As The World Turns Discussion Thread

[DRW50]

Thanks for finding this. A fun interview with Eileen. I posted an earlier video (although maybe they didn't get it from there - that channel never says where they get stuff from so it could be all theirs) some weeks back, so I am going to post that link just in case it is the same as I want to give them some credit.

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[Contessa Donatella]

Apparently there are different versions of this out there. What I have goes from the show opening to Bob & David at a small table in a restaurant.

Thanks for the correction about which holiday. I find it surprising that Nancy made such a big deal about Thanksgiving but also that Bob didn't want them to be alone on Thanksgiving! 

[Reverend Ruthledge]

Someone probably edited it because they wanted to show that it was As the World Turns so they showed the intro but cut out the Pa and Nancy and just started with the Bob and David scene because that was the scene where Walter Cronkite was seen. Sounds like the "icon edit". LOL. 

[Contessa Donatella]

LOL indeed. I thought immediately, this has been edited. Little did I know it even has a name!!!

[Reverend Ruthledge]

I just coined it. 

[Contessa Donatella]

Good for you!!!

[Mona Kane Croft]

I just watched part of a Tom/Margo/Mr Bigg episode of ATWT. Although that storyline was in no way a good fit for ATWT -- probably the show's stupidest plot ever -- it did seem like something that "might" have worked on Guiding Light, if it had been played more gothic, with less comedy, and without Brent Collins as Mr Bigg. And I don't know why I feel that way.

I don't have a problem with casting a little person on a soap opera.  But why must it be in such a bizarro storyline?  Why not cast Mr Collins as a doctor or a lawyer, or somebody's next-door neighbor?  

The scenes featuring Patricia Bruder as Ellen were very enjoyable, and especially Ellen's confrontation with Johnny-boy Dixon.  It was nice seeing Pat Bruder playing some meaty scenes that allowed her to truly act, rather than just react to the troubles of Ellen's adult children.  

But since my internet connection wouldn't take me far enough to view the closing credits, I have no idea who wrote this episode.  Can someone please share who the head-writers were at this time?  And why did anyone think Mr Bigg was a good idea for ATWT?  

[Paul Raven]

The Dobsons were headwriting. This was their second stint.

As for the Mr Big storyline, maybe they were given more autonomy upon their return. It was aforerunner to their wacky santa Barbara stories. ATWT was trying to shake off their stodgy 1970's image. God knows what long time viewers thought. Perhaps a lot enjoyed the change of pace.

Re the Mr Big character played by a little person. It was supposed to be campy and amusing.

Attitudes have changed in 40 years.

[slick jones]

Collins was complete camp on ATWT, but was the heart of AW from 1983 - 88 with Felicia and Cass.

[wonderwoman1951]

or perhaps not!

my mother hated it, stopped watching, and refused to return — no matter how many times i told her that doug marland had righted the ship. 

Edited February 13 by wonderwoman1951

[Contessa Donatella]

Well, for AW fans, since it was the same actor, Wallingford/Mr. Big, that actor was much beloved. Maybe different because of the character, though. 

[TEdgeofNight]

I spent some time on the ATWT set during this time. 402 East 76th Street. Generally, it was a happy set, but some actors weren’t thrilled with Margaret Colin and Justin Deas. They were exploding and annoying their co stars. 

[Paul Raven]

I wonder how some of the veteran actors felt about the changes in the early 80's?

Losing long time castmates might have made them sad, angry or scared.

I guess Henderson, Patricia and Larry would have been pleased as they got meaty material but Don Hastings and Eileen may have felt they were being sidelined.

[Vee]

I am finally getting back to plowing through the back half of ATWT '86, heading towards '87. I apologize for a fairly granular question, but I'm curious: It's October. Denise Darcy has just been revealed as Tad Channing's killer, ending what had become a rather tedious saga with a very strong reveal; they've also fortunately ended the interminable comedy plotline in which Shannon and Harriet are kidnapped by idiot thugs they easily roll over. (Don't get me wrong, the show is overall great but this stuff was dragging on awhile.)

Following the rescue though, Shannon points out that she's faced 'voodoo in the Dominican Republic' and Harriet mentions shrunken heads. I thought Duncan's crazy ex or first wife or whoever with the voodoo and so on didn't come in until much later. But there are substantial gaps in what is available of '86 on YT, including a fair portion of the summer. So I'm curious, when did Shannon come across voodoo, shrunken heads, etc. in this year? Anyone know? Thanks in advance.

I'm also not sure who exactly knows about Beatrice at this point, who I've only seen maybe once or twice and I can't remember the details. And Brian and Shannon are still together at this point, but Brian appears to be having some sort of audio flashback to Beatrice discussing 'Thomas'. What's that about? I wonder when they decided to pivot to Duncan and Shannon vs. Brian, or if Mark Pinter had planned to leave or whatever.

The Craig/Iva stuff where they both admit to taking the fall for each other was very good, especially from Lisa Brown, even If I find it a bit crazy that Iva was willing to go to prison for Craig even though she knew neither of them did it. Does she have that little self worth after her juvenile exploitation by Channing (something Denise is smartly also an apparent victim of)? Obviously Craig/Sierra are great but the rapport here makes you wish they'd played Craig and Iva a bit longer.

Edited February 13 by Vee

[Mona Kane Croft]

Yes, it seemed the Dobsons used the Stewarts as the core family, and the Hughes were pushed to the side.  The Hughes seemed to become less of a family, and more just individual characters.