As The World Turns Discussion Thread

[Soaplovers]

I don't think the Dobson's were horrible, just probably not a great fit for the show.

At the same time, it all depends on what type of tone one enjoys. For me, I found good stuff with Marland, but I think he was also over-rated at the same time. Plus, the Dobson's were known for quirky characters and off the wall stories.. which seemed to fit GL and SB.. just not ATWT.

Edited January 25, 2014 by Soaplovers

[DRW50]

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[Mitch]

I agree. I think the main thing is that they really tossed out that " close family feeling," that the show had for so long. Everyone was connected to everyone else, etc. That didnt come back until they left. I think that the show could have managed the camp, adventure and cartoonishness of the Dobsons if they had kept that family thing going. A LOT of Marland was camp...Duncan moving an entire castle with secret passages to midwestern Oakdale? The "ghost" monks of the castle, the real "ghost," of the castle, Lillith, the shrunken head of annoying Shannon (come to think of it most of the camp was surrounding that dumb castle..) but it was okay as the family background was intact.

[Soaplovers]

This looks like the start of the Dobson's with Nick, the bookstore burndown, and Barbara making mysterious visits. When do the Dobson's start to dismantle the structure?

Interesting that Annie and Barbara are roommates and friends. It would have been interesting to have seen Annie's reaction to Barbara and Emily's feud. Though I agree that the character was played out by the time she left in 1984, though I think Dee could have survived long-term if this Dee had stayed on instead of being recast by a more boring actress.

[DRW50]

Marland seemed to take out all of his wackier excesses through Shannon and Shannon/Duncan. Once Margaret Reed left his writing seemed to become more somber all around.

[P.J.]

Duncan/Shannon had their roots in pure gothic romance, not camp. I'm not denying Marland had his farcical moments, (aaah, my wee lassie," as Duncan holds Shannon's tennis-ball head..) but he was much more rooted in emotion than slapstick.

[DRW50]

I think Duncan/Shannon were more gothic romance, but Shannon had a fair amount of camp (especially with Harriet and Earl). That seemed to tone down after a few years, of course.

[DramatistDreamer]

Before Zoey Deschanel, there was Shannon O'Hara. Shannon was quirky before it became a 'thing'.

I actually have a question about camp vs. broad humor.

To me, something can't qualify as true camp if it is only regulated to one or two characters, unless they are the only two characters on the whole show. To me, the majority of the show has to be zany enough to qualify as true camp. An obvious example would be Passions.

As The World Turns had zany elements and Shannon was a zany character but I wouldn't say that qualifies as camp in the true sense of the word.

Maybe that's just me...what do others think?

[DRW50]

It depends on the material. I'd say a lot of Shannon's run could qualify as zany, but her dunking Barbara's head in the toilet was pure camp. Actually most of Barbara in 1986 was camp, camp, camp, probably the gayest thing Doug Marland ever wrote. (Lucinda was the same way - she toned down a lot once they put her with John, but 1986 was diva drag histrionics).

Edited January 26, 2014 by DRW50

[Soaplovers]

Were there any characters created by Marland on ATWT that would be considered campy, or zany? I know Shannon, Lucinda, and Barbara had their moments.. but he didn't create those characters.

Perhaps Julie?

[P.J.]

IA...I think of Passions as true camp. I remember Shannon and Harriet as more Lucy&Ethel situational slapstick than some defining element of the show.

[DRW50]

Marcy and Tess.

Earl Mitchell was very campy, although that's mostly from Farley Granger's queening.

A lot of other side characters/short-term characters too, like that ridiculous daughter of Jared Carpenter's.

And of course the divine Lilith, who was camp personified.

Edited January 26, 2014 by DRW50

[soapfan770]

Heh, after watching the John is alive clip I decided to dig up this article I recall reading about it. The nasty prosecutor I believe was Brian McColl #2 played by Frank Telfar. From Soap News:

[slick jones]

I think you could think of Julie as more "tramp" then "camp"

[P.J.]

Brian McColl was a lawyer? Damn...don't remember that at all.