Saturday, November 24 1990

Babbin's innovations have made 'Loving' fun BY CONNIE PASSALACQUA

The three lowest rated soaps - ABCs "Loving,: NBC's "Generations" and NBC's "Santa Barbara'' - have fought back with substantial revamping this year. Of the three, "Loving" has, well ... done the loveliest. "Loving" s rebounding in quality must be credited to producer Jacqueline Babbin, who was hired last June. Babbin, a producer with 40 years of TV experience, made her soap opera mark as the producer of the humorous and topical "All My Children" from 1982-86. Babbin's own personality - salty, savvy and funny - was the perfect antidote for bland "Loving*" and we mean bland! In fact, watching Babbin play with the show has been an education in itself for us armchair soap "producers." Babbin's first move was to spice up the cast by hiring an interesting group of backdrop noncontract players .Lonny Price prosecuted Stacey Forbes (Lauren-Mane Taylor) for murder this summer, but the culprit turned out to be minor-character Denny, played by a popeyed character actor named Walter Bobbie. Now, Bobbie is back on the show as Denny's brother Wally!

Instead of firing bland actors who play major good-guy characters, Babbin has made an original move by doubling them up in scenes -a cunning way to use up the actors' number of contractually guaranteed weekly appearances! Thus, whenever you saw Perry Stephens (as longtime hero Jack Forbes) this summer, be was most likely in a scene with Bob Dubac (the thinking woman's heartthrob, who plays ultra-good Alec Masters).

The show's two central heroines, Stacey Forbes and Tricia McKenzie (Taylor and Noelle Beck) have been similarly paired. These characters also have been spiced up to reflect the fire in both actresses' real personalities. Moved to center stage have been the boisterous Gwyneth Alden (Elizabeth Savage) and loony Norma (Ilene Kristeo, who formerly played Delia on "Ryan's Hope"). Also slotted for center stage has been nightclub sleaze Paul Slavinsky (Joseph Breen). As a counterpoint to the offbeat, "Loving" has resurrected the whitest of its white-bread heroines. Shana Sloan Donovan (Susan Keith). But this time Shana s brain has been showcased. She masterminded the defense at Stacey's trial. and since Shana's husband and baby were killed off in a suspicious plane crash, she has become a crusader for victims' rights.

Thanks @Paul Raven I had never considered the whole pairing aspect. I wonder if that was intended. I too think Robert Dubac was attractive, although I never knew anyone else did. Alex being detailed as a "good guy" tells you just how rapidly the show had altered him with the real Clay returned. Dubac was so different from Mantooth though, I'm not surprised the show lost interest in the character. I wish we knew who else tried out for the recast.

I think this is Lauren Marie Taylor.

It is, lol.

Having praised Jackie Babbin, Connie is now going to bat for Haidee Granger

The Palladium-Times. Wednesday. May 19. 1993

'Loving' peps up BY CONNIE PASSALACQUA

A s the traditionally colorless, personalityless "Loving" journeys toward its 10th anniversary next month, something near-miraculous is happening under executive producer Haidee Granger, "Loving" suddenly seems colorized. Under Granger, who took over last summer. Loving" now has incredibly rich looking sets. In fact, the glass bubble church in which Trisha (formerly played by Noelle Beck) and Trucker (played by Robert Tyler) were remarried looked to be one of the most expensive soap sets eve. "Loving"s new music is also rich, seeming to swell up out of nowhere in every scene Thanks to the new production values, Corinth finally looks and sounds like a three-dimensional town.

It has only been in the last few months, however, that Granger has hit story-line pay dirt-Former head writer Millee Taggart returned with a new love triangle, which, to put it mildly, is hot. Former prig Shana (played by Susan Keith) is now in her late 30s, and, natch, her biological clock is ticking. To father her child, she asked department store magnate Leo Burnell (played by James Carroll) to spend a night with her, after which-only on soaps, Leo fell in love with her. But Leo has also long been in love with the impetuous Ava (Lisa Peluso)

As written by Taggart. the love triangle is full of humor. Humor ... on "Loving" Yes! Peluso, under normal circumstances can be incredibly whiny is a deft comedian. Even Keith, who has always played Sturm und Drang heroines on soaps (including One Life to Live" and "Another World"), is exposing her funny bone In his first important soap role Carroll is a rarity - a 30ish leading man with fresh charm. The whole story line has been an unexpected delight. Unfortunately, the rest of "Loving" is dull by comparison.

2 hours ago, Paul Raven said:

As written by Taggart. the love triangle is full of humor. Humor ... on "Loving" Yes! Peluso, under normal circumstances can be incredibly whiny is a deft comedian. Even Keith, who has always played Sturm und Drang heroines on soaps (including One Life to Live" and "Another World"), is exposing her funny bone In his first important soap role Carroll is a rarity - a 30ish leading man with fresh charm. The whole story line has been an unexpected delight. Unfortunately, the rest of "Loving" is dull by comparison.

That is how Keith started on AW but her last year or two had Cecile as a hellbitch, and she was fantastic. I wonder how many just remembered Nancy Frangione's Cecile as having a personality. Loving just never wanted to go that far with Shana.

I'd be curious if others feel that story was the best part of Loving at this time (clearly incoming writers/producers did not).

Edited yesterday at 06:38 AM1 day by DRW50

19 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

That is how Keith started on AW but her last year or two had Cecile as a hellbitch, and she was fantastic. I wonder how many just remembered Nancy Frangione's Cecile as having a personality. Loving just never wanted to go that far with Shana.

I'd be curious if others feel that story was the best part of Loving at this time (clearly incoming writers/producers did not).

Keith was very good as a nssty little snipe on AW, especially the change in her character. Frangione picked it up and was given the opportunity to take it further.

Do you remember if there was a main catalyst for the change in Keith's Cecile? I might be remembering it wrong but I seem to remember something resembling marital rape with Jamie Frame. Of course Philip didn't help.

13 minutes ago, Stevel said:

Keith was very good as a nssty little snipe on AW, especially the change in her character. Frangione picked it up and was given the opportunity to take it further.

Do you remember if there was a main catalyst for the change in Keith's Cecile? I might be remembering it wrong but I seem to remember something resembling marital rape with Jamie Frame. Of course Philip didn't help.

I believe it was learning Philip had been paid by Iris to break up her relationship and get engaged to her, although I may be wrong.

Laura Wright shared a throwback pic of her first day on Loving on her Instagram stories.

Anyone else remember when LW (then Laura Sisk) did an interview on "Good Morning America" shortly after debuting on LOVING? IIRC, that might have been the first time I heard she was "discovered" while pumping gas or whatever, lol.

On 6/21/2026 at 12:28 AM, DRW50 said:

@EricMontreal22 The mention of Schemering's praise for 1984 makes me even more disappointed so little of the year exists. Someone just put the closing credits for a 1984 episode on Youtube but of course no episode. I can't say I have been blown away by what is available from 1985 but I'd be curious to how different 1984 may or may not feel.

@DRW50 The Italian channel is up to March 1984. Hopefully they post more! It's surprisingly easy to get used to the captions.

I've been watching those along with the other channel we've been blessed with and boy do I have thoughts. The 83-84 episodes seem smoother than well...anything after. They flow naturally and while there aren't many omg moments, they are still entertaining. It's so weird to see Chris Marcantel because I've only seen him in the 90s eps. Him and Lorna conspiring together is fun. Later, like 85 and beyond, Lorna's venom seems directionless. So it's nice seeing her being entertaining. I prefer this Ann to Callan White. And the big story is around Lily of course. I assumed the viewers knew from the beginning about the abuse, but it's actually a slower burn. Her Dad is super controlling, and jealous of Jack. Her mom is an alcoholic who herself is physically abused by Garth. She doesn't do much to help Lily even though she knows. What surprised me is once she gets sober, she's way more proactive in helping Lily. Lily and her alternate personality Trista date both Jack and Curtis, which is fun, but disturbing too. Jack and Lily are obviously the couple to root for from the beginning. Stacy is their best friend and #1 team Jack and Lily...sometimes I think there are undertones that she has feelings for Jack.

And then of course ABC pulls the plug on the incest story. And Lily leaves. What soap opera writes off their original heroine after seven months?! I guess that's the start of Loving's questionable decisions. Even if they stopped the incest story, they could have kept Lily and integrated her personalities so she's a good girl with an edge.

Is that why Marland got pissed off and left? I always thought he left because he couldn't handle Agnes. Or maybe the low ratings.

His name is still in the credits as HW until mid 85. But the show is soo different. I wonder if he was gone already but they had to keep paying him contractually or because maybe they were still pulling from his bible or story projections.

Edited 57 minutes ago57 min by vote4llama
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