Jeff Probst: Soap operas are dead - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 03-05-2011, 04:07 PM

http://www.jeffprobst.com/2011/03/02...s-are-over- 3/

In a rare commentary on his website, the "Survivor" host writes: "The reason nobody is watching the few remaining day-time Soap Opera's is because there is a much better, modernized soap opera playing out 24 hours a day, seven days a week on television, internet, mobile phones, terrestrial radio, satellite radio and magazines. It's called CELEBRITY."

spunkygirl · 03-05-2011, 04:25 PM

I don't know what makes him such an expert

The link isn't working

80sTrivia · 03-05-2011, 04:45 PM

Seeing that Mr. Probst is such an authority on the genre of soaps...

Equating trashy, uninventive, tiresome reality television with soaps is like equating a night at the opera or ballet with a night of drunken cow tipping. In other words... no comparison, Mr. Probst!!!

Schmoopie · 03-05-2011, 08:36 PM

With soaps the actors have to get into character and work hard on memorizing lines and making the character believable. But with reality shows, they just put any idiot they can find in front of the camera and let them do their thing.

Regulus · 03-06-2011, 05:57 AM

I read somewhere that the biggest factor contributing to the demise of Soap Operas was the O. J. Simpson Trial, which all the Networks covered, pre-empting the daytime schedules. As the Trial dragged on, those who normally watched the Soap Operas moved on to watch or do other things, and once the Trial was over they never returned to watch them. Their ratings never returned to pre-trial levels.

On the funny side, some of those daytime serials, such as The Guiding Light ran for over 50 years. I'd like to see what a DVD Box Set of that ENTIRE series would look like!

Yong Fang · 03-06-2011, 07:04 AM

My opinion on the demise of Soap Operas comes from the fact that more women and people in general are working and are not home in the early afternoons. The audience that did watch these shows are now quickly dying off.

I think also, that there is much better true to life dramas and series out there on cable that people are not interested in soaps anymore. They were always low quality, with basically low quality actors whose strength was basically looks or being on the show forever.

I doubt that the networks kept any of the soaps on tape, or at least not until recently. There was really no need since they were not going to be played again.

HuntingtonM15 · 03-06-2011, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

They were always low quality, with basically low quality actors whose strength was basically looks or being on the show forever.

I doubt that the networks kept any of the soaps on tape, or at least not until recently. There was really no need since they were not going to be played again.

I highly disagree about them always being low quality, and I certainly disagree about the actors. Some of the younger ones may be cast based on looks alone, but it's such a stereotype that soap actors cannot act. I'm sure many of them could out act several actors in primetime. They are the hardest working actors in the business, and the majority of them excel at what they do.

As for them not being on tape--soaps love, and always have loved, showing flashbacks from past decades, so it seems to me that the tapes have been saved.

ekkostar · 03-06-2011, 06:08 PM

I think that soaps are becoming irrelevant to their own material. I've been watching the recent run of General Hospital in the afternoon on days when I'm home (There's nothing else on!!!) and the show is barely about the hospital anymore, it's all about Port Charles and the mob wars. The hospital is just the place people go when the gangsters take out a hit on someone.

MickeyMac · 03-08-2011, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuntingtonM15

I highly disagree about them always being low quality, and I certainly disagree about the actors. Some of the younger ones may be cast based on looks alone, but it's such a stereotype that soap actors cannot act. I'm sure many of them could out act several actors in primetime. They are the hardest working actors in the business, and the majority of them excel at what they do.

As for them not being on tape--soaps love, and always have loved, showing flashbacks from past decades, so it seems to me that the tapes have been saved.

I totally agree.

JT · 03-08-2011, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuntingtonM15

I highly disagree about them always being low quality, and I certainly disagree about the actors. Some of the younger ones may be cast based on looks alone, but it's such a stereotype that soap actors cannot act. I'm sure many of them could out act several actors in primetime. They are the hardest working actors in the business, and the majority of them excel at what they do.

As for them not being on tape--soaps love, and always have loved, showing flashbacks from past decades, so it seems to me that the tapes have been saved.

The networks and production companies generally didn't save the tapes until the late 70s. There are lots of episodes that were saved before then, and some shows were completely saved (Y&R, Days, Dark Shadows, Ryan's Hope), but basically 95-99% of soap episodes from the 50s, 60s, and 70s are gone forever.

KurtfromPitts · 03-09-2011, 12:41 PM

My brother has, for the last few years, joked if soaps are still on.

mets82 · 03-18-2011, 11:41 PM

Im surprised he would say that. I mean thanks to his show Survivor, every Joe Blow in America has a reality show. Thanks Jeff for that!! I mean seeing Richard Hatch nude and having people eat mice guts or sheeps feet or whatever the hell they eat on that show, started this reality craze.

Anyway, I think soaps dont get a fair share because the writers cant write. I cant tell you how many people complain especially about the writing. I also think soaps never get a shot anywhere. I mean look at Guiding Light and As the World Turns. They've been on forever and there canceled. They never show old soap operas or plug there soaps during primetime. The only time you see soap opera stars in primetime is the Daytime Awards. It seems like soap operas are an island to themselves.

Mr. Television · 03-19-2011, 01:06 AM

Hopefully one day we can say that Reality TV is dead.

-STEFFY- · 03-19-2011, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regulus

Guiding Light[/I] ran for over 50 years. I'd like to see what a DVD Box Set of that ENTIRE series would look like!

Actually, Guiding Light ran for over 70 years, so that would be some huge DVD box set!

MickeyMac · 03-19-2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

Hopefully one day we can say that Reality TV is dead.

RIGHT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

03-05-2011, 04:07 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,647	Jeff Probst: Soap operas are dead http://www.jeffprobst.com/2011/03/02...s-are-over- 3/ In a rare commentary on his website, the "Survivor" host writes: "The reason nobody is watching the few remaining day-time Soap Opera's is because there is a much better, modernized soap opera playing out 24 hours a day, seven days a week on television, internet, mobile phones, terrestrial radio, satellite radio and magazines. It's called CELEBRITY."

03-05-2011, 04:45 PM	#3
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,715	Seeing that Mr. Probst is such an authority on the genre of soaps... Equating trashy, uninventive, tiresome reality television with soaps is like equating a night at the opera or ballet with a night of drunken cow tipping. In other words... no comparison, Mr. Probst!!!
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03-05-2011, 08:36 PM	#4
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	With soaps the actors have to get into character and work hard on memorizing lines and making the character believable. But with reality shows, they just put any idiot they can find in front of the camera and let them do their thing.
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03-06-2011, 05:57 AM	#5
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,371	I read somewhere that the biggest factor contributing to the demise of Soap Operas was the O. J. Simpson Trial, which all the Networks covered, pre-empting the daytime schedules. As the Trial dragged on, those who normally watched the Soap Operas moved on to watch or do other things, and once the Trial was over they never returned to watch them. Their ratings never returned to pre-trial levels. On the funny side, some of those daytime serials, such as The Guiding Light ran for over 50 years. I'd like to see what a DVD Box Set of that ENTIRE series would look like!
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03-06-2011, 06:08 PM	#8
ekkostar Coffee, Tea & Larroquette! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 16, 2005 Posts: 1,077	I think that soaps are becoming irrelevant to their own material. I've been watching the recent run of General Hospital in the afternoon on days when I'm home (There's nothing else on!!!) and the show is barely about the hospital anymore, it's all about Port Charles and the mob wars. The hospital is just the place people go when the gangsters take out a hit on someone.
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03-05-2011, 04:25 PM	#2
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,557	I don't know what makes him such an expert The link isn't working

03-06-2011, 07:04 AM	#6
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	My opinion on the demise of Soap Operas comes from the fact that more women and people in general are working and are not home in the early afternoons. The audience that did watch these shows are now quickly dying off. I think also, that there is much better true to life dramas and series out there on cable that people are not interested in soaps anymore. They were always low quality, with basically low quality actors whose strength was basically looks or being on the show forever. I doubt that the networks kept any of the soaps on tape, or at least not until recently. There was really no need since they were not going to be played again.

03-09-2011, 12:41 PM	#11
KurtfromPitts Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 10, 2006 Location: Carnegie PA Posts: 1,530	My brother has, for the last few years, joked if soaps are still on.

03-18-2011, 11:41 PM	#12
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,058	Im surprised he would say that. I mean thanks to his show Survivor, every Joe Blow in America has a reality show. Thanks Jeff for that!! I mean seeing Richard Hatch nude and having people eat mice guts or sheeps feet or whatever the hell they eat on that show, started this reality craze. Anyway, I think soaps dont get a fair share because the writers cant write. I cant tell you how many people complain especially about the writing. I also think soaps never get a shot anywhere. I mean look at Guiding Light and As the World Turns. They've been on forever and there canceled. They never show old soap operas or plug there soaps during primetime. The only time you see soap opera stars in primetime is the Daytime Awards. It seems like soap operas are an island to themselves.

03-19-2011, 01:06 AM	#13
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	Hopefully one day we can say that Reality TV is dead.
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