News
Former OLTL and Dark Shadows Writer Sam Hall Has Died: Co-Wrote Karen's Courtroom Confession Classic On One Life!
Courtesy/YouTube
Over the weekend, news that legendary soap scribe Sam Hall had passed away at the age of 93 on Friday September 26th, began to circulate in a very quiet way via his son Matthew’s personal blog!
Hall was responsible at coming in to ABC’s Dark Shadows at a critical juncture in 1967 and giving the Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) storyline a much needed lift where many say he saved the show at that point from cancellation!
Hall was married to actress Grayson Hall, who eventually would find her way to Dark Shadows as s Dr. Julia Hoffman, an eccentric blood specialist who would discover that Barnabas was a vampire! Grayson died in 1985 at the age of 62. Sam was with Dark Shadows until 1971. “I’ll never escape Dark Shadows,” he said in a June 2005 interview. “Never, never!”
Later, Hall joined former Dark Shadows scribe Gordon Russell over at One Life to Live in 1978 and remained a head writer there until 1984. Gordon and Sam wrote one of One Life to Live’s most memorable story; Viki Lord’s (Erika Slezak) 1979 trial for the murder of Marco Dane (Gerald Anthony). During the trial, housewife Karen Wolek (played by Judith Light) revealed, in a heartbreaking emotional meltdown, that she was working for Marco as a prostitute. The episode earned Sam and Gordon a Daytime Emmy nomination, and Judith Light won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress. The duo also created the Buchanan family which remained prominent for decades after Hall left One Life to Live.
Courtesy/ABC
In January 2014, Sam Hall filed a lawsuit against ABC in New York state court claiming he had not been paid the weekly royalties he was owed for the showing of Prospect Park’s online reboot of One Life to Live via iTunes, Hulu and other services. According to the complaint, ABC made a deal in 1984 with Wildercliff, Ltd. for Hall’s writing services. The agreement was said to have entitled Hall to a weekly royalty “as long as the One Life to Live series is broadcast.”
Hall went on to also write for General Hospital, Santa Barbara and even started his career in the soaps with The Brighter Day!
So share your thoughts on the passing of Sam Hall below …. and on his contributions to One Life to Live and Dark Shadows!
17
Dark Shadows had many flaws in its storylines and unexplained character departures(later explained in tv guide by Sam Hall after shows cancelation) but DS which remains my favorite soap ever was still fun, very entertaining, escapism five days a week!!!
Still watching “Karen’s” Judith Light confession, brings me back to that courtroom in Llanview, Pa……..GREAT WRITING AND GREAT ACTRESS!!! “RIP” SAM HALL!!
Dark Shadows was so good and I had no idea he wrote that scene for Judith light who rocks!! She is the only reason to watch the Dallas reboot!
RIP Mr. Hall
R.I.P. ANOTHER REAL WRITER LOST THANKS FOR THE GREAT STORIES !!
Dark shadows was before my time..
but!
I broke my leg and a friend gave me the link to Dark Shadows, full series, I was bored from being down..So, I watched and I could not stop watching!!
I had to watch 6 episodes or more a day..!!
Sam Hall thanks for the best entertainment I could have ever hoped for while housebound, Dark Shadows is truly unforgettable..
You were a phenomenal writer!! Dark shadows will never fade away..
That was good stuff on OLTL! Well done, Mr. Hall.
Thank you Mr. Hall for your contributions to our beloved OLTL. Watching Karen’s courtroom confession gives me chills even today. RIP.
Thanks for some great stories and memories, Mr. Hall! Rest in peace.
R.I.P Mr.Hall …Legendary!!
Dark Shadows was before my mind, but I remember my mom raving about that courtroom scene and Judith Light for years after it aired. I was a kid when I first saw it and pulled it up not long ago to re-watch it on youtube. It was every bit as great as I remember it. Really, that kind of drama and the build-up to it is really defines what a soap should be. Seems that scene really propelled Judith Light’s career & changed her life. Wouldn’t you love to have THAT on your resume? I wish there were still writers… Read more »
My condolences to the family of Sam Hall. OLTL was my favorite soap opera. He was a great writer and did it with perfection. RIP Mr. Hall.
How lovely to recognize the man who wrote Karen Wolek’s/Ms. Light’s quintessential scene. It may have revealed a sensational topic, but stood for the lack of self-esteem and even self-loathing that so many of us may have had at the time, as did Karen. That’s why our hearts were broken, and we rooted for her, as we secretly rooted for ourselves. We were a nation of evolvement when it came to self-love and Mr. Hall’s writing may have tapped into our collective pain and hopeful evolution. God bless.
The OLTL courtroom scene with Judith Light (as Karen Wolek) is daytime television at its best! I’ve watched the scenes on YouTube (as they were before my time) and they are riveting!
Wow – two great pieces of television art. Thanks for the opportunity to remember.
RIP.
My condolences to the Hall family & friends. Mr. Hall provided the very best in daytime drama entertainment. Dark Shadows and One Life to Live are my all time favorites soaps. I have many fond memories of watching these shows with my mom & sisters. I started watching when I was pre-K and still remember my sister peeling my fingers away from covering my eyes as Barnabas Collins creeped from the shadows. Ah, sisters. Gotta lov’em.
R.I.P. Sam Hall & thanks for the memories!
How great is it that he was such a big part of two wonderful projects! No matter how old I get, those are two of my favorite shows and those courtroom scenes with Karen are permanently etched in my memories. I always think of that storyline whenever I see Judith Light!
Breaking News
48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards: Presenters, Special Appearances and On-Air Categories
Presenters, special appearances and on-air categories have been announced for the 48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards to be broadcast Friday night on June 25 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on CBD, and available to stream live and on demand on the CBS app and Paramount+.
The broadcast will feature talent appearing from the Emmy stage in Los Angeles, individual show studios and homes to accept their awards.
Kathy Lee Gifford, Ken Jeong, Martha Stewart and Robin Roberts will make special appearances and pay tribute to legends Regis Philbin, Alex Trebek and Larry King. The Bold and the Beautiful’s Diamond White (Paris) is scoring and performing the song for the touching “In Memoriam” segment.
Presenters scheduled to appear include:
• Al Roker (“Today Show”)
• Amy Robach, T.J. Holmes & Dr. Jennifer Ashton (“GMA3: What You Need to Know)
• Bryton James and Brytni Sarpi (The Young and the Restless)
• Deidre Hall (Days of Our Lives)
• Donnell Turner and Cynthia Watros (General Hospital)
• Drew Barrymore (The Drew Barrymore Show)
• Giada De Laurentiis (Giada at Home 2.0)
• Gloria Estefan (Red Table Talk: The Estefans)
• Heather Tom (The Bold and the Beautiful)
• Jackée Harry and Robert Scott Wilson (Days of our Lives)
• Jacqueline MacInnes Wood and Tanner Novlan (The Bold and the Beautiful )
• Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest (Live with Kelly & Ryan)
• Kelly Thiebaud (General Hospital)
• Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner (Entertainment Tonight)
• Mario Lopez (Access Hollywood)
• Michelle Stafford (The Young and the Restless )
• Nate Burleson (CBS Sports and Extra)
• Rachel Lindsay (Extra)
• Sean Kanan (Studio City)
• Tamron Hall (Tamron Hall)
Photo: CBS
Categories scheduled to be presented during the CBS broadcast include:
• Outstanding Drama Series
• Outstanding Limited Drama Series
• Outstanding Game Show
• Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program
• Outstanding Morning Show
• Outstanding Informative Talk Show
• Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show
• Outstanding Entertainment News Program
• Outstanding Daytime Special Event
• Outstanding Daytime Non-Fiction
• Outstanding Special Performance by a Lead Actress in a Drama Series
• Outstanding Special Performance by a Lead Actor in a Drama Series
• Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
• Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
• Outstanding Younger Performer in A Drama Series
• Outstanding Guest Performer in A Drama Series
• Outstanding Culinary Host
• Outstanding Game Show Host
• Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host
• Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host
• Outstanding Writing Team for a Drama Series
• Outstanding Directing Team for a Drama Series
So what do you think about the presenters for the 48th annual Daytime Emmy Awards? Comment below.
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