March 3-7, 2008

[Khan]

It's that kind of thinking that got us Melaswen.

[Toups]

Melaswen was a good idea. It's just the execution and conclusion were mishandled. If Jim was able to tell the story his way, it would've been better.

[Ryan]

Lol Toups, keep on promoting that Reilly agenda

[marceline]

So I guess that means you're NOT going to disagree with me based on what I actually say? That's cool but could you send these little diatribes to the voices in your head and stop targeting me? You're being a buzzkill.

[marceline]

Heretic. Blasphemer. Rev. Branco will see you burn in the fires for your lack of vision.

I'll be there with marshmallows, Hershey bars and graham crackers and will be making s'mores for all the damned while the flesh peels from our undeserving skeletons. I'll be the one licking pictures of Michael Malone, John McBain and Evangeline Williamson since apparently that's the only reason I could possibly have for not enjoying the show. Perhaps the other 500,000+ people who quit watching were all McBain-obsessed Malonian whores too.

[Khan]

I won't presume to speak for the entire OLTL fan contingent. However, for me, the problem is that nothing currently on-air compels me to watch everyday. Does RC know these characters? Yes. Are they interacting with each other more (or better)? Yes. Is there more (or better) balance of airtime amongst the cast? Yes. (Frankly, I don't think any of that's even an issue anymore.)

Yet, despite all the positives (pre- and during-strike material included), RC's OLTL still feels lacking. Granted, he has a fair amount of "pretty good" stories, but (again, IMO) he doesn't have anything great - like, so-sensational-it-practically-jumps-off-the-screen-great.

Now, maybe the post-strike material will correct the problem. Who knows? I'm willing to give RC as much time as he needs b/c, 1) I think he has shown tremendous potential (even though, I refrain from calling him the Second Coming of Doug Marland); and 2) compared to where OLTL was even before last Thanksgiving, it's certainly better off!

For me, though, RC will have to do something big - and no, I'm not talking "Out of the Ashes" big, either. I'm talking Karen Wolek-is-a-hooker big.

[Khan]

Toups, I love ya, but you're never gonna sell me on Melaswen.

[Angela]

MONDAY, MARCH 3

1.(1) Y&R: Monday: 4.0/5,558,000 (+128,000)

2.(2) B&B: Monday: 2.9/3,883,000 (+203,000)

3.(4) ATWT: Monday: 2.2/2,947,000 (-87,000)

4.(5) DAYS: Monday: 2.2/2,894,000 (-7,000)

5.(3) GH: Monday: 2.2/2,859,000 (-298,000)

6.(8) AMC: Monday: 2.0/2,581,000 (+185,000)

7.(7) GL: Monday: 1.9/2,463,000 (+45,000)

8.(6) OLTL: Monday: 1.9/2,375,000 (-203,000)

TUESDAY, MARCH 4

1.(1) Y&R: Tuesday: 4.1/5,657,000 (+99,000)

2.(2) B&B: Tuesday: 3.0/4,072,000 (+189,000)

3.(3) ATWT: Tuesday: 2.3/3,101,000 (+154,000)

4.(5) GH: Tuesday: 2.4/2,968,000 (+109,000)

5.(4) DAYS: Tuesday: 2.1/2,897,000 (+3,000)

6.(7) GL: Tuesday: 2.0/2,755,000 (+292,000)

7.(6) AMC: Tuesday: 2.1/2,634,000 (+53,000)

8.(8) OLTL: Tuesday: 2.0/2,475,000 (+100,000)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5

1.(1) Y&R: Wednesday: 4.0/5,558,000 (-99,000)

2.(2) B&B: Wednesday: 2.9/4,015,000 (-57,000)

3.(3) ATWT: Wednesday: 2.1/3,009,000 (-92,000)

4.(4) GH: Wednesday: 2.4/2,973,000 (+5,000)

5.(5) DAYS: Wednesday: 2.1/2,769,000 (-128,000)

6.(6) GL: Wednesday: 1.9/2,735,000 (-20,000)

7.(8) OLTL: Wednesday: 2.1/2,572,000 (+97,000)

8.(7) AMC: Wednesday: 2.0/2,514,000 (-120,000)

THURSDAY, MARCH 6

1.(1) Y&R: Thursday: 3.8/5,262,000 (-296,000)

2.(2) B&B: Thursday: 2.7/3,716,000 (-299,000)

3.(3) ATWT: Thursday: 2.2/3,009,000 (SAME)

4.(4) GH: Thursday: 2.3/2,840,000 (-133,000)

5.(5) DAYS: Thursday: 2.1/2,835,000 (+66,000)

6.(6) GL: Thursday: 1.9/2,796,000 (+61,000)

7.(7) OLTL: Thursday: 1.9/2,397,000 (-175,000)

8.(8) AMC: Thursday: 1.9/2,314,000 (-200,000)

FRIDAY, MARCH 7

1.(1) Y&R: Friday: 4.0/5,539,000 (+277,000)

2.(2) B&B: Friday: 3.1/4,228,000 (+512,000)

3.(3) ATWT: Friday: 2.3/3,318,000 (+309,000)

4.(5) DAYS: Friday: 2.3/3,095,000 (+260,000)

5.(6) GL: Friday: 2.1/2,978,000 (+182,000)

6.(4) GH: Friday: 2.3/2,955,000 (+115,000)

7.(8) AMC: Friday: 2.1/2,753,000 (+439,000)

8.(7) OLTL: Friday: 2.0/2,602,000 (+205,000)

[Jess]

Yeah, that was what I was said. LOL.

Nice post.

[Angela]

I find the ATWT, GH stuff cold-blooded in terms of viewer difference vs. rating:

TUESDAY, MARCH 4

3.(3) ATWT: Tuesday: 2.3/3,101,000

4.(5) GH: Tuesday: 2.4/2,968,000

+.1 (GH)/+133,000 (ATWT)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5

3.(3) ATWT: Wednesday: 2.1/3,009,000

4.(4) GH: Wednesday: 2.4/2,973,000

+.3 (GH)/+36,000 (ATWT)

THURSDAY, MARCH 6

3.(3) ATWT: Thursday: 2.2/3,009,00

4.(4) GH: Thursday: 2.3/2,840,000

+.1 (GH)/+169,000 (ATWT)

FRIDAY, MARCH 7

3.(3) ATWT: Friday: 2.3/3,318,000

6.(4) GH: Friday: 2.3/2,955,000

SAME RATING/+363,000 (ATWT)

[Khan]

Oops! Sorry, Jess, for stepping on your toes. I didn't see your post before posting mine.

[cal3]

I think I fall somewhere between this and Jess.

For the most part I don't like the characters any longer. If I don't like the characters then the stories start out at a deficit. If I didn't like Todd or Natalie or Starr or Rex or Roxie or insert the name 4 years ago or 10 years ago or so on and they were always on my FF list they probably aren't a draw now and aren't going to be in the future. Of course that goes to the point about appealing to a very narrow group of fans which is a problem all in and of itself.

Saying the vet's are back or there is more balance thus all the problems the show has are cured is something of a simplistic solution to a problem that is very complex. I doubt there is even agreement on who the vets are and I certainly never would have cried for more story for Cris or Antonio, arguably two vets. Clint may be a veteran character but I've never cared for JVD in the role. Bo/RSW is certainly a "vet" but everything about him and the character hits me as unattractive these days.

I don't blame RC I blame the other two stooges.

In the end I don't think there is one answer to why people aren't loving the show. That probably has something to do with what got them started watching in the first place.

Oh and pass me the marshmallows.

[Vee]

One thing I will assent on is that OLTL under Carlivati has been much more character-oriented and low-key. There have been almost no huge "events". Marcie and Viki at the hostage standoff was similar to that but not as large in scope. The Go Red Ball with Alison could've done that if not for, I suspect, the strike, and the need to push that storyline back. As it was, thanks to the strike, the ball was almost a non event.

Now, personally, for me, the last two sweeps for OLTL have been some of the best and most character-centric material the show has done in a long time. Especially November, which honored Asa's memory and kicked off a great umbrella for the Buchanans while, IMO, flawlessly connecting multiple storylines together. But it was not about a big event, not at all. Now, I do think soaps need events during sweeps. But after Dena Higley, I'm almost glad to be shed of the stunts for now. I do think one is needed in May.

Yeah, but who's the narrow group of fans here? The fact is, Todd and Natalie, Starr and Rex are generally popular characters to the larger audience; I don't think that can be denied even if people don't like Story A or B or Couple X or Y.

Yet people are enjoying Antonio (who is far from frontburner, along with Cris) more now than they have in years, so what does that mean? Or, why was Clint enjoyed last week in the BE story even by people who've hated him during the Dorian follies? Does that mean a character has to be stuck in a solid state and therefore should not be written for, or does that mean writing can change opinion?

[marceline]

Stories like that take a lot of bravery to tell, not just creative bravery but managerial bravery and as we've seen with Luke/Noah, the suits running things cave to the tiniest bit of pressure. Imagine trying to pull off a Marty Saybrooke gang-rape story today. You'd have the North-American Interfraternity Conference pissed off about the portrayal of frat boys as rapists, every women's organization on earth angry about "Marty the Party Girl" and her misidentification of Kevin as one of her rapists. Various churches commenting on Andrew's role, etc... Blah, blah, blah.

OLTL's Todd/Starr thing could have shaped up to be an examination of Todd's psychological issues but that would mean putting Trevor St. John front and center in a non-romantic story. It would also mean examining the Todd's ENTIRE history which would mean looking at his previous incarnations when he was played by another actor and written by other writers. Frons would rather set himself on fire than let any of those things happen.

I guess what I'm saying is that I agree with you about the need for a really amazing story but there's so many obstacles standing in the way of letting a story like that ever happen. Soaps can't even see two guys kissing without it turning into the culture wars. If soaps can't come into the present, they'll disappear into the past. And rightly so.

[Khan]

For me, it's the latter. If an incoming HW can look at a character I previously disliked and somehow discover new and intriguing layers to him, I'm willing to go along. It hasn't happened often, but I think it is possible.