Thanks.

I wonder why he felt that way. Somerset was never really just a town, was it? When you're created as a spinoff, with established characters, you are never just a town.

Winsor's point was that he was not writing the serial with a particular genre in mind (i.e. a "crime serial" such was the case when Slesar wrote it). He was refocusing the show back to being about the people who lived in the town of...Somerset, which was what it was supposed to have been about in the first place.

Winsor's point was that he was not writing the serial with a particular genre in mind (i.e. a "crime serial" such was the case when Slesar wrote it). He was refocusing the show back to being about the people who lived in the town of...Somerset, which was what it was supposed to have been about in the first place.

I guess what I meant was I think soap towns have strong identities and I'm not sure Somerset did. It was a place various AW characters went to, then with a series of shifting rich families (the Delaneys, then the Moores), along with a few other characters like Ellen Grant. I can see where he would want to go back to basics but I was trying to figure out if Somerset ever had a basics, or if they needed to build that from the ground up.

I guess what I meant was I think soap towns have strong identities and I'm not sure Somerset did. It was a place various AW characters went to, then with a series of shifting rich families (the Delaneys, then the Moores), along with a few other characters like Ellen Grant. I can see where he would want to go back to basics but I was trying to figure out if Somerset ever had a basics, or if they needed to build that from the ground up.

I do not really understand what you mean by soap towns having strong identities, but no matter. Only three characters went from AW to Somerset: Missy, Sam and Lahoma, and Missy had not been seen since 1969 on Another World. The ties to AW were not really strong other than attempting to use its name and popularity to entice viewers to the new series. To me, Somerset was about the town of Somerset, just as Texas was about the people of Houston, Texas. Had the writers attempted to create a separate identity for Somerset, something other than just being a half hour extenuation of Another World, perhaps it would have been more successful.

Edited August 27, 201114 yr by saynotoursoap

Sungrey, I have to read your continuation of Somerset! Years back, I started a fan fiction continuation of Somerset that picked up the stories of the show's original characters. My favorite plot dealt with Jerry Kane's new wife Allie who was seemingly very sweet, honest, and loving, but she harbored dark secrets. Allie eventually took Julian Cannell captive and tormented him for months as part of a warped campaign of vengeance on behalf of her late mother, Julian's first wife Zoe.

Rcsnj, I would love for anyone to look at it! It's over at DRTV: http://s9.zetaboards.com/DRTV/index... it isn't really a continuation of the original serial so much as it is a revisit to the city. It's grown up a lot over the years. The plots are mostly domestic drama/romance with a little melodrama thrown in. There are references to original Somerset characters, and the first few episodes deal with Susannah (Sam and Lahoma's daughter) moving to Somerset, with Sam and Lahoma along to help out.

I'd have to wonder how well Somerset would have done had the network aired it at 3:30, right after Another World. Of course that couldn't happen because P&G had its rule about shows not airing opposite one another.

That P&G rule was dropped once shows went to an hour when AW went up against GL.When Edge moved to ABC it was up against Somerset.

When Edge went to 2.30,Somerset could have moved to 3.30 and RTPP air at 4.00.

Part of a 1972 episode. I saw this years ago on tape but don't know where that is, so it's nice to see it again. It's probably been on Youtube before but I only started watching soap Youtube stuff in the last few years. Anyway, India Delaney gives a party and no one shows up, aside from immediate family. Marie Wallace was a fascinating actress, and one of the most unique beauties ever on soaps. Nice to see a glimpse of her as India, along with the wonderful Georgann Johnson as Ellen.

India's husband in this later tried to kill her, didn't he? Someone at TWOP talked about scenes that went on for weeks and weeks where he hit her with a huge candlestick and she was unconscious on a couch.

Did Marie want to leave?

Who were Robin and Jessica?

This also has Gary Sandy as a maitre'd or waiter (hard to believe he'd get to wear his hair out like that on the job) and I think Alice Hirson is also one of the wait staff.

Loved this clip.It's the first I've ever seen of Somerset.

India and Ellen were sisters.Was the drunken guy Chuck Hillman,her 2nd husband?

Alice Hirson was Marsha Davis,Gerald's 2nd wife and mother of Pam.She is referred to here as Mrs Harding. Did she marry Ike Harding? When was this?

Gary Sandy was Randy Buchanan,brother of Jessica,who had married Robert and died in March 72 on the way to Bay City.

A lot of detail on the stories and characters is lacking.

Somerset had a good premise but like so many shows,new writers started dropping characters left and right, rather than writing for who was there.

Paul, that is Chuck Hillman, played by the late Edward Winter.

Apparently the drunk guy was Chuck. According to the poster on TWOP, he planned to kill India and frame an unstable Vietnam vet. He hit her in the head and hid her behind the sofa while the Vietnam vet had a meltdown and took a hostage. This went on for weeks and weeks, even though it was the same night. By the time the vet was arrested, India came to and said her husband had attacked her. India then left on a cruise which she never returned from.

Here's a 1976 episode.

I wish Coolwafferman would put up the rest of this show. I don't know if he has it, though...

June 1976 TV Radio Mirror

I get Joel Crothers being photographed half-naked. But must they run that ridiculous title -- "ANYTHING WORTH DOING IS WORTH DOING HARD!" -- underneath? Even for the porn-loving '70's, that's a bit much.

This is the height of the "No that's not really what that means, we promise," era (Village People anyone?).

ten hours at a stretch, physical exercise comes as a real way to relax and get the body fluids flowing in the right direction. Many maintain that it is not possible to combine mental work with body exercise but this is a mistaken notion. I've found that the quality of my work improves the more I relate physical exercise to my professional career as an actor.

"When I first started working out, I thought it would be impossible to do all the exercises prescribed. I saw all those weights and thought it would be years before I started lifting any of them. The important thing to remember is that anything that is worth doing is worth doing hard. My progress was achieved by beginning with those exercises that required an average amount of effort and concentration. And gradually I changed to forms that limber up: stretch the arms, bend the torso and just loosen up all over so I can get started with my routine. I try and do as many exercises as my schedule permits.

"One has to make certain that the entire body is submitted to exercise. There's no point in working on the upper torso and then forgetting the legs, thighs, and buttocks. I try and get a few laps in around the track before I get to the pool area where I refresh myself and work my body into a ten-lap swim. After the sweat and heat of the gym, the pool comes as a wonderful form of relaxation."

Joel surprises those watching from the poolside. One could almost swear they were watching an Olympic champ as Joel's torpedo-like body undulates in and out of the water as it nears the shallow end of the pool. It comes as no surprise to anyone who knows Joel Crothers that he is a man who keeps in superb shape and who loves sports of all kinds. During the warmer months he can be frequently found on the Central Park West tennis courts going through set after set. He is also an avid skier and has trekked to New England many a weekend to enjoy the beauty of snow-capped slopes and the challenges of downhill racing. Horseback riding is another favorite pastime.

When Joel needs the quiet and peace that excludes even the activities of physical exercise, he retreats to his country house in upstate New York where he spends hours in front of the fire sometimes in the company of his girlfriend reading a favorite novel or catching up on the latest journals and magazines. It is this balance between the intellect and body that gives Joel Crothers his wholesomeness.

"We have to wed the mind to physical perfection. It's so easy to forget bodily development when one is engrossed in mental activities of daily work and vice versa, to forget that physical activity means little unless it's informed by a clear head and a thinking mind. The old idea that nothing but a fragile body must accompany a strong mind has been shown to be utterly false. The only sure foundation for superior mental attainments is a vigorous and healthy body."

These are not the typical comments of an actor who grew up with theater in his blood. Joel has been in front of the camera as long as he can remember. He made his television debut at nine and his Broadway debut in The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker at twelve. Even though he was often on television during his adolescence, he spent regular days at school too, preparing himself academically. after high school, he attended Harvard where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. His career on daytime television, starting with Dark Shadows and moving on to The Secret Storm and now Somerset have kept him a very busy man. However, he has always held on to a sense of balance.

"Never lose your equilibrium," says Joel. "Without that balance between mind and body, intellect and heart, life will become an unruly creature and destroy. I believe in giving all I've got to my acting, working hard at my job and spending the rest of my time enjoying myself by keeping active with sports and exercise. And with all this in its place, successful human relationships become the fruit of one's labors."

Edited September 19, 201114 yr by CarlD2