I thought I didn't have my copy of the 1976 dissertation on OLTL and how it is written but I found some of the excerpts (this is badly copied from an old photo copy so all errors are due to copy and paste.)
Gordon's predecessor and mentor, Agnes Nixon, created
the bible for "One Life to Live." When Mrs. Nixon sold "Life"
to ABC, Gordon was hired in her place. One of Gordon's
first obligations to the network and the show was to create
a six month summary. This summary, drawing from the bible,
entails specific long range events scheduled ot occur. The
events are scheduled with approval of the producer and the
network. Decisions are made in relation to the six month
summary primarily by Gordon. However determinations are
subject to alterations based upon ratings (viewer mail,
which trickles in, seems to have little effect on the course
of the show). Mrs. Nixon, though officially unassociated
with the show (except for an obligation to consult with the
writing personnel in times of rating decline) still has
important and valued input regarding future events as
reflected in the six month summary. A recent Agnes Nixon
intervention resulted in changing an already completed six
month summary.
Ratings were dropping drastically; in a two month period
they had fallen from a share of 29 to 19. Mrs. Nixon called
Gordon offering advice. "When Aggie speaks," Gordon explained,
"you listen." Gordon's six years with "Life" and two years
with another soap called "Dark Shadows" by no means equals
Mrs. Nixon's 25 years of experience as a soap opera writer.
Aggie recommended the demise of Victor, a patriarchial
figure who had been with the show since its inception. Nixon
claimed the show was dragging, stuck in the past — inundated
with the old. Victor, a thoroughly ingrained part of the
Llanview community would have to go. Heeding Aggie's advice,
Gordon prepared for Victor’s death by sharing the idea with
his producer and then changing the six month summary.
A six month summary does not necessarily include circumstantial
exactitudes. For example, Victor, dying as a
result of a stroke, may or may not be a circumstance mentioned
in the six month summary. That Victor will die and his death
will facilitate organizational changes in the social and
emotional lives of the remaining Llanviewites, would be
included in the six month summary. Mention of events which
could potentially cause character metamorphoses are made
in the six month summary with the aid of qualifiers, e.g.
possibly Victor will have to adjust his will leaving money
to his estranged son instead of Dorian, the deceptive wife.
By
EricMontreal22 ·
