As The World Turns Discussion Thread

[FrenchFan]

The scripts I have were written by Irna Phillips, Warren Swanson and John Boruff. 

[Soapsuds]

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[Paul Raven]

Katherine Babecki is listed as headwriter in La Guardia's book and I'm pretty sure that was really Katherine Phillips. I think at most she was a co-writer like Boruff etc or a scriptwiter from Irna's outlines.

It's a pity that Katherine wasn't more dedicated to preserving her mother's legacy in some way.

[wonderwoman1951]

yes, katherine babecki was katherine phillips. it’s not entirely clear what her role as headwriter was — may well be that it was in name only. ed trach told me she never put forth any story ideas in meetings. fred silverman had no recollection of her as headwriter. according to her brother, tom, kathy never went through any kind of apprenticeship. 

in irna’s unfinished memoir, all my worlds, she goes into great detail describing kathy’s  deeply troubled childhood. according to irna, kathy wanted to find her birth mother, whom she said she wanted to kill. likely the inspiration for the amanda holmes story. so, it’s not surprising that kathy never sent the amw manuscript to the wisconsin historical society where irna’s papers are archived.

it was only after kathy’s death in 2009, that the manuscript became available. 

[P.J.]

Ugh. This is exactly why writers should never listen to actors pitching story ideas. It sucked, and it went against established character history. Holden and Carly never got along. And it really figures MB would paint Lily as the victim and Carly as dumb enough to "misinterpret" something between Jack and Lily. I knew there was a reason I hated her.

[TVFAN1144]

Who wrote the Elizabeth/Dan/Paul/Susan story?   Irma hated it or at least the Elizabeth character and actress

[Paul Raven]

Irna began the story in 1969 and as far as I can make out was responsible for Dan impregnating both women at the same time, even though I have seen claims that it was written in her absence and she found that twist distasteful. 

It has been written that when she returned Irna quickly killed off Elizabeth and Paul and sent Dan packing but Irna was back in Jan 72 and Paul didn't die until Nov of that year. I believe Liz died in early 73 and Dan left a few months later so Irna took her time in dismantling that story.

The first Liz Jane House was replaced in June 72 by Judith McGilligan. 

[FrenchFan]

Liz Talbot was introduced during summer 1968. I saw it in the scripts I received recently. Will try to write more recaps about it soon.

[TVFAN1144]

What’s strange is that if Irma really disliked this storyline she basically did the same thing with Bob Jennifer and Kim

[Paul Raven]

In February 1970 Irna Phillips departed after 14 years of writing ATWT, 12 of which the show was #1.

Joel Kane was announced as new headwriter-a puzzling choice to me. Kane had written for movies and primetime, but never a soap. It seems odd to choose someone with no soap experience to take on the show but maybe P&G and CBS wanted someone more manageable in the job after Irna. He only lasted a year and that gig doesn't even make it on his IMDB. He ended up living out his life in Australlia and writing for some primetime soaps there, dying in 1993.

All in all a bit of a mystery man and a forgotten footnote in ATWT history.

[FrenchFan]

#3189 – Monday, July 15th 1968

Pa told Chris how Tom and Sally were babysitting little Chuckie when he got fever and that Tom called Bob to help. Chris didn’t like the fact that Tom was babysitting. He also told Pa that Nancy wanted to go visit Penny in August but Chris thought Penny should come back home.

While Judge Lowell was reading a mystery novel, Claire tried to know where he went at night. He admitted he went to see Ellen to talk about how worried he was about Claire seeing Michael again. Claire assured Judge Lowell she would keep on seeing Michael, she was sure things were different. She had realized she was the first woman Michael ever loved. She would see Dick Martin for dinner thought the following day.

Tom arrived home. He told Pa and Chris that Nancy sent him bring Sally back at her place. He told them the baby seemed ill and Bob and Dr. Thompson were taking care of the situation. Nancy called. She told Chris she was at Lisa’s. Bob and Dr. Thompson drove Chuckie to the hospital as the situation was serious. She was waiting for Lisa. Chris said he would join Nancy and then drive her and Lisa at the hospital as soon as Lisa was back.

Lisa was on her way back home from the concert she attended with neighbour Judy Becker. When Lisa entered, Nancy told her very gently about Chuckie being at the hospital. Lisa broke down in tears.

#3190 – Tuesday, July 16th 1968

At the Stewarts’, David told Ellen he regretted not going to Lisa’s when Bob asked him. Ellen tried to ease his conscience as he was very tired with all the work he was doing lately.

Tom was angry at Nancy as she pushed him to leave but he wanted to remain near Chuckie. Pa tried to reason him but Tom was fed up being treated like a child. David called. Pa had to tell him Bob brought Chuckie to the hospital. Tom was furious he was not told about the seriousness of the situation and he left for the hospital despite Pa’s saying.

Nancy tried to calm Lisa when Chris arrived. They left for the hospital. At the hospital, Susan asked Karen if she had seen Dan. She informed Karen that Chuckie was at the hospital and the kid might need surgery.

Meanwhile, Ellen talked to David about Christine. She was sure the woman would finally leave the house but David refused to discuss the matter and would like Ellen to respect the trial period they all agreed to have. David couldn’t stop thinking about Bob and decided to go to the hospital.

At the hospital, Bob and Dr. Thompson agreed that Chuckie needed surgery but Dr. Parker couldn’t be located. Lisa arrived with Chris and Nancy. Even if Nurse Ames tried to stop her, Lisa wanted to see Chuckie immediately. Dan stopped Lisa and asked Bob to talk to her. She cried hysterically.

#3191 – Wednesday, July 17th 1968

Christine had put the Stewart girls to bed and she asked Ellen to borrow a book in the library. Ellen told Christine about Lisa Hughes’ story – how she adopted a child and how this child was then hospitalized. They reflected about how Tom’s life was affected by his parents’ divorce. Ellen asked Christine to keep an eye on the kids as she wanted to see her mother.

At the hospital, Bob brought Chris, Nancy and Lisa to a small room. He explained to them that Chuckie needed surgery. He wanted Dr. Parker to proceed but he was not located yet. He asked Lisa to trust him and she agreed. Bob asked Lisa if she wanted to contact the father. Lisa wondered if he might care. David arrived at the hospital and Dan told him Chuckie would need surgery for Mackel’s Diverticulum. Bob joined them. They worried about Dr. Parker not being available. Meanwhile, Chris phoned Pa and told him about Chuckie needing surgery. Pa told Chris that Tom heard it talking on the phone with David and that Tom left for the hospital.

Dr. Thompson thought the resident should do the surgery but Bob insisted to wait for Dr. Parker who was at theater. In the waiting area, Lisa told Chris and Nancy she might be punish for her behavior but Chris and Nancy dismissed her fears. Lisa decided to call Michael but she learned he was out of Oakdale.

#3192 – Thursday, July 18th 1968

While Lisa was on the phone, Nancy and Chris remembered the time Tom was a child and was also hospitalized. Nancy tried to know from Chris if Lisa had contacts with Chuckie’s father but he dismissed her. David arrived and told Dr. Parker would perform the surgery and Dan would assist him. Nancy remembered Dan took care of Lisa when she had pneumonia when Chuckie was born.

At the Cassens’, Claire told Judge Lowell she would like to go on a cruise as Penny suggested in the note she sent her. Judge Lowell thought she should talk to Dick as he took one. Michael called from Indianapolis to say goodbye. Ellen arrived and told Claire and Judge Lowell that Lisa’s son was at hospital in need for surgery. She noticed how lonely Lisa should feel without Chuckie’s father at her side.

Nancy found Lisa who was phoning her mother. She told Lisa she could go and see Chuckie before the surgery. Dr. Parker assured Lisa he would do his best to save Chuckie. Lisa then told Bob Alma would be there as soon as she could get a plane back from Rockford and that she tried to contact the baby’s father to no avail. Bob and Lisa remembered that December years ago when Tom was hospitalized and Doug Cassen saved his life. Bob comforted Lisa.

Chris told Nancy what Pa told him on the phone – Tom was supposed to be on his way to the hospital. Meanwhile, Tom arrived. He heard a resident and the supervisor talking about how surprising it was that Dan Stewart was attending the surgery as he was also the one who was present when Mrs. Hughes gave birth to her premature baby. Tom was dumbfounded then asked for Lisa and found her with Chris, Nancy and Bob. Lisa fell into her son’s arms.

#3193 – Friday, July 19th 1968

Bob had sent Nancy and Chris back home. They talked to Pa about the situation at the hospital. Pa asked about the baby’s father and Nancy said he should be with Lisa. Pa was also afraid Tom would learn that Chuckie was really Lisa’s son at the hospital as the kid was born there and many people knew Chuckie was Lisa’s biological son.

At the hospital, Tom, Bob and Lisa were in the room waiting for news. Bob left to get news and Lisa realized Tom was nervous. He remembered what he heard about Chuckie also when Lisa told him about her friend dying and how she wanted to adopt the little boy. Tom then asked Lisa if her friend in Rockford told her who the father of her son was before she died. Lisa assured she didn’t.

Bob asked Nurse Ames to ring surgery. In surgery, Dr. Parker and Dan were surprised to find an internal hernia but they could end the surgery. David arrived and told Bob the surgery was over and Chuckie was sent to Recovery. He told him about the hernia. Bob wanted to talk with Dr. Parker.

Dr. Parker and Bob joined Lisa and Tom. Dr. Parker assured the surgery was okay. Bob told Tom he should go back home with David driving him. Tom remembered again the talk he overheard about Lisa giving birth to Chuckie.

Edited July 20, 2023 by FrenchFan

[TVFAN1144]

Thank you again for these episode reviews 

Very slow with lots of flashbacks and recalls.  That was what was so special about the writing of this show back then 

[TVFAN1144]

Sadly Chuckie will grow up to be a rarely seen child and tragically die

Too bad.  He could have grown to be a wild rebellious bastard child jealous of his brother Tom who has the respectable Hughes name.   The Stewart’s would resent him because he was Michael Sheas bad seed
 

Could have been a Roger Thorpe type

[Paul Raven]

There was a lot of repetition and flashbacks, as many viewers couldn't watch everyday and no VCRs or newspaper summaries to help.

Also with the show being live a flashback that took up a few minutes of airtime made it easier on the cast and crew working that day.

Those were the days when the older characters like Pa Hughes and Judge Lowell got airtime and a point of view. By the 80's whatever vet characters were left got wheeled out once in a while to be a listening post or a few lines in a crowd scene.

[FrenchFan]

Exactly, I love how Pa Hughes and Judge Lowell are very integrated in the story. Judge Lowell and Claire's scenes are the best when he told her his mind about Michael.