Another World 50th Anniversary: Opening Titles

Debuting on May 4, 1964 - the daytime soap ran for 35 years before the network brass finally decided to ax it. If  the show was still on, it would be celebrating it's 50th anniversary on Monday. To mark this occasion, I will be devoting my blog to my memories of ANOTHER WORLD.

I was less than a  month old when AW premiered, but I think I remember my mom and grandmother watching the show from the very first black & white episode.

When I was old enough to understand what a TV was, I think I was mesmerized by the updated color opening titles. The interlocking circles in various shades of purple and blue was both pretty and comforting. Here, see for yourself:

This opening and theme song were a constant during the 1970s when AW was at its peak of popularity. They were replaced in 1981 by an odd science-fiction inspired opening that lasted throughout most of the 80s.

A new theme song sang by country music diva and AW fan Crystal Gayle and Broadway star Gary Morris debuted in 1987 along with flashy new graphics featuring cast members. It was updated occasionally as new actors joined the show and others left. 

The final opening from 1996 was bold attempt to make AW look like the primetime hit, ER.

I have watched other soaps over the years (mostly on NBC), but somehow no matter how bad AW got (and boy, did it get pretty bad) – I never gave up on it. I guess it was part of my life for so long that it kinda had a life of it's own. There are some days when I wonder whatever happened to the folks of Bay City, characters who felt like family to me. Then I remember, it was just a TV show with actors who got paid to perform scripts written by a team of writers...and then I get sad.

Wouldn't Watch Them with a 10 Foot Poll

A recent Harris Poll released last week asked American "adults" to pick their "two or three favorite television shows of all time." All time, to me = since the birth of television. 1948 or so til today. All time.

Among the top 15 shows getting the most nods, it shocked me that only 2 are considered true classics: M*A*S*H at No. 2 and STAR TREK at No. 13. So,  you may ask "what were the other 11 shows that these people call their all-time faves?"

Well, let's get started with No. 15:

No. 15: GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC, 2005-current) - Okay, how could something  that premiered 4 years ago be your all-time favorite? I've never seen a full episode.

I must be missing something amazing.

No. 14: THE SIMPSONS (FOX, 1989-current) - Holy shit, THE SIMPSONS has been on for TWENTY years. God I'm getting old. Even though I think I stopped watching this show on a regular basis about 10 years ago, it's still funny and irreverent. The feature film was enjoyable as well. I guess it can pass for an all-time favorite.

No. 13: STAR TREK (NBC, 1966-69) - No objection.

No. 12: LAW & ORDER (NBC, 1990-current) Since this show has been on, I've lived in three major cities, had 8 different jobs and did all sorts of crazy shit. Somehow I've only managed to see one episode of this peacock network warhorse. I think I saw LAW & ORDER: SVU twice though. I know people who love this show, so I'll give it a pass.

No. 11: FAMILY GUY (FOX, 2000-current) A show that was cancelled twice for low ratings somehow managed to survive and became the zombie that refuses to die. I've tried at least a dozen times to watch this show (usually because friends think it's so goddamn brilliant) only to find out that it is not only NOT brilliant, but one of the most unfunny and offensive shows ever created. Believe me, I enjoy offensive comedy - when it's actually funny.

No. 10: ER (NBC, 1994-2009) This show finally called it quits. I saw one episode years ago. It was well done, but it made me uneasy and nervous. Give me ST. ELSEWHERE any day.

No. 9: LOST (ABC, 2004-current) Never watched it. Sorry.

No. 8:  TWO AND A HALF MEN (CBS, 2003-current) Who are these people who voted for this show??? Please have them captured and made incapable of reproducing. Thank you.

No. 7: FRIENDS (NBC, 1994-2004) "I'll be there for you..." for 10 seasons. I watched the first 5 or 6. Okay, I really liked it for a while. I'm gay.

No. 6: SEINFELD (NBC, 1989-98) Okay, I was a huge SEINFELD fan - when it first aired. But I haven't been able to watch reruns since it went off the air...I wonder why?

No. 5: 24 (FOX, 2001-current) Never watched even a minute of this right-wing propaganda. Never will.

No. 4: NCIS (CBS, 2003-current) What the fuck? I've never met anyone who has ever watched this show. Most people haven't even heard of it.

No. 3: HOUSE (FOX, 2004-current) My sister is a fan of this show. I watched an episode with her when she visited me last year. It was okay, nothing special. Eh.

No. 2: M*A*S*H (CBS, 1972-83) This anti-war sitcom is a true classic despite Loretta Swit's awful un-1950s hairstyle.

No. 1....Are you ready for this? Any guesses?

MARY TYLER MOORE ? - Nope.

ALL IN THE FAMILY ? - Oh no.

THE COSBY SHOW? - No-no.

ROSEANNE? - A big no.

CHEERS? - Hell no.

HILL STREET BLUES ? - No way.

THE SOPRANOS ? - Haven't got a prayer.

MARRIED: WITH CHILDREN? - Um, okay...I was kidding.

EVERBODY LOVES RAYMOND? - Apparently not so much.

I LOVE LUCY???!!! - waaaaah...Ricky...

What ever can it ever be? What is America's ALL-TIME favorite TV show??? Drumroll please...

No 1: CSI (CBS, 2000-current) Give me a fucking break. This is the all-time favorite TV series among American adults??? CSI??? All I've got to say is..."is it too late to move to Canada?".