Dusk to Dawn

Dusk to Dawn; often abbreviated in English to DUDA or Dawn) is a Diadochian daytime soap opera broadcast on the EERE television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in Diadochia, as well as the world, currently it airs every weekday Monday through Friday (except on certain holidays). The show debuted on October 12, 1960. The show has long since been syndicated and is available around the world. The daytime drama series was created by husband-and-wife team Theo Chronis and Betty Chronis. Eugenia Papadakis was instrumental the creation of many storylines and many of the show's earliest storylines were written by Lefteris E. Bilias, who went on to create Forever and Always Youthful and The Elegant and the Charismatic, created in 1969 and 1983 respectively.

The series was huge success, it was expanded from 30 minutes to 60 minutes on March 25, 1970. Ever since 1970, after the first thirty minutes of the show a commercial featuring the phrase "We will return for the second half of Dusk to Dawn in just a moment", was aired with every episode. The series originally focused on its core families, the Haritos and the Bourikas. However several other families have been added, including Dimakis, Kokkinos, Mamalis, and Paraskos families.

History and Development

While in the act of creating, Dusk to Dawn, Theo and Betty Chronis along with Eugenia Papadakis borrowed the idea of centering a soap opera on a hospital from Eternity, while also centering it on a family of professionals who worked near and for the medical institution. The show later branched off from that to a more widened horizon. The soap opera is set in the fictional town of Sidon. By the 1970s, Dusk to Dawn was nominally regarded by fans and critics alike as the most daring of all the Diadochian soap operas, being the only soap that would feature interracial romance, artificial insemination, and so forth in that time period. In the 1990s to attract younger viewers, the show branched off into supernatural storylines. The new storylines had the desired effect, propelling the soap to the top spot on the list of the most watched daytime soap among woman.

Just like many soap operas in Diadochia, Dusk to Dawn experienced a steady decline in ratings. In just when the network had predicted in 2007 that the show would not last the next two years, the soap in its bleakest hour made a comeback and experienced a steady increase in ratings, pulling itself back from certain of cancellation. Beginning on October 12, 2010, which marked Dusk to Dawn' 50th anniversary, the show began airing in high definition. In the following year, 2011 former fan favorites were reintroduced and younger characters were introduced in an effort to increase viewership, stabilize ratings, appeal to a younger audience. On December 21, 2014, EERE launched a new logo for Dusk to Dawn at the 2014 Psychiko Christmas Parade, in celebration of the series' fifty-fifth anniversary.

Storylines

Originally when Dusk to Dawn premiered in 1960, the show revolved around the family interactions of the Haritos family. However overtime the writers created additional families to interact with the Haritos family and to serve as links to new storylines. Overtime the new families became just as important as the original core family, the Haritos family. The Haritos family was led for years by patriarch Dr. Sergios Haritos and his wife, Anne. In modern times the Haritos remain a prominent fixture in many storylines.

An early storyline featured Panos Haritos wife Lisa being raped by Panos' brother Nasos (Athanasius) Haritos in 1963. Nasos can't remember raping Lisa the day after. Soon after that night Lisa learns that she is pregnant, and when her father in law Sergios Haritos discovers a paternity test, things become more complicated, when Sergios later learns that Panos is sterile, and that the baby is Nasos's Lisa eventually confides in her father-in-law Dr. Sergios, and the two agreed to keep it a secret from Panos. The truth surrounding the parentage of Panagiotis Haritos (a product of the rape) soon came out and it revelation drove Panos to have health problems. The storylines surrounding this spanned episodes from 1963 to 1970.

In 1976, Lisa and Panos's marriage begins to deteriorate, but eventually they worked out their problems by the end of the year. However, by 1966 Panos and Lisa were once again having troubles after Panos' affair with Eliza Pagonis was revealed. Lisa and Panos however agree to remain married and try to make things work for Pangiotis' sake. With her marriage to Panos rapidly deteriorating Lisa realized that she was in love with Nasos and plans to divorce him, but family situations keep this from happening for a number of years. In 1968 Panos sufferers a heart attack after his son Panagiotis lashes out at him for having an affair with secretary. Panos is rushed to the hospital where he undergoes surgery and survives the operation performed by his brother Nasos. Though he survives the operation Panos suffers a stroke which erases his memory, causing him to forget everything. A confused Panos sneaks out of the hospital and leaves Sidon. With Panos out of the way Lisa is free to be with Nasos, however her marriage to Panos is still an obstacle, a legally binding obstacle. Panos is soon discovered to be alive, and he grants Lisa a divorce so he can remain with Marie Solomos. In 1970 Lisa and Nasos are married.

In 1971, Panos finally learned that he was not the biological father of Panagiotis. This occurred when after Pangiotis suffered an accident at Marie's home, Panos and Lisa both donated blood, but neither were matches. After this Panosvrealized he could not be Panagiotis' father. Panos searched through hospital medical records, and found out evidence that his brother Nasos was a match, and suddenly all of his memory came back to him. Panos then went to Eliza Pagonis and asked if her child could possibly be his child, and she told him no because he was unable to have children, according to Lisa Haritos. Angry at being lied to for years by the woman and people who had claimed to love him Panos bought a gun and attempted to kill Nasos. The two fought and Nasos was shot in the shoulder when the gun went off, he survived. After the fight, Panos suffered a mental breakdown and was admitted to Hollywood Sanitarium for a year. Early storylines also featured a love triangle involving David Giangos, Amelia Haritos, and Amelia's own daughter Julia Haritos. David Giangos. This love triangle storyline reached its peak when Amelia died in 1969. After this David and Julia married in 1971.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, members of the Bourikas and Dimakis families were introduced. A common soap opera theme, a long standing rivalry between the two respective families quickly cemented their places as core families in Sidon alongside the Haritos. Around the same time as more families were added, going along with the flashiness of the 1980s more action/adventure storylines and supercouples such as Leo Bourikas and Faith Giangos (called Fleo), Spiros Dounias and Angela Bourikas (called Spang), and Stelios Mamalis and Carly (called Starly) were introduced, garnering positive reception from viewers.

In 1971, Melinda Adams joined the show and became romantically involved with Pantelis Bourikas, with who she had two children Christy Bourikas and Adam Bourikas. In 1980 a new unknown character was introduced to audiences. The character, "Jason Papadopoulos," debuted as a heavily bandaged amnesiac who was recovering from extensive facial reconstructive surgery, and he had no memory of his previous life. The John Doe named himself "Jason Papadopoulos" after seeing the name on a memorial plaque. Jason and Melinda soon meet and become friends. Eventually the character is revealed to be Pantelis Bourikas having had a facelift and been brainwashed by Basil Dimakis. The character resumes his life as Pantelis and reunites with Melinda. Melinda is soon thought to have died.

After believing that Pantelis's wife, Melinda Adams had been dead for some years, he had fallen in love with a woman named Mikayla Dertilis, she gives birth to Brett Papadopoulos. In 1986 Melinda turns up alive. In August 1986 the character who had been presumed to be Pantelis Bourikas since 1981 is actually revealed to be a separate character (now once again called Jason Papadopoulos) who was brainwashed to believe he was Pantelis, who was found on an island where he had been imprisoned by Basil. For a time, Melinda was torn between the two men, but she eventually chose Pantelis, leaving Jason. Pantelis was shocked when he found he had been replaced and all his family had accepted Jason Papadopoulos as him and vice versa Jason Papadopoulos struggled to come to terms with the fact that he was not really Pantelis. Pantelis went back to his life, and he and Melinda tried to live together, however after the death of Mikayla, in his grief Jason turned to Melinda for comfort. The two found themselves unable to resolve their feelings for each other from their life together when Jason believed himself to be Pantelis. He and Melinda had an affair that resulted in the birth of a daughter, Mikayla "Kayla" Bourikas, named after Mikayla Dertilis, whom Pantelis believed to be his own daughter. When it was revealed that Melinda and Jason had an affair and that Kayla was not his real daughter, Pantelis was heartbroken. In 1989 Pantelis left town broken and bitter.

The two and a half decade long love triangle involving Pantelis, Melinda, and Jason caused Melinda and Jason to become a huge sensation with the fans, eventually becoming a supercouple. In 1977 a storyline surrounding a "Sidon Strangler" (John Kontos, who was nicknamed "John the Ripper") who stalks and murders women was prominent. In 1979, soon after Christy's onscreen birth A feud between the Bourikas family and the powerful and evil Dimakis family puts her and her sister in danger. Pantelis sends them to live in Athenais after their mother's disappearance. In 1985 storyline that drew many fans occurred when the insane madman Cyril Dertilis invites all his enemies aboard a ship, the S.S. Louise, and holds them captive.

In 1987 new characters, such as Veronica Alatza, Ava Paraskos, and Donna Rihia. In 1987, that very same year, the writers seeking to appeal to younger audiences, introduced a number a teen aged characters, that included Christy Bourikas (who was rapidly aged), Cindy Bourikas, Brad Rihia, and Michael Paraskos. By the end of the 1980s the Cindy/Brad/Christy/Michael love triangle was featured heavily. Eventually Christy attempted to pass off her child Thanasis off has Brad's son in a attempt to keep him with her. It was later revealed that Thanasis was actually the result of one night stand that she had with Michael. A bitter custody battle ensued between Michael and Christy, over Thanasis, who had a "love/hate" relationship over the years. They ended up marrying for a time. The custody battle storyline was featured prominently in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1988 Veronica Alatza buried Kelly Johnson alive, as revenge for the death of her nephew, who she blames Kelly for causing. In 1988, Christy reappears in Sidon as a teenager and immediately begins scheming. First she develops an attraction for her sister Cindy's boyfriend, Brad Rihia. Christy is traumatized after seeing her mother having sex with Jason Papadopoulos which results in the birth of Christy's sister, Kayla. At the time, Melinda was married to Pantelis, ad tries to pass the child off as Pantelis, meanwhile Christy's mental health spirals out of control. Christy later tells Melinda that she witnessed her having sex with Jason and knows that he is the real father. Christy volunteers at Sidon Hospital, switches Kayla's blood test, later kidnaps her and places her on the black market. Jason rescues Kayla on Christmas Eve. On Kayla's christening, Basil Dimakis DiMera reveals to Pantelis the affair and Kayla's true paternity. Pantelis leaves Melinda, devastating Christy causing her to act out. In the following years she develops a relationship with Michael Paraskos as the two help each out to break up Brad and Cindy so that they can have them, the two fall in love. Christy is raped, she shoots her attacker and Michael comforts her and they sleep together. After this however she tries unsuccessufully to get Brad, he rejects, her and she left town, but not before seducing him and raping him. She returns months later, crashing Brad and Cindy's wedding to inform everyone that she is pregnant and carrying Brad's baby. The baby is really Michael's and when the paternity comes out, a custody battle ensues, eventually Christy's attacker is found murdered and Ava (Michael's mother frames her so that Michael can get full custody of Thanasis.

In the 1990-1991 storyline Melinda was possessed by the Devil (who had come to Sidon to claim souls and even caused the Christmas tree in the town square to burn down. Melinda was later cured exorcist style.

In 1998-1999 2003–2004's several characters purportedly die at the hands of a masked psychopath; they are later revealed to have been kidnapped and imprisoned on a secret island, while the masked psychopath was really Melinda being mind controlled. On July 27, 2007, the show introduced Jack Kokkinos, the first openly gay character to be featured in the show's first gay storyline. Jack Kokkinos and Thanasis Haritos soon develop a relationship together, and eventually marry.

Current Cast

Characters

Opening title sequences and theme song

he opening title sequence of Dusk to Dawn as remained almost unmodified since the show's debut in 1960. The the title sequence of Dusk to Dawn features an hourglass, with sand slowly trickling to the bottom with the background being a partly cloudy sky, featuring the trademark= voiceover, "Our lives are like sands through the hourglass, from Dusk to Dawn.". From the 1960s well into the early 1980s the theme was virtually unaltered, until the late 1980s and 90s and 2000s when the theme was upgraded and given a new look, a more fresh look.