Favorite 80s Prime Time soap... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

bb25 · 12-30-2002, 12:42 AM

OK, this is what I've always wondered - which 80s prime time soap did everyone like the best? Which, in your opinion had the best characters, plots, scripts, etc...I'm really curious to know what everyone thinks! Here's the list:

-Dallas
-Knot's Landing
-Dynasty
-The Colby's
-Falcon Crest
-Hotel

I'm not making this a poll, as I'd like to know what everyone's fav is and why, and also, there may be more that I didn't list, but I listed what I could think of...

TVJunkie101 · 01-01-2003, 06:38 PM

I personally liked all of them. SOAPnet airs all of them now except Dallas (which I'm sure will come eventually).

I'm not that big a fan of Hotel.

All had their pros and cons. So, sorry, but for me, it's so hard to choose, LOL.

Ms Garthe Knight · 01-10-2003, 03:15 AM

DALLAS FOR SURE

boechsner · 01-12-2003, 07:52 PM

Dallas was the best with Falcon Crest close behind.

bb25 · 02-05-2003, 10:34 PM

Anyone else?

callmetootie · 02-06-2003, 09:29 AM

Dynasty

JT · 02-10-2003, 09:04 PM

OK, I'm gonna choose storyline wise because I only know storylines and characters and actors and general info about most of the shows (I only saw Dallas).

1) KNOTS LANDING (1979-1993, CBS)
As much as I like greed and deception between the rich, this middle class primetime soap is the one I think I'd enjoy the most. Stars: Joan Van Ark, Michele Lee, Ted Shackleford, Donna Mills, Lisa Hartman.

2) DYNASTY (1981-1989, ABC)
Greed, envy, deception, lies, rumors, and the biggest shoulder pads in the U.S.A. Must be "Dynasty." I really want to see the catfights and slappings and messiness! Stars: John Forsythe, Linda Evans, Joan Collins, Pamela Sue Martin, Diahann Carroll.

3) DALLAS (1978-1991, CBS)
This is kinda like "Dynasty," but I'm not too fond of shows with horses and ranches, but "Dallas" is just great! "Who Shot JR?" was a wonderful cliffhanger that I will pass on to my children! Stars: Larry Hagman, Barbara Bel Geddes, Patrick Duffy, Linda Grey, Victoria Principal.

4) FALCON CREST (1981-1990, CBS)
I haven't learned much about this one, but it looks pretty interesting since it isn't middle class, and it isn't about the oil industry (it's about the wine industry).

5) THE COLBYS (1985-1987, ABC)
I know NOTHING about this show, but I'd watch it because I think the Colby mansion looks better than the Carrington mansion.

6) HOTEL (1983-1988, NBC?)
I haven't read anything at all about this.

Damn I wish I had SoapNet!

BonnieHuntFan · 02-27-2003, 04:08 AM

Knots Landing will always be my favorite Primetime Soap.

Michele Lee (who appeared in all 344 episodes of the series only lead actress in primetime to date to do so.) Joan Van Ark, Ted Shackelford, Constance McCashin, Donna Mills, Julie Harris, Kevin Dobson, William Devane, Michelle Phillips, Kathleen Noone, Stacy Galina,

2nd Longest Running Primetime Series 1979-1993 behind Gunsmoke.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE KNOTS

Karen: Abby Forget about the plant at the Averys I forgot your speciality is wrecking homes not straigtening them out.

bb25 · 09-22-2003, 10:07 PM

BUMP! Anyone else?

If I had been a girl, my mom had several female names from Knot's Landing picked out for me

guess she was a big fan...she also said she loved the "hairstyles"...

Sean Snow · 09-23-2003, 09:06 PM

Definitely Dynasty for me. It's the only one I watch regularly (I've caught some of the Dallas episodes that have aired thus far on SOAPnet and have caught bits and pieces of Knots Landing over the last few months) and even though it was very campy in the last few years, I still enjoyed it.

Right now, they're [SOAPnet] rerunning season one of the show...and IMO, it is a great season of the show. There's not a real dud among the cast and the writing is superb...these characters aren't afraid to speak their minds even if the audience thinks it wrong of them to say. (At one point in either the third or fourth episode, Fallon Carrington said, in reference to Denver-Carrington, that "In the upper management level, there are no blacks, no Jews, no eskimos, and no women.") There is a great contrast between the middle class Blaisdel family and the ultra powerful Carringtons. None of the characters are completely black or completely white: they're all gray. Krystle, 'the good girl,' has her problems and Fallon, 'the bitch,' has her good points. All of the plots are realistic and the show is still, even though it lacks Alexis.

I haven't seen seasons two or three yet. I liked seasons 4 and 5. Seasons 6 and 7 were pretty good, though they both had very weak points. Season 8 was just horrible. Season 9 was a major improvement, with the only thing wrong with it being that they spent too much time on the crime elements. IMO.

Dynasty also had some great cliffhangers. The season 4 cliffhanger with Alexis being put in jail and Fallon driving off into the night on her wedding day was good. The Moldavian Massacre incident in the season 5 finale was great, IMO. The plot only got bad in the season 6 premiere when it turned out only two minor characters had died in it.

The season 6 finale was one of the best - Sammy Jo and Amanda battle it out in the La Mirage swimming pool, Blake tries to strangle Alexis, and Claudia sets fire to La Mirage. Season 7's finale, with Matthew returning from the dead, was pretty good. Season 8's finale was pretty forgettable. The season 9 finale was great - Fallon and Krystina were trapped in a cavern/mine shaft, Blake gets shot by a corrupt cop, and Alexis and Dex fall from the stairs at the Carlton as a horrified Adam, Monica, and Sable look on.

12-30-2002, 12:42 AM	#1
bb25 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 22, 2002 Posts: 784	Favorite 80s Prime Time soap... OK, this is what I've always wondered - which 80s prime time soap did everyone like the best? Which, in your opinion had the best characters, plots, scripts, etc...I'm really curious to know what everyone thinks! Here's the list: -Dallas -Knot's Landing -Dynasty -The Colby's -Falcon Crest -Hotel I'm not making this a poll, as I'd like to know what everyone's fav is and why, and also, there may be more that I didn't list, but I listed what I could think of...

01-01-2003, 06:38 PM	#2
TVJunkie101 Member...you 'member? Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 2,838	I personally liked all of them. SOAPnet airs all of them now except Dallas (which I'm sure will come eventually). I'm not that big a fan of Hotel. All had their pros and cons. So, sorry, but for me, it's so hard to choose, LOL.
	__________________ Shawn DVD Reviews \| My TV on DVD List \| Sitcoms Online NewsBlog

02-06-2003, 09:29 AM	#6
callmetootie Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 06, 2001 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 4,768	Dynasty
	__________________ Andrew Carden

02-27-2003, 04:08 AM	#8
BonnieHuntFan Bonnie Hunt Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 03, 2003 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 28	Knots Knots Landing will always be my favorite Primetime Soap. Michele Lee (who appeared in all 344 episodes of the series only lead actress in primetime to date to do so.) Joan Van Ark, Ted Shackelford, Constance McCashin, Donna Mills, Julie Harris, Kevin Dobson, William Devane, Michelle Phillips, Kathleen Noone, Stacy Galina, 2nd Longest Running Primetime Series 1979-1993 behind Gunsmoke. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE KNOTS Karen: Abby Forget about the plant at the Averys I forgot your speciality is wrecking homes not straigtening them out.
	__________________ Formally known as SitcomFan

01-10-2003, 03:15 AM	#3
Ms Garthe Knight Max&99 Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 29, 2002 Location: New Zealand Posts: 569	DALLAS FOR SURE

01-12-2003, 07:52 PM	#4
boechsner Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 2,212	Dallas was the best with Falcon Crest close behind.

02-05-2003, 10:34 PM	#5
bb25 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 22, 2002 Posts: 784	Anyone else?

02-10-2003, 09:04 PM	#7
JT Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,223	OK, I'm gonna choose storyline wise because I only know storylines and characters and actors and general info about most of the shows (I only saw Dallas). 1) KNOTS LANDING (1979-1993, CBS) As much as I like greed and deception between the rich, this middle class primetime soap is the one I think I'd enjoy the most. Stars: Joan Van Ark, Michele Lee, Ted Shackleford, Donna Mills, Lisa Hartman. 2) DYNASTY (1981-1989, ABC) Greed, envy, deception, lies, rumors, and the biggest shoulder pads in the U.S.A. Must be "Dynasty." I really want to see the catfights and slappings and messiness! Stars: John Forsythe, Linda Evans, Joan Collins, Pamela Sue Martin, Diahann Carroll. 3) DALLAS (1978-1991, CBS) This is kinda like "Dynasty," but I'm not too fond of shows with horses and ranches, but "Dallas" is just great! "Who Shot JR?" was a wonderful cliffhanger that I will pass on to my children! Stars: Larry Hagman, Barbara Bel Geddes, Patrick Duffy, Linda Grey, Victoria Principal. 4) FALCON CREST (1981-1990, CBS) I haven't learned much about this one, but it looks pretty interesting since it isn't middle class, and it isn't about the oil industry (it's about the wine industry). 5) THE COLBYS (1985-1987, ABC) I know NOTHING about this show, but I'd watch it because I think the Colby mansion looks better than the Carrington mansion. 6) HOTEL (1983-1988, NBC?) I haven't read anything at all about this. Damn I wish I had SoapNet!

09-22-2003, 10:07 PM	#9
bb25 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 22, 2002 Posts: 784	BUMP! Anyone else? If I had been a girl, my mom had several female names from Knot's Landing picked out for me guess she was a big fan...she also said she loved the "hairstyles"...

09-23-2003, 09:06 PM	#10
Sean Snow moo Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,408	Definitely Dynasty for me. It's the only one I watch regularly (I've caught some of the Dallas episodes that have aired thus far on SOAPnet and have caught bits and pieces of Knots Landing over the last few months) and even though it was very campy in the last few years, I still enjoyed it. Right now, they're [SOAPnet] rerunning season one of the show...and IMO, it is a great season of the show. There's not a real dud among the cast and the writing is superb...these characters aren't afraid to speak their minds even if the audience thinks it wrong of them to say. (At one point in either the third or fourth episode, Fallon Carrington said, in reference to Denver-Carrington, that "In the upper management level, there are no blacks, no Jews, no eskimos, and no women.") There is a great contrast between the middle class Blaisdel family and the ultra powerful Carringtons. None of the characters are completely black or completely white: they're all gray. Krystle, 'the good girl,' has her problems and Fallon, 'the bitch,' has her good points. All of the plots are realistic and the show is still, even though it lacks Alexis. I haven't seen seasons two or three yet. I liked seasons 4 and 5. Seasons 6 and 7 were pretty good, though they both had very weak points. Season 8 was just horrible. Season 9 was a major improvement, with the only thing wrong with it being that they spent too much time on the crime elements. IMO. Dynasty also had some great cliffhangers. The season 4 cliffhanger with Alexis being put in jail and Fallon driving off into the night on her wedding day was good. The Moldavian Massacre incident in the season 5 finale was great, IMO. The plot only got bad in the season 6 premiere when it turned out only two minor characters had died in it. The season 6 finale was one of the best - Sammy Jo and Amanda battle it out in the La Mirage swimming pool, Blake tries to strangle Alexis, and Claudia sets fire to La Mirage. Season 7's finale, with Matthew returning from the dead, was pretty good. Season 8's finale was pretty forgettable. The season 9 finale was great - Fallon and Krystina were trapped in a cavern/mine shaft, Blake gets shot by a corrupt cop, and Alexis and Dex fall from the stairs at the Carlton as a horrified Adam, Monica, and Sable look on.