Thoughts about "The Doctors" - November 1975

Another month's worth of episodes of "The Doctors" has aired on RetroTV. Below are my thoughts on what has aired for the month of November 1975.

Still no Mike, and Alan has moved on from Toni to MJ. They went on a date, and earlier when Alan was excited about the date, Matt was mean to him though it had nothing to do with Alan, and all about Matt and Maggie having to keep secret about Erich. On date night, MJ and Alan saw Hank. Hank had picked up Wilma, as Lauri left him for someone else off camera. Hank and Wilma didn't leave together though, as Hank wondered if he would be happy again.

Scott and Althea went out together, and we met Scott's daughter Wendy at the end of the month. Scott's wife was to be released for the holidays, which upset Wendy and Scott.

Greta got in trouble for failing grades, and wasn't allowed to see Billy. Billy sneaked into the Powers house to discuss his situation (due to Erich's kidnapping), and since they were in Greta's bedroom Maggie interrupted them. Matt and Maggie discussed the idea that Greta wanted to get caught, as if Billy had visited downstairs at that time of night they would have slept through it.

Tom was sick and went to Kingsbury for medical care instead of going to Colorado on vacation. He found out that he was dying, and lied to everyone at the lab. Martha convinced Maggie that something was wrong, but they couldn't change the situation yet.

Stacy and Rico were together most of the month, but got into a fight. She told him if no strings are attached, then she can be free of him.

Erich's kidnapped for ransom from Mona. Scott helped out, as he had been involved in a high profile kidnapping. (That said this isn't the first kidnapped Aldrich child..) Althea figured things out though didn't gossip about it, until she and Martha spoke later in the month and realized they both knew. Karen had been treating a patient at Kingsbury named Alice, who found out about Mona's wealth. Dr. Werner overshared with Alice, and Alice and her husband George had decided to use Erich to get money. Karen didn't realize who the culprits were initially, and Mona accused her of the crime. On a call for ransom, Steve went on the line, and the first pick-up/drop-off didn't happen. When Erich first disappeared, Stacy was invited by Mona for moral support. Later, Stacy shared the news with Rico, and then Rico told Hank. Matt was livid over this information getting out, and being discussed in the hospital, as he felt it could hurt the child. During the kidnapping, Steve and Carolee were said to be sick as a cover. Ann was invited over because of her work as a pediatrician. Erich was rescued by Karen and Carolee, once Karen realized her former patient did it.  Carolee made believe she worked with Karen. At the apartment, they got Erich, but not before he was traumatized being tied up, blindfolded, threatened with a gun, and malnourished as he didn't want to eat the food the captors tried to give him. He was put in the hospital to recover. Erich was so upset about the situation, and didn't know where he would end up living that both his mother's were too much for him. When asked who he wanted to stay with him in the hospital in a cot next to his bed, he asked for Steve, who wasn't even an option. (Selecting Steve was logical for one reason, neither woman could be angry that the other was chosen.) That said Erich was worried Steve would leave to deliver a baby, and wanted to feel safe again. Erich's custody was figured out, once Karen gave up the boy. She knew he was happiest with his family at the Aldrich house with his beloved oldest brother Billy. Billy felt left out in the kidnapping and everything else, and got a promise that this wasn't a slight, but a lot happened when he was in school. When Erich came home, there was a kids' party, which we only saw the remnants (with a bit of Billy and Greta) of and an adult party. (This adult party was the first time in a long time that we saw all five of the credited actors in the same scene though they really didn't get to chat..) Erich met Scott, and appreciated the positive attention. Billy also was reassured by his family's love.

Those were the highlights for November 1975, Thanksgiving Day was the only preempted episode. Much of the month was about Erich's kidnapping, and the write off of Karen (Laryssa Lauret), as she gave up Erich. Karen couldn't handle being near her son, so she left, but not without saying goodbye to Erich, who was glad that he could stay with his family. Next up in the soap world Laryssa ended up playing a character on "Guiding Light" who ironically found love with her, after everyone falsely believed he died in a plane crash. Due to the era she appeared on GL, none of this really exists, but at least she could be blonde instead of wearing a wig, which at least improved in the last weeks on "The Doctors'.