Fixing General Hospital
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FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 1/15/73-1/19/73 & 1/22/73-1/26/73:Please register in order to view this content
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Up to episode 340. Jason Vinley has been at the helm for just under around a month and has quickly whipped the show into shape. He has made many smart cuts to the show's large canvas including writing out Jason Prescott, Deena Greely, the Cummings family, and phasing out Carla Redlon. Carla and Gene's failing marriage is an interesting idea, but I'm not always overjoyed by the execution. Elain Graham comes back later and another actress plays the part for a bit. I'm not really sure the angle they are going here, but it's probably one of the only decisions I am not too thrilled with. Vineley has narrowed the canvas into several stories and allowing events to spider out and impact a series of people. The stalking of Lori Martin has climaxed into the revelation that Blue Knowles, the Cinderella Rapist, has been follwoing Lori for weeks on end. The build to this with a group of different men being around Lori at the time of the incidents is very low key and allows the viewer to draw their own conclusion even though we can also see the man in the sun glasses. Lori's attack on her final night at the Monroe School is a compelling action sequence playing out parallel with a much smaller scale heist in the school by two of Lori's pupils. The end where Blue traps her in the classroom and Ben stumbles upon her lifeless body is wildly engaging for a show that has rarely been able to tell a story without having a deus ex machina style ending. The fallout is equally compelling. Ben was stabbed in the hand in a fight with Blue which leaves the ability to use his hand in jeopardy. Peter, who was suppose to pick Lori up if Ben couldn't, feels guilty because he was out with older woman Vicki Lang at the Greenbriar and later back at her place where she attempted to coerce him into bed. Placing both Davidson children in sexually suggestive situationsthat the same time was an interesting choice. With the identity of the rapist unknown to the canvas, Gil Prescott suggests to his sister Marianne that her boyfriend Russ Weaver might be the rapist, which seems both logical and calculated on Gil's part. Episode 340 is just very intense and high interest viewing from beginning to end as the story spirals in several directions for several characters. There is a really nice moment with Ione and Gene Redlon visiting Terry at the hospital that cements the ties between the two families. Gene later comments to his mother wondering how a man can become a monster. Later, Terry talks to a catatonic Lori that she is both relieved Scott isn't here and deeply missing his presence. Comparing this sequence of Lori in the hospital to the year prior when Lori was also in the hospital is night and day. The show is tight. The balance of religion and drama is perfectly balanced and comes off less as preachy and more as deeper characterization. When Gil attacks Marianne's faith after Lori's attempted rape, Marianne delves further into what trily turned Gil away from God, Corrine Prescott's painful demise at the hand of cigarette induced lung cancer. In 341, the show has changed the opening and reflects the show's new era is a nice symbolic move. I appreciate that Vinley also maintains the rich canvas of side characters (offscreen) with references to Jill, Gary, and others who have come and gone while building up what is to come with references to Ronnie Washington and Hugo Lancelot. I am looking forward to the next year or so of episodes. -
FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 1/1/73-1/5/73 & 1/8/73-1/12/73:
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By SoapDope78 · Posted
It would have been great if CBS had worked things out with P&G and brought SFT back to the network in 1987 when they knew Capitol was going to be axed. Then hired good writers to do their thing to revitalize the show. No offense to the late great Bill Bell, but B&B has been a mess. -
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Thanks. Wish those appearances were available. -
FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 1/14/74-1/18/74 & 1/21/74-1/25/74:
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By TEdgeofNight · Posted
Regarding the NBC years of SFT. Joanna Lee did a good job. She gave Jo a great story and ratings rised but Joanna left because she hated the pace of daytime. I remember seeing Joanna Lee’s great big red hair one day outside the studio. lol Her hair exited the studio before she did. -
By Paul Raven · Posted
Contra Costa Times, 2 January 1977 The three major TV networks are revving up for a daytime programming race. It promises to be an especially exciting one to watch,and an absolutely frustrating one as well for serial soap opera viewers. Eyebrows were raised when NBC announced that Its new serial starting Monday “Lovers and Friends" would be berthed in the 11:30 am time dot on Channels 3 and 4 against Nielsen ratings lion “Search For Tomorrow" on CBS Channels 5 and 10. NBC - TV has not had a late morning serial in its daytime line-up since the early 1960s. And to pit a new aerial against established shows is in the words of NBC vice - president of daytime programs Madeline David “a very courageous aggressive daring and I hope long term creative move" It's also audaciously calculating because the men who developed the new show are writer/ creator Harding Lemay and producer Paul Rauch. This team forged “Another World" into NBC's top rated and artistically successful daytime program. David states that "Nobody expects this or any other serial to do well overnight. A serial takes a year and a half before it begins to make any headway before it can develop a loyal following. But she is so enthusiastically positive about “Lovers and Friends" that it doesn't appear to faze her a bit that ABC programmers pulled a last minute surprise by shuffling the time slots of “AIl My Children" and "Ryan’s Hope" recently before NBC debuts its new product. On paper “RH” and “LAF" have similar formats - the interactions between a wealthy family and its less - well off neighbors. Identlfiable locales — New York and Chicago respectively. extensive locations shootings and an emphasis on exciting attractive young talent. The ABC move may put the double whammy on the soap simply because of "RH's” already tested and hopefully assured audience loyalty. On the other hand Lemay and Rauch's skilled efforts could very well steal the audience in this time period. ABC's move is also geared for the expected expansion of "All My Children" to an hour format in the spring -
And still actively working. Happy belated birthday to the diva and fellow Gem. -
By Paul Raven · Posted
Contra Costa Times, 2 January 1977 Meanwhile CBS and "Search For Tomorrow" have not been idly twiddlng their creative thumbs This week and next pop singer Melissa Manchester will be making guest appearances on the show. Miss Manchester's stint was one of those feckless larks that came about at what turns out to be a most propitious time While filming the CBS musical special "With Love” last month in Hollywood Michael Nouri (Steve Kaslo on "Search") and his wife photographer Lynn Goldsmith passed a dressing room where Melissa was preparing for a nighttime TV guest shot. Lynn and Melissa are chums from way back when but as they were having a reunion Melissa whispered Into Lynn’s ear "You won’t believe who's standing right behind you in the doorway. It's Steve Kaslo I watch him every day". Lynn nonchalantly answered “I know he's my husband". The singer Immediately pumped Michael about future plot developments on the serial while he quizzed her on her music. They joked "Wouldn't It be a goof for Melissa to appear on ‘Search’ since Michael's character la an aspiring musician - composer? She could play herself an artist interested In the career of a fellow singer" Search" producer Mary-ElIs Bunim took the suggestion seriously and voila Melisa Manchester comes to Henderson USA and convinces Steve Kaslo to go on a concert lour with her. During her appearances Manchester will sing a number of songs written by Michael plus material from her latest album "Help Is On The Way”.
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