[Angela]

SID inititally reported that close sources were telling them that "Pratt is History..." Minutes later, it's official:

SOD ONLINE
Charles Pratt, Jr., whose controversial reign as head writer of ALL MY CHILDREN began in June 2008, has been released from the position. ABC confirms the ouster, but had no further comment. Stay tuned for more details of who will usher the citizens of Pine Valley through their cross-country move in January!

Discuss...

[JaneAusten]

Wendy, on 20 November 2009 - 04:04 PM, said:

Makes me wonder if Jamie Luner's Liza is safe now since Pratt wet himself over her. And weren't there rumors of cast discontent about her - or was that just Pratt and his "high school" comments crap?

Not that JL should be blamed for Pratt being an ass, but if she did have favored status due to his history with her, it just makes me wonder if that will change.

She's not liza and has added zip to the show. I wonder if she was his ultimate downfall. He was blowing his wad about her greatness and she's done zip for the show.

AMC has been gutted almost as badly as GH actually worse.

I am trying to see what stories are working. None.

This post has been edited by JaneAusten: 20 November 2009 - 04:13 PM

[CarlD2]

I don't think there were any rumors of cast issues with her. I think Pratt was bigging her up by saying the cast would be on edge with her around.

I think it could go either way with Liza. The main people in her story are still staying around, so that may help her. I wouldn't be surprised if she stays, but the baby nonsense is ended very quickly, and the Casey/Mia, or whatever their names are, leave.

[Cheap21]

Sigh does it even matter? We've all felt the same thing when we heard that MMT was fired only to be disappointed with B&E, then we got all happy when we heard they were fired only to be disappointed with Pratt. At this point I dont really care. I dont think AMC is going to necesarily be in any better shape than it is now bc there are people higher than Pratt that need to go

[JaneAusten]

CarlD2, on 20 November 2009 - 04:12 PM, said:

I don't think there were any rumors of cast issues with her. I think Pratt was bigging her up by saying the cast would be on edge with her around.

I think it could go either way with Liza. The main people in her story are still staying around, so that may help her. I wouldn't be surprised if she stays, but the baby nonsense is ended very quickly, and the Casey/Mia, or whatever their names are, leave.

They can take Marissa with them. She's been a complete bust. JR's tumor story sure was wrapped up quickly.

Jacob Young is so undertilized now that Babe if off canvas(and I hated her ass). It's a shame because I think the character of JR is one of the few interesting characters with loads of story potential.

[IMissAremid]

CarlD2, on 20 November 2009 - 02:39 PM, said:

Good idea.

Did any of you watch the sketch comedy show Almost Live? They had an office where the bad boss kept getting fired, and another one even worse would get fired. Box of snakes, etc. Then finally, everyone was happy, only to find the new boss was an Amway salesman. Cue the screams.

(no offense to Amway salesmen, that was just the joke)

I did watch Almost Live but I don't really remember that sketch. I wish Comedy Central showed more of those old comedies still.

And just sort of keeping this on topic... I am convinced that besides Beetlejuice, the other inspiration for Pratt's limbo scene with David as the devil was Jon Lovitz's devil impression on SNL.

[CarlD2]

Cheap21, on 20 November 2009 - 04:15 PM, said:

Sigh does it even matter? We've all felt the same thing when we heard that MMT was fired only to be disappointed with B&E, then we got all happy when we heard they were fired only to be disappointed with Pratt. At this point I dont really care. I dont think AMC is going to necesarily be in any better shape than it is now bc there are people higher than Pratt that need to go

That's definitely true. I do think that Pratt was a huge problem, as there were jarring changes which happened once he settled in as headwriter.

Whether the show will improve, who can say. There's at least a chance. With him there was none.

[miche]

Can Frons fired his other buddy Guza? It will be killing two bird with one stone since Steve Burton said he will only stay if Guza is there.

[alexisfan07]

THANK GOD! Pratt is horrible

[Amello]

With Carolyn Culliton gone from OLTL, maybe she'll finally get a chance to HW.

[CassieFan]

JaneAusten, on 20 November 2009 - 03:57 PM, said:

She can bring back the unabortion and have Tad again bury someone alive.

Don't forget she would probably kill Angie with banana-pancakes that were meant for Randy.

[R Sinclair]

Oh, GAWD! This news is good and bad. While I had problems with Pratt's version AMC, I have maintained since day one that his version has done something AMC hasn't done since early 2003 -- ENTERTAIN ME! However, I would love to see more human stories being told with these characters, but I do like the anticipation of seeing how Pratt's asinine twists play out.

I don't ever want 'the writer' to darken AMC again. This show, which is already ready too Ryan-heavy, will be even more so, plus all the women will be blonde, the women will be even more "misogynized" than they are now complete with rape and domestic abusers, and we will have six character find out they are long lost relatives in about three months time.

[DeeeDee]

Cheap21, on 20 November 2009 - 04:15 PM, said:

Sigh does it even matter? We've all felt the same thing when we heard that MMT was fired only to be disappointed with B&E, then we got all happy when we heard they were fired only to be disappointed with Pratt. At this point I dont really care. I dont think AMC is going to necesarily be in any better shape than it is now bc there are people higher than Pratt that need to go

Yep!

[LeClerc]

So Frons fired his friend AND ABC will have to pay him big bucks until the middle of next year? I wonder what did him in?

It can't have been the ratings could it? Hasn't AMC lost fewer viewers than OLTL and GH over last year? And if it's ratings then why is Ron Carlivati still at OLTL?

Was it the only way Rebecca Budig would come back?

And will Pratt underling Tracey Thomson, who Frons has raved about, be the one to replace him?

I say just let Addie Walsh have the job and stop bringing in people from the outside.

[marceline]

CarlD2, on 20 November 2009 - 03:58 PM, said:

We can hope. The roots are still there, if someone gets Frons out of the way.

It just sucks there's so little of AMC's core has left. But they can still bring in a few tentpole characters. If only Frons hadn't gutted so many of them.

Yes. Frons must be removed. Given his rumored love of Pratt I can't help but feel that a higher-up stepped in, higher but not quite on Sweeney's level. But that would beg the questions: 1.)Why hasn't this person stepped in before? 2.) Why do headwriters, breakdown writers with a sense/respect for history, and the occasional EP keep getting thrown under the bus while the "creative consultant" for all these shows is given more control and less accountability with each passing quarter. It's time to take a serious look at the ABC Daytime organization chart and the types of power that work there.

This post has been edited by marceline: 20 November 2009 - 05:06 PM

[JaneAusten]

marceline, on 20 November 2009 - 04:50 PM, said:

Yes. Frons must be removed. Given his rumored love of Pratt I can't help but feel that a higher-up stepped in, higher but not quite on Sweeney's level. But that would beg the questions: 1.)Why hasn't this person stepped in before? 2.) Why do headwriters, breakdown writers with a sense/respect for history, and the occasional EP keep getting thrown under the bus while the "creatve consultant" for all these shows is given more control and less accountability with each passing quarter. It's time to take a serious look at the ABC Daytime orginization chart and the types pf power that work there.

Well said.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

I'm surprised Frons let one of his BBF's go this easily, but good news nonetheless, all we have to worry about is the replacement...

Why not promote Beldner? He's worked in every position on that show's writing team. I'm not saying he should be promoted just because of that, but it would be nice to see someone new given the HW reigns, but especially someone with that deep a history with the show.

Now, if only Y&R and other soaps would get a new Head Writer and possibly new writing team....

This post has been edited by Y&RWorldTurner: 20 November 2009 - 04:58 PM

[Rakesh]

I heard Ellen Wheeler will be the new HW.

j/k

[sudz4u]

Frederick Johnson + Addie Walsh =

[CarlD2]

marceline, on 20 November 2009 - 04:50 PM, said:

Yes. Frons must be removed. Given his rumored love of Pratt I can't help but feel that a higher-up stepped in, higher but not quite on Sweeney's level. But that would beg the questions: 1.)Why hasn't this person stepped in before? 2.) Why do headwriters, breakdown writers with a sense/respect for history, and the occasional EP keep getting thrown under the bus while the "creative consultant" for all these shows is given more control and less accountability with each passing quarter. It's time to take a serious look at the ABC Daytime organization chart and the types of power that work there.

I don't really get it either. Obviously someone at ABC Daytime cares about these soaps, on some level, yet Frons stays around.

I wonder if there was some backstage tension, or if there was a future story Pratt was pushing which caused some controversy.

Does he ever stay at any soap very long?

[LoyaltoAMC]

With Pratt being Frons' bff and the ratings relatively stable, this is pretty shocking news. The show is a hot mess creatively, but STILL! It must've come from someone above Frons. I have one request: LORRAINE BRODERICK, COME HOME! I know it'll probably never happen with Frons in charge, but it's not 100% out of the realm of possibility. I don't think it will be Beldner. He and his partner who's a pretty high-end attorney in Manhattan, adopted a baby last year, and I hear he's playing stay at home dad. A HW position might be too much for him. I guess the reality is that whoever is chosen, probably nothing much will change, since he/she will have to write in compliance with the Frons/ABC mandate to keep things dumbed down beyond belief. If I were Carlivati, I'd be shaking in my boots. OLTL might be getting a lot of buzz over Kish, but it's not being reflected in the ratings, and Carlivati is not a bff of Frons.

This post has been edited by LoyaltoAMC: 20 November 2009 - 05:12 PM