The Loving Murders
This is one storyline I never got to see but would love to have done. Unfortunately my Loving viewing has consisted of the pilot movie and scads from the early 90s.
What did everybody think of this storyline? Was it a surprise to find out that Gwyneth Alden was the killer and was it a wise move?
As exciting as it must have made the show in its dying months before the birth of The City, I can't help but wonder whether killing off practically the entire Alden family might have been a bad move. It might have alienated fans who would have tuned into The City in the hope of guest appearances from classic Loving characters.
Hi, James! I only sporadically watched Loving throughout the early 80s, but I watched it fairly regularly from the late 80s on (I loved Trucker and Trisha!). I really got hooked on the series near the end of the run with the introduction of characters like Deborah Brewster, Steffi Brewster, Norma, Ally, Casey, Dinah Lee, etc. For me, the loving murders were must see TV and I was sooooo addicted. I couldn't miss an episode. The killer's identity was kept very well hidden (was it really a looney Trisha?) until near the end when they began to clue us in (I loved the reveal that the clicking heard when the murderer was near was Gwyneth opening a closing that locket!). The big reveal that Gwyneth was the killer had me on the edge of my seat and I loved how ambiguous it was about how much of a role Steffi really played in her death. IMO, Christine Tudor (Gwyneth) really should have gotten an Emmy nod for that performance.
As far as the wiseness of doing away with the Aldens, I think the producers and writers wanted to sever the strongest link to the old Loving to the new The City. However, I never understood why the wrote off my favorite character Ava (I just love Lisa Pelso!).
The City never really got me. I loved Morgan Fairchild as Sydney Chase and Jane Elliot's Tracy Quartermaine (where do former ABC soap stars end up? On Loving/The City!), but the only really plot line that ever held my interest was the Masquerader (a blatant attempt to stir the same kind of attention that the loving murders did). How eerie was it for the big reveal of Molly as the killer? She was talking on the telephone to her mother and sat the receiver done. All the audience could hear was a dial tone! There was no one there! Then she simply picked the phone back up and began to talk again. Chilling!
To me, The City was a bore. I wished they'd stuck with Loving and Corinth. A better time slot and consistancy in the writing department would have done wonders IMO.
Re: The Loving Murders
I stopped watching Loving before the murders began, but I was a huge Trisha and Trucker fan, and of course I loved Jeff Hartman. He was a great psychopath (I based CN's Quentin on his character as well as SB's Peter Flint). I was also a big Casey/Ally fan too. This was also where Roger Howarth got his start on daytime---I can't even picture him playing a snooty rich college kid like he did here!
I never watched the City, but would have loved to seen the Molly is the killer storyline. You know how much of a mystery queen I am!
Seems as though a memory is hard to find, always on mind...And frustrated days pass without sight...The edge of night.
Re: The Loving Murders
I am another fan of the 'Loving' murders. I started watching 'Loving' sporadically in the early ninties, so when they started killing off long-time characters like Stacey, Clay, Curtis, Isabelle, etc, I didn't really care. As bad as James Harman Brown and Barbara Esenstein can be as writers (like in their later years at GL), I think they crafted one heck of a tale. I also agree that Christine Tudor (Gwen) should have gotten an Emmy nod for her work. Her final moments playing Gwen were some of the most riveting I've ever seen from a daytime actress.
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I didn't really think Gwen might be the killer because the writers through us off track when Gwen tried to commit suicide and kill Ally at the same time when they were locked together in Gwen's car. I figured that was one of the killer's misses. And with the re-introduction of Trisha, Gwen's lost long father, and the possibility it could be anyone in town (even Ava!), I was on the edge of my seat during that summer.
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I also loved the final reveal. Steffi walked in to Tess's office and saw the killer sitting behind Tess' desk, with Tess knocked out in front of it. We could see that the killer had long, dark hair and for a minute you knew it was either Trisha or Gwen. The cliffhanger on that Friday was when Gwen turned around and we saw a syringe of poisin in one hand, with her other hand making the infamous clicking sound with a locket Clay had given her.
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In retrospect it made perfect sense Gwen was the killer and it was revealed why she did it - fittingly on Halloween.
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I don't think it was that big of a mistake killing off most of the Aldens, though, like I said before, I wasn't a longtime fan, so I really didn't mind it. 'The City' started almost immediately after the murders and it was a huge letdown, IMO. For months on end all we saw was silly Sydney Chase romping around her penthouse, 'NYPD Blue'-style jerky camera work, and no real emphasis on character-driven stories. I didn't really start to enjoy the show until Morgan Fairchild left and Jane Elliot started. I'd never seen Tracey Quartermaine on 'GH', but I loved her character on 'The City'. She really added the much-needed spunk and humor to the show. Unfortunately, the ratings didn't rise enough to keep the show on the air.
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BTW, if anyone is interested I have most of the 'Loving' murders on tape and also have the big reveal on tape also. I'd happily copy and send them to those that want to see them for a nominal charge. Email me at cneel@netscope.net if you're interested.
Re: The Loving Murders
Wow, breezen, you have brought back some memories! I'll also tell you a character I really loved on The City, Carla Soleto (sp?). At least I believe that was her name. Anyway, I'm sure the actress was Amy Van Horne. I just LOVED her! Why she never wound up on another soap is just beyond me. I personally think that she would make an excellent addition to any series. Also, thank you for the generous offer about the tapes of the Loving murders. I sure hope someone takes you up on it. I'm thinking about it myself!
Oh, btw, welcome to the board! I hope you enjoy your stay!
Re: The Loving Murders
In fact, speaking of Carla, I bet that if General Hospital ever wanted to bring Tracy back (gee, I bet that would set Port Charles on its ear!), Carla could breeze into town looking for her. Tracy did marry Carla's father, didn't she? Wasn't Tracy widowed by him? Did Carla like Tracy (gee, I can't remember). In any instance, I could see Carla up against Sonny! Or paired with Jax! Someone write TPTB at GH ASAP! I might have to watch GH instead of Guiding Light for that!
Re: The Loving Murders
Well I am kind of in between on this one.
I watched Loving from day one. I tried to watch The City but didn't like it plus Ava (Lisa Peluso) was gone. If anyone from Loving would have fit in on The City it would have been Ava.
I really enjoyed the storyline but hated to see the Alden's killed off. I agree the storyline was well written and Christine Tudor was wonderful. But she was wonderful so many times before. There were many wonderful actors on Loving who never got the Emmy nods that they should have. Just a note of trivia for those who don't know. When Judith Light left the role of Karen Wolek on One Life To Live, Christine Tudor was hired to be the new Karen Wolek. At the last minute after rehearsals and other things the execs decided to get rid of the character.
I know that Loving was coming to an end but when you had watched these characters for so many years it was hard to see them killed off to make way for a new series esp. when the new series came on and it was awful. A sad waste of great characters and great actors.
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