Tuesday, April 19, 2011

April 14, 2011: The Day Soap Operas Died

Your comments, thoughts, tributes, goodbyes - here.

4/15/11 Podcast

(A special shout-out to Luis, who not only gave us a brand new opening theme for the PVP, but who is also making his own contribution to the dramatic void left by Fronshole's murderous rampage. Check out The Place. Now.)

96 comments:

Anonymous said...

Listening to the podcast now. I'm gonna miss my AMC and OLTL, but soap fans are contacting advertisers directly, and they are listening (unlike the a-holes at ABC), so there may be time yet to save our show!

And while I personally remember the Reva clone story on GL with fondness, I agree that soaps need to go back to basics.

Mel Got Served said...

What annoys me most is:

1. Cancelling BOTH in one day.
2. They never even toyed with the idea of switching to less days or a 30 minute format.

Mel Got Served said...

Will definitely be listening on my commute tomorrow.

Arizonagal said...

Haven't listened yet, but thank you Jordan and Ashley. You gotta know we love you here!

Chew This Mario Fatali!

Norn Cutson said...

I'm all snot-nosed cryin'....

⚡❤⚡ I love ya'll ⚡❤⚡

Tricia said...

Ashley, Jordan and Shadow.. I'm a long time listener {aka stalker maybe :-) }. I look forward to the podcast and love listening to you'all. Ashley I hope the twins are doing well!

The news this week is heartbreaking! AMC was the one soap that my mother watched and in turn we watched together. It was one of the few bonds we had. I grew up with the AMC families and characters.. I feel like I've lost a member of my own family.

Then just 2 weeks ago, my oldest daughter who is 7, told me "Mom, I am kind of starting to like All My Children, I like Kendall, and the new guy {Griffin} is cute". I thought WOW here's the third generation in our family that will get to watch the same families anc characters through the good times and bad.

Then it's shattered by that arrogant SOB Frons and ABC! How dare he tell us that this is what the viewers want.. REALITY shows, are you kidding me. If I wanted reality I would get a damn video camera and tape my own disfunctional reality. BullSh**!!!!

The writing has been horrible, yep. The storylines are horribe, yep! But there are still moments when I can say now this is my "All My Children". When Jesse said goodbye to his unborn child, I cried right along with him, as Darnell acted the sh** out of it!
I have been following Elyse's crusade on Twitter and have joined the fight to get our soap fan voice heard! I just never ever thought the day would come when I wouldn't have the Chandlers, Cortlands, Kane Women, the Martins and everyone there for me to love at 1:00 everyday.

Thank-you again for all your awesome podcasts, posts and tweets!

Oh and it wasnt a big loss not watching DWTS last night, I just put on Just Dance for the Wii and me and my girls had our own party :-)

Terry in Toronto said...

Back to Basics is what has been needed for quite a while on the soaps especially AMC. It has been too hit or miss and it seemed that whenever something hit with the fans (Damon anyone) the writers and producers quickly got rid of that element and gave us even more of what wasn't working.

Very little love left in the afternoon and it's all too sad.

Jordan Hudson 2.0 said...

This is why I feel that Frons objective from jump street has been to get these shows to the point that he would be justified in getting rid of them.

Everytime something worked he would have it put to an end. Josh, Damon, Kish etc.

When he knows the fans dont like something he shoves it down our throat Ryan and Greenlee, GiGi and Rex.

He never once gave another E.P a chance at saving AMC. He has allowed Phelps to stay on at GH. I think the only reason he never got rid of Frank or Ron is because then it would be obvious what his agenda is.

Mel Got Served said...

It's completely obvious Frons was trying to kill AMC based on quality. He let Pratt reign for years, only to hire two writers that have killed TWO other soaps in the past 3 years. He had an agenda. A shitty nasty shady agena.

Shadow said...

I think FronSweeney panicked over Lucci's book tour. She was everywhere, every day like she was flying Pine Valley Airways. Pffft she's on the East Coast. Pffft she's on the West Coast. Pfttt she's in the Galapagos. I bet #OLTL was going all along but they knee jerked at Lucci's obvious adoration & decided "WTH, let's go for it."

Norn Cutson said...

"From the get go it was very clear to those of us who had been through many regimes that you-know-who did not like soaps. It always felt as if he was in contempt of them. We actors said it all the time, it was very hard to understand. That’s a hard pill to swallow when you love the genre. It’s hard to know what will make something work, and then watch it being absolutely decimated by someone you have not one iota of respect for.

Good and important people to the shows were fired, moved to another state, and then salaries were cut. Not necessarily for the best intentions. After all, they had to find those funds to pay big money for the girl of you-know- who’s fantasies De Jour. This in turn created animosity in the casts. It starts at the top, they say. Indeed. Poison trickles down and infects companies like a cancer, damaging morale that is nearly unfixable. In my 27 years of acting, In the five regimes I worked under at that network alone, I have never seen anything like it. In 30 years as an entertainer, I can not recall a more reviled executive."


from Catherine Hickland's blog.

Shadow said...

PLEASE make these calls:

Hearing reliably General Mills is interested after hearing about Hoover. Call GM 1-800-446-1898.

Target is also jumping on band wagon & has created hot line to call to support soaps. Target wants to hear from fans! CALL 1-800-440-0680. Twitter @target

Hershey is monitoring the ABC boycott. Call them @ 1-800-468-1714.

Mel Got Served said...

I just wrote to my local ABC affiliate. I made sure to point out I was in a desirable demographic that daytime television is supposedly going after. I said many of us viewers use soaps as a time to "escape" and there's no way any of us would view The Chew or that other show as an "escape."

Great podcast so far, guys.

Shadow said...

Agnes Nixon created three dimensional characters whose personalities and experiences served as the guiding influence for their actions in her stories. As we've all said, unlike many of her successors, she never allowed one to act out of character just to advance a plot point. Hers was an illustrious career that graced generations and touched millions. I now have over 300 channel options on TV. Last night I could find nothing as fun, provoking, interesting or imaginative as her stories. There isn't much to think about during an episode of Hoarders, Real Housewives, or Drunk Fat Celebritards. I'm grateful to Agnes Nixon for giving me and generations with wonderful, imaginative, vibrant characters we will always remember and for reminding an ADD world how inspiring simple, honest storytelling can be. She is one of the greats.

armless-phelan said...

I've been making the phone calls, and sending the occasional e-mail.

You all know I have practically no history with All My Children, but I did watch my soaps Guiding Light and As the World Turns die, and the latter died horribly because of that bitch Jean Passanante.

And Rachael Ray was the only talk show (other than Oprah) that I watch because I enjoyed the cooking segments, but that bitch can go eff herself.

This boycott of everything Disney other than the ABC soaps has been surprisingly easy considering I'm flat broke and don't watch most primetime shows anyway. The only thing I'll miss is Pretty Little Liars, but I love my Dorian Cramer Lord more than any of those little girls.

And I'm hearing rumours that the Fronshole is out come fall, but that he'll try to cancel General Hospital before he goes. I only hope half of that is true.

Mel Got Served said...

Days did do aliens. Many moons ago (ok, like 10 years-ish), Shawn and Belle found what they thought were aliens in the woods, a brother and sister. They called them the Gemini Twins, Cassie and Rex. Turns out, they were some weird Marlena carried, Kate and Roman babies. I don't know, it got super weird for a while. Which is what led me to AMC.

Shadow said...

wubtub.net posted an entertaining rant about how the world dismisses soap fans as crazy. Wubtub is generally a GH site, but understandably fired up by all this. The author was reciting how often she has to defend watching GH to people.

I commented that It isn't easy being a straight adult married guy with kids who has loved All My Children his whole life. It dawned on me then. I must be Hispanic or Puerto Rican too! How come it's ok for Latin guys to watch telenovas but I gotta eat shit for watching an American soap? Maybe I'm really Latin and never knew it! Of course, I'm day glow white right now and don't speak with a cool accent, but so what? Hey, maybe I'm a Castillo. Damn! I'll never know because that fathead Frons canceled my show!

Hey, what if I'm a lost Latin twin?! I wonder if I'm the good one or the bad one with funny looking glasses that talks to mirrors? I do wear ugly glasses at night. I've been known to talk to myself. Yesterday, I parted my hair on the other side! Hmmm. Damn you Fronshole! How am I supposed to figure this out now? I wont be able to get to Eterna or the Old West for clues after the end of the year and my PTO bank doesn't refresh until January! FireFrons!!

Elyse in Toronto said...

Listending to the podcast right now, this was Frons' plan all along. But we can do something about it on twitter join me I'm @FireFrons and on facebook
This is a call to all soap fans, we need to band together & boycott all non-soap programming on ABC. We have to boycott ABC daytime’s sponsors and call the affiliates to let them know we won’t watch their news & of the boycott. Twitter @FireFrons
Boycott ABC Because They Axed Our Soaps!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_124611484279561

Elyse in Toronto said...

Thanks so much for having me on the podcast...so happy about talking to you both. thanks.

Arizonagal said...

Thanks Elyse, I'm following firefrons on twitter. Damn, I am just so pissed off right now. I just friggin hate that the network weasels do not care about the viewers. They are going to push more cooking and makeover shows at us. Ridic! How many cable stations are already dedicated to these topics? I love my project runway and top chef, but I also love my soaps.

Unknown said...

A large part of the problem with this (the dollars and cents part) is that it is an antiquated system of calculating ratings which thereby set the price for advertising, which, of course is how the network makes its money.
I went through this last year, my husband is a writer who worked on a TV show at a major network. The show was a modest success, but they expected big things from it, so it fell short. It's "live tv" numbers were not where they wanted them, but their DVR numbers were in the top 5 of all shows. The tragedy is they don't count DVR numbers at all, because as far as advertisers are concerned, no one watches commercials on their DVR (and they are right). Nevertheless, the Neilsen system for quantifying viewers is HORRIBLY outdated, everyone knows it...from the top down. But no one wants to do anything about it. They must figure out a way to include the DVR numbers, especially for daytime TV.
I wish us luck in our endeavor to save our soaps, having been through this with the show my husband worked on (BIG fan protest, demonstrations/sit-ins, etc) it meant nothing in the long run.
I was GLAD to see that all of the ABC original programming was down in viewership after the announcement last week. People are mad, and they are letting then network know where it counts-in viewership.
Onward!

Elyse in Toronto said...

ALL FANS OF #AMC #OLTL #GH YOU ARE NEEDED!!! PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION http://www.petitiononline.com/bsfrons/petition.html THANKS

Elyse in Toronto said...

I was just on Sirius with Rosie talking about saving our soaps, the boycott movement and @FireFrons

Shadow said...

I knew cancellation was imminent the day Erica fell on top of Ryan's penis.

Mel Got Served said...

Shadow, you have read my mind. All I could think of with Erica's disappearance at the rehearsal is someone saying "Hey, remember when Ryan and Erica banged?"

Shadow said...

Page Six Reports Frons In Hot Water -Maybe On Way Out!

Shadow said...

The All My Children - Disney Parallel Universe:
Bianca = Disney Princess
Erica = Fairy Godmother
Frons = Evil Queen
Sweeney = Wicked Stepmother
Carruthers = Cruella De Ville
HooverClean = Prince Charming

Elyse in Toronto said...

OMG Kelly Ripa just sent ME a Direct Message on Twitter saying "That's not true. Really. Nobody told us not to say anything about the soaps. That's an untrue story." about the New York Post article about Frons telling Ripa and the ladies of the view not to speak about daytime.

Anonymous said...

Kelly Ripa is just a liar trying to save her job. LIVE may be syndicated, but Disney still owns it.

Fronshole is trying to shut everyone up, but our beloved Robin Strasser is siding with the fans and fighting dirty. I love her.

Anonymous said...

Hello Everyone, just checking in, not much of a blogger here, but I read when I can and love all of you literate and witty souls that contibute to this blog. Ashley and Jordan have created something that started with the love of a TV show, but it is much bigger than that now and I hope will live on long past our last visit to Pine Valley. I say we just move Pine Valley right here!! But when the matriarch of a family passes on, if she has nurtured her family and taught them well, they live on an care for each other and honor her memory. I'm not quite ready to sit at her bedside and pull the plug yet, but if it comes to that, lets makes sure the family lives on!

I told Ashley and Jordan I think they should try to come on out here to Vegas for the Emmys...and anyone else who might want to make the trip. If anyone interested, the live telecast is at the Hilton again this year on June 19. Holler anyone if you're interested....

Have a wonderful Easter !!

XOXOX

Cathy in Las Vegas

Norn Cutson said...

this is a great interview with Aggie's son-in-law!

http://whyy.org/cms/radiotimes/2011/04/21/are-the-daytime-soaps-all-washed-up/

TheGhostofVerlaGrubbs said...

Hi, Cathy in Vegas. I'm thinking of going to Vegas for the Emmys just because in all probabilities this will be the last or second to last real awards ceremony..... have to juggle my work schedule and see what's up

Anonymous said...

I'm not upset or surprised that Oprah has turned down saving AMC and OLTL, but I am still a little pissed off because she sounded fairly condescending. Or is it just me?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg2-AtKvQeQ

Michael said...

The most frustrating thing in this entire discussion is the fact that the ratings for all network programming is way down. (I looked at the ratings for several weeks and saw soap ratings nearly identical to ratings for shows like The Price is Right of The Talk for example.)The networks are seeking out cheaper programming to play in the daytime to save money on production costs. Talk and lifestyle shows operate at a fraction of the cost of scripted programs. Therefore profits can be made even with less-popular programs. Instead, everyone keeps reciting the same old lines about soaps being dinosaurs that have outlived their relevance. They say only the elderly and shut-ins are still daft enough to watch that ridiculous nonsense.

I maintain that scripted, serial drama is the mainstay of popular entertainment. Mad Men, True Blood, Gray’s Anatomy—even Smallville for God’s sake—are all scripted shows with continuing plot threads with disparate themes ranging from Vampires to Doctors. Scripted drama can be as relevant as it is written.

If ABC can’t afford to pay writers and actors, set designers and makeup artists because their share of the pie is too small, they should say it loudly and clearly, and they should stop insulting the people who have stayed with them all these years!

Anonymous said...

Armless-phelan, has it been said that Oprah is into Disney for 100 million dollars? She is, for the Own network.

I'm guessing that had something to do with why she made that video.

She disappointed me, frankly. She could have kept her mouth shut and stayed out of it.

But she had 100 million reasons not to, I guess.

Anonymous said...

Found on Soap Fans United" Facebook page..
------------------
Here is an interesting tidbit.......Nicole Nichols who was the Senior VP for Entertainment Communications at Disney/ABC Television has been named the new Senior Vice President, Communications and Strategy for OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network.......kind of a big Oprah/Disney Connection......explains alot!!!!
hhhmmmm

Cathy in Vegas

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much, Ashley and Jordan and all the amazing bloggers who are doing things to support our shows. I almost cried when I heard the orginal One Life To Live theme by Peabo Bryson.
Ashley and Jordan, what do you hys think of Anne Sweeney? To me she is even worse than Brian Frons because she would've cancelled our shows even sooner. I think we need start a petition to fire her too!
JenM

Shadow said...

Oprah can suck it! She can give everybody in Chicago a damn Pontiac but can't keep a few divas off unemployment? She could use AMC & OLTL episodes to teach her African students to read like Mateo, write it off as a business expense or charitable donation and probably fire a few teachers to offset the cost. The headlines will read "Oprah Saves Daytime AND Teaches Africa to Read". But Bitch can't spare some coin even for a soul sista like Angela Hubbard? Oprah wants me to live my best life then she better send me some Ugg boots, a case of Diet Coke stat & save my damn soap. Stat.

Shadow said...

Holy heart failure, Batman! I just rec'd a tweet from Catwoman! RT @LeeMeriwether @SHADOWUSR something about bikini's? So long ago!

Elyse in Toronto said...

OMG my twitter account was suspended. I've started over I'm now @FireFronsII

Anonymous said...

New Stages of Grief-I'm catching up with my own personal Sunday taped Marathon of AMC and watching Jake, Amanda and Trevor in the park celebrating Easter...and it dawns onme THERE WILL BE NO CHRISTMAS IN PINE VALLEY THIS YEAR. Frons sure is the ultimate Grinch.

Hey, can everyone in Pine Valley drop by LLanview this year?? At least THEY get Christmas.

Listened to Catherine Hickland, Robin Strasser, and the OLTL stage manager (Needles?) chat, adore and console one another on a great Blog Talk Radio episode from this past Friday. You got the real sense all these people love one an other and function as a family. Yeah, Catherine (whom I've met a few times who struck me as the real deal) for calling Frons out on his crap, and especially Ms. Strasser, who still has to go to work every day. I have watched her since I was nine and she was Rachel Davis on AW, and I still adore her.

Anyone who really does want to try to get here for the Emmy's and maybe actually meet one another (and possible show some love to these shows) I'll try to hook you up locally as best I can here in Vegas. Might be fun and take some of the sting out of the next few months.

Shadow, I'm with you on Oprah, sounded very condescending to me. Just say no, I can't do it and stop there. No need to opine about "nobody being home to watch" anymore and "all good things coming to an end". How about the current Nielsen system coming to an end??? You mean to tell me that Oprah started a whole new network having NO CLUE that the whole Nielsen system is completely outdated?? Oops.

Obvious there is a mouse in her house and she is distracted.

Let me know if anyone is really serious about Vegas. I'm just a small cog in this glittery wheel, but I'll help any way I can to get it going.


XOXOX

Cathy in Vegas

Terry in Toronto said...

Happy Easter Everyone.

Shadow said...

Crishell posted this and then it quickly vanished:

Twitter / Chrishell Stause: A little birdie on a big c ...
twitter.com
A little birdie on a big chair leaked possible HUGE information to me :D My lips are sealed but it has a possibility of making many happy!

Shadow said...

Hope you had a fantastic Easter! Fingers crossed for good news this week. Raise Kane this week to save AMC & OLTL.. Is it likely? Who knows. Can't hurt to try. One thing for sure: if we don't at least try they goners. Watch the show or DVR them on your local station. Send messages to the advertisers and affiliate. Be nice. Don't threaten to boycott. Tell them you are trying their product because they advertise on OLTL & AMC.

Anonymous said...

Dixie is coming back to AMC! Whether ghost or back from the dead I don't know, but let's all agree Cady McClain needs to never be a redhead again.

Terry in Toronto said...

Dixie coming back would be a reason for me to watch AMC again. I first stopped watching after they killed her off.

Does anyone know what Chelsea Handler said about Robin Strasser? I heard Robin on blogtalk radio and she wasn't happy with Chelsea's treatment of the over 50 crowd.

Jordan Hudson 2.0 said...

Testing

Jordan Hudson 2.0 said...

Terry,
Cheslea did an opening gag about OLTL and The scene were Dorian reunites with David. She made fun of the fact that Dorain is older then David. Now anyone that knows Chelsea...knows she is a comdeian. So it was funny but I can see why Robin was upset and I have to say after it was done. I was upset to. First off it ain't like Tuc Watkins is the youngest Ford brother and I'm sorry Robin is hot and sexy. She looks good with a younger man. So Robin give Chelsea hell. I lvoe you Chelsea and I don't mind when you snap on my Angelina and Madonna but dont make fun of my soaps being canceled or Robin Strasse.

Anonymous said...

Jordan, you're able to comment again!

I agree, A LOT of people still haven't learned that soap fans are insanely loyal. Like that stupid bitch Rachael Ray. I need to know what the ratings for her show were last week.

Norn Cutson said...

the Chelsea thing would have been funny if she just said it & moved on... but she FLOGGED the joke for like 10 minutes. At that point, it crossed over from "funny" to "cruel".

JSpear8 said...

armless-phelan,

I watch now but Dixie back would be nice and please DONT REMIND ME ABOUT THE PANCAKES FROM THE DEVIL'S KITCHEN. *SMH* LOL

Arizonagal said...

Wow, just finished watching RH from a few days ago. I have to say the leisurely paced romance between Mary Ryan and Jack Finelli is so compelling. Soaps have not done this dance in friggin years. I love the way Jack is such a tortured soul about this marriage that he attempts to sabotage it. Also love the way Mary, smart as a whip, avoids the truth of Jack's reluctance even tho you know, she knows, we all know his real agenda. Watching RH makes me realize that's what the soaps are missing now. This courtship is so real, so full of love and so flawed. RH makes me remember what a soap can and should be. It just draws me in and hell, most of these actors I have seen since this show ended. What a shame, wonder what happened to some of them. Michael Levin as Jack Finelli just blows me away with his layered performances. And of course Kate Mulgrew, nuff said.

AMC these days can't touch RH BUT... I still love it, I still love OLTL. I am still drawn in by some of the characters and story lines. I will still be devastated if they are really canceled. I said it last week on facebook, but I'll say it again here, I am SICK AND TIRED of the lack of respect given to our venerable soaps and to the loyal viewers who tune in daily. Do the network dipshits think we are still June Cleaver, ironing our man's shirt and watching "our stories" like my mom did? The face of the soap opera viewer has changed big time in the last 40+ years. The bloggers here and at other sites blow me away with their intelligence. We are such an eclectic, fantastic mix of people. I'm so tired of the networks totally underestimating us, they have no clue who is watching their shows. We ARE the demographic they should want, we are students, we are career people, we are artists, teachers, writers, professionals, we are blue collar, we are stay at home moms (the toughest job in the world), we are parents, we have parents, we are well read and well traveled, we are the consumers buying the products, and we are all friggin soap fans!

Thanks to Ashley, Jordan, Shadow and others who have galvanized the forces and given us the information to fight back. Hugs to you all!

Shadow said...

Jill Larson's FB post to the people who rallied today:

Jill Larson
I don't know how the rallies worked out, but I am so impressed, and appreciative of the passion and tenacity of our fans, you guys are really fantastic, really!! We will always be grateful for your loyalty and support. Bravo for you all!!! with love, Jill

Shadow said...

Campbells says they are not getting many calls. We need to get on this 1-800-257-8443.

Shadow said...

PLEASE VOTE NOW! Right now 39% say "Who Cares"...

NY Daily News Poll: Should ABC cancel the soaps, 'All My Children' and 'One Life to Live'?

Anonymous said...

Honestly, I have to wonder why Disney bought ABC if they don't really give a damn about it...

Anonymous said...

Apparently, Clint and Echo were not the original story of Rex's heritage on #OLTL... Roxy was supposed to be his father, and Mitch's crazy ass minion Alison was the mother.

But that damned Fronshole killed it, and it sounds amazing. Much better than that Zarf disaster.

Terry in Toronto said...

Yesterday I voted in the NYDailyNews poll on soaps and the "No don't kill my soaps" was ahead by a significant margin. Today I checked back and the "Yes, it is a ratings decision" is at 85% while the "no" is at 4%. How did that happen? Are there that many people who want to see soaps cancelled?

Stacy said...

So...bored at work and ended up playing around on Soap websites and discovered that Eddie Matos played another "RICKY" on Port Charles who was also bad news. He was very handsome back in the day.

Arizonagal said...

So Fatali hangs out at the Spotted Pig eh? And Courtney Love is just a pit stop? Doesn't Ms Love deserve a hot meal at the SP? Damn, Shadow, I read everything you post of FB and it just fans the flames. Most upsetting is that 69% of voters don't give a rats ass about the demise of the suds. Wonder if they'd care more about the demise of game shows? Rachel Ray? Oprah? I doubt it. Why are TIIC unleashing the wrecking ball on this genre? Oh wait a minute, it's a money decision.

Has anyone here heard from any of the AMC or OLTL actors other than Strasser, Lucci and Hickland? Thanks to all here who are keeping the fans up to date.

Where in vegas is the show Cathy? I blow thru that town once in awhile, leaving a few coins behind me on the way and leaving some happy well fed machines eating my dust!

My suckit list:
ABC
Disney
Fronshole
Oprah
Fatali
Bourdain
Ray

And ya know, I really am enjoying AMC right now. I love the Ricky/Kendall/Griff story line. I'm really enjoying Tad and Cara, though I swear that chick is so manic. I'm a few days behind so I don't know WTF is up with Erica and who has her, though I have a few guesses. AMC is flawed right now but IMHO it's not boring.

OLTL, same thing, not boring, keeps me always interested and just when I think there's nothing left to do with the Marty character, that actress (susan somethingorother) blows me away with her performances.

armless-phelan said...

Now I'm hearing that Sony wants AMC and OLTL, with NBC paying a license fee to air them after Days. The shows DO bring in a profit, no matter what the Fronshole says, and Sony DOES want to stay in the soap business since there's still plenty of money.

It makes more sense than NBC buying the shows outright, since a licensing fee is a lot cheaper than an actual show, and Sony can sell them abroad which ABC has NOT done. Because The Bold and the Beautiful gets about 3 million a day in the US, but around 60 million a day worldwide.

But, again, not even Jamey Giddens knows anything about it, but he has said on twitter that he's looking into it. All I know is that you should call NBC and tell them you'd appreciate if they could pick up the soaps. Because 2.5 million is NOTHING to sneeze at, and OLTL has been climbing in the ratings.

NBC's number is 818-777-3030, but keep doing what you can to let the sponsors/advertisers know you aren't happy with the way ABC has treated the fans!

Shadow said...

Maybe this Mario Batali dude should be a contestant on The Revolution rather than host of The Chew: http://img.ly/3EFE

Shadow said...

Viki said, "She has only her One Life and she intends to keep living it." ...Until January 2012.

brtedi said...

I haven’t blogged here at pvp for several days, but when I saw Griffin hiding in the bushes, looking like the Unabomber, I couldn’t resist commenting. Not being a long time viewer of AMC, I have mixed feelings about the pending cancellation of the show.

Speaking as a “generational” soap fan, I remember my grandma watching DOOL and AW, over forty years ago. So, I get it. I really do. But, for instance, I happened to see “Jack “ and “Mary’s “ wedding from Ryans Hope, very early this morning---That folks was a ceremony! What do we the fans of AMC get? Ryan and Greenlee married on the back patio of Confusion. ((Sigh)). , Where was the build up? Did the writers/producers even try to make us care?, Nope.

AMC has the fans. Why couldn’t tptb just come up with the goods?! The whole thing just makes me sad. The irony is, tonight Susan Lucci is set to appear on The Tonight Show. I presume to promote her new biography. She's famous because of AMC-- I show which will, shortly, be off the air. It's just wierd.

Terry in Toronto said...

OLTL ratings boost. Check it out at Deadline.

http://www.deadline.com/2011/04/gone-too-soon-one-life-to-live-grows-in-ratings-post-cancellation/

brtedi said...

Hey, Shadow! :-)

What'd I miss regarding Mario Batali & Rachael Ray--in terms of soaps? Did they diss the genre, or something? I must be out of the loop. ;-)

brtedi

Anonymous said...

The Emmy telecast is June 19, which is a Sunday. Send me an
email at cathys.guest@gmail.com if you are thinking about going.

Cathy in Vegas

Michael said...

Just listened to Michael Fairman’s podcast--I hate sounding like a broken record, but when talking about the death of AMC and OLTL with Bradford Anderson Carolyn Hennessey, all correctly pointed out that the soaps (currently and repeatedly regarded as passé and irrelevant by the media) routinely pull higher numbers than a show like Mad Men (a show regarded as hipper than hip) The ratings for AMC and OLTL have spiked since the cancellation and OLTL beat GH in recent weeks. Frons cares about one thing: MAKING MORE MONEY! And the fact that fewer people will actually watch the new shows, and nearly 800 people will be left without jobs, means nothing.

Anonymous said...

I heard on the radio that the reason AMC's and OLTL's rating were low is because people are playing Farmville and other games on Facebook rather than watching soap operas. Little far fetched don't you think? Someone is cooking up the lamest excuses for getting rid of our soaps!!

We love our soaps and they aren't out of date. We don't need anymore talk shows!

Sorry, this is on a different subject: Is anyone else getting tired of all the scenes in the park? Since when do you go to a public place where anyone can see you (like the police)to have a PRIVATE discussion? Doesn't make sense to me. Is this a cost saving measure, so they don't have to make a new set? Are they trying to sabotage the show so we don't feel bad that it's going off the air?

Is it true that GH is going off the air September 2012?

Anonymous said...

I have to say, after watching Opal flirt with Rev Ricky, I love Opal in cougar mode. And with Zendall being endgame, I would love for Opal to get herself Griffin in the end. They're hot together.

brtedi said...

"NBC's number is 818-777-3030"--

My appologies, but this is a number to a doctor's office--I just tried it. Are there any other numbers we could try?

Shadow said...

I keep thinking about this rumored Sony/NBC plan. Last night I had a dream about a Very Special Salem/Pine Valley Crossover. Imagine the press & hype Sony & NBC would generate with Erica on a publicity tour making a stop in Salem & Sammy doing Sammy things in PIne Valley. I say 'Sammy things' because I'm not sure what Sammy does, but I know it's something with babies & doppelgängers so she should find PIne Valley quite comfy.

Mel Got Served said...

Sami has sort of been toned down over the years at Days. If taking down the youngsters is what Erica does best, she'd be a good rival for Nicole or maybe Chloe. Actually, F that- I'd DIE to see Susan Lucci go head-to-head with that nasty beotch Kate.

Shadow said...

Catching up on AMC:

So what's Erica supposed to do when she has to poop? Did her captor provide a toilet, reading material & a fan?

The little sliding door Erica's captor pushes books & toilet paper thru cracks me up.

Everybody on AMC is a 'publicity expert', but nobody's very good at it. Bianca's random lesbian date is a PR guru.

Erica requires sterling silver flatware & china to eat. To poop she requires porcelain with a sterling handle & a bidet. Because she is Erica Kane. Pfft.

Erica and her posse spend a lot of time tied to things. If I was locked or tied up I would instantly have to pee very badly.

Funny that Erica didn't get REALLY pissed until the captor guy brought her Krystal's chicken parmesan, and then she went all "He'll to the No". Apparently, Erica HATES chicken parmesan A LOT. Personally, the whole imprisonment thing would have pissed me off more than the menu.

Apparently this #boycottABC thing is working because I saw Whoopi doing a maxipad commercial. I they so desperate for ads they are making them up? Is 'Poise' for real? OMG, Whoopi said she uses her pads for times she goes 'Pffft'!?! Are you edging kidding me? VOMIT? No wonder the ratings are collapsing! Who wants to think about Whoopi's tired old vajajay going 'Pffft'? Dear God.

Shadow said...

Mel, you know waaayyyy more than me about Days. So bring it Kate!

Shadow said...

'The Revolution' Premier Week: Homely Mirabell transforms her life by fighting off back fat, an ugly self image and spastic colon.

Tuesday on 'The Revolution': Tim Gunn takes Mirabell bra shopping; Kim Locke rents "Legally Blond" & teaches her to 'lock & load".

Wednesday on 'The Revolution': Mirabell finds that life without a Unibrow still has its challenges.

Thursday on 'The Revolution': Mirabell learns the benefits of probiotics, diuretics & Trap-a-Crap Poo-Pourri Before You Go Bathroom Spray.

Friday on 'The Revolution': Mirabell's transformation is revealed! Not quite as ugly, far less gassy, half the backfat and a new attitude! This episode of The Revolution has been brought to you by Poise Maxipads for those times your snatch goes 'Pffffttttt'. Just like Whoopi's.

Mel Got Served said...

Ok, so who do we think Erica's captor is? Is it going to be the lame doppelganger or someone else that ties to her history?

Shadow said...

Or is she dreaming...as in Dorothy went over the rainbow? And she'll wake up and everything will be normal again for the finale? Characters undead, un-abortions re-aborted, heart transplants untransplanted, bombed out Galas unbombed, heretofore unknown twins returned to returned to obscurity....

Elyse in Toronto said...

On Friday Regis and Kelly had on Finola (Ex-Anna AMC and GH) and Eva La Rue (Ex-Maria AMC), I watched because I wanted to see what they had to say about the cancellation of All My Children. The issues was NEVER brought up with Finola, they never even mentioned she was on an ABC soap let alone two. Then with Eva they spoke about how she played a Dr on AMC and went on about that. The next natural question was about her feelings on the cancellation. The QUESTION WAS NEVER ASKED! That's Right Kelly, Regis, and Eva never spoke about the cancellation of All My Children. It brings up the question if there is no embargo or gag order from Frons about the subject of All My Children being canceled why didn't they ask the question? Why not let Eva tell us that she's sad about the cancellation? What about Finola? They just ignored it with her all together. It makes me think that Frons DID send out the word that Ripa and the Ladies of the view are not able to speak about the loss of these soaps. This is censorship.

Terry in Toronto said...

Hi Everyone,

Colin Egglesfield, ex Josh on AMC (remember his notorious scene with Babe in the shower and then in the kiddie plastic wading pool anyone) has a new movie. Check out the official website

http://somethingborrowedmovie.warnerbros.com/

Arizonagal said...

So Katie Couric is already being discussed as the heir to the GH time slot? How is that going to save money? Doesn't she demand a top salary?

Is this bloodbath going to end in the cancellation of ALL soaps? This is insane.

Anonymous said...

Frons is getting a freaking press tour out of this. I just can't anymore. I'm absolutely, 100% done with Disney. Ugh.

Arizonagal said...

Amazing, Mary is finally a Finelli! Only been watching RH for a few months, never saw it 1st time around, it is one quality soap, the writing, the acting, everything perfect. So far, no evil twins, no people trapped in caves or wells, or stranded in cabins, etc. Just really tight scripts, thoughtful and intelligent. Love seeing a young Julia Barr and Justin Deas. The stories unravel slowly and deliciously. Only weak spot, IMNSHO, is Seneca. I love Nancy Addison and dread that she's going to get hooked up with that boring one note actor.

Loving OLTL right now, Marty is back! For God's sake Star, do something about those ridiculous eyebrows, I can't stand 'em anymore.

That commercial about whooping cough with the woman and child drives me nuts, I can't stand hearing that little baby coughing and suffering.

Oohlala, loving Griff on AMC and sensing some real chemistry between him and Kendall. Bring it on. Emma causing so much grief to Greenlee gives me great pleasure. This Emma ain't bad. Hate it when Ryass calls her "Ems". It is so insincere. No idea who has Eek, a few days behind. Why doesn't Eek throw a sheet over the mirror and camera. She can be a real tool. Yeah she looks great but I'm tired of Looch never really pushing it, never allowing a hair outta place, it's so old. She's never felt like a real person to me.

Anonymous said...

Welp, it looks like Katie Couric likely to take GH's place. I hate that show, but don't want to see it go.

Elyse in Toronto said...

If your in or near NYC please try to attend Protest ABC Upfront Meeting With Advertisers
Tuesday, May 17 · 2:00pm -6:00pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=164202916973317

brtedi said...

"Colin Egglesfield, ex Josh on AMC (remember his notorious scene with Babe in the shower and then in the kiddie plastic wading pool anyone) has a new movie...."

Terry in Toronto, when I saw Collin Egglesfield, in the ad I just grinned!--Kate Hudson may be the "big name" in the movie. But, for me, it was all about CE getting a breakout role...I love it when soap actors make the transition to primtime series and feature films. There are so many good actors in daytime. The overwelming majority really do deserve recognition.

Terry in Toronto said...

Hi brtedi,

Colin looks great in the trailer and he and the girl from Big Love are both adorable. I hope for his sake that the movie does well. He deserves a break after the way both he and his character were treated on AMC. Colin certainly had chemistry with just about every actress they put him with. Remember Josh and Hannah during her all-too-brief stay in Pine Valley?

Anonymous said...

Happy Mother's Day to Agnes Nixon. I'm so sorry that Fronshole killed your babies.

Norn Cutson said...

Jason Tam's new project!

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/150655-PHOTO-CALL-Beane-and-Flinns-Lysistrata-Jones-With-Patti-Murin-and-Jason-Tam-Meets-the-Press

Arizonagal said...

Not sure how I feel about Looch going to Desperate Housewives. Those ladies will eat her alive. Do they really need another housewife? Anyway it's hard to get jazzed about this news when it means the end of our soaps.

I'm a little bugged by the Kendall SL only because TIIC write her as such an idiot, and why? So she can be saved by Griff. I like them both but hate it when the chick has to be dumb so the guy can flex his testosterone.

Eek's kidnapper must be someone she knows, so how about Janet?

Shadow said...

I cracked up when Erica's doppleganger employee took off his hoodie. "Eek! There's a black man in Erica's faux bedroom!" this seems like one of those things soaps do to accommodate actors vacation schedule. They shoot it out of sequence, etc and air it while she's away. As stupid as iy is, she's had some good quips about "boring Brooke", Annie "would just stab her again". The photo book was kind of nice. They could do all this without the whole doppleganger thing. Broderick, please hurry!

If you live in or near NYC and can get there, PLEASE go to tge protest/rally planned for May 17, 2-6, Lincoln Center. All the ABC advertisers & media buyers will be thereto preview fall and commit to upfront ad space. THIS is THE chance to be seen, heard & counted. Let the sponsors know that this medium I'd a viable way to reach the all important demographic. Demonstrate your commitment to AMC, OLTL & GH. Tell and bring your friends and family whether they were ABC fans, GL fans, ATWT fans, etc. We can't have a piddly collection of people. Spread the word & help the turnout. Do it for PVP so we have something to talk about!

Arizonagal said...

If I wasn't a left-coaster I'd be at the rally. Cady returns on May 17th. I'm not thrilled about this. She's been done to death and she's dead, for pete's sake. Her presence does not automatically improve the show. Look at her return, before that unfortunate pancake mess. It was dreary and unexciting. I don't remember who the HW was at the time, but the apathy of the writers was palpable and Dixie was a bitch, and not in a good way.

Anonymous said...

@ArizonaGale I think it was McTrash, who hated Cady anyway.

AMC was actually pretty good today. Well, compared to how it usually is. While I didn't appreciate the stereotypical black person being so openly homophobic, I LOVED the talk between Binks and Miranda about how not everyone is the same and they should be proud to be different. Chrissy Lind was really good, and the outdoor shot was GORGEOUS!

Plus, I kinda enjoyed the Jake dreaming of his wives while sleeping thing, and was glad he said Amanda's name. But for the most part the Cara flashbacks themselves were stupid.

But OLTL was fabulous. I love Marty and Kelly facing down with a broken beer bottle and a kitchen knife over John. It was hilarious.

Mark said...

I just opened my tv guide and read the Daytime section. There is a major OLTL spoiler that you will want to avoid.

Just a heads up.

Arizonagal said...

Well the OLTL spoilers are blowing my mind. Dark Marty is effin' crazy and no one - NO ONE - does crazy better than Susan Haskell. She is the Mayor of Crazy Town. She rocks.

One slight annoyance, is Wes now another alter simply because it rhymes with Tess, Jess, Bess? Seems like it.

Arizonagal said...

"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."

Yeah that's right Stooge, that's why we watch TV - NOT. Personally if and when I want to improve my life, I get my ass off the couch, go outside with my dogs and take a walk in the desert, or I read a book, or play bananagrams with my friends, or go to a play, museum, whatever.

I don't look to the tube for character building, do any of you?? TV for me is an escape, purely entertainment. If I happen to learn something, that's great. I just hate it when Frons or any of these other network bottom feeding weasels try to do damage control by stating their goals as lofty and unselfish. It's not about improving lives, its about money, pure and simple. There is no concern for the viewers at all. Don't forget what Frons said when GL was canceled. He was nothing but disrespectful to the genre, the viewers, and GL in particular.