GH: Classic Thread

[DRW50]

@depboy Thanks. That does help.

@titan1978 @Paul Raven Really enjoying the analysis of the production methods and what Monty was doing. 

I wish we got some of those biopics here that a few UK soaps got as a biopic on Monty's first few years at GH would be fascinating. 

[Khan]

It reminded me of what the Pollocks got away with all the time on THE DOCTORS: long ass flashbacks that don't really add anything to the scene except time.  Because, if you remove the flashback, what's left?  Monica finishes packing Alan's suitcase.  The end.

Oh, well.  At least I got to see a young Patricia Elliott (ex-Renee, OLTL) in that Aim toothpaste commercial (not to mention, a shirtless James O'Sullivan (ex-Jeff, AMC; ex-Pete, OLTL; ex-Jerry, SOMERSET) in the commercial for One-a-Day vitamins, lol).

Edited 4 hours ago by Khan

[titan1978]

It’s also strange that it was Monica! I just don’t think of her as the staring off into space type of woman!

I watched a bunch of other clips and stuff from random 1978 and 1979 episodes. I’m so used to seeing movement from Monty’s era, especially the early part, that this really is a cool relic. Pretty soon you have scenes start at the new nurses station, the elevators opening and doctors walking to the desk to get their messages from Jessie or Bobbie. People often walk towards doors while taking coats on or off, many Webber house scenes start or end with someone walking up the stairs. This episode is even more static than some of the way earlier ones I have seen, where you would have Steve or Jessie at least going from the old school nurses desk to the medicine room, Steve’s office, etc.

That bland dialogue is very much like what they have now. The show picks up a lot of personality.

Knowing what we know about David Hamilton and how that really started to get the ball rolling as far as viewers you really see just how vital Lesley and especially Laura were to get things moving for them. They focused on the right characters to get fast results. The show now could learn a thing or two from this.

[titan1978]

I spent years hoping we would get an oral history like the OLTL book, but it’s too late now with so many having passed away.

[Khan]

And to think the original plan was for David and Lesley to have an affair.  Not only would that have made no sense - Lesley wasn't THAT stupid, lol - but it also would've ruined her and GH.

[Jdee43]

It's interesting to watch this having watched The Doctors. I'm not sure I'm seeing that much of a difference in the characters Gerald Gordon and Anna Stuart played on The Doctors and what they're playing here.

[Vee]

I still am baffled by why Monty brought back stunt hire Gerald Gordon in the early '80s out of nowhere for like a year. I haven't found anyone who can come up with a thing he did in that second stint of note.

[Paul Raven]

Yes, that out of the blue return was odd.

Maybe GG found a forgotten clause in the contract he signed when he was wooed to ABC and they were forced to take him back!

Like George Reinholt he talked about the contract that promised him primetime roles. But it was loaded in the networks favor. I think it was Gloria Loring that re-signed at Days on the promise of primetime opportunities, but that was all it was- she was put up for guest spots and TV movies but not necessarily guaranteed that she get the role.

[DRW50]

All I can think of is if a lot of big names were leaving around that time she wanted him back as a stopgap, although I have never seen any real evidence that he was popular with GH viewers.

[Jdee43]

Creatively, he probably should have stayed with The Doctors, where he stood out as an antihero lead. Not sure what happened with GH. He didn't have the same impact. Was it bad writing, not clicking with co-stars? Didn't they gave him a boat load of money to join GH in 1976?

Was Mark Dante just a toned-down version of Nick Bellini? Were they basically the same character?

Edited 1 hour ago by Jdee43