April 2-6, 2007

[NYC123]

Glad to see AMC have a .1 bump. AMC has been getting better latley. With Krystal having the baby, Jr and babe, Zack and Kendell, and Lily and Ava. I hope AMC rises more next week and go ahead of GH

[DaysFanJean]

Although I love Thaao, I'm holding in reserve my opinion of his returning. If he has the same cartoonish facade, I'll hate it. If he has the stooge with him or not will tell if he is going to be a serious Tony or a maniacial Tony.

Of all the stories I'm holding out for and one that I've been reading about the most, is John's coming out of his coma. I hope that will be the real catalyst for the upward turning of Days.

It's really sad the way the blessed event of Sami and Lucas' wedding and their child has been derailed with the sordid and tacky EJ story. I won't watch it and obviously, a lot of others aren't either.

[PhoenixRising05]

I think that only compounded the problem. It definitely made things worse but the slowed down pace and the balance issues were the major problems and those problems have been around for far too long. This month has been much better so far, particularly this week, but I don't expect any improvement number's wise until May hits. I am just glad they stay stayed the same. I do think Days wouldn't have fallen so hard so fast if that announcement had not been made. They probably would have only reached that 2.1 a week or so ago if not for the announcement. I think the announcement made it fall harder much faster because it discouraged investment and then the pace and balance problems didn't help matters. It seems like Matt's return didn't really help much but it wasn't promoted much either and he did nothing but add presence. I was expecting better numbers for Thursday and Friday because the Sami/EJ stuff saw alot of movement and was pretty good drama IMO. I know some think it's offensive but it's supposed to be twisted and creepy. I think that is what makes it so good but to each their own.

These numbers are pathetic for all soaps. It's pretty sad that as bad as Days and GL are doing number-wise, if they get hot they can easily jump into the top 5. If Days gets the vets on and continues to pick up the pace with good story, they can be #3 by mid-June. Who knows...with the way B&B is going, if Days gets hot enough it could even have #2.

I think Days and Passions may have a better week numbers-wise for this week. Days had 3 days of Bo and a day of Hope and Marlena. Yes, they should get more then that but it was also a pretty exciting week with lots of movement on the Sami/EJ front and the Steve/Kayla front so I am thinking maybe a +1 increase for both shows next week. I think AMC may do ok for this week and maybe GH will see a +1 but, other then that, I see either more decreses for the rest of the soaps or them just staying the same. Y&R may stay the same or maybe see a +1 but who knows what the Victoria Rowell effect will be. They rose due to the cliff stuff and who knows if people are going stay around to keep watching with that over.

[Angela]

I've made another chart (click to view full image). I left Y&R and PAS out because it's just too wide a spread, I would have left B&B and GH out (because of the wide spread, a smaller spread is better to show viewer differences among the shows) except for the fact GH was with "the rest of the pack" most of the year and GH almost joined B&B's pack in Jan./Feb.:

Y&R: 5,641,321

B&B: 4,092,250

GH: 3,496,036

ATWT: 3,207,821

DAYS: 3,186,786

AMC: 3,128,393

OLTL: 3,105,786

GL: 2,894,000

PSNS: 1,948,000

[Mason]

I honestly think that if it has any effect at all, Tony's return is just going to be bad for DAYS's ratings, regardless of how he's written. I think way too many viewers were soured on the show back in 2005 when Tony was running amok, and I really don't think it's a good time to be bringing him back considering these numbers. It's sad, but at this point, if DAYS can just get back in the 2.3-2.5 range in HH on a regular basis again, I'll be happy.

[PhoenixRising05]

I actually thought that too but I have frequented alot of Days boards and many are excited about him returning. He actually has a pretty decent fanbase BUT they want to see the Tony of old not 2004-2005 Tony. If Hogan gives us the Tony of old, then he could benefit Days. I don't think any return alone will boost ratings. The big 4 being onscreen consistently will do that and giving us good stories this summer on top of bringing the big 4 back will help the ratings tremendously. Tony's return won't increase or decrease the ratings . The big 4 and good stories with a good pace like we had in the Fall are what will help the ratings.

[Soapsuds]

Not surprised at all with ATWT low numbers. I dont even remember what happened last week. If I dont remember that means the week wasnt that good. There is way too much Gwen. She is carrying the show and that is totally wrong! Henry and Vienna are cute but there are on way too much as well. The only good thing ATWT has going for it right now is Craig and Lucinda. Use them ATWT!!!

[Mason]

IMO, even the numbers ATWT is getting now aren't low enough. Except for Craig vs. Lucinda, the show is in the crapper right now, and it just keeps getting worse. How low is it going to have to go in the ratings for Passanante to be given her damn pink slip?

[Jess]

All soaps are way down. There is nothing looking good for any of them. All the ABC soap did poorly and DOOL is in a big slump. ATWT has been low for a while too. I convinced writers and producers adopting knee jerks reactions and stunts isn't going to fix em. It does make ratings better in sweeps months and bring in ad bucks though. I'll give em that.

As far as OLTL, it has stunk for a long time. It wasn't good in February when the ratings were up. The show was bad last May when the Todd stunt brought in one day ratings. It's nothing new. It has had flashes of good, but only briefly in the last three years.

OLTL has become so driven by fanbase hysteria. And you know what, a lot of us that post on this board are just as guilty of it as anyone else--myself included. It seems the stories that suck and are dragging down this show are the ones we don't like. Of course we never hear any criticism about the ones that involve our favorite characters. I just love little statements like, well that fanbase must be thrilled. Hey that fanbase suffered through crap with your favorite characters. We don't have to like every story, but it really would be nice if everybody had something to enjoy.

OLTL is in trouble because the writing stinks across all stories and all couples, not justs the ones I hate. It also stinks for the characters and couples I like.

Now on another related note. It is a soap. People do stupid things and always have.

It's been a long time since OLTL gave all viewers something to enjoy. Instead, they pander to the fanbase du jour. Cal is right. If this show wants to get better, it will return to a regular mix of stories and characters and stop this overdose of a few. She's also right the Spencer story is about Blair. The DID story would have been better had it been about the Buchanans. The writers have forgotten what the show is about and as a result none of the stories make sense.

Finally, no character, including the ones I enjoy so much, should be on more than two to three days a week. Yeah that means Jess and Nash. It also mean John McBain and a host of others. I suspect if anyone thought about the show they watch and enjoy now, they would recongize that there are things they hate and things they like.

[Lskreet]

Well since I made a post about Jessica/Nash fans being thrilled then I'll respond to this post. We've ALL suffered through crap on the show and that's what I was saying. The show as WHOLE sucks. We as fans don't deserve it. That's great if you're happy with the Jessica/Nash storyline. You should be happy. They are about to heat up and get a lot more airtime. Sorry, I don't like it. They had potential but now it's just bad. I don't like how Jessica has been destroyed.

As far as my favorites go I don't like their storylines either and I have no qualms about talking about how crappy things are for them. I mentioned Jessica/Nash because they have been the main focus the entire week.

[ZaraB]

DOOL is the only one addressing anything (and Kudos to Corday for trying), or even admitting something is wrong. ABC soaps are withering away while Frons leads them on the wild goose chase for that elusive 'fountain of' Youth demo. I'd include ATWT in that death march as well, and Latham seems to be tempted by thet siren song. No one even admits mistakes are made. Instead, Pundit Parrots persecute stars who dare to point out the problems. Just look at where he is investing. GH at lead soap is 2.5. Instead of balancing the soap, focusing away from the Sonny/Jason/Sam/Carly show, anything else that might remotely work is going to be shifted to a soap about the characters in the 'Night Shift' --- the caption sounds like what GH SHOULD be.

[cal3]

Zara is correct, they first have to admit that there is a problem before there is any hope. Valentini blathering on about how wonderful the show is doesn't make it wonderful. It only makes him look stupid. The show is rife with problems. ES only confirmed what many of us have been saying now for months.

We all have our favorites but even the tolerance for some of the actions of your favs is reaching the gag point. Kelly and Jess have always been two of my favorite characters both of them are all but destroyed. Others may have a greater tolerance than I do but the point remains that we each have our own line where it ceases to entertain. How many are sitting on that line? How many have crossed that line.

As bad as AMC is I still think it has greater potential to be fixed than OLTL. I don't know where they even start to fix OLTL. I take that back fire ME. That is the first step.

[WTGH]

ATWT is the only show I watch these days.

I've lost all interest in DAYS and GH. Two I watched religiously a year ago.

[R!ck]

True Ridge.

Guiding Light is always "possibly getting cancelled" yet their ratings don't dip -.5 in two months when that rumour makes it round every year. Same for Passions, It IS cancelled and it hasn't dropped that much. I would say 75% of DAYS audience doesn't even know of the possible cancellation comments.

[Ponz]

And not even Corday dared to cite NBC's announcement as a reason for the ratings plunge.