Thoughts about "The Doctors" - January 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 January 1975.

Toni and Alan continued to get ready for their wedding, which was now moved to Valentine's Day.  Toni asked Billy to give her away, as Matt is the best man. Toni gave her list of attendees, not including Althea, as they barely know one another, though due to Maggie and it being at the Powers house, she was invited. Alan's friend and fellow POW from Vietnam Joe came to visit. He was the military chaplain, but now was no longer practicing. He still had religion, but not the faith to preach to others. Joe talked down a guy on a ledge, who had lost his entire family. Dawn and Mike were intimate, he pushed her away, but then they decided to live together. Dr. Chiang had issues with Mike using Dawn, as Mike is still married to Toni in the US. We also had Mike dream about his father, and his reaction to hiding out in the Far East.

Althea helped Iris, who didn't have Obanda fever. Iris agreed to come back to Hope Memorial hospital as an outpatient, as they couldn't figure out why Iris always is running a low grade fever. Rex Eberly caused issues with Althea, because he still wants all of Iris's funds. Nick and Ann appeared though they have been written out living in Arizona. Althea and Tom had lunch together. Tom asked Althea to ski, but she pushed him away. Althea got upset when she discovered that Maggie was doing a pity invite to the wedding. (Althea then mentioned going skiing with Tom.)

Matt offered Hank a job once he passes his medical boards. Hank was apprehensive, and stressed, and took it out on Lauri. Eventually they made up, and Carolee told Lauri how difficult it is to deal with someone working and studying for the written and oral exams.

The Aldriches sent Erich away to be with Mona in Boston. He didn't want to go, and wanted to be with his friends and family. Erich agreed to stay after Steve explained how Mona liked being with him, as she missed the past. Karen made her way to America to see Erich even without her memory. Steve was working, when Karen knocked on the door. Karen and Carolee argued, but Steve and Carolee brought Erich home. Karen met Erich, and the boy didn't like her at all. He didn't like how she pronounced his name, and later when she returned with a gift, he didn't thank her, and just shared how he picked out something similar for his baby sister. Karen discovered when Erich was leaving school, and considered kidnapping her son.

Karen eventually changed her mind, and Steve drove her to the airport. He stayed and saw the plane crash on the runway. (He helped, but this was part of the lost hour-long episode.) Karen remembered taking Erich away to Germany, and kidnapping him from Steve, and Erich asking where his papa was in German. Since Karen remembers, and Steve told her that once she does Erich could be told, she was his mommy things were tense for the Aldriches. Steve got frustrated with Karen's behavior towards Carolee, and told her that his wife was Erich's mother for years, not playing mother. Karen then asserted her claim and rights to be a parent to Erich.

Those were the highlights of January 1975. This month there were numerous missing episodes (January 2, January 20, the second half of January 23, and January 24) and one preemption (January 1 for New Year's Day). It was very frustrating how we lost half of the hour-long episode, and the episode after.