After a three-year court battle with NBC, Jerome and Bridget Dobson, who created Santa Barbara, are back. On September 22, 1987, the Dobsons left in a heated dispute over creative control, claiming they'd been "locked out." They sued NBC and New World Television for a total of $172 million. The lawsuit against New World Television was settled in 1988, but they didn't come to terms with NBC until last month. (Part of the agreement precludes either party from revealing the exact amount of the settlement.)

Pleased to be back at the helm, the husband-and-wife writing team feel confident they can save the sinking show. "We're going to write as smartly and as emotionally as we can," Jerry Dobson told us. "Historically, we've always been able to buck trends. Santa Barbara was a unique animal in daytime, but before we left, the show was starting to move up in the ratings."

During their three-year exile, the Dobsons didn't keep up with the Capwells and Castillos. "It was too painful to watch," Bridget says. "Characters began to change before our eyes. There was too much antic humor and not enough wit."

They promise "no blood bath" as far as cast changes go, but intend to write scripts that "celebrate the exuberance of life. Our characters will be flogged and driven by their principles. There will be plenty of humor mixed with pain."

In welcoming them aboard as head writers and creative production executives, Senior Executive Producer John Conboy said, "Having the Dobsons back gives Santa Barbara one of the strongest creative teams on daytime."