4 minutes ago, Paul Raven said:

Pat and Missy were introduced as the front burner heroines whereas Jacquie was just the kid sister and Susan never got of the starting block. So I don't think Alice was never really under threat. Same with Russ. Although the bible gave him a much stronger presence. I guess once you get into day to day writing things that were planned don't get incorporated for a variety of reasons.

Irna was more concerned with getting the lead characters right. She must have gone on instinct b/c the original Jim and Liz didn't get much of a chance and she might have had more in store for Susan that the actresses didn't hint at.

In her life story interview, published in Afternoon TV, Jacquie Courtney acknowledged that her job was in serious danger early on, as Irna Phillips was unhappy with the overly-bubbly way JC was playing Alice. Irna devised a story about the character going away to summer camp and perishing when it burned to the ground. It was only thanks to the intervention of a director, who strenuously demanded she tone it down, that Jacquie stopped overacting and began playing Alice in a more naturalistic, somber fashion. Irna noticed the change, approached the actress at the studio, and embraced her. "My Alice! Forget the summer camp! Forget the fire!"

Jacquie credited that director with saving her job.

@vetsoapfan thanks for clarifying. I wonder if Irna had stayed a bit longer, how things might have been different.

How much did James Lipton actually change? maybe some version of the Gregory family were already in the planning stages?

10 minutes ago, Paul Raven said:

@vetsoapfan thanks for clarifying. I wonder if Irna had stayed a bit longer, how things might have been different.

How much did James Lipton actually change? maybe some version of the Gregory family were already in the planning stages?

Good question. I think (my memory is hazy here) Lipton only lasted for a short time; maybe half a year(?) or so in 1965.

Aside from expanding the Gregory family, I don't think he had any major, lasting effect on the show. The Gregorys were dispatched rapidly when Nixon took over.

9 minutes ago, vetsoapfan said:

Good question. I think (my memory is hazy here) Lipton only lasted for a short time; maybe half a year(?) or so in 1965.

Aside from expanding the Gregory family, I don't think he had any major, lasting effect on the show. The Gregorys were dispatched rapidly when Nixon took over.

Believe it or not, I'm fascinated by James Lipton's decision to expand the Gregorys when he wrote AW. The family consisted of three characters, right? And was his objective to supplant the Matthewses as AW's core family?