The more I think about it, the more I think the only way ANOTHER WORLD might have succeeded at 90 minutes is if the network had built little "breaks" into each episode, sort of like how they leave 5 minutes at the end of every half-hour of "Today" for local news, weather and traffic reports. Know what I mean? Let there be 25 solid minutes of story (with commercials, of course), and then come in with an "NBC News Break" to allow viewers at home to "breathe" a bit before jumping back into the story.

Either that, or use that time -- again, 5 or so minutes before the start of the next half-hour -- to show one or two scenes from NBC's other soaps, such as DAYS or THE DOCTORS. They could have been scenes from previous episodes, scenes from upcoming episodes (teasers, if you will), or maybe scenes that might not be in the actual shows but feature characters from them, as a way of whetting viewers' appetite for more.

They could have just made Doctors 45 minutes and then had a quick news show.

Ironically, a 90-minute version of ANOTHER WORLD would have a much better chance of succeeding today, if only because NBC would exploit the crap out of modern technology. Episodes themselves would remain 60 minutes, but they'd pad it with chatty hosts commenting on stories and actors between "segments," taking viewers' phone calls, reading (and answering) e-mails and tweets about the ongoing stories, hosting brief interviews with past and present AW stars, maybe doing running trivia contests, etc. It'd be like "GSN Live" meets daytime drama.

That's true. It could have been an NBC daytime panel show. What What Happens? Look for the latest rumors on that brawl between Kaye Stevens and Susan Seaforth Hayes. Or they'd have a strained reunion between Beverlee McKinsey and Nic Coster.

Edited November 24, 201114 yr by CarlD2

And there the Peacock People would be, telling anyone who would (be dumb enough to) listen how this "new," interactive 90-minute version would take "classic soap storytelling, as pioneered by ANOTHER WORLD's own creators, Irna Phillips and Procter & Gamble, to a whole different level!"

The decision to drop so many characters,add newbies and expand to 90 min was crazy.

I can understand the decision to drop John to some extent,but alternatively Pat and John could have remarried and become the new tentpole couple-something the show lacked.Or Pat meets a new man with children.

Mike and Marianne were viable characters and their romances and marriages could have been a focus for years.Give Russ a decent love interest/wife,perhaps with a teen child of her own,and have them have their own child.Or do the Sharlene story years earlier,with her having a child by Russ.

Use what's there rather than trying to re-invent the show.The show never really recovered from decisions made late 70's/early 80's

I'm trying to remember if any characters brought in for 90 minutes had a long term impact on story. Was Cecile brought in during the 90 minute era?

This is from a May 1998 Weekly catching up with former soap names.

10/7/86 Digest

1/31/84 Digest.

Also from this issue.

AW ad at about 2 minutes in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy8frMn0mUA

Again the ad is about 2 minutes in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE8MDD9lSpg

When Larry Lau joined as Jamie, SOD talked about how he'd be Brittany's doctor or implied a relationship would form. Did that happen? Wasn't Brittany on the way out at this time?

I think they would have definetly put Liz as the accepting of Michael coming out. As much as a snob she was, she would do anything for family

I also loved the chemistry between Alice and Rachel at the anniversary party and Mac's funeral. Those two had something special.

You're right. Michael was just an OK actor, but I think he would have done well with the gay storyline. Liz would have swallowed the sofa if one of her relatives came out of the closet. Then again, I would have loved it if Liz would have been the accepting one and the other Matthew's had the problem with it. That would have been more unexpected.

Just from how he was written, Michael coming out would have caused a problem for John and isolated him more from his family. He always seemed to be on the outs with one or more of the Randolphs.

Wow Carl, thanks for linking to this video from Saynotoursoap. What a classic that needed to be seen again. I saw it as a kid, but it's been a long time. I forgot just how LONG 90 minutes was. Did you notice how many of the scenes moved so slowly without dialogue? Liz and Jim were so good. You're right. I wonder why they dropped the idea of pairing them. I also loved revisiting Willis, Vince, Angie and Janice (although I wish Gwen was there too). Willis was a favorite of mine. If you close your eyes, he sounds a lot like George Reinholt. I had forgotten how Janice was involved with trying to break up Willis and Gwen in favor of Angie.

Of course another treat for me was Pat. Loved her and her reunion with Marianne. Very touching. It still drives me nuts that they killed off John and never reunited him with Pat. They should have been a tent pole couple for years to come.

I also instantly thought of my mom when the episode was playing because she used to always say, "It's All About Alice." She hated how Alice made everything about HER. In the coming weeks, she acts like she lost her husband/father instead of the poor Randolphs.

I wish we could see more of crazy Olive. What a NUT!

Well, that is how Harding Lemay made Alice. when u think about it, if someone saved your life from burning to death, wouldnt you feel some guilt if they died? They played around with the Alice role too much. A fe weeks later, a new actress is plaing the role and the PTSD is gone.