Where the Heart Is was a CBS network soap opera series created by Lou Scofield and Margaret DePriest.
The show aired from September 8, 1969 to March 23, 1973, lasting for 907 episodes.
Plot[]
Set in the fictional town of Northcross, Connecticut, the series focused on the sexual and psychological intrigues of the dysfunctional Hathaway family.
Cast[]
- James Mitchell as Julian Hathaway
- Diana van der Vlis as Kate Prescott
- Louise Shaffer as Allison Jessup
- Delphi Harrington as Christine Cameron
- David Cryer as Dr. Hugh Jessup
- Diana Walker as Mary Hathaway
- Gregory Abels as Michael Hathaway
- Bibi Osterwald as Stella O'Brien
- Zohra Lampert as Ellie Jardin
Production[]
Lou Scofield and Margaret DePriest were the original head writers. A year after the soap's premiere, they were succeeded by Pat Falken Smith.
In 1972, Smith was replaced by Claire Labine and Paul Avila Mayer.
Surviving Episodes[]
All 907 episodes of "Where the Heart Is" were recorded on videotape at the CBS Broadcast Center Studio #44 in New York.
Like most soap operas of the late 1960s/early 1970s, it fell victim to the industry practice of wiping tapes for re-use. Although the master tapes for the show were erased, some rare kinescopes of the series remain in the possession of private collectors.
Only seven videotapes of the soap are confirmed to exist and there are non-circulating copies stored at the UCLA Television Archives.
The archived episodes were telecast: March 8, 16, and 24, 1971, April 1 and 9, 1971, and March 12 and 20, 1973.
Cancellation[]
Although "Where the Heart Is" achieved fairly healthy ratings, averaging a 6.7 and 26 share for its three-and-a half year run, it was typically the lowest-rated soap on CBS’ daytime schedule.
Advertisers weren’t thrilled with the show, either, because demographics suggested the serial's attempt to attract a younger, less desirable cult audience.
In February of 1973, CBS found itself locked in a battle with NBC for daytime ratings supremacy, and went on to cancel "Where the Heart Is" and "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing" in a bid to bring up the daypart's overall rating.
As one industry insider revealed about the cancellations: "It was a matter of pride, CBS didn't like being third in the ratings. So, rather than struggle to improve the quality of these shows, it just canceled them."
The show was replaced on CBS' daytime schedule by "The Young and the Restless" which would become the most popular TV soap opera in America for three decades running, and is still on the air (as of 2019).