Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 7, 1990 TAG: 9004070479
SECTION: SPECTATOR PAGE: 11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KENNETH BEST THE STAMFORD ADVOCATE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
And while praise from the media critics is helpful, soap operas rise and fall on the loyalty of their audiences, something that the creator of "Generations" knew very well.
"Watching a soap opera is an investment," said Sally Sussman, who left the staff of successful soap "The Young and the Restless" to serve as head writer and executive producer of "Generations." "You can't expect people to break a habit. It takes time to develop an audience and develop fan loyalty. I think we're starting to do that."
In fact, Sussman has seen "Generations" demonstrate steady audience growth in its mid-day spot on NBC, at the expense of her former CBS soap and that of the ABC entry in the same time slot, "Loving." NBC ratings information indicates that "Generations" is attracting more younger women (18-49) than the network's previous program in that time period, the game show "Scrabble."
"We've really found ourselves. We know what works. It's a fast-paced show," Sussman said in a telephone interview from her Burbank, Calif., office, where she was preparing a one-year anniversary party for the cast and crew of the show. "I feel a lot more optimistic a year later than I did two or three months into the show."
A primary reason for the critical success of "Generations" is the fact that there is a regular focus on the trials and tribulations of a black family in the Chicago neighborhood that is the setting for the program. Among the prominent black actors who appear on the show are Taurean Blacque, best known as Detective Neal Washington from "Hill Street Blues;" Lynn Hamilton, who played Verdie Grant on "The Waltons" for many years; Joan Pringle, who was the principal on "The White Shadow" and a guest on many other network TV shows; and Jonelle Allen, a veteran stage and film actress who also has appeared on many network programs.
Recently, "Generations" lured Debbi Morgan from "All My Children" to be recast as Chantal Marshall and added a new character to the cast, Daniel Reubens, which is being played by the veteran film star Richard Roundtree, who is best known for creating the role of "Shaft."
"We're doing quality work and they want to be a part of it," Sussman said when asked why she has been able to attract such big names to a daytime soap opera. "(But) other actors want to be a part of it, too, not just black actors. It validates what you do. That's how you build a good cast and build good audiences. I think we're heading in that direction."
Sussman and her writers have not been shy about racism and how it affects the show's characters. The Marshall family became targets of racist attacks when they moved into a previously all-white neighborhood. The family also survived a bomb blast in their home.
"It's controversial," Sussman admitted about the show's ongoing treatment of racism. "We're not treading lightly. Black people have different opinions on it. By having a diverse cast, we can get different reactions. It's not something we're going to play every single day, but it's reality and it's part of the show."
At the same time, "Generations" has tackled sickle cell disease in a series of episodes, resulting in favorable reaction from the National Association for Sickle Cell Disease for increasing awareness about the illness, which primarily attacks blacks.
Although the show is breaking new ground on daytime television, Sussman is quick to remind that she is "still doing daytime drama, dealing with romance."
by CNB