Many other soap operas have lasted longer.
Some soap operas can boast about having the same creative force in charge for decades.
Some soap operas are consistent award winners.
But for me, Santa Barbara was one of the most entertaining and compelling creations that network television ever broadcast. Yes, it was unfortunate that networks powers that be were impatient about the ratings, hence the subsequent cancellation of Another World and the feeble attempts at replacing two proven fan favorites with cheap substitutes like Sunset Beach and Passions, but for those who loved Santa Barbara, the impression that the show made will not be forgotten.
Santa Barbara boasted fabulous writing, in terms of socially conscious storylines, along with character-driven humor that still holds up, despite today's acceptance of cheap, easy jokes and the erosion of wit and repartee. But the most impressive thing about Santa Barbara was the casting. Unlike current casting practices, i.e. raiding reality shows, modeling catelogs and 'celebrity' sex tapes, the cast of Santa Barbara bolstered talent from stage, film, television, and in some instances, from other soaps. Veterans like Dame Judith Anderson were paired in scenes with fresh faced unknowns like Todd McKee and Robin Wright, and d@mn if the newbies didn't rise to the occasion.
Here is the premiere episode of Santa Barbara. While some of the actors were later recast (in the case of Santana, that recast happened pretty d@mn quick... yeesh!!), you get an idea of what was to come. Please note the magnificent Lane Davies as Mason; Dame Judith Anderson as Minx Lockridge (you may remember from films like Laura, Rebecca, Cat On a Hot Tin Roof and dozens of other films), and Robin Wright, before she became a Penn.
An episode that illustrated the promise that was to come.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment