Proposed Soaps Over The Years

[Sedrick]

When Gloria Monty left GENERAL HOSPITAL the first time, she signed a production deal with FOX and she developed, along with her sister Norma, a sixty-minute soap about a blue collar family. However, the show never saw the light of day...but Monty used a good portion of the idea upon her return to GH with the introduction of the Eckert family.

[EricMontreal22]

Which was exactly the kinda story no one wanted from Monty, no?

[Khan]

Right. Especially when Monty herself considered the Quartermaines to be passe, and sidelined them in favor of the Eckerts.

[EricMontreal22]

RIGHT! But can anyone find out anything more about it? LOL I don't understand why it's so hard to find out anything about these early Showtime shows (like Marland's New Day in Eden) when they happend in the time of VCRs and not so long ago...

[Paul Raven]

Eric,I have a vague recollection of SOD doing a story on these fledgling cable soaps.I'll see if I can find the article and precis it for you.Not sure that it gave many details,though.Give me a few days to track it down.

[EricMontreal22]

Thanks so much--that would be terrific!

[Paul Raven]

Skimming thru some old soap magazines and came across these:

A John Conboy piece where he mentions a trio of soaps in development-The Towers of Manhattan(centering on NY high society)Hollywood Lives and Vegas Nights,written by Peggy O'Shea.

An article from Feb 96,talking about NBC's daytime plans.It details 3 soaps in development;

1. Sunset Beach

2. Union Place 'a multigenerational, multiethnic saga of contemporary American life,complete with Dickensian characters and a Danielle Steel sense of romance 'from Claire Labine

3. As yet untitled LA Law for daytime,based in Chicago and chock full of mystery,romance and intrigue,from stephen Cannell and New world television.

[JackPeyton]

I dont know why there has not been a soap opera set in hollywood. Its the perfect setting. I guess because most writers have a hard time making characters in hollywood real and complex...

[Khan]

Well, that, and the lawsuits from all the actors/studio execs/agents/etc. who'd claim such-and-such character was based on them.

[EricMontreal22]

I was going thru old soap articles in NYTimes and found two--they talk about if the networks are oversaturated with primetime soaps (this was 85 I think) and Spelling says in a month he has two premiering--The Colbys and a gothic supernatural one called Dark Mansions that he said had amazing reaction to its pilot. The pilot never aired, did it? (and how awful and derivative a name is that...)

Then in 1991 talking about Daytime soaps they say only NBC is creating a brand new soap... Dunno what it would be.

Nah, Hollywood Wives got away with it fine. They wouldn't dare sue because they wouldn't want to look klike these characters were actually similar to them.

[beebs]

Sounds to me like a possible replacement for either Generations or Santa Barbara? Though I remember hearing that SB's cancellation was a bit sudden. Can anyone confirm that for ignorant ol' me?

[Paul Raven]

Dark Mansions was a primetime soap pilot.Originally Loretta Young was announced as star,but for whatever reason,she dropped out and Joan Fontaine too her place.

It was not picked up and aired over summer, as aTV movie.

From IMDB

The opening credits leave no doubt "Dark Mansions" is patterned after "Dark Shadows" - but, surprisingly, "Mansions" isn't like the successful supernatural-dominated "Shadows" of 1967-1970. Instead, it revisits the show as it played out during the more lackluster years of 1966 and 1971. This show has the Gothic tone of writer Art Wallace's original concept, which producer Dan Curtis steered the show back toward, in 1971. Taking the vampires, werewolves, and witches out of "Shadows" proved to be fatal, so "Mansions" may seem like puzzling pilot. But, it's also a shadowy version of the then successful "Falcon Crest" (actor David Selby did "Crest" and "Shadows"; writer Robert McCullough did "Crest" and "Mansions").

So, "Mansions" begins with star Linda Purl (as Shellane Victor) arriving as an authoress, to work on the biography of reclusive matriarch Joan Fontaine (as Margaret Drake). The character's name "Shellane Victor" is likely an homage to original "Shadows" protagonist "Victoria", who was originally named "Sheila". Like legendary golden-aged actresses Joan Bennett ("Shadows") and Jane Wyman ("Mansions"), Joan Fontaine assumes the role of a wealthy family matriarch. Note, Jean Simmons fit the bill in the 1991 run of "Dark Shadows", which makes it a Joan/Jane/Joan/Jean quartet. (Play other name games at home).

Anyway, Ms. Purl is the spitting image of the dead "Yvette" (rhymes with "Josette"), who plunged to her death over the seaside cliffs, where the two "Drake" family mansions rest (but not in peace). The mystery of what really happened to "Yvette" is the ABC-TV movie pilot's main storyline. Widower Michael York (as Jason Drake) is also Fontaine's favorite son, and a potential romantic interest for Purl.

Other family members (and suspects) include: Mr. York's bratty blonde daughter Nicollette Sheridan (as Banda Drake), his bratty blonde son Grant Aleksander (as Nick Drake), adopted "old house" castaway Paul Shenar (as Phillip Drake), his sexy wife Lois Chiles (as Jessica Drake), their blind clairvoyant daughter Melissa Sue Anderson (as Noelle Drake ), and hot-blooded son Yves André Martin (as Cody Drake). Blue-collared Steve Inwood (as Jerry Mills) and Raymond St. Jacques (as Davis) are significant outsiders.

There are too many characters, and too much back-story, in "Dark Mansions" - although, admittedly, it all would have served a TV series well (had this "pilot" sold). The locations, sets, and overall setting is beautifully done; and, as photographed by Paul Lohmann and directed by Jerry London, they are the film's greatest strength. The cliff-side dwelling is how the original "Dark Shadows" might have looked, with a bigger budget. Watch for especially representative scenes as characters walk along the cliffs, with waves crashing in the background. And, if the house looks like "Collinwood", it's because it is the house (Greystone) picked to serve as "Collinwood" for both the 1991 and 2004 versions of "Dark Shadows".

[EricMontreal22]

Thanks for that--it's funny that Spelling says his show has supernatural elements--and it sounds liek it's about to premier!

I wish I could post those NYTimes articles--some great stuff but they only will save as pdf files. For instance I didn't realize that as early as 1976 P&G actually admitted that the only demo they really wanted now was 16-34 females (34!) but there it is in print.

[Paul Raven]

Eric,please share any tidbits you come across in NY Times.i can't believe they want $3.95 an article.

PS I am still searching for that cable soap article in SOD!

[SFK]

Google Books is another great resource for finding old soap-related articles. Go on there and start keying in some of your favorite soap professionals' names, and you may be surprised at what obscure articles in local newspapers and old magazines you might find.