The Doctors Discussion Thread

[jam6242]

I believe Hugh McPhillips, who was The Doctors' director/associate producer for several years, was an extra in an episode we saw last week (playing the patient in the clinic with a rash).

Hugh McPhillips (in 1972):

The patient in the clinic.

[DRW50]

Great catch.

[amybrickwallace]

I just hope this Liz/Townsend story ends soon - compared to the Ed/Anna drama, it doesn't even come close to being riveting.

[soapfave06]

Agreed! I'm still months behind but peaked ahead to 1969. The Ed/Anna story has been surprisingly at the forefront. I wonder if any other soaps briefly had frontburner black characters like the Doctors.

Does anyone happen to have Ed and Anna's first airdates?

Edited April 13, 2015 by soapfave06

[amybrickwallace]

I don't have the exact airdates, but Conrad Roberts made his debut as Ed towards the end of March 1968. Zaida Coles as Anna began sometime in June 1968, I believe.

[Paul Raven]

Around that time several soaps featured black characters.

Love of Life Joe and Rita Bond

GH Tracey Adams and Douglas Burke

OLTL Carla,Price etc

AW Peggy Harris and Dick Nolan

[saynotoursoap]

Ed appears to have debuted on March 27, 1968 (#1388), and Anna on June 24, 1968 (#1451).

Edited April 13, 2015 by saynotoursoap

[amybrickwallace]

That sounds right - thanks for confirming.

[soapfave06]

Thanks for the help guys!

[dc11786]

Paul, maybe I just inferred, but I thought Maggie miscarried Alec's child in the February 1964 car accident that took Alec's life. I may be wrong about that.

All the information from Barbara Morgenroth has been very interesting. Years ago, Hilary Bailey Smith said the plague was used as a contract negotiation ploy, but this seems more deliberate on the network's end. Very interesting.

[amybrickwallace]

Conrad Roberts has just been heartbreaking as Ed the past few episodes, as have his screen partners. This is truly the type of story and acting that soaps are supposed to be made of!!

[DRW50]

Some Afternoon TV articles from around the time of current episodes.

March 1969

April

May

Edited April 17, 2015 by DRW50

[slick jones]

Great articles. The Sally Gracie one is as lively and entertaining as her characters were...

The article about Carolee Campbell is a fun read as well.

Kyle Pritchett(even at that age) would be a bang up executive producer...(chuckles) in comparison to TPTB currently...

[DRW50]

Thanks for reading.

If I can find one of the pages I'll scan the Pam Toll one too.

The behind the scenes with Kyle really was so adorable. The cast seemed genuinely close then.

Edited April 17, 2015 by DRW50

[Paul Raven]

Just to put what we are seeing in relation to 1967/8/9/

This was the time that NBC's 90 min soap block began making waves in the ratings with Days @2,TD @ 2.30 and AW @3pm.

ABC had Newlywed Game @ 2 but 2.30 was an issue,Dream Girl of 67 lasted throughout that year and then something called The Baby Game was tried for 68 until July when Dating Game took over.3pm was GH.

CBS introduced LIAMST at 2.00 in Sept 67 as the long running Password was dropped.Then Sept 68 the longrunning Art Linkletter was dropped for new 30 min GL, at the same time To Tell the Truth was dropped at 3 in favor of Secret Storm.

This really the time that soaps took over as CBS went for an all soap afternoon lineup.

NBC's strength was diminished by these changes.Also losing Let's Make A Deal as the lead in for the soaps affected them as replacement shows weren't as strong.