Wow. As usual, Alan. You hit this one out-of-the park. Two iconic writing legends. They appear SO down-to-earth and genuinely nice. Great interview. Thx.
I loved when she mentioned Nia Long. Just her tone and expression said everything, that Nia Long's presence simply pops off the screen in any and every roll she plays. She's an icon, in my opinion.
Thank you for this and your other interviews! I really enjoy them. This one especially made me smile. I loved the years they wrote for Guiding Light. So many wonderful storylines in that era. The genuine love for the show, the people working on the show, and the craft of writing they displayed made this interview a pleasure to watch!
Another terrific interview! I could listen to Nancy's lilting voice all day and Stephen has had a truly fascinating career. Their writing aired during my college years and we had groups of a dozen or more who gathered to watch GL nearly every day.
This was so awesome!! I love their idea of having Roger rescue Maureen and getting her out of Springfield. What a shame they couldn’t do that! Bring back GL with Jill as producer and get this amazing writing team back together. Keep it in the half hour format. So much Gold could be mined from this rebirth.
Great Writers, on Guiding Light, Loved the Reva, & Josh's Beautiful Wedding. Alan you mentioned "Sherry Springfield" as Blake, loved her with Philip Spalding, but she was not on too long, and wondering why she left so soon? I did not like the Reva, going off the bridge, she was really off her rocker then. and I was so happy when her and Josh finally got back together..it took a long time...My Mom, loved Lujak, and it was sad when he was gone...Loved the Spalding family!
Great interview Alan I started watching during the Curlee/Demorest/Riley/Broderick years and it was must see tv. I would love to see a interview with Pam Long, Jeff Ryder, or Bridget & Jerome Dobson
I've heard a couple of podcast interviews with Pam Long. She's witty, funny, sharp, and tells a story as good as she writes them. I'd love if Alan could get her to sit and tell some stories.
Another great interview, Alan. I heard you mention a passions reunion. I cant wait for that one. That show was bat shit crazy but I still kept tuning in daily just for the fun of it 🤣🤣🤣🤣
No wonder GL was at its prime during 1989-1993, loved the storylines during this time and it kept me tuned in. I think GL was at #3 in the ratings during this time. Love the Harley and AC Mallet pairing and the re-intro of India Von Halekein when she was covering for Phillip fake death storyline.
G/L usually hovered around the #6 spot in the ratings (out of 12 soaps on the air at that time) during the late 80's. It was around 1991, when Nancy and Stephen took over as head writers and Jill Farren Phelps became EP when the show started to ascend in the ratings to around #3 - #5
But ratings were slipping in 1993, not dramatically, but definitely on a downward slide despite JFP's efforts to lure fans of the recently canceled "Santa Barbara." When GH announced that L&L would return in the fall of '93, JFP decided to launch a counter-offensive (Alex's return, Roger's shooting, and enter Marcy Walker), and that apparently is when "emotions ran high" between JFP and Nancy Curlee, who left in early '94. It's a real shame because they made beautiful music together.
@@abe_froman8360 Absolutely!!! I do recall G/L hitting #1 back in 1984. At that time, it was like David conquering Goliath. Even thought General Hospital topped the rating during the 80's, I think most would agree that G/L was the superior show.
@@LL-zl2pf Marcy Walker's "Tangie Hill" character never really took off. Also, by 1993, the Nick/Mindy romance had fizzled due to the awful recasting of the Mindy character. NO ONE could fill the shoes of Kimberley Simms!!! Also, while Marj Dusay was a great actress and was fantastic as Alexandria, no one could ever replace the legendary Beverlee McKinsey
It's interesting that Nancy Curlee makes it sound like she, as head writer, had the option to keep Maureen alive (via her unused plot twist). Everyone, even JFP, acknowledges that it was JFP's decision to fire Ellen Parker. But it would have been much easier to reverse that unpopular decision a year or two later had NC let Maureen live. I'm sure it was all more complicated than that, but this is a new wrinkle to the story behind the story.
I think the 1991 - 1993 era actually surpasses the Pam Long era of 1987-1990 in terms of quality, pacing and innovation. I preferred the ensemble cast and storytelling of 1991 - 1993 vs. the "Reva Shayne Show" under Pam Long's regime.
@@heathermonroe1366 The show not only survived, it SOARED without Reva. Definitely not a knock against the great Kim Zimmer, however, with Reva gone, the show became more well-rounded and characters such as Blake, Alan-Michael, Mindy, Nick, Mallet, Harley, Roger/Holly, Vanessa, Billy, Eleni had incredible storylines!! G/L was definitely must-see TV during this period.
Was this the team that wrote the Vanessa/Billy/Nadine storyline? I just rewatched those episodes and got mad all over again 30+ years later that Billy and Vanessa were apart that long, lol. But again, what great acting and what great chemistry 💞 My favorite GL couple!
I’d love to let them know how wonderful their storylines were. I wanted so badly to write GL. I wrote a treatment of Daniel St John who Roger shot and killed when he held Holly hostage, was the actual son of Carrie Todd Marler. I had Jane Elliot returning who was now married to Hollys ex husband, Mr. Lyndsey, who was bisexual and having an affair with Vannesa and Billy’s son Bill. It would have been so much fun and Carrie learning Roger Thorpe killed her son and finally revealing that Carrie was raped by her uncle and that was the origination of her split personality. It’s a shame I didn’t end up in the writing program.
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Wow. As usual, Alan. You hit this one out-of-the park. Two iconic writing legends. They appear SO down-to-earth and genuinely nice. Great interview. Thx.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Ozzie. Thank you so much for tuning in.
I loved when she mentioned Nia Long. Just her tone and expression said everything, that Nia Long's presence simply pops off the screen in any and every roll she plays. She's an icon, in my opinion.
She was so great on GL. Quite the talent.
Thank you for this and your other interviews! I really enjoy them.
This one especially made me smile. I loved the years they wrote for Guiding Light. So many wonderful storylines in that era. The genuine love for the show, the people working on the show, and the craft of writing they displayed made this interview a pleasure to watch!
Glad you enjoyed it!
1989-1993 was the best era for Guiding Light!!
That was my favorite era too!
1979 - 1984, then 1989 - 1993 , two best eras
They gave nighttime tv a run for their money!
loved this so much Alan. Great memories of these two amazing writers!
Thanks my friend. Happy 4th of July to you and your family.
Another terrific interview! I could listen to Nancy's lilting voice all day and Stephen has had a truly fascinating career. Their writing aired during my college years and we had groups of a dozen or more who gathered to watch GL nearly every day.
This was so awesome!! I love their idea of having Roger rescue Maureen and getting her out of Springfield. What a shame they couldn’t do that! Bring back GL with Jill as producer and get this amazing writing team back together. Keep it in the half hour format. So much Gold could be mined from this rebirth.
Great Writers, on Guiding Light, Loved the Reva, & Josh's Beautiful Wedding. Alan you mentioned "Sherry Springfield" as Blake, loved her with Philip Spalding, but she was not on too long, and wondering why she left so soon? I did not like the Reva, going off the bridge, she was really off her rocker then. and I was so happy when her and Josh finally got back together..it took a long time...My Mom, loved Lujak, and it was sad when he was gone...Loved the Spalding family!
Thank you, Maryann. I hope you enjoyed this episode. Sherry was there for three years and left to do other things and then got E.R.
Great interview Alan I started watching during the Curlee/Demorest/Riley/Broderick years and it was must see tv. I would love to see a interview with Pam Long, Jeff Ryder, or Bridget & Jerome Dobson
Thank you, Cat! I am so glad you enjoyed it.
I second that! Get the Dobsons. They were fantastic!
Imo these writers brought the glory days back to Guiding Light from the late 70s to the early 80s
Alan, it would be great if you could get Pam Long for an interview.
I've heard a couple of podcast interviews with Pam Long. She's witty, funny, sharp, and tells a story as good as she writes them. I'd love if Alan could get her to sit and tell some stories.
I love Nancy's Southern accent and her storytelling style.
They missed a great opportunity by not bringing Beth back while Nick was on the show.
Another great interview, Alan.
I heard you mention a passions reunion. I cant wait for that one. That show was bat shit crazy but I still kept tuning in daily just for the fun of it 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Thanks for watching, Claudia. The Passions reunion is one week from today. I hope you'll join us.
@@TheLocherRoom Of course!
Loved the Phillip and Beth return from 1989 -1991. The best!
No wonder GL was at its prime during 1989-1993, loved the storylines during this time and it kept me tuned in. I think GL was at #3 in the ratings during this time. Love the Harley and AC Mallet pairing and the re-intro of India Von Halekein when she was covering for Phillip fake death storyline.
G/L usually hovered around the #6 spot in the ratings (out of 12 soaps on the air at that time) during the late 80's. It was around 1991, when Nancy and Stephen took over as head writers and Jill Farren Phelps became EP when the show started to ascend in the ratings to around #3 - #5
@@erikparker6501 Guiding Light actually hit #1 for a few weeks in the 80s, the first show to knock General Hospital out of the top spot.
But ratings were slipping in 1993, not dramatically, but definitely on a downward slide despite JFP's efforts to lure fans of the recently canceled "Santa Barbara." When GH announced that L&L would return in the fall of '93, JFP decided to launch a counter-offensive (Alex's return, Roger's shooting, and enter Marcy Walker), and that apparently is when "emotions ran high" between JFP and Nancy Curlee, who left in early '94. It's a real shame because they made beautiful music together.
@@abe_froman8360 Absolutely!!! I do recall G/L hitting #1 back in 1984. At that time, it was like David conquering Goliath. Even thought General Hospital topped the rating during the 80's, I think most would agree that G/L was the superior show.
@@LL-zl2pf Marcy Walker's "Tangie Hill" character never really took off. Also, by 1993, the Nick/Mindy romance had fizzled due to the awful recasting of the Mindy character. NO ONE could fill the shoes of Kimberley Simms!!! Also, while Marj Dusay was a great actress and was fantastic as Alexandria, no one could ever replace the legendary Beverlee McKinsey
It's interesting that Nancy Curlee makes it sound like she, as head writer, had the option to keep Maureen alive (via her unused plot twist). Everyone, even JFP, acknowledges that it was JFP's decision to fire Ellen Parker. But it would have been much easier to reverse that unpopular decision a year or two later had NC let Maureen live. I'm sure it was all more complicated than that, but this is a new wrinkle to the story behind the story.
The fallout of that death did deliver some good performances though.
Great writing team and fun couple! Loved GL from the early 80s to mid 90s...so many great characters, fantastic storylines and outstanding acting 💖
I actually think the Pam Long/Curlee era of 1988 to 1990 was my fav era. While 1991 to 1993 was quality, it seemed to lack spirit and fun.
I think the 1991 - 1993 era actually surpasses the Pam Long era of 1987-1990 in terms of quality, pacing and innovation. I preferred the ensemble cast and storytelling of 1991 - 1993 vs. the "Reva Shayne Show" under Pam Long's regime.
The early 1990's at GL was incredible television. Even at ages 8-13 I could tell that GL was great television during that era.
@@erikparker6501 I agree 100%! The show did well without reva!
@@heathermonroe1366 The show not only survived, it SOARED without Reva. Definitely not a knock against the great Kim Zimmer, however, with Reva gone, the show became more well-rounded and characters such as Blake, Alan-Michael, Mindy, Nick, Mallet, Harley, Roger/Holly, Vanessa, Billy, Eleni had incredible storylines!! G/L was definitely must-see TV during this period.
@@erikparker6501 Well said!!!! Kim Zimmer is an amazing actress, but the clone story and the time travel story did me in lmao
You should have a show with Pam Long
Was this the team that wrote the Vanessa/Billy/Nadine storyline? I just rewatched those episodes and got mad all over again 30+ years later that Billy and Vanessa were apart that long, lol. But again, what great acting and what great chemistry 💞 My favorite GL couple!
I’d love to let them know how wonderful their storylines were. I wanted so badly to write GL. I wrote a treatment of Daniel St John who Roger shot and killed when he held Holly hostage, was the actual son of Carrie Todd Marler. I had Jane Elliot returning who was now married to Hollys ex husband, Mr. Lyndsey, who was bisexual and having an affair with Vannesa and Billy’s son Bill. It would have been so much fun and Carrie learning Roger Thorpe killed her son and finally revealing that Carrie was raped by her uncle and that was the origination of her split personality. It’s a shame I didn’t end up in the writing program.
Always wondered what storylines changed because of Beverlee’s departure.
Best era for myself 1983-1986 then 1987-1994
I wish they would come out of retirement and take over at DAYS! Ron’s writing is starting to get stale.