Texas seemed to have an extremely convoluted first year - how quickly did they revamp?

From what I remember of B&B in it's debut year, the show definitely had the imprint of William J. Bell Sr.'s storytelling at the root of it. Sure, they had a number of actors that could best be described, in the words of Douglas Marland as "hair models" but they had the strong presence of Susan Flannery, Jim Storm and Johanna Johnson and Lauren Koslow (and for the material she was given Nancy Sloan was pretty good) in that cast to pull the weight for the others.

Looking at all the preemptions that BTG has had in a short stretch of time, I don't remember B&B dealing with so many preemptions. I feel like Bill Bell Sr would have threatened to take his show elsewhere if they had. Y&R was only its way to become the top-rated soap and sandwiched between Y&R and an Emmy award winning show at that time, ATWT --no doubt, he had a strong hand.

Based on that "Baby Born in the Elevator" nonsense, BTG was clearly trying to do a storyline with Andre, Ashley, and Derek -- which never materialized at all. The writing wasn't there, the acting wasn't there, and the chemistry wasn't there. So glad TPTB realized the entire ordeal was an utter bust and pulled the plug on it.

The writing for Dani Dupree was completely over-the-top initially, almost as absurd as the reboot of "Dynasty", but slowly they made some subtle adjustments that worked to the strengths of Karla & created a mighty likable character out of Dani.

The show has also definitely adopted a much more "CBS/Hollywood" look with subdued lighting and better sound.

Maybe it's because I listen on headphones but the sound for BTG still sounds atrocious to me.

1 hour ago, DramatistDreamer said:

From what I remember of B&B in it's debut year, the show definitely had the imprint of William J. Bell Sr.'s storytelling at the root of it. Sure, they had a number of actors that could best be described, in the words of Douglas Marland as "hair models" but they had the strong presence of Susan Flannery, Jim Storm and Johanna Johnson and Lauren Koslow (and for the material she was given Nancy Sloan was pretty good) in that cast to pull the weight for the others.

Looking at all the preemptions that BTG has had in a short stretch of time, I don't remember B&B dealing with so many preemptions. I feel like Bill Bell Sr would have threatened to take his show elsewhere if they had. Y&R was only its way to become the top-rated soap and sandwiched between Y&R and an Emmy award winning show at that time, ATWT --no doubt, he had a strong hand.

When B&B began a good amount of the criticism towards it was that Bill Bell was dusting off 1970s and 1980s Y&R storylines. Acting-wise Bill Bell cast actors he worked with before (Susan Flannery on Days; John McCook, Lauren Koslow, James Storm on Y&R) as well as newcomers so it was a good balance.

B&B first summer had pre-emptions due to Iran-Contra.

4 hours ago, bongobong said:

believe he contractually had to write for SB as he was in first position with that show and joined GH after the show was pitched but before it was picked up. In a way, Guza hindered the show before he started as its HW by reviving GH which was shaky from Labine's year. In many markets, both shows aired in the same timeslot.

That was the contract and the rumors at the time were that he tried to get out of it and stay at GH. Nobody was happy, and the show used his outlines deep into the fall after he was gone.

I still give ABC, Riche, and Labine a lot of credit for finishing the Stone/Robin story even when the ratings were dropping because it was hard to watch and some viewers were turned off by the show doing any story about HIV. The rest of the show did suffer during the last few months of Stone being alive, but they were rebuilding before Guza got there and he did bring the ratings back up.

1 hour ago, kalbir said:

When B&B began a good amount of the criticism towards it was that Bill Bell was dusting off 1970s and 1980s Y&R storylines. Acting-wise Bill Bell cast actors he worked with before (Susan Flannery on Days; John McCook, Lauren Koslow, James Storm on Y&R) as well as newcomers so it was a good balance.

B&B first summer had pre-emptions due to Iran-Contra.

After he stepped down but was still credited as EP at Y&R, Bell gave an interview where he said he thought they could take those first two years of Y&R scripts and update the way the characters speak, but mostly just film them intact with a new cast and have a hit all over again. I remember comments at the time saying he basically already did that with B&B.

Edited 8 hours ago8 hr by titan1978

3 hours ago, kalbir said:

When B&B began a good amount of the criticism towards it was that Bill Bell was dusting off 1970s and 1980s Y&R storylines.

Not a B&B viewer, so I can't comment on the stories themselves, but...I think ALL soap writers reuse their own material!

While before my time, I know Bill Bell did a mother/daughter triangle on Days of Our Lives with Doug Williams, Addie Horton, and Addie's daughter, Julie (which is how Doug's daughter with Addie Horton, Hope, has half-sister Julie also as her stepmother. LOL!), and, as I recall from SOD, was basically done again with Brooke, Deacon, and Bridget.

And the whole Victor Newman on a farm saga with Hope on Y&R was done in the early '70s on Days with Mickey Horton and Maggie Simmons, introducing the latter character to the audience. (And Suzanne Rogers still endures today!)

I can't think of a head writer that doesn't recycle stories. For good or bad.

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by Wendy

One of the problems with Bell's B&B re-use was casting and a rushed nature. Outside of Brooke, the Logans did not have the presence or interest of the early Fosters and Brooks. Immediately starting the show with a sexual assault storyline was a bit desperate. The strongest material was Stephanie and her mind games. You could say that was just Vanessa Prentiss and her sons Lance and Lucas all over again, but it didn't feel like a retread.

B&B was a mismash of various Y&R themes.

Stephanie did evoke Vanessa in some ways.

The Logans had elements of the Fosters -Storm/Snapper, the absent father, Brooke/Jill.

Katie Logan/Traci Abbott -the shy sister with a problem-weight issues/acne

Caroline's rape/Chris' rape.

In its first 7 months, Santa Barbara fired its leading man, Dane Witherspoon; fired its leading female, Ava Lazar; dropped 2 of its original 4 families; recast the patriarch of the one family that lasted, the Capwells, 3 times; recast the Capwell matriarch twice; tried rebooting with an earthquake; then tried rebooting with a serial killer storyline. The show ended up being about a handful of long-term characters, all connected to the same family. It was a rocky start from which they never really recovered.

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by Jdee43

10 hours ago, DRW50 said:

Texas seemed to have an extremely convoluted first year - how quickly did they revamp?

The Corringtons were out before the first year had passed.

Several characters were dropped:

Dawn Marshall who was supposed to be the big interest for Dennis left in Dec 80.

Mike Marshall out July 81

Courtney Marshall June 81

Bart Walker Feb 81

Terry Decker March 81

Kevin Cook March 81

Alex Wheeler July 81

Samantha Walker March 81

Clipper Curtis Dec 80

Max Decker was recast Feb 81

A slew of new characters were introduced including

Jeb Hampton Oct 80

Ashley Linden March 81

Lurlene Harper July 81

Grant Wheeler June 81

Lacey Wheeler July 81

Ruby Wright July 81