http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/04/14/abc-cancels-all-my-children-and-one-life-to-live-final-episode-dates-slated/89488?utm_campaign=WP%3ETwitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter

What kind of crap shows are they replacing them with? What kind of a name is The Chew? They might as well just put informercials on.

What kind of crap shows are they replacing them with? What kind of a name is The Chew? They might as well just put informercials on.
"The Chew" sounds like it should be a show about bubblegum!! But reading the description it sounds like a retread of "The View" focusing on food. The other show "The Revolution" sounds like a cross between "The View" and "The Rachel Ray Show". So another words absolutely nothing original about these shows. I can't believe they're canceling two long running Soaps just to replace ithem with this garbage!! :mad: :mad: :mad:

"The Chew" sounds like it should be a show about bubblegum!! But reading the description it sounds like a retread of "The View" focusing on food. The other show "The Revolution" sounds like a cross between "The View" and "The Rachel Ray Show". So another words absolutely nothing original about these shows. I can't believe they're canceling two long running Soaps just to replace ithem with this garbage!! :mad: :mad: :mad:
I'd rather watch The Food Network if I want to learn about food. :lol:

I don't even know what to say about this. I don't even watch these shows and it makes my stomach turn.

I don't even know what to say about this. I don't even watch these shows and it makes my stomach turn.
That's pretty much how I feel. I haven't watched AMC since the early 80's and I never really watched OLTL much. They are apart of TV History though and to be replaced by trash is just sick. I remember my Aunt used to always watch those soaps when she visited us.

BOTH OF THEM???? HOLY CRAP!!! :eek2:

Another sad day for a dying genre. It's all over but the crying, so it seems...

And then there were four...how many talk/makeover shows do we need, anyway? SOAPnet is going to be off the air in a few months as well. ABC and CBS would be smart to just give back those hours to the affiliates.

I think this is an outrage. I never watched AMC much, but still these shows are an instution, and they are yanking them off the air.



No matter what BS story ABC hands outs, its all about the money. These crappy new shows they are replacing the soaps with are cheaper to make, and thats what it comes down to is the almighty dollar, even in the TV world.


What about the great actors, writers, directors, etc??? ABC obviously dosent give a damn about them.

Well now for sure its the end of the genre. Its just a matter of time before the other 4 are gone too. I would say the "Fishbowl" Reality Shows killed the soap opera. People think all the drama on those "Housewives" shows is reality.

Reality TV killed ALL the other TV genres (with the possible exception of the game show genre). Thank goodness for YouTube where you can still see clips of the classic soaps of yore. I loved what I saw there of Ryan's Hope, Search For Tomorrow, Santa Barbara, The Doctors, Texas, etc.

Reality TV killed ALL the other TV genres (with the possible exception of the game show genre). Thank goodness for YouTube where you can still see clips of the classic soaps of yore. I loved what I saw there of Ryan's Hope, Search For Tomorrow, Santa Barbara, The Doctors, Texas, etc.




You're damn right!!!!!!

It's official, ABC has posted the story on their website.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=resources/inside_station/station_info&id=8072960

I guess that leaves 4 soaps for 2012 - Young & Restless, Bold & Beautiful, General Hospital, and Days of Our Lives. I haven't watched soaps for years, I grew tired of characters coming back from the dead.

Reality TV killed ALL the other TV genres (with the possible exception of the game show genre). Thank goodness for YouTube where you can still see clips of the classic soaps of yore. I loved what I saw there of Ryan's Hope, Search For Tomorrow, Santa Barbara, The Doctors, Texas, etc.
Reality tv is killing network television period. It's too bad that people at the top don't realize this.

Reality tv is killing network television period. It's too bad that people at the top don't realize this.

They do, but they don't care. The networks are all about quantity, not quality. Reality shows are cheap to produce. All they care about it $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

One Life to Live (1968-2012)

One Life to Live (1968-2012)


I'll be honest, I dont know if Reality TV is killing Soap Operas but there not helping. I like the occasional reality shows but now its too many. I think the big wigs dont invest any money in Soaps. If they paid attention to Soaps as they do reality tv, then soaps would never have to worry about being cancelled.

All My Children (1970-2011)

Why don't they re-tool some of the soap operas into night time dramas. The character of Erica Kane is so legendary, she could live on in some kind of weekly show. Daytime Dramas aren't working anymore so why not show it in the evening?

Here's what Marcy Walker Smith (ex-Liza, AMC; 1981-1984, 1995-2004) had to say on her FB page regarding the cancellation AND Brian Frons:

"Brian is a good man. Honestly. And making such a huge decision-knowing that many people would be emotional has got to be hard. But know that it takes MANY smart people to make the decision to cancel. But Brian is a creative and talented professional. He may have preferences but he doesn't lead petty or unfairly."

Brian Frons can go stuff it up his rear-end and go straight to hell!

The character of Erica Kane is so legendary, she could live on in some kind of weekly show.

Make her a regular on Hot in Cleveland. ;) :D

Make her a regular on Hot in Cleveland. ;) :D
^^^ That's a pretty good idea. Susan Lucci can cry to Victoria Chase about getting cancelled.

For those of you who don't know, Marcy Walker Smith left AMC (and show business) to go into the ministry full-time. Children's ministry, that is. She now works at a church in Charlotte, NC. She also had to say this on her FB page regarding her friends at AMC:

"If you would like a point of prayer....please think of those that recently moved to LA when the show relocated last year. I'm sure they gave up apartments and homes on the east coast and maybe even purchased new homes and such. Pray for them and their families as they transition to looking for work or even moving again."

^^^ That's a pretty good idea. Susan Lucci can cry to Victoria Chase about getting cancelled.

I think they could get a lot of mileage out of that. :lol:

I think they could get a lot of mileage out of that. :lol:
^ Definitely. Susan Lucci and Wendie Malick work great together.

http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/04/14/abc-brian-frons-all-my-children/

ABC daytime chief on canceling soaps: 'I never thought I'd be the guy to take two of the shows off'

by Lynette Rice

ABC head of daytime programming Brian Frons told EW that he’s replacing All My Children and One Life to Live with The Chew and The Revolution because viewers crave information that can help improve their lives.

“We started with what was succeeding for us, and that is The View,” said Frons (pictured with AMC star Susan Lucci). “ We did a lot of research and there’s a lot of desire for information on the part of our audience. They want relatable hosts, things that they could use in their lives. When they watch The Chew, it’s going to feel like a talk show in some segments, and like a cooking show in others. It’s like The View meets food.

“In the case of The Revolution, people are obsessed with weight in this country,” he continued. “They want a better life. This show delivers that.”

He also hopes both shows will delivers in the ratings and profits – something that became increasingly difficult with AMC and OTLT. Both sudsers recently underwent cost-saving changes like changing production locales (AMC is now in the Los Angeles area, for example) but that wasn’t enough to keep them afloat. AMC averages 2.5 million and ranks No. 5 in women 18-49 among all soaps. OLTL averages 2.5 million and ranks No. 4 in the female demo.

“Viewership for the shows is in a decline,” he said. “We had trouble making profit on these shows, particularly on All My Children.”

Frons told the cast and crew of AMC personally before the announcement went out to the press some 15 minutes later. (The cast and crew of the New York-based OLTL was video linked at the same time). Unlike when CBS announced the demise of Guiding Light and As the World Turns, Frons said it was important to immediately reveal how the soaps will be replaced because “otherwise we will appear like we have no plan. It’s important for our affiliates. If we make the decision to take off two shows we value, then they need to know how we will replace them.”

The daytime executive admitted it wasn’t easy to make the cancellation call. “It’s very sad for me,” he said. “I came here because I wanted to work on the ABC soaps. I worked in CBS and NBC daytime and I always envied the quality and people who ABC had. I never imagined when I came in August of 2002 that I’d be the guy to take two of the shows off.”

Frons also was the guy to defend the company’s decision to shutter SOAPnet to make way for Disney Junior in January, 2012. At the time of the announcement last May, Frons told EW that while it was “sad news because it is a channel that’s been dedicated to soap fans, it’s not a dink on soap operas.” The beauty of SOAPnet was that it helped to keep the ailing genre viable; production companies that remain in the soap business were able to generate additional revenue by selling their reruns to the cable channel.

Soap fans should take some comfort in knowing that General Hospital will not be affected by the changes and, in fact, should remain on ABC for a “long, long time,” Frons said. It’s too early to say, however, whether the Los Angeles-based sudser will absorb some of the actors from AMC or OLTL.

The executive seems resigned to receiving a flurry of complaint emails and letters. “We didn’t expect anybody who has been a passionate viewer for a long period of time to be happy about this, and so we are hoping the head writers will be able to craft emotionally satisfying goodbyes. It’s not as good as having them continue. But we are having them turn the lights out the best we can.”

Man, you need boots to listen to Frons. Give me a break, Frons. You didnt want to be the guy, but you are the guy. How about when he says that weight is a problem in this country. No kidding. What, did he just come from under a rock? I mean this has been going on for a while now.


Then he knocks Soapnet. How about when HIS SHOW General Hospital, Night Shift? When they were doing good ratings, he didnt think Soapnet was bad? Bottom line, he didnt give a damn about Soapnet because he tried to make it the E Channel. All he cared about was Being Erica. Its obvious based on all the promos for the show.

They might as well just put informercials on.

No, Sonny, they'd be better off airing test patterns!!!

[QUOTE=Marvo301]The other show "The Revolution" sounds like a cross between "The View" and "The Rachel Ray Show".QUOTE]

I think "The Revolution" sounds like a reality show about the military!! :eek:

I think "The Revolution" sounds like a reality show about the military!! :eek:
^ Whatever it is, it will surely be crap replacing my beloved One Life To Live. I am so fed up with dumb talk shows and game shows.

[quote=Marvo301]The other show "The Revolution" sounds like a cross between "The View" and "The Rachel Ray Show".QUOTE]

I think "The Revolution" sounds like a reality show about the military!! :eek:
I think it sounds revolting!! :eek:

No, Sonny, they'd be better off airing test patterns!!!
That is so true. :lol:

I just saw where OLTL is ABC's top ranked soap in total viewers. It doesn't make sense.

This is yet another reason why I refuse to have cable. If I did and I started channel surfing and came across all these crappy reality shows, lame ass boring talk shows and whatever garbage is on now, I would pull out my gun and shoot my TV.

While I'm not a big fan of soaps, it's kind of sad to see these old shows go. And 'The Chew' sounds like a show about chewing tobacco. Wonder if it will be sponsored by Skoal.

Or, ABC should create a new weekly nighttime drama called Pine Valley, Starring Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, and some of the stars from the show. It would be a completely different format, but the daytime serial could live on and could help the lack of ideas for scripted programming in the evenings. Maybe the same could be done with One Life to Live. We could return to the era of Dallas, Dynasty, Knot's Landing & Falcon Crest!

^ Definitely. Susan Lucci and Wendie Malick work great together.

That is so true. :lol:

And 'The Chew' sounds like a show about chewing tobacco. Wonder if it will be sponsored by Skoal.

It also sounds like a show about this guy!

It also sounds like a show about this guy!
I would watch a show about Chewbacca!!! :D

Hey, I'd take a show about Chewbacca any day over this crap that ABC Daytime has in mind!!!!

Chewbacca is hosting a talk show? :lol:

That would be awesome - and with the enormous fan base Star Wars has, people would watch!! :crazy: :lol:

^^^ That's a pretty good idea. Susan Lucci can cry to Victoria Chase about getting cancelled.

And Victoria can be blissfully happy because AMC got cancelled! :lol:

There was chatter on Entertainment Tonight saying "it was just a rumour that Susan Lucci would join the cast of Desparate Housewives...."

Erica Kane is too classy for Wisteria Lane!

I like Markway895's idea about creating a show called Pine Valley.

Do you all realize that this is the FOURTH soap opera Kim Zimmer (Echo, OLTL) has been on at its cancellation? Supposedly, she said on FB or Twitter (can't remember which one), "It feels like deja vu all over again". She was on The Doctors when it was cancelled in 1982, Santa Barbara when it was cancelled in 1993, Guiding Light when it was cancelled in 2009, and now OLTL. I've posted photos of her at the times of all those cancellations.

Agnes Nixon released the following statement about the cancellation of All My Children and One Life to Live, the two soaps she created for ABC more than 40 years ago:

“ABC’s decision to cancel All My Children and One Life to Live saddens me greatly,” the 83-year-old queen of daytime soaps said. “I treasure the decades that the worlds of Pine Valley and Llanview were brought to life by our talented casts and crews. I appreciate that the network allowed our teams to break new dramatic ground and always supported our commitment to the honest portrayal of social issues. We hope we have entertained our viewers and perhaps even educated them along the way.

“My deep gratitude goes to all the talented people who have contributed to All My Children and One Life To Live over these many years; we were always family, made up of writers, producers, directors, actors, crews. Equally important in that family are our loyal fans who shared this journey with us. Although ABC has concluded there is no longer a place for our shows on their network, I will do everything possible to keep them alive. God bless you all.”

Do you all realize that this is the FOURTH soap opera Kim Zimmer (Echo, OLTL) has been on at its cancellation? Supposedly, she said on FB or Twitter (can't remember which one), "It feels like deja vu all over again". She was on The Doctors when it was cancelled in 1982, Santa Barbara when it was cancelled in 1993, Guiding Light when it was cancelled in 2009, and now OLTL. I've posted photos of her at the times of all those cancellations.
She's the Ted McGinley of Soaps!! :lol:

I guess she is!! :eek: :crazy: :lol:

I saw this collage on the Soap Opera Network message boards:

http://soapoperasource.com/daytime/news/brian-frons-reveals-amcoltl-cancellation-was-a-year-in-the-making.html

Cancellation A Year In The Making; Combining AMC/OLTL Discussed

ABC Daytime President Brian Frons revealed to Deadline.com's Nellie Andreeva that the decision to cancel All My Children and One Life to Live was a year in the making. After network projections for ratings were "discouraging," ABC began aggressively developing new shows. Deadline reports up to 15 were in development. In addition to The Chew and The Revolution (replacements for the two canceled soaps), pilots for a dating show and a talk show were also ordered.

Originally one soap was to be canceled, but "the way the ratings developed and the pilots turned out, the ratings developed negatively and pilots developed positively, so we decided to make a bigger shift." Bigger shift? Oy vey. He goes on to reveal the decision to cancel one show was in the works weeks ago, and the decision to cancel both came within the last week.

Frons also shares that he considered the idea of combining All My Children and One Life to Live (something mentioned on the SOS affiliated In The Zone Radio last year) bringing the best from both shows. For more (and trust me, he says a lot more), head to Deadline.com.

Editor's POV: Well at least Katie Couric isn't coming to ABC....I wish he'd stop talking.

I feel bad for Kim Zimmer. I feel bad for all the wonderful actors who are put out of work by this bad decision. Not to mention the legions of writers, producers, directors, sound technicians, wardrobe assistants, set construction crews and camera operators who will now be unemployed. We're talking thousands here. Will there be any need for the Daytime Emmy Awards anymore? Will the Academy be forced to dish out new awards in newly created categories to inferior shows such as "The Chew"?

No more daytime dramas will be filmed in New York City, once the very heart and soul of the industry, which has always been an American institution. The ancient Greeks may have invented the genre and Shakespeare perfected it, but it was American radio and television that pioneered the industry, which quickly spread all around the world.

Sad that while soaps around the globe are booming (in particular Spanish language telenovelas), they are on the verge of extinction in the country that started it all. Some people might say, "They are just soaps. They aren't really important." My response is that people are still in need of continuity in their lives. With the world so terribly fractured and disconnected and in extremely dire straits, this is more important than ever. This is what soaps have always represented. Even if we couldn't be with our families because we have moved away or lost someone, we could still tune into our soaps and feel connected, to our own families, to situations we have been through in our own lives, and to the people who came to be part of our lives, even though they are "fictional characters".

Ultimately, it is just one more thing we are losing, that is simply disappearing from the canvas of our world. We'll lose more things as the year goes on, things far more important, I dare say, but this one really stings because it feels as if we should have some control or say in the matter. We don't, of course, as made abundantly apparrent by the arrogance of Brian Frons. Seems we will all be forced to watch "reality" programming, because the executives are hell bent on not paying actors or writers for their talents anymore. Sad, sad, indeed.

Sad to see a genre fading away before our very eyes...

if ABC really wanted cost effective programming, why not air reruns of old TV movies? no production costs there, just paying for the residuals, etc. "The ABC Daytime Movie"-- heck a concept a network has yet to try or go back to the old daytime network reruns of old sitcoms ;)

I feel bad for Kim Zimmer. I feel bad for all the wonderful actors who are put out of work by this bad decision. Not to mention the legions of writers, producers, directors, sound technicians, wardrobe assistants, set construction crews and camera operators who will now be unemployed. We're talking thousands here. Will there be any need for the Daytime Emmy Awards anymore? Will the Academy be forced to dish out new awards in newly created categories to inferior shows such as "The Chew"?

No more daytime dramas will be filmed in New York City, once the very heart and soul of the industry, which has always been an American institution. The ancient Greeks may have invented the genre and Shakespeare perfected it, but it was American radio and television that pioneered the industry, which quickly spread all around the world.

Sad that while soaps around the globe are booming (in particular Spanish language telenovelas), they are on the verge of extinction in the country that started it all. Some people might say, "They are just soaps. They aren't really important." My response is that people are still in need of continuity in their lives. With the world so terribly fractured and disconnected and in extremely dire straits, this is more important than ever. This is what soaps have always represented. Even if we couldn't be with our families because we have moved away or lost someone, we could still tune into our soaps and feel connected, to our own families, to situations we have been through in our own lives, and to the people who came to be part of our lives, even though they are "fictional characters".

Ultimately, it is just one more thing we are losing, that is simply disappearing from the canvas of our world. We'll lose more things as the year goes on, things far more important, I dare say, but this one really stings because it feels as if we should have some control or say in the matter. We don't, of course, as made abundantly apparrent by the arrogance of Brian Frons. Seems we will all be forced to watch "reality" programming, because the executives are hell bent on not paying actors or writers for their talents anymore. Sad, sad, indeed.
Very well said.

I haven't watched daytime soaps in years. The soap I watched the longest was Guiding Light. I watched it for about 15 years straight. In the early to mid 70's, I was hooked on Another World. I remember watching these soaps with my Mom. Well she's gone and the genre she used to love is slowing disappearing as well. Some of my earliest memories are playing with my toys on the floor and remembering seeing long gone soaps like Secret Storm and Search for Tomorrow come on my TV Screen. Television is just changing before our eyes. Networks would rather air cheap reality shows then script dramas that actually make you think. I will never watch a reality show. Ever.

Sad to see a genre fading away before our very eyes...

if ABC really wanted cost effective programming, why not air reruns of old TV movies? no production costs there, just paying for the residuals, etc. "The ABC Daytime Movie"-- heck a concept a network has yet to try or go back to the old daytime network reruns of old sitcoms ;)

Because, Jude - THAT would make sense!!!

I feel bad for Kim Zimmer. I feel bad for all the wonderful actors who are put out of work by this bad decision. Not to mention the legions of writers, producers, directors, sound technicians, wardrobe assistants, set construction crews and camera operators who will now be unemployed. We're talking thousands here. Will there be any need for the Daytime Emmy Awards anymore? Will the Academy be forced to dish out new awards in newly created categories to inferior shows such as "The Chew"?

No more daytime dramas will be filmed in New York City, once the very heart and soul of the industry, which has always been an American institution. The ancient Greeks may have invented the genre and Shakespeare perfected it, but it was American radio and television that pioneered the industry, which quickly spread all around the world.

Sad that while soaps around the globe are booming (in particular Spanish language telenovelas), they are on the verge of extinction in the country that started it all. Some people might say, "They are just soaps. They aren't really important." My response is that people are still in need of continuity in their lives. With the world so terribly fractured and disconnected and in extremely dire straits, this is more important than ever. This is what soaps have always represented. Even if we couldn't be with our families because we have moved away or lost someone, we could still tune into our soaps and feel connected, to our own families, to situations we have been through in our own lives, and to the people who came to be part of our lives, even though they are "fictional characters".

Ultimately, it is just one more thing we are losing, that is simply disappearing from the canvas of our world. We'll lose more things as the year goes on, things far more important, I dare say, but this one really stings because it feels as if we should have some control or say in the matter. We don't, of course, as made abundantly apparrent by the arrogance of Brian Frons. Seems we will all be forced to watch "reality" programming, because the executives are hell bent on not paying actors or writers for their talents anymore. Sad, sad, indeed.

:yeahthat Very well said!! I couldn't have put it better myself.

80s Trivia, your damn right!!! I havent seen anyone on any boards here or elsewhere that wanted to see the soaps cancelled. I havent heard one positive for the shows that are going to replace the soaps.

Thanks, Jude, Monika & mets! Good to know I'm not the only one who feels this way! :clap :clap :clap

Oh, trust me - we're not the ONLY ones!!!!

http://boards.soapoperanetwork.com/topic/40173-amc-and-oltl-canceled/

I haven't watched OLTL for years (A show that I fell in love with from 2003-2006... and I even met a lot of the cast members-most of whom were extremely kind), and as for AMC, it's been even longer but I used to watch it back in the days of Greg and Jenny and Cliff and Nina. But even so, this news makes me feel like I'm losing a friend. In fact, I met one of my best online friends through an OLTL message board called Rodi's. The board's long gone, but our friendship has lasted this long. I can't wait to meet her face to face someday!

^ At least some aspects are lasting from the soaps - friendships and memories.

If the cancellation was a year in the making then that makes the "AMC" move out to L.A. look pretty pointless...

They started taping in L.A. by January 2010 and got the official cancellation notice April 2011.

If I was one of the people who had moved out to LA to keep my job, I would be beyond furious. That's why I feel more for the AMC people than the OLTL people. The reason being that OLTL stayed in New York and that they are going to have about 4 months longer to wrap things up to AMC.

I'm still hoping against hope that Oprah will pick up the serials on her network, OWN. It isn't very likely, of course, but we can always hope.

Do you all realize that this is the FOURTH soap opera Kim Zimmer (Echo, OLTL) has been on at its cancellation? Supposedly, she said on FB or Twitter (can't remember which one), "It feels like deja vu all over again". She was on The Doctors when it was cancelled in 1982, Santa Barbara when it was cancelled in 1993, Guiding Light when it was cancelled in 2009, and now OLTL. I've posted photos of her at the times of all those cancellations.


I thought Kim Zimmer left The Doctors about a year before it was cancelled. I have watched the final episode a few years ago and don't remember seeing her. Also, on Youtube there are closing credits from Oct 1982 and she is not listed in the cast. Does anyone know for sure???

I checked Google News Archive for Kim Zimmer articles in 1982. That June, she gave birth to her first child and was on maternity leave for a few months, so that's probably why you didn't see her. I do believe she was back when the show went off the air.

I checked Google News Archive for Kim Zimmer articles in 1982. That June, she gave birth to her first child and was on maternity leave for a few months, so that's probably why you didn't see her. I do believe she was back when the show went off the air.

When SFT moved to NBC and The Doctors moved to noon, my local station stopped carrying it. I always thought SFT replaced The Doctors but didn't realize until years later that it continued until the end of the year. So like many others I didn't get to see much of the last year.

The Hallmark Channel has the rights to The Doctors but has yet to air those vintage episodes. I don't know why. The last news I heard on the subject was almost 2 years ago. :confused:

http://www.welovesoaps.net/2009/01/doctors-on-hallmark-channel-later-in.html

http://www.welovesoaps.net/2009/06/update-doctors-on-hallmark.html

I think another Soapnet needs to be formed to show reruns of these classic soaps.

I think another Soapnet needs to be formed to show reruns of these classic soaps.

Preferably by executives who actually LIKE soaps and not look down on their audience!!

One thing I don't understand. They keep saying the Nielson ratings are way down for soap operas and daytime tv because people are at work. But, are the viewers who watch on SoapNet or who DVR the shows considered in the rating numbers? There are people who never miss an episode of their favorite show, thanks to DVR's and recording.

I'm not exactly sure how that all works. :confused:

I found myself today watching vintage clips of OLTL from 1979 - seeing Judith Light's tremendous portrayal of Karen Wolek (a role she played from 1977-1983) - whose portrayal on the witness stand won her an Emmy in 1980, critical AND fan support, and wound up being one of the most memorable scenes in all of daytime TV. Ms. Light would win another Emmy the following year.

Judith Light took away more than those Emmys from her daytime experience. She met her husband, Robert Desiderio, who was also acting on OLTL when they met (and they are still married over 26 years later!) and also met the lady who is still her best friend, Brynn Thayer, who played Jenny, Karen's sister. Here she is, pictured with her husband, her best friend, and OLTL creator Agnes Nixon.

One thing I don't understand. They keep saying the Nielson ratings are way down for soap operas and daytime tv because people are at work. But, are the viewers who watch on SoapNet or who DVR the shows considered in the rating numbers? There are people who never miss an episode of their favorite show, thanks to DVR's and recording.

What I heard regarding DVR programming is that after 48 hrs. of airing it no longer counts for the ratings.

I've been on such an emotional rollercoaster since hearing this news. I just haven't got the words to express how sad I am about this.

One thing I don't understand. They keep saying the Nielson ratings are way down for soap operas and daytime tv because people are at work. But, are the viewers who watch on SoapNet or who DVR the shows considered in the rating numbers? There are people who never miss an episode of their favorite show, thanks to DVR's and recording.

No. Views on SOAPNET are counted separately from ratings for ABC episodes. DVR views are counted, but not given the same weight as watching LIVE.

Anyway it's a moot point because ABC has also canceled SOAPNET as well. It leaves the airwaves in December. (ABC owns SOAPNET).

I found myself today watching vintage clips of OLTL from 1979 - seeing Judith Light's tremendous portrayal of Karen Wolek (a role she played from 1977-1983) - whose portrayal on the witness stand won her an Emmy in 1980, critical AND fan support, and wound up being one of the most memorable scenes in all of daytime TV. Ms. Light would win another Emmy the following year.

Judith Light took away more than those Emmys from her daytime experience. She met her husband, Robert Desiderio, who was also acting on OLTL when they met (and they are still married over 26 years later!) and also met the lady who is still her best friend, Brynn Thayer, who played Jenny, Karen's sister. Here she is, pictured with her husband, her best friend, and OLTL creator Agnes Nixon.

I have watched those powerful scenes featuring Judith Light as Karen Wolek taking the stand in Vicki's defense on YouTube a number of times. In my opinion, those scenes are some of the best written, directed and acted scenes in all of television history, daytime, prime time... anytime! Judith earned those back-to-back Emmy Awards!

Here's the funny thing - I've seen Judith Light in interviews on TV and she said that early on in her career, she never wanted to be tied down to either a soap opera or a sitcom. And what happened? After her 6 years on OLTL and moving cross country to LA, she follows that right up with 8 years on Who's the Boss?. :lol: :lol: :lol:

I only watch "Days" (which I'm happy to say is renewed through 2013), but I hate seeing more soaps leave the airwaves. Especially to be replaced with more crap shows. Who's gonna watch these? Like a previous poster said, you have the Food Network to learn about food! :lol: Plus Hallmark and other channels have blocks of food/cooking/lifestyle shows.

I know they are putting these on in place of AMC and OLTL because they are far cheaper to produce. It's sad that TV is going to hell in a handbasket, I predict within the next 10 years there will be no new scripted series, it will all be "reality" shows.

SoapNet is going off the air next year; I wish they'd create a channel that shows old episodes of all the soaps like Days, Another World, etc.

No. Views on SOAPNET are counted separately from ratings for ABC episodes. DVR views are counted, but not given the same weight as watching LIVE.


That's part of the problem, they DON'T take this into account. (Days also is rerun on SoapNet.) A lot of people watch the airings on SoapNet because it's more convient with their work schedules, etc.

I am guilty of using the DVR for Days, I like to save up a weeks worth and watch them all in a row. (a one-hour episode of days only has 37 or 38 minutes of actual show. so i can watch 3 episodes in the time it would take to watch 2!)

Plus, Days is available for download on itunes, not sure if any of the other soaps are. There are just so many ways to watch TV shows nowadays, the networks need to take all this into account with the ratings.

That's part of the problem, they DON'T take this into account. (Days also is rerun on SoapNet.) A lot of people watch the airings on SoapNet because it's more convient with their work schedules, etc.

I am guilty of using the DVR for Days, I like to save up a weeks worth and watch them all in a row. (a one-hour episode of days only has 37 or 38 minutes of actual show. so i can watch 3 episodes in the time it would take to watch 2!)

Plus, Days is available for download on itunes, not sure if any of the other soaps are. There are just so many ways to watch TV shows nowadays, the networks need to take all this into account with the ratings.
Days is my show too. Matter of fact I never watched or got in to any daytime dramas until about 6 years ago. And because of SOAPNET and later DVR recording, I got hooked on it, and I never miss an episode. And if I do get behind, I get caught up on Youtube. I, also like to store up 3-5 eppys to watch back to back.

This is why I don't understand why the alternate forms of viewing are not considered with total numbers. :confused: All those people that aren't able to watch in the daytime, are still watching!

^ The reason is, your thinking makes sense. It's no wonder Jay Leno, while once trying to say "TV network executives" in a monologue, called them "TV nitwit executive". That's basically it in a nutshell!!!

It also sounds like a show about this guy!

LOL! I'd actually watch that over the drek that is really coming from the network! :lol:

Soaps have provided me with some of my most unforgettable moments in my TV viewing history. I've loved, hated, cried with, cried for, laughed with and at dozens of characters from various soaps since the late Sixties (yep I was watching ATWT in kindergarten with my mom).

It's really sad that the industry is dying. I think soaps at their peak communicated with people in a way nothing else could. We saw these people every day; they became part of our families. We used to remark on when characters got haircuts and lost or gained weight, or when they looked ill. The way they emphasized family (at least in the old days) was really heartening and true to life for so many viewers. I can hardly believe that no kids will ever grow up watching so many real family conflicts fictionally played out on screen. I can't believe that no one will tape their "stories" for viewing after they come home from work again.

When I was in college and had no VCR I'd set my audio tape recorder right next to the TV when I left for class, leaving the TV on. Of course each side of the tape was only 45 minutes so I never got the full episode, but that was my dedication to ATWT in those days. When my mom went out East to visit relatives, I wrote down all the stuff that happened each day on ATWT, as she did for me when I was unable to watch it. These things are part of our collective and individual histories.

I don't look for them to come back soon, either. Reality TV has taken the place that soaps used to occupy, and quite poorly, I'd say. The themes that were once portrayed subtly through good writing and acting are now there explicitly, in all their vulgar and 'in your face' glory. Nobody watches to watch stories about positive aspects of life, it's all greed and lust and stupidity and pointing AT the screen, rather than using it to share our common humanity. Soaps were never perfect, but they were a damned sight closer than this dreary sludge that passes as entertainment today.

:rip: AMC and OLTL, and all the rest.

Soaps were like comfort food, always there - just like Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. You could count on it. Again, thank goodness for YouTube and the people who post clips of the old shows on there. The writing and acting used to be so much better - especially because they hired ACTORS (most of them classically theater-trained) and not MODELS.

LOL! I'd actually watch that over the drek that is really coming from the network! :lol:

So would I!! People actually LIKE that "Chew"!!! :D

SoapNet is going off the air next year; I wish they'd create a channel that shows old episodes of all the soaps like Days, Another World, etc.[/quote]

One problem that SOAPNET had is that when they did air reruns of "Another World" they got very low ratings. The only classic they aired that got good ratings was Ryan's Hope; but ratings for that started to drop quickly once they went through the first run. Of course the fact they never aired the last few years of the show didn't help.

^ Yeah, they kept saying they couldn't run the final years of RH (circa 1982 to the show's end in early 1989) due to musical licensing fees. I don't buy that - they could easily pipe generic music in. It's not like it's really relevant to the show, like it would be for WKRP and The Wonder Years. There was something else going on.

As for Another World, my sister watched it when the reruns aired on SOAPNet. That was at the first apartment she and her husband shared (we don't have cable) - she loved to watch it every evening as they settled down after work and dinner. :D

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-594341

April 21, 2011

iReport — Flo DiBona
(c) Apr 21, 2011

On April 14th, 2011, Disney/ABC announced cancellation of the decades-old shows All My Children and One Life to Live. They were cancelled due to low ratings (in the age 18 to 49 demographic) and because the main demographic was over the age of 49.

The fans were shocked and stunned. These shows are national treasures that covet millions of fans. The storylines intertwine with the storylines of millions of fan's lives. Multiple generations of families have quietly called Pine Valley and Llanview their second homes. Quietly until now...

For many fans the characters in these shows are the only companions they have. For some, these shows provide a brief escape from the daily pressures and stress of their lives. These towns are their towns and these stories are their stories. Mothers at home with small children plan naptimes around their soaps, a little oasis in the middle of their day. Warehouse break rooms air soaps during lunch breaks. Consultants DVR soaps to watch in the evening or on weekends after they've been travelling all week. Soaps are often the common ground that brings strangers together, examining, discussing, and even debating the latest developments.

For senior citizens, or the over age 49 demographic as they are referred to, the news was especially difficult. Many had been loyal fans for over four decades, since the onset of these shows. Now, in their later years, they introduced these stories to their children, their grandchildren, and even their great-grandchildren. These shows have been entwined in generations of family history and have helped bridged the generation gap for many families.

As a result of these cancellations, the fans were galvanized. They immediately took to the social networks, email, and phones contacting Disney, ABC, their affiliates and sponsors. Disney and ABC had expected some backlash and were prepared to weather the storm.

Then, the fans organized. There are millions of fans of each of these shows and millions more of the genre. They realized their strength in numbers and began a focused effort on convincing sponsors and affiliates to withdraw their support of Disney/ABC. They also boycotted all Disney/ABC programming except the soap operas. Dancing with the Stars, ABC's highest rated show, dropped 13 percentage points the first airing after the protest began and overall ABC viewership was down. They began a systematic, targeted campaign focused on specific sponsors each day while contacting affiliates at the same time. They had interviews and press releases.

One of the first targets of the campaign was Hoover. On Monday, April 18th, 2011, four days after the Disney/ABs announcement, Hoover was inundated with emails, social network postings and phone calls. Hoover Vice President of Marketing, Brian Kirkendall, released a statement. In it he acknowledged the outpouring of support for these shows and the fans' commitment to them. He shared his mother and wife's reactions and that of many in the Hoover company family. Then, in solidarity, he announced that Hoover would be pulling all advertising from ABC by April 22nd, 2011, if not sooner.

Disney/ABC and other sponsors were stupefied. Pulling support because a show was cancelled instead of the other way around was literally unheard of. Disney/ABC made a statement about how counter-intuitive that was for Hoover to do. The fan response was viral. The fans clogged email and phone lines with appreciation. Then they started showing their loyalty. They started buying Hoovers. They told their friends to buy Hoovers. Hoover enjoyed the largest wave of customer acceptance and loyalty it its history. No amount of marketing dollars could pay for this. On April 22, the Hoover Buy call is going out. Thousands of fans are set to buy Hoover products to show their appreciation for Hoover's support. It is set to change the course of marketing and advertiser focus.

On April 26th, 2011, there are mass rallies planned across the country. Fans can join the movement on Facebook at Protest ABC Across America http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/home.php?sk=group_166393780082557&ap=1

Fans are angry and they are inspired. At some point, Disney/ABC will be forced to address this, it is simply getting too big and gaining too much momentum for them to ignore. When they do, their first order of business will need to be a heartfelt apology to all their viewers, the shows' fans, and to senior citizens in this country in particular. That apology of course needs to be followed by either an announcement reinstating and supporting the shows or announcement of their move to another network. Disney/ABC is prolonging the inevitable at this point and they are causing more damage to themselves every day they refuse to reverse their decision.

There have been calls to bring down the Mouse and these fans have lists of every major investor, shareholder, board member, holding, affiliate, advertiser and sponsor that the Mouse has and they are already using them. Steve Jobs is being blasted with fan emails pleading for his support because of his holdings in Disney. There has been much damage done to Disney/ABC's image to-date because of poor business decisions and statements. Fans are calling for the firing of Brian Frons and Anne Sweeney. Without this, there is no real support for this audience and genre. Their actions and the statements of Brian Frons have been derogatory, demeaning and inflammatory to even the quietest of fans.

There is no way to undo the damage they have caused or the negative perception of Disney/ABC customers. Walt Disney's image is not a corporate commodity. He was a person who stood for honesty, respect, and integrity. These are not qualities the fans feel Ms Sweeney and Mr Frons understand.

Disney/ABC has a tremendous opportunity here. If they think outside the box like Hoover did, they could turn this around and begin to live up to the name they operate under. Fans would love to support Disney/ABC. They are cancelling treasured vacations, going dark with favorite programming, and not buying products they would love to buy. With serious changes in thinking, attitude, and personnel Disney/ABC may be able to slow this runaway train.

The longer Disney/ABC allows this to continue, the easier it is going to get to do without these things Disney and find alternatives to them.

I mentioned The Doctors upthread, and found an entire episode recently uploaded onto YouTube. Among the actors featured is current OLTL star Hillary B. Smith, future Matlock co-star Nancy Stafford, future and now former ATWT star Elizabeth Hubbard (snuggling up to future AMC star Jean LeClerc), and the show's patriarch and the only actor to win an Emmy on The Doctors, James Pritchett, who recently passed on. I believe Kim Zimmer was back on this show from her maternity leave by now, but isn't in this particular episode.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eCQv8jo1Us

I was happy to see that Hoover yanked all their advertising from ABC because the head of the company's wife and mother were fans of the shows!

I just wish more sponsors would follow Hoover's lead and yank their spots from ABC Daytime. It would serve the network right!!!!

Other than the soaps the audience show boycott ABC. Just watch daytime TV and turn off whatever else they show. When they see nobody is watching their other shows, maybe they may get the message. Probably not but the fans should do a boycott just the same.

Other than the soaps the audience show boycott ABC. Just watch daytime TV and turn off whatever else they show. When they see nobody is watching their other shows, maybe they may get the message. Probably not but the fans should do a boycott just the same.
I'm sure the fans won't even want to tune in-boycott or not. I mean if their beloved show is gone, I doubt they would still watch the same station to fill that void. I know I wouldn't.

I'm sure the fans won't even want to tune in-boycott or not. I mean if their beloved show is gone, I doubt they would still watch the same station to fill that void. I know I wouldn't.

Especially with the crap they are putting in the soaps' place? Count me OUT!!