All: News & Ratings From Feb/March 85 & 93

[JackPeyton]

Soap Opera Digest Feb 23rd, 1985 Issue

News-

Genie Francis (ex-Laura, GH) joined the cast of ABC's North & South.

Jim Brown took over the producer job at Dallas.

Tristan Rogers upped his contract for an additional year at General Hospital. He wanted to be sure than Gloria Monty would be there for that full year before he upped. Monty's contract goes beyond the one year Rogers upped for. His contract now expires Dec 10th, 1985.

Beginning with this issue SOD is now distributed by TVGuide.

Aaron Spelling was working on a new series for ABC called Dark Mansions.

John Forsyth & Drew Barrymore hosted Disneyland's 30th Birthday Bash for NBC. The excec producer was Marty pasetta, who put on the Soap Opera Awards.

Rituals was picked up for an additional 23 weeks.

Elieen Davidon (Ashely, Y&R) is expected to marry Christopher Mayer (ex-Glitter).

Brad maule (Tony) is expected to be written out of General Hospital.

Brandon tartikoff Said he put new primetime soap Berrengers on Sat night to see if it can build an audience.

Thumps Up- Ryans Hope celebrates Chanukah

Thumps Down- Y&R changing race storyline.

Thumps Up- Days Kimberly was molested as a child storyline.

march 3rd, 1993 Issue-

Just days after leaving Another World where he played Sam, Brain Green has joined the cast as Brian Bodine. He read for the role opposite Kelly Ripa, who plays Hayley. However Ripa was standing in for Cady McClain (Dixie) who was busy filming at that time.

Karen Witter signed a new contract with OLTL as Tina.

Robin Strasser is retuning to OLTL in the role of Dorian.

Andrew Lloyd Webber pulled out of making a cameo on The Young & The Restless at the last minute.

Joseph Brenn (Scott) has retuned to work after a three week break. The actor was diagnosed with HIV and took a leave. He was temp recasted by Chris Cass.

Noelle Beck quit Loving.

Days of Our Lives will air a primetime epsiode before the soap opera digest awards on Feb 26th.

Renne Jones took over the role of lexie Carver on Days

Thyme lewis has joined the cast of Days as Jonah.

A New Soap? - Bill Bell Jr, and his fiance Maria Arena are close to getting a deal from NBC for Coming Of Age, a soap opera about a group of people in their 20's and 30's working and living in L.A.

Ratings-

(each point is 931,000 homes)

Y&R- 8.7

AMC- 7.8

B&B- 6.3

GH- 6.3

ATWT- 6.2

OLTl- 6.2

GL- 5.9

Days- 5.2

AW- 3.6

LOV- 3.0

(no wonder Loving was canceled)

[Ann_SS]

Wow, those ratings are incredible. The worm has turn.

[CSF]

Anyone know what happened with that soap? Any reason why it didn't go through and was it only offered to NBC?

God, those were the days when the ratings were strong and consistent. But I don't think they should have canceled Loving when they did, it wasn't "that" far behind Another Word. It's not like AW was at a 4.6. They were both in the 3's and Loving was up against the top rated soap.

I bet if Loving aired at 1:30 and AMC was on from 12:30 to 1:30 directly opposite Y&R, Loving would have had more of a chance.

[JackPeyton]

No, the shopped it around and were hopeful on a commitment from NBC