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Somerset (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Somerset is an American television soap opera
which ran on NBC
from March 30, 1970 until December 31, 1976. The show was a spinoff of another NBC serial, Another World
.
), Lahoma Vane Lucas (Ann Wedgeworth
), and Sam Lucas (Jordan Charney
). These were three popular characters who were first seen on Another World. They moved to the fictional town of Somerset, an area in the northern Detroit suburbs in Michigan
and started their lives anew.
The first stories on the serial revolved around the trio's progress in starting new friendships and romantic entanglements. In Somerset, the other families of importance were the Grants and the Delaneys, who ran Somerset's major employer, Delaney Brands. In 1972, though, the show changed writers, with Robert Cenedella leaving the show in favor of Henry Slesar
. Further, Somerset moved away from the traditional soap format, and started telling stories that dealt heavily with the Mafia
and other types of crime, not unlike CBS
' The Edge of Night
. After the departure of Slesar, several other writers attempted to bring the show's ratings up with varying mixtures of the two previous formats. One of them, Roy Winsor
, who was the creator of Search for Tomorrow
, Love of Life
, and The Secret Storm
.
The Somerset County Courthouse in Somerville, New Jersey was used for exteriors.
first launched Somerset as an extension of the mother show, adding the locales to each program's title. They titled the parent program Another World--Bay City and the new spinoff Another World--Somerset, in the hopes that the large loyal following of the mother show, which aired an hour earlier than Somerset at 3:00 PM/2 Central, would stay tuned for several of their favorite characters to appear in a new storyline. When this did not occur, NBC shortened the title to simply Somerset and reverted AW to its original title, separating the two shows' identities and phasing out the crossover characters.
Running at a timeslot prone to affiliate preemption, 4/3 Central, Somerset struggled throughout its nearly seven-year history to gain a foothold in the daytime pantheon. Upon its 1970 debut, ABC
's Dark Shadows
held the ratings and clearances lead and maintained it through the next year, when a successful revival of the game show
Password entered the network's schedule at that slot. Some signs of hope occurred during the Slesar period (CBS' The Secret Storm
ended a long run against Somerset), but by the time he left in 1974, the other networks had plugged surprisingly strong games (CBS' Tattletales
and ABC's The $10,000 Pyramid
) at 4/3.
Things went downhill from that point, as numerous affiliates began defecting the soap in favor of cartoons, syndicated sitcom reruns or talk shows, and old movies. Perhaps the nail in Somerset's coffin came when ABC acquired Edge from CBS in December 1975 and placed it against Somerset. With Somerset having nowhere near the ratings figures AW had solidly maintained during the early 1970s, NBC cancelled it on New Year's Eve
1976. Somerset's place on the schedule was given to another P&G soap, Lovers and Friends, and its timeslot was given to The Gong Show
.
Somerset is noteworthy in daytime scheduling history as one of three soaps to premiere on the same day, along with ABC's The Best of Everything
and A World Apart
. This was the only occurrence of more than two serials beginning at the same time; neither of the ABC shows lasted past 1971.
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
which ran on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
from March 30, 1970 until December 31, 1976. The show was a spinoff of another NBC serial, Another World
Another World (TV series)
Another World is an American television soap opera that ran on NBC from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. It ran for a total of 35 years. It was created by Irna Phillips along with William J...
.
Overview
Initially, the show revolved around Missy Palmer Matthews (Carol RouxCarol Roux
Carol Roux is an American actress who was an original cast member of Another World and was involved in one of the show's first major storylines...
), Lahoma Vane Lucas (Ann Wedgeworth
Ann Wedgeworth
Ann Wedgeworth is a Tony award winning American actress, best known for her role as Lahoma Vane Lucas on the daytime dramas Another World and Somerset .-Early life:...
), and Sam Lucas (Jordan Charney
Jordan Charney
Jordan Charney is an American character actor.Many of his earliest roles were on daytime television, with appearances in numerous soaps. Jordan created...
). These were three popular characters who were first seen on Another World. They moved to the fictional town of Somerset, an area in the northern Detroit suburbs in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and started their lives anew.
The first stories on the serial revolved around the trio's progress in starting new friendships and romantic entanglements. In Somerset, the other families of importance were the Grants and the Delaneys, who ran Somerset's major employer, Delaney Brands. In 1972, though, the show changed writers, with Robert Cenedella leaving the show in favor of Henry Slesar
Henry Slesar
Henry Slesar was an American author, playwright, and copywriter. He was also known as O.H. Leslie and Jay Street.-Early life:...
. Further, Somerset moved away from the traditional soap format, and started telling stories that dealt heavily with the Mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
and other types of crime, not unlike CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
' The Edge of Night
The Edge of Night
The Edge of Night is an American television mystery series/soap opera produced by Procter & Gamble. It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran as a live broadcast on that network until November 28, 1975; the series then moved to ABC, where it aired from December 1, 1975, until December 28, 1984...
. After the departure of Slesar, several other writers attempted to bring the show's ratings up with varying mixtures of the two previous formats. One of them, Roy Winsor
Roy Winsor
Roy Winsor was an American soap opera writer, creator and novelist.Roy Winsor was born in Chicago Illinois in 1912. He is most famous for creating some of the longest running soap operas in television history. Before he created television soap operas he wrote for many radio serials. He also...
, who was the creator of Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow is an American soap opera which premiered on September 3, 1951 on CBS. The show was moved from CBS to NBC on March 29, 1982. It continued on NBC until the final episode aired on December 26, 1986, a run of thirty-five years. At the time of its final broadcast it was the...
, Love of Life
Love of Life
Love of Life is an American soap opera which aired on CBS Daytime from September 24, 1951 to February 1, 1980. It was created by Roy Winsor, whose previous creation Search for Tomorrow had premiered three weeks before Love of Life, and who would go on to create The Secret Storm two and a half years...
, and The Secret Storm
The Secret Storm
The Secret Storm is a soap opera which ran on CBS from February 1, 1954 to February 8, 1974. The series was created by Roy Winsor, who also created the long-running soap operas Search for Tomorrow and Love of Life...
.
The Somerset County Courthouse in Somerville, New Jersey was used for exteriors.
Cast
Some of the more familiar actors who appeared during the program's run:- Bibi BeschBibi BeschBibiana "Bibi" Besch was an Austrian/American actress.-Early life:Besch was born in Vienna, Austria, the daughter of theater actress Gusti Huber, who starred in German films during World War II and left Austria in the mid 1940s. Besch had a stepfather, Joseph Besch, a radio executive and former...
- Richard BrightRichard Bright (actor)Richard James Bright was an American actor best known for his role as Al Neri in the The Godfather films.-Early life & work:...
- Gene Bua
- Jordan CharneyJordan CharneyJordan Charney is an American character actor.Many of his earliest roles were on daytime television, with appearances in numerous soaps. Jordan created...
- Joel CrothersJoel CrothersJoel Anthony Crothers was an American actor who, in 1981, was noted by columnist Liz Smith to so strongly resemble Tom Selleck that they could be twin brothers...
- Ted DansonTed DansonEdward Bridge “Ted” Danson III is an American actor best known for his role as central character Sam Malone in the sitcom Cheers, and his role as Dr. John Becker on the series Becker. He also plays a recurring role on Larry David's HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm and starred alongside Glenn Close...
- Ray FulmerRay FulmerRaymond Stover Fulmer, known as Ray Fulmer , is a former actor, originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, best known for his role as Steve Baxter in the final season of Shirley Booth's situation comedy Hazel, which aired on CBS television from September 13, 1965, to April 11, 1966.Fulmer first...
- Bernard Grant
- Veleka GrayVeleka GrayVeleka Gray , sometimes credited as Velekka Gray, is an American actress, best known for her roles as department store executive Vicki Paisley Cannell on Somerset, and as Mia Marriott on Love of Life from 1977 - 1980.-Career:...
- Harriet Hall
- Alice HirsonAlice HirsonAlice Hirson is an American actress best known for her roles on television.She appeared regularly in soap opera with roles as Stephanie Martin on The Edge of Night, as Marcia Davis on Somerset, and as Eileen Riley Siegel on One Life to Live...
- Barry JennerBarry JennerBarry Francis Jenner is an American actor.He had early roles on two daytime programs, as Tony Cooper on Somerset and as Evan Webster on Another World , where he was involved with Olive Gordon in an infamous storyline plot to kill long-time character John Randolph...
- Georgeann Johnson
- Ed KemmerEd KemmerEd Kemmer was an American motion picture and television actor.-Life:Kemmer was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, and served as a fighter pilot in World War II. He was shot down and sent to a POW camp...
- Lois KibbeeLois KibbeeLois Kibbee was an American actress.Kibbee was born in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. The daughter of actor Milton Kibbee and the niece of actor Guy Kibbee, Lois is best remembered for portrayal of Geraldine Weldon Whitney Saxon on the CBS/ABC daytime soap opera The Edge of Night, where she appeared from...
- Audrey LandersAudrey LandersAudrey Landers is a German American actress and singer, who is probably best known for her role as Afton Cooper in the television drama series Dallas and her role as Val Clarke in the film version of A Chorus Line.- Early years :...
- James O'Sullivan
- Michael NouriMichael NouriMichael Nouri is an American television and film actor. He may be best known for his role as Nick Hurley, in the 1983 film Flashdance. He has had recurring roles in numerous television series, including NCIS as Eli David, the father of Mossad officer Ziva David, The O.C. as Dr...
- Jameson ParkerJameson ParkerFrancis Jameson Parker Jr. is an American actor, best known as the co-star of the 1980s television series Simon & Simon.-Biography:Parker studied drama at Beloit College...
- Chris Pennock
- Gary SandyGary SandyGary Sandy is an American actor, who starred as program director Andy Travis on the television sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati....
- Frank SchofieldFrank SchofieldDr. Frank W. Schofield was a veterinarian who came to Korea to help liberate the country from Japanese empire. He also taught at Veterinary College of Seoul National University.-References:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2249727/...
- Richard ShobergRichard ShobergRichard Shoberg is an American actor and writer.He first appeared in soap operas as Mitch Farmer on Somerset from 1971 to 1972...
- Tina SloanTina SloanTina Sloan is an American actress.Sloan attended The Ursuline School and Manhattanville College. Sloan studied acting with Bob McAndrew and Warren Robertson...
- Lois SmithLois SmithLois Smith is an American actress whose career in theater, film, and television has spanned five decades.Smith was born Lois Arlene Humbert in Topeka, Kansas, the daughter of Carrie Davis and William Oren Humbert, who was a telephone company employee...
- Dorothy Stinnette
- Marie WallaceMarie WallaceMarie Wallace is an American stage and television actress, best known for her performances in the cult Gothic soap opera Dark Shadows.-Early life and career:...
- Sigourney WeaverSigourney WeaverSigourney Weaver is an American actress. She is best known for her critically acclaimed role of Ellen Ripley in the four Alien films: Alien, Aliens, Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection, for which she has received worldwide recognition .Other notable roles include Dana...
- Ann WedgeworthAnn WedgeworthAnn Wedgeworth is a Tony award winning American actress, best known for her role as Lahoma Vane Lucas on the daytime dramas Another World and Somerset .-Early life:...
- JoBeth WilliamsJoBeth WilliamsJoBeth Williams is an American film and television actress and director, and current President of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation.-Early life:...
- Edward Winter
- Mary WoronovMary WoronovMary Woronov is an American actress and writer. She is primarily known for her roles in independent and cult films. Woronov has appeared in over 80 movies, as well as numerous appearances in mainstream television series, such as Charlie's Angels and Knight Rider.-Early life:Woronov was born in the...
Broadcast history
NBC and packager Procter & Gamble ProductionsProcter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
first launched Somerset as an extension of the mother show, adding the locales to each program's title. They titled the parent program Another World--Bay City and the new spinoff Another World--Somerset, in the hopes that the large loyal following of the mother show, which aired an hour earlier than Somerset at 3:00 PM/2 Central, would stay tuned for several of their favorite characters to appear in a new storyline. When this did not occur, NBC shortened the title to simply Somerset and reverted AW to its original title, separating the two shows' identities and phasing out the crossover characters.
Running at a timeslot prone to affiliate preemption, 4/3 Central, Somerset struggled throughout its nearly seven-year history to gain a foothold in the daytime pantheon. Upon its 1970 debut, ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows is a gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966 to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements...
held the ratings and clearances lead and maintained it through the next year, when a successful revival of the game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
Password entered the network's schedule at that slot. Some signs of hope occurred during the Slesar period (CBS' The Secret Storm
The Secret Storm
The Secret Storm is a soap opera which ran on CBS from February 1, 1954 to February 8, 1974. The series was created by Roy Winsor, who also created the long-running soap operas Search for Tomorrow and Love of Life...
ended a long run against Somerset), but by the time he left in 1974, the other networks had plugged surprisingly strong games (CBS' Tattletales
Tattletales
Tattletales is a game show which first aired on the CBS daytime schedule on February 18, 1974. It was hosted by Bert Convy, with several announcers, including Jack Clark, Gene Wood, Johnny Olson and John Harlan, providing the voiceover at various times...
and ABC's The $10,000 Pyramid
Pyramid (game show)
Pyramid is an American television game show which has aired several versions. The original series, The $10,000 Pyramid, debuted March 26, 1973 and spawned seven subsequent Pyramid series...
) at 4/3.
Things went downhill from that point, as numerous affiliates began defecting the soap in favor of cartoons, syndicated sitcom reruns or talk shows, and old movies. Perhaps the nail in Somerset's coffin came when ABC acquired Edge from CBS in December 1975 and placed it against Somerset. With Somerset having nowhere near the ratings figures AW had solidly maintained during the early 1970s, NBC cancelled it on New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
1976. Somerset's place on the schedule was given to another P&G soap, Lovers and Friends, and its timeslot was given to The Gong Show
The Gong Show
The Gong Show is an amateur talent contest franchised by Sony Pictures Television to many countries. It was broadcast on NBC's daytime schedule from June 14, 1976 through July 21, 1978, and in first-run syndication from 1976–1980 and 1988–1989. The show was produced by Chuck Barris, who also served...
.
Somerset is noteworthy in daytime scheduling history as one of three soaps to premiere on the same day, along with ABC's The Best of Everything
The Best of Everything (TV series)
The Best of Everything is an American daytime soap opera which aired on ABC from March 30, 1970 to September 25, 1970. The series was a spin-off of the 1959 film of the same name.-Plot:...
and A World Apart
A World Apart (TV series)
A World Apart is an American daytime drama which ran from March 30, 1970 to June 25, 1971 on the ABC television network.-Overview:The initial stories were written by Katherine Phillips, adopted daughter of soap legend Irna Phillips...
. This was the only occurrence of more than two serials beginning at the same time; neither of the ABC shows lasted past 1971.