As The World Turns Discussion Thread

[SoapDope]

I'm glad they got rid of Brad and was surprised he lasted 2 years. The character and actor were a dud from day 1 and got progressively worse. 

To be honest I was not impressed with Lisa Loring as Cricket. She was never brought back and I don't think Cricket was ever mentioned in later years. Diane Franklin may have pulled off Cricket if she had ben cast in that part instead of Lois. 

Suzanne Davidson was good as a young Betsy. She kind of gives off Tatum O'Neal vibes. I liked Meg Ryan, but she kind of played Betsy as a ditz. Frost was good and reminded me a bit of Lindsay Wagner.  

[Reverend Ruthledge]

I know Margo and, perhaps Craig, mentioned Cricket at least a couple of times over the years and her son, Billy, was on the show for a while as an adult. But even up to the last few years I remember Cricket getting a mention or two. I liked Lisa Loring for some reason so I didn't mind Cricket but she was kind of an airhead. 

Edited August 5, 2024 by Reverend Ruthledge

[SoapDope]

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[NothinButAttitude]

So I guess the next few clips will play out the demise of Melinda. That sucks that she had to die pining after muppet-looking Brad Hollister. I hate how Melinda never got a mention from Kim, Babs, or Betsy in future years. 

[Reverend Ruthledge]

Right? I didn't start watching until 1985 and if I never read a history book I'd never know Melinda existed. Even after I learned of her existence, I never thought of Barbara, Rick and Frannie having another sibling. It's like Melinda never existed. 

[SoapDope]

It's a shame they killed Melinda off. Like I said before writers back in the day had "killing off" on the brain when writing out characters they no longer had an immediate use for or grew tired of.

Rick Ryan really should have been brought back at some point. I could picture someone like Gregory Harrison in the role of NuRick or cast him as Chuck Shea back from the dead. 

[DRW50]

Thanks @SoapDope for the clip.

The poor quality of these last few clips gives them a real horror vibe. That deeply sad scene with Betsy and Melinda in the previous clip followed by her going back into the main living room of house that looked like it was rotting away. It's very difficult to watch.

I suppose it was just too easy for future writers to not mention Melinda, as she was only on for a few years and never had any truly substantial story with Kim or Barbara. Similar to why Maggie was never mentioned (even though Cricket had a few mentions over the years).

[NothinButAttitude]

It wouldn't've killed the writers either to have Jennifer drop a line about Melinda when she had a ghostly visit when she visited Kim in her coma back in '96. It just bothers me how none of these writers take the time to study the show and crack up a book, interview actors about their characters, or read recaps. It mean it was all accessible to them. Maybe it is just me but I find that to be the most entertaining part of the writing process--doing research. 

[Reverend Ruthledge]

Very few of the later soap writers "got" the genre. 

[Khan]

Peter Brouwer is the kind of quirky-looking actor I'll always favor, but he was simply wrong for a role like Brad Hollister.

[DRW50]

To be honest I don't think he's ugly at all - I think the show just set him up badly, both with a horribly written character and expecting him to have charisma he didn't have. Having Melinda go on about how sexy he is and he's the hottest man ever doesn't help.

Beyond most of them not knowing or caring about past history, my guess is producers and executives also wanted as little as possible. I was surprised they even remembered Jennifer or brought her back at that late date.

[SoapDope]

It seems like the writers just made stuff up as they went along with no real plan how to flesh out the character. 

His look was very typical of the 70's and 80's with the long hair and mustache. Mustaches were very trendy back then with the baby boomer men like todays generation of men growing beards. Mustaches will be back when they are no longer considered a joke.

[DramatistDreamer]

That’s what I think every time I see him in these episodes. Surely, actors like Burt Reynolds and then Tom Selleck must have been a large part of why the style of having a prominent mustache became so popular during the 1970s and 80s. Seems like his styling and personal was trying to draw on those influences.

[SoapDope]

Yes, Reynolds and Selleck helped with influencing the trend. Lee Horsley, Sam Elliot, John Beck, Eric Braeden etc...are some of the others who sported the look. Most cops and firefighters also had them. If you go back and watch game shows from the 70's and 80's the vast majority of the male contestants and the guys the audience have mustaches. My Dad and just about every boomer man had one at some point.

The thing is, it works for most men of that generation. They can pull it off. Now days if a guy from younger generation grows one, it's supposed to be an ironic joke. Look how many douchebag comedians ( Will Ferrell, Jason Sudeikis etc...) when trying to do a off the wall character they will grow a stache and thinks it screams " look at me, I'm funny because I grew a Dad/Pornstache. 

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An example of a male contestant on the Price Is Right circa 1980. He is also a firefighter.

 

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[DramatistDreamer]

Also, John Shaft (Richard Roundtree)

Reggie Jackson, Billy Dee Williams, Isaac from the “Love Boat”.