One Life to Live Tribute Thread

[DRW50]

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[DRW50]

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[GymnastGuy]

You're very welcome!

James Lipton did a very good job writing for The Best of Everything.  It had the worst time slot for a new soap, noon.  Most stations had local news on at noon.

[Khan]

He also did very good work as a dialogue writer for THE DOCTORS, although that's not the same thing as HW'ing.

[EricMontreal22]

As a big fan of The Best of Everything the novel and movie, I always wished some of that survived.

I admit, I never got why noon was an issue.  West coast All my Children aired at noon and growing up I knew so many people who would watch it on their lunch breaks--which is how I discovered it because I went home from school for lunch.

Her Stories is a great book, and its author Elana Levine was a lot of help when I was doing my MA.

And you're right to point out that even back then they were distinctive brands.  I remember back when there was the WOST site, people laughed that the creator refused to call LA filmed soaps, well, soaps...  But I kinda get it.

I will add that I just found it really illuminating to see those early 70s P&G soaps.  When I read all the articles about AMC and OLTL taking off on college campuses, I honestly wondered if the college people were deluding themselves--all the talk about how "these shows aren't remotely the same as my mother's shows"--but in a way I get it.  If you were just flipping channels some afternoon they would come across differently.

[DRW50]

I thought GH used it up to the early/mid '70s.

[All My Shadows]

You’re right. I’ve seen so little of GH’s early years (and in general, honestly), and I just associate it with the rather grandiose piano scores I’ve heard in the few episodes I’ve watched. I haven’t cracked all the way into the recent 66-68 postings yet, but I hear organ in them - though in a much different style from the P&G way.

OLTL. So, I watched all of Mitch’s episodes today, and though all of the episodes focused heavily on Dorian and Matt, I don’t think I could ever tire of watching those two. They’re exactly what RC thought he was doing with Dorian and David, except there’s actual depth here. I remember when Dorian was totally camped out circa 2008-2010, and there were people who were unimpressed with the writing and Robin’s portrayal because they remembered Pinkerton, and now, I see it. I totally see it. You’re always left wondering how the wheels are turning in NP Dorian’s head. She’s like a simmering pot that you know will boil over, but when? Will she remain cool, calm, and collected, or will she finally snap?

[DRW50]

According to Schemering's book, GH's organ music was inventive and fun, which is one of the reasons it held on so long.

I thought of Dorian and David too. They are what Dorian and David were around 1995. Later on they either made David too good or they made him too comedic to the point of being brain dead. I often wanted to see someone kick him in the ass in his later appearances. The only value he brought was showing just how much Ford struggled to rock a Speedo.

I know Robin became so OTT out of job security (or that's one of the big theories), but it's still sad to think of what Dorian became. And we should never see her under the table servicing someone. By that point the character had lost so much of herself. 

If OLTL had gone on I wish they could have taken away all the trappings, like the mansion and the whole "Cramer women" crutch, and maybe we could have seen those flashes of Pinkerton again.

Edited February 2 by DRW50

[Vee]

It was Malone II who made Dorian and David a major thing and solidified them, and early on it was fairly earnest and I thought it really worked. I still like or liked them together, and I think Tuc always showed up. I did get very tired of the Cramer Women/La Boulaie slogans, but I don't mind the house or the overall trappings if the various slogans are quieted down (similar to the Quartermaines on GH when they cut back on the it's-my-house gag or the pizza or Tracy-bashing).

It doesn't help that Robin was often playing for the rafters, but I don't think she ever lost Dorian or who she was so much as she lost her willingness to modulate (and the writing didn't help). I do think seeing Nancy Pinkerton, finally, gives us a look at the earliest core and allows us to find Dorian unpredictable again, partly by way of novelty. It is a spellbinding performance, as I said a few posts back. But I wouldn't count Robin out with the right material and direction, or even a little.

Edited February 2 by Vee

[DRW50]

I think there were some decent moments with Dorian and David in the show's last decade, I just think the whole "we see each other" type of relationship they had in 1995 was compelling and true to both characters. In these '76-'77 episodes that aspect of Matt and Dorian also interests me the most, more than when they push too much of his sexual or romantic desire for her.

I definitely don't want to take a lot of shots at Robin just based on some old episodes from 50 years ago. I know she had a great deal of trauma in the part, whereas Nancy was only there for part a decade and never returned. I suppose it's just, as you said, we were all talked out about Dorian after what was done with her in the show's later years, and now suddenly we are reminded of what could have been.

I didn't mind the mansion either, I just think taking everything might have led to a fresh approach with the character and given Robin a new set of cards.

Edited February 2 by DRW50

[Vee]

I can definitely see the appeal of taking it all away (the house, etc). It's happened for Dorian before.

I do agree about early D&D. I do think David could still work scheming in a more serious vein again (with humor or even buffoonery sometimes still). Tuc is certainly still very skilled and I have my doubts he would turn up his nose at doing the soaps from time to time even now - he seems very fond of them. Unfortunately GH fans would rightly riot over more of those crossovers and there's no place for OLTL atm.

And yes, I think an alternate history where Pinkerton had remained is fascinating. The key moment for me that's particularly striking is when she wakes from the dream about Joe (and Matt) crying "I will get what I want!" And you get the sense she has no idea what that is. I would love to see her Dorian with Melinda, or the earlier stuff at the hospital (Mark Toland, etc).

Edited February 2 by Vee

[robbwolff]

@EricMontreal22 It was actually the late Danfling's message board where the creator refused to acknowledge California shows as soaps, not WOST. I still miss WOST. It was such a special place.

[Contessa Donatella]

Just noting the various mentions of organ music, if it interests you & you aren't already following it, I would recommend Lance Jackson to you. His YT channel is

 https://www.youtube.com/@LanceJacksonOrgnplyr

You won't be sorry.

[Planet Soap]

Not sure if this was posted already But this YouTube channel has a treasure trove of episodes including a OLTL from 1975 with Victor Lord alive slayed by Shepard Strudwick. Some of the previous '70s episodes of One Life to Live that were posted a few years back featured a distinct lack of Vicki, But she's in some of these! 

I still hold out hope that clips of Victor Lord's death storyline will surface.

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Edited February 3 by Planet Soap

[Franko]

Yes, we're well aware. 

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