Wonder how ATWT would've been with a different EP, same goes for GL

Well, as much as I dislike Goutman, I don't know if ATWT would have lasted a decade more without him.

I do think the ending would have been much better without him.

I think deep down Goutman had contempt for any ATWT that had come before him.

I don't think he had contempt---I just don't think he ever quite understood or appreciated what made ATWT unique from the ABC soaps. I think it drove him to make bad decisions, from hiring ABC alumni to "modernizations" that ultimately hurt the show deeply.

I don't think he had contempt---I just don't think he ever quite understood or appreciated what made ATWT unique from the ABC soaps. I think it drove him to make bad decisions, from hiring ABC alumni to "modernizations" that ultimately hurt the show deeply.

I agree with you to a point, but for me not bringing back more vets in the last year, and instead just going along with new stories that no one gave a crap about, was contempt.

January 1972 Daytime TV

Jerry Lacy (Simon Gilbey) left September 23. Also leaving was Nina Hart (Meredith Harcourt).

These 1979 are perfection!

It looks as though a new headwriter/executive producer has taken over after the end of the Willows story. Lisa is "lighter" as a character, we get many group scenes and it looks as though several characters are on their way out. (Ralph, Valerie, Kate, Jay with Bennett and Hester already gone) I don't think that this Tom, Sheila, Grant, Don and Mary lasted much longer, did they? The Andropoulos brother, James Stenbeck and Hippy Tom were on their way to the show along with Margo, Lyla, Brad, Eric, nu-Natalie and Dana Delaney's character, right?

Yes.

I think this Tom was around to mid-year, Sheila not long. Don and Mary maybe to late in the year.

I just watched Tom and Margo's 1983 wedding and this is a different show from 1979.

Justin Deas reminds me of Roger Howarth as Tom. He can be annoying one moment and a lot of fun the next.

I look forward to the 1979 episodes daily!!! I just hope that we will have access to episodes well into the mid 1980s!!!! Great job on doing this, but was wondering about Guiding Light. Is it possible to get those episodes from this time period also? I believe GL was really great around that time.

These are being shared by We Love Soaps, as they had been releasing DVDs of some of this material until P&G wanted to end the arrangement. I guess they could upload GL at some point, I don't know.

Interesting that this is the transition to the Dobson's material. They were getting rid of Ralph, Dana, etc, setting up Dee and Ian for his heart attack sex, and introduced Brad Hollister. I know they were trying for a Lisa/Brad sparring relationship but what was his original purpose (that Indian Nickel thing was weird.) And tell me, was that supposed to be "hot" looking in the late 70s?

Was the convo between Nancy and Bob about change supposed to reflect the show?

It was weird seeing Bob Hughes and Ed Bauer have an argument over a woman.

Damn, those people liked to drink coffee. I was surprised when Nancy said she had wine.

I think the Dobson's tied Sheila to either Steve or Nick Andropoulis.. but I do think she didn't last too long.

I guess it's OK to post this, since the DVDs likely won't be released again and aren't available for purchase that I know of.

A while back someone uploaded the full September 1979 episode that was on the first ATWT DVD release. It takes place right after Ian's collapse.