As The World Turns Discussion Thread

[Paul Raven]

Peyton Place made James Douglas a TV star but I think he was typecast after that,He next turned up on AW and spent the rest of his career on NY soaps.

[NothinButAttitude]

Been reading synopsis on early 80s ATWT as of late and I am wondering how people felt about the story of Barbara having visions about being a woman named Bianca? Did you like it? Hate it?

 

I'm interested in seeing some episodes featuring this to form my own opinion. I think i am off to YT to find some.

[P.J.]

well, I was a preteen and remember thinking her "visions" or previous life thing was boring.

[Khan]

I haven't encountered an ATWT fan yet who didn't think that particular story was boring or not the kind of story that fit on the show.

[NothinButAttitude]

I remember long ago when I used to post on SOC that a few of the posters over there used to proclaim they loved this story b/c it led to Barbara's best pairing and true love (in their opinions), Gunnar. 

[vetsoapfan]

I absolutely loathed this story, as well as the asinine Mr. Big nonsense. Low-brow science fiction did NOT belong on our once-adult, once erudite ATWT. For the record, I also hated the Ice Princess saga (GH), the Dreaming Death story (TGL), the Eterna drivel (OLTL), the devil possession garbage (DAYS),  and all the other ridiculous, campy, usually stupid attempts at melding sci-fi onto the soaps. Along with axing the vets and dismantling the shows' cores and themes, I firmly believe that the drive to this sort of material killed the soaps.

[Mitch]

They quickly dumped that story...the audience hated it, and as if we needed MORE Dee/James/Babs/Gunnar on the show while everyone else (besides Tom, Margo, John and Steve Betsy) sat around.

Plus the accents and costumes were terrible! But it did lead into one of my faves (of the really stupid Dobsons stories) of James gaslighting Babs.  I did hate Gunnar and his over bite.

[DRW50]

I think I posted some photos of that story many many pages ago...there's an episode of it that was put on DVD, isn't there? I can't remember. Someone may want to check AsTheWorldStillTurns on YT.

 

I think Jacqueline Schultz panned the story in her leaving interview.

[NothinButAttitude]

 

@@vetsoapfan, so you don't care for any sensationalized story? Like the wonderful arc of Quint and Nola searching for the Golden cradle? If they are rooted in realism could you like them?

 

@Mitch: I'm starting to notice that a lot of people on here hated Gunnar. The Barbara/James gaslighting story was the story where James had her committed, right?

 

I will go and check that channel for some clips. 

[victoria foxton]

The Dobson's were hit or miss on ATWT during their two runs. I find it strange since their run on GL was flawless from everything i've read. From what i've seen of Gunther i was not impressed. Were Barbara and Gunther popular? Which was worse The Mr. Big story or Barbara's past life? What other outlandish stories took place during this time?

Edited March 26, 2016 by victoria foxton

[P.J.]

Gunnar St. Clair was on ATWT. Gunther  was the creepy waiter on Friends.

 

I think a lot of Gunnar was time and place. I liked him. But I think he was in a clunker story for a lot of his time on ATWT. He ends up rescuing Barbara from James, but then I swear, he's dead like six months later. And I would split it this way---Gunnar was Barbara's greatest hero, while Hal was her greatest love.

 

As for the Dobsons--they are probably the clearest case of pre-and post GH success and how it changed daytime. While I'm sure GL under them wasn't "flawless"---but it was traditional soap with a progressive tendencies. After GH's success with Luke/Laura/Ice Princess crap, every show throws in more adventure/sci-fi "twists" that deemphasize true interwoven drama. 

[Soapsuds]

Gunnar was a favorite of mine and loved Gunnar vs James story. I am surprised many didn't care for Gunnar. I am more shocked to hear CZ say that Henry(eww..) was a greater love to Barbara than Gunnar. She apparently didnt care for her pairing with Gunnar. 

[vetsoapfan]

Edited March 26, 2016 by vetsoapfan

[victoria foxton]

A flaming gay bearish Henry i never bought him with Katie, Vienna, or Babs. But i am glad Barbara did end up with someone at the end. 

Edited March 26, 2016 by victoria foxton

[P.J.]

I've never heard CZ having problems with Hugo Napier. But you never know how much everything else influences their personal favs. Considering how little time they had together, and what a different person Babs was with Gunnar, I could get where maybe she and Henry were right for each other at the end of ATWT.