Douglas Marland/August Wilson

[Soapsuds]

I was catching up on some DM info about what shows he wrote and when. I didnt know at the time that he wrote GL in 1980 and on. I loved the show at that time. Does anyone know why he was brought on to ATWT for only 13 weeks in 79? And why he was moved to GL?? Were the Dobsons writing GL at the time?? Also any more info on Lucy Johnson wanting to hire August Wilson when Douglas passed away?? I just wonder what ATWT would have been like with him as HW.

[EricMontreal22]

I've read that too--about August Wilson but it doesn't seem to really be backed up anywhere. It's very intriguing--and kinda random, not that it's impossible, but... I suspect she said once that she would love to have him write, and that was taken to a further extreme by some soap press... As much as maybe he wouldn't have been able to write for TV, I would have loved to have seen what he could have tried.

I do wish soaps would try more playwrights (like Harding Lemay) or novelists (like Malone)--most of them, even acclaimed ones like Wilson, barely made a living doing what they did and would probably jump at having a HW's wage for a couple of years.

[sjbeutel]

If I remember correctly, Douglas left GH and was hired to write ATWT while the Dobsons were at GL. I think it was just a swapping of the headwriters at the time. But then again I could be wrong but P&G had a thing to swap writers and producers from show to show at one time.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

I believe Marland was hired specifically for GL after leaving GH, but had to do a 13 assignment at ATWT, as the Dobsons' were transitioning off GL and onto ATWT around the same time.

[Saving ATWT]

I remember reading this but never understood the 1979 stint. My guess was that he was just filling in until a new writer could take over. At various points, PGP thought nothing of having numerous head writers within very short spans of time. I sort of wish the Jerome and Bridget had been able to stay with ATWT because I loved the Mr Big story. In certain ways, I think Marland may have been a better fit for GL long term as opposed to ATWT which, looking back, needed an all out gutting in the early 1980s.

[John]

Yeah That is what I heard as well