SoapLand - The Battle Of The Fabulous Names: The Result

[bmasters9]

My favorites:

1. Anthony J. "Tony" Petrocelli (the title character [defense lawyer in fictional town of San Remo, AZ] from Petrocelli; this qualifies because the title character's name was somewhat Italian)
2. Dr. Robert Hartley (Chicago psychologist from The Bob Newhart Show; I like this one because it uses part of Bob Newhart's name)
3. Paladin (main character of Have Gun, Will Travel on CBS from 1957-63; I like this one because his business card used the image of a chess piece)
4. Dr. Marcus Welby (also one of my favorites, this because the last name indicated that this doctor wanted his patients to be ever in good health, or "Well-Be")
5. Kathryn Janeway, captain of the U.S.S. Voyager (like Dr. Robert Hartley, adapts the name of her portrayer, Kate Mulgrew)

 

[Daniel Avery]

We're actually trying to limit this contest to nighttime soaps, though you mention some goodies. This would be quite a contest if we included American daytime soaps. They really pulled out all the stops when it came to oddball names. I could do a top 50 of those! But anyway....

1. The Colbys' Sable Colby
2. FC's Apollonia (or, as Angela infamously called her, "that Babylonia creature")
3. Dynasty's Caress Morell
4. KL's Ciji Dunne
5. KL's Scooter Warren

 

[bmasters9]

We're actually trying to limit this contest to nighttime soaps, though you mention some goodies. This would be quite a contest if we included American daytime soaps. They really pulled out all the stops when it came to oddball names. I could do a top 50 of those! But anyway....

1. The Colbys' Sable Colby
2. FC's Apollonia (or, as Angela infamously called her, "that Babylonia creature")
3. Dynasty's Caress Morell
4. KL's Ciji Dunne
5. KL's Scooter Warren

Appreciate the response! I should have known better what you were looking for when I read the subject line. Of course, I didn't pay much attention to the names, so I thought you were looking for character names in general.

 

[Daniel Avery]

No problem....I've always loved the character name of Raven Swift from The Edge of Night, but they won't accept that, either.

 

[Emelee]

1. Bliss Colby
2. Cassandra Wilder
3. Jacqueline Perrault
4. Afton Cooper
5. Dusty Farlow

 

[Victoriafan3]

Thanks for including RTE names. Yes Angelo's was funny

1. Tara Wells, my fav screen name then and now

2= Sheik Ahmal and Princess Teletha, RTE

3. Alexis Morrell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan

4. Dex Dexter

5. Angelica Nero

 

[Jock Og]

1) Lee Ann De La Vaga – DALLAS
2) Jacqueline Perrault – FALCON CREST
3) Joseph Anders – DYNASTY
4) Angelica Nero – DALLAS
5) Lane Ballou – FLAMINGO ROAD


Jane Wyman goes to Jeff Freilich’s office (Falcon Crest director 1986-1988), with another suggestion for the show. She wants her character Angela to have a new love interest. “I think I should have a boyfriend,” states Jane, (‘behind the scenes’ from season 7, 1987 – ‘88):

Jeff pondered about who he could cast in the role and realized that Jane with her extensive career should be liaised with, “How about Bob Mitchum?” he says.

Jane: “Bob’s great but you need toothpicks to keep his eyes open these days!”

Jeff mentioned a few other names and Jane vetoed them. She went on to say, “Get me what’s-his-name.”

Jeff: “What’s-his-name? Who is what’s-his-name?”

Jane: “You know, that wonderful handsome guy in that Liz Taylor movie, about the airplane.”

Jeff: “Ok!…….I’ll get you what’s-his-name.”

Jeff then established it was the film ‘The VIPs’ and said, “Rod Taylor?”

Some day’s later Rod Taylor went to Jeff Freilich’s office. He was extremely interested in working with Jane Wyman and to play the part of Frank Agretti. Jane then encountered Rod for their first Falcon Crest co-star meeting.

Rod: “Janey, I’m what’s-his-name.”

The new co-stars hugged and their characters married in season 8.

 

[Willie Oleson]

This would be quite a contest if we included American daytime soaps.

I don't think my spreadsheet could handle it

 

[Alexis]

1. Alexis Morrell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan - DYNASTY
2. Caress Morrell - DYNASTY
3. Sable Colby - THE COLBYS
4. Cora Van Husen - DYNASTY
5. Channing Carter -THE COLBYS

 

[James from London]

Cora Van Husen - DYNASTY

Oh yeah, that's a good one. Anyone Van Anything works for me.

 

[Ome]

1. Angelica Nero (Dallas)
2. Jacqueline Perrault (Falcon Crest)
3. Marta Del Sol (Dallas)
4. Mort Tubor (Knots Landing)
5. Dex Dexter (Dynasty)

 

[Daniel Avery]

#4 might deserve special recognition since it's also the name of one of KL's longtime editors. Nick Schillace (who almost made my list) was named for one of their make-up people. So art does indeed imitate life.

 

[Willie Oleson]

4. Mort Tubor (Knots Landing)

#4 might deserve special recognition since it's also the name of one of KL's longtime editors

It's the strangest name I've seen so far, very "Harry Potter". It's so strange it has to be real.

Anyone Van Anything works for me

Being a Someone Van Something myself, it often surprises me how these names appear in a different, soapier context.

5. Channing Carter

These interchangeable first names/surnames make my head spin.
Whenever I chat about Flamingo Road, I have to check IMDB for the name of Mark Harmon's character (Fielding Carlyle or Carlyle Fielding?).

1. Alexis Morrell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan

Ah, you're using all the names. What a very Alexis thing to do.
But I totally agree with your choice. Before Dynasty I had never heard of that name (for a woman) and it's just so 100% absolutely perfect for that character.
It's powerful and sphinx-y mysterious.

 

[Alexis]

5. Channing Carter

I don't know why but I have always loved the name Channing.

Ah, you're using all the names. What a very Alexis thing to do.
But I totally agree with your choice. Before Dynasty I had never heard of that name (for a woman) and it's just so 100% absolutely perfect for that character.
It's powerful and sphinx-y mysterious.

I agree, however even if you split the name up and just use it with one of those surnames separately they all sound soapily fabuous.

 

[Ome]

#4 might deserve special recognition since it's also the name of one of KL's longtime editors.

Plus he had another (private) venture on the show, I just can't remember which episode I nicked this from.

 

[Willie Oleson]

however even if you split the name up and just use it with one of those surnames separately they all sound soapily fabuous.

Alexis-Carrington is my favourite combination. I think she was still referred to as "Carrington" in the Dutch media after she had married Cecil Colby
"Rowan" sounds better as a first name, imo.

 

[Alexis]

Alexis-Carrington is my favourite combination. I think she was still referred to as "Carrington" in the Dutch media after she had married Cecil Colby
"Rowan" sounds better as a first name, imo.

Alexis Dexter sounds like a villain who turns up for a limited run of episodes and causes havoc then disappears.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Oh yeah, that's a good one. Anyone Van Anything works for me.

Yes, I had a thread going on the old soapchat asking if Blake's family should have been the "Von Carringtons". But few people liked the idea.

 

[Zach]

1. Jacqueline Perrault - Falcon Crest
2. Peter De Vilbis - Dynasty
3. Ciji Dunne - Knots Landing
4. Mark St. Claire - Knots Landing
5. Lute-Mae Sanders - Flamingo Road

 

[Sarah]

1. Sue Ellen Shepard Ewing Ewing (Lockwood try to forget)back to Ewing
2. Miss Ellie Southworth Ewing Farlow
3. John Ross Ewing Junior 'JR'
4. Robert 'Bobby' James Ewing
5. Pamela Jean Barnes Ewing
6. Lucy Ewing Cooper
7. John Ross Ewing the Third
8. John Ross Ewing Senior 'Jock'
9. Marvin 'Punk' Anderson
10. Sylvia 'Sly' Lovgren