Does it seem to anyone else here that some shows can recover and get at higher ratings faster than others?

It seems to me that both Days and GH have the easiest time recovering ratings when TPTB make the changes needed to get lapsed viewers back (SSK on Days, Vanessa Marcil's return to GH a few years ago). They seem to still have the ability to tap into some kind of heat and cause spikes with the right storylines/actors. I think for those two shows, the ability to spike and sustain is still there, TPTB just don't know how to tap it.

It seems in the best of situations (most soaps are far from those right now), the build up is slower, but, IMO, not with those two. When the good stuff hits, people tune in for those two. Any ideas why?

With Days I feel they benefit from the Fan Base thing for their super couples. They created them, catered to them, and now they either benefit from them or suffer from them.

I know one of the things in the ratings forum now is that the reason the ratings dropped last week being contributed to the Steve and Billee kiss which angered the Steve/Kayla fans who tuned out.

The other current thing is that the departures of Jack and Jennifer will affect the ratings and the show more than the departures of Peck, Clarke or Warlock and others.

The fan bases are good for Days but they can also hurt them. I do think the ratings spikes at times can be attributed to them.

GH is possibly the way as they do have those fan bases too. I mean just look at SON's top 10 poll and you will see. Even the old 80's couples have those. YOu will most likely see a spike in GH's ratings in November when Laura returns.

The sad thing is that so far neither of these shows have learned to hold on to the viewers once they get them there. Days had the big spike with the SSK story and then fell back. It will be interesting to watch Days now to see what happens. They moved on up and were even getting close to 3.0 some days, and now they are back down into the 2.5 range most days. Will Jack and Jennifer's departure spike the ratings this week, and then drop them next week?

Will Hogan's stories keep them, or if they leave bring them back? It will just be interesting to watch.

And it will be interesting to watch and see if Phelps even tries to do anything to capitalize on the viewers who come to watch Laura? Will the ratings spike help them or hurt them.

I think that GH and DOOL have history intact that can be used/tapped into. Although not a regular watcher, I recognize the significance of Jack/Jennifer and enjoyed their scenes. I recognize the impact if Stefano DiMera does make a return. GH's Luke and Laura were a resounding hit. Patch and Kayla were a hit not just for the soap itself, but for the medium as a whole. I'm not certain many others have stories or characters with that type of fame.

I think that GH and DOOL have history intact that can be used/tapped into. Although not a regular watcher, I recognize the significance of Jack/Jennifer and enjoyed their scenes. I recognize the impact if Stefano DiMera does make a return. GH's Luke and Laura were a resounding hit. Patch and Kayla were a hit not just for the soap itself, but for the medium as a whole. I'm not certain many others have stories or characters with that type of fame.

All of the shows have it - they just choose not to tap into it.

OLTL and AMC have been very popular in years past and had many characters and couples who were very popular. ATWT was the number one show for many years, and they have had many popular performers over the years too. ATWT has tried to tap into some of the history of those characters and families but sadly for some reason they never bring back the same performer who was popular. It may have something to do with budget - just don't know on that one.

OLTL has esp. for some reason chosen to ignore it's past.

I think DAYS and GH can easily recover ratings wise better than other shows as well.

With Days I feel they benefit from the Fan Base thing for their super couples. They created them, catered to them, and now they either benefit from them or suffer from them.

I know one of the things in the ratings forum now is that the reason the ratings dropped last week being contributed to the Steve and Billee kiss which angered the Steve/Kayla fans who tuned out.

The other current thing is that the departures of Jack and Jennifer will affect the ratings and the show more than the departures of Peck, Clarke or Warlock and others.

The fan bases are good for Days but they can also hurt them. I do think the ratings spikes at times can be attributed to them.

GH is possibly the way as they do have those fan bases too. I mean just look at SON's top 10 poll and you will see. Even the old 80's couples have those. YOu will most likely see a spike in GH's ratings in November when Laura returns.

The sad thing is that so far neither of these shows have learned to hold on to the viewers once they get them there. Days had the big spike with the SSK story and then fell back. It will be interesting to watch Days now to see what happens. They moved on up and were even getting close to 3.0 some days, and now they are back down into the 2.5 range most days. Will Jack and Jennifer's departure spike the ratings this week, and then drop them next week?

Will Hogan's stories keep them, or if they leave bring them back? It will just be interesting to watch.

And it will be interesting to watch and see if Phelps even tries to do anything to capitalize on the viewers who come to watch Laura? Will the ratings spike help them or hurt them.

GH has become so bad; I'm not going to watch to even see Laura! That's a first for me. I'm afraid of what they will do to her again. I refuse to watch it....