Although GH did well with the return of Laura and they actually wrote for Luke and Laura, I can't say that either OL or AMC did well with their shows. In fact to me OL had the absolute worst sweeps ever, while AMC not so sure if it is improving or standing still. Either way, were the sweeps for these shows bad enough to be able to warrant some changes?

I do think Frons is safe, between GH and The View doing so well and Soapnet doing well he is safe, although in my view he needs to go.

OL needs a complete revamp, a new EP and definetely a new HW. That Erika Slezak interview where she mentions that the HW has her agenda and chooses to write for the characters she creates says it all, none of the vets will get story under Higley and Valentini just doesn't seem to care one bit. The show is failing and only going to get worse as we return to Mr. Cop takes over Llanview once more while vets still get no story, fan faves leave or get fired. The fact that OL can't give Viki a storyline says it all, this show is in the worst state ever, this horrible sweeps reflected that.

AMC may be holding on, but I know everyone is as angered about the writing as the OL fans are. This new Zarf stuff is getting press, will it be well-written and improve the show, will the serial killer be good or stink? Same with OL, at AMC fan faves are leaving or getting fired, will more viewers tune out for both shows in anger because of this?

I don't think GH will do anything, but will the failure of sweeps at least allow for changes desperately needed at OL and AMC, most especially OL?

Insights?

Good question. I wonder what TIIC think about the success or I should say failure of November sweeps. I think Errol said that Nov. sweeps was very important and jobs were depending on how well they did. I would guess that TIIC are happy with how GH did. But OLTL and AMC have to be huge disappointments for them.

I am not so sure Frons has job security right now. He is in charge of all the ABC soaps. He needs to be held accountable for his failures in trying to improve OLTL and AMC. Last time I checked ABC had three soaps on the air and he seems to have forgotten that. He spends more time focusing on GH and neglects the rest of the line-up. To me, that would be grounds for firing. And obviously what his vision is for these soaps is just not working.

I think McTavish bought herself a little time with the Zarf storyline. However, if the ratings continue to tank in the next few weeks, maybe TPTB will decide to fire her earlier than planned. AMC and OLTL need new writers and a better direction. The HWs need to go and so does Frons. I would consider sweeps a failure for both these shows and both Higley and McTavish should be very worried about their job security. Frons should be to.

AMC was a dreadful bore for sweeps. Like I've said before, how many more people need to be in COMAS for sweeps?

I have this vision in my head that they are all sitting at a conference table and pointing the blame at each other for how lousy they all performed for November sweeps. LOL!

The only way to solve this little problem is to FIRE all of them! And hire on some decent writers, producers, and a NEW Prez of ABCD!

Jen

Well, I have to say that GH's November was great. When Guza focuses, he can write some spectacular material. I don't necessarily enjoy some of his tendencies (i.e. playing up exceedingly dark angles to certain stories just for the hell of it, the Mob Lite crap, the deconstruction of numerous characters, Laura Wright's Character propping), but the material he's helmed and the performances from the cast have moved me to tears several times over the last 4 years he's been back. This latest Luke & Laura saga is one of those times. He's been in soap writing for over 20 years. He knows that the best drama comes from being honest to the human condition. Even if it's plot driven, characters always seem to have real reactions to the storylines. It might be questionably out of character, but the reactions are real.

McTavish, on the other hand, doesn't write real, human drama. During Genie and Tony's all too brief snippets during the week of L&L's 25 Wedding Anniversary, Genie even said she found Luke and Laura's divorce scene difficult to play because she didn't believe it. Wouldn't you know it, it was written by McTavish at the time. So, McTavish writing all these "high stakes" (as she loves to refer to them) storylines do absolutely nothing, because the way she writes them are completely unreal. She uses the characters to sell the situation -- not the situation to sell the characters. If she actually took the time to think "Hmm... how would this look for this character or that character and how would it go down in their history...?" she would not write more than HALF of the crap she writes.

I can't speak on Dena Higley since I don't watch One Life.

Well put, Sinclair! I do think that Guza has his moments, as I mentioned in another post. Higley likes to write extreme melodrama, but I kind of like it. It's like soaps 101 with her.

McTavish, well, can't write. That's the issue here. She clearly must not have been actually writing the early material when she returned in 2003, because it's just not her.

McTavish, on the other hand, doesn't write real, human drama. During Genie and Tony's all too brief snippets during the week of L&L's 25 Wedding Anniversary, Genie even said she found Luke and Laura's divorce scene difficult to play because she didn't believe it. Wouldn't you know it, it was written by McTavish at the time. So, McTavish writing all these "high stakes" (as she loves to refer to them) storylines do absolutely nothing, because the way she writes them are completely unreal. She uses the characters to sell the situation -- not the situation to sell the characters. If she actually took the time to think "Hmm... how would this look for this character or that character and how would it go down in their history...?" she would not write more than HALF of the crap she writes.

I can't speak on Dena Higley since I don't watch One Life.

Your analysis of McTavish stands well for Higley also. Higley focuses on situations she wants to create, and I'd say breaks the characters to fit the plot. And she favors the highly shocking/timely to unpalatable situations. Worse is the bending to fit the agenda. THey want Spencer still around, so police-hating Todd waits until after the McBain murder trial to extract justice for being framed, and all but executed for killing a non-dead Margaret. Todd is now caring about for his baby almost six months later. Always spunky, justice-obsessed Nora is suddenly too sick, so Spencer's trial goes on to newly appointed prosecutor Evangeline.

Dena expects these 'juicy' situations to sell despite huge implausibilities: almost no stab at reality was made for McBain and Hugh being burned to the point where they could be mistaken for each other. Now he comes off with just a few scars and a new hairdo.

AMC has pinned their hopes on the campy Zarf. OLTL is making some rather sudden attempts with the cast revolving door, that only touch the cosmetic outer layers of the problems (the Manning family story plate will be chock full this Christmas.) Laura's return was a tremendous way to build the Lucky, Nicholas, and Lulu stories, but how long before it goes back to mob business, pimping Sam, Jason, Carly and Sonny as usual.