i hope they find a place for days...I have been watching since 1982......But not to be a pain but zucker never said its highly unlikely that days wont make it past 2009..people are drawing conclusions because of what he didnt say..Look.The bottom line is this:Days and the rest of the soaps needs to give viewers great drama and a well balanced show..It isnt hard.but the writers,ep's seem determined to give only four or five characters a story and let others just whittle away.All soaps are suffering because of this....Look at the ratings.

People are drawing conclusions based on what Zucker DID SAY:

From USA TODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/ne...presstour_x.htm

In other NBC news:

"Daytime soap Passions has been canceled after an eight-year run to make room for a fourth hour of Today, which will air on all network affiliates, though only about half will initially air all of Today in a continuous block, says NBC Universal Television president Jeff Zucker. The worsening economics of daytime soaps led NBC to choose expanding Today. Passions will likely finish its run in August, but NBC is discussing continuing the soap on a cable network (such as SoapNet) or online. Zucker suggested that NBC's only other soap, Days of Our Lives, is unlikely to continue past 2009.

It isn't just NBC's Daytime Dramas at stake. IMO NBC isn't full supporting their night time soaps as the should either.

"Like other networks, NBC will cut back on development of serialized dramas after several failures this season. "Serialization is one of the biggest hooks we have into an audience, so we're not running away from that;" Reilly says. But "we're balancing it out a little more."

From CDN TVGuide

The Black Donnellys (drama)

The premise: Four Irish American brothers - the Donnellys (get it, the Donnelly gang?) fight with the cops, rivals, girls and themselves in this drama about life in New York City. Created and executive-produced by Oscar-winner Paul Haggis.

The cast: Billy Lush (Huff), Jonathan Tucker (Pulse), Michael Stahl-David, Tom Guiry (Strangers with Candy), Betsy Beutler (One Life to Live)

What we liked: The first episode was an intoxicating mix of violence, humour and romance - think Friday Night Lights and a dash of The Sopranos. The young cast is excellent.

What we didn't: NBC boasted about Donnellys last spring, and yet bumped it to this midseason. Is that a bad sign? We'll see.

Score out of 10: 8

Debuts: TBA on NBC

TVGuide was right NBC cancelled this show without airing it in it's entirety. (At least you can catch the remaing episodes online at NBC.com)

Written by two time OSCAR award winning writer Paul Haggis, IMO, this show was undermined by NBC's lack of commitment.

***

I'm not saying that I don't think that DAYS can improve in the ratings, I'm saying that I want the ratings to improve so that DAYS can find a better network than NBC.

Edited April 28, 200718 yr by Ilovemydays

1st off theres no need to attack me. No one least of all me was trying to attack YOU. I'm telling it as I see it. I'm absolutely serious about people complaining for the sake of complaining in SOME cases. Times change. Things change. Its inevitable. Some of you want them to not change however and thats impossible. I've already acknowledged that some soaps are in less than stellar shape. However I don't think thats a reason for everyone to say that they're all horrible because of reasons A-D. As for soaps being their best back in the day I'm sure thats the general consensus among longtime viewers but I happen to find a lot of the newer stuff to be more interesting. I like seeing the younger newer faces along with the middle aged group and the veterans.

2nd I KNOW that most of you have dedicated your lives to soap operas but that doesn't make my opinion any less valueable or credible. Nor did I mention anyone specific from this website as being a part of the problem although it does exist I'm sure. I've been watching ER for the last 12 years and its changed a lot too. Its lost almost all the vets on the show and the storylines have changed/evolved. New people are there. Its has a completely new face. Do I miss the old characters? Yeah...but I enjoyed them while they were there and I understood when then had to leave. Plus I've grown to love the new ones just as much and in some cases more than the old ones. Of course 12 isn't much when compared to 40 but its just an example.

Also posting a long thread about a show does not mean you're giving it a chance. Furthermore I'm referring the low numbers. Like for example ATWT could bring 5 million viewers IMO since its a great show that has a stellar cast and some of the greatest storylines going on right now. Instead its at 2.3 and I feel its because people aren't giving it a chance since they've heard so many bad things about it. I'm sure people like you are watching the same soaps everyday and commenting on them. I'm talking about the people who aren't watching it.

Bottom line is that I think only a few soaps are in trouble or need to change significantly. The others are just suffering from a variety of issues and not all of them can be blamed on the head writer, the producer, or whoever it may be. I'm not claiming to have all the answers nor did I say I was an expert. But I do think some of the complaints are completely ridiculous.

"The Price is Right" has been on the air for nearly 35 years, and its changes have been so few, minor, and far between, yet it continues to be the highest rated show in daytime, beating even Y&R. I agree, things need to change over time with soaps, but the wrong things are changing. Things that are essential to the very fabric of each show are being changed. Most of them don't even have an identity anymore, besides just being a soap opera. ATWT is a soap. About what? People who live in a town. OLTL is a soap. About what? People who live in a town. GH is a soap. About what? Used to be about a hospital. Now it's more about people who live in town (though I give it credit, the hospital seems to be coming back). No soap has a premise that fits it and only it. GH used to be the hospital soap. AMC was the family-oriented soap with high comedy thrown in. OLTL was more serious. OLTL and AMC have been so interchangeable lately, if I wasn't a soap fanatic and didn't know anything about either one of them, I'd think they were one in the same.

Again, I say, people HAVE given ATWT a chance. If it weren't for the great episode here and there, I'd tune out again too. It's frustrating to see Katie doing the exact same things she was doing last year, seeing Gwen and Will being painted as innocent victims yet again, seeing Jade degrade herself even further just to see Gwen and Will broken up. I'm so sick of Paul Ryan and Meg Snyder, I think I might puke. Paul's been having a non-stop hard-on for Craig ever since Roger Howarth even came to the show. Every other word out of his mouth is Craig. It gets so sickening seeing the exact same conversations day in and day out. It becomes predictable, and why watch a soap if you're not going to be surprised?

But, if you enjoy what you watch, go on ahead. I'm not trying to stop you from enjoying what you like, and I meant to say that earlier, but didn't. Hell, there's a lotta stuff I've enjoyed on soaps over the last couple of years that many people really didn't not like. If you enjoy it, enjoy it without feeling bad. Just remember that not everybody's gonna feel the same way you do. It took me a while to learn that, but I'm glad I did.

Oh, and I think I get what you're saying about people who complain just to complain. As a matter of fact, I know exactly what you mean. I can think of several boards that I refuse to go to because I know that it's just one negative post after another. The difference between the negativity here and the negativity at other places is that ours comes from the heart, from legitimate reasons.

Hope we're okay

"The Price is Right" has been on the air for nearly 35 years, and its changes have been so few, minor, and far between, yet it continues to be the highest rated show in daytime, beating even Y&R. I agree, things need to change over time with soaps, but the wrong things are changing. Things that are essential to the very fabric of each show are being changed. Most of them don't even have an identity anymore, besides just being a soap opera. ATWT is a soap. About what? People who live in a town. OLTL is a soap. About what? People who live in a town. GH is a soap. About what? Used to be about a hospital. Now it's more about people who live in town (though I give it credit, the hospital seems to be coming back). No soap has a premise that fits it and only it. GH used to be the hospital soap. AMC was the family-oriented soap with high comedy thrown in. OLTL was more serious. OLTL and AMC have been so interchangeable lately, if I wasn't a soap fanatic and didn't know anything about either one of them, I'd think they were one in the same.

Again, I say, people HAVE given ATWT a chance. If it weren't for the great episode here and there, I'd tune out again too. It's frustrating to see Katie doing the exact same things she was doing last year, seeing Gwen and Will being painted as innocent victims yet again, seeing Jade degrade herself even further just to see Gwen and Will broken up. I'm so sick of Paul Ryan and Meg Snyder, I think I might puke. Paul's been having a non-stop hard-on for Craig ever since Roger Howarth even came to the show. Every other word out of his mouth is Craig. It gets so sickening seeing the exact same conversations day in and day out. It becomes predictable, and why watch a soap if you're not going to be surprised?

But, if you enjoy what you watch, go on ahead. I'm not trying to stop you from enjoying what you like, and I meant to say that earlier, but didn't. Hell, there's a lotta stuff I've enjoyed on soaps over the last couple of years that many people really didn't not like. If you enjoy it, enjoy it without feeling bad. Just remember that not everybody's gonna feel the same way you do. It took me a while to learn that, but I'm glad I did.

Oh, and I think I get what you're saying about people who complain just to complain. As a matter of fact, I know exactly what you mean. I can think of several boards that I refuse to go to because I know that it's just one negative post after another. The difference between the negativity here and the negativity at other places is that ours comes from the heart, from legitimate reasons.

Hope we're okay

I mean we're okay now but I won't deny I was a little hurt/offended at what seemed like you lashing out at me earlier. And I DO understand what you're saying about character development, etc. Its just that I think in some of these soaps art imitates life. In life old habits die hard and SOME people NEVER grow up. Kinda like Katie who I still despise because of what she did to Carly and Simon last year. However I do think some characters should evolve. Who would think that Paul is still obsessed with getting Craig back? Or that Jade would still be trying to get into Will's pants after coming on the show more than a year ago? So I get that. However the dynamics have changed so it doesn't really feel the same even if its th same basic truth underneath it all. For instance Paul was irrational back in the day. Now hes more calm and cool. Hes still obsessed but hes able to control and not go pyscho over Craig (except for when he touches Meg and I can't blame cuz the psycho looks like hes ready to ravish her any day now).

But you are right about predictablity. Some of the soaps I can predict whats going to happen long in advance. However that hasn't happened to me with ATWT. Especially when I don't look for spoilers although sometimes I'm can't help myself.

I'll never get sick of Peg though...lol. They're just TOO CUTE together.....

Edited April 28, 200718 yr by ATWTCarOn4Ever

I think one reason soaps have gone down the toilet is that they have totally lost that air of unpredictability and anticipation about them.

Look at primetime dramas, such as Law & Order: SVU. SVU in particular is noted for its plot twists that you wouldn't be able to predict from the start of the show, which maks you want to watch to the very end. On the other hand with Daytime soaps you can practically read in advance what's going to happen these days.

I think one reason soaps have gone down the toilet is that they have totally lost that air of unpredictability and anticipation.

Look at primetime dramas, such as Law & Order: SVU. SVU, in particular, is noted for its plot twists that one wouldn't be able to predict from the start of the show, which makes one want to watch to the very end. On the other hand, with daytime soaps, one can practically read in advance what's going to happen these days.

Some of the biggest problems, IMO, are the rapid pace of the stories, the re-writing of history, release of spoilers, and trying to appeal to certain demographics.

Years ago, we knew two generations: the primary characters and their parents. The primary characters, if related, had BOTH parents in common. In the case of DOOL, Tom, Addie, Bill, and Marie were the product of Tom and Alice. Of course, each of them had his/her own issues but Tom and Alice were as solid as they come. In the case of AW, Jim and Mary Matthews had Pat, Alice, and Russ. Again, the offspring had problems but we enjoyed Jim and Mary dispensing advice.

DOOL re-wrote history with Bo being Victor's son. Then there's the whole John Black/Roman Brady/Chris Kositchek mess. Another offense occurred with Dr. Marlena Evans. (Longtime viewers are still wondering whatever happened to her ex-husband, Don Craig.) Be that as it may, all of a sudden, the good doctor has an endless amount of children - some of which are aliens to whom she forgot giving birth (and occurring off camera). Ahem. Given this, wouldn't you doubt her qualifications as a psychiatrist?

With SORAD, there are three or four generations to central families. As a result, great-grandparents are only 30 years older than their great-grandchildren. As an unfortunate consequence, most of the cast is related. How do you build upon this? Oh wait, by cross-generational dating. A quick jump to CBS' The Bold and the Beautiful shows how Brooke Logan has been involved with Eric Forrester, his sons Ridge and Thorne, and her daughter's husband, Deacon.

These plot-driven devices (paternity test mix-ups, unknown twins, amnesia, multiple deaths) are very trying and easily result in viewer disapproval.

As anyone familiar with NBC's trials and tribulations knows, DOOL can rebound. Many of the needed characters are already established (Sami, Hope, Marlena, Kate, Lucas, Bo). Also, DOOL has had a tremendous following over the years that would return if given a reason. I believe that at least one other soap (excluding Passions) will disappear before DOOL does.

Edited April 29, 200718 yr by REALTOR Rich

Oh I know... Megan McTavish and Brad Bell are "masters" at re-writing history (including history they created themselves), Bell having done this with the paternities of both Bridget AND Ridge.

B&B is a show that continues to throw away opportunities of being a masterpiece. The potential is there, just that Bell is too lazy to exploit it to the fullest.

You see, this is why I've said all the time why JER's influence on Daytime proved to be very damaging. Because prior to his arrival at Days, "out there" storylines, plot devices and gimmicks were usually the exception rather than the rule on Daytime. But because of Reilly's success first time round, and his ideas spread to most other soaps like cancer, these sort of things became de rigeur throughout Daytime with writers, network execs et al looking for short-term gains rather than long-term qualities. They only reap what they sow.

can someone explain to me how the numbers go up a point

these are the numbers for OLTL this week

OLTL

Monday: 2.4/3,359,000

Tuesday:

Wednesday: 2.5/3,047,000

Thursday: 2.3/2,762,000

Friday: 2.3/3,024,000

On wed they had a total viewers of 3, 047,00 and on Friday 3, 024,000 but the friday was a 2.3 and wed a 2.5 You would think it would have gotten a 2.5 or 2.4 because there is onl 23,000 more viewers on Wed.

and on thursday there was 2, 762, 000 and on friday there was an increase of 262,000 why didn't the 2.3 change

can someone explain to me how the numbers go up a point

these are the numbers for OLTL this week

OLTL

Monday: 2.4/3,359,000

Tuesday:

Wednesday: 2.5/3,047,000

Thursday: 2.3/2,762,000

Friday: 2.3/3,024,000

On wed they had a total viewers of 3, 047,00 and on Friday 3, 024,000 but the friday was a 2.3 and wed a 2.5 You would think it would have gotten a 2.5 or 2.4 because there is onl 23,000 more viewers on Wed.

and on thursday there was 2, 762, 000 and on friday there was an increase of 262,000 why didn't the 2.3 change

You're comparing apples and oranges. The 2.3 is the household rating, which means 2.3% of all US TV households watched the show that day. The 2,762,000 is the number of viewers, not households. "Households" can have 1 or more viewers watching, depending on the day, so the total viewers varies.

I'm sorry but saying someone quit watching "because they heard bad things" about a certain soap is basically saying viewers don't have minds of their own.

Oh I know... Megan McTavish and Brad Bell are "masters" at re-writing history (including history they created themselves), Bell having done this with the paternities of both Bridget AND Ridge.

B&B is a show that continues to throw away opportunities of being a masterpiece. The potential is there, just that Bell is too lazy to exploit it to the fullest.

You see, this is why I've said all the time why JER's influence on Daytime proved to be very damaging. Because prior to his arrival at Days, "out there" storylines, plot devices and gimmicks were usually the exception rather than the rule on Daytime. But because of Reilly's success first time round, and his ideas spread to most other soaps like cancer, these sort of things became de rigeur throughout Daytime with writers, network execs et al looking for short-term gains rather than long-term qualities. They only reap what they sow.

You are soooooo right.But my question is this:Why cant the higher ups see these mistakes?! Why cant they try their damnest to give EVERYONE a story?Wouldnt Gh be so much better if the show was giving stories to almost everyone.GOOD STORIES?!And yes stop rewriting history for the sake of a story that will be juicy for a week!.I wish we had the soap press who would ask the tough questions to the execs like brian frons,etc...

I so agree. We don't have to go follow someone else just because they say "It Sucks"

Days need a good sl for Bo and Hope Now!!

Dinah

Wow go GL for getting out of that number 8 rough spot! Still it sucks that it's the lowest ratings but I guess it's good that they're not last or next to last for once.