What Do You Consider The Glory Years Of Your Favorite Soaps ?

[cnathanielrichardson]

YR, BB. GH in the 90s

AMC/OLTL/GH in the 80s

AW 1991-1994, 1998 and 1999

ATWT 1998-2003

Mostly the 90s for me...

[victorlord75]

My viewing has been too sporadic to come up with a solid answer to this question, but nonetheless, I appreciate this question being posted, because now, based on alot of the answers I've seen here, I'll be able to see some good stuff on YouTube based on the answers here, if the material is still available!

I will say one thing though. For GH, alot of people panned the period under EP Joseph Hardy, from approximately '89-90. I actually thought the show was pretty good under his watch, even with the Casey the Alien disaster. He did better with the show than Gloria Monty, who succeeded him for a year after him. The decision to replace him always puzzled me.

[titan1978]

GH- 1978-1981, then 1985-1988, and finally 1993-1997. No denying Monty here, and I think she had 2 distinct eras on her original run. First being the original until the wedding of Luke & Laura, and then the arrival of Anna, the Felicia/Frisco love story, and ending after she left and into Wes Kenney and the Jerome storyline. Then the truly heartbreaking but fulfilling Labine/Riche era, into Bob Guza's run before he left to fulfill his contract as creator of Sunset Beach. While there have been pockets to love since then, like Guza's first year after he returned, Lucky's death, Laura waking up from her coma for the 25th anniversary of the wedding, Robin falling in love with Patrick, the Metro Court hostage story, Anna and Robert finding Robin alive, it has been pockets, not what I consider the iconic period.

Days of Our Lives- I'm a Brady era fan, so from the arrival of Roman to the "death" of Marlena with the second Roman, then the amazing summer of the cruise of deception, and finally, the first two years under James Reilly. No real way to top that. Right characters, actors, and story, even if the possession went on too long. Plus the original Hope/Gina storyline, from Maison Blanche to the puzzle box is a fantastic story.

Young and the Restless- For me, it's Nina. From her arrival through David dying at the masquerade party and her marriage to Ryan. That era of the show, 1986-1993? So many great stories and characters in those years.

Knots Landing- From the end of the 3rd season, when Val finds Gary with Abby, to the episode when Jill tries to kill Val. 1981-1988. Really solid several years, but truthfully, the best four seasons are 4, 5, 6, and 7. I wish the dvd's would be released, or that it would stream somewhere.

[Soapsuds]

At that time only Knots was still doing great cliffhangers….I still remember Jill saying to Val….SWALLOW…..LOL

[Soapsuds]

I think for me GL last great year was before Pam left and Jill became EP. Once Jill became EP of the show…it seemed boring with only one good story.

As for ATWT ….up to 1993 was good…once DM passed away the show went downhill…..the following years had a few little sparks but most stories were duds...

[quartermainefan]

Casey was a nice little story. Laurelton was a disaster, Casey just happened to be science fiction, which you can have decent stories with. I liked the period with The Jeromes, Colton, Decker, and Dawn.

[victorlord75]

I agree completely. The fact that the Jeromes were brought back proves the potential for story from that period, though, since Lucy had a hand in killing Victor Jerome, I don't understand why the nuJeromes haven't seemed to acknowledge her existence.

[cct]

It doesn't puzzle me at all. Ratings still weren't up, and it was Gloria-Freakin-Monty, who had brought the show back from the brink of cancellation in 78. They thought she could do it again. Unfortunately, as you say, it only got worse.

[Steve]

I'm only basing this on the years I've watched, though admittedly the early 1980s GL was from YouTube and the DVDs I bought:

AMC: 1980-1984, end of 1986-1988, 1990-1994, 1996-1998, 1999-2000, end of 2001-2002.

OLTL: 1979-1983, 1992-1994.

GL: 1980-1982, 1989-1993.

[JtSmarts]

I started watching Dool during the very end of Riley I, but after reviewing the whole history of the show I definitely believe the glory years were the Bell era from the late 60s into the 70s.

[Big mistake]

B&B - 1989, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 - I WILL KILL TO RE-WATCH some of these years. SHAME I don't have full episodes before 2002 on my laptop. If someone can help me find episodes from these time, I will sell my soul to you. Thanks.

then.... DEAD

well... 2005 was OK and it was the last year I felt they cared about storylines and dialogue.

And 2010 I love because it was so shitty. I still hurt from how much I was laughing through the BROOKE and OLIVER saga. I still re-watch these episodes when I'm sick with the flu. In a way, they are my absolute favorite B&B moment LOL.

Years I HATED

2008, 2009 - the show looked cheap, Donna was on all the time. it felt like second-hand B&B

2011, 2012 - HOPE LOGAN.

2015 - again, the show feels cheap, the new characters are not that bold or beautiful. It lacks the old glamour, it lacks the drama, it lacks the bitchiness, it lacks predatorial Brooke hunting for men = it lacks EVERYTHING that once made B&B entertaining. LOL

[soapfan770]

From what I've seen over the years for each of the soaps I've watched:

ATWT: 1986-1991ish, 1995, and sure I'll stone myself for saying but 2000-2003.

AW: 1973-1976, 1987-88, 1991-1993

B&B:1989-2003

GL: 1979-1980, 1987-1994, 1997-1998

Days: 1982-1987, 1990, 1993-1997, 2002

Loving: 1990-1993

Y&R:1973-1994, 1998-2003

[victorlord75]

I think you are more of the realist, cct. I wouldn't have been one to pay attention to ratings at that time, thinking that good acting and quality story was all a show needed to succeed. It needs more than that. It needs the correct time slot and proper promotion to make it, too. I don't mean to veer off topic here, so I'll leave the discussion about GH prior to Gloria Monty's second stint here, but, I do appreciate the sharing.

[amybrickwallace]

Santa Barbara - 1984-1989/90. Despite all the behind the scenes turmoil going on during the late 80s, it's amazing how well the stories and acting were. Finally came the revolving door of writers and producers. Then came the mass exodus of core cast members such as Robin Wright, Lane Davies, Todd McKee, Carrington Garland, and the final nails in the coffin: Marcy Walker in 1991 and A Martinez in 1992.

[slick jones]

AMC80=89, 93-98

AW 67-78, 83-88, 93-95

ATWT 58-63, 67-72, 78-80, 83-89, 92-93

DOOL 68-76, 82-89, 93-96

GH 7885, 89-91,93-99

GL 72-79, 83-86, 89-93,95-98

OLTL 72-79, 81-86, 88-95

RH 75-79, 82, 84-88

Santa...84-90

Y&R 73-78, 83-89, 91-95, 98-02