Then & Now-- Part 4: The Prime-Time Soap Opera Salaries

THEN

DALLAS

In 1980, "Dallas" was a worldwide megahit and Larry Hagman was its biggest star  After the "Who Shot J.R." episode that year, Hagman asked for, and got, a raise from $15,000 to $100,000 per episode ($297,635 today).

Patrick Duffy (Bobby Ewing) $10,000 per episode in 1978 ($29,563 today).

Victoria Principal (Pamela Ewing) $25,000 an episode in 1978 ($73,909 today).

NOW

BIG LITTLE LIES

Reese Witherspoon (Madeline MacKenzie) and Nicole Kidman (Cleste Wright)  $350,000 per episode  

I Don't Watch Prime-Time Soap Operas For the Most Part (But Did Watch "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman."  --Cooter

They Got Their Start on "Another World"-- Part 2

KYRA SEDGWICK:  Played murder-for-hire victim Julia Shearer (1982-83)  Breakout Role:  Star of blockbuster TV crime series "The Closer (2005-2012).  Now at age 48: Alongside Sylvester Stallone in the film "Reach Me."

KELSEY GRAMMER:  Played emergency-room physician Dr. Canard (1984-85).  Breakout Role:  Pompous shrink Frasier Crane in sitcom "Cheers (1984-93).  At age 59: Human villain Harold Attinger in "Transformers: Age of Extinction.

WILLIAM H. MACY:  Played Frank Fisk (1982).  Breakout Role:  Hapless would-be kidnapper Jerry Lundegaard in "Fargo (1996).  At age 64: Patriarch of dysfunctional Gallagher family in TV series :"Shameless."

LINDSAY LOHAN:  Played mischievous teenager Alexandra "Alli" Fowler (1996-97).  Breakout Role:  Separated-at-birth twins Hallie and Annie in the "Parent Trap" (1998.  At age 27: Star of reality TV show "Lindsay" about her post re-hab life.

No Comment on the Last One.  --Cooter

They Got Their Start on "Another World"-- Part 1

From the May 2014 AARP Bulletin "A Boomer's Look at 'Another World,' Where Stars Were Born."

"The groundbreaking TV soap opera "Another World" debuted on NBC 50 years ago this month and remained a pop-culture fixture for 35 years.  A lot of now-famous stars cut their acting teeth on the show.  Here are just a few:"

MORGAN FREEMAN:  Played Dr. Roy Bingham, a dignified architect in Bay City (1982-84).  Breakout role: chauffeur Holt Colburn in "Driving Miss Daisy" in 1989.   Now, at age 76: Johnny Depp's mentor in "Transcendence."

BRAD PITT:  Played Chris, a high school basketball player (1987).  Breakout Role:  Geena Davis' hunky one-night stand in "Thelma & Louise (1991).  Now at age 50:  Producer of--and abolitionist laborer in acclaimed film "12 Years a Slave."

I have to say that I never watched it, but sure do recognize these names.

You Have to Start Somewhere.  --Cooter

Some More Chicago Innovations-- Part 8: Soap Operas

SOAP OPERAS: Chicago Tribune broadcast cousin WGN-AM's sales manager wanted a program that could sell products to women homemakers in the 1930s. //// So, Irna Phillips created the first soap opera, "Painted Dreams." Dubbed the Queen of Soaps, she would go on to develop radio and TV daytime dramas that defined the genre: "Guiding Light," "The Road of Life, "Young Dr. Malone," "As the World Turns" and Love Is a Many Splendored Thing." //// --Cooter