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Love of Life Discussion Thread

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  • Member
16 minutes ago, Tisy-Lish said:

I was a big fan of Love of Life, especially during Claire Labine's run as head writer around 1974. But I've never enjoyed any of the audio soap operas that have been attempted. In my opinion, most have been poorly acted, poorly written, poorly produced, and poorly edited. Plus, very few produce more than a few episodes. They've seemed very amateurish to me. I hope there have been exceptions, but I haven't been lucky enough to hear any of those.

And who owns the rights to Love of Life? Wasn't the show owned by CBS for most of its run? Is it possible LOL is in the public domain at this point?

Some Dark Shadows audios have been well put together, but Big Finish is a bigger company.

American Home Products owned Love of Life and licensed it to CBS. I'm not sure if they ever sold it to CBS.

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  • Member
31 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

Some Dark Shadows audios have been well put together, but Big Finish is a bigger company.

American Home Products owned Love of Life and licensed it to CBS. I'm not sure if they ever sold it to CBS.

Thank you for the ownership information.

Oh course, the Big Finish Dark Shadows audio dramas have been very well done -- at least the few that I've listened to. But those were not continuing episodes presented as an online soap opera. They were, for the most part, individual stories produced as stand alones. And I agree, Big Finish is a larger company with lots of experience.

  • Member
27 minutes ago, Tisy-Lish said:

Thank you for the ownership information.

Oh course, the Big Finish Dark Shadows audio dramas have been very well done -- at least the few that I've listened to. But those were not continuing episodes presented as an online soap opera. They were, for the most part, individual stories produced as stand alones. And I agree, Big Finish is a larger company with lots of experience.

I agree most are not very good. I listened to a few episodes of one of their soaps, and it wasn't bad, but I hope more effort will be made here. If for no other reason than to help lay the groundwork for other soaps (if the P&G soaps are off limits, maybe Secret Storm).

  • Member
6 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

I agree most are not very good. I listened to a few episodes of one of their soaps, and it wasn't bad, but I hope more effort will be made here. If for no other reason than to help lay the groundwork for other soaps (if the P&G soaps are off limits, maybe Secret Storm).

I remember a text-based revival of Love of Life some years back that was really interesting and well-written. I recollect it started with the brutal murder of Meg Dale Hart Aleata. I don't recall who the writer was, but it's too bad they're not behind this revival.

Frankly, this news gives me pause. I recall that about 10 years ago, Hutchison wrote a text-based Knots Landing revival here on SON, where it was clear he was not completely familiar with the show's storylines or characters. I truly hope Hutchison and Andrus are true to Love of Life, its characters, and its stories.

  • Member
1 minute ago, robbwolff said:

I remember a text-based revival of Love of Life some years back that was really interesting and well-written. I recollect it started with the brutal murder of Meg Dale Hart Aleata. I don't recall who the writer was, but it's too bad they're not behind this revival.

Frankly, this news gives me pause. I recall that about 10 years ago, Hutchison wrote a text-based Knots Landing revival here on SON, where it was clear he was not completely familiar with the show's storylines or characters. I truly hope Hutchison and Andrus are true to Love of Life, its characters, and its stories.

I never knew about a text based LoL revival. I wish I'd read it.

I didn't know that about the Knots story. Hopefully since they are in a more professional place now they will make an effort...

  • Member
9 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

I never knew about a text based LoL revival. I wish I'd read it.

I didn't know that about the Knots story. Hopefully since they are in a more professional place now they will make an effort...

It was really good. There were even opening credits featuring the last theme song and then current photos of actors like Audrey Peters and Ron Harper. It's been a long time since I read it, but I want to say it focused on Ben Harper's daughters who were a modern-day version of Van and Meg.

  • Member

CBS purchased LOL and SS in 1969 I believe. However I also read that (at least with SS) the rights returned to AHP upon cancellation. Maybe someone can clarify.

  • Member

Holy cow. What a shocker.

  • Member

Wild I came here because of Parade’s rather misleading headline LOL

https://parade.com/news/47-years-after-its-finale-love-of-life-is-getting-a-digital-reboot

I did give Hutchinson’s and Thom Racina’s Forever and a Day a chance back in 2020 and 21, it was okay for what it was. I agree I wish they could be a bit more polished like Big Finish (my gosh I’ve enjoyed some of their Dr Who audios over the years) but hey I’ll give it a chance. I’m not mad at Hutchinson doing his thing.

  • Member

@DRW50 , I appreciate the tag. (I feel as if I am always saying that to you, LOL. But it's always true!)

@reallyhateskateonlost , thanks for announcing this good news in the first place!

Love of Life was never one of my best-loved soaps. It had many weak years, but when Claire Labine was writing the show in the 1970s, it really soared and was mesmerizing.

I also loved the Bill and Tess romance. Gene Bua was remarkably charismatic and appealing.

I'd move heaven and earth to set up sound/recording equipment in Bonnie Bartlett's home, if necessary, and have her record scenes as Vanessa, which could be edited into as many episodes as possible.

That would make the new radio version feel like home.

Maybe Ray Wise would agree to make a cameo.

Chandler Hill Harben as Ben Harper, Meg's son and Vanessa's nephew, would also be welcome.

I don't know who else is still with us.

They need to use the lovely Hagood Hardy theme music (in this video, starting at 1:40, too.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNIq4u3lkW4

  • Member

How about inviting Jerry Lacy to reprise his role as Rick Latimer -- if I'm not mistaken Rick was Love of Life's third longest running character. Is Lee Lawson still living? I believe Rick and Barbara Sterling were once married.

  • Member

Are these guys reviving Love of Life without even owning the rights to the show? Or have they licensed the rights? Or is Love of Life now in the public domain? Curious minds want to know...

  • Member
3 hours ago, Vee said:

Holy cow. What a shocker.

I'll say! Now, if someone would be kind enough to revive WTHI or LIAMST, lol.

  • Member

Lee Lawson passed away a few years ago.

  • Member
10 minutes ago, robbwolff said:

Lee Lawson passed away a few years ago.

Thank you.

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