As The World Turns Discussion Thread

[Khan]

I agree that Hogan Sheffer had a very nice team in place when he joined the show.  Jeff Beldner, Hal Corley, Carolyn Culliton, Stephen Demorest and others were "leftovers" from previous HW'ing regimes, but they seemed to know how to ground Sheffer's more outlandish ideas in some kind of reality.  It was they, and not Sheffer himself, who helped me stick with the show through that period.  Once that "brain trust" was broken apart, however, I was pretty much done with ATWT.

[adrnyc]

Agreed. Martha always worked with what she got. If the material was lousy...she couldn't always lift it the way other actors could.

I was glad to see that Corley and Demorest were still onboard with the HW change. I remember really liking his writing tenure until I didn't. It may be this change that turned me as well. I'll be interested to see...

Agreed on this Chris Hughes - he was the best of the "bland actors" who were cast over the years. He really did have great chemistry with Wagner. Hays and Hastings as well.

[Soapsuds]

Next week!

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[adrnyc]

As I continue my journey, this was another particularly interesting episode. The writers are peppering in Julia's descent into madness (which some might say began when she shot 6 bullets into a dead corpse; however, watching her whole storyline, she was always a little "off the beam," and her therapy sessions with David didn't help.)

Leah Lamian's explanation for why Carly left Jack at the altar came across to me as, "Well, we'll write off the pregnant actress and it explain it when she comes back in 5 months." However, at least Scheffer tries to give it an actual explanation in this episode.

It's nice seeing scenes with such a strong black cast. Isaac, Ben, and Denise really work well together. Speaking of which, so do Dolan, Block, and Conn. They really behave like a family.

I laughed out loud at the looks passing between Lisa and Barbara as Julie described her plan to trap Jack with a pregnancy. We all know they've both been there, done that!

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[adrnyc]

Continuing to rewatch the series, I don't think Scheffer is the problem. This episode has GREAT scenes between Kim, Bob, John, Andy, and Nancy. History of the show is used throughout, in particular with a Kim/Nancy scene somewhere between minutes 14-17. 

I get some people will never like Hunt Block as Craig because he isn't Scott Bryce; however, Hunt's Craig, as written, is a direct descendent of Bryce's. It's not in this episode but in other one's I've watched this week and last, Craig's deteriorating relationship with Sierra, when Bryce was brought back in the 90's, has been mentioned. Especially in regards to Emily's interference in the Craig/Sierra relationship and the Craig/Samantha relationship. 

For Hughes' family lovers, who want to write off Scheffer's "non-use" of history, this is a must-see.

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[Brolden]

I wonder if someone can help me figure out the timeline of Lisa & Earl...

I was just watching the December 24, 1986 episode, which was posted a few years ago as "Christmas 1986". The start of the recording briefly flashes "Christmas 1987" across the screen, which made me wonder if it had been wrongly dated as 1986, but the cast clearly shows it's '86 (Greg Marx is still Tom, Brian and Beatrice are still on). 

This episode features a the famous goodbye scene between Lisa & Earl, that I have seen in many flashbacks later on ("Wherever you go and whatever you do, just remember how much I love you"), after Earl tells her he's an Interpol agent.

Trouble is... don't Lisa & Earl get married at New Year's Eve between '86 and '87? I seem to remember they were supposed to have a double wedding with Brian & Shannon, although that half of the wedding doesn't end up happening. I know I've seen these episodes. Brian & Shannon are still very much together in this Christmas episode. So 1 week after this goodbye Earl & Lisa get married? Was this not Earl's final goodbye? I've always thought based on how often this scene was replayed later that it was. Or am I mixing up dates?

EDIT: Lol, teaches me to post while I'm still watching...

My question was answered in the episode. He pulls a Rachel Green and gets off the plane to surprise Lisa at home (and ask her to marry him in the process). 

I guess I'm still kind of surprised that the scene wasn't his final goodbye before he goes missing, as I always thought it was. 

Edited October 22, 2024 by Brolden

[Mona Kane Croft]

I do not believe this was Earl's final good-bye.  Didn't Earl come back, only to be killed-off.  And then later came back again to spend more time with Lisa?  I do remember Earl's comings and goings were rather convoluted.   

[Mitch64]

I found Granger more believable when he was playing Earl as a flamboyant uncle to Shannon (to hide his stupid Interpol career) The only reason Early existed is because Fulton was bitching about a love interest..(why do I like Lisa best when she is on her own and just happily meddling in everyone's business..) and the producer wanted to give his lover a job. The Interpol thing was stupid from the get go.but I could have bought it better if Earl was a closet queen who marries Lisa for her money (and he genuinely likes to spend time with an eccentric diva...) She finds out, drama ensues, kicks him to the curb..then remembers that they had a great time ("I should have known when my husband was bitchier than me!") and they become friends..and introduces her to a new man...I would say Ambrose (annoying Lucy to no end) and it would be a nice change from soaps/TVs insistence that all gay men finding love are hot young guys in their 20s.

 

[Mitch64]

The show was really good at that time...and then they let Sheffer have free rein and ..it wasn't.  I gotta say, Ben and Denise are hot.

[VelekaCarruthers]

Sheffer was a script doctor in Hollywood before Goutman and Dwyer Dobin recruited him to ATWT. He was not a creative visionary with tales to tell like Marland, Nixon, Lemay. Or even Long who creatively ripped off all the movies she ever saw and books she ever read.  Sheffer needed to contribute to stories not oversee them. He had some great ideas but he ran out of them fast.

[adrnyc]

 

I agree with your take on Earl. Although I loved seeing Farley Granger on the show he was so obviously Gay Gay McSuper Gay...your storyline would've been more interesting. And I can totally see Lisa falling in love for a gay man once she was older and more vulnerable. 

And Ben is hot period! 

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 I don't think he ever had success with a woman though. His religion really got in his way. 

I disagree with you but only from something I saw 24 years ago. Now that I'm at his period during my rewatch of the show, (and first time watching the 80s and 90s,) I can't wait to see how I feel about his tenure. So far, what's happening on the show is far better than what Leah Laiman had been spouting out for a year! In fact, he's taking the mess of the show he inherited from her and is turning all of the stories and characters around. And the actors are loving it - finally back to giving the fantastic performances I haven't seen many of them give since around '97.

[DRW50]

Jim Muneco often uploads videos that were once on Youtube. I looked and looked to see if this one already was but can't find another copy. So I will post this one:

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@DramatistDreamer This is another episode focused in part on Craig's "death" aftermath so I thought it might interest you.

[Mitch64]

I remember them calling him "Dr. Bod" as opposed to Dr. Bob..but Denise has a great body herself and a great sexual energy..I wish she stayed around longer. She would have been great as one of the black Spauldings on GL.

[Soapsuds]

Someone had previously uploaded this episode. The date for the episode is wrong. It's from August 27, 1987. 

[Soapsuds]