Generations (American TV series)

Generations is an American soap opera that aired on NBC from March 27, 1989, to January 25, 1991. The show was groundbreaking in that it was the first soap opera to feature an African-American family from its inception.

Premise
This half-hour serial was promoted as television's first fully integrated daytime soap. It focused on the relationship between two Chicago families: the Whitmores and the Marshalls. Their association began several decades ago when Vivian Potter (Lynn Hamilton) was housekeeper and nanny for Rebecca Whitmore and her three children: Laura (Gail Ramsey), Stephanie (nicknamed Sam) (Kelly Rutherford), and J.D. Vivian's young daughter, Ruth (Joan Pringle) lived with her in the Whitmore mansion.

When Ruth grew up, she married Henry Marshall (Taurean Blacque, James Reynolds), who owned and operated a chain of five moderately successful ice cream parlors titled Marshall's Chicago Ice Cream. With Ruth's urging, Henry enlisted the help of business mogul Martin Jackson (Rick Fitts), who marketed Marshall's Chicago Ice Cream nationwide and turned it into a national franchise. The move proved so successful that Ruth could buy the Whitmore mansion. Ruth and Henry had three children: Chantal (Sharon Brown, Debbi Morgan), a lawyer; Jacquelyn Marshall Rhymes, a homemaker and mother; and Adam (Kristoff St. John), a junior executive with the Hale Hotel chain. Living with the Marshalls was Ruth's mother, Vivian (Lynn Hamilton). Sam, Monique and Adam were all childhood friends who grew up together.

Like Ruth Marshall, Rebecca Whitmore (Pat Crowley, Dorothy Lyman) also had a challenging past to overcome. Unknown to Rebecca, her ex-husband Peter (Ron Harper) stole her inheritance and abandoned her. Determined to move forward with her life, a middle-aged Rebecca enrolled in law school and succeeded in becoming one of the nation's leading attorneys. When the serial premiered, her daughter Laura married advertising executive Trevor McCallum. Realizing that Trevor was cheating on her, Laura divorced him. They had an adult daughter, Monique (Nancy Sorel).

Although Rebecca was saddened by the breakup of her oldest daughter's marriage, she was happy to see her granddaughter, Monique, marry photographer Jason Craig. Soon after their marriage, Jason inherited a multimillion-dollar fortune, making him a murder target for his mother's crazy aunt, Mary Gardner. Mary attempted to murder Jason to take possession of his inheritance, but accidentally shot and killed Jason's friend and fellow photographer, Paul Czar. Police detective Kyle Masters (Robert Torti) discovered the plot after Jason found Paul's corpse in his loft and spirited Jason away to a cabin in the woods to protect him. This went on for some time with everyone believing Jason was dead, including a devastated Monique. However, while spying on Kyle from afar, Sam happened upon the cabin and discovered Jason was alive. She immediately brought Monique to him and they happily reunited.

Some time afterward, Sam accepted a position as a model and spokesperson for the upscale Hale Hotel chain after leaving college. Sam was a seductive, slightly promiscuous young woman initially, and was having an affair with one of her college professors, Rob Donnelly (George Deloy). As time went on however, Sam matured into a warmer, more responsible person and became one of the show's most popular characters. Sam's boss, the dastardly Jordan Hale, expressed an interest in Sam that went beyond business. She developed a tremendously volatile relationship with Jason's mother, Jessica, who saw her as a rival for Jordan's affections, although Jessica had no true romantic interest in Jordan.

Martin Jackson was married to former jazz singer and recovering drug addict Doreen Jackson (Jonelle Allen). Following a brief affair with Adam Marshall, Doreen discovered she was pregnant. Before their daughter, Danielle, was born, the relationship died. When he discovered the affair, a vengeful Martin tried to destroy Adam's life, but Doreen gathered damning evidence against Martin and his numerous ruthless business dealings over the years and threatened to expose him if he ever tried to harm Adam again. She would eventually use that information to help Henry and Ruth drive Martin out of the country when he tried to take over Marshall's Chicago Ice Cream. Martin kidnapped Danielle, attempting to flee with her, but Adam and Sam stopped him and he was forced to leave without her to save himself. However, Martin had a videotape of him revealing Danielle's true paternity sent to the Marshalls shortly afterward. The family was shocked over the revelation and Ruth, furious at being deceived, cut Doreen out of her life, devastating her. The rest of the family urged Ruth to forgive Doreen, reminding her that destroying their friendship with her gave Martin exactly what he wanted. After an emotional conversation with Doreen, Ruth realized how difficult it had been for her to keep Danielle's secret for so long and they reconciled. Doreen next took up with her doctor, Daniel Reubens (Richard Roundtree). He resurfaced in Chicago in 1990 with his daughter Maya (Vivica A. Fox) after being falsely accused of killing his wife. Maya disapproved of her father dating Doreen after learning of Danielle's true parentage, and because of this, Doreen and Maya had a very stormy relationship, which eventually resulted in an epic catfight between the two in Doreen's apartment after a charity dinner.

Original cast

 * Marla Adams (Helen Mullin)
 * Anthony Addabbo (Jason Craig)
 * Jonelle Allen (Doreen Jackson)
 * Jack Betts (Hugh Gardner)
 * Taurean Blacque/James Reynolds (Henry Marshall)
 * Sharon Brown/Debbi Morgan (Chantal Marshall)
 * Patricia Crowley/Dorothy Lyman (Rebecca Whitmore)
 * George Deloy (Rob Donnelly)
 * Elinor Donahue (Sylvia Furth)
 * Rick Fitts (Martin Jackson)
 * Vivica A. Fox (Maya Reubens)
 * Bruce Gray (Phillip Webb)
 * Lynn Hamilton (Vivian Potter)
 * Ron Harper (Peter Whitmore)
 * Andrew Masset (Trevor McCallum)
 * Joan Pringle (Ruth Marshall)
 * Gail Ramsey (Laura McCallum)
 * Barbara Rhoades/Linda Gibboney (Jessica Gardner)
 * Richard Roundtree (Dr. Daniel Ruebens)
 * Kelly Rutherford (Stephanie "Sam" Whitmore)
 * George Shannon /Robert Gentry (Jordan Hale)
 * Nancy Sorel (Monique McCallum)
 * Kristoff St. John (Adam Marshall)
 * Robert Torti (Lt. Kyle Masters)
 * Joseph Whipp (Charles Mullin)

Production
Sally Sussman Morina served as creator and executive producer. Directors included Casey Childs, Michael Eilbaum, and Maria Wagner. Sally Sussman Morina, Michele Val Jean, Meg Bennett, Thom Racina, Elizabeth Harrower, Bruce Neckles, Rocci Chatfield, Frank Dandridge, Judi Ann Mason, Richard De Roy, and M.M. Shelly Moore wrote the series.

Ratings

 * 1988–89 season: 2.7 rating (Ranking: #12 out of 13 soap operas)
 * 1989–90 season: 2.6 rating (Ranking: #12 out of 12 soap operas)
 * 1990–91 season: 2.4 rating (Ranking: #12 out of 12 soap operas)
 * Final week ratings (January 21–25, 1991): 2.7 rating/8 share (12th out of 12), against Loving (3.2 rating/10 share, 11th) and The Young and the Restless (8.4 rating/26 share, 1st)

Awards

 * 1990 Soap Opera Digest Awards for Outstanding Daytime Serial Nomination
 * 1990 Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Graphics and Title Design Win
 * 1990 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Kristoff St. John) Nomination
 * 1990 Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design for a Drama Series Nomination
 * 1990 Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling for a Drama Series Nomination
 * 1990 Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Technical Direction/Electronic Camera/Video Control for a Drama Series Nomination
 * 1990 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Daytime Serial Nomination
 * 1991 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (James Reynolds) Nomination
 * 1991 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series (Kristoff St. John) Nomination
 * 1991 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Daytime Soap Nomination
 * 1991 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Heroine: Daytime (Kelly Rutherford) Nomination
 * 1991 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Male Newcomer: Daytime (Robert Torti) Nomination
 * 1991 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor: Daytime (Richard Roundtree) Nomination
 * 1991 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress: Daytime (Joan Pringle) Nomination
 * 1992 Soap Opera Digest Award for Best Love Story: Daytime or Prime Time Kyle and Sam Nomination
 * 1992 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Daytime Serial Nomination
 * 1992 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Villain: Daytime (Robert Gentry) Nomination