I'll say this for Gottleib: IMO she took a show that was in a commercial and critical tatters and made vast improvements in story, sets, light, wardrobe, casting and promotion. Not having prior soap experience, that could not have been easy. She did not take over a show in good or even reasonable shape. It was a shell of a show. She helped to bring a reality and stability back to the show that was sorely missing. She stuck around for three years, which was not too much or too little - it was just right. I think she did an overall good job. She handed the show over to Bedsow Horgan and she and Malone made the show bloom like a flower for the next two years.

that's right.. that was a great era for OLTL

Liked Linda G., didn't care for SBH as much...but she was ok.

Edited May 10, 201312 yr by IcyOne

Eric, I actually met "Marlena" for coffee in Manhattan when I went to the OLTL fan club lunch in 2011. She is a very nice woman, but we see several things about OLTL very differently and I had fun sparring and arguing with her.

And cassadine, I met Andrew at the fan club event. He was very nice and very shy. I even got my picture taken with him.

I love your posts on her blog (I assume you're the same Dale.) I actually have grown to really like her--we argue on facebook sometimes. She and I see many things VERY differently but she's not so hard headed that she won't consider different opinions, unlike many soap bloggers.

I don't mind the Nora radio gig because it has such roots in the show's history, with both Luna and Al doing radio shows. And I can see it being perfectly feasible that Nora had a show as a college law student, giving advice and gabbing about law and crime as she says she did - she's especially been a busybody since Matthew's come of age. I think it works, myself. So long as she continues to practice law.

I think Andrew has improved. He's not perfect, but he is getting there. I expected nothing, frankly.

I think the radio thing works too, and could lead to some great scenes--I jsut found the setup kinda random. But, meh, they have to start some stories pretty suddenly, so...

I still can't make up my mind if Vic was concealing evidence or if he felt sorry.

Overall I'm really liking the show. My complaints are grounded in agenda.

I don't know if Jen P is the best EP ever, primarily because I can barely name an EP prior to Frank. You guys amaze me with your wealth of knowledge. But she seems enthusiastic and capable and so far the show is fresh, sharp, modernized and while decidedly different from old OLTL and the four remaining network soaps, it still retains enough of its origin to keep the sense and feel of the familiar.

Overall I'm really liking the show. My complaints are grounded in agenda.

I don't know if Jen P is the best EP ever, primarily because I can barely name an EP prior to Frank. You guys amaze me with your wealth of knowledge. But she seems enthusiastic and capable and so far the show is fresh, sharp, modernized and while decidedly different from old OLTL and the four remaining network soaps, it still retains enough of its origin to keep the sense and feel of the familiar.

EPs before Frank:

Gary Tomlin (2001-2002)

Jill Farren Phelps (1997-2001)

Maxine Levinson (1996-1997)

Susan Bedsow Horgan (1994-1996)

Linda Gottlieb (1991-1994)

Paul Rauch (1984-1991)

Jean Arley (1983-1984)

Joseph Stuart (1977-1983)

Doris Quinlan (1968-1977)

EPs before Frank:

Gary Tomlin (2001-2002)

Jill Farren Phelps (1997-2001)

Maxine Levinson (1996-1997)

Susan Bedsow Horgan (1994-1996)

Linda Gottlieb (1991-1994)

Paul Rauch (1984-1991)

Jean Arley (1983-1984)

Joseph Stuart (1977-1983)

Doris Quinlan (1968-1977)

Lol. Thanks.

Quality-wise, I'd break down that list into the following:

Great EP's: Linda Gottlieb*, Susan Bedsow Horgan, Doris Quinlan, Paul Rauch and Joseph Stuart

Good EP's: Jean Arley, Maxine Levinson and Gary Tomlin

Bad EP's: Jill Farren Phelps and Frank Valentini

The jury's still out on Pepper.

*I'm being as objective about this as I can.

Edited May 11, 201312 yr by Khan

But she seems enthusiastic and capable and so far the show is fresh, sharp, modernized and while decidedly different from old OLTL and the four remaining network soaps, it still retains enough of its origin to keep the sense and feel of the familiar.

I think this perfectly sums up my feelings on the beginning of the Pepperman era.

EPs before Frank:

Gary Tomlin (2001-2002)

Jill Farren Phelps (1997-2001)

Maxine Levinson (1996-1997)

Susan Bedsow Horgan (1994-1996)

Linda Gottlieb (1991-1994)

Paul Rauch (1984-1991)

Jean Arley (1983-1984)

Joseph Stuart (1977-1983)

Doris Quinlan (1968-1977)

The JFP Rappadavidson era lasted 4 years?!?! I cannot believe I hung on that long.

From what I know and read about the Levinson era...it was one whole year where absolutely nothing happened...or was that more of Labine's doing?

The JFP Rappadavidson era lasted 4 years?!?! I cannot believe I hung on that long.

It was actually only just over three years - December 1997 to very early 2001.

From what I know and read about the Levinson era...it was one whole year where absolutely nothing happened...or was that more of Labine's doing?

That was Levinson but Claire did say it was hard getting her stories told

I have always been afraid to admit here I liked the OLTL JFP era for fear of stoning I especially liked how she pushed Bo and Nora to the forefront of the show.

You have been officially STONED! The JFP era was the only time I ever tuned out of OLTL. She was much better EP at Guiding Light

From what I know and read about the Levinson era...it was one whole year where absolutely nothing happened...or was that more of Labine's doing?

yep...

I have always been afraid to admit here I liked the OLTL JFP era for fear of stoning I especially liked how she pushed Bo and Nora to the forefront of the show.

It was actually only just over three years - December 1997 to very early 2001.

No stoning- that is so INTERESTING! What else did you like other than the Bo/Nora destruction? I seem to only remember it for the Rappaports (Lanie and Jen- ugh and the endless Matthew paternity secret) and Tim Gibbs as Kevin and Ben/Viki, all of which I abhorred. I LOVED Kevin Stapleton and Kevin/Cassie and never got over them being dumped for an FOJ. But now that you've given it dates, I think that era would also include some of the Todd/Tea stuff I loved (unpopular but I loved his fake DID) and Jessica's pregnancy and hit and run, which was good stuff. So maybe she wasn't all horrible, all the time.