Marland Monday: What Could’ve Been
Hark! Who goes there?
It’s that day that starts with the letter M! Well we know what that means boys and girls!
It’s Marland Monday!
You know the drill: Every Monday I look back at the career of Douglas Marland, one of the GOATS in daytime television. Let’s get to it, shall we?
Yesterday I was feeling sad. It’s a long story, explained here. I was reminded by tweets that yesterday it has been twenty-nine years since Douglas Marland died. It was bittersweet reading the tweets. Bitter because he died so young. Sweet because I’m glad I’m not the only person who misses him and loved his work. Many times people have rolled their eyes or snickered about my love for soap operas. Oh that Jennifer, she’s so media obsessed, she loves TV, blah blah blah. I just love good stories. To calm myself down, I’ve been reading Mercy Street by Jennifer Haigh, and Phoebe and her Unicorn comic strips. I’ve been watching old episodes of Call the Midwife, and Falcon Crest. Let me tell you something: if Angela Channing was around, Putin would’ve been gone by now. I’m just saying.
That’s what Marland did: he gave us good stories. I wish his show Soul Survivor could’ve made it on the air. But I also wonder, what if he lived longer? Yes, he would’ve kept going on As the World Turns. But in the spring of 1995, there was a shakeup behind the scenes. Get a Crystal Pepsi, put on TLC’s “Waterfalls” and let me explain.
Procter and Gamble decided to yet again, shake things up. Ratings were down for all the soaps. Why? OJ. People had to watch what was going to happen next. Was Kato Kalin going to testify? What was the deal with Marcia Clark’s hair? She got a haircut! (Yes, this was news) It was endless. I tried to avoid it. I was taking a fantastic mythology class and working. I also didn’t think the murder of two people was entertainment.
So Procter and Gamble had to shake things up. They sent Guiding Light’s Executive Producer Jill Faren Phelps to Another World. Michael Laibson (who had worked on AW, GL, and As The World Turns) became the EP on Guiding Light. Lawrence Caso who was the EP at ATWT was out of a job. Yes, it’s confusing. But with the EP changes, there were writer changes as well. Yesterday I wondered: what would’ve happened during The Spring Shakeup of 1995 if Marland lived? What could’ve happened?
scenario one:
- He could’ve stayed at ATWT: They might’ve thought “hey if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.” He might’ve continued storylines that were going in 1993: a dementia storyline affecting Nancy Hughes’ second husband. I remember he expressed interest in a sexual harrassment storyline, only a woman doing the harrassing to a younger man. Maybe Lucinda Walsh could’ve been a cougar yet again? Perhaps a storyline with the Oakdale police considering race relations, finding out they had a Marc Furman type on the force. Or he could’ve had musical acts again, a la “Hey kids! let’s put on a show” He could’ve had Natalie Merchant at the Mona Lisa singing “Wonder” or Linda Ronstadt singing “The Waiting” Etta James might’ve stopped by and sang standards. Lisa could’ve belted out “Stardust” or “Where or When.”
2. He could’ve gone back to GL: Okay, this scenario I love. First off, I like to think he cast James Douglas as the new Mike Bauer. Springfield always needs a lawyer handy.Mike needed his daughter though. Maybe Anna Holbrook (known for her work on AW) could’ve been a new Hope? Or Season Hubley? Lisa Brown could’ve follwed him back to the show and played Nola. Trust me, his Nola reboot would’ve been better than what really happened. Ellen Parker could’ve returned as Maureen’s long lost twin. He also could’ve had the above musical acts at the country club.
3. He could’ve gone back to AW: Another World was his starting point. Harding Lemay was his mentor. Perhaps it was his chance to go back where he started from. Have Lemay there as an advisor. Had all the musical acts perform at Felcia Gallant’s nightclub. The Matthews family would’ve come back, with Alice as the matriarch. Who could’ve played Alice? Since Jacqueline Courtney retired by then, perhaps Anne Sward (who left ATWT by then) or Judith McConnell from Santa Barbara? And who could’ve played Kevin, Alice’s grandson? He would’ve been a teenager, maybe someone from Broadway?
4. He would’ve chucked it all and “retired” He might’ve just decided enough was enough, it wasn’t fun anymore. Retired but not really retire-he could’ve written novels. Mysteries definitely. Or his memoirs. God knows he would’ve had stories to tell and tea to spill. He could’ve mentored so many writers.
The saddnest thing is this: We’ll never know what he would’ve done next.
Tune in next week, everyone.
