REMEMBERING Santa Barbara

Digest takes a look back at the beloved NBC serial, which debuted on July 30, 1984 and aired its final episode 30 years ago this week, on January 15, 1993.

- Mara Levinsky

1984: Joe Perkins is released from prison after doing time for the murder of Channing Capwell, Jr. He sets out to find the real killer and win back Kelly Capwell, who is now engaged to Peter Flint. C.C. Capwell's ex-wife, Sophia mother of Kelly, Eden, Ted and Channing - who is presumed to have drowned in a yacht accident while in the company of her lover, Lionel Lockridge, slips back into town in the guise of Dominic. Meanwhile, Santana Andrade, who birthed Channing's son, Brandon, asks Mason (C.C.'s son by Pamela) to help her get Brandon back, as she was forced to give him up for adoption to Gina DeMott. Ted takes up with Laken Lockridge, vexing Laken's mother, notorious Capwell family rival Augusta, while Laken's brother, Warren, pursues Jade, then Summer.

1985: Sophia reveals herself to her kin and remembers the truth about the night Channing died: She accidentally killed him! It is also revealed that Lionel, not C.C., sired Channing. Augusta's sister, attorney Julia, arrives. Mason falls in love with nun Mary. Kelly and Joe wed, but he is murdered by Peter Flint, a.k.a. The Carnation Killer, whose victims include Summer. Christy accuses Ted of rape but her true assailant, her stepbrother, Steve, is exposed. C.C. marries Gina, who plots to gain his riches. Cruz and Eden fall madly in love, but she takes up with Kirk when Cruz believes her guilty of pulling the plug on a comatose C.C.'s life support. C.C. lives.