I watched EON's original run from 1976 to the end. I disliked most of Henry's final 13 months; although I later learned that Sheldon's contract started before his name appeared on May 23rd. He was exec story consultant for the last several weeks of Henry's outlines and scripts. He heavily edited the last three weeks (when the show changed the writing credits from Story By: HS and Teleplays by HS/LK to Written by HS and LK). So I won't fault Henry for April and May of 1983 BUT I hated almost all of Sheldon's era with a passion. I cried upon watching the final episode with that monumentally stupid Wonderland land twist and the rotten dialog (particularly the Liz/Beth balcony scenes) Of course, Sandy Faison's acting was dubious too. Anywho, I've gone back and watched many Sheldon episodes. I grudgingly give him credit for humor, fun character names (paying homage to Henry), and a few plot twists that were mildly clever. But the whole production staff was failing and flailing those last few years. The final 9 months under Henry was dark and dank i.e. the lighting, costumes, sets. And let's not get started on the endless David Cameron phone books scenes. But Lee Sheldon's Sky/Raven turn into Nick and Nora Charles was so painful to watch. And the haunted Whitney plot with the Earls was embarrassingly bad. Casting was also a hindrance during Sheldon's term. The actresses hired to play Chris and Beth were awful in comparison to Edge's history of phenomenal casting. Miles' three week grief plot over Nicole's death then pursuing Chris and Beth was a slap to viewers who had invested in Miles/Nicole since 1977. Logan's murder had potential but Tom Tammie was a poor Joe Lambie replacement and having Geraldine be the shooter and not know it.....huh? to this day I can't explain that plot twist. The Jody/Welllington murder plot was slightly interesting but again the recast Jody was awful. And there's a reason Sheldon was never credited as a daytime HW again; although in an interview once he claimed that he was hired to watch and possibly take over ATWT I think by Calhoun who ended up picking Horgan for a year before Marland became available. Sheldon may have also consulted on AW uncredited. I'll also give Sheldon credit for creating Alicia Van Dyne. MAGA Chris Weatherhead should have been put on contract and the plots should have tied her to Geraldine's maternal side or something. How wicked would it have been if they had properly developed that plot with Geraldine in the mix. Shelly (who Sheldon brought on for 6 months) was capably played by the actress (name escapes me) and she could have been Alicia's daughter.
BTW: My older sibling watched from 1968 so I have had access to his amazing memories of Henry's best plots; he feel Susan Martin murder and Jonah Lockwood identity were the best. (He hated the Sky is Jeff Brown, Jody in Eden and Smily dupes Raven all Slesar plots). I recall him freaking out the day Nancy and Geraldine went to the lighthouse where Jonah died and when the two ladies showed up Nancy didn't know whether the dead body was Laurie or Jonah. Geraldine looked up at Nancy and said something to the effect of: It's not yours; it's mine. Badumbummmmmm. I get chills still thinking about his description of the climax.
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VelekaCarruthers ·
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