As The World Turns Discussion Thread

[TVFAN1144]

There is no argument that Irna Phillips created a masterpiece and her writing and vision for the show was brilliant.   And there's no doubt that Doug Marland was another high point for the show.

I also liked the time period in the 70s before and after ATWT went to an hour written by Robert Sonderberg and Edith Sommer.  They did great work on The Guiding Light with the introduction of the Norris family, a great murder trial, and iconic characters like Roger Thorpe and Holly.  On ATWT, unlike the later writing, every character connected to the Hughes and Stewart families had an active storyline.

Lisa had a romance and marriage to Grant Coleman and had battles with her scheming nemeses Joyce.  They even entered the rivalry with Ellen when Ellen sympathized with Joyce over her adoption issue with Teddy Ellison.  Great to have Lisa center stage and not be a glorified hotel clerk like she was in the last episode.

We had Natalie who helped to break up Tom and Carol, marry Tom and get involved with Jay.

Kim married John to give her baby a name and this probably was her atonement for her affair with Bob.  There were some things they had to repair after Irna's last stint.

Not sure what Bob's storyline was, but am sure involved Jennifer and Kim.  Probably in a stupor about how he could have been so dumb  as to sleep with his sister in law.

Ellen was involved with her daughters Annie and Dee.   Annie with her marriage to Beau and an interfering mother in law.  Dee was a funny wholesome girl next door at this time who pretty much lived in her sister's shadow.  This was before she overnight became Oakdale's sex symbol killing men in bed, being sought after by Brad Pornstache,  Svengali John, and James.  Even if the plot was slow or nonexistent, it was fun to watch the characters much like Irna's writing.

I realize there had to be updates due to more contemporary shows that had made inroads to ATWTs ratings and later writers introduced more action oriented plots and fast paced scenes.   Also I feel there were compromises to beloved characters (Kim running around with a Greek restaurant owner, Bob marrying a mafia princess). This was at the expense of traditional viewers like me.

 

[jam6242]

@BroldenIf the January part is correct, I think this must have been 1963.  Lisa is apparently pregnant, and I’ve read that she broke off her affair with Bruce after learning she was going to have another baby that was Bob’s.  Jim Pritchett left ATWT in the early spring of 1963.

[Forever8]

Alan is doing an interview with Sarah Brown (ex-Julia) on January 13.

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[Khan]

Poor Sarah.  She really doesn't deserve this.

[DramatistDreamer]

Is anyone (except Alan) going to do a decent virtual discussion in honor of Lisa Brown? Or will we have to wait for the Daytime Emmy awards to haphazardly include a picture of Blair Brown in one of their In Memoriam montages?

[Forever8]

Not Blair Brown. I hope he does something and hopefully he lets Martha Byrne assist if possible. 

[DramatistDreamer]

Wouldn't put it past them.

I'm still giving them a side-eye for how they slipped Veronica Redd's photo in place of Marguerite Ray's in that In Memoriam segment.

Edited January 11, 2022 by DramatistDreamer

[Forever8]

Man, that was the worst. I'm like Google is your friend for a reason. She was an actress on a show that airs on your network. SMH... 

[DramatistDreamer]

If Alan does it, there are likely to be some actors who may won't show up (*coughs* JWS *coughs*). Martha Byrne and Hillary Bailey Smith would make a good combination. Of course, I know that's a wish more than anything else.

 

 

 

[Vee]

What's behind this?

[DramatistDreamer]

Just turned him down, nbd. Then again, plenty others said no before they acquiesced, usually after some arm twisting by other former cast mates. 

I just prefer the idea of those who worked closest with her doing the actual virtual honors. Hillary Bailey kind of took over during her virtual ATWT reunion and it saved Alan who was fumbling. She might as well have been running the show.

[Soaplovers]

Alan picks the oddest times to interrupt.  I could understand if the conversation was not flowimg, but it's always when a guest is telling a story.

And it's usually when a female panelist is talking.

I'm curious how Sarah will be on 1/13.  She's pretty outspoken so I hope she bull dozes over her Alan.  I loved her on VR troopers and Cold Case.

 

[FrenchBug82]

YES! As I posted on another thread about the Cynthia Watros interview, the problem is not even that his comments are inane, it is that he gives them IN THE MIDDLE OF guests telling anecdotes. It is as if he either is not listening at all or he doesn't understand the anecdote being told and how wait for the kicker works.
And some actors*resses keep going but some get distracted or are polite (or get discouraged) and never finish some of their stories.

It is the conversation equivalent of laughing halfway through someone telling you a joke. 

I am never connected live during those but I wish people in the chat would tell him "Let her finish". If he is not aware he is doing this, maybe that would end up cluing him in.

[Soaplovers]

I was in one of the lives, and I posted in the live chat that he needed to be quiet until the guest was done talking..and to stop interrupting.  Some posters agreed with me..and I'm sure he saw all of that.

[Forever8]

Margaret Colin (ex-Margo Hughes) will be interviewed by Alan on January 19th at 3PM EST. 

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