NBC left the shows alone during this period for the most part. Look what happened.

You probably hit the nail on the head right there.

I don't think NBC knew what to do with three very different soaps (Days, AW, SB). So it interfered with them as much as it could. Then, when Days bounced under JER's first tenure, some bright spark at the Peacock Network figured that all the soaps should follow the Days template -- or be killed off. Hence SuBe (which I loved) and Passions. NBC actively started gearing its whole line-up towards the teenage girls demographic.

David V also mentioned that NBC has really been looking very tired and empty over the last decade (with the exception of the L&O franchise). In fact, it has been in decline ever since those "Must-See TV" halcyon days of the mid-90s. ABC, CBS and Fox have all surpassed the network.

When I think about its frankly amazing Days/AW/SB lineup, it makes me so sad how badly NBC fouled up with those three soaps. As far as Daytime is concerned, its only hope is to get a Daytime Prez who actually cares and will commission two new soaps to support the lineup (yeah, like that will ever happen!). Failing that, I wish Fox would get into Daytime and buy up Days and look into two new soaps. Or relaunch an old one.

[Failing that, I wish Daytime soaps would be screened between 5-8pm so that more people could actually watch live (i.e.: while they are making dinner)].

^for years now i have wanted FOX to pickup Days and start another soap... but air them from 5-7p when more people are home and the only thing on is the news.

hey one can hope...