If the story at least remains within the realm of possibility, I can accept it. If the material becomes so ridiculous, so absurd, that it falls completely into the fantasy/science-fiction camp, I do not believe it's suitable for the soap medium. Having a main character kidnapped by an extraterrestrial would be perfectly reasonable and acceptable within the STAR TREK franchise, but I don't want to see Laura Ingalls Wilder beaming aboard a space ship, you know?

So for example, the golden cradle arc on GL (like I mentioned before) was fine because it was somewhat rooted in reality? 

 

I gotta go re-watch the Dreaming Death story on GL and reform my opinion again b/c couldn't that story be rooted in realism? Or was it so absurd you just couldn't accept it?

If the story at least remains within the realm of possibility, I can accept it. If the material becomes so ridiculous, so absurd, that it falls completely into the fantasy/science-fiction camp, I do not believe it's suitable for the soap medium. Having a main character kidnapped by an extraterrestrial would be perfectly reasonable and acceptable within the STAR TREK franchise, but I don't want to see Laura Ingalls Wilder beaming aboard a space ship, you know?

 

So for example, the golden cradle arc on GL (like I mentioned before) was fine because it was somewhat rooted in reality? 

 

I gotta go re-watch the Dreaming Death story on GL and reform my opinion again b/c couldn't that story be rooted in realism? Or was it so absurd you just couldn't accept it?

Nola Reardon was a character who, herself, lived in a world of fantasy. Old movies and daydreams about a Hollywoodized existence were what kept her going during the rough times. Involving a person like her in a somewhat fantastical plot would work for me more than, for example, having Bert Bauer in a safari hat, searching for extraterrestrial treasure in the jungles of Peru, LOL.

 

I can enjoy science fiction or fantasy very much when it's presented well in an appropriate setting. I loved the first season of ROSWELL, the first V miniseries from 1983, etc., but trying to suddenly graft one medium into another (sci-fi into soaps, ballet into sci-fi, whatever) usually does not work for me because the results more often than not are awkward failures. For me personally, outside of DARK SHADOWS, which was intended to be a non-traditional series which dealt with the supernatural and fantasy), I cannot think of a single example of a sci-fi or fantasy storyline that has worked well on daytime TV. Indeed, the inclusion of these painfully-awful plots is what made me finally drop several of my once-favorite soaps.

April 1963 TV Guide review.

 

 

Actor James Noble, who played Donald Hughes #2, has passed away at the age of 94.

why did no one ever tell me Governor Gatling used to be a Hughes? WOW.

 

 

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?

At times when I watched ATWT when the Dobsons were writing it, I had a hard time believing these were the same people who wrote what I consider perhaps the best years of GL.

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?

At times when I watched ATWT when the Dobsons were writing it, I had a hard time believing these were the same people who wrote what I consider perhaps the best years of GL.

I felt that way when I saw their work as HW and creators of Santa Barbara.

Reading a soap magazine that was probably having news from late 1974  - they mention that Jennifer's "mystery disease" was diagnosed as MS, after being left vague for a while, and it was suggested that she wouldn't have a long life (I guess this was one of those instances where they changed their mind, at least for a while). They also mention that the story was supposed to have Rick kill John, which would end his horrible treatment of Kim, but viewers suspected where the plot was going and wrote in letters asking the show not to kill John. They instead had him just leave town for a while.

Does anyone know how long Rick Ryan (Con Roche) was around in the 1970's? My best guess would be from 1972 to 1975? 

Soap Central says 1972-1973.

He had to be around through at least 1974 per that magazine (the date was January 1975, but it would have been put together a few months earlier).

Is it possible that they were considering bringing Rick back to kill John? I always read that his main story in the early 70s was trying to ruin Bob's life, and once he succeeded in driving a big enough rift between Bob and Jennifer (enough to make Bob sleep with Kim), he left town. I would assume he left around the time Frannie was born onscreen, which I think is 1973 (I forget who was born first out of her and Emily).

When the Frannie/Sabrina story kicked into high gear, didn't they bring back Rick Ryan (the original actor), saying he engineered the whole thing?

 

When the Frannie/Sabrina story kicked into high gear, didn't they bring back Rick Ryan (the original actor), saying he engineered the whole thing?

He initially came back for the anniversary several months earlier, I think (or did he?), and then that story. I think he was the lackey of the British villains who were pursuing Sabrina.