s-pac Santa Barbara was never merely a soap opera. From the beautifully-acted, well-written stories, to the flawless lighting, make-up and set designs -- it was a show that raised the bar for daytime television to a standard that is rarely (if at all) equaled.I'll always be thankful to QVC (the home-shopping television channel) for offering a payment plan that must have sounded good enough to my Mom to purchase our first VCR when I was about 13. Finally, I'd be able to TAPE Santa Barbara! As an only child with a busy and tired single Mom at home, the characters became my extended family -- their adventures and stories were my entertainment, my heartbreak . . . my inspiration.It was the wonderful, exciting chemistry between A Martinez and Marcy Walker as Cruz and Eden that attracted me to the show. Much more that a super-couple -- Martinez and Walker chose to personally invest in the history and depth of their characters, which resulted in pure magic on-screen. My love and support for their extraordinary talents will always be strong.I salute everyone that contributed (in a positive way) to that wonderful show.

knowing-all-answers To understand why so many people LOVE this soap opera, why millions of fans are deeply moved and hooked on SANTA BARBARA, you only have to watch episode number 1 and you disclose this secret.For a real fan the first episode is the most magical, suspenseful and spectacular event in TV history and the show is...beyond comparison. There's NOTHING not a quarter as good as SANTA BARBARA.During episode #1 you get to know Joe Perkins (played adorable by Dane Witherspoon), who spent 5 years in jail for a crime he didn't commit. Joe was accused of killing Channing Capwell Jr. (Robert Brian Wilson in flashbacks, he is such a great actor !), son of multi millionaire CC Capwell (Peter Mark Richman was great, Paul Burke was fun and Charles Bateman was terrific. Jed Allan later impersonates this character). Joe is in love with Capwell's daughter Kelly (talented, beautiful and enchanting Robin Wright), but she believes he is guilty and wants to marry Peter Flint (Stephen Meadows: one of the best actors around). When Joe returns to town he is received by a repelling crowd. Santana Andrade (Ava Lazar: glamorous and sexy), Channing's love interest, for example, wants to kill him right away. The most important storyline, the murder of Channing, embraces every character of the show and is one of the most clever and complex storylines ever written for tv. But there is so much more to admire. Every scene is played and directed with such a brilliance, you almost don't believe it. You get unforgettable impressions from actors like Lane Davies (Mason Capwell), Todd McKee and Julie Ronnie as Ted Capwell and Laken Lockridge who fight for their love because their families are the worst enemies, Dame Judith Anderson as Minx Lockridge (she calls the police because she feels disturbed by the noise of the Capwell party), Louise Sorel as Augusta Lockridge and Valorie Armstrong as Joe's mother Marissa Perkins.WATCH it, FEEL it, LOVE it ! Santa Barbara is both fun and thrill, it is unique in every way.In the show's run you can see A Martinez, Marcy Walker, John Allen Nelson, Harley Jane Kozak, Robin Mattson, Ally Walker, Justin Deas, Judith McConnell, Sherilyn Wolter, Mark Arnold and Julia Campbell to name a few. Perfect cast ! Perfect soap, almost a movie ! The first four years are the best. There is nothing to complain about, it is like a dream. It's SANTA BARBARA.

p_yanna There were five reasons I watched this soap. Lane Davies, Nancy Lee Grahn, Justin Deas and Robin Mattson and its brilliant script. I used to tape it and fast forward all the bits that didn't involve the characters played by these four, fantastic actors. The script was so well-written that it was too good for a soap. Maybe that's why it wasn't as popular as it should have been. Even though I live in Greece and I used to watch it many years ago, I have very fond memories of these show and so do many other Greeks of my generation. I wish someone would show old episodes again. There's not much of a chance of this happening in Greece though.

Wendy-17 Though it has been off the air for six years now, I'll always remember "Santa Barbara" as a terrifically written and superbly acted show. From Nancy Grahn (Julia Wainwright Capwell) and Lane Davies (Mason Capwell) to A Martinez (Cruz Castillo) and Marcy Walker (Eden Capwell Castillo), along with many more talented actors, "Santa Barbara" was a show that took risks and infused humor with drama seamlessly, giving it three well-deserved Emmy Awards for Best Daytime Drama from 1988-1990, with some cast members also taking home awards. I feel that NBC Daytime made a big mistake in cancelling the show. But perhaps it was ahead of its time, as most of the dialogue far outshone any on the currently aired soaps. It is a series I will always be fond of and miss.