View Full Version : ABC Considers Canceling General Hospital for Talk Show


Mr. Television
05-05-2011, 12:23 PM
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/05/05/tmz-abc-considering-canceling-general-hospital-to-make-room-for-katie-couric-talk-show/91645

TMZ: ABC Considering Canceling 'General Hospital' To Make Room For Katie Couric Talk Show

By
Bill Gorman

– May 5, 2011

Katie Couric and ABC television are on the verge of signing a $20 million deal, which would give Katie her own talk show, as well as significant involvement in ABC News — and the big casualty could be “General Hospital.”

Sources connected with ABC tell TMZ — under the deal that is in the final stages — Katie would do specials for ABC News, “20/20,” and do a significant amount of fill-in work — including anchoring.

ABC would also give Katie a 1-hour, 5-day-a-week syndicated talk show, that would begin in September, 2012. Our sources say … one option ABC is considering is giving its affiliates back the hour where “General Hospital” airs to make room for Katie. In other words, ABC would axethe third, longest-running soap in history and the last one standing on ABC.

ABC is also realistic, believing that one of it’s two new 2011 syndicated shows will fail, leaving room for K.C.

We’re told … when the dust settles and ABC’s daytime schedule gets rearranged, Katie would probably land in the 3 PM time slot.

BTW … we’re told Matt Lauer will NOT be part of Katie’s show.

As for the moola, our sources say the entire package for Katie and her partner, Jeff Zucker is a $20 million GUARANTEE for the syndicated show — and that’s just for the the first year. We’re also told Katie will get a “nominal amount” for her work in the news division.

Schmoopie
05-06-2011, 01:43 AM
Well, why not? I mean they've already canceled the other grat daytime shows on ABC... might as well finish the job. At least they're being honest about why they want to cancel it. Just pathetic...

80sTrivia
05-06-2011, 04:07 AM
If it's a rumor with ABC... then it's the truth. Unbelievably sad... :(

old grouch
05-06-2011, 10:02 AM
Why doesn't Katie just join the other hens on 'The View'???

Mr. Television
05-06-2011, 10:06 AM
Why doesn't Katie just join the other hens on 'The View'???
:lol:

catlover79
05-06-2011, 02:13 PM
Figures. :mad: :mad: :mad:

MickeyMac
05-06-2011, 03:48 PM
:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:



I have a feeling this will catch on with CBS and ABC.

catlover79
05-06-2011, 06:52 PM
The soap killers...:mad: :mad: :mad:

gidgetgrape
05-06-2011, 06:54 PM
Why doesn't Katie just join the other hens on 'The View'???

Best comment ever.

Mr. Television
05-06-2011, 06:57 PM
Westerns, Variety Shows and now soap operas....all dead. Yet reality tv goes on and on and on and....:rolleyes:

mets82
05-06-2011, 07:37 PM
:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:



I have a feeling this will catch on with CBS and ABC.


Catch on? It already has. Two soaps were canned at CBS and NBC, forget them. They jumped ship a long time ago.

mets82
05-06-2011, 07:40 PM
Westerns, Variety Shows and now soap operas....all dead. Yet reality tv goes on and on and on and....:rolleyes:


Unless we, as the viewer, put a stop to it, reality tv will never stop. You know some Reality Tv is fine but now its an oversaturation of it. Its like they just shove the Reality TV down your throat now. And yes, westerns, Variety Shows, soap operas, game shows are all dead for no reason. And to think its those genres that you and I have mentioned above that made tv what it is today. Those "execs" and I use that lightly, are getting a fat paycheck for basically destroying everything that was great about tv.

catlover79
05-06-2011, 08:02 PM
Why doesn't Katie just join the other hens on 'The View'???

She'd fit right in!!! :eek: :crazy: :lol:

Marvo301
05-06-2011, 08:07 PM
Westerns, Variety Shows and now soap operas....all dead. Yet reality tv goes on and on and on and....:rolleyes:
:crying:

Retro4Life
05-06-2011, 08:14 PM
It's only a matter of time for the remaining soaps I'm afraid.

What needs to happen to revive interest in soaps is the reintroduction of vital, realistic and involving scripts and strong acting. No more models skulking and preening and tossing their hair around and licking their lips; let's get ADULTS who have been trained on the stage and in life. And less returns from the dead and long lost kids. Let's make a soap about what it's REALLY like to live in the 21st century and see how that floats.

Even with that, they'd face an uphill road. Reality TV is cheap to produce (and it shows) and soaps will have to 'play it on the cheap' for a long while until they can recapture ratings and thus, advertisers.

Soaps (mostly ATWT and later GL) were a huge part of my childhood and young adulthood. It's terrible to see them all fall, but as Sonny said, so did westerns and variety shows. They're gone for good, I fear. Hopefully the same won't be true for soaps. :(

ThomasE
05-15-2011, 10:54 PM
If the soaps are saved, then one reality is that ratings will go up for a while but then drop again after all the hype. Passions was canceled by NBC but stayed in the NBC family when the show went to Si Fy but was canned again.

mets82
05-15-2011, 11:17 PM
I think its the beginning of the end for the soaps because I just saw an ad for "The Chew" during Desperate Housewives.