(05-25-2011 04:52 PM)Tristan Rogers Wrote:  When I returned to GH after an absence of 14 years one of the first items I was told to establish was a Web site. After I had done this I found myself on line continually monitoring and amusing myself reading the outpouring from fans about “whatever”. Didn’t have this in the eighties and so I was immediately thoughtful about how things might have been if such a thing had existed. I digress.
A subject of intense interest back in 06’ was “General Hospital without Guza”. This had been elevated to “wet dream” status, with the fans referring to it like Guza’s demise would herald ‘The Second Coming”.

Well, he’s gone. So lets see.

Does anyone seriously think that the ABC would eliminate two of it’s soaps and then make a “banzai run” to save the third. If the ABC had been serious at all about saving its shows the move would have started about 6 years ago. There would have been a new VP of Daytime first then a very serious assessment of all its soaps to see what was working and what wasn’t. In the case of GH almost all the writing department along with Guza and Phelps would have gone and a plan implemented that centered around a serious effort to bring up the ratings. This would have had the actors doing lots of personal appearances and a PR effort launched on a grand scale. But that never happened so…….what about Bob?

Many things have been said regarding Bob’s writing some of them fair and some of them less so. Let’s have a look at what will probably be regarded as his legacy. We have a “mob influenced storyline” and the fact that he had little respect for women. And then there’s the systematic dismantling of most of General Hospitals legacy, including that of Luke and Laura, to be replaced by the noble deeds and example set by a bunch of “bargain basement criminals”. I am sure I will get some flack for that statement but the fact remains that whatever thoughts, you the fan harbor in your mind and heart about this relationship the show itself has done everything possible to trash and disassemble it. I don’t think there’s any legacy or standard on GH that has been untouched, in some way, by this wholesale “story slaughter”.

Makes you look back on the eighties and wonder if they ever happened at all. Now the general consensus is that Guza’s to blame for this and no one else. The fact is that Guza was just one of those involved. I mean, come on, does anyone think for one second that Guza could have single-handedly changed the direction of the show without the permission and cooperation of other significant people? As to who the others are I remain “mum”, but think of the endless hours you’ll all have exchanging views on who else could be involved!

The one thing that immediately hit me in 06’ was “the sudden about turns” you found your character doing. I went from “zero to a dead beat dad” in one page. No lead up, no justification and barely an explanation. Just “this is what your are now” and maybe next week something else. I had to admit that I was shocked. My recollections of Guza’s writing was always a positive one. He had been part of some good storylines and had a good feel for comedy. Elements that made you standout as a writer. And yet here we were in a Port Charles that had very little in common with a history, that was rich with interesting and compelling stories and characters. But all storylines aside, the one fault that stood out, brightly, was the utter lack of balance that the show employed. This lack of balance weakened every other story on the show. The mobster storyline could have worked quite well if it included a strong police force. That way the winning side could have see-sawed back and forth. As it was the story and the show was in no way compelling and lacked credibility at most levels. No one was going to believe that a bunch of thugs like these was going to take over the town.

The underlying philosophy of GH had always been one of “hope”. In this General Hospital there was none.

Since 08’ I have been of the opinion that GH was controlled by people way above Frons. Who they are I have no idea but in comparing ABC Daytime of the present and that of the 80’s there’s little comparison. Jackie Smith, VP of Daytime back in the early 80’s was someone clearly in charge. There was never any question of that. In today’s world “whose on first” is hard to discern. As for who is in charge at GH. My recollection was Gloria Monty, and anybody who questioned that didn’t have a job by days end. Certainly the string of Head Writers we had never had the last word on story or anything else for that matter.

I have commented before that the demise of ABC Daytime has been on the table since the eighties. It was never a case of “if” but always “when”. And now it’s happening. What will happen and can it be reversed? IMO not at a Network level. The shows could/might be picked up by someone else and re-engineered. Cost is a major factor to be addressed and so is the overall way the shows are structured and managed. Daytime has been stuck in a time warp since the early eighties and needs to be completely re-invented. It needs to look at how prime soaps have evolved and try to grasp why Reality shows are so strong and learn something from them.

I look back on my time in General Hospital with enormous affection and pride. To be a part of 1981 was an experience I will think about forever because it was so unique. It was unique and exciting for anyone who happened to be in a soap-opera. I just happened to be in the standard bearer, because GH was the undisputed leader and that was never in question. No one out there should be sad because the show/shows have left a trail of wonderful and engaging memories that will be referred to and dwelt upon for a long time to come.
Loveandkissestoeveryonewhowatchesandenjoyssoaps
TR