Jump to content

The Doctors Discussion Thread


Recommended Posts

  • Members

Gil Gerard has the "hunk" factor but his acting is way below the usual standards of the show (although better than much of the acting on current soaps).  I never was interested in Alan the first time I watched him.  I hope I find him more interesting this time.  I'm not really looking forward to the 1974 stories.  I think things pick up (for me) in 1975 though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 5k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Members

I'm not as familiar with this show, so I have to know: why does Ann Larimer become psychotic and lock away Carolee in that mental ward?  I'm watching an episode from Nov. 1973 right now, and it appears as if the two are friendly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

 

From what I've collected from reading synopsis, it boils down to Ann wanting Steve for herself. Ann marries Steve and whisks him off on their honeymoon when Carolee returns and all is revealed. SOD synopsis declares that Ann runs off (possibly pregnant w/ Steve's child) and never heard from again. 

 

From watching the aired episodes now, she was brought to town by Mona to break up Steve/Carolee, but she wandered into Nick's orbit instead. I don't think the Ann going bonkers story doesn't happen until around 76/77. Again, from reading SOD synopsis, those years seem very interesting with the Dancy clan, Greta/Billy, etc. You can read synopsis here...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I can't imagine GC liked the 1973 story either.  Ann is basically a doormat for Nick right now.  I have no recollection of her from this time although I remember the other stories.  She and Nick leave together in late 1974/early 1975 (to find a cure for Ann's soap-opera disease), and when she returns alone she is after Steve.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

IDK, I just haven't been as impressed with the post-Lakin/Edelstein stuff as I'd hoped.  Too often, I find myself watching this-or-that character's dilemma and thinking, "This could be so quickly resolved if he/she weren't being SUCH an idiot."  And the less I say about Jimmy Lipton's clunky, exposition-heavy dialogue, the better.

 

But, hey, at least Gil Gerard's there now.  I just hope someone cures his phobia about wearing clothes.  Otherwise, it's gonna be strange watching Alan Stewart roam the halls of Hope Memorial wearing just a swimsuit.

Edited by Khan
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I've liked a lot of the Pollack's stuff...but I do agree it isn't as character driven as it was under lakin/Edelstein.

 

I will say that the Pollack' s could write a climax like no one else...and I think perhaps if lakin/Pollack's worked together...it would have been dynamite.

 

Who knew Gil Gerald was hot back then

Please register in order to view this content

 I'm most intrigued with how his wife will fit in.  She doesn't seem keen on Hope Memorial.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Thanks to @jam6242, more information from the Anthology era, including some cast information! 

 


"Unknown Title"   4/16/63

"Rev. Shafer must tell man he has failed police examination."

Chaplain Sam Shafer ...Fred J. Scollay

Man...Roy Poole

 

 

"A Single Tear"       5/28/63

Tommy Regan hurts his sister with a toy airplane, but doesn't shed a tear.

Tommy Regan...Larry Bleidner

Mrs. Regan...Joan Tompkins       GH, VL

Baby Regan...infant

Dr, Elizabeth Hayes...Margot Moser

 

"  A Penny For Your Doubts"    5/31/63

Nurse Jane Gibbs believes her malaria patient ex-serviceman Jim Burton is the killer police are looking for from a liquor store hold-up. Despite her feelings for him, she tells Chaplain Sam Shafer about her fears.

Nurse Jane Gibbs...Bonnie Jones

Jim Burton...Unknown

Chaplain Sam Shafer...Fred J. Scollay

 

 

"The Faint Heart Never Wins"   6/6/63

 

Al Finelli...Michael Baseleon             OLTL, AW, GH, FR

Rose __Finelli ...Louise Sorel    Santa, DOOL, OLTL, AMC, PC, KL, Beacon Hill(online)

Dr. Jerry Chandler...Richard Roat

 

"With Strings Attached"   6/11/63

Mrs. Frank Collins decides to honor her late husband by donating a million dollars to Hope Memorial for a new wing.  Of course, only if the wing is for the "right people".  Her son Paul doesn't want to see the money leave the family. Fundraiser Harris Thorpe attempts to come to terms that make everyone happy.

Frank Collins...Never Seen

Mrs. Frank Collins...Nancy Pollock

Paul Collins...Douglas Marland

Harris Thorpe...Allen Frank

Dr. William Scott...Jock Gaynor

 

 

"Send No Flowers"     6/17/63

A Mexican florist refuses to give information that could make the difference between life and death.

Mexican Florist...Unknown

 

 

"Unknown Title"   6/19/63

"Chaplain suspects head nurse is prejudiced against young Formosan nurse"

Chaplain Sam Shafer...Fred J. Scollay

Formosan Nurse...Irene Yaah Ling Sun

Head Nurse...Unknown

 

 

"Give and Love"    6/25/63

While Agnes Tilford dreads leaving the busy atmosphere of Hope Memorial, Myra Wood can't wait to leave. She's afraid she'll be diagnosed with cancer after her surgery.

Agnes Tilford...Violet Dunn

Myra Wood...Joy Hodges

Chaplain Sam Shafer...Fred J. Scollay

 

"A Darn Good Sport"   6/26/63

A circus acrobat trips over Dr. Jerry Chandler's bag and injures her knee. She sues him for negligence.

Circus Acrobat...Sherry Britton   (A well known Burlesque Dancer)

Unknown Character...William Hawley

Dr. Jerry Chandler... Richard Roat

 

 

"Barren Harvest"     week of 11/11/63

 

Executive...Mercedes McCambridge                 GL (radio),OMF

Executive's Husband...Whitfield Connor              GL, SS

Unknown Character...Martin E. Brooks                    GH,DAL, KL, SFT (2 characters), SS, LOL

 

 

 

"Two Love Affairs"     week of 1/13/64

Fred Dalton (tongue tied auto mechanic) and Sarah Kent (shy school teacher) find romance in the hospital.

Fred Dalton...James Luisi       Santa, KL, AW,DOOL

Daughter Dalton...Leslye Hunter

Sarah Kent...Loretta Lawrence

 

 

"Edge of Hope"   week of 1/27/64

Pa Thatcher, a gun toting faith healer, doesn't think his son needs medical help.  His daughter, Ellie Mae, defies him and offers her eyes to her brother.

Pa Thatcher...John Cullum                 EON, OLTL

Ma Thatcher...Madeline Sherwood           EON, OLTL, GL, SS

Ellie Mae Thatcher ...Linda Ross

Brother Thatcher...Unknown
 

 

"Unknown Title"        week of 6/1/64

Donna Barnholm, an asthma patient, volunteers for drug testing with Matt and Maggie, experiences side effects.

Andy Barnholm...Unknown

Donna___Barnholm...Unknown

Dr. Matt Powers...James Pritchett

Dr. Maggie Hansen Fielding...Ann Williams

 

 

After Anthology...some tidbits

 

4/15/65...Treasury agent questions Maggie about Kurt Van Allen

Treasury Agent...Unknown

Dr. Maggie Hansen Fielding Van Allen  ...Ann Williams

 

4/19 and 20/65...Bengo becomes a patient, he tells Maggie his story of Kurt's disappearance.

Bengo...Unknown

Dr. Maggie Hansen Fielding Van Allen...Ann Williams

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I hope the show isn't too frustrating in 74 and isn't just about Alan and Margo or Nick and Ann. I wonder why they put Ann in Nick's orbit, but perhaps they needed someone for him, and she was the "lucky" one as they decided not to revisit Nick and Althea. (Why they didn't is anyone's guess.)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I'm currently up to the January 1973 episodes on youtube, and I'm finding the Pollocks' writing incredibly uneven, and at times just downright bizarre. It's still miles better than any of the current soaps, but the plotting and storytelling are all over the map, with so many missed beats. The whole Toni/Vito/Barbara thing was just a total clusterf***. I noticed that James Lipton just started appearing in the writing credits. I wonder if he was part of the problem, or brought in as a solution to tidy up some of the writing issues. Also, does anyone know why Nancy Barrett left the role of Cathy Ryker? Was she fired, or did she leave of her own accord? I thought she and Gerald Gordon had great chemistry. Holly Peters, her replacement, is good, but Nancy was able to transcend the writing and made her feel like a flesh-and-blood character. Peters' Cathy just comes off as a transparent plot device. Please, no spoilers.

Please register in order to view this content

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

SPOILER.........................

 

 

 

 

 

I'm up to the end of 1973 and the writing for Carolee is all over the place. She confronts Mona and spends months trying to convince Steve that Mona is out to get her and break up their marriage. Steve even break away from Carolee for a while for her attacking his mother. Steve discovers everything by way of Dr. Croft spilling the beans and Mona is exposed. Steve then tells Mona off and tells her he can't forgive her what she has done to Carolee. Carolee then comes to Mona's defense and tells Steve he needs to forgive her because she is his mother and she has a right to her feelings. WHAT ?????????????????

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

By early 1973, the show is still compelling and there are still some nice character touches in the individual scenes, but I miss the character-based storytelling of Lakin and Edelstein. It seems as though the Pollacks can't tell one story without the villain being a mustache twirling psychopath (Dan Allison, Cathy Ryker, John Morrison), and it's getting a bit over the top and repetitive. I've also noticed a very subtle marginalization of Althea. I know Allen Potter will be gone by the summer of '73, and I'm wondering how that will impact the series. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Recent Posts

    • I can't fully remember, but I don't think they tried to get Beth Chamberlin back. I think Laibson/McTavish likely saw Beth as old news and wanted to move Philip on; either that or have her return only when Philip was closely tied to a new woman. Thanks as always for these recaps. I think I had stopped watching around this time and mostly kept up by reading in the soap magazines. Bridget's degradation was horrible to watch, as the character had grown so much over the years and was clearly regressed just to be a foil for a couple viewers had zero investment in. 
    • Having the majority of the cast on those low numbers is no way to tell story. And just 2 dayplayers for the month. So sad for the #1 soap.  
    • I believe it was. And this is actually one of the cases where I wouldn’t mind some dumb soap opera bringing back from the dead. They gave Mishael, Amanda, with all of Hilary’s connections but none of the personality except for fleeting moments. Hilary absolutely should’ve just left town. They decided to kill her and the baby. Just baffling,
    • That was Mal Young right? He thought a tragic death was a better option than crafting a story where Hilary leaves town. Was it a case of punishing someone who wants to leave? And then they have to jump through hoops to bring the actress back.
    • Ooo @TaoboiI will say I just watched Amanda give it to Abby and I loved it. Honestly just made me miss Hilary more. I will never understand or get over that decision to kill her off. Also call me crazy but I could definitely see the Damian actor playing NuTed on BTG. Very much still enjoying the Lily attraction.
    • I rewatched these episodes---they broke my heart. Somehow, Nola had seen Vanessa leave the hospital, and follows her home, and Maeve just lets out this primal scream---chills went down my spine. And knowing the history between them---never quite liking the other and always getting on each other's nerves (to put it mildly)---makes it a much richer to have them put it all aside in the moment and be family to each other. I've never seen/heard what Maeve thought of the story itself, but she did want a break, so it's not like she was fired and then brought back. Yes, Vanessa could be this stubborn and unwilling to ask for help. She'd pretty much always been an "I can do this on my own" type of woman, although when she first came to town, she would still run to Henry. But after she met Billy, she stopped relying on her father. It's part of the reason she (briefly) got addicted to pills after Bill's birth---she was determined to take care of him all by herself and became obsessed with the idea she was the only one who could. Of course, nothing before to this extreme. I should say, there's no way (IMO) they could've told this story---Vanessa letting her loved ones thinking she'd died---if her father Henry had still been alive. She never would've been able to do that to him. And it does chafe that she's letting Bill believe it, when her mantra had been all about protecting him since the day he was born. I honestly don't recall what I thought about it at the time. But now I'm thrilled she's free of Matt at least. LOL.
    • I had no idea Peter Reckell was 70. He doesn’t look or feel it and I guess I thought Bo and Hope were closer in age than 9 years. Wow even the new writers had to have Jack praise Leo. Melissa Reeves continues to slip back in effortlessly as Jennifer. I like Ari and Holly being old friends. Holly learning about John’s death reminded me of how John used to call her Nikki if my memory is serving me right. Doug who happily sleeps in high school Holly’s room shirtless and in his underwear is now asking about birth years. How old is he anyway?    The Cat and Chad romance is insulting. 
    • Her husband is Marty Levy. Chocolate Fortunes (her company) was started in 1987.  So that explains the mystery of 'Whatever happened to Pam Peters?' She had been running a successful business for decades.
    • KMH's Emily was a harbinger for the lack of dignity many characters would face in the last decade of ATWT. On paper, many of the stories given to Melanie Smith's Emily could have been extremely sleazy, but she was treated with respect and understanding in the writing. By 1996 the show went from often not knowing how to write for KMH's Emily to giving her outright reprehensible material. There were breaks from this treatment, but not enough, with even those breaks often being poorly written or just used to make her look even worse (like her grotesque rape story turning into her using her rape to destroy Margo's marriage).  By the last years I don't even know what the hell they were doing. Wasn't there some kind of mother-daughter whoring story with Emily and Alison? Wasn't Emily getting beaten up by johns? Whenever I think of how they wrote for KMH's Emily I'm reminded of Pauline Kael's quote about Ann-Margaret's '60s movie persona - calling her "dirty" and saying the people who made the movies "knew what men wanted to do to her."  Even as much as ATWT started hiring softcore actors in the mid/late '90s, the Emily treatment was on a whole other level. I have never known what audience they thought they were going to be attracting.
    • At this point the options are 1. Leslie is going to be caught out, arrested and jailed. Hit and run, blackmail etc. 2. She gets off due to lack of evidence. Second option keeps her on the show but how are they going to keep her a viable character? No one should want to have anything to do with her. If they keep her around, won't other characters come off looking stupid for putting up with her? I'm interested to see where they go with this character/story and hope not to be disappointed.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy