The marvelous Midwestern covered dish potluck

It's a soupluck not a potluck.

I couldn't find this at Christmas to share Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella but here it is.

And the sharp eyed/eared among you will recognize the man in the hospital bed.

Jo's.last potluck in Henderson was in 1986. Mary left us in 2002 at 75,

R2 if it's Douglass Watson, he died of a heart attack in 1989 at 68.

Thank you for the new thread!

Thanks for giving SFT its due. Some times it seems I am the only fan on the board. I started watching for Liza and Travis and kept on to the end for Patti and Hogan. And (platonic) Jo and Stu, of course.

Don't anyone dare posting the final scene. Larry Haines' crack in his voice gets me crying every time.

Wow a SFT theme!

I always thought the names on SFT were stupid. Travis Sentell? Martin Tourneur? Jo? Stupid.

Seriously? You must not have been watching B&B back then.

I'd forgotten the cheesy Hammond organ music in the background. It makes me remember my Nana, watching her 'stories'. Happy 1967, folks!

Rob Gentry as Ed Bauer (the first time around).

I watched SFT but I can't remember storylines like I can the other soaps.

One crazy thing I've always remembered is John Aniston had either a wife or a sister named Mignon. I remember being a kid & thinking that was the most beautiful name I'd ever heard.

Does anyone else remember that & who played her? I remember she had dark hair.

R2 and R3 Yes, we know. Thanks for telling us things we already know.....?

er, that should be R3 and R4.

R6 I sobbed when she said "They were WONDERFUL years."

Remember when Morgan Fairchild as Jennifer fell through a plate glass window, went crazy, started hearing voices, and then shot Ann?

Eunice!

Here's some scenes with Mignon, R12, apparently posted by the actress who played her -- Anita Keal.

Is my time in the spotlight over ALREADY?

When Mary Stuart wasn't happy, nobody was happy.

Mary apparently had her moments. She wasn't an upper case C Cunt but...she had her moments.

Only a few short months before that scene was shot Rob Gentry was getting his ass pounded for money by a CBS executive. That’s how he started his soap career.

Good for Rob Gentry. Nothing wrong with networking.

R18

Thanks for finding that clip. My memory is faulty. The character I was remembering was much younger than that woman.- like half her age.

New reunions

Wednesday- The Santos Family

Thursday- La Lucci

Friday- Zenk, Ferrin, Landon

The Boudreau family one got cancelled? Smart move.

R26 Did it? Why?

R2 r4 I have now actually lived to be older than Mac Cory. I can die in peace.

The Boudreau reunion is set for May 13.

I don't think the Boudreau one was cancelled, just that R25 is listing the new ones.

Dammit, he better have Lisa Brown on soon! And - if she would deign to do so - Lady Eyes A Buggin.

I don't recall the Boudreau family, but I stopped paying attention whenever the real Annie Dutton left. If they do get VW (which is probably quite unlikely) to do one of these, hopefully she will do it solo.

R19 You made it to the 400s, Mom.

Yes, Donna Love only made it to 295 replies, but you made it to 478 replies, Felicia. Congratulations.

Martin Tourener falling for Jo made zero sense. She had that dowdy old lady hairstyle and dressed horribly.

56 years ago today Another World was born.

Now this is what soap opera is all about...

Happy Birthday AW!

Happy birthday, AW!

We have the kind of love you'll never know!

It was a story as old as time. Girl gives up the goods, girl gets pregnant, boy promises to marry her if she gets a back alley abortion, the boy lied and starts dating other girls, girl has a psychotic break and murders boy...

I still can't get over Liz Hubbard saying Doug Marland didn't want to write for anyone but young romance. She must've been having a senior moment. I am surprised Martha didn't remind her.

R34 It makes sense because of who Jo was. She was the first daytime diva. Mary Stuart was the first star created by soap operas. If Search had lasted longer she would have still been getting men until her death. Just like how Katherine on Y&R was still getting men until the end. I'm surprised they never gave her a romance as Meta on GL. They really underused her on GL, considering both the actress and the character's past.

[quote]I still can't get over Liz Hubbard saying Doug Marland didn't want to write for anyone but young romance.

Few actors believe they get enough good material to play. Hubbard joins Kim Zimmer, Vicky Wyndham and countless other soap stars who bemoaned their lack of story even as they got a good deal of airtime.

Agreed R42. I think Hubbard was used to being The Star on the Doctors and feels she had less story on ATWT - although Marland put Lucinda front and center in so many stories!

But did Lucinda ever have a good romance after John? And even that was an insta-romance. I can't think of anyone after John worthy of her.

I was on SFT.

Liz bad great chemistry with Scott Eldridge as played by Joseph Breen. They should have put them together, but they fired him. I would’ve loved to see Lucinda call Lisa “Mother.”

[R42] yes agreed. Marland had a track record writing for older characters. On ATWT, he put the Kim, Bob and Susan triangle front and center, not to mention Kim's prominence w/ the Douglas Cummings mystery.

And Dear Doug even quit GL when TPTB fired a 30-something Jane Elliott from her role as Carrie. She and Ross weren't exactly young love...

Great headline, OP. (Izzatchoo, ORD?)

Also, is that Victor Kiriakis-to-be in the pic?

R44 I don't know, her last marriage on the show was to a younger man, who turned out to be gay and really wanted her grandson. That had to really hurt her pride.

[quote]Lucinda's last marriage on the show was to a younger man, who turned out to be gay and really wanted her grandson.

Really?

R50 yep, Brian Wheatley, played by the beautiful Laurence Lau. It was the year before ATWT was cancelled.

R48 yep

r51 Hah. Well, I'll be damned.

R48 And yep, it 'twas me, ORD!

What exactly happened on GL when Joan Collins stopped playing Alexandra Spaulding? Did she quit or was she really fired?

The official line was that she had to leave to promote her book, and that there was a misunderstanding between Rauch and her about when that would be.

She got along very, very well with costars; I think the only issue was that she didn't realize how much work she'd have to do and/or how much time she'd be on set for GL, and bailed as soon as she could.

The other piece, of course, is that Joan cost the show a LOT of money, more than the boost she gave it was worth in the long run.

I loved Bev most, and loved Marj, but Joan certainly had her moments.

I think it had to be the workload, more than anything. Joan was used to movies and primetime television, both of which work at a much more leisurely pace. I'm sure she just didn't expect it would be as difficult as it was. Out of all acting, I would say soap actors are the hardest working.

It isn't the gothic deliciousness that Bev and Bernau did so wonderfully.

But it was OK.

That bitch Jo actually had the nerve to suggest I bring fondue (I have a new pot that serves 8). There's no way in hell I'm going to spend a fortune on the wine and cheese ingredients to serve at HER party.

I brought a broccoli casserole.

The classic.

R60 Jo is a bit on the cheap side.

Bitch hasn't bought a new frock since 1974.

I initially shocked with Ms. Hubbard said that about Marland, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized she was right. Yes, there were always one or two stories involving the vets, but most of the show was taken up with Snyder kids and their love lives as well as Frannie and other young characters. The younger cast took up most of the show time and the vets appeared in their stories, but didn't often have their own. And if they did, they were generally one offs (meaning that another vet did not have their own story going at the same time).

I 'was' initially.......

sorry about that.

I was almost cast as Lucinda Walsh.

I wish there were more clips of Morgan Fairchild from search for tomorrow

I know that there are a ton of people hoarding classic soap tapes in their personal collections and in dusty boxes in storage rooms. I wish there was a way to get them uploaded to YouTube. That guy saynotursoap used to have a ton of shit and more to share, but he was run off YouTube by fighting fans.

I have a number of tapes but no way to digitize them.

I want GL from Sept 1987....a few particular scenes missing

Thank you R56, R57 & R58. There was some rumors back then about her being difficult then there was another about her not getting along with Kim Zimmer, over a dressing room among other things, yet either her or Kim squashed that by saying they barely saw each other or interacted.

Why was Jane Elliot fired from GL? And why would DM quit in a huff just because she was fired? He left all his babies (characters) over that? The show was on fire winning 2 Best Show Emmys.

DM originally wanted me to play the role of Carrie Todd Marler.

R71 Allen Potter hated the Carrie Todd story, and had backing from either CBS or P&G. When he told Marland the story would end, Marland quit in protest. It wasn't just that story, though - Potter was by all accounts a true asshole and made Marland miserable.

R70 Yeah, Kim had one scene with Joan - and Joan worked pretty exclusively with five or six actors, other than the big scene where the returning Alexandra said hello to everyone.

[quote]Potter was by all accounts a true asshole and made Marland miserable.

Is anything ever Marland's fault? Gloria Monty was a bitch to him and interfered. Agnes Nixon was a bitch to him and shut him out of Loving. Allen Potter was an asshole. Liz Hubbard is an old and senile. My God, did he also walk on water when he was alive?

R74 MARY!

Was the Carrie Todd story good?

[quote] Allen Potter hated the Carrie Todd story, and had backing from either CBS or P&G.

Marland actually had another year of the Carrie Todd story mapped out, but then word came down that he had to wrap it up in three days!

Jane Elliot was fired with no notice whatsoever - shame because Jane LOVED the show, loved Jerry Ver Dorn and was really challenged by the story.

Marland was furious, and when he went to ATWT his contract stipulated that he have 100% creative control in his long-term story outlines.

I did not think brittle CZP would be up for yet another online reunion!

Alan L has done more for the P&G soaps than Mickey Against Daytime Drama ever did in her reign of terror.

[quote] My God, did he also walk on water when he was alive?

Well, yes, he did. But are you suggesting he should have just sucked it up and hacked it out? Didn't daytime have enough hack writers for you?

The Carrie story was what made me a real fan of GL after having just been exposed to it now and then when my mother watched it. It was riveting.

Please help me understand how The Guiding Light won Emmys for Best Drama in 80 & 82 and Best Writing in 81 & 82, but not a single actor received even a nomination.

Lisa Brown certainly deserved a nom (and a win) for her sublime attempts to keep Kelly from Morgan. Jane Elliott and John Wesley Shipp won Emmys on other shows. ABC (and to a lesser extent NBC) ruled the acting categories in the early 80s. The ABC actors weren’t undeserving…but I just don’t understand why the GL actors were totally shut out, when the show itself was receiving acclaim during this time.

Shirtless Kerr Smith (Dawson's Creek) showing off his muscles with Jordana Brewster on As The World Turns

This was during the time on ATWT that CBS ordered the show to show "more skin" - hence Shawn Christian was shirtless almost every day!

[quote] Please help me understand how The Guiding Light won Emmys for Best Drama in 80 & 82 and Best Writing in 81 & 82, but not a single actor received even a nomination.

Because at the time ABC Soaps were WHITE HOT - 50 Million people were watching General Hospital, making it number 1 - All My Children was close behind at number 2, and One Life to Live number 3

That is how they were in the ratings, capturing the top 3 spots. Since ABC owned all their soaps, they were able to market them which resulted in reams of publicity penetrating the mainstream media. Instead of getting coverage in only Soap mags, they were getting write-ups in People, US weekly, and other women;s magazines targeted to women.

On top of that its actors got more coverage in the soap press, more so that the other networks. So because of that heavy marketing in soap magazines (as soap actors do read soap magazines to keep up) - the ABC actors stood out. So when it came to voting, the ABC actors always stood out, because their names were more recognizable - based on the heavy soap press, and other media attention they were getting

It was not uncommon for ABC to sweep the nominations in all of the acting categories. It got so bad, that NBC REFUSED air the Emmys when it was their turn. Reasoning why is NBC giving free publicity to ABC?

But then P&G caught on, and that is when they instituted "Block Voting" and started getting nominations.

If you had to name the top 10 soap head writers of all time, who would you name?

My list, in no particular order: Agnes Nixon, Irna Phillips, Bell Bell, Harding Lemay, Wisner Washam, Pam Long, James E. Reilly, Ron Carlivati, Megan McTavish, Douglas Marland.

R84 you forgot Henry Sleaser, Sam Hall (who penned the Karen Wolek story on OLTL) and Pat Falken Smith (who created the Brady & DiMera clans on Days of our Lives)

Rita Lloyd should've received a nomination in 1980 for cunting up Springfield as the evil Lucille Wexton.

Very interesting that Guiding Light didn't receive any acting nominations until 1985 - when Judi Evans and Larry Gates were both nominated and won that year.

Evans was allegedly bullied for winning that year by other cast members.

Judi Evans was the first GL nominee for acting in 1984. She was the only GL actor to be nominated and win that year. Her win sent shock waves through the other soaps. As has been said, GL, despite being the best acted soap, never received any nominations. It is all bullshit. But Judi winning, which you think the GL actors would be thrilled about, apparently weren't. Or from what has been said, it was a few who just treated her coldly. I am a bit surprised by this. Who was it? Has Judi ever said? Why wouldn't they be happy for her? Was she too zealous in her happiness it rubbed some the wrong way?

All of our "insiders" should know the exact story.

[quote]Well, yes, he did. But are you suggesting he should have just sucked it up and hacked it out? Didn't daytime have enough hack writers for you?

No, I'm not suggesting that at all.

R36 great find- and Renee Jarrett (Ginger on Somerset) and Richard Hatch(Phil on AMC) in the Crisco commercial!

R83 It wasn't just total ratings, demographically the ABC soaps in the early 1980s were also kicking butt. They had the youngest audience, because of college kids. They also, especially AMC, attracted a large male audience which enabled them to move more into the mainstream instead of just being in "women's media." In terms of men the only other soap that ever had such a large male viewership was P&G's The Edge of Night, which was at one point around 50%, until CBS screwed up by moving it to earlier in the day when men were more likely to be at work. I've often thought that if the FCC hadn't implemented the local access rule in the 1970/80s and the networks had tried to program soaps at 7:00 or 7:30 pm like in Britain, EON would have been the best one they could have experimented with. The crimes and mysteries would have drawn in male viewers, while not alienating women, just like in daytime. Plus, the name just screams to be right before primetime.

GH never had 50 million viewers tuning in. Ever. That said, GL gave it and AMC and OLTL a run for their money in the ratings in the early to mid 80s. GL got #3 a few of those years.

R92 Yeah that was way too high, GH's highest rated week ever was November 16–20, 1981, when they had 17.5 million households, which was a 16 share. Though, Search For Tomorrow has the highest yearly share ever, for a daytime soap. In, 1952/53 they managed to get a yearly 16.1 rating share. But, there were fewer tvs and competition at the time.

GL was #4 or #5 from 1980-1985. There were times it was even #1 (briefly) in 1984, or #2 or #3. GH ratings went way down from 1982-1983 ish I think. Probably around the time it started getting ridiculous and boring. What a combo. GL, OTOH, lost its momentum during its dreadful 1986 season.

R84-I’d replace Megan McTavish with Bridget and Jerome Dobson.

If you look at GL and ATWT, they created the characters and stories that Doug Marland and their other successors used to great effect in the 80s and 90s.

On ATWT, they created James Stenbeck , Craig, Margo, Lyla and Dusty.

On GL, they created the Spauldings, the Marlers. The Phillip paternity story and the Holly/Roger rape storyline.

I though McTavish was universally hated?

If she gave us Brent/Marian, then that was one thing she got right.

R96 Her GL stint is hated, but her AMC stints especially the first one makes her one of the best soap writers of all time. I think most of McTavish's problems on GL, OLTL, and GH weren't because of her but the common EP Jill Farren Phelps.

Well, Brent/Marian was great so she had something in her.

R82 Jordana & Kerr both improved as time went on however wasn't he written out with Ashley Williams? Nikki was still there for about three years until Jordana quit then returned years later with a recast who resembled Lesli Kay yet it seems Ryder & Dani were barely there a year.

Soaps do this whole look at what so and so is doing and is getting ratings and then tell their headwriters to duplicate that, when that particular style of writing is not in their wheelhouse. For instance so many shows copying late 70/early 80s GH or 90s Days. I think Megan McTavish fell victim to soap writing by committee and trying to duplicate the story success of other shows. Soap writers with complete story control and autonomy was very rare after Gloria Monty took over GH.

Can’t believe none of you bozos brought up Linda Dano saying last week that William Gray Espy would bring a golf club into his bed scenes with her and she said “He hugged it and was clearly more interested in the golf club than me!” I guess the golf club was a phallic thing because Espy was gay, right?

Kerr Smith was HOT. So sad when that boy ended up not being gay. I didn't watch ATWT but would FF my mom's player to see him. GL had their own eye candy like Frank Grillo, Johnny Messner, Jesse Lee Soffer (Max #1), Paul Wesley, Taye Diggs and many others.

McTavish belongs NOWHERE near a list of good writers.

She may have done a decent job on her first AMC tour with Agnes' guiding hand, but every other stint she's done has been total and utter shit.

R103 I actually liked her OLTL stint and the dark direction she took. I just didn't like that Robin Strasser left during that time. But, again, I place it more on Phelps.

McTavish's first AMC run makes her worthy of this list. She also penned the last, truly great AMC story - the baby switch.

McTavish and Winser Washam are both mentioned solely because Agnes Nixon was there guiding their stories.

While McTavish may have had some compelling individual storylines without Agnes's assistance (such as GL's Brent/Marian stoyrline), you don't judge a career based on individual stories. You judge careers on overall impact.

As for Washam (who is the husband of Judith Bancroft -- the original Lenore on AW and Ann Tyler on AMC), the fact he didn't become HW of any other show after leaving AMC speaks volumes.

R67

The episode I wish was on Youtube is the one where Iris learns she isn't Mac's biological child. I'd love to see that again.

R84

You can not have a best writer in soaps list without Nancy Curlee. Her GL run was phenomenal.

R88

I think the reason some of Judi's co-stars resented her win is because they believed her off screen relationship with Whitesell helped her.

[quote]Alan L has done more for the P&G soaps than Mickey Against Daytime Drama ever did in her reign of terror.

I'm having a hard time remembering. Who was Alan L?

George Reinholt later ran ads in the Philadelphia area that he was available to escort ladies to lunch, dinner, and the theater.

[quote]I'm having a hard time remembering. Who was Alan L?

Alan Locker, the guy who is doing all these Zoom reunions with soap actors. They're all archived on his Locker Room YouTube channel

Thank you, R110.

Did Alan Locher have to work for Mickey Against Daytime Drama?

[quote]Alan L has done more for the P&G soaps than Mickey Against Daytime Drama ever did in her reign of terror.

Sounds like something a wizened old man would say

r113 MADD, Susan Batten instead of Allyson Rice Taylor: why'd'ya do it?

I died 27 years ago this week.

Well, ain't that a kick in the cunt!

William Espy's family owns a putt putt in Dothan AL - maybe that's why he brought a golf club to bed with the ugh Dano?

Dano always gives off an aggressive and dominate vibe, maybe the golf club was for protection.

The golf club would have been a better scene partner for Dano than the near-catatonic Espy.

R118

Say what you will about WGE but he had an incredibly sexy voice.

R105 That storyline has always intrigued me, because I can't figure out how it worked since it spanned two shows, AMC and OLTL, with different head writers. Was McTavish given control of the story on both shows? Or was she and the OLTL head writer equal? To me it did a great job of binding the two shows together, during parts of that story it was almost like watching one soap for two hours a day. There had been crossovers before, but that one storyline was really coherent and integrated. If ABC had continued in that vein and did more of that, they could have easily combined the shows later, into one program instead of cancelling them.

R105 - Both McTavish and HW of OLTL, Michael Malone, at the time worked together but mostly McTavish plotted out the main beats based on where the story was going on AMC ("On X day on AMC, Babe will steal the Buchanan baby" "On X day on AMC, Babe needs to realize that her baby is alive on OLTL."). OLTL then reacted and realized it had until X day to get the necessary story mechanics in to allow for that. So, OLTL would know "We've got until Friday XX" to make Kelly realize the baby isn't hers, and then by Friday XX Babe will arrive in OLTL and on Tuesday XX she will know the baby is hers."

If the action primarily took place on OLTL, those writers would handle it with AMC consulting/reading the script to make sure the story information or any characterization of an AMC character made sense (i.e. when Babe would be in an OLTL learning about her baby).

No, it doesn’t, R105. Not at all. I join in with the others that she was an awful headwriter. A total hack.

No more about McTavish, please. She's gotten more attention than she ever deserved.

Who do you think is the best headwriter working today? I think its Ron Carlivati. Say what you will about DAYS, but it moves, almost all the characters are used, it's couples driven and it has humor.

I will say Ron, because he actually loves and respects the genre and he understand why people watch. Does he get it right all the time? No. Does he rely a little too much on 80s camp and comedy? Yes. But he comes from a good place and isn't afraid of using history to inform new story.

Catching up to some of the reunions. The Ellen Dolan/Colleen Zenk one was nice.

Alan’s doing a special Daytime Cares thing on Friday. All I know is Laura Wright and Shawn Christian are doing it.

Oh gawd, are these whores going to sing?

Haha, I was going to write “that bitch Laura Wright better not sing.”’ Maybe she’ll just do an interpretive dance in a leotard.

R104 I've heard that too about Robin leaving because she couldn't stand Jill. Felicia Minei Behr was so upset over what Jill & Megan did to OLTL that she played a part in sending them to GH since they were on the west coast. Also R105 R106 sort of shallow but original Paul Cramer actor Brock Cuchna was the best-looking Paul out of all three Paul's lol

Line-up for Daytime Cares:

The line up for Daytime Doesn't Care is here!

who is that at 58:00? i can;t place her face

for anyone who might want an OLTL thread

R124 I agree, Ron Carlivati is by far the best head writer today. I loved his OLTL, other than the Fords. I loved his GH, the 50th anniversary show was one of the best such episodes I have seen, second, for me, only to GL's 70th anniversary episode. I don't watch DAYS but I'm sure I would like it. He knows how to incorporate history and vets and have exciting stories. GH has never been as good, since he left. Yes he is responsible for RH becoming Franco, but he really didn't have much of a choice, the actor was under contract and they couldn't legally use his character anymore so he had to come up with something fast.

Sorry not to keep derailing the PG thread but that was meant for R105 R120 & R121. Quarantine life is bringing out the worst in me yet the thought of going out for prolonged periods of time freaks me out smh so lesser of two evils.

R133 that is Geraldine Court

Interesting fact. Back in the early 90s, for the summer months on ATWT, the network dictated that every episode open with youth...or Lucinda. That’s how well she tested across demographics. Can’t open with Bob or John or Margo or Barbara but Hubbard was always welcome.

Sam Ford, who ran a soap class at MIT in the early 00s, said the students' favorite characters were Margo and Lucinda.

R138 I believe it, when I started watching ATWT, Lucinda was the character that hooked me in.

R130

Robin was fired. She didn't quit. Robin was fired due to the abdominal way she treated people behind the scenes especially the crew. Yes, she & Jill didn't get along but Robin was fired for her own bad behavior.

When she returned she had been humbled & she was told none of that behavior would be tolerated again.

[quote] Robin was fired due to the abdominal way she treated people behind the scenes especially the crew.

Total bullshit - if that was the case Frank Valentini would NEVER have rehired her.

I really don't wish to be unpleasant, but this IS the P&G thread.

Most of the last 30 replies have been about other shows.

There was just a new OLTL thread created, and I'm happy to create threads for other topics if someone wants.......

[quote] the abdominal way

Um...

That was one bad wig on that guy with Geraldine Court.

OH! That's who that was, Geri Court.

r142 did you read what r141 actually said?

Better yet, go TALK about what Frank Valentini said ON THE OLTL THREAD

I did R146 and Robin needed the show more than Frank Valentini needed her

No way if she was that much of a pain, would he rehire her. Especially since budget cuts, and the cost of her salary could hire three actors with no experience. It wouldn't be worth it to hire someone back that costly.

R148

She came back with a hugely reduced salary. HUGELY.

Believe it or not but it is true.

Can someone just start a general soap opera thread. I've never understood people breaking into different groups. Growing up we watched the ABC soaps, the Bell soaps, the P&G soaps, and some NBC ones. So it is difficult to only discuss one set of shows at a time, especially when so many of the actors, writers, and EPs, were like me as a viewer, bouncing around between all of them.

R149 even with a REDUCED salary, it would still cover two new actors with NO experience

You’ve blossomed!

I started one for you R150

Because a general soap thread is a cluster.

I don't want to read about OLTL or GH or AMC. I never watched them and never wanted to.

R154 Maybe I'm just strange, I'm a fan of the entire genre, not particular networks or production companies.

But since you all want to keep this strictly on P&G, does anyone have any information on the soap P&G made for TBS, The Catlins? The clips I've seen seem fun, but it is difficult to find any full episodes. As a Southerner it interests me because it tends to be rare for a daytime soap to be set in the South, the only other one I can think of is Texas.

Catlins episodes are hard to find, but here's one.

The P&G queens have stated their boundaries!

Some familiar names in the credits, though I didn't see them in the video: Michael Forrest (Nick Andropoulos), Peter Boyton (Tonio Reyes); Julie Ridley (Annie Stewart), and Alice Barrett (Frankie Frame).

[quote] The P&G queens have stated their boundaries!

Days, ABC shows and Y&R are SO popular they take over any thread they are in.

P&G fans are small in number but tend to be very loyal. So no offense to the others and I'll be happy to visit the new thread, but as Ada would say, "GET THE FUCK OUTTA MY HOUSE!"

P&G threads also never deteriorate into stupid feuds between fanbases.

Only small quibbles as to who played the best version of Christina Blake Lindsey/Thorpe Spaulding Spaulding Marler.....

I have to wonder why in the 1980s, when soap production budgets were going through the roof, none of the soaps thought to build a large outdoor set like in the UK. GL, especially would have seemed perfect to try it, since Springfield was established as a small town. It would have been better than the real town they filmed the end in. It would have also made them stand out more.

r162 Are you suggesting that GL should have moved to Peapack in the 1980s?

Likely the answer to your question, at least for the NYC soaps, is land prices. It would have been so cost prohibative to do a large outdoor set like Eastenders had in the NYC area.

The LA based soaps might have been able to do that in the 1980s since land was more plentiful and much cheaper. But there wasn't a much demand for it either.

I would say the fact that all the soaps did elaborate remote location shoots in the 80 more than made up for the fact that they didn't have permanent outdoor sets they used on daily basis.

They could have easily built a large set in some of the outer boroughs, Long Island, or New Jersey in the 1980s. There were plenty of depressed areas, that were close enough that travel shouldn't have been prohibitive. But, rather than Eastenders, I would envision GL's set being more like Emmerdale's.

It wouldn't look like it did in Peapack, because rather than a real town, it would be a purpose built set. The Peapack experiment wasn't done for visual or dramatic purposes but to save money, and it showed. If they were going with the Peapack thing, they should have went down to Miami and got some of the telenovela production people. They film outside in real places, but it doesn't look cheap.

R159 Yeah, ABC shows are so popular there is only one left. DAYS is hanging on by a thread and has been for a long time. GH ratings are low.

R164 what you are describing is the outdoor set of Coronation Street in the UK -

R166 All the soaps in the UK have purpose built outdoor sets. The one most like I would have envisioned for GL is Emmerdale, just a small town instead of a village. Similar to Peyton Place in the 1960s, where they had an outdoor set of the town square, etc...

Closest thing to a permanent outdoor set the American soaps had was the Salem Place outdoor shopping mall set that Days used in the 90s and early 2000s. That was a set on the NBC lot that Days went to often. But it wasn't very big.

Similarly, Sunset Beach went on location to film on the beach and pier regularly. They filmed in Seal Beach, about 30 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. They filmed on the beach and pier there so often, it almost a defacto set.

And in recent years, Y&R has used its Chancellor Park outdoor set. That's on the lot at CBS Television City in LA's Fairfax district, where Y&R and B&B tape.

R168 Some of the outdoor filming on US soaps just doesn't work GH regularly films in a park near the studio, however the park is clearly Southern California, while GH is set in upstate New York. B&B could do more outdoor filming, considering it is actually set in the city in which it is filmed.

There were times the scenes on GL in peapack were stunning. Mainly towards the end. There was one episode were someone was outside and it was almost a blizzard. The scene was very dramatic. With the backdrop of the heavy snow, it was gorgeous.

I will be taping in the new outdoor set for the Chancellor estate. Y&R is building me a bench so that I can have monologues at Phillip Chancellor’s grave.

We’re having delish Hot Dish this evening! It has ground beef, corn, peas and creamy soup and crispy tator tots on top. Served with a side of fake news. I’m only joking!

GL's went on location in the early 80s to film the Laurel Falls scenes -- and the remotes really set the show apart. The scenes were actually filmed in CT. Kelly and Morgan's were married there in the woods.

GL had some great location shoots.

R61

Is that goodbye scene between Alex & Alan when La Bev took her famous exit from the show?

I was almost Alexandra Spaulding, but my dear late friend Marj Dusay got the job. I would have won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress. The Emmy will be mine after I debut as Katherine Chancellor on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS.

I want to kill R176 with fire.

^^^

Just block them.

R177 Yeah, I blocked it a few days ago. It's trying to become a DL legend/thing but it tries way too hard and it isn't even funny.

I loved Marj Dusay (RIP).

Her first soap was Capitol where she stole every scene she was in...and that's saying something -- the show was stacked w/ classic movie stars (Rory Calhoun, Julie Adams and Richard Egan). When Marj was opposite Nicholas Walker and Julie Adams you could feel the crackling in the air -- their scenes were magic. No one did haughty, entitled privilege better than Marj, and Myrna Clegg gave her the chance to shine.

Capitol was a perfect soap for the Reagan-era 80s. It didn't deserve to be dismissed for Bell's tacky B&B.

R175 No, Chris Bernau died well before Beverlee left in 1992.

“Search for Tomorrow” is kind of a stupid title.

You could “Search for Yesterday” if you had a bad memory. But there’s no need to search for tomorrow; you simply sit down for a bit, or go to sleep ... and voila, it’s here!

No searching required.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Roy Winsor's original title in development was "Search for Happiness", but I can't remember why it was changed. Isn't the idea that tomorrow isn't promised, so you should live for today while hoping and searching for a better tomorrow?

As a title, I kind of like it. I prefer titles like that versus place name titles.

I've been hoping Lisa Brown would show up on a reunion thingy, but I have to assume that perhaps she doesn't want to be involved now......

Hope, Katie, Quint and Ross (again).

R184 John Wesley Shipp had tweeted that he wanted to be part of the reunion, wondering why he is not included.

R180

Speaking of Capitol I always found it odd that Deborah Farantino didn't go on to bigger things or at the least go on to another soap.

R185 She did Hooperman right after Capitol and then went on to do some random episodics of the week, but yeah, she didn't become a big star, surprisingly.

Debrah Farentino landed the female lead in MANY Prime Time TV series - however they were always a big hit with critics, but got low ratings

Can someone speak a little bit more of the Ric Hearst/Frank Beatty rumors of an affair? (Alan Michael and Brent/Marian from Guiding Light)

R189 I think it is just rumor but I believe FB had a crush on RH. It drove him a bit nuts esp with the very demanding and psychologically intense story.

It was fun watching my friend Geri Court in that AW clip with Charles Cioffi. She liked him as an actor but said he was incredibly vain and his toupee looked awful in person although she admitted it looked OK onscreen. She was never happy with Dan Hamilton (Jeff) slipping her the tongue in kissing scenes.

It is possible Rick (who pings for me) and Frank (so sexy) had a sexual relationship. Probably likely. Anyone know for sure?

Rick Hearst and Frank Grillo? I don’t see that but anything’s possible.

If I remember right Cioffi later played one of the doctors who were involved in the Sabrina Fullerton baby selling drama on ATWT.

No, not Ric and Frank Grillo.

But Ric and Frank Beaty (who played Brent/Marian)

Later rumors were about Ric and Ricky Paull Goldin.

R184 Looking forward to this one. I've been rewatching 80s-era GL when Doug Marland was head writing and it still holds up...every scene moves story forward.

Agreed I want to hear from Lisa Brown and John Wesley Shipp -- but they should have their own episode. Doubtful that Kristin Vigard would be asked to join. She was always very weak and it was especially obvious in scenes w/ Lisa and JWS who were so strong and formidable. Kristin looked like a baby, never knew her lines, and was often late to set...no wonder she was replaced !

I guess with the massive Quint/Nola fandom I'm surprised Michael Tylo is appearing without Lisa.

186

Agreed Deb Farnetino deserved a bigger career. Her Sloane was one of my favorites on Capitol. She was electric opposite Nicholas Walker. I found Sloane and Trey much more interesting than Trey and poor Kelly.

I’d enjoy seeing Shipp, Lisa Brown and Marsha Clark. Geri Court said when they were taping the Kelly/Morgan wedding Clark cracked “First wedding I’ve been to where the groom’s tits were bigger than the brides.” Haha. Vigard was flat as a pancake.

But what marvelous tits JWS had. And has!

R163 when GL was in New Jersey, car pulled up in front of a gas station. The sign had name of business with a 908 Area Code, not quite Springfield, though the car did have an Illinois plate.

[quote] Geri Court said when they were taping the Kelly/Morgan wedding Clark cracked “First wedding I’ve been to where the groom’s tits were bigger than the brides.”

When Geri Court was FIRED from Guiding Light, she launched a public campaign to get an Emmy Nomination - openly admitting to the soap press - "I deserve a nomination"

she was unsuccessful

R199 can you ask her about her public campaign, she was open about it.

R202, Geri sadly died a few years ago.

However I remember her Emmy campaign. She was extremely proud of the work she did in her final appearances, when Jennifer confronted Amanda with sleeping with her husband Mark. She really thought she deserved a nomination and I agreed with her. By the way, Gail Kobe let go several actors that year who were considered key in the previous regime. She certainly wasn’t fired because of the quality of her work or how she behaved on/off set. She was extremely well liked by the cast, crew and staff. She was never all that enamored of the soap “factory” as she called it, but wasn’t loud and obnoxious expressing her opinion of it like others had been.

R203 sorry I didn't know that.

[quote] She was extremely proud of the work she did in her final appearances,

She can console herself (from above) that soap classics devoted an entire DVD set to her

"The Trial of Jennifer Richards"

[quote] Geri sadly died a few years ago.

Almost ten years ago!

Wiki says Geri played Jennifer Ryan on ATWT.

Was she the original? I always thought that was Gillian Spencer's role, but it looks like Spencer may have played the role after they brought on Kathryn Hays as her sister.

R207 Yes, Court originated the role.

R206, wow, has it been almost ten years? Funny how time can be perceived. It still feels like just a few years ago.

Yes, she was also very proud of her performances during Jennifer’s trial for Lucille Wexler’s murder. She felt she deserved a nomination for that, too. She wasn’t an egotist, she just thought her work was good enough to at least be nominated.

I wish I could remember the stories she told me about when she was on tour in Barefoot in the Park with Myrna Loy and William Shatner. Shatner hit on her often which was no surprise. She was gorgeous.

A decade or more ago, we had an supposed insider here on one of the P&G threads talking about Frank Beatty and Rick Hearst.

He said there was not an affair, but Frank and Rick developed a strong and close friendship. He reported that Rick Hearst is very touchy feely and physical with his friends and castmates, He readily puts his hands on them as a way of greeting and of encouragement.

Meanwhile, Frank, a relatively new actor, had some difficult scenes to play and relied on Rick for guidance and emotional support to get through it. As the storyline got more intense, Frank relied more and more on Rick.

To an outside observer who didn't understand the nature of their friendship, it could easily have appeared as if they were a couple, or at least having an affair.

I'm not saying this is definitively what happened. Not saying I believe it either. I'm merely reporting what someone who supposedly had inside info said here.

I'd heard that either they had an affair, or Frank got very emotionally confused and really developed feelings for Ric, which led to some of the on set drama. Which could fit with what Aunt Liz is saying.

GL has had its share of on-set drama. Gina Tognoni tore several dressing rooms apart when she found out Tom Pelphrey, who had been dating her, was sleeping with the blonde bimbo who played Tammy.

I didn't realize Tom Pelphrey and Gina Tognoni dated!! Who else slept together?

I would have loved for a young Rick Hearst to have had his hands all over me, he was still good looking during his GH run, but I don't care for his all grey hair now. If he would dye his hair, he could still play years younger than he is.

[quote] I would have loved for a young Rick Hearst to have had his hands all over me

You will enjoy this - In Ross nightmare young Rick Hearst is completely NAKED from head to toe

Except for a someones head blocking his private parts (see video below)

Rick may be hot but he could never be as pendulous as Grant!

R214 NICE!

Gina was very uncomfortable during her GL chat when someone brought up Tom P on Ozark and how good he was. She said she "hadn't seen it" or "hadn't heard" but would "check it out." Right.

R211

Yeah, TP was dating GT but he and Stephanie Gatschet fell in love. Gina found out & tore up a dressing room. Tom & Stephanie were together for 5 years before they broke up. They have remained friends.

When all this went down scripts were re-wrote so that the characters of Jonathan/Dinah never really shared scenes of any substance. Two episodes couldn't be finagled. In one of those Inside the Light episodes she, Tom, Stephanie had significant scenes throughout. You could tell that something was way off by looking at Gina's eyes.

And Steph was not a "bimbo". She had only ever dated one guy before Tom. Were they wrong for seeing each other before telling Gina? Yes but they were so young back then & playing some of such hightened angsty passionate shit. Sparks flew.

What was Ellen Wheeler's take on Otalia? I know she's Mormon/Conservative, but she's also an actress. What was her take on gay people?

Ellen Wheeler took a job, I would like to see some kind of receipts that she is a conservative or anything else. Not saying she isn't, but I think it is dangerous to just assume things about people. Sometimes a job is a job.

This UK critic basically says TP’s character and over the top acting ruined Ozark S3. Alan, did you read this? Heh heh.

[quote] When all this went down scripts were re-wrote so that the characters of Jonathan/Dinah never really shared scenes of any substance.

Ironically Gina Tognoni Emmy win was with scenes featuring Jonathan/Dinah

[quote] What was Ellen Wheeler's take on Otalia? I know she's Mormon/Conservative, but she's also an actress. What was her take on gay people?

Considering she accepted the role of an HIV Positive woman on All My Children (back then it was called the "gay" disease) I don't think she is that conservative.

TP is getting wide acclaim for his performance in Ozark. His long scene in the taxi were not over the top at all and is what will be his Emmy reel. His other performances were in character playing a manic episode. His character served a huge purpose as well by what happened at the end of S3.

R221

Every single critic review has praised TP's turn on Ozark. All except that critic. TP is getting Emmy buzz and Ozark will surely bring him plenty of additional work.

FYI

Mark Collier has been added to Friday's reunion. Hubba Hubba!

Mark Collier is such a doll - at fan events he would stay 2 to 3 hours after the event ended to make sure every single person got a photo and autograph (if they wanted one) - he refused to rush people.

His reasoning was that these people drove miles to see the actors, and they deserve more time than is allotted

[quote]Mark Collier has been added to Friday's reunion.

Yummy. I'll definitely be watching.

R219 I don't know what Wheeler thinks personally but she was the EP and okayed the story.

Supposedly, the resistance to showing Otalia kiss came from CBS (or was it P&G?) and not Wheeler or anyone else.

R218 Hi Stephanie!

You were ALMOST as annoying as your snaggletoothed onscreen mother. I loathed every second you were on the screen.

Smooches!

Good to have you here, Alan/R225!

Alan did a great job during the Santos Family Reunion. He is taking our tips. Thank you, Alan! Keep up the great work.

The Jennifer Richards murder trial was the storyline that got me hooked on soaps. Fabulous!

r228

he's on the Netflix show never have I ever as well in a few eps... he's their neighbor

I know its not P&G, but if anyone is interested, Alan Locker is interviewing Susan Lucci right now. Just Susan. No one else. And he's doing a very good job with the interview. Clearly did his research beforehand.

He should ask her if she feels guilty being nominated for Leading Actress so many times that were totally undeserved. I've never found her to be a good actress. It was ludicrous she was nominated 20 something times in a row.

[quote] It was ludicrous she was nominated 20 something times in a row.

every single actor who works in Daytime votes for the actors to be nominated, so it is the industry that is at fault.

I agree. Alan has definitely improved his Zoom chats. Just go through watching the Lucci one. He did his homework. Kept control of the conversation. Kept things going well. It's hard to do a one-on-one interview like that. But he did a very good job with it. Bravo Alan. Keep up the good work!

GL's Santos reunion

I wouldn't have recognized Father Ray.

GL's Santos reunion

I wouldn't have recognized Father Ray.

Bethany Joy Lenz was really appreciative of her time on GL. Again, one of them mentioned how the atmosphere at GL was so much better than "other soaps".

what doesn't get mentioned is behind the scenes they had an earthy Italian mother who ran the catering backstage (the only soap to have a full-time caterer)

Her name was Maria, and she would do the breakfast tray, make soup for lunch and make sure the craft table was stocked during tape time.

In subsequent years, everytime one of the shows producers would try to axe Maria (budget cuts), they would face a boycott from the cast. Maria was revered and every single person in the cast loved her. Maria set the stage for that "family" type atmosphere.

Even Justin Deas, in his one and only Emmy show appearance, thanked Maria in his acceptance speech!

Saundra Santiago looks fantastic!

Why did Bethany Joy Lenz change her name so often?

Susan Lucci did not deserve her nominations or her win.

R245 I have no problem with her win, she gave a great performance that year. Though, I do think it is wrong that Melody Thomas Scott has never won one. Like Lucci, she isn't the greatest actress but some of her performances have been at least as good as the actual winners, especially over the last decade as the number of soaps have fallen.

I think it's great that Alan Locher is doing these reunions!

I think very little of the Emmys - yes, some deserving performers have earned theirs, but so many amazing performers have zero Emmys.

Including:

Beverlee McKinsey and Lady Eyes A Buggin

Lisa Brown

Robert Newman

In the 80s, AMC's James Mitchell was nominated SEVEN times and never won a Daytime Emmy. I just don't understand -- he was so deliciously evil as Palmer Cortlandt.

r246

I agree, Lucci could be a good actress just like you said MTS could be as well... she actually surprised me recently in one of the classic episodes, she actually cried... I was impressed

Lucci is not anywhere in the same league as a Kim Zimmer who can do anything you give her. I agree Lucci didn't deserve 90% of her nominations and I'm being generous.

[quote] Beverlee Mckinsey never won an Emmy

You have to be nominated to win, and she wasn't nominated a single time during her tenure on Guiding Light

[quote] Lucci didn't deserve 90% of her nominations and I'm being generous.

Then blame it on her peers who nominated her year after year

Slezak should not have been nominated a billion times and she surely shouldn't have won so many times for her tired shtick. Lucci was the draw that lead to ratings for the ceremony, but she was not a good actress. The nomination and voting process is messed up and will never be right, so the daytime emmys are messy. The should go back to having a couple of awards during the Primetime Emmy show.

P&G shows were generally less lucky about winning, except for a stretch in the 90s when GL won, and a bit of mid 80s and early 00s when ATWT won.

AW rarely won - Dano's award sticks out as an outlier.

R253 Sorry, but Slezak is the greatest soap actress of all time. She is the Meryl Streep or Katherine Hepburn of daytime.

No R255.

R255 Gurl, no.

The finest soap actress of all time is a woman named BEVERLEE MCKINSEY.

Know her. Love her.

R257 I've seen clips and episodes of her's and she isn't even my favorite Alexandra, Marj Dusay is.

Sorry about your utter lack of discernment and taste.

[quote] The nomination and voting process is messed up

Back then they used the same procedure the Primetime Emmys used

Actors voting for actors

I remember at some point in either the late 80s or early 90s that Margaret Reed (Shannon from ATWT) was part of a committee that was trying to improve the nomination and review process.

It never really worked though. Bloc voting just killed any chance of anything rising to the top based on performance.

For those who watched the Santos thing, did anyone ask about why nancy St Alban wasnt there?

Reportedly this thread has been Murieled.

So, here's a new P&G thread to use.

Murieled already?

Liz, it's a job taking care of these threads, isn't it? : )

This thread is only five days old, so it's a surprise to me too. Usually takes 10-14 days.

But someone posted a notice on the Frank Grillo thread about it being Murieled.

So, I started a new one that we can use now. Or use later.

[quote] I remember at some point in either the late 80s or early 90s that Margaret Reed (Shannon from ATWT) was part of a committee that was trying to improve the nomination and review process.

The committee was about the quality of the emmy broadcast, NOT about the nomination process

The one who really made the most noise about changes was Bradley Bell of Bold & Beautiful. Ironic as their sister show Y&R always cleaned up at awards time. Things got so bad that Bell, John McCook and Katharine Kelly Lang bought and paid for (through their own pocket) "For Your Consideration" ads in Variety and Hollywood Reporter to say B&B, we are here the number 2 show in country and we are not getting nominations.

When that didn't work Bell, got together with other executives from shows and demanded changes to bring equality to process. That how the new voting system came to fruition, which we still have today

Big stars in the industry like Tony Geary, Peter Bergman and Susan Lucci said they would be involved in the pre-judging if we can get this new systems in place. Which they have.

I stumbled upon the identity of the person who has all those great stories about "Geri Court" in this thread

But I won't reveal his identity, but I will say he is a former actor, who still works in the film industry.

The hambones of daytime - Slezak, Geary, Bergman, LeBlanc, Zimmer, Camary need the ego boost of being nominated - and winning. That does not mean they aren't great, just familiar. The desperate ones like Dee Dee Hall will never get bunched in with those people.

[quote] The desperate ones like Dee Dee Hall will never get bunched in with those people.

When they switched to the new voting system (pre-nominations) Dee Dee Halls tried one more time to get a nod (and possibly win)

At the end of the first round of judging her tape wound up finishing eleventh - out of eleven pre-nominees (last place)

After that she just threw in the towel and won't be submitting anymore.