AMC right now is

[Adam]

I think it was all rumour thus far regarding Megan's contract extension...

My guess is they gave Megan these last 6 months to try and raise the ratings.... and if she fails she'll be gone.

The Satin Slayer and transgendered storyline is probably what saved her job last fall. Because there were just too many rumblings about her dismissal for it not to be half true. Frons probably let her do this arc.. and see what happens.

At this point in the game Frons and the network don't have the time to gamble letting McT destroy the show a bit more. Ratings have held and inched slightly upward during this whole satin slayer story... but nothing to write home about.

I only hope and pray ABC grows a pea for a brain and dumps McTavish in April!

[Canfan]

I guess this is what they want but the problem is these type of fans are not going to be longterm. They are interested in certain storylines so basically they are following plot based writing not character based like most older fans. When the plots lose their interest they will be gone too. The problem then is there is no older viewers hanging around to pick up that slack because they have become fed up and bailed out. DAYS had great ratings with their serial killer storyline and I knew lots of younger people - late teens, early twenties who were watching at the time but they were not real fans of the show and left as soon as the novelty wore off. DAYS has never really recovered because they ended up losing their core audience and they never really came back. AMC is going the same way but Frons is too arrogant to admit his ideas are wrong for a soap based audience so I expect fully more of the same.

There were no ratings available for late 2003 when the serial killer storyline started but here is a sample from the next year's ratings:

Here is the ratings Days had in January 2004

Jan 19-23, 2004

HH

1. Y&R 4.6/15 (+.1)

2. DAYS 3.6/11 (+.5)

3. B&B 3.5/11 (+.1)

4. ATWT 3.2/10 (+.2)

5. GH 3.1/9 (-.1)

6. OLTL 2.8/9 (-.1)

6. AMC 2.8/9 (-.1)

8. GL 2.5/8 (same)

9. PSNS 2.2/7 (+.3)

and then sample from May 2004

Households

1. Y&R 4.2/16 (+.1) *

2. DAYS 3.2/11 (+.2) *

3. GH 3.1/11 (-.1)

4. B&B 2.8/10 (-.3)

5. AMC 2.7/10 (-.2)

6. OLTL 2.6/10 (-.2)

7. ATWT 2.5/9 (-.1)*

8. GL 2.1/7 (-.1) <---- low

9. PSNS 2.0/7 (same)

and by November 2004

HH

1. Y&R 4.1 (-.1)

2. GH 3.1 (+.1)

3. B&B 3.0 (same)

3. AMC 3.0 (same)

5. OLTL 2.9 (+.1)

6. DAYS 2.7 (same)

7. ATWT 2.6 (same)

8. GL 2.2 (-.1)

9. PSNS 2.0 (+.1)

Interesting AMC had a 3.0 around this time. Frons really has'nt done much for AMC in three years has he. In fact the show just continues to bleed viewers. The demos were up higher than too:

Nov 2004. Just before the end of the babyswitch which is why Megan has probably been around so long.

Women 18-49

1. GH 2.5/14 (+.3)

2. Y&R 2.4/15 (+.1)

3. DAYS 2.2/13 (same)

3. AMC 2.2/13 (+.2)

5. OLTL 2.1/12 (+.1)

6. B&B 1.8 (+.2)

7. PSNS 1.7/10 (-.1)

8. ATWT 1.6 (+.3)

9. GL 1.3 (+.1)

ETA to add the climax of the switch which really bumped the show up but which was not the only payback viewers expected. Miranda returned to Bianca:

Households

1. Y&R 4.7/14 (+.5)

2. B&B 3.6/10 (+.3)

3. AMC 3.5/10 (+.3) <----- Yearly high

4. GH 3.4/10 (+.2)

5. OLTL 3.2/9 (+.3) <----- Ties yearly high

6. DAYS 3.1/9 (-.1)

6. ATWT 3.1/9 (+.2)

8. GL 2.6/7 (+.2)

9. PSNS 2.4/7 (+.2) <----- Yearly high

by September 2005 the show started looking like this and staying there:

HH

1. Y&R 4.0/14 (same/-.1)

2. B&B 3.2/11 (same/+.2)

3. ATWT 2.6/9 (+.1/same)

3. GH 2.6/8 (same/-.8 )

5. DAYS 2.5/9 (+.1/-.5)

5. AMC 2.5/9 (+.1/-.6)

5. OLTL 2.5/9 (same/-.3)

8. GL 2.2/7 (same/same)

9. PSNS 1.5/5 (-.2/-.5) <---- new low rating

I think it just illustrates the pattern shows can run into when they treat their audience in a certain manner like AMC is certainly guilty of doing I think at the moment.

Thanks Toups for the ratings.

[alwaysAMC]

CanFan, you're exactly right.

Younger, newer viewers will only tune in for storylines...which is why everything is now plot-driven I know my college friends that watch DAYS are the worst about this. They'll love a storyline and then if it starts getting stupid, they'll stop watching and then turn it on about a month later to see what's going on and either watch and love it or wait another month.

[R Sinclair]

I agree with everything -- except Zoe/Bianca... it seems the ABC/AMC is still too scared to do anything with this story. I highly doubt this writer or this network is opposed to, I dunno, CRAMMING THINGS DOWN VIEWERS' THROATS!!!

So if ABCD/AMC really wanted to invest in this transgender storyline beyond the sensationalistic bullsh!t -- and creating another Pig Prop -- they would've been pushing this storyline for all its worth. Instead, we have Zoe's first official outing dressed as a female... not as a bold and self assuring step made for the character and the character only. Noooooo! It's all to help Babe play dirty in her 436th custody fight against JR.

GLAAD must be right about now. They help these fools create a story where a transgender lesbian is taunted with slurs, accused of murder, and then used as a pawn in the redundant manipulations of an ungrateful whore.

[Adam]

Actually R Sinclair, from what I understand GLADD is more than happy with how the storyline has progressed, which is very very scary. I post an another board with a vested interest in the GLBT community and they have spoke to someone with GLADD several times and they keep praising AMC for what they are doing. So... you'd think GLADD would not be happy but they are....

[Q Steph]

AMC dropped the ball with Zoe/Zarf/Bianca. The whole story is pathetic; from Bianca not knowing what transgender is, being afraid to admit that she is possibly bi-sexual and Zoe/Zarf acting like a he-she. All Zoe/Zarf is to me is a cross dresser.

[EricaKane70]

I have to agree, but I've been told from someone that works with transgender people that this is possible. I still think its just a cope out to get binks with a man.

[R Sinclair]

Interesting... but is that the Kumbayah party line?

I'm just saying, it's one thing to publicly applaud an established production for doing ANYTHING like this at all -- especially when you're hoping socially conscious praise would encourage others to jump on the bandwagon -- but it's another thing to actually have GLAAD say something specific about why they like the progression of the storyline.

Well, then... forget GLAAD (he says, hearing a response of well-coifed GASPS!). I'd rather have people in the GLBT media community review this storyline. I'm certain that the opinion would be a lot less "neat and tidy." I mean, there are some real issues and some ripe opportunities for dramatic, honest, compelling story that are not being addressed here. It's disappointing.

[skiman12082004]

From what I have seen of AMC lately, I thought it was pretty entertaining. I'm only a casual viewer, but I liked what I saw and Susan Lucci is beautiful.

[R Sinclair]

And you're exactly who they're writing for -- the casual viewer. Because those of us who are habitual viewers, this show is not being written for us at all. History, story, characters... ALL BE DAMNED!!!

[AMCTrainWreck]

I am someone who has written to GLAAD over what is happening with the transgender storyline. In fact he and I went back and forth for several days. Their rules prevent me from quoting what I was told, but let me say that their PR man is extremely happy and proud of the job AMC is doing. In fact, as a lesbian, I was accused of being intolerant. It's interesting to note that he blew me off until I said I was withholding my donations to this organization. Course I have for several years since they rewarded AMC for raping the lesbian.

If you are interested in writing to GLAAD, this is the link; scroll down as you are looking for the gentleman in charge of Entertainment Inquiries

http://www.glaad.org/media/contact.php?PHP...6c670a0e8a61a73

[whyamcwhy]

That is a relief that McTavish renewing her contract with AMC is just a rumor right now. The woman is a hack and she needs to go. I hope that they don 't give her until April and just fire her now.

And viewers need to remember that her storylines may start out strong or interesting in the beginning but they always fall apart. She never gives fans the pay-off that they deserve. Her stuff always ends up being more frustrating then anything else. A viewer can like what they are seeing now but in a week, they can be ticked off and disappointed. JMHO.

[R Sinclair]

Sooooo true! During the TKFP rape storyline, I was angry. Everyone in town, including Jackson 'Railroadin' Montgomery, was horrible to Ryan -- already convinced he did it with piss poor, inconclusive evidence. Then, when Braden came out as the rapist, and skipped town, Jackson and TKFP just shrug, like, "Oh, well. It's over... It's finally over."

There was zero pay off after watching someone we KNEW was falsely accused finally be vindicated -- and the rapist just fled.

That was in April 1999... by June, Agnes Nixon, Elizabeth Page and, ugh, Jean Passanante took over as head writers.

[JER Soaps Fan]

Um, really?

Because the storylines for me are great, the writing is the BEST in daytime (in terms of dialogue -- PHENOMENAL, CHARACTER-DRIVEN dialogue!!! ) and the actors, well, most of them, are incredible. And that opening -- dear GOD, the opening is the best in daytime! I just love when it comes on! A perfect blending of the old with the new. Honoring the past and showing how much the show has changed. I'm addicted to this soap more than any other right now.

And let's not forget: it's the soap with BIANCA: EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE LESBIAN WITH THE HEART OF GOLD!!!

[Pine Charles]

You're funny.