Lovers and Friends/For Richer For Poorer Discussion Thread

[DRW50]

10/78 Rona Barrett's Daytimers

[Matt]

Weekly newspaper synopses...

Week of January 3 - 7, 1977

(Debut Week) The middle-class Saxton family moved next door to the wealthy Cushing clan. The Saxtons include mother and father Josie and Lester (a reformed alcoholic), their children Rhett (who has an old flame, Connie Ferguson), Jason, Bentley, Tessa, and Eleanor (who is married to George Kimball, who financed the Saxton move and secured a job for Les). The Cushings include Edith and Richard (who's having an affair with secretary Barbara Manners), their children Megan (who's engaged to rich Desmond Hamilton) and bohemian dropout Austin (who had a disastrous love affair with former neighbor Laurie Brewster).

Week of January 10 - 14, 1977

Megan admitted to Austin she's marrying Desmond because she's bored. Edith was distressed that mother Sophia was neighborly with the Saxtons. Ellie was upset that Les counseled Austin on alcoholism.

Week of January 17 - 21, 1977

Amy was crushed to learn that Austin is working and laying off the booze to win back Laurie's love. Megan refused to set an earlier wedding date, then invited Connie and Rhett to double date with her and Desmond.

Week of January 24 - 28, 1977

Austin agreed to help Jason find a job, then was miffed when Jason made a heavy play for Laurie and began drinking again. Rhett agreed to help Megan with her thesis and Jason needled him about fooling around behind Connie's back.

Week of January 31 - February 4, 1977

Edith offered to introduce Ellie to society. In return, Ellie warned Amy not to chase Austin. Megan sanctioned Richard's liason with Barbara. Connie grew increasingly jealous of Rhett and Megan. Austin accused Jason of trying to steal Laurie from him. Jason refused a factory job Les had set up.

Week of February 7 - 11, 1977

Jason set up Rhett and Megan in a compromising situation. Desmond found them and ordered her to stop seeing Rhett. Austin admitted he had a drinking problem and wanted Les to help him, but Richard insisted he go to an expensive sanitarium.

Week of February 14 - 18, 1977

Richard hired Jason to replace Austin who refused to be admitted to a private sanitarium. Les offered Austin a job at the plant that Jason had turned down. Megan asked Rhett to find a job for Laurie so she can stay in town. Rhett blew up at Connie and Ellie for suggesting hanky-panky between him and Megan.

Week of February 21 - 25, 1977

Richard advised Megan to consider whether she wants to lose Desmond. George claimed that Ellie was being used as a pawn by Edith. Amy congratulated Austin on his new job by falling into his arms.

Week of February 28 - March 4, 1977

Connie and Rhett announced their formal engagement. Desmond told Megan that Edith had been in love with his fatehr before she married Richard.

Week of March 7 - 11, 1977

While Megan and Desmond went off on a secret weekend, Edith and Richard accused Rhett, then Jason, of running off with their daughter. When Megan returned, Edith was appalled that the couple couldn't wait until after the wedding, but Megan admitted to Laurie that i was a platonic weekend. Austin begged Amy to stay and help him with his drinking problem.

Week of March 14 - 18, 1977

Laurie warned Amy to prepare for a fight to win Austin, then convinced him she loved him. Ellie was frantic to learn she's pregnant, but overjoyed when Richard consulted with George for legal advice. Afraid that his job was in jeopardy, Jason told Rhett to lay Megan off. Rhett insisted there's no cause for alarm, and threw Jason out.

Week of March 21 - 25, 1977

Laurie didn't resist Jason's advances. When they were caught by Austin, he wouldn't believe she was being forced. In retaliation, Austin ran to Amy's arms. Megan was miffed with Desmond after he'd consulted with Connie about getting Megan away from Rhett.

Week of March 28 - April 1, 1977

To win Austin back, Laurie plotted to make it look as though Amy was interested in Desmond.

Week of April 4 - 8, 1977

Megan admitted to Richard she's in love with Rhett and must break her engagement to Desmond, then learned of Laurie's schemes. Ellie told George she doesn't want a child. Desmond assured Laurie he'll help her stay in town.

Week of April 11 - 15, 1977

Desmond refused to accept Megan's decision to break their engagement. Everyone tried to convince Rhett not to "steal" Megan, and Ellie had a miscarriage after a confrontation with Him. Josie and Les worried about Connie.

Week of April 18 - 22, 1977

George blamed Edith for setting Ellie up for the confrontation with Rhett which ended in Ellie's miscarriage.

Week of April 25 - 29, 1977

Jason told Megan that Laurie wants to marry Desmond, then he tried to convince Laurie she could have both him and Desmond at the same time. Laurie's mother, Viola, threatened to drag Laurie back to Paris, because Viola is running out of money.

Week of May 2 - May 6, 1977

Connie and Jason made a pact: He won't reveal that she might be pregnant if she won't tell Rhett that Jason wrecked the studio. Ellie left George and moved home. Edith accused Rhett of being after Megan's money. (Friday was the show's final episode. It goes on a summer hiatus to return in the fall.)

[DRW50]

Thanks so much for sharing this with us.

Did you ever see the show?

[Matt]

Nope. I've never seen a single episode of either it or For Richer, For Poorer.

[DRW50]

Did WOST have their themes? I can't remember.

[Matt]

WoST only had the FRFP opening. As luck would have it, I actually have the entire theme song for FRFP. Here's an mp3 to download from mediafire --- http://www.mediafire.com/?mricll53r0yjb57

[DRW50]

Beautiful. So melancholy. I love it. It reminds me a little of Love of Life's last theme.

[SFK]

The FRFP opening credits were indeed on WoST, and on YouTube though I can't find them now. It was like a drive down a road with stylized pictures of homes on either side while the silhouette of the couple multiplied itself like the rings ("worlds") of the old AW credits, but in more of a '70s Electric Company sorta way (the O's in "Poorer" are yet Another homage to the rings). Bill Wolf announced the title.

[DRW50]

That looks like a porn poster from their "arthouse" era.

[DRW50]

[DRW50]

April 1978 Digest

[DRW50]

May 1978 Digest

[DRW50]

August 1978 Digest

[EricMontreal22]

Great to read any further details on the show.

[Goldensoaps]

Thanks for the synopses!!!!!!!! I would love to read the June and July stories when they are available!!!!!!! Thank you very much