Paul Raven

The first episode was fine. John Goodman seemed to be more vital than last season. Still too many characters to deal with. Harris wasn't even on. Wonder if Michael Fishman and Estelle Parsons will get one last appearance. They could really spin off some of the characters eg Becky starting a new life in another city. Harris and Mark living together.

This article discusses CBS' ratings woes in the late 80's. Some weeks only 60 Minutes, MSW and the Sunday Movie made the top 30. CBS fine -tunes its prime The network wastes no time in rearranging schedule; gone are 'Miranda,' 'Van Dyke,' 'McGuire,' 'Dirty Dancing' and 'Simon and Simon' CBS pulled the plug on two shows (Raising Miranda, The Van Dyke Show) and put three others on hiatus (Annie McGuire, Dirty Dancing, Simon and Simon) last week in a reorganization of its prime time schedule. Four of the five -Dirty Dancing, Annie McGuire, The Van Dyke Show and Raising Miranda -were half hour comedies and new to the schedule this season, while the fifth, the one hour adventure Simon and Simon, was in its seventh season. Last May, when CBS announced its fall schedule, Kim LeMasters, president, CBS Entertainment, said the new schedule would address three major objectives: improving the "critical" 8 -9 p.m. time period, increasing the network's half hour comedies, and broadening CBS's appeal. Much of the burden of achieving those goals fell on the shoulders of CBS's new half hour comedies, namely Raising Miranda, Annie McGuire, The Van Dyke Show and Dirty Dancing. Judging by their ratings performance, and the restructuring, the shows time picture failed to accomplish any of those goals. "I think in CBS's case," said Jeffrey Logsdon, media analyst, Crowell Weedon, "they probably didn't realize just how far or fast they were sliding. It's like you only have so many fingers to stick in the dike, and when you run out of fingers, you have to accept the fact there's going to be some leakage, and that's what we're seeing now. It's not like they have at least one new show that's doing well -they're all struggling." Despite the failed new shows and continued downward slide, it appears that affiliates continue to support LeMasters and the network's efforts. "Kim [LeMasters] and his advisers are going through the same anguish and harassment that we affiliates are going through," said Neil Kuvin, general manager, WHAS -TV Louisville, Ky. "Some of the problems we're experiencing now," he said, "are the effects of decisions made before Kim took over." A mistake that Kuvin said has been made this year and in the past is scheduling 10 p.m. shows in the 8 p.m. slot. "I still don't think that 8 p.m. is being paid enough attention to," he said, adding, "Van Dyke was not an 8 p.m. show." Regarding The Van Dyke Show and Annie McGuire, Kuvin said: "When you want to make some noise, you don't do it with bland, vanilla programing." The inability to program effectively at 8 o'clock has put a strain on CBS's shows later in the schedule. Without a strong lead in, many of the traditionally strong shows such as Dallas, Knots Landing and Falcon Crest, which have shown signs of aging, have experienced further ratings slides. "I used to think my late news would always have an impregnable 10 p.m. lead -in," said Kuvin. "Now I'm not so sure that I can count on that." The problems at 8 p.m. have caused "a crumbling at both ends [8 and 10 p.m.]," he said. One of the difficulties for CBS in developing successful programing at any time stems from a perception among the production community that going to the third place network will land their show in an unattractive time slot, against stiff competition from NBC and ABC programing. In an effort to assuage some of the concerns that producers have, CBS brought in Barbara Corday as the number two programing executive behind LeMasters. Before coming to CBS, Corday had been president of Columbia - Embassy Television before the merger of that unit with Tri -Star Television last fall. Corday was pegged to improve relations between the network and the Hollywood community, with hopes of higher quality programing coming to CBS. However, Corday's appointment at CBS has sparked some speculation that the number two designation is merely temporary and LeMasters's stay is only slightly more permanent than some of the shows he introduced to the schedule in the fall. "It seems to be very clear they have hired her as the heir apparent," said a network programing analyst. "She has a standing in the creative community that the other fellow [ LeMasters) does not have." He suggested that most producers these days are taking most of their shows to NBC and ABC first. A high level source at CBS, however, discounted any sense of urgency among CBS brass and dismissed the speculation that LeMasters's days were numbered. "We know we're in third place," he said. "We don't expect magic and we're not going to hang anybody. We've got a long road ahead of us and it's one we've got to go on with care and patience." Development next year, he said, "will be more focused than it was this year. We can't expect to make a run at the top with another Dick Van Dyke show leading the way." With the season's race seemingly set for a repeat of last season (NBC first, ABC second and CBS last), CBS is making the following changes in an attempt to keep from falling deeper into third place than it was last year. Raising Miranda, airing on Saturday, 8:30 -9, will have its final broadcast on Dec. 31, and will not return to the schedule. The Van Dyke Show (Wed. 8 -8:30) had its final broadcast on Dec. 7. Raising Miranda, which premiered on Nov. 5 and will have aired seven episodes before it disappears, ranked last among regular programing, averaging a 6 rating and an 11 share. The Van Dyke Show premiered on Oct. 26 and averaged a 7.3/12 for its six episodes, placing it 74th out of 78 shows. Dirty Dancing, airing on Saturday, 8- 8:30, will move to the 9:30 -10 slot on Saturday, for two broadcasts on Jan. 7 and 14. It is expected that the show's performance on those dates will determine its future. The CBS Saturday Movie will precede Dirty Dancing on Jan. 7 and 14 at 8 -9:30. Annie McGuire, starring Mary Tyler Moore, will have its final broadcast in its current Wednesday 8:30 -9 slot on Dec. 28. The series, which will have aired eight episodes, then goes on hiatus and has not been given another time slot. The show ranked 73rd, averaging a 7.5/12 through Dec. II. Simon & Simon, like Annie McGuire, has not been given another time slot, and will have its final broadcast on Saturday, Dec. 31, at 9 -10. The show has additional episodes available, and the network has not made a final determination on the show's future, making it, once again, a candidate for mid -season replacement status. TV 101, highly acclaimed but low rated, moves to Wednesday, 8 -9, beginning Jan. 4. The show has been airing on Tuesday at 8 -9, against ABC's Who's the Boss? and Roseanne, the latter being the highest -rated new show of the fall. TV 101, produced by Grant Tinker's GTG Entertainment, has averaged a 6.6/10 in its two episodes. To fill the gaps, CBS is premiering Dolphin Cove and Tour of Duty, in addition to bringing back The Smothers Brothers for a limited run. Dolphin Cove, conceived during the writers' strike, stars Frank Converse as an American dolphin researcher who moves to Australia with his two children. The show premieres on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 8 -9. Tour of Duty, a moderate success for CBS last year, will make its second season premiere on Tuesday, Jan. 3, at 8 -9, against ABC's one -two punch of Who's the Boss? and Roseanne, as well as NBC's Matlock. Tour of Duty's tour may be brief in that time slot, as it becomes increasingly difficult to find an audience for a show the later it premieres in the season, especially in such a competitive time period. The Smothers Brothers, used sporadically earlier this season, returns to CBS for four broadcasts, beginning Saturday, Jan. 28, through Feb. 18, at 9 -10. The good news for CBS is that it has decided to pick up the back nine episodes of Paradise (Thursday, 9 -10), Murphy Brown (Monday, 9 -9:30) and Wiseguy (Wednesday, 10 -11). Murphy Broum, a new half hour comedy, has performed the best of the three thus far, ranking 39th and averaging a 14.0/21. Wiseguy is ranked 47th with a 12.4/22, and Paradise, also new, is 61st with a 10.7/17.

Good to know. Thanks Errol.

So the first episode of GH coincided with the opening of the hospital .I think not. Why mention it all if you're going to get it wrong? I always marvel when I see that staircase at GH. What modern hospital install a potential death trap? No way would patients or staff be let anywhere near it. One fall and GH would be sued out of existence! And Frank, don't bother with the 'outdoor' sets. There's yet to be a convincing one in the history of soaps. Better trying to work out how to include more outdoor sets and/or location filming.

What % of the country is BTG airing? Are some stations showing it out of timeslot eg 9.00 am? That can affect overall numbers. Want to see BTG showing growth in the next few months. At least it is beating GH in key demos, which has to concern ABC.

Annie Maguire was delayed to the 88 strike. And CBS paired it up with Dick Van Dyke's awful new sitcom in some misguided attempt at nostalgia 'Dick and Mary back together on CBS!!' So the chance of younger viewers (anyone under 60) finding it was nil. The competition was Growing Pains #13 and Head of the Class #20 on ABC and Unsolved Mysteries #17 on NBC. The CBS schedule was such a mess at the time, I don't know where else they could have placed it. Stone Pillow finished in the Top 10. I still maintain Lucy in a comedy mystery Murder She Wrote type series might have been worth a try.. The lovable but nosy older lady getting involved in crimes eg undercover at a retirement community, on a senior cruise , a nostalgia film festival etc

That I like.

Definitely. Knight Rider was by no means a hit in it's first season but did better against Dallas than anything previously. But NBC were short of hits and Chips was flailing on Sun night so NBC moved it there and it finished #29. NBC tried to counter Dallas with Manimal but it bombed. They must have hoped the kids would have taken to it like KR.

Some tidbits about One Man's Family circa 1935 WONDER what a typical American family thinks about? . . . Is there any such thing as a typical American family?" Carlton Morse, radio writer, was wondering in 1932. His method of answering the questions was unusual. He picked out a group of people who, in his opinion, might be members of a typical family. A father, a mother, three sons, and two daughters. All of them real people. All of them interesting people. They weren't actually members of the same family. But they were certainly the right types and they were about the right age. Mentally, he put them all under the same roof, and waited to see what happened. What happened proved fascinating to radio listeners on the Pacific Coast. So much so that 'strictly on a public demand basis, more and more radio stations were added to the chain broadcasting the program, until now, under the sponsorship of Tender Leaf Tea, it is reaching the whole country. Morse seldom writes more than one episode in advance, the reason being that he wants to see how the members of the family behave in the situations as they develop. If the actors feel that they are behaving naturally, he is satisfied. If he puts them in situations where they feel strange—where they have to "act"—he changes the direction of the plot. So—what does the typical American family think about? What does it do as a result of its thinking? Is there any such thing as a typical American family? Are the Barbours it? FANNY BARBOUR (played by Minetta Ellen) finds herself in the role of buffer and interpreter between her husband and her children. Her background is conventional, " oldfashioned," but her sympathies are with the eager, searching spirit of the children. She has but two ambitions—to be a good wife and an understanding mother. But simple as these seem, before bedtime she's often dead tired--even if she doesn't admit defeat. CLAUDIA BARBOUR (played by Kathleen Wilson) eloped with Johnny Roberts while in college. Eight months later they quarreled and Johnny disappeared. The next she heard of him, he had been wounded fighting with the rebels in China. Claudia and Johnny's parents went to China and nursed him back to health. Then, when they were ready to sail, Johnny came down with pneumonia and died overnight . . . Out of this Ill-fated marriage Claudia received two rewards—a comfortable fortune, and, more important, her little daughter, Joan. When Johnny died, leaving Claudia $250,000, she found her father opposed to her having so much in her own right. As a result of this disagreement, Claudia took Joan and went to England. That's how she came to meet Captain Nicholas Lacey (played by Walter Patersrn), 12th Baronet and a former officer in the British Army. He has a magnificent old estate in England, but prefers America; at least, it seems, while Claudia is in America. PAUL BARBOUR, the eldest son (played by Michael Raffetto), met and married an American war nurse while flying at the front. Two weeks later, she died. The same week, Paul was shot down, and must walk with a cane for the rest of his life. He came out of the war bitter against the older generation for bringing on the war. He has learned to laugh at himself and the world, but all these years he has been "difficult," unable to adjust himself to routine. For five years Paul and Beth Holly (played by Barbara Jo Allen) have been "seeing each other a lot." But now that apparently has been broken off. Beth is a young widow, and long the family's choice as a wife for Paul. Obviously there was no estrangement when the picture was snapped. Obviously, too, the break-up might be expected to have a disturbing effect on even a cool-headed young man. And Paul is far from being that. PAUL'S STORMY SOUL finds a quiet anchorage in his little adopted daughter, Teddy (played by Winifred Wolfe). She has been in the family about a year, but has established herself firmly. She is really a cousin of Betty Carter, the girl friend of Jack ( played by Page Gilman). But everybody has forgotten that, so much a Barbour has she become. HENRY BARBOUR (played by I. Anthony Smythe) is a conscientious business man of moderate fortune. An idealist, a sentimentalist, firm in the conviction that a good father will have a good family. His greatest problem is trying to apply his oldfashioned conventional standards to his modern children. It is the ancient conflict between the old and the new, and as usual that younger generation seems somehow to get its way. Clifford Barbour left the University to enter his father's securities firm. Although a happygo-lucky sort, he has taken naturally to business. Girls—yes, he takes to them naturally, too. But, at the first hint of a permanent relationship he's off to another. That is, until he met Marion Galloway. Nobody in the family knows her but his father. And at last, from his looks, he is ready to take a girl seriously—with Claudia like a good twin consoling him. THE fact that millions share their private lives I when they're the Barbours on the air doesn't' mean, naturally, that they lack private private lives which are shared only by a few . . . J. ANTHONY SMYTHE ( Henry Barbour) was born in San Francisco. He played with Florence Reed in " Magda" and " The Second Mrs. Tanqueray" — in fact, played 1200 leading- man roles before he returned from roving to his native California. And here's the pay-off — he's a bachelor. MINETTA ELLEN ( Mrs. Barbour) was born in Cleveland. Her travels have been so far and wide, and her sympathies and scoldings for lonely folk so generously bestowed around the world, that her personal mail is almost as great as her vast "fan" mail. MICHAEL RAFFETTO ( Paul Barbour) was born in Placerville, Calif. Educated to be a lawyer. Diction coach to Hollywood luminaries when fate tossed them from silence into the talkies. Then creative ability plus a grand speaking voice brought him into radio — first as a writer, then as an actor. BERNICE BERWIN ( Hazel Barbour) is the wife of A. Brooks Berlin, San Francisco attorney, and the mother of a sturdy baby son. Since 1928, she has starred in radio productions, and has written a number of them herself. KATHLEEN WILSON ( Claudia Barbour) one-time woman fencing champion of the University of California, one-time companion of her father in his campaigns with Ramsay MacDonald for the British Labor Party, one-time dancer with Ruth St. Denis, is even now only 23 years old. BARTON YARBOROUGH ( Clifford Barbour) wab born in Goldthwaite, Texas. He was 17 when he ran away from home. From vaudeville to playing in " Outward Bound" with Sir Gerald du Maurier. Then to parts with Eva Le Gallienne, May Robson, Robert Edeson. PAGE GILMAN ( Jack Barbour) has only turned seventeen. But he's a Microphone Veteran of eight years' standing. One of the original airmen, you might say. He's been Billy Smithers, he's been Penrod, he's been many another. WINIFRED WOLFE ( Teddy) really is 12 years old. Presidio Junior High School, San Francisco, Class 7B. She writes poems to her mother, because she hopes to be a writer some day, and because she loves her mother.

Why do people have to post their about their loved up love on Social Media when a month later, they're beating each other up. Who is she trying to convince?

My other thought was to bring Reg back from the dead with Denise Alexander as his wife Marissa, who had no idea of his real identity and has to deal with this revelation. She would not be Mary. Marissa would be torn b/c Reg lied to her. She could have a son by Reg or a son Reg brought up as his own. Mother and son move to Bay City. The son 'Scott' might get involved with Nancy.

In my AW 'bible' Reg and Mary didn't happen. Two back from the deads and an amnesia that really didn't have any long term effect didn't warrant inclusion for me. I did think about Reg faking his death for whatever reason and coming back, but he wouldn't have been the moustache twirling villian we saw. So my question is, who would you have had Denise Alexander play in 86? She was 47 at the time. Is there a past character she could have played? If not , who would you create that would have fitted into the canvas at the time and provided an outlet for her talents?

Yes, some character relationships still need to be explored. Maybe the first month should have more of those scenes and leave Ashley/Derek out of it completely. Then in the second month Ashley could be introduced through her friend Naomi, who viewers now know clearly. As for making Ashley a nurse and using the hospital set, it is a bit of a puzzle to me. Sure Ted and Nicole work there but she is a psychiatrist and he's a plastic surgeon. Why would there offices be in the same area as the general admissions? There's no traditional soap doctor working alongside Ashley. Or is Vanessa's husband working at the hospital? Has he been seen there? Maybe Ashley should have been in real estate working alongside Vaness. The real estate office set could have been used and it would give Ashley more interaction with the wealthy Fairmontians. And Andre could be doing real estate photography, thus bringing him into regular contact with Ashley. And Derek could feel out of place in the new world Ashley is embracing.

Not to bore you further with my story ideas, but I had Vince and Maisie marry and become the working class tentpole couple, with Maisie's past as a venue to provide story if and when needed. Thom would return, her teen marriage to Carter over as he had an affair. Carter returns to sort out the divorce, only to find that his new love is no longer interested and Carter is alone. he tries to make it up to Thom but she is unforgiving. Thom and son move in with newlyweds Quinn and Reece, who is not happy sharing his marital home with his step daughter and her child. Carter and Ben establish a gym, with healthy eatery/juice bar which would be a meeting point for characters.

Just finished Fri. Daphne shines in every scene, such a good actress. The kids are not bad and even Martin seems to be improving. Bill is another who stands out for me-Timon seems to have a handle on his character. I prefer Vanessa straight rather than comedic, but the gambling story seems a little by the numbers. I would like to see some background music to enhance the scene-the lack of it makes things feel a little stagey. i know there's a lot of love for Kat round here, but I'm not really feeling it.

It's always strange when shows dip into history but make odd choices eg Julia Shearer, the never mentioned adopted daughter of Susan. They had Ricky Matthews, a possible daughter of Russ and Sam's daughter Susannah (Ada's niece) waiting in the wings as new young characters, but chose to do a rewrite. Same on Search when Sarah Whiting, Patti's never mentioned adopted daughter arrived, when her actual daughter Tracey could have been SORASED.

Anita looks like she's about to go on stage in Vegas and Vern is giving Grandpa on Sunday afternoon.

Thanks for filling in blanks re Chris. So maybe an average of one appearance a month? Thank goodness they wisely decided to bring back Nancy. I still recall her one off appearance at Tom and Margo's wedding(in location scenes only?) I wonder how that came about? Perhaps Helen was asked back repeatedly and refused? Maybe it was only recurring and she held out for a contract?

Thanks @DRW50 In my story Mike fell for Sara who was on the outs with Ben over Paulina . Ben was in a car accident arguing with Paulina and guiltily married her on her deathbed. Paulina appeared to have died and Ben fled the hospital. But they found a pulse and Paulina made a miraculous recovery and Ben found himself married. Paulina was recovering and Ben couldn't divorce her during this. Paulina used this to her advantage. Sara was distraught and Mike moved in, but realized Sara's heart belonged to Ben. So Mike began wooing Paulina to draw her away from Ben who deep down she knew really loved Sara and not her. So she began a relationship with Mike and he began to have genuine feelings for her, Paulina gave Ben a divorce but then found our Mike pursued her only for Sara's sake. She wouldn't believe Mike now genuinely cared for her. Pat returned from time to time to visit Mike, Liz etc. Ben and Sara finally married. Quinn got involved with Reece, Michael's business partner, but he was a bit of a player and Quinn wasn't sure she could trust him. She found herself attracted to Dennis, who as he had done with Elena, fell for an older woman. Iris was aghast about the age difference and the inter racial aspect. Eventually Quinn married Reece and Dennis turned to Vicky. Iris had a fling with Mitch, but he was hot for Pam. That kept Rachel in the mix. Iris also tried with Michael which put her up against Donna. Then Russ returned and Iris had to battle a now widowed Felicia for her one time fiance's attention.

Thanks. I actually set myself the challenge of writing outlines from 86 onwards. Taking over at the time DePriest was headwriter. Some of my plots: Pam and Gerald Davis return. Rachel has to deal with her father and half sister back in her life. Pam is in cahoots with a character I named Ryan. Ryan is invalid Geralds nurse/companion. He and Pam are scheming to inherit Gerald's money- he turned his life around. But Pam grows close to Rachel and no longer wants to be apart of the scheme but is forced to marry him. She falls for Mitch and tries to extricate herself. Zane doesn't die immediately. Instead he faces prostate cancer and he and Felicia battle together. Later Zane dies in an accident. Dennis and Iris return. Dennis falls for Vicky much to Iris' dismay and they marry. But when Jake returns sans Marley, Vicky and Jake have a ONS and Vicky is pregnant with Jake's baby. Donna recommends an abortion and Vicky agrees but is in a car accident on the way. At the hospital the doctor tells a delighted Dennis his wife is pregnant and she is forced to go along with the lie, especially when Jake tells her Marley is returning and they are going to rebuild their marriage. Vivien returns with Iris and has a romance with Wallingford. Ben McKinnon returns and gets involved with Vicky (prior to Dennis) His world is turned upside down when a baby is left on the doorstep and Ben realizes this is his son by a woman named Paulina. vicky breaks up with him as she doesn't want to be a surrogate mother to Ben's son. The McKinnons rally around and support Ben as a single father. Ben falls in love with a sweet girl named Sara but Paulina arrives to claim her child and Ben. Jamie is back (not as a doctor) working for Cory. He explores his past romances with Nicole and MJ. But MJ is falling for her cop partner Matt. Trouble is he's married (separated) Matt's wife Joanne pleads with MJ to step aside to give the marriage a chance -they have a son Adam. MJ does so and gets involved with Jamie, agreeing to marry him. This is after Nicole and he break up over her sordid past in NY. But Matt pleads with MJ not to go ahead with the wedding, saying he's tried his best in his marriage but it's MJ he loves. She calls off the wedding at the church, incurring Jamie and Rachel's wrath. Joanne is bitter and begins to stalk MJ, eventually framing Matt for her death. Matt finds out she had mental health issues before he met her. Matt is cleared and ready to marry MJ. However, he had a vasectomy to stop Joanne trapping him with another child. Joanne's mother Lorna disappears with Adam and Matt and MJ begin a fruitless search to track them down. Michael and Donna face a rocky road when his ex flame Joel arrives and says she will marry him( he proposed shortly before he came to Bay City) Michael has to extricate himself from Joel, who stays in Bay City. After a few failed romances, she decides to become a single mother. When Cass returns solo, she seduces him and gets pregnant. Kathleen and Cass re-unite with neither of them aware Cass is going to be a father. Cory Ewing and Amanda Cory are the new teen characters at some point. Sam Lucas(now widowed) returns and leaves his daughter Jenna with Ada. A Cory/Amanda/Jenna triangle ensues. At some point Liz and Ricky return along with Mike Randolph, Russ and his daughter, Just a few of my ideas.

Wally Curtin could have been brought back as the go to lawyer in a little nod to history as Marland brought on Carter Bowden on GL as the son of 60's character Alex Bowden. Ricky Matthews, not a blood Matthews but brought up as Bill's son. Had I been in charge in the mid 80's the Matthews family would have been invigorated with Mike Randolph, Ricky, Russ' child to lead the way. Pat and Liz as matriarchs.

I wonder how may episodes Don got once he went recurring? Did he even manage one a month? The writers didn't seem to be too interested in giving Chris scenes, even when he could have been included. When Nancy came back in 85 was she on contract? I imagine Helen Wagner would have insisted. But did Don go contract? I think not as he seemed to be quite ill in scenes from that time? Does anyone know if he was seen much in scenes outside of Nancy's initial return and the wedding/anniversary episodes?

I think this is a budget issue. Short scenes can be taped quickly as actors don't have a lot of dialogue to deal with. A longer scene usually involves more camera movement as actors move around the set. That requires more planning and rehearsal and the possibility of someone flubbing their lines or moving the wrong way is increased, and retakes might be necessary which costs time/money. Aren't they taping like 8 episodes a week in a limited time frame? And I don't think Peacock are flush with $$$ to throw at Days. And I'll repeat my agreement. Look back at 70's Days. Compelling character based stories played on limited sets. Most of those stories could be told today with some tweaks. Throw in a few more 'out there' elements and Days would be in better shape.

Was Joe Stuart still ep of Loving when JC was cast as Diane? We're they still involved at that point or was it possibly a role gifted by Joe as a favour to Jacquie? Was she still actively pursuing roles in the 80's? If so it's crazy that another soap didn't cast her. I know roles for 'older' actresses were drying up at that time but she had proven popularity. SFT, GL or ATWT could have found something for her.

Well it is show BUSINESS. He had a contract with a 13 week option and it was used. Very disappointing for him and viewers but he most likely will not be the only actor dropped over time. Best to ride high and move on.