Thoughts about "The Doctors" - February 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 February 1975.

Toni and Alan got married in Matt and Maggie's living room.  Eleven characters were at the big event. Other than those mentioned, Greta and Lauri stood up for Toni, Billy gave Toni away, Alan's friend Joe from the military, who is now the chaplain at Hope Memorial officiated. Martha acted as mother-of-the-bride, and Steve and Carolee attended. Hank was supposed to come, but had to work. Prior to the ceremony, Matt and Maggie and Steve and Carolee were allowed romantic bits, and during the wedding everyone spoke about the couple (though not all of it was seen.) Greta fainted, and the ceremony was stopped momentarily. Everyone was happy about the marriage except for Greta, and she was ignored the rest of that episode.

Mike thought about Madison, and writing Toni asking for her freedom. Dr. Chiang and Mike went away on a work trip together. Dawn still wanted to be with Mike, but he still loved Toni though he felt he could move on with Dawn.

On their honeymoon, Toni and Alan made love for the first time together. Michael Paul was left with the Powers. Toni and Alan went to Hawaii and Toni met her mother-in-law. She told Toni how she regretted Alan and his stepfather's relationship and wished it would have been different.

Greta took advantage of having Michael Paul in the house, and used him as a talisman to contact Mike in the spirit world. Greta's behavior confused and horrified Maggie, but Matt seems to be taking in more in stride. We got to meet the new head of psychiatry at Hope Memorial Chuck Weldon who is played by a familiar face - Ted Danson. Dr. Weldon is trying to help Greta, as there is no neurological basis for Greta's actions. Chuck had worked for John Morrison, but needed to learn more about Greta from not just Matt and Maggie, but also Althea.

Althea still wanted to help Iris, and didn't know what was wrong with her. Rex again attempted to keep Iris away from Althea. Tom and Althea went away to ski, had a great time and kissed. Tom seems to not get enough of her even after a weekend away. Nick called Tom, but Althea answered the phone. We saw how Nick and Ann are coping badly together out of town. When Dr. Weldon wanted some of Althea's free time to discuss Greta again, Tom became jealous.

In other hospital related news, Matt met a medical student named Andy Anderson. He was so tired, and hungry he was asleep outside the hospital. Matt got him a meal at Pete's so how good it was is questionable, and decided to try and get the younger man help. Matt convinced Pete to give Andy an audition, so he could literally sing and play guitar for his supper. Also since Pete is known for his chili that could be put on pizza, as that is what the kids were into these days.

Hank realized that Karen was trying to manipulate things, and warned the Aldriches. Unfortunately Matt didn't hear these issues, and decided since Maggie has no issues with Karen, she should come back to Hope Memorial on staff in the clinic. Steve and Carolee decided that Karen could see Erich, but he couldn't know who Karen actually was. Karen will be released from the hospital, and imagined telling the truth to Erich about his paternity using the reasoning that Carolee cannot love him as much as Stephanie as he is adopted.

Those were the highlights of February 1975. Only the February 28th episode was missing. It was kind of funny when Tom was complaining to Martha about Chuck Weldon, as the doctor character he described Chuck to be was a lot like Cheers' Sam Malone. Also it was interesting how Toni and Alan's wedding and honeymoon were handled compared to others the show has done. They got what I consider super couple treatment, with not just a full ceremony, but a love scene with actual music Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". If one wasn't around to watch "The Doctors" in the 70s, but did watch soaps in the 90s, they may remember that the same song was performed by Roberta Flack on "Guiding Light" for Hamp and Gilly.