2008: The Directors and Writers Thread

[Y&RWorldTurner]

LOL! It was a great stand-alone episode and great for Ross and Blake fans, since Ross decided that he wanted Blake more than he wanted to be mayor of Springfield. Not to mention, it was wonderfully directed, I think by the great Bruce S. Barry (where is he now? I know Ellie fired him a few years back). I heard somewhere that the Ross/Blake romance or what it became was Lorriane Broderick's idea, wasn't Nancy on materinity leave for most of its execution? I know Broderick was specifically brought on to fill-in for Nancy, but she was kept on and eventually took Reilly's spot and stayed until the late summer of 93 or so. I know by the fall of 1993, it was just Nancy and Stephen as HW's. I heard Nancy announced her exit in January of 1994, which meant her material probably ended in March of 1994 or so.

Yep, it's what won Curlee and company that Emmy for Best Writing in 1993.

Not to mention, Santa Barbara won all 3 of its Outstanding Drama Series Emmy's by submitting episodes that were written Mulcahey.

He always did say or strongly hint that GL was his first love, out of all the show's he's written for.

That scene with Bridget at Maureen's grave breaks my heart every time. Yes, killing Mo was a long-term mistake, however no one can deny the powerful drama it brought to the show or the fact that Nancy and company WROTE THE HELL OUT OF IT. I've yet to see a death and funeral as good as that one.

[Dan]

You mean senator. You're fast-forwarding about ten years later lol.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

LOL! Yes, senator, damn, I forgot Ross has run for public office more than once.

[Toups]

Did he also write the breakdown because it would've been the BDW who came up with that stuff (or the HW since it was a stand alone episode).

When Maureen's funeral air?

Do yu know what they were?

[Dan]

Ya know, John's death last year on DAYS came pretty damn close. I must say. It actually reminded me of Nancy Curlee's writing.

I'm not quite sure when Curlee returned from maternity leave, but yes, it was mostly during her absense. It began around May-ish, culminating with the blackout episodes in late June. (My God those scenes were HOT. I almost can't believe they got away with it lol. But I get that it was pre-Janet Jackson prudism lol). Then, Holly found out about the affair August 3rd. But no clue if Curlee had returned by then.

[Dan]

I can't recall the exact date, but it was between January 13 and 15th 1993.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Mulcahey, along with Nancy Williams Watt, were Nancy and company's main AHW's, I believe. I think it was Mulcahey who wrote the breakdown, but Lorraine Broderick was given top-billing in terms of HW's for that episode. I wouldn't be surprised if JER helped her though.

Somewhere in early January of 1993. It was just Nancy, Stephen, and Lorraine then. Nancy was given top billing for it.

No

Some of the SB buffs might know though.

[Toups]

And since they won at the 1993 Emmys, the eligibility period didn't end at December 1992 (like it is now).

Do you know the 2nd episode submitted for the 93 emmys?

[Dan]

And Michael Conforti and (later) Wisner Washam.

Ya know whose dialogue I like too. Barbara Garshman. She was a part of the early 1993 lineup. She wrote a great episode right before Mo's death where Mo tells Vanessa about the affair.

According to Tom O'Neill's book, the eligibility period was between March 6, 1992 and February 5, 1993.

EDIT: The eligibility period only became synchronized in 1999.

[Toups]

Oh right....Ton O'Neill's book. I should add all the eligibility periods in the Emmy archive (though my copy only goes to 96-97). Thanks for the idea, Dan!

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Dan, do you know who wrote the episode where Roger comes to visit Maureen's grave all by himself? Damn, Michael Zaslow rocked the hell out of these scenes.

I found a transcript:

http://www.michaelzaslow.com/roger.htm

Roger: This is the first chance that I've had to come and say "goodbye" Maureen. I know you understand why I didn't come to the funeral. You were always trying to keep the peace and I seemed always to be breaking it somehow. You never judged me though, did you? You managed to find something worthwhile in me, something salvageable, even when I couldn't. This is gonna sound really crazy, but I used to picture what it would be like to live with you. You remember, of course you remember, that night of the Towers blackout, remember when we were trapped in the stairwell?

Roger: Did you know ... there was a moment when I had this uncontrollable impulse to just grab you and kiss you? I'm glad I didn't. You would not have received it well! It is so strange to me how all this developed between us, but your approval of me, your acceptance , came to matter to me so much. I can live with the hatred of all the burghers in this town, I can even relish it, but I never would've been able to stand yours.

Roger: Your generosity of spirit completely disarmed me Maureen. Thank you for liking me. It meant so much more to me than you knew. Things we never say when we have the chance, right?

Anyway, I hope you don't mind, but I'm gonna come visit every once in a while.

I surely am gonna miss you.

[Dan]

No I don't unfortunately. But I've been hoping someone would upload this to Youtube for a while now. I've only "seen" it through that transcript.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

I'm hoping it's uploaded soon as well. I loved the unlikely friendship between Roger and Maureen, she understood Roger in ways no one did. As Roger said, she was the only one who never judged him and took him for who he was.

We'll never see intelligent writing like that again, will we?

I don't know whether I should be glad or mad that Nancy Curlee refuses to make a return to soaps. On one hand I think the industry needs someone like her, on the other hand I wouldn't want this current climate of network micro-management to hinder her writing abilities. According to Sylph, she's only 50, not old at all and I assume her and Stephen's kids are grown. I just wonder if she's ever considering a comeback.

[Chris B]

I know this is so two pages ago, but I see people are back on the Tom Casiello to Y&R train. I am so sick of hearing this considering the man himself has said that HE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND Y&R! Why should he write for the show then? Because he's young? Because he's cute? Because he writes an interesting blog? Because he was a part of three highly successful writing teams led by true visionaries (HS, LML & DH)? Just explain it to me. Like I said before, if he joins the Y&R writing staff, he'll be a back just like all the others. He'd only be joining the show for a paycheck, not because he loves and understands the show. We need people that love Y&R and understand it's unique style and characters.

Here's a direct quote I hope everyone reads so hopefully we won't have to revisit this ridiculous subject again.

He's looked at as some soap messiah in the making, so listen to the man! He doesn't get Y&R and not every writer (no matter how good) can write every show. Diverting a bit, I do think Ron Carlivati is one of those writers who could fit on multiple soaps. His style is very similar to Douglas Marland, IMO, which would make him a perfect fit for ATWT. He seems to enjoy mining the history and nuances of characters to enhance new stories. That is a trait missing in most current HWs which could be useful. I just wouldn't put him on Y&R since he clearly isn't fond of diversity. That's the one thing he needs to work on.

[Dan]

To be fair to Casiello, he WAS writing during Latham hell. If the BTS gossip is to be believed, it's a wonder any of the writers (even Bell-era vets) could get a handle on the show.