News
Retro TV Production Executive Gives Details On Acquisition & Re-Airing Of NBC's Classic Soap THE DOCTORS!
Courtesy/NBC
Fans of On-Air On-Soaps were very excited last week when we brought them news that Retro TV is going to be airing re-runs of the classic NBC soap opera, The Doctors that starred among others: James Pritchett, Elizabeth Hubbard, David O’Brien, Carolee Campbell, Alec Baldwin, Kathleen Turner, Kim Zimmer and many more!
Classic TV motion picture and television journalist, Will McKinley chatted with Retro TV’s Vice President of Production, Matthew Golden to get some answers to some burning questions about the acquisition and plans for the re-airing of The Doctors slated sometime this fall. Here are some excerpts below!
During their conversation, Golden revealed that as far as from what year the episodes will begin, he revealed: “We will begin with the 1967 season, which is the first of the show to be produced in color.”
As to what day part The Doctors will air and how often, Golden stated: “We’re still in the process of assembling all of the assets; this extends somewhat to the schedule for it, but as it stands right now, we plan to double-strip it Monday through Friday in the early afternoons. (Editor’s Note: “double-strip” means two episodes will air back-to-back) … There are a great number of episodes, and even double-stripping the series would run over six years with no repetition. We are committed to the series, and our commitment, like all networks’, is rooted in favorable response. That said, this is not a test: we will be running the episodes we’ve licensed, and if the response is good, then we’ll renew and continue.”
As to how soap fans can best get Retro TV in their area, Golden commented: “Retro TV is a broadcast network, not direct to cable, satellite, or Internet. We require local stations to affiliate with us on one of their channels, and often cable or satellite providers in those markets pick up and serve the channel on their offerings. The best way to get Retro TV in your area is to call and write your local TV stations and let them know that you want Retro TV. Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve welcomed new affiliates in Albuquerque/Santa Fe (KYNM) and Tri-Cities, TN-VA (WLFG), and next week should hopefully bring even more. Stations have been very receptive and excited about the new programming coming to Retro TV.”
Now the question is, if The Doctors is a success could Retro TV become a home to other favorite soaps of the past? And what do you think about the year start date of the first year The Doctors was in color … the day part … and trying to get affiliates in your area to add Retro TV? Weigh-in!
I hope The Doctors does well…then maybe I can see DAYS from the beginning! I don’t care if it’s black & white or bad picture quality, just as long as I can see and hear the first 18 years of DAYS. Please!!!
Note: I’m aware that DAYS premiered in color and all the episodes survive. I’m not sure if all the color episodes survive though. A large amount of them could be Kinescope (black & white copies). Is there anybody that can give definitive answers on the subject?
Michael Fairman: Please ask Ken Corday about the DOOL library. Thank you.
Doctors was a great soap back in the 60s to mid 70s…i wont give any plots away…Anna Stuart who played Toni is so young but she wont appear until the early 70s and Gil Gerard who plays Alan in the mid 70s stared in primetimes Buck Rogers…i got to see Days from the beginning(i missed much because my parents just had to send me to school…lol) and i hope its repeated too…black and white, color, or on kinescope ill take them any way i can…Alice, Tom, Tommy, Kitty, Addie, Ben, Steve, Julie, Mickey, Bill, Laura, Diane, Susan, Marie, Craig, Tony, Linda, David, Micheal, Linda, Greg, Eric, Bob, Phylis, Mary, the Grants, Amanda, Robert, Trish…and so many more from the 18 years you missed i hope you get to see…i still like Days but those early years the show was more grounded and realistic…youll see why Doug and Julie…my all time favorite super couple…and the show made it on the cover of Time magazine…even the sets were better back then including Maggies farmhouse…and long before he became Victor K. youll see John Aniston in his early Days role…hope The Doctors repeats are a success and Days will be the next to be repeated…too bad AW early years were erased…it was so cool back in the 1970s and Edge of Night too…
Soapnet should have been the one to do this but im glad another cable channel is giving it a shot…
1975-1977 just prior to creating Luke and Laura on GH along with Bobbie Spencer and the Quarermaines..the late great (I followed him to every soap) Douglass Marland was head writer of The Doctors. I so hope this show extends long enough to see this period of writing. I watched on and off but by that time I was watching Love of Life fade out…all into Ryan’s Hope and not missing ONE moment of One Life to Live. Gosh I remember jumping off that school bus and a lot of us neighborhood kids busting through our front doors and straight to the TV for the end of the soap day which didn’t conclude till 4:30 or 5:00 pm at one point in the afternoon.
I meant to say Quartermaines…but oh well. Back in those days you watched what your friends mom’s watched especially in the summer when you were running around the neighborhood streets. Or you would be talking about shows and a friend would ask have you seen such and such…and they made it sound so good because something big was happening and you had the luxury of watching through the arc and going back to your show…not liking that shows arc for one reason or another and going back to that new show and sampling the other shows around it and on and on…WHY??? WHYYYY??? WHYYYYYYYYYY???? Give me back my AFTERNOONS!!!!
I remember one of my good friends insisting I watch As The World Turns because of Joyce Coleman and it was all she would talk about until one afternoon I watched the show of that shooting where Joyce came down the steps intending to shoot one person and shot another person by mistake which I’m almost sure were the Hughes brothers and for years I went back and forth to that show until 1986 and the Sabrina/Kim/Doug storyline and LISA BROWN….OH WELL…that’s what news of a 60’s replay will do to one.
I hope it is a success. ME TV will be airing Dark Shadows in the future maybe 2015, but they have not said yet. My one thing is I don’t think it is a good idea to strip the show during the hours that the 4 current soaps are airing, That would limit the audience not grow it. You want the people who are watching the 4 current soaps to watch The Doctors, not to compete with them. I know when the shows air on the East coast nationally between 12:30 PM and 3PM So I would place it after or before the current ones.
Agreed! I hope my area gets this station and it is successful enough that they air more shows!
Dark Shadows was one of my favorites- there were so many- I’m just hoping I will be able to see the retro shows as I only have an aerial 🙁
Yes, it would be a big mistake to air it against the current four and i hope they are wise to air the show a little later…i want it to succeed so maybe other serials like Dark Shadows, Strange Paradise, Days, and others that still have their episodes like Ryans Hope, Santa Barbara and Passions can find a new home and new fans!!!
you guys will love it!! have fun!!
I never heard of the Doctors..
In college we had a Dark Shadows night, sorta like The Rocky Horror Picture Show ..
But– believe me when I say; we did not watch it live/in current time, most weren’t born yet- ahaa..
I do not recall but believe it was via DVD..
Now, that was an awesome soap !!!! I really liked it!!
but- there was no real ending . now that stank ..
Not every New England state starts airing soaps at 12:30 PM. Some start as early as noon.
I agree it would probably be a mistake to air it at the same time that the current soaps are airing, but on the other hand, I personally would watch it over any of the current four, so . . .
My love of soaps began with Dark Shadows. I hope it’s true because I get ME TV, but I don’t get retro TV. I would gladly tune into a classic soap, such as The Doctors.
I’m very excited! Never thought I’d be watching this soap again in my lifetime! I enjoyed it in my early teens with my Mother & my Aunt, both of whom had ‘crushes’ on Dr. Matt Powers/James Pritchett & I can hear them now gushing over him! I will be watching definitely!
I used to watch it with my mother when i was home from school…i cant wait to see it again!!!
Micheal, can you interview former surving members of this show and get their opinion on it being repeated…i know James Pritchett, Lydia Bruce, David Obrien, Gerald Gordon, Geraldine Court, and a few others are no longer with us but there are others still with us like Liz Hubbard, Carolee Cambell, Jada Rowland, Julia Duffy, Anna Stuart, Gil Gerard, Armand Asante, Alec Baldwin, Jennifer Hougton ect…i think i got there names right…thats if they are able and willing to do it…thanks!!!
Just googled some former cast members and learned Meg Mundy(exMona Croft) is still with us and 99 years old…must be the oldest surviving actor/actress from any daytime drama!!!
I did the look up;
the list does NOT have Retro TV .. zero .. you need to get it to see it 🙂
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
North Dakota
Rhode Island
Nebraska
Minnesota
Maryland
Massachusetts
Indiana
Delaware
Alaska
Arizona
Retro TV is a broadcast channel, not a cable channel. It is usually broadcasted by a local TV station on one of their secondary channels. Some cable providers do carry it.
RetroTV is a BROADCAST network. Comcast can only add it if one of your local broadcast channels carries it, and there is an agreement with Comcast to carry that channel or subchannel.
So, it must be the same with the other cable providers..
I find it a curious choice…I am not opposed to it by any means. Its just that there are so many soaps that fans are clamoring to see like Texas, Santa Barbara, Another World, Ryan’s Hope etc. I hope it does well and that it opens the doors for other soaps to be placed on their schedule or any other network. I don’t understand why…with the hundreds and hundreds of channels…there is no all soap channel of defunct soaps. Anyone who says it wouldn’t work is wrong!! It could give old soaps new life and even possibly provide a platform for some new original programming. One thing I have noticed watching YouTube clips of Santa Barbara is how good the writing was!!! Not always the long term plotting…but the day to day writing and the dialogue was often times breathtaking!!!! It was equal parts Greek tragedy, comedy, soap opera, and even Shakespearean at times. I was very young when it was on and I loved it but as an adult now I can appreciate the writing so much more. I really believe the first nail in the coffin of that beloved show was recasting and then killing Joe. That show was built around Joe and Kelly and the chemistry between Robin and Dane was off the charts! They should have went the distance. Also…looking back…the show got a little too much into rape. 1985 had Peter as the Carnation Killer/rapist. 1985 had Steve who raped Christy. 1986 had Mark rape Mary. 1987 had the pillowcase rapist who raped Hayley. 1988 had Eden’s rape. I think 1989 was rape free. 1990 had Dash rape Julia. 1992 revealed that BJ had been raped repeatedly as a child. Little bit of overkill there. That aside, the show was unmatched in its brilliance and Emmy awards. No show that aired for 8.5 years won as many Emmy’s or had as much critical acclaim as Santa Barbara. Per capita…it is the Emmy champ. I would watch it again. It was taken off of my affiliate station in early 1991 so I missed the last two years. Reading synopses in soap magazines…it didn’t sound like I missed much. The Cassandra debacle…being Minx’s daughter…. How old was Minx when she gave birth to the 30 something Cassandra…60? But anyway I got off topic. Make an all soap channel. The end.
well. about the rape stories..
All, ALL, the soaps from around 85 to 90 were doing rape stories, they were very popular lol.. Rape amaina ..!
Kept the fans tuned in mostly from hate and pity .. and it worked..
Also-
yes there are many soaps that could be brought back as retro reruns, thing is- most networks will not touch the soaps new or old..,..
and the licensing to re-air them is complicated..
The Doctors is one of those rare soaps with most of its episodes from the golden era of daytime drama unlike Another World with almost all of its early episodes from the 60s and 70s erased and reused to save money…those were the years AW was at its best and at the top of the ratings…episodes from the 80s to cancellation should be available but except for the Jake/Vicki and Cass/Frankie storylines AW started go downhill and it showed in the ratings especially in the 90s when they foolishly killed off Frankie then brought on her lookalike and also wrote the worse plotline ever with Cass and a gorila who was in love with him which i vote as the worse in daytime and what killed this classic soap…id watch repeats if AW had all its episodes…the stories when it was about the Mathews family and their friends, scheming Iris(played by the late Beverly Mckinsey) and the greatest love triangle ever with Steve, Alice, and Rachel, the show was at its best during those years but will never be seen again due to network wiping practices…some of AW was good in the 80s and i might watch some of it again but my interest isnt there…as much as it would have had those earlier episodes been available…my favorite story was when evil Cory caretaker Sven was causing a lot of problems and villainous Olive and her lover Evan Webster!!! But id love to see Santa Barbara, Passions, Texas, Strange Paradise, Ryans Hope, and primetimes Peyton Place who have all their episodes like The Doctors…id settle for Edge Of Night even if most of that show is not available…i loved Sharon Gabet as Raven Alexander Jamison Swift Whytney Whytney!!!
In terms of the choice, as I recall The Doctors was a Colgate/Palmolive show. Maybe they are more willing to license it at a reasonable fee than Proctor and Gamble or ABC, who own many of the others you mentioned.
4Got to mention…yes, id like to see another soap channel too…they could have a show called the ‘Soap Hour’ that shows vintage clips and episides that manage to survive the wiping process and shortlived series like Never Too Young and do interviews with former soap stars and where they are now…maybe with new actors recreate scenes from missing soap episodes if old scripts are available…id like that…i miss soapnet!!!
Good ideas, jimh!!!
I miss Soapnet so much.
yes!!
I have a station not too far from me. Comcast does not carry them. Trying to contact local station to see if I am within range to use antenna tv. I have been requesting Comcast add them but they say to contact local station. I sure hope I can figure this out before they start airing them. I sure wish they had an app so I could watch on my iPad! I really would love watching The Doctors!
Too bad P&G turned its back on the medium that made them succesful, maybe we’d get reruns of GL and ATWT among others.
I think great things could come from this, but, I really wish you would start this show from the beginning. Perhaps those eps are no longer available, but it would be cool to begin right from the start. Jumping into the usual myriad soap operas become, joining THE DOCTORS midstream may be a tad confusing.
I wish theyd start from the begining but i feel starting it where they plan will not be any less different to the soap viewer than a new soap fan who just tuned in to any one of the four remaining soaps without watching from the begining…you gradually get to know the characters and the plots…seeing The Doctors again starting from the 1967 is a lot better than not at all…maybe they’ll eventually put the entire series on dvd!!!
that is so cool!! Bring them all back. I’d so enjoy Edge of Night and Secret Storm!!
Both of those series had most of their episodes erased and reused…The Doctors luckily survived…Edge last 6 years should be available…only a handful of its pre 1978 episodes are known to survive and im certain most of the Secret Storm is also gone forever…only a few episodes survive as well…sad!!!
All My Children
Mark Consuelos Celebrates Kelly Ripa’s 56th Birthday on ‘Live,’ But Remember When Wendy Williams Outed the Couple as Married Before Anyone at ‘All My Children’ Knew?
On the Friday, October 2 episode of Live with Kelly and Mark, the morning talk show marked the 56th birthday of Kelly Ripa (ex-Hayley Vaughan Santos, All My Children).
During the opening segment, Mark Consuelos (ex-Mateo Santos, All My Children) humorously comparing his wife to both Gandhi and Groucho Marx, reflecting on both her comedic ability and peaceful ways.
Later, they went on to discuss the origins of her name and the most popular picks to name babies back in the year she was born, 1970. They were Kimberly, Lisa, and Jennifer for girls and Michael, David, and James for the boys.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Ripa recalled that she learned she was almost named Kim. However, their neighbors at the time had two daughters Kelly and Kim, which is what her parents wanted to call them, but they settled on Kelly and and her younger sister, Linda.
At the conclusion of the episode, Mark rolled out a huge cake for his wife. It was, “Happy birthday from all of us here at Live and at home.” Next, he cut the cake, and Ripa grabbed his face and gave him a “thank you” kiss.
Photo: JPI
KELLY AND MARK TRIED TO KEEP THEIR VEGAS WEDDING ON THE DOWN LOW
All of this brings back memories of how Kelly and Mark’s Las Vegas wedding ceremony went public in 1996 while the two were still on All My Children playing Mateo Santos and Hayley Vaughan. In essence, they were outed by then radio host Wendy Williams! They discussed it on the talk show back in 2024.
In fact, the duo hid their marriage from their All My Children castmates for months, until they found out Williams got wind of the nuptials and spread the intel on the airwaves.
The two recalled their secret wedding on a 2024 episode of Live! “We’d eloped. It’d been a few months at that point. We’d been married for three months, nobody at All My Children knew we were even dating, much less married to each other. We’re brushing our teeth and we’ve got Wendy Williams’ radio show on. We’re listening, and she’s like, ‘I’ve got celebrity dish!”
EYEWITNESS
Next Ripa continued, “The celebrities,’ I guess they had a broad use of the term back then, was the fact that ‘two soap stars from All My Children, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos eloped in Las Vegas.’ There was this eyewitness that worked in the Clark County courthouse that said we eloped, and the news broke, and we had to tell everybody we were married.”
Live With Kelly and Mark airs weekdays in syndication. Check your local listings for times in your area.
Share your birthday wishes for Kelly in the comment section, and let us know your thoughts on how Wendy Williams broadcast the news, unbeknownst to the All My Children newlyweds, that they tied the knot in Vegas? Check out Mark and the ‘Live’ studio audience singing ‘happy birthday’ to Kelly in the post below.
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Beyond the Gates
TUNE-IN: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Banneker Homecoming Episodes, EP Sheila Ducksworth Speaks on Impact HBCUs Have in Real Life
As previously reported, kicking off today, is a two-part Beyond the Gates, when The Duprees gather to celebrate Banneker University’s homecoming weekend.
The producers and writers are taking an opportunity to spotlight the rich traditions of the long-held tradition of attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through its fictional university.
The episodes are today on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on Friday, October 2 and next week on Monday, October 5, where in true Beyond the Gates fashion, there will be some surprising drama that ensues when someone shows up!
Photo: CBS
BANNEKER REFLECTS THE IMPORTANCE OF HBCUS
Sheila Duckworth, (executive producer, Beyond the Gates) spoke to Soaps.com to give some insight on the decision for the series to illustrate the ties that bind with HBCUs.
“It was important that we have this school as almost a character on our canvas, right from the beginning. Beyond even education, HBCUs have been pivotal when it comes to everything from economic progression and fostering a sense of community to the development of leadership skills,” explained Ducksworth. “From the beginning, we wanted to illustrate that what the Duprees are able to do in the world was a direct reflection of the impact HBCU’s have in real life.”
EVERYTHING HAS ITS PURPOSE
The EP talked about how purposeful the elements that integrate Banneker into the overall story of Beyond the Gates are including: the Dupree family door knocker that is a lion, the mascot for the fictional university, plus, the upcoming fight song that the cast will sing together on the Monday, October 5 episode, and the painting the hangs at Fairmont Crest.
That portrait of Vernon Dupree’s (Clifton Davis) father, George Cheeks Dupree, that hangs prominently at the country club, was named after CBS executive George Cheeks (now Chairman of TV and Media, Paramount), and as Ducksworth says of the legacy of Vernon’s father, “He was the architect of Fairmont Crest.”
So, are you looking forward to these episodes honoring HBCU traditions with the Dupree and the Richardson clans? What surprises do you think might be in store come next week? Let us know via the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
‘General Hospital’ Alum Tajh Bellow Fills In for ‘Days of our Lives’ Tyler Joseph Andrews in the Role of Theo Carver
After an earlier post on Thursday, October 1 about General Hospital alumni Tajh Bellow’s (ex-TJ Ashford) upcoming project from Issa Rae’s HOOPAE Digital, comes word that Bellow is temporarily stepping into the role of Days of our Lives Theo Carver to fill in for Tyler Joseph Andrews on the Peacock streaming soap opera.
According to TV Insider, Bellow will be making a one-day appearance next week on the October 6 episode of DAYS as Andrews was unable to make the tape date that was shot 10 months ago on a day last December. Andrews (pictured below) took over the role of Theo in September of 2025.
In Bellow’s upcoming episode as Theo, he will share scenes with Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez). A DAYS spokesperson tells the outlet that Bellow “stepped seamlessly into the role, and the cast and crew were grateful for his professionalism and commitment, albeit for only one episode.”
Photo: JPI
TAJH WILL BE SEEN IN MULTIPLE PROJECTS IN OCTOBER
As General Hospital fans know, Tajh played the role of TJ Ashford from 2018 to his last appearance in December of 2024. Along the way, he received two Daytime Emmy nominations for his performances as TJ, the last being in 2025 in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
In addition, bellow along with Y&R alum Loren Lott will be seen starting on October 14 in the new Love Island spoof series, The Compatibility Experiment. The show will drop exclusively on TikTok and the PineDrama platform.
The Compatibility Experiment gives a satirical look at reality dating shows, think Love Island! The story centers around Kelvin (Bellow) and Camila (Lott), whose relationship is put to the test when they join a reality show to try to win a the million dollar prize.
So, what do you think of Tajh stepping in for Tyler Joseph Andrews as Theo on DAYS? Perhaps, the soap opera liked his work that he might be considered for another role in the future bringing Bellow back to the soaps? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.
Mark Consuelos Celebrates Kelly Ripa’s 56th Birthday on ‘Live,’ But Remember When Wendy Williams Outed the Couple as Married Before Anyone at ‘All My Children’ Knew?
DAYS OF OUR LIVES Preview: Kristen Locates an Alive Sophia, How Much Does Rita Know About the Birth of Dominic Marino?
TUNE-IN: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Banneker Homecoming Episodes, EP Sheila Ducksworth Speaks on Impact HBCUs Have in Real Life
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Tells Dante, “I Don’t Want a Son Like You,” While Michael Tells Brook Lynn to Bide Her Time Till Chase and Willow Have an Affair
‘General Hospital’ Alum Tajh Bellow Fills In for ‘Days of our Lives’ Tyler Joseph Andrews in the Role of Theo Carver
REPORT: ‘Days of our Lives’ Puts Four Actors On Contract
‘Beyond the Gates’ Honors HBCU Tradition with Banneker University Homecoming Episodes
Alley Mills Returns to ‘General Hospital’ as Heather Webber
Judith Light Joins Cast of ‘Shrinking’ Season 4 in Recurring Role
‘Beyond the Gates’ Marquita Goings Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’
Mark Consuelos Celebrates Kelly Ripa’s 56th Birthday on ‘Live,’ But Remember When Wendy Williams Outed the Couple as Married Before Anyone at ‘All My Children’ Knew?
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Tells Dante, “I Don’t Want a Son Like You,” While Michael Tells Brook Lynn to Bide Her Time Till Chase and Willow Have an Affair
GH Alum Tajh Bellow and Y&R Alum Loren Lott Star in New Tiktok and Microdrama ‘Love Island’ Spoof
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ava and Drew Revealed to be Behind Framing Sonny for Sidwell’s Prison Beatdown
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