While this well written daytime soap did not make it to two years on the air, it was certainly a much better soap than the two NBC shows which followed it, "Sunset Beach" and "Passions". "Generations" made the attempt to move daytime into the modern age by having a core black family, ultimately writing out most of the white characters who had shared the initial spotlight with. The Marshall family had struggled to build up a successful ice cream business, and in the opening weeks, sought to purchase the house of the deceased Hugh Gardner, a miserly old man who was estranged from his soap opera actress daughter. The Marshalls were associated with Hugh, his daughter Jessica and the upper middle class Whitmore family, although there was an unexplained rivalry between Ruth Marshall (Joan Pringle) and Laura McCallum (Gail Rae Carlson), the daughter of attorney Rebecca Whitmore (originally Patricia Crowley, oddly recast with Dorothy Lyman during the show's last weeks), who employed Ruth's mother, Vivian (the marvelous Lynn Hamilton) as her housekeeper. The show dealt with racial issues, had odd comedy surrounding Hugh Gardner's crazy sister Mary (Minna Kolb), and ended on a cliff hanger with Ruth's husband, Henry Marshall ("Days of Our Lives'" James Reynolds) having a heart attack after discovering Ruth kissing Rebecca Whitmore's ex-husband, Peter Whitmore (soap vet Ron Harper). While several popular "All My Children" stars (Lyman, Linda Gibboney, Debbie Morgan and Robert Gentry) had major parts on the show, it wasn't enough to bring over "AMC" fans, although the show was praised for the storyline of the Marshalls moving into the Gardner mansion and facing objections from the racist Charles Mullins who had a black mistress. Soap vet Marla Adams gave a marvelous performance as his glamorous wife Helen, afraid to stand up to him over his prejudices and when she did, brutally beaten for daring to defy him. "Generations" did end up re- run on BET, but other than the critical praise for some of its controversial and unique story lines, did not get the attention and confidence from NBC that it deserved, making it one of daytime's biggest "missed opportunities".

I remember Generations and love the show. Since Soapnet is bringing back all of the soap opera from the past why don't they bring back Generation. I know I am tried of looking at 90210 on the weekend. They also need to bring back Santa Barbara, if my memory is correct Santa Barbara came on first then Generation. I love Generation when Richard Roundtree(Shaft) was Vivica Fox father. Even if Soapnet doesn't want to bring this soap back,maybe TVOne would think about bring it back. TVOne has all the old black comedy shows like Good Times, 227, For your Love and Amen why not a black soap opera from the past. I also love the opening of the soap it was wonderful doing the flash back from the past.

I've grown up with 'generations'. I remember the days that my mother, my sister and especially me anxiously wait for the next episodes of 'generations'. We were usually coming together at one of us' home and watching the hottest chain of events. Even all the people from my family were curious about the new episodes, that had the only one meaning for me: Kyle Masters. My first love, whom all the friends of mine know.. The one that made me feel some kind a 'strange' once in a life time, at my 10. The one that made me feel that I fell in love, for the first time. The one that made me feel that there's something in life that people called 'love', something makes you feel like drunk or makes you feel like you're walking on air. Even though I ever know him or I will hardly ever have a chance to meet him in my life time... Although he is 20 years older than me... He was my precious platonic first love, who made me notice my feelings for the very first time.

I really miss this show! I used to watch this everyday along with Another World and Days of Our Lives. I would come home from school and watch it with my Grandmother. I do not remember a lot about the story lines now, it has been so long since it was taken off air, and I was in jr high when I started watching it) I do, however have 2 autographed pictures of cast members, Robert Torti (who played Det. Kyle Masters) and Kelly Rutherford (Stephanie "Sam" Whitmore). I think I might still have the last episode on VHS somewhere. Anyhow, I am glad to see that I am not the only one who remembers this show. (and a great one it was too!) Looking forward to see more of both Kelly Rutherford and Robert Torti.