As The World Turns Discussion Thread

[DramatistDreamer]

Very interesting. I read that same thing as well. That's a bit of a backstage mystery, what really happened.

[DRW50]

I'm not sure of the dates on that, as soap magazines from 1973 reference Judith McGilligan (?) as being a new recast.

[saynotoursoap]

Jane House was fired from As the World Turns in 1971. The character of Liz suffered a nervous breakdown after her miscarriage and had to be committed to a mental hospital. A short while later, Days and GH dethroned World from the number one spot in Nielsens. Liz had been popular, so the character was brought back with Jane House playing the part again. The following year, in 1972, Jane was dismissed a second time and replaced by Judith McGilligan.

Carl, I am delighted that you recognized my avatar. It is not the one I really wanted either, but I wanted to honor Diana and Where the Heart Is.

Edited March 22, 2015 by saynotoursoap

[DRW50]

I never knew that was her first exit, or that she was written out and came back. That's such a depressing exit. No wonder the ratings fell...

[slick jones]

Gil's lover, Ben was portrayed by actor Anthony Fusco. I remember the scenes being a surprise to me, as TV viewers were not to keen on on-screen kisses between men, especially HIV positive in the 80s-90s.

[John]

Irna sounds vindictive. Yes Liz, Betsy's mom who died falling up the stairs

Edited March 26, 2015 by John

[Mitch]

Irna was an interesting person to say the least! Beth Ehlers during her last five years on GL grated on my nerves...she just lost it, got really skinny and shrill and it didnt help that the show made her this romantic heroine which Harley never was..but when she did Irna on the 70th anniversary she just rocked it...I never saw Irna on tape but just from her acting Ehlers hit it on the head...(maybe she was channeling a frustrated, cranky middle aged woman having to deal with the suits around her as it hit close to home...) and she said she met with Hastings and Fulton to get her mannersims and what she was like.

Fulton and Helen Wagner have said that Irna would address the actors by their character names and did not want them to do other things as it detracted from the characters. Maybe that is why on AW she kept Mary Matthews around so long as unlike Helen Wagner, according to Lemay, the actress totally believed she was the character and a fabulous cook though she wasnt!

I wish they would write a book about the PG soaps behind the scenes, what a bunch of characters.

[DramatistDreamer]

I'm truly surprised that there's been no Kickstarter wanting to do a documentary on Irna Phillips. Loved or reviled, her impact on television is indisputable. People talk about Shonda Rhimes...Irna Phillips was the Shonda of her day!

[DRW50]

Nobody important ever cares about soaps or soap history.

The most interesting thing about Irna to me is that as conservative as she was, she did genuinely try to tell some groundbreaking, boat-rocking stories, especially in her last years. It's a real loss to ATWT that her plans for Amy Hughes did not pan out.

[DRW50]

Is this Gregg Marx looking hot and putting on a shirt in extreme closeup?

Please tell me it is.

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Edited March 29, 2015 by DRW50

[Soapsuds]

Yup thats him….very hot…he looks very young…..I floved him on ATWT as Tom…best Tom IMO…huge crush on him and to realize his is gay…damn….

[DRW50]

I love the "smooth" turn with the sweater...

He really was so damn hot. Nothing against Scott Holmes but I never knew how they went from one to the other.

[slick jones]

Yeah, from Marx to Holmes was a step down, But both were a great step up from Jason Kincaed...I just never got that him as Tom.

[Soapsuds]

He still looks good….and he is single I believe..and so is hunky Kevin Spirtas from Days...

Jason Kincaed was so blah and just plain ugly and had zero resemblance to Tom or qualities…yuck….

I found Holmes hunky too but his Tom got boring towards the end…..Marx could be just sitting there and Id find his Tom interesting…LOL

[slick jones]

Interesting or...easy on the eyes....