'General Hospital' Looks Like It May Be Renewed For Another Year! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 03-28-2012, 08:51 AM

With the deadline for ABC to make a decision which shows will take the two remaining daytime slots on its schedule next fall, things are looking brighter for the network’s embattled soap General Hospital. It is still the least watched among the four surviving daytime dramas on ABC, CBS and NBC, averaging 2.3 million viewers for the most recent week we have data for, March 12-16. But the series had a ratings uptick recently (it hit an 18-week high among Women 18-49, 657,000, for the week of March 5, which featured the death of a character), and in the female demo, it’s been actually running ahead of NBC’s Days Of Our Lives.

But what is boosting GH‘s chances of survival the most is the poor ratings performance of new lifestyle series The Revolution. ABC has given the new series time to find its legs — it only premiered in January — but I hear the network brass are starting to lose faith in the show, which hit series lows for the last two weeks with Nielsen data. For the week of March 5, it drew 1.40 million viewers, for the week of March 12 — 1.33 million viewers. Compare that to 2.25 million for GH and 2.14 million for The Chew for the week of March 12. That 2.14 million was a 10-week low for The Chew but still dwarfed The Revolution’s viewership. The two lifestyle series were introduced this season as replacements for departing soaps All My Children and One Life To Live. While The Chew has consistently delivered more than 2.1 million viewers, peaking at 2.6 million in December, The Revolution never took off, despite airing behind The Chew. What’s more, The Chew‘s ratings are actually on par with those of the soap it replaced, AMC, at a fraction of the cost, sealing the new show’s status as a keeper. Meanwhile, The Revolution is down 40% from OLTL‘s numbers.

Even with those mediocre ratings, given the cost structure of producing a talk show vs. a soap, Revolution still may make sense financially for ABC. But I hear that the network’s executives don’t feel strongly enough about the middling newcomer to kill its only remaining daytime drama for it, completely alienating soap fans who are already miffed by ABC’s decision last year to yank AMC and OLTL. Also, if ABC keeps The Chew and The Revolution intact in their current 2 PM and 3 PM slots, the latter would serve as a lead-in to the upcoming Katie Couric talk show. Both ABC and Couric have a lot riding on the success of the show and will likely try to give it the best shot possible. That includes a strong lead-in. Among GH, The Chew and The Revolution, GH has the highest women 18-49 average, so a pairing of The Chew and GH from 1-3 PM next season, leading into Katie, appears more and more likely. ABC’s decision is expected to come down in a couple of weeks. Last year, the network announced the cancellation of AMC and OLT on April 14 and will likely unveil its daytime plans for next season around that date again. Unless The Revolution pulls out a ratings miracle, it will likely be a short-lived one, giving GH a stay of execution for another year.

http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/

comedyfreak · 03-29-2012, 04:19 AM

Why don't those moronic execs listen to the fans!

Schmoopie · 03-30-2012, 02:13 AM

Wow, some good news for a change! I really would be sad if GH is canceled, even though I haven't watched it in years. I have a lot of history and memories with that show!

TeeVeeCloset · 03-30-2012, 06:27 PM

Good news regarding the ratings spike, first the possible death of SoapNet will really hurt but lately I have been getting GH on my VOD mixed in with the ABC primetime line-up. If they still get cancelled, as a watcher since 1978, they have recently pulled out all the stops by delving into their rich history and in the last 3 weeks alone brought back the original actors to portray some of port charles greatest....Anna Devane, Robert Scorpio, Holly Sutton, Noah Drake (Rick Springfield), & now yes the original mental case Heather Webber! Congratulations to GH, no matter how it goes and spoiler alert, but it showed Robin is Alive and is being held captive probably by a undead Lisa Niles! Plus they have brought in several "One Life To Live" cast members like Star Manning, Lt. McBain and he does have a strange connection to sam, since they both starred together in the GH spin-off "Port Charles" when he turned her into a vampire! You never know in soapland, anything could happen or they could change the name to "One Life To General Hospital"!

Fallon97 · 03-30-2012, 09:03 PM

I'm sorry that OLTL got cancelled, but I don't want GH to change to OLTL. If the show only has a year left, I would prefer the writers concentrated on the GH characters with history and bring back popular GH vets....longterm or til the show finally ends instead of OLTL characters.

Ryan Chamberlain · 03-31-2012, 02:54 PM

I hope it does stay!

03-28-2012, 08:51 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	'General Hospital' Looks Like It May Be Renewed For Another Year! With the deadline for ABC to make a decision which shows will take the two remaining daytime slots on its schedule next fall, things are looking brighter for the network’s embattled soap General Hospital. It is still the least watched among the four surviving daytime dramas on ABC, CBS and NBC, averaging 2.3 million viewers for the most recent week we have data for, March 12-16. But the series had a ratings uptick recently (it hit an 18-week high among Women 18-49, 657,000, for the week of March 5, which featured the death of a character), and in the female demo, it’s been actually running ahead of NBC’s Days Of Our Lives. But what is boosting GH‘s chances of survival the most is the poor ratings performance of new lifestyle series The Revolution. ABC has given the new series time to find its legs — it only premiered in January — but I hear the network brass are starting to lose faith in the show, which hit series lows for the last two weeks with Nielsen data. For the week of March 5, it drew 1.40 million viewers, for the week of March 12 — 1.33 million viewers. Compare that to 2.25 million for GH and 2.14 million for The Chew for the week of March 12. That 2.14 million was a 10-week low for The Chew but still dwarfed The Revolution’s viewership. The two lifestyle series were introduced this season as replacements for departing soaps All My Children and One Life To Live. While The Chew has consistently delivered more than 2.1 million viewers, peaking at 2.6 million in December, The Revolution never took off, despite airing behind The Chew. What’s more, The Chew‘s ratings are actually on par with those of the soap it replaced, AMC, at a fraction of the cost, sealing the new show’s status as a keeper. Meanwhile, The Revolution is down 40% from OLTL‘s numbers. Even with those mediocre ratings, given the cost structure of producing a talk show vs. a soap, Revolution still may make sense financially for ABC. But I hear that the network’s executives don’t feel strongly enough about the middling newcomer to kill its only remaining daytime drama for it, completely alienating soap fans who are already miffed by ABC’s decision last year to yank AMC and OLTL. Also, if ABC keeps The Chew and The Revolution intact in their current 2 PM and 3 PM slots, the latter would serve as a lead-in to the upcoming Katie Couric talk show. Both ABC and Couric have a lot riding on the success of the show and will likely try to give it the best shot possible. That includes a strong lead-in. Among GH, The Chew and The Revolution, GH has the highest women 18-49 average, so a pairing of The Chew and GH from 1-3 PM next season, leading into Katie, appears more and more likely. ABC’s decision is expected to come down in a couple of weeks. Last year, the network announced the cancellation of AMC and OLT on April 14 and will likely unveil its daytime plans for next season around that date again. Unless The Revolution pulls out a ratings miracle, it will likely be a short-lived one, giving GH a stay of execution for another year. http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

03-29-2012, 04:19 AM	#2
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	Why don't those moronic execs listen to the fans!
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03-30-2012, 02:13 AM	#3
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	Wow, some good news for a change! I really would be sad if GH is canceled, even though I haven't watched it in years. I have a lot of history and memories with that show!
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

03-30-2012, 06:27 PM	#4
TeeVeeCloset Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2003 Posts: 1,873	If it still gets cancelled they went out slugglng Good news regarding the ratings spike, first the possible death of SoapNet will really hurt but lately I have been getting GH on my VOD mixed in with the ABC primetime line-up. If they still get cancelled, as a watcher since 1978, they have recently pulled out all the stops by delving into their rich history and in the last 3 weeks alone brought back the original actors to portray some of port charles greatest....Anna Devane, Robert Scorpio, Holly Sutton, Noah Drake (Rick Springfield), & now yes the original mental case Heather Webber! Congratulations to GH, no matter how it goes and spoiler alert, but it showed Robin is Alive and is being held captive probably by a undead Lisa Niles! Plus they have brought in several "One Life To Live" cast members like Star Manning, Lt. McBain and he does have a strange connection to sam, since they both starred together in the GH spin-off "Port Charles" when he turned her into a vampire! You never know in soapland, anything could happen or they could change the name to "One Life To General Hospital"!
	__________________ Living near "Ozzie Nelson Drive".....

03-30-2012, 09:03 PM	#5
Fallon97 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2007 Location: America Posts: 1,271	I'm sorry that OLTL got cancelled, but I don't want GH to change to OLTL. If the show only has a year left, I would prefer the writers concentrated on the GH characters with history and bring back popular GH vets....longterm or til the show finally ends instead of OLTL characters.

03-31-2012, 02:54 PM	#6
Ryan Chamberlain Return Of The Silverburg 2018! Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 10, 2011 Location: Still hiding in Miles Silverburg's closet. Posts: 663	I hope it does stay!