When you're watching SUNSET BEACH, do you ever get the feeling that something is familiar? Eerily familiar, even? You're not alone. BEACH has more in common with the dearly-departed SANTA BARBARA than it's initials.
WEALTHY BABY-STEALING MATRIARCH
SUNSET BEACH: Madame Juliana Deschanel
SANTA BARBARA: Minx Lockridge
TAPING LOCATION
SUNSET BEACH: Studio 11, NBC Burbank
SANTA BARBARA: Studio 11, NBC Burbank
SETTING
SUNSET BEACH: California Beach Town
SANTA BARBARA: California Beach Town
HIRED TO BOOST RATINGS
SUNSET BEACH: Jack Wagner (as Liam)
SANTA BARBARA: Jack Wagner (as Warren)
MURDER MYSTERY
SUNSET BEACH: Terror Island Killer
SANTA BARBARA: Carnation Killer
LOVERS FIND A NOVEL WAY TO CHAT
SUNSET BEACH: Meg and Ben, via Internet
SANTA BARBARA: Ted and Laken, via carrier pigeon
ACTOR GORDON THOMSON
SUNSET BEACH: Much talked-about Armando Deschanel, father of Cole
SANTA BARBARA: Very talkative Mason Capwell, so on C.C.
CONNECTION TO GENERAL HOSPITAL
SUNSET BEACH: Co-created by GH Head Writer Robert Guza, Jr.
SANTA BARBARA: Co-created by Bridget Dobson, daughter of GH Creators Frank and Doris Hursley
HEAD WRITER/EX-ACTRESS
SUNSET BEACH: Meg Bennett (ex-Julia, Y&R)
SANTA BARBARA: Pam Long (ex-Ashley, TEXAS)
GARY TOMLIN
SUNSET BEACH: Executive Producer
SANTA BARBARA: Writer
CHARLES PRATT
SUNSET BEACH: Co-Creator
SANTA BARBARA: Writer
LOW RATINGS, BUT...
SUNSET BEACH: International Hit
SANTA BARBARA: International Hit
OFTEN-SHIRTLESS MALE SUPERMODEL
SUNSET BEACH: Timothy Adams (Casey)
SANTA BARBARA: Rick Edwards (Jake)
ACTRESS MARGARITA CORDOVA
SUNSET BEACH: Madame Carmen, fortune teller who repeatedly warns Meg
SANTA BARBARA: Rosa Andrade, maid who repeatedly warned Santana
REAL-LIFE ROMANCE
SUNSET BEACH: Timothy Adams and Sherri Saum
SANTA BARBARA: Vincent Irizarry (ex-Scott) and Signey Coleman (ex-Celeste); Robin Wright (ex-Kelly) and Dane Witherspoon (ex-Joe)
TOUGH GUY IN DRAG
SUNSET BEACH: Eddie
SANTA BARBARA: Bunny
STUNT CASTING
SUNSET BEACH: Head honch Aaron Spelling played Bette's ex-husband, Vincent
SANTA BARBARA: NBC's then-Vice President of daytime, Brian Frons, played God
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