Contessa Donatella

Whoa. WOW. 😵 Lovin' it. I still am having a lovely stunned moment at the connection between GH's James Patrick Stuart & the '60s duo Chad & Jeremy.

She is one of my first handful of favorites! So soon to be Susan Hunter Martin. I used to say her name over & over again. Sing-song.

I'm sorry but do you mean at an earlier date? Besides refusing to sell Another World the whole show or the character of Felicia Gallant when then head at ABC Daytime, Angela Shapiro, made offers in 1999, they could not come to any deal for it, or for a partnership in Another World with FOX TV who wanted their own lineup of daytime soaps; with Columbia Tri-Star which owned part of Days of our Lives, most of The Young & the Restless (and SoapCity when later that came into being, Columbia Tri-Star had previously been Screen Gems & later would become Sony.); a company that would later become part of Viacom; and a company that would later become part of Paramount. Another World had ample suitors. I'm flabbergasted & shocked & amazed. I thought they had balked at every single offer that was made to them. I could never understand how they valued their products so highly when in the company of other possible venues but did not invest in their shows themselves. I was equally scandalized when I learned that Mary-Ellis Bunim tried to get rid of Jo aka Mary Stuart at SFT! Jo was SEARCH.

Eden's Rape, SB, Laura's Rape, GH After Eden's extremely violent rape by a man in a mask, in her own home, in her shower, where she almost lost her life to drowning, Eden, was reaching out to other survivors. She told her husband, Cruz, about this couple, Linc & Laurie, lovers on "General Clinic." Their producer "Betty Bonty" was mentioned. Eden brought reality to the table while they brought "Romeo & Juliet." The L&L rape, on the campus disco dance floor, with lights flashing, with Herb Alpert's "Rise" pounding through the speakers, presented the pattern of the emotionally tortured hero raping the woman that he loves out of passion and pain. To be the supercouple demanded of them that they deny the rape. (Her Stories, Levine, 245) Pt1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e3drGqi4zk&t=33s Pt2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_wQJfwH_uA Santa Barbara's 1st of 3 Consecutive Daytime Emmys for Best Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW9vAa6fTnU Soap. Color. Hour. July 30 1984 – January 15 1993 created by Bridget and Jerome Dobson. Production Company Dobson Productions. NBC. Executive Producers: Jerome and Bridget Dobson; Jeffrey Hayden; Charles Pratt, Sr.; Mary-Ellis Bunim. Headwriters: Jerome and Bridget Dobson; Anne Howard Bailey. Producers: Steven Kent; Jill Farren Phelps; Leonard Friedlander; Directors: Gordon Rigsby; Norman Hall; Rick Bennewitz; John Sedwick; Gary Bowen; Andrew Weyman; Dennis Steinmetz. (2,137 episodes) The biggest controversy arose in 1987 when NBC took creative control away from the show’s producers, Jerome and Bridget Dobson, who spent three years trying to get it back. (Robin Wright left SANTA BARBARA for an extended period of time to play the lead of “Buttercup” in THE PRINCESS BRIDE. She was chosen by William Goldman, Rob Reiner and Cary Elwes out of thousands of ingenues. NBC penalized her by making her do without money she could have made off of it. She is remembered to this day as “Buttercup” in that cult classic. NBC also made her “pay back” in time she played “Kelly Capwell” more than one for one.) There was an occasion while the Dobsons were being locked out of the studio when they won their first (of three consecutive Daytime Emmys for Best Show) and Bridget made it to the podium and began a gracious acceptance speech, while Jill Farren Phelps stood to her left looking glum. That’s because she was the Interim Executive Producer and was thinking she should have been making that speech. Contrary to years of rumor, it was *not* a knock down- drag-out fight. It was just some decent “oneupmanship”. (The Dobsons had previously had a spectacularly successful writing career on GENERAL HOSPITAL in the early 1970s. Bridget was the daughter of Frank and Doris Hursley, creators of the show. After maintaining good ratings on that show the Dobsons were snatched up by Procter & Gamble to spruce up GUIDING LIGHT. (While at GL, they conceived of and wrote the Marital Rape by Roger of Holly. ) They worked wonders on that show for 5 years, then created miracles on AS THE WORLD TURNS, becoming the most sought after team of writers in daytime television.) Set in Santa Barbara, where the Dobsons used to live (except when they lived in Atlanta, Georgia) the drama traced the lives and loves of 4 families: the blue-blood Lockridges, the powerful Capwells, the middle-class Perkins, and the Andrades, a low-income Hispanic family. The serial opened with a party in 1979 where Channing Capwell, Jr. was murdered after an argument with his sister Kelly’s fiance` Joe Perkins. The scene jumped forward to an engagement party for Kelly and the opportunist Peter Flint in 1984 where it was learned that Joe Perkins, Capwell’s alleged killer, had been set free. The release caused havoc among the seaside community, particularly for Kelly Capwell, who was torn between Joe and her memory of Channing’s death. The show was taped in new $12 million production facilities in Burbank. In its premiere week the glamorous new soap about Beautiful Blonde People ran opposite ratings-grabbing Olympic games; with its first episode only receiving a 4.2 rating and 13 share. The Dobsons soon found their footing with two dazzling anti-heroes: Lionel Lockridge, whose roguish charm was exceeded only by his penchant for mischief, and the envious, cryptic Mason Capwell, whose ironic self-knowledge provided the city with a one-man greek chorus, commenting dryly on all the drawing-room intrigue. By 1987, this delicious black comedy had become a cult hit and the slowly rising ratings began to reflect that status. SANTA BARBARA was superbly romantic in its star-crossed love story of the WASPy Eden and the Hispanic Cruz. In a great erotic fast dance, Eden shook her blonde mane like a stoned-out Lady Godiva. It certainly was dramatic (the death of Mason’s “salvation,” Mary Duvall, proved to be an extremely unpopular event with viewers–probably the biggest boo-boo in the Dobsons’ career). “There is a slight bit of perversity in us. That’s me. That’s my husband. We’re ambivalent people. We always strive for purity and always miss.” There was the long-running romance of blonde Eden, a TV news anchor, and her dark handsome lover, lawman Cruz Castillo. He stayed with Eden until they wed in 1988. Also fascinating was Mason, a lush who felt his dad did not love him but who came up with plenty of comments on the goings-on around him, including his own troubled relationships with ex-nun Mary Duvall.) The manner of Mary’s death–a “C” from the rooftop of the Capwell hotel fell and crushed her–struck some viewers as blackly funny and some as an example of poor taste, and prompted many to speculate on its possible significance.) In 1988 the emergence of some weird alternate personalities. Among the latter was Mason’s other personality Sonny Sprockett, whom his girlfriend attorney Julia Wainwright, found living in Las Vegas, and Bunny Tigliatti, a transvestite involved with the mob who rented all of Gina’s rooms when Gina made the former Lockridge mansion into a bed-and-breakfast. Dr. Zack Kelton was the “Video Rapist” who attacked several women including Eden. Mason and Julia had some ups and downs due to his personality problems. (Their portrayers, Nancy Lynn Grahn and Lane Davies dated & were said to have broken up over disagreements about Mason & Julia.) Julia dated environmentalist Dash Nichols. The love between Julia and Mason and between Eden and Cruz was about the only constant. In 1990 the Dobsons having regained control of the show, returned to make sense of the mess. NBC kicked the Dobsons out again early 1992 as it became the lowest rated soap. In October 1992 NBC announced its cancellation despite its continuing international popularity. The show aired in 48 countries. The final shot was of executive producer Paul Rauch stepping into the spotlight on a bare soundstage and rubbing out his cigarette butt.

Paul Rauch was EP at GL at the time when CBS insisted that the show dramatize a story about a clone being made of the heroine Reva Shayne. Rauch let it be known that this was a mistake since GL was known for being about families & a character-driven drama. He thought that other shows could pull it off but not this show. In fact, the network persisted & against all who were against the idea, did a story of a clone, a serum to rapid age her since Josh had no interest in a child Reva, and a dismal maudlin story when Reva returns & Dolly the clone realizes she really isn't wanted & wants to end her life. Rauch thought that GL never got past this misstep. Rauch thought this was a good example of what happens when executive pressures win out over creative persons. Among other things he thought it created a lack of focus to get so far away from its roots. (Donna adds that fans for ages had thought that PR pushed the idea of the clone because of his involvement with some stories at OLTL when he was there. Fact was this time PR was on the side of the angels.)(Her Stories, Levine, pg. 213)

Renata Adler published a book of her essays & it began with mention of this sick suicide to frame someone, ... I did a write up of the whole chapter & here's the whole bit about this guy. Renata Adler is an American author, journalist, and film critic. Adler was a staff writer-reporter for The New Yorker, and in 1968–69, she served as chief film critic for The New York Times. She is also a writer of fiction who uses the pen name Brett Daniels. She was born October 19, 1938 in Milan, Italy. Her family fled Nazi Germany and later moved to America. She grew up in CT. CANARIES IN THE MINESHAFT: Essays on Politics and Media. by Renata Adler. St. Martin's Press. New York. © 2001. "Afternoon Television: Unhappiness Enough, and Time" "You have to tolerate extremes of hatred and loneliness to follow, Monday through Friday every week through a still unterminated period of months, the story of an educated man so bitter that he kills himself solely to frame another man for murder. Yet there is an audience of at least six million at two-thirty every afternoon New York time (other times across the country) prepared to watch this plot line, among other plot lines, develop on "The Doctors," a television program of the genre soap opera, or daytime dramatic serial." And, this is no joke. It is for fiction a single act of rage and isolation like this imploded revenge, a suicide caroming across the board. "This contriver of his own death to make it look like someone else's literal crime has, ... detonated incalculable threats in other lives." "The Doctors plays this all out". For all I know, this might happen all the time. But "The Doctors" has a special instance here. Now, no one writes high drama. But in a time of violent death, individuals in dire straits look tabloid. "Most fiction keeps its personal crises low profile and small; writers with serious claims upon the desperate dramatic themes seem to have crossed further out of tragedy and into melodrama than writers of soaps going the other way." The term 'pop culture, never of much use or elegance, is empty now. "There is almost no culture of any other kind." People with a taste or instinct for the arts are thrown back on the classics or must bide their time. "The arts, first-rate, second-rate (the creative enterprise is not a horse race, after all), are just not much in evidence."

Thank you. This is the first s/l I ever remember. I've always said that I began watching in 1968, which was admittedly a guess. Now I know that I actually began watching the summer of 1966. It's so odd that I don't remember any Julie before SSH when here's the proof that I saw another one 🤪 & that I should have recalled this one. Mostly my memory is of a swing moving. I just realized that I was just guessing when I began to follow first soaps because I'm too lazy to look it up. But, if it's somebody else I will go & look whatever it is up, when I won't do it for myself. Does that make me a sucker?! 😂

Well, I know I'm not too young! But, I enjoyed lots of the 2000s. I would have to pull out just about everything 2003 & 2004 & that's because that is the ConWest tenure, John Conboy EP 2002-2004 and Ellen Weston co-HW 2003 & 2004. I could draw a line through everything from Sandy, through the sock puppet, Maryanne Carruthers, Ben Reade as a sex worker & then suicide, Eden the madam, young adults tunneling, destroying the history & character integrity of 5 vets, and everything having to do with Marty West. Then I am a happy camper. I was not bowled over with the earthquake, mudslide & Life of Lorelei but I didn't hate them either. Later I loved Otalia, Jammy, etc. & Tammy's death was crushing.

I knew it! I'm so glad they let us know. 🥳

I believe Pete Lemay thought he was frequently ignored. I don't think he cared. It was just a trip to the bank! Being a storyline consultant probably differed compared to other kinds. Someone asked him if it wasn't a problem that he was such a character-driven guy but was hired by a very plot-driven type. He thought not, that they were just using him to cover their bases. I met a fellow at a Popular Culture con who had worked for NBC. He was frustrated that they knew nothing about statistics, that they were just flying by the seat of their pants. He tried to impress upon them that in anything they did where they had to have a set of questions, polling, surveying, panels, or focus groups was that the hardest thing to do, which was to come up with good valid questions that do not lead the answerer, is also the most important thing to do.

In the final days of GL I was as invested (wish there were another word) as I had been in the final days of AW. Yes, whether it's writing on the wall or graffiti on the cinder block, the message was clear & I just dug in. What else are claws for? I was still there for ATWT after but it wasn't the same thing. With GL I was wholly into Otalia, Jammy, Jilly, Wheeler & whoever was in the next scene. So, after I did my due diligence in Oakdale, I put away my soap watching, something I started in '68! Now I too struggle being a fan again. Why isn't it easy? I'm having success with GH; I'm failing with DOOL.

Okay, you will think I have lost my mind, but it can't be helped, it's Jannings with an a not Jennings with an e. I used to say his name over & over again like some sort of elocution practice, trying to get the soft a sound just perfect. I was in like with his name while I was busy being in lust with his gf played by Holly Gagnion just seen on GH as a newly recast Jennifer Smith.

That limited series was so totally good that it left me verklempt. I kid you not. I became a Michelle Williams fangrrl.

Thnx! And, he would have been good in it, but you're right, it was a stupid story!

Last month one day, I thought of something good about JFP. I was so tickled I wrote down on a list, "One more good thing about Jill!" Of course, I have hundreds of bad things to say about her. Having a new one, that meant I had 3 good. 1 is that there's a name she could name that she does not name. 2 is how she dealt with Zaslow. And, today I thought of a 3 & I was so excited until I forgot what the d*mn thought was! I'm furious. What good is a brain when it pulls this sh*t?! Usually when I can't think of a word or a name my brain lets me cool my heels for a day or two & then gives me the information. Not this time! #1 There is the name of someone who was involved in the murder of AW's Frankie Frame & Jill could name that name & perhaps ameliorate the blame that is heaped on her but Jill won't do that, she won't name that name. Probably it's the Writer & we know who that is. #2 Jill was the EP at OLTL & they took Zaslow in & gave him an ALS storyline for the character he played there in the past, David Rinaldi, and he used a computer to speak & an enabled wheelchair & the whole tech shebang & they let him do what he does - act, for a short while before his death. Obviously many people at ABC/OLTL were involved but only Jill could have spearheaded the effort, been the point man.

If Bubba Can Dance Someone said I had to hear this song, so I guess I did. "If I Loved You" from Carousel This is what I woke up hearing in my head. I don't even like Carousel.

NBC balked when P&G wanted to hire the Dobsons who were just then free from SB. Bridget & Jerome suggested that this might be because NBC wanted AW to fail since it wanted to get out of the sponsor-owned soap biz, eventually planning to replace AW with GEN. (Her Stories, Levine 212) NBC had renewed AW even though the ratings were shaky but they had canceled SB, which is where the Dobsons were coming from, approximately Jan. 1993. Peggy Sloane & Sam Ratcliffe were HWs at AW then. The Dobsons had twice before rescued P&G soaps, for GL & then for ATWT. I wonder can we imagine what it might have been like to have the Dobsons taking us on the ride at that time?

I wonder and I have friends who wonder, out loud, what's been going on with Tommy Eplin? He made a horror movie, got married & divorced with his second bride, got married to his third bride & had a child with her, ... Maybe moved to CA? Maybe sold cars - but that looked like another Tom Eplin. He played Jake McKinnon on AW & then also on ATWT. He was the romantic co-star to Ellen Wheeler, Anne Heche, Jensen Buchanan, Judi Evans & Lesli Kay. Would love to know whatever he is up to.

@ClassicSoapsFan Regarding Holly functioning as some sort of demented Pied Piper of Springfield Kidz thnx to B&E, given yours, mine, theirs, etc. reaction, just imagine Maureen Garret's reaction on getting that script. Probably you have already. When the last 4 to be canceled, were canceled, I wasn't watching DOOL or GH or Y&R or B&B so I just didn't pick up any soap, for awhile. Watching had become exhausting for me, too. I think it was the first time I was soap-less since I began following soaps in 1968.

I didn't see the start of this so do not know what the game is but I know one of these actors & the 2 roles he had & which he is better known for & what about the lesser known role is an interesting factoid in fan culture. I'll just go sit quietly.

Hated NuCarrie, mocked John/Romulous, had blocked out Hawk & now you've ruined it!, Mrs. Doubtfire, Faith & Tanner, groan. I really mostly recall making fun of the show which is never a good sign. Online fans can be so vicious when they're in the mode to ridicule. (And, so good at it, and I am including myself as being bad to do it.) Lessee, Kristen the character that cannot be recast but has been! :trumpet fanfare: What I think about BrendaAndSonny, that's one word, is that it was propaganda & they brainwashed everyone. We were like fuzzy little goslings & they imprinted on us & the very idea of BrendaAndSonny will forever seem somehow dreamy.

It was said that Paul, Rauch of course, said that it wasn't going to happen & everyone knew that it wasn't going to happen & that everyone knew why. Then, MADD made her statement. I was shocked, then delighted, to think that anyone had considered it & it warmed my heart that the Writers just immediately set to brainstorming it just as they would any other idea that had just been brought up. But, Rauch & MADD, the thought of them gets me mad all over again. I was trying to remember who had talked about this in that chat & could not so I looked it up. James Harmon Brown whose colleagues call him Jimmy. JER's colleagues call him Jimmy also. Maybe it's a thing. Grown men called by childhood nicknames.

Oh, see, we've got to a better place & even if not, we can laugh at it! In common, in like: WN, LR, RKK, VM I guess, DH, ED, ... It's okay that you don't like Crystal as a lot of us do & we've got her covered. They really did make it the Carly show. And, people used to whine her name, KerLEeeee, it would set my teeth on edge. Stacy is better at Susan than she is at Kristen, which is strange. I think it's a disservice to the character & the fans, just like having RS & LD stand in for Vivian for awhile. Not cool with that, not copasetic. I was fine with Cady McClain & I am prepared for a Hope recast. I don't know if anyone cares anymore that something could be a disservice to a character.

I think it's quite sad that Britt has Jason this much on her brain. I think Alexis is just better with men. She doesn't seem quite on center with women, being a girlfriend. She's okay with her daughters, fortunately. But, with both Finn & with Val yesterday, it was just so natural & close.