Hamptons.

Cast:Leigh Taylor Young(SB) John Reilly (GH ATWT) Craig Sheffer (OLTL) Kate Dezina (AMC)Jada Rowland(DRS SS) Daniel Pilon(RH)

I think it was shot on videotape, which would've made it cheap to produce and given it a daytime look.

I forgot to mention that Executive Suite was written by Henry Slesar,who was also writing Edge of Night at the time.

Kings Crossing ABC Jan-Feb 82 Sat 8-9

About a family who move to the town of Kings Crossing to make a fresh start.The focus was on the younger characters and 4 of the young actors fom Secrets of Midland Heights ,including Linda Hamilton appeared in this show.

Also starring Mary Frann(DOOL) and Bradford Dillman

CBS had originally planned Secrets as an 8 o'clock show but when it was scheduled at 10 the focus changed.

The same producers were behind Kings Crossing so this may have been more reflective of their original premise.

The 80's saw many 'soapy' mini-series and I'd like to see some more contributions to that list.Soapnet should so be showing

these mini-series and soaps in weekend timeslots.

Some more for the list.

Executive Suite CBS 76-77 Mondays@10 Fridays @10 up against Monday Night Football and NBC Monday Movie

The lives and loves of those working for and affected bythe huge Cardway Corporation.

Cast included Mitchell Ryan (AMC) Leigh McCloskey (GH,SB) Madlyn Rhue (DOOL)

Mentioned earlier The Secrets of Midland Heights 80-81 CBS Sat @10

Set in a sleepy mid western college town,the emphasis was on the younger characters.

Starring Lorenzo Lamas (B& Robert Hogan (AW) Bibi Besch (LIAMST)Apart from Linda Hamilton who went on to Terminator movies none of the young performers were ever heard of again.

I'm going to start a mini series list as well to add to what has been mentioned

Scruples Feb 1980 CBS 6hrs

Based on the novel by Judith Krantz and following the lives of 3 young ambitious people.

Cast - Lindsay Wagner,Barry Bostwick,Efrem Zimbalist,Connie Stevens,Robert Reed and 40's star Gene Tierney in her first role for almost 20 years.

In 81 ABC showed a TV movie follow up which was a pilot for a proposed series spin off.

Lots of soap people in the cast,

Kale Browne(AW,OLTL) Brett Halsey(GH,Y&R) JimMcMullan(Y&R) Sandy McPeak (DOOL) Roy Thinnes (GH OLTL)

NBC also got very close to putting a daytime version on the air Pat Falken Smith was the writer and I think Susan Flannery had tentatively agreed to star.There was a shake up at NBC daytime and new management pulled out.Falken Smith instigated alaw suit but what came of that is unknown

NBC tried again to hit the primetime jackpot with Bare Essence.

It ran from Feb-Apr 83 first at Tuesday @9 up against Three's Company before being moved to Friday @10 against Falcon Crest.

It starred Genie Francis,Jennifer O'Neill,Jessica Walter,Michael Woods(TX,GL)Jonathan Frakes (DRS) and Jamie Lyn Bauer (Y&R,DOOL).

The perfume business was the setting for this show.I assume Genie met her husband Jonathon on this show.

It was based on the popular CBS mini-series which starred Linda Evans and Donna Mills ,who obviously couldn't commit to the series.

The Fox series Pasadena was mentioned earlier.It plated Friday @9 late 2001 and starrred Dana Delaney,Martin Donovan and Mark Valley(DOOL)

Re:Falcon Crest.When the series was announced it was titled The VIntage Years and included Clu Gulager and Samantha Eggar in the roles that evolved into those played by Robert Foxworth and Susan Sullivan.CBS stated in May 81 that the show would be heavily "re-tooled"before its fall premiere.

The first true primetime soap was Peyton Place airing on ABC from 64-69.

It was 1/2 hr in length and ran 2 and 3 times a week.

The cast included Dorothy Malone,Mia Farrow,Ryan O'Neal,EdNelson(Cap)David Canary(AMC)Ruth Warrick(AMC)Barbara Rush(AMC)James Douglas(ATWT,AW,DRS)

A few cast members played in the daytime follow up Return to Peyton Place.NBC 72-74

CBS had a short lived competitor Our Private World which spun off the ATWT character of Lisa into her own series.It ran from May-Sep 65and also included Geraldine Fitzgerald and Nicholas Coster(veteran of many soaps)

Unlike the 80's, when all the networks scheduled their own soaps,there didn't seem to be any imitators in the 60's.

One pilot that was produced was Della.It starred Joan Crawford and Diane Baker .The projected series was to be called Royal Bay.

Some more for the list.Seems CBS was more interested in the genre than ABC or NBC,probably due to the success of Dallas,Knots and Falcon Crest.

Angel Falls CBS Sept 93 Thursdays @10

After her father passes away, Rae Dawn Snow decides to pack up and move back to Angel Falls, her home town in the woods of Montana. Coming back to her roots, she rekindles an old romance with Eli Harrison, while her 16-year-old son strikes up a relationship with Eli's daughter.

Starring James Brolin,Peggy Lipton,Kim Catrall,Jean Simmons,Brian Kerwin(KL&Y/R)Grace Zabriskie (SB)

Don't know much about this one.Scheduled just before the fall season premieres in the Knots Landing timeslot.Played out its 6 episodes.

Emerald Point NAS CBS 83-84 Mondays@10

The interlocking worlds of the military and big business.

Starring Dennis Weaver,Maud Adams,JillSt John, Susan Dey,Charles Frank(AMC)Richard Dean Anderson(GH)Robert Loggia(SFT)

The ratings were OK for this one andCBS gave it a full season but they obviously didn't have enough faith in the show to try for a2nd season. Cagney & Lacey took the timeslot in the following season and was a big hit.

The thread about Lynne Marie Latham and her involvement in many nightime soaps reminded me of how popular the genre was back in the day.I'm hoping you might join me in reminiscing about some of those shows.

Although more often than not they were short lived,many were well executed and given the chance could've caught on.Soaps need time for audiences to get involved in character and story but the networks didn't show a lot of patience.

Many soap names appeared in these shows.

Two shows I enjoyed:

Berrengers-1985 NBC Sat@10

About a NY department store,it starred Sam Wanamaker,Yvette Mimieux and Ben Murphy.

Also included in the cast - Jonelle Allen(Generations) Andrea Marcovicci(LIAMST) Alan Feinstein (EON)

Jeff Conaway (B& Jack Scalia (AMC)

Saturday at that time was not doing well for NBC and the thinking was this was not the spot for a soap as many people were out and could not commit to a weekly serial.

The Yellow Rose

NBC Sat @10

Set on a modern day Texas ranch,it starred Cybill Sheppard,Sam Eliot,Chuck Conors David Soul and Edward Albert(PC).Jane Russell also made some appearances.

Beaten in the ratings by Fantasy Island.

What other shows do you recall?