Another World was the greatest single daytime drama during its heyday (the 1970s), written by the great Harding LeMay -- like Ryan's Hope, it was one of daytime's few attempts to show real people living real lives. It also hired some of daytime's greatest actors, such as Beverlee McKinsey, Douglass Watson, Constance Ford, Irene Dailey and many others.
Unfortunately during the 1980s it took a downturn as it did what every other soap did -- try to emulate General Hospital. What worked on GH didn't work on AW. However, it still managed to maintain a consistent level of quality that was above and beyond most of the other soaps. Even in the 1990s, when it employed some ridiculous story lines, to be sure, it still managed to hold the viewer's attention with characters like Jake, Paulina, Vicky, Grant, and the superb acting of Charles Keating as Carl and his relationship with Rachel.
Unfortunately NBC cancelled the show in order to pursue more youth-oriented programs such as Sunset Beach and Passions, which is television's worst show. It was a huge mistake (AW could have stayed on the air with Passions at 3:00), but luckily AW still enjoys a significant cult following and thanks to SoapNet, you can still catch reruns (if you're lucky enough to get it).
Unfortunately during the 1980s it took a downturn as it did what every other soap did -- try to emulate General Hospital. What worked on GH didn't work on AW. However, it still managed to maintain a consistent level of quality that was above and beyond most of the other soaps. Even in the 1990s, when it employed some ridiculous story lines, to be sure, it still managed to hold the viewer's attention with characters like Jake, Paulina, Vicky, Grant, and the superb acting of Charles Keating as Carl and his relationship with Rachel.
Unfortunately NBC cancelled the show in order to pursue more youth-oriented programs such as Sunset Beach and Passions, which is television's worst show. It was a huge mistake (AW could have stayed on the air with Passions at 3:00), but luckily AW still enjoys a significant cult following and thanks to SoapNet, you can still catch reruns (if you're lucky enough to get it).