Which soap operas have you watched?

[Joshua_me]

My memory is a little fuzzy on this, maybe someone can fill me in...

Seems to me WAY back on The Young and the Restless Victor had this wealthy old man that lived up in his attic...

The old man was British, I think, and wore ascots and smoking jackets and spoke like he was in a dinner theater production of "My Fair Lady".

The odd thing is, I don't think there was ever any explanation of why he was there, or what he did, or why he lived with Victor in his attic...

Am I remembering this correctly ?

 

[ronboy]

You must be thinking of Colonel Douglas Austin, Victor's British friend, who was on the show for many years.....

 

[Joshua_me]

^ That's him !!

 

[ronboy]

Here is ther obituary for Michael Evans, the actor that played him, from the New York Times, October 1, 2007...


Michael Evans, who starred on Broadway with Audrey Hepburn in “Gigi” but was perhaps best known as Col. Douglas Austin on “The Young and the Restless,” the long-running soap opera, died here on Sept. 4. He was 87 and had lived in the North Hollywood section for many years.

His death was confirmed by his son Nick Evans.

From 1980 to 1995, Mr. Evans played the best friend of the billionaire Victor Newman, played by Eric Braeden, on CBS’s “Young and the Restless.”

John Michael Evans was born on July 27, 1920, in Sittingbourne, England. His mother, Mary Galbraith, was an Irish concert violinist, and his father, A.J. Evans, was a World War I flier. Mr. Evans decided at 12 to become an actor after seeing John Gielgud perform onstage in “Richard II,” he told The Toronto Star in 1992. He was a Royal Air Force navigator during World War II.

He made his London stage debut in 1948. A few years later, he came to Broadway for the show “Ring Round the Moon.” He went on to a starring role in the 1951 production of “Gigi” opposite a young Audrey Hepburn. In the late 1950s he played Henry Higgins in a touring production of “My Fair Lady.”

Mr. Evans also appeared on numerous television shows, as well as in films like “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Time After Time.”

In addition to his son Nick, Mr. Evans is survived by another son, Christopher, of Westport, Calif.; and two sisters, Rosemarie and Bridget.

Correction: October 8, 2007


An obituary by The Associated Press last Monday about Michael Evans, a stage and film actor, included an actor erroneously in the cast of the play in which Mr. Evans made his Broadway debut, “Ring Round the Moon.” Harry Belafonte was not in the production.

 

[Joshua_me]

^ Thank you for that, ronboy !

I had to giggle to read he actually WAS in a touring production of "My Fair Lady" ! He certainly was perfect for the role...

 

[roadtripboy]

ronboy

I agree about the new format they tried. I was told by a CBS rep that it was done to cut costs. They did however get much better with location shots. By the time the show ended I liked the new format. The final episode was far better than I would have ever expected from them. And it tied up the loose ends, but left it open enough so that the show could return.

 

[NVRMOR]

Knots Landing
Dallas
Falcon Crest


must see tv

 

[ronboy]

ronboy

I agree about the new format they tried. I was told by a CBS rep that it was done to cut costs. They did however get much better with location shots. By the time the show ended I liked the new format. The final episode was far better than I would have ever expected from them. And it tied up the loose ends, but left it open enough so that the show could return.

I was definitely all right with the final episode. I was glad that they did the Springfield picnic (one year later...) at the very end. It was satisfying...

 

[scrapple]

I have to disagree. The once great Guiding Light looked liked a high-school production by the time it ended. Ellen Wheeler destroyed that show with it's ultra-cheapo "new production model".

I'm glad that As The World Turns is going out on a high note, what with Maura West and Michael Park getting those Lead Actress and Actor Emmys last week, as well as Julie Pinson geting Best Supporting Actress.

Even though the budget has been drastically cut, you can't really tell on TV, and it will go out in much better style than GL.

The only sad note is that Martha Byrne won't be playing Lily in the final episode. She was willing to come back for the last show (as Rose) but the powers that be hold a grudge against her for some reason.

 

[ronboy]

It appears that , perhaps, Executive Producer Chris Goutman was a tad pissed off with her. From Wiki, regarding Martha Byrne...

On February 29, 2008, TV Guide reported that Byrne will be leaving As the World Turns and will be off the air by April 2008. The show's executive producer Christopher Goutman stated, "We made Martha an incredibly generous offer in hopes that she would remain a valuable member of the ATWT cast. Unfortunately, Martha has decided to leave despite our best efforts to keep her."[1] Byrne would later assert that the contract negotiations fell through because As the World Turns refused to guarantee her the same number of episodes to appear in that she appeared in 2007. She further added that a casting call was made for her successor during her contract negotiations, which further fueled her drive to leave. Byrne's last airdate on the show is April 22, 2008; her successor, Noelle Beck, appeared in the role of Lily beginning in May 2008.

 

[ronboy]

Evolution of a Soap Opera Theme-As the World Turns...

1956-1960s ATWT was, like most soaps of that time, presented live each day. The organist was Charles Paul, and the theme was something he had written. It would go on to last for many more years...



1970's Charles Paul's theme was orchestrated (this is circa 1975)



1981 Not really too different from 1975, but the graphics are a little better...



1980's A totally new theme was introduced with new graphics.



Late 1980s-They played with the tune a little, but it was still sounding great!



1993 Barry De Vorzon, who wrote the theme for "The Young and The Restless," wrote this theme, which carried the show into 1999. It has a very "classical" soap theme sound to it.



1999-2002 New millenium, new theme. The "World" in ATWT was now more dynamic and bold. Lots of people criticized the "wooshing" sound in the background of this opening, saying that it sounded like a toilet flushing. (EYE CANDY ALERT- Paul Korber as college-age Chris Hughes and Tom Eplin as Jake McKinnon, fresh from "Another World"...you'll know them when you see them!)



2002 The Golden Background and a new theme...(no "wooshing" sounds!)



2006 Same theme (which was actually pretty nice) with updated characters and a blue background... This is actually one of four different openings . This one was 42 seconds long, the other three showed other characters on the show, and were abouty 30 seconds long each.



2007-present The music was modernized as were the opening secnes. It has a very "today" look to it. This has the full opening, the mid-show bumpers and a preview at the end. The message here is that "This isn't your grandmother's show anymore!" (EYE CANDY ALERT-Austin Peck as Brad Snyder...damn, he was soooo fine!)

 

[willsboy84]

It appears that , perhaps, Executive Producer Chris Goutman was a tad pissed off with her. From Wiki, regarding Martha Byrne...

On February 29, 2008, TV Guide reported that Byrne will be leaving As the World Turns and will be off the air by April 2008. The show's executive producer Christopher Goutman stated, "We made Martha an incredibly generous offer in hopes that she would remain a valuable member of the ATWT cast. Unfortunately, Martha has decided to leave despite our best efforts to keep her."[1] Byrne would later assert that the contract negotiations fell through because As the World Turns refused to guarantee her the same number of episodes to appear in that she appeared in 2007. She further added that a casting call was made for her successor during her contract negotiations, which further fueled her drive to leave. Byrne's last airdate on the show is April 22, 2008; her successor, Noelle Beck, appeared in the role of Lily beginning in May 2008.

I'm probably one of the few who don't mind Noelle playing Lily. Guess because, since I only started watching regularly a few years ago, I didn't get to know Martha that well, but I'd already loved Noelle from her days on "Loving".
I will say that Lily's FAR from my favorite character, but I blame that on the BS writing, not Noelle's acting abilities. They've made pretty much every character on that show unlikeable, but they DO have some of the best eye candy in daytime...gotta love Dusty Donovan & those Snyder boys

 

[KindredKian]

As a young teenager (Circa 1992) I was obsessed with soaps. I loved me some Another World, Guiding Light, As the world Turns those were my favorites. I miss when there were 12 soaps on the air and they were all in competition. I would wait with anticipation for the weekly ratings to see who was kickin who's ass in the ratings or who was coming or going on each soap. I bought all the soap rags for years until 2002. Went to many different soap events even a cruise for the soap stars. Ahh I miss those days.

Now, I watch ATWT (until it goes off the air in september) and I peak in to the other soaps from time to time but it's not the same. The writing sucks, the talent on most of the shows is meek to almost non existant with the exception of a few vets, & the passion for the genre in all but gone.

I used to want to write & create daytime soaps (maybe I still do) but I don't think it could ever be a reality with the state of soaps now. The passion to create TV shows is still there for me, but creating daytime soaps is like a distant memory but maybe one day I break out my soap bible with renewed interest.


I also used to also watch Coronation Street when it was on PBS and Eastenders & Hollyoaks when it was on BBC America.

 

[rareboy]

Dark Shadows (1975-1980) The ABC network cancelled this show in 1971, but our local ABC affiliate picked up the reruns in the mid-1970's and showed the reruns chronologically at 4:00 PM, I was hooked forever. This show was the reason that "The Edge of Night" wasn't shown in Rochester anymore.

omg.

It wasn't carried in our area so I had to wait until I could get the whole thing on DVD. We watched all of the episodes when we were snowed in for a week a few years ago.

When I had Hepatitis in 1981, I got my first TV and watched General Hospital and All My Childen or the Young and the Restless. That stopped after about 6 months.

 

[ronboy]

I want to do something nice for all those ABC fans out there. You've been inundated with my CBS "stuff" this entire thread.

So here's an evolution of a soap theme for ABC's oldest soap, General Hospital. (I didn't pick every change, because ABC would change the characters shown as the storyline dictates. I tried to find major style changes)

General Hospital started with a pilot episode called 'Emergency Hospital" in 1962. ABC, which, at the time, was more like Fox or the CW is today, was looking for a soap. I saw the pilot on the old "World of Soap Opera Themes Website" but couldn't readily find it on YouTube. If I do, I'll post it. The pilot starred soap vet Edward Kemmer as the head doctor. When ABC finally retooled it as "General Hospital" John Beradino was brought on as Dr. Steve Hardy. Here is the 1963 promo for the show's first year... (look for Emily MacLaughlin as Nurse Jessie, and a young Roy Thinnes as intern Phil Brewer)



The 1963 opening for the show...



1975 The hospital opening looks more familiar to long time viewers, but the music is different...ABC still archived their shows in black & white prior to 1978, and the quality is not great, but here it is...



1976 The theme and opening that made the show famous... (notice the missing siren)



1980's Pretty much the same (and the sirens are there!)



1993 The "Faces of the Heart" opening begins.....



1996 "Faces of the Heart" with Luke & Laura!



2004 Notice the names of the characters along with the pics...



2010 The present opening. Instead ogf character names, we now see the actors names, like a prime time show. I really like this evolution. Even though I do not watch the show, I hope that ABC has enough sense to keep their shows going. I'd hate to see the soap opera genre disappear...

 

[ronboy]

Thanks, I did forget that one! Not being a regular watcher, I forgot to put that one in. Now it's complete!

 

[roadtripboy]

About ABC keeping all their soaps.

There are rumors that they are considering ending One Life To Live.

Does anybody remember Ryan's Hope on ABC and Capital on CBS?

That will really date me.

 

[willsboy84]

About ABC keeping all their soaps.

There are rumors that they are considering ending One Life To Live.

Does anybody remember Ryan's Hope on ABC and Capital on CBS?

That will really date me.

I've been hearing the rumor about OLTL, and to be honest, lately I've been having the same feelings I had in the year before the ATWT cancellation was announced. Sometimes it seems as if the writer's already know more than has been let on, and have just given up on writing anything sensible. And actually one of the writers who'd been butchering ATWT at the time is now a cowriter on OLTL, so that really doesn't give me alot of hope for the show's future...

Speaking of ATWT, anyone else not entirely enthused about their emmy wins this year. I actually like the actors who won, but I'm having a hard time recalling any emmy-worthy performances from them. I'd rather they didn't pick up any awards at all, rather than garnering them out of "sympathy", if that IS what happened.

 

[Joshua_me]

None.

Does JUB count?

Sure. But JUB's should be called, "The Hung and the Breastless".

 

[ronboy]

Speaking of ATWT, anyone else not entirely enthused about their emmy wins this year. I actually like the actors who won, but I'm having a hard time recalling any emmy-worthy performances from them. I'd rather they didn't pick up any awards at all, rather than garnering them out of "sympathy", if that IS what happened.

It almost makes me think that Michael Park (Jack) and Maura West (Carly) won as sentimental favorites because ATWT's days are dwindling as we write this thread. Of course, I am biased about Michael Park. He is from Canandaigua, NY which is a part of the Rochester area. We also attended the same college. I did get to meet him once, a very nice guy...

I knew that One Life To Live was on shaky ground, but it's still wedged between to stronger shows. And after September 17, it is going to be the only soap on during the 2:00 Eastern/1:00 Central hour.