All My Children Tribute Thread

[DRW50]

1988 will be an...interesting year to go through. It's one of the last that I think has the core of AMC, even though many things go haywire. 

I am curious to know if people think AMC was the worst affected by the strike that year - if it wasn't it must still be high on the list. (admittedly there were issues even before the strike)

Barbara really never did have a good hair day.

Edited January 15 by DRW50

[Maxim]

Thank you for this introduction! And I'm quite happy that in your words... 1988 has the core of AMC... I would not want to start with some horrible season that would make me want to stop watching. I was scared of that, and I debated with myself where to start. But seeing how 1988 is the first nearly complete year available, I decided - there. Of course... I would not have anything to compare it to, so I enjoy it so far. I like how simple and easy it flows... not like some other soaps which are hard to break into and take me a loong time to get used to.  And I don't mean this as a negative. One thing that made an impression on me from today's episode - Erica's dynamic with her mother Mona. They are soo perfectly dysfunctional.  

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Edited January 15 by Maxim

[janea4old]

The January 14, 2025 AMC event at 92Y, from Errol's thread,
I haven't seen a recap but there are some cool Getty images, I posted the Getty link on Errol's thread.

 

[Khan]

Between GH, GL and AMC, Susan Pratt is the QUEEN of Hair Don'ts.

[slick jones]

Sharon Laughlin was cast as Victoria Lord but was replaced by Gillian Spencer before airing.

 

 

 

 

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[Vee]

That's the one. Crazy how these things happen.

I am still curious if Diana DeVegh ever aired as Anne though, to bring it back to the topic.

[dragonflies]

[DRW50]

That's a lovely photo.

At about 7 minutes Cindi Rinehart gets a caller who complains about "Dixie's hair cut off." The worst part is they put a camera on some poor lady in the audience with similar hair and leave it on her as the caller says Dixie "looks old" now.

Some part of the nation was gripped with Cady's hair for about 3-4 years. No wonder she has never had short hair again in her soap run.

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Edited January 15 by DRW50

[Vee]

Dixie's short hair traumatized all of us tbh. The only thing worse was Cady's horrific red hair and bangs in one of her later, less fortunate ATWT stints.

[DRW50]

True, although I think this was an earlier cut she had, not the more severe cut. I can't remember the timelines. 

The one I disliked most was the very blonde pageboy hair around late 95/early 96.

[Maxim]

I'm in such a deep binge of 1988 that I may break my records of non-stop watching. The last time I was binging like this was with Edge of night 1979-early 1980. Even my husband has left me alone and decided it's better not to interrupt me. I don't answer calls, I don't go out. I'm in Pine Valley! I think I'll finish January 1988 tonight !

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[Paul Raven]

Sharon Laughlin joins Mary Grover (cast as Leslie on Y&R) and another actress whose name escapes me, but was cast on Love Is A Many Splendored Thing,  in the dropped before air time group. there might be others.

Mary Jackson played Alice Horton in the Days pilot.

I'm pretty sure Diane De Veagh made it to air but was dropped shortly after.

[gimmetoo]

A great event.  My takeaways:

• Andy was a smart and generous moderator.  He had been a fan girl since the 80s, and knew his stuff.  He kept it moving and gave time to everyone.
• Susan Lucci received top billing, but the other panelists got just as much — if not more — time.  A celebration of AMC - not just Erica Kane.
• Lots of talk about Michael B. Jordan’s start on AMC as a teen.  When he was weighing whether to continue acting or accept a college basketball scholarship, Jill Larsen advised him to take the scholarship !
• Judy Blye Wilson got her flowers for casting so many wonderful actors.  She struggled to get the powers-that-be to hire Mark Consuelos.
• Kelly and Mark believed they were keeping their burgeoning relationship a secret, but Susan said their chemistry was very obvious from the start.  Kelly credited Judy with everything good in her life - husband, children and family.
• Jennifer Bassey was / is a pistol.  About the show’s lighting, she once complained on set that “Kelly Ripa is 23 but this lighting makes her look 85 years old” and went to EP Francesca James when they dressed her MILF character like the Queen Mother.
• Andy asked a very smart question of Lorraine and Francesca - if they felt competitive with the other ABC soaps.  Francesca discussed Gloria Monty’s impact on daytime, but Susan credited Agnes Nixon with having more heart and delivering story not just production values.
• When asked about her favorite husband, Susan said Mona always preferred Tom Cudahy, but she admitted Jack Montgomery was her favorite.  Susan’s favorite sparring partner was Julia Barr (Brooke).
• About taking over Opal from Dorothy Lyman, Jill revealed she had known / worked with Dorothy before she got the role…and in fact they went to rival high schools growing up.
• Kelly’s favorite storyline was the “Who Killed Will Cortlandt” whodunit…but none of the actors could remember who did it.  The audience remembered:  Janet from Another Planet killed Will.
• Francesca James who started on AMC in the beginning with Susan Lucci calls her Susie (which I’ve heard her do before and always find endearing.)
• Originally, Adam was supposed to have a wife in the attic but Lorraine Broderick loved David Canary so much she suggested Adam have a twin (Stuart) instead.
• Ruth Warwick was bawdy, married 8 times in real life, including twice to 1 husband, and in early years would give the young actresses relationship advice between scenes.
• Andy asked if any on-screen couples didn't get along off-screen.  No one would answer, but they whispered the obvious answer amongst themselves.  (We all know who!).

 

Edited January 16 by gimmetoo

[dragonflies]

 

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/five-shocking-reveals-from-all-my-childrens-star-studded-anniversary-panel/?utm_campaign=true_anthem_soapoperadigest&utm_content=manual&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3GBDnwCJSZxJhvH6crCmNH6-XO0J5N4Fkrv1HmPnh37JNnbWjmNrn39bw_aem_fj9ufoSMi7Yf0XsRM2KW9Q#m5zdtsrei4lcg3csf1

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[Khan]

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Thanks for the recap, @gimmetoo!

Edited January 16 by Khan