As The World Turns Discussion Thread

[All My Shadows]

I am utterly speechless! So much of what I asked for in that holy grail thread is surfacing!

This really feels like Nancy’s golden age. Her hair and wardrobe were more flattering than any look she had in the 50s and 60s, and she’s loads more interesting here than she ever was from the 80s and on. I love that even this deep into it, we were still getting those great Nancy/Grandpa scenes that were a hallmark of the show for so long. Grandpa! Never imagined I’d ever see anything of him in his last few years on the show.

The David/Ellen scene ticked me off bc Patricia Bruder was 36 years old at the time, and this is what they have her character doing. Jay Stallings was hot as hell and so different from what your typical ATWT man looked like at the time. She deserved to let that hair down and get her some.

Kim and John!! Early Kim with the long hair that I alluded to literally a week ago with no expectation of seeing any time soon. The extended sequence with the voiceover “thinking” is so of the time, and it’s crazy to know that this is the story that pushed Irna out for good. I so wish we could have seen Jen here too, which I was kinda surprised to her them call her just Jen. Her granddaughter would be just Jen thirty years later.

Was Barbara gone by this point?

And then to have a credit roll. Something, anything, with Alma Miller has to show up. I need to see Lisa and her mother.

You can tell the organ was on its way out. The episode barely had a score, and I can’t imagine Charlie Paul was still up to playing live every day at this point. The orchestral theme had to debut by like November.

Thanks so much for the tag, @Vee!!

Edited January 31 by All My Shadows

[Franko]

For heaven's sake, the episode literally begins with Nancy offering Chris and Grandpa some coffee. How much more quintessential can it be?

[DRW50]

Thanks for finding a timeframe. I hope we get to see some of this someday. 

I wish they hadn't made Rick such a full heel. 

[Mona Kane Croft]

In the Frannie/Sabrina reveal storyline around 1986, didn't Rick play a part in concealing Sabrina's birth and getting the baby out of Oakdale?  And if I'm not mistaken, the hospital administrator (forget his name) and John Dixon were also involved?  That Frannie/Sabrina doppelgänger plot was one of my favorite Douglas Marland storylines, but in the beginning it was extremely complicated, especially the number of "bad guys" who took baby Sabrina, got her out of Oakdale and eventually to England. I'm surprised they all were able to keep the secret as long as they did. Brilliant use of history, in my opinion.  And involving Rick Ryan and Johnny-boy Dixon was even more brilliant.  

Edited January 31 by Mona Kane Croft

[Mitch64]

I can't believe the Dobson's had so much trouble writing for her...a domineering woman dealing with aging and not ever wanting to be a sweet grandmother. They tried a bit with Nancy breaking bad on Joyce to her bio kid...and when they brought her back pre Marland she was back to being in charge..insulting John's mustache and looking down at Bob moving into Kim's house...rubbing up against Kim...then Marland came and she was just a dull sweet gram.

[Contessa Donatella]

Quite honestly I think a huge factor is that the Dobsons wanted to be still at GL ... P&G was always into promoting from within & seemed to be equally at ease with switching things & people around as if they were interchangeable & I don't think they always were. 

[Mona Kane Croft]

OMG!!  What did Nancy say about John's mustache?  That must have been hilarious.  I'd love to watch that scene!!

[MarlandFan]

Rick and Howard Lansing stole Sabrina and sold her.  She was eventually adopted by a young British couple.  John Dixon was not involved in the plot but found out a few years later after the adoptive parents and baby Sabrina (he thought) were killed in a train wreck.  Since the baby was dead, he decided not to tell Bob or Kim since he thought it might cause them unnecessary pain.  In 1987, after finding Sabrina, Bob was determined to know the entire truth and tracked down Rick who was stuck in a Central American country (?) with no hope of returning to the US.  I believe he finally admitted to Bob that John had nothing to do with it. 

[Reverend Ruthledge]

Yes, he did. And this WAS great use of history as Jennifer was Rick's mom, he hated Bob and he was in Oakdale during the time of Sabrina's birth. So, his involvement made sense and didn't seem like a plot contrivance. 

[GymnastGuy]

Thank you.  Very kind words.  I have a lot to upload when time allows.  2025 is grim and I decided to upload stuff I have collected over the years.

Uploading some more 1970's ATWT clips that are classic.  Including the dinner from hell.  Enjoy!

[VelekaCarruthers]

Robert Soderberg and Edith Sommer. Great writers.  To think they went from head writers at GL from 68-73 then switched to ATWT from 73-78 (they were still writing in 9/1978). Ironically, the Dobsons made the same switch from GL (where they served for five years) to ATWT. Soderberg wrote scripts for the Dobsons on GL in 1979 before they moved to ATWT in Jan 1980.  He also served as ATWT story consultant in Spring 1984 (not to mention his stints as co-HW on AW).  Edith didn't work in soaps after 1978 and died in 91. Wonder why. 

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[vetsoapfan]

I loved all the long-running shows at one time or another, although TGL is probably my all-time favorite.

Many soaps were at their best in the 1970s, so I'm particularly interested in anything you wish to share with us from that decade.

Fans appreciate the treats, believe me.

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[GymnastGuy]

I'm Mitch.  I am glad that so many are enjoying some old shows that I have saved and decided to spread the word and load on YouTube.  

I will be uploading a couple classis clip from ATWT 70's.  Including the dinner part from Hell!

Enjoy

 

[Franko]

Oh, if this is what I think it is, we're in for a treat. I remember reading @saynotoursoap's description of it back in the day and marveling.

[Mitch64]

It was when she came back for Bob and Kim's wedding..I think Johnny D walked in as all the Hughes (minus Chris) were in Bob's living room and John walks in (why I have no idea) and gives some of his usual snark and Nancy haughtily says, "Well, hello Dr. Dixon, I see nothing has changed about you, except the mustache!"

I think a haughty vinegary Nancy (which seems to come from Wagner's real life personality) would be fun to write for.