Santa Barbara Discussion Thread

[Liberty City]

Dane Witherspoon was fired following a disagreement with producers not his acting.

[Jdee43]

I'm up to episode 109 (12/28/84) in my rewatch. It's amazing what a non-entity Cruz has been in the 1984 episodes. He wasn't even in any of the Christmas episodes. With Ava and Dane off the show, he's lucky he had chemistry with Eden, otherwise there doesn't seem to be much for him to do.

He hasn't had much of a story in 1984. I guess they were planning for an action story with him and Dane, involving Russian spies and submarines, but with Dane fired, that storyline seems to have been dropped. Cruz doesn't have much interaction with the recast Joe. 

[Wendy]

Nancy Lee Grahn will be reuniting [again!] with Lane Davies on General Hospital.

[Errol]

I finally went to Santa Barbara for the first time recently. It was a very cold and chilly place when you add the wind and the ocean. That alone would have caused drama in my life, let alone a full soap opera.

[j swift]

The weather is less windy and foggy up in Montecito rather than in downtown SB. That's where Oprah, Prince Harry, and presumably the Capwell mansion would have been.

But, as you could see, it's no place for an oil rig or a floating casino.

[Jdee43]

In a few interviews, A Martinez has said that the producers, encouraged by Jill Farren Phelps, gave him and Marcy three episodes to show that they had the chemistry to be paired. He and Marcy worked together on their performance, and one of the things they wanted to do was get on the ground. I guess A Martinez was talking about episodes 109-111. Of the three, the third episode stands out, episode 111 from 1/2/85. It's the only time they get on the ground. It's thanks to Cruz tackling her, trying to get something she stole from him. In the episode, Cruz gets to push her, manhandle her, twist her wrist, call her names, kiss her, and treat her like crap after. I guess this is what the producers needed to see to be sold on the pairing..

Interesting start for the show's signature couple. Also interesting is that the couple had a precursor. The producers wanted to tell a story about a blonde woman and a Hispanic male from the very beginning. One of the early print ads for the show was Jade and Danny kissing. Jade and Danny never took off, a casualty of bad acting and the poor teen storylines. Obviously, the producers still wanted to do this story; with their deciding to do it with Cruz and Eden, Jade and Danny get dumped. The last time their story is featured is episode 110 (12/31/84).  

Edited May 12, 2024 by Jdee43

[NothinButAttitude]

[Khan]

I hate to be that guy, BUT... it was "If Ever You're in My Arms Again," not "Whenever You're in My Arms."

[Keri]

The scuba diving scenes with Eden and Cruz were much better than the ones in the office where he wrestled her to the ground.

[kalbir]

JFP was EP from 1987-1990, that overlaps w/ Santa Barbara Daytime Emmy peak years 1988-1990. Was there block voting?

These are Santa Barbara Emmy results in the main acting categories.

Winners

Justin Deas: Supporting Actor 1988, 1989 (also nominated 1987)

Marcy Walker: Lead Actress 1989 (also nominated 1987, 1988)

Nancy Lee Grahn: Supporting Actress 1989

Justin Gocke: Younger Actor 1989 (also nominated 1991)

A Martinez: Lead Actor 1990 (also nominated 1987-1989, 1991-1993)

Henry Darrow: Supporting Actor 1990

Nominees

Nicolas Coster: Lead Actor 1986; Supporting Actor 1988; Lead Actor 1991, 1992

Dame Judith Anderson: Supporting Actress 1986

Robin Wright: Younger Actress 1986-1988

Richard Eden: Supporting Actor 1987

Robin Mattson: Supporting Actress 1987-1989

Ross Kettle: Younger Actor 1988

Roscoe Born: Supporting Actor 1990

Sydney Penny: Younger Actress 1993

[1974mdp]

Watching the early episodes which I may have seen, but I was too young to remember most of it. M(B)R was soooooo green on SB. She must have take more acting lessons, classes before heading to DAYS. I actually found the guy who played Danny to be kind of entertaining, and he seemed to have a knack for playing the comedy parts. I think when Santana #1 and Rueben disappeared they sort of gave up on the Danny character, too.

In an early episode, Rueben has a conversation with Cruz and mentions that he and Rosa had two other daughters. I think one may have been named Gabriela, but they were never mentioned again.

 

 

[Jdee43]

As a young kid watching, I always thought Marcy Walker and A Martinez were the same age. I had no idea she was in her mid to late 20s on this show, and that there was a 13 year age difference between her and A! They did a great job making her seem older!

The show is definitely more watchable in January 1985! Finally there are real stakes, real drama, and real pay-offs! 

Poor Peter! Just as his being a gigolo came out of the nowhere, so his turning into a serial killer. There is no setup or preparation. After being off for 2 weeks, he finally reappears on episode 114 (1/7/84) with his doctor telling him his injuries might have affected his brain. He then starts to acts all strange, as he has never acted before. It's pretty obvious the writing has changed, but at least it's changed in a more interesting direction!

It's interesting, being on the air for 6 months, there are no contract cast members who are police officers or doctors! How many soaps can you say that about? It almost seems like an oversight, especially with there being no police! Here the show has a long time murder mystery and a new serial killing spree, and those investigating it are no names!

[Marissa Gallant]

I'm currently rewatching CC's coma. Eden is driving me insane! Yeah, idjit, literally to some random new guy that you met a week ago instead of the man you love. Makes sense. Honestly, at this point in the show, Cruz deserves better. Lucky she comes around.

And she is SO SO whiney.

[Liberty City]

34 years ago today, the remodeled Capwell mansion debuted.

[janea4old]

cross-posting this on the "Where are they now" and Santa Barbara threads...
For event to occur June 2, 2024

https://www.instagram.com/p/C7Zo6fFJRmN/
 

May 25, 2024
abonemartinez (A Martinez)
Last year I saw my brother Lane Davies play King Lear in Los Angeles. His performance was so astonishing that I went back a few days later to watch him do it again. Afterwards he sat around with some fans who'd journeyed far to see him inhabit this iconic role, and he spoke of the experience for a generously long amount of time –– even though he was very tired. Lane is a truly wonderful actor, and a stellar human being. Next Sunday a couple of his fellow travelers –– me and the legendary Maurice Benard –– are gonna hop on Zoom for a couple of hours to talk about the work and raise money for Lane's theatre company to do more Shakespeare! (There may be some surprise guests as well...) This is a labor of love for each of us –– should be a lot of good feels and a lot of good fun –– and I hope you'll join us if you can. #thebrothersyoufind
 

__________________
If you scan the code at the bottom of the instagram image, it leads to this link to donate for the zoom:
https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=9F82DN27DTHL6 

Benefit for this theatre company in Georgia where Lane Davies lives 
https://conasaugashakespeare.com/ 
 

Edited May 26, 2024 by janea4old