Generations (American TV series)

*Generations*
Generations
Genre	Soap opera
Created by	Sally Sussman Morina
Starring	Lynn Hamilton ; Joan Pringle ; Vivica A. Fox ; Kristoff St. John ; Richard Roundtree ; Kelly Rutherford ; Robert Torti ; Taurean Blacque ; Patricia Crowley ; James Reynolds ; Dorothy Lyman ; Bruce Gray ; Anthony Addabbo ; Jonelle Allen ; Rick Fitts ; Elinor Donahue ; Marla Adams ; Joseph Whipp ; George Shannon ; Robert Gentry
Theme music composer	Michael Gore
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	470
Production
Running time	22–24 minutes
Production companies	Old Forest Hill Productions; NBC Studios
Original release
Network	NBC
Release	March 27, 1989 –; January 25, 1991

Last updated February 14, 2025

Generations is an American soap opera that aired on NBC from March 27, 1989, to January 25, 1991. The show was groundbreaking in that it was the first soap opera to feature a Black-American family from its inception.^[1]

Original cast

Marla Adams (Helen Mullin)
Anthony Addabbo (Jason Craig)
Jonelle Allen (Doreen Jackson)
Jack Betts (Hugh Gardner)
Taurean Blacque/James Reynolds (Henry Marshall)
Sharon Brown/Debbi Morgan (Chantal Marshall)
Patricia Crowley/Dorothy Lyman (Rebecca Whitmore)
George Deloy (Rob Donnelly)
Elinor Donahue (Sylvia Furth)
Rick Fitts (Martin Jackson)
Vivica A. Fox (Maya Reubens)
Bruce Gray (Phillip Webb)
Lynn Hamilton (Vivian Potter)
Ron Harper (Peter Whitmore)
Andrew Masset (Trevor McCallum)
Joan Pringle (Ruth Marshall)
Gail Ramsey (Laura McCallum)
Barbara Rhoades/Linda Gibboney (Jessica Gardner)
Richard Roundtree (Dr. Daniel Ruebens)
Kelly Rutherford (Stephanie "Sam" Whitmore)
George Shannon /Robert Gentry (Jordan Hale)
Nancy Sorel (Monique McCallum)
Kristoff St. John (Adam Marshall)
Robert Torti (Lt. Kyle Masters)
Joseph Whipp (Charles Mullin)

Ratings

1988–89 season: 2.7 rating (Ranking: #12 out of 13 soap operas)
1989–90 season: 2.6 rating (Ranking: #12 out of 12 soap operas)
1990–91 season: 2.4 rating (Ranking: #12 out of 12 soap operas)
- Final week ratings (January 21–25, 1991): 2.7 rating/8 share (12th out of 12), against Loving (3.2 rating/10 share, 11th) and The Young and the Restless (8.4 rating/26 share, 1st) ^[2]

Awards

1990 Soap Opera Digest Awards for Outstanding Daytime Serial Nomination
1990 Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Graphics and Title Design Win
1990 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Kristoff St. John) Nomination
1990 Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design for a Drama Series Nomination
1990 Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling for a Drama Series Nomination
1990 Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Technical Direction/Electronic Camera/Video Control for a Drama Series Nomination
1990 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Daytime Serial Nomination
1991 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (James Reynolds) Nomination
1991 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series (Kristoff St. John) Nomination
1991 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Daytime Soap Nomination
1991 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Heroine: Daytime (Kelly Rutherford) Nomination
1991 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Male Newcomer: Daytime (Robert Torti) Nomination
1991 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor: Daytime (Richard Roundtree) Nomination
1991 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress: Daytime (Joan Pringle) Nomination
1992 Soap Opera Digest Award for Best Love Story: Daytime or Prime Time Kyle and SamNomination
1992 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Daytime Serial Nomination
1992 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Villain: Daytime (Robert Gentry) Nomination

References

↑ Hyatt, Wesley (1997). The Encyclopedia of Daytime Television . Watson-Guptill Publications. p. 182. ISBN 978-0823083152 . Retrieved 22 March 2020.
↑ "Nielsen Ratings: Weekly Charts: 1991". Archived from the original on 2021-11-08. Retrieved 2021-11-08.

External links

Generations at IMDb

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[Daytime-1] Hyatt, Wesley (1997). The Encyclopedia of Daytime Television . Watson-Guptill Publications. p. 182. ISBN 978-0823083152 . Retrieved 22 March 2020.

[2] "Nielsen Ratings: Weekly Charts: 1991". Archived from the original on 2021-11-08. Retrieved 2021-11-08.

[1]

[2]

v t e Daytime television soap operas in the United States
Current	The Bold and the Beautiful (1987–present) Days of Our Lives (1965–2022 TV; 2022–present Streaming) General Hospital (1963–present) The Young and the Restless (1973–present)
1940s debuts	Faraway Hill (1946) Highway to the Stars (1947) These Are My Children (1949) A Woman to Remember (1949)
1950s debuts	A Time to Live (1954) As the World Turns (1956–2010) The Bennetts (1953–1954) The Brighter Day (1954–1962) The Edge of Night (1956–1984) The First Hundred Years (1950–1952) First Love (1954–1955) Follow Your Heart (1953–1954) For Better or Worse (1959–1960) From These Roots (1958–1961) Golden Windows (1954–1955) The Greatest Gift (1954–1955) Guiding Light (1952–2009) Hawkins Falls (1950–1955) Kitty Foyle (1958) Love of Life (1951–1980) Miss Susan (1951) One Man's Family (1954–1955) Portia Faces Life (1954–1955) The Road of Life (1954–1955) The Secret Storm (1954–1974) Search for Tomorrow (1951–1986) The Seeking Heart (1954) Three Steps to Heaven (1953–1954) Today is Ours (1958) Valiant Lady (1953–1957) Woman with a Past (1954) The World of Mr. Sweeney (1954–1955) Young Doctor Malone (1958–1963)
1960s debuts	Another World (1964–1999) Ben Jerrod (1963) Bright Promise (1969–1972) The Clear Horizon (1960–1962) Dark Shadows (1966–1971) Days of Our Lives (1965–2022) The Doctors (1963–1982) A Flame in the Wind (1964–1966) Full Circle (1960–1961) General Hospital (1963–present) Hidden Faces (1968–1969) Love is a Many Splendored Thing (1967–1973) Moment of Truth (1965) Morning Star (1965–1966) Never Too Young (1965–1966) The Nurses (1965–1967) One Life to Live (1968–2012) Our Five Daughters (1962) Our Private World (1965) Paradise Bay (1965–1966) Peyton Place (1964–1969) Where the Heart Is (1969–1973) The Young Marrieds (1964–1966)
1970s debuts	All My Children (1970–2011) The Best of Everything (1970) Bird of the Iron Feather (1970) How to Survive a Marriage (1974–1975) Lovers and Friends /For Richer, For Poorer (1977–1978) Return to Peyton Place (1972–1974) Ryan's Hope (1975–1989) Somerset (1970–1976) A World Apart (1970–1971) The Young and the Restless (1973–present)
1980s debuts	Another Life (1981–1984) The Bold and the Beautiful (1987–present) Capitol (1982–1987) Generations (1989–1991) Loving (1983–1995) Rituals (1984–1985) Santa Barbara (1984–1993) Texas (1980–1982)
1990s debuts	The City (1995–1997) Passions (1999–2008) Port Charles (1997–2003) Sunset Beach (1997–1999) Swans Crossing (1992) Tribes (1990)
2000s debuts	Spyder Games (2001)
Web series	All My Children (2013) Anacostia (2009–2018) As the Cookie Crumbles (2008) The Bay (2010–2015) Beacon Hill (2014) The Cavanaughs (2010–2011) DeVanity (2011–2014) East Los High (2013–2017) EastSiders (2012–2020) Miss Behave (2010–2012) One Life to Live (2013) Ragged Isle (2011–2014) River Ridge (2012) The Spot (1995–1997) Tainted Dreams (2013–2014) They Go On (1997) Venice: The Series (2009–2014) What If... (2010) Winterthorne (2015) Youthful Daze (2012–2016) Days of Our Lives (2022–present)
Upcoming	Beyond the Gates (2025)