Paul Raven

Carl,I'm glad you are interested. Interesting to see from your article that ABC and particularly AMC went backwards from this only to rebound .I photocopied and printed lots of stuff from Variety and other mags ,stuff I owned (and threw out!!!),from libraries and from the net years ago. MMM was one of Lin Bolens big ideas to boost NBC.Apparently it was quite complicated with an expensive set and didn't set the ratings on fire. A heavily hyped replacement for Blank Check, MMM premiered against a new Goodson-Todman entry, Showoffs, on ABC and The Young and The Restless on CBS. This was one of the biggest "larger than life" games developed by Heatter & Quigley, who were responsible for three games on the NBC lineup. Pinball was enjoying a renaissance in the mid-‘70s (video games, with the exception of Pong, hadn’t yet been developed), and the premiere was eagerly anticipated. Art James, fresh off Blank Check’s flop, was chosen as host. A Wobbly Kind of Machine: What Heatter and Quigley didn’t realize, one suspects, is pinball is fun to play, but not nearly as interesting to watch. The opening game was boring, had zero to do with pinball, and took up way too much time. The machine itself was criticized in some areas as lame-looking and sounding as well (it wasn’t, really – but it wasn’t as interesting as a genuine arcade pinball machine), and watching middle-aged celebrities such as Roddy McDowall and Joan Rivers grapple with the machine looked, well, faintly ridiculous. Virtually every NBC game show host appeared on the show at one point or another (all except Geoff Edwards and Dick Enberg, as far as I can tell), as well as a bunch of other celebrities, but the ratings remained low. MMM was switched to 12:30 p.m. to allow for Wheel of Fortune’s expansion, then actually went off the air in early 1976 to make room for Kelly Lange’s brief daytime gabfest Take My Advice. It returned two weeks later, however, reappearing in the noon slot after Wheel shrank back to a half-hour. To save their floundering brainchild, Heatter-Quigley made the decision to go with all celebrities, who played for members of the studio audience. Adding extra celebrities has never helped a show (R.I.P. Password All-Stars, Celebrity Whew!, Celebrity Bullseye, and Celebrity Hot Potato), and it didn’t here either. The ratings stayed low (even though ABC was now running the fast-fading Let’s Make a Deal in the 12 noon slot), and NBC finally pulled the plug in April 1976 in favor of Bobby Van’s game-variety hybrid The Fun Factory. Due to a technicians’ strike, however, the network reran 13 weeks worth of Magnificent Marble Machines until The Fun Factory could start taping. June 11,1976 marked the final airing of this curious failure, save for a clip shown in the 1979 film The China Syndrome.

The quads got some publicity at the time but there was no long term plan-typical of soaps at that time.

From August 75. Execs talked about NBC's successful expansion of DOOL and AW to 60 min.NBC said that the cost of producing these shows is more than double as all contracts had to be renegotiated.CBS said that they were examining expanding some shows but only if it strengthened the half hour the show would expand to. ABC said the week of AMC 1 hr shows was horrendous to tape,taking 8-9 days to complete. 10.00 NBC Celebrity Sweepstakes 5.3 28 (moved in Jan to improve ratings in that slot and succeeded,forcing CBS to cancel Jokers Wild) CBS Spin Off 4.4 24 (cancelled due to be replaced by Give and Take in Sept) 10.30 NBC Wheel of Fortune 6.5 33 CBS Gambit 6.3 32 (To be replaced by TPIR) 11.00 NBC High Rollers 6.8 33 CBS Tattletales 6.2 30 (to be replaced by Gambit) 11.30 NBC Hollywood Squares 8.4 26 CBS Love of Life 7.0 28 (leading in W18-49 in that timeslot) ABC Brady Bunch 7.2 30 (put on air over Summer when Blankety Blank tanked-large number of children under 11 in those numbers-to be replaced by Happy Days,as BB goes into syndication,ABC considered stripping Mary Tyler Moore but CBS weren't interested. 12.00 CBS Y&R 8.5 33 NBC Magnificent Marble Machine 7.7 30 (ist week on air,replacing Jackpot) ABC Show Offs 6.4 25 ( 2nd week on air,replacing Password) 12.30 ABC AMC 10.3 38 (1st week in that timeslot) CBS SFT 9.4 35 NBC Jackpot 6.7 25 (1st week in that timeslot 90 per cent clearance, replacing Blank Check) 1.00 ABC RH 25 share after 3 weeks.Some CBS stations show 4.00 gameshow Musical Chairs and more NBC stations play Somerset,which has only 90 per cent clearance at 4.00 1.30 CBS ATWT 10.6 37 NBC DOOL 8.2 31 ABC LMAD 7.9 28 2.00 NBC DOOL 8.2 31 (1 hr average,wins this half hour) CBS GL 8.3 29 ABC $10.00- Pyramid 7.9 28 2.30 NBC DRS 8.7 32 CBS EON 7.4 27 (way down in demos) ABC Rhyme or Reason 31 share after 3 weeks (replacing Big Showdown) 3.00 NBC AW 9.7 31 ABC GH 8.2 26 CBS TPIR 8.9 29 (moving to 10.30 to be replaced by Match Game) 3.30 CBS Match Game 11.3 35 NBC AW 9.7 31 (1 hr average) ABC OLTL 7.1 22 4.00 NBC Somerset 6.2 19 CBS Musical Chairs ? ABC The Money Maze?

Amazing to think that a year or so later GH would be rocketing to the top. No other soap before or after made such a comeback.Same for AW,such a dramatic drop. It would be so interesting to read more about GH's rise and AW's fall during that time.

Was DA Sam Hunter any relation to the earlier character of Dr Nick Hunter? Soap vet Stephen Joyce played the role. Yes Kathy aborted Scott's child. Len was also shot during those years by Hal Conrad,who had murdered Doug Martin and Jo too was shot. (by criminals after her latest beau Chris Delon)

I still recall being annoyed by the contrived' Brad is going blind but wants to spare Leslie story'

Robin was a hooker on the run from the mob.Tony Vincente died due to his efforts to save her and Kathy Phillips was in danger for the same reason.

ABC went after the young demo in primetime( by default to some extent),even as far back as the early 60's when they had their first hits with 77 Sunset Strip,Surfside Six and similar show. Then thru the 60's there was Bandstand,Never Too Young,Mod Squad etc.

July 73 Season to date 72-73 season 10.00 CBS Joker is Wild 5.6 29 NBC Dinah's Place 4.9 25 10.30 CBS $10,000 Pyramid 6.6 35 NBC Baffle 4.8 25 11.00 CBS Gambit 7.5 34 NBC Sale of The Century 6.9 31 CBS had recently gone to game shows rather than sitcom reruns in these time periods as the sitcoms demos were too geared towards kids.ABC affiliates were also showing kid appeal shows so they decided to go up against NBC gameshows.NBC was planning to revamp Dinah and introduce Wizard of Odds at 11.00,hoping for better demos. 11.30 NBC Hollywood Squares 10.0 40 CBS Love of Life 6.9 31 ABC Bewitched ? (to be replaced by Brady Bunch) Love of Life was doing better in 18-34 demo than NBC. 12.00 NBC Jeopardy 9.0 32 ABC Password 7.2 26 CBS Y&R 5.2 21 (Lowest clearance on network 78per cent) 12.30 CBS SFT 8.5 30 ABC Split Second 8.4 29 NBC Who What Where Game 7.3 26 1.00 ABC AMC 8.1 28 (only 89 per cent clearance but excellent 18-49 demos) 1.30 CBS ATWT 10.6 35 ABC LMAD 9.2 30 NBC 3 on a Match 6.5 21(NBC's worst clearance 89 percent) ABC stealing Lets Make a Deal from NBC was the breakthrough in giving them a presence in daytime.They had to agree to a nightime version and agree to buy pilots from the producers and give Monty Hall some specials to host. 2.00 NBC DOOL 9.9 32 ABC Newlywed Game 9.2 31 CBS GL 8.3 28 2.30 NBC DRS 9.2 32 CBS EON 8.0 28 ABC Dating Game 7.3 26 (soon to be replaced by Girl in My Life) 3.00 NBC AW 9.8 33 ABC GH 9.6 31 CBS TPIR 7.2 26 3.30 ABC OLTL 8.1 26 NBC PTPP 7.2 24 CBS Match Game ? 4.00 NBC Somerset 6.8 21 CBS Secret Storm 6.5 21 ABC Love American Style 6.3 19 ABC said that CBS let its soaps stagnate and Lin Bolen from NBC said CBS was back in 1958,saying that on RTPP Eliot and Connie talked about sexual issues in their bedroom whereas CBS still had people in the kitchen chatting about such things.She said CBS were still relying on 'old fashioned' controversies like rape and incest(!!) while NBC were dealing with natural childbirth,the ecology,abortion and women who were acheivment orientated-1973 issues. There was also talk of whether 90 min daytime specials had any future.

From summaries of that time. Bob is charmed by Dana, his sister Penny's friend, who has come from Europe to settle in Oakdale. Although attracted to Bob, Dana warns him she has a sad experience in her past.When Bob mentions ballet to Dana, she becomes misty-eyed. Barbara assures Bob that if he cares for Dana, Dana is not too young for him. When Bob asks Dana not to leave town, she agrees to stay, revealing to him only that she was once a ballerina.Dana reveals to Bob that she left the Joffrey Ballet because she wasn’t the best.Dana reveals that her husband changed from a shy and unassuming man to the egoistical image created by the press. Ian McFarland makes up medical excuse to meet Bob. Bob learns Ian has no intention of giving up on his estranged wife Dana. Ian tells Dana he’s willing to stay in Oakdale for a year in order to win her back. Confiding to his manager, Ian says his layoff will only be for a month – that’s all he needs to win Dana back. Bob finally admits his love to Dana. With Ian’s consent, his manager Barry plants a sensational story about Bob and Dana in a rag mag.On their anniversary, Ian insists on taking Dana to dinner.Ian lures Dana back into his career business,Dana is jealous to see Ian with another woman, Monica.Bob frets that Ian’s trapping Dana back into Ian’s life, but she becomes a ballet school teacher to avoid Ian. Ian arranges to play the piano at a pre-nuptial party for Val and Alex to get Bob and Dana’s goat. Bob suspects Dana has deeper feelings for Ian than she is willing to admit. In an attempt for more togetherness, Ian rents a studio in the same locale as Dana’s.Bob noticed that Dana stuck to Ian's hospital bedside after Ian suffered a heart attack.. Ian hired Dee as his secretary. Dana admitted to Bob it's not so easy breaking off with Ian.followed by a "shadow" at the inn. Bob and Dana set a Valentine's Day wedding date while Ian agreed to give her a Haitian divorce . Dana postponed her divorce to meet with the choreographer of Ian’s ballet.in Philadelphia. Bob was off to New York to try and see Dana. Kim offered Bob sympathy when he broke off with Dana. Deborah Hobart played Dana.She then moved to AW to play Amy. Peter Simon was Ian.

PP 79 was a 5 night a week late night syndicated series.Whether any original characters or themes were used,i have been unable to find out.but I'll keep searching!

Managed to finally find something on PP79. i recognise Don Matheson,Adam West and Elaine Princi.Can anyone spot any other faces in that picture. Big deal made of David Lawrence.He later exec produced SFT in its final days.He had worked for P&G before and had also worked on a lot of European co productions.

That is news to me also.In 75,Betsy's parents were on briefly.Her brother Tom came on in 76. Was it a typo and Oliver Crawford the character name? Maybe there was a change in writers and that character was dropped.

No,not much. I wonder if ABC considered going to 1 60 min ep a week?It got dumped to 8.30 on Monday against Lucy and Laugh In in its final season.Maybe a revamp and a 10.00 timeslot might have helped.

She got that short lived DOOL gig in 77,but not much else. Did she and Ron divorce?

Interesting that he was brought back as Grant 5 years later, before being replaced. Surely he would still be recognized as Roy?

I think that whole demo thing started to gain currency in the early 70's. Remember when CBS dumped hits like Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction because they skewed too old and too rural. ABC always pushed that line because that;s the only area they had rating strength. In daytime,the original viewers had aged along with the shows.In the 1968 NY Times article Agnes talks about the CBS shows as 'old hat'Interesting considering that she was writing for them up until that time. The above report also mentions that SFT was doing much better in the demos than Split Second despite near identical household numbers.

These numbers are from based on the 73-74 season till mid May 74 10.00 CBS Jokers Wild 5.2 28 NBC Dinah's Place 4.8 20 (soon to be cancelled and replaced by Name That Tune) 10.30 CBS Gambit 5.9 30 NBC Jeopardy 5.5 27(replaced by Winning Streak in July 74) 11.00 CBS Now You See It 5.9 30 NBC High Rollers ? 11.30 NBC Hollywood Squares 8.8 37 ABC Brady Bunch 6.7 28 CBS Love of Life 6.6 26 12.00 NBC Jackpot 8.1 31 ABC Password 6.7 25 CBS Young and Restless 6.2 24(running third but doing best in the 18-34 demo)Lower ratings due to 90 per cent cleaarnce rate. 12.30 CBS Search For Tomorrow 7.7 29 ABC Split Second 7.7 28 NBC Celebrity Sweepstakes 6.7 27 1.00 ABC All My Children 9.1 32 CBS/NBC Local 1.30 CBS As The World Turns 9.7 33 ABC Lets Make A Deal 8.6 26 NBC Three on a Match ?(replaced by Jeopardy in July 74) 2.00 NBC Days of Our Lives 9.7 32 CBS Guiding Light 6.1 27 ABC Newlywed Game ? (replaced by $10,000 Pyramid lin December 74) 2.30 NBC The Doctors 9.4 33 CBS Edge of Night 7.4 26 ABC The Girl in My Life ?(replaced by Big Showdown in December 74) 3.00 NBC Another World 9.6 31 ABC General Hospital 9.2 29 CBS The Price is Right 6.4 28 3.30 CBS Match Game 10.1 32 ABC One Life to Live 7.9 25 NBC How to Survive a Marriage 6.3 20 4.00 CBS Tattletales 7.0 22 NBC Somerset 6.0 19 ABC $10,000 Pyramid 5.2 18 (replaced by Money Maze in December 74) ATWT commanded the highest advertising rates at $20,000 for a minute. ABC and NBC's best were AMC and AW which each commanded $18,000 a minute. Y&R doing well despite low clearances.Obviously based on that success,more stations took it on so ratings continued to climb.

No,Peggy was also involved with Jack Abbott.It was part of a mini triangle with Steve Williams during 1980.