Another World

[Maxim]

If only the VCR had become more available... just a decade earlier... We would probably have the entire 70s recorded by a fan on VHS.

 

Edited December 29, 2024 by Maxim

[1974mdp]

I know there was a writer's strike in 1988, but does anyone know why Lemay's return was so short, and he wasn't brought back after the strike? From what I remember, the show went through a pretty good reset with his return.

[Maxim]

Would love to know more too! 

[Contessa Donatella]

Wasn't it because NBC became enamored of Donna Swajeski? According to AWHP, these were the relevant HW credits: 

• Harding Lemay, September 12, 1988 - November 10, 1988
• Donna Swajeski, November 1988 - November 1992

As usual, there is no mention of the WGA strike. But we know it was a 1988 strike. 

BTW, Pete did not like the name Harding. He did like Pete. Of course, all official documentation has to say Harding. (whether he liked it or not)

If I recall correctly Swajeski crossed over from the network & of course they would tend to have a bias in favor of anyone who had been with the network at some time.

 

Edited December 29, 2024 by Contessa Donatella
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[1974mdp]

I've also read a rumor that Swajeski basically wrote the first couple of years off of a bible Lemay had submitted when he was hired.

[Contessa Donatella]

I think that is so. AFAIK everyone thinks this. And, of course, if we're all right about it, that really stinks. 

[Efulton]

https://www.welovesoaps.net/2009/07/harding-lemay-interview-part-three.html?m=1

We Love Soaps: So when you were asked to come back to ANOTHER WORLD in 1988, was the plan to be a consultant or the head writer again?
Harding Lemay: I don’t know what they had in mind, really. I was the head writer for awhile. And then there was a strike. And during the strike they hired some NBC people to do the writing. Then they fired me and kept the ones they used during the strike, and the show got worse and worse and worse. But even by then, when I went back, it wasn’t going to work. I could see they weren’t interested. They weren’t excited enough by what I wanted to do, whereas before they had been very excited about the ideas I had. Procter & Gamble were very upset by my book [“Eight Years in Another World”]. I was very harsh on them. Nobody thought they would ever hire me again. But they were in deep trouble, so they hired me, and forgot all about it.

I was no longer that keen on doing it either. I didn’t need the money. And then I began to be a consultant. And it’s very interesting, the consultant’s fees were very high. You’d make $2,500 a day. I had a contract that said I had to be paid for three days a week whether they used me three days or not. I did that on four shows altogether. What you do is sit in with the other writers, make suggestions, and try to help them work out what they’re doing.

[Mona Kane Croft]

I don't think it was a long as two years.  But Lemay had turned-in storyline projections for a year, so Swajeski had access to those.  And I believe she used Lemay's projections for around six-months, perhaps a bit more -- eventually mixing his ideas with her own.  Anyone who was familiar with Lemay's work from the 1970s, could fairly easily tell which ideas were his, and which were Swajeski's in 1988-89.

There was nothing unethical or illegal in her using his projections.  The production company had paid Lemay for his work, and after he submitted it (probably either right before or right after the strike) it belonged to P&G. So she had every right to use it.  And I'm glad she did.  I only wish she had continued to follow Lemay's writing style throughout her tenure.  But her style turned out to be quite different from his, in my opinion.  

 

Edited December 29, 2024 by Mona Kane Croft

[teplin]

Yes, we didn't get scenes like this under her pen. This was glorious to a longtime viewer. This one, at least. 

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[Maxim]

I love this scene. I've loved all Harding Lemay episodes I've seen. 

[Mona Kane Croft]

I haven't watched that scene for many years.  What an amazing use of established history.  And we have the old Rachel again -- the Rachel with spit-fire!!  

Can you imagine watching scenes this good day after day for years?  

Too bad Lemay was saddled with the huge continuity error of having the Frame Farm near Bay City.  I supposed he realized there was no way to un-do it, or to even explain it away -- so he just went along with it.

[Contessa Donatella]

Yeah, watching that really really feels so good. 

[Maxim]

Another World - December 29, 1988

Christmas gifts leading to trouble.

This is the first episode, maybe since I started watching this period (late 1988 - )... that... really underwhelmed me. I don't know if the past episodes were TOO strong and I got accustomed to that amazing quality... episode after episode. My husband was also falling asleep and I had to tell him to pay attention couple of times. This, of course, was meant to happen... sooner or later, because it's impossible for every episode to be 10 out of 10. 

So let's begin. Shall we?

Lisa (who I like more and more) wants to leave the police and work as a paralegal. She wants something new to change the horizon and create new connections and walk new paths. It's a healthy way to mourn the loss of something (Jamie) by starting something new. She asked Cass if she can assist him in his legal business. He consulted with Nicole, who was open to the idea. Later Lisa visited her aunt Felicia and they talked about letting go/dealing with/processing the past - something that Felicia clearly has problem doing. Prior to this, Mitch told Felicia that he attempted to contact her father in person - she was relieved that Mitch and Cass didn't succeed in their plan. I didn't find her reaction completely believable, even thought she may be acting like she is okay, but bubbling inside. If it was me, I would have freaked out... hearing that my husband is trying to get someone from my past out of the shadows. 

Sam was going on and on and ON...  about how Amanda shouldn't be going on the fake dates... Again - I get that he's a macho guy and he is jealous and etc, but he isn't an idiot, is he... and he should know that this is only work. His reactions are over the top, he's acting like Amanda is cheating almost. Jesus! Then we had too much and too long of Amanda explaining herself why she needs to do it, after we already heard that same monologue yesterday. I hate repeating in soap operas, especially when it's stuff that was said in the previous episode. Didn't like that scene. Oh, and I nearly forgot - Josie and Mathew caught up with them on the skating rink. Amanda lied that the guy who she was on the fake-date with was her high-school friend or something. 

Caroline is still eyeing Cass as her potential lover. Her Christmas gift (a strange statue) got Cass to let down his guard (if he even has one) and they shared an intimate moment playing on one of the machines in Cass's office. Just in time for Nicole to see them... all close and personal. That was the highlight of the episode for me.

I still... would not rate the episode too low, because the problem was not bad dialogue or melodrama or anything cringe... It was just not a strong or a stand-out episode in my opinion. This is purely subjective of course. My husband agreed that it was kinda boring.  I missed some of my favorite characters. Amanda and Sam went on too long about the same stuff. Caroline and Evan annoyed me. I am beginning to dislike them.  

Overall - 5/10

Favorite moment - Nicole catching Cass and Caroline enjoying their time together.

 

 

 

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[Contessa Donatella]

That final moment was sublime. Sorry about the other.

Edited December 29, 2024 by Contessa Donatella
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[Maxim]

Yep, that moment saved the episode for me.