Another World

[Contessa Donatella]

So, I looked & looked & looked some more. Finally, posted in the wrong one, but A ratings topic where Jason47 has been posting & wouldn't you know it, he has the numbers that I need!

Looking at W18-49 in 1995 and 1996 I was able to find 17 weeks when AW was the highest of the 3. I have a bunch of numbers to type up. I'll be back. But this is not Jill's usual pattern. More later. Basically she took a very long time before she got them up, but then she was able to keep them there.

In case you're interested before I can get this typed up. 

https://www.jason47.com/days/nielsens1995.html

https://www.jason47.com/days/nielsens1996.html

 

[Paul Raven]

I took it more that she realized time had moved on and to the cast and crew she was just some day player actress. 

Realistically, at that point the chance of a contract role on a soap was slim.

Decided that she really didn't want to be playing bit parts here and there just for the sake of it.

I don't think she was blaming AW, just facing up to facts.

[DRW50]

That's how I saw it too. I can imagine anyone would find the experience degrading. 

I think AWHP had Susan Sullivan listed as someone the show asked to return for the anniversary, but she didn't. I wish they'd considered asking Judith to reprise Lenore. It would have been interesting seeing her with Robert.

Edited January 22 by DRW50

[Paul Raven]

Good idea. 

[Mona Kane Croft]

I recall in interview with Swajeski soon after Doug Watson's death.  In the interview she said she had prepared a big storyline for Mac and Rachel which she had planned to begin a few weeks after the show's 25th anniversary.  When resolving how to deal with Mac's death, she decided to continue with the planned storyline, and just tie Mac's death to that plot.  So the "big storyline" was obviously the Red Swan mystery, and details were just changed to include the unfortunate death of Doug Watson.  

I believe tying Mac Cory's death to such a trivial and silly plot was an undignified way to say good-bye to a very dignified actor and character.   The red swan was a gimmick storyline, and Swakjeski loved her gimmicks. That's one of the reasons I did not enjoy many of the new characters Swakeski created -- because most of them joined the show with some kind of gimmick, as opposed to being believable and grounded characters.  I've given examples of this in the past, so I won't repeat all that here.  

 

[Contessa Donatella]

I recall it being said that the plan was to celebrate the anniversary of Cory for the following 18 months & then on May 1 when Doug dropped dead of a massive coronary they had to scrap everything they had written, outlined, etc. I always thought that the writing was so bad because they were scrambling to find something to write in the place of what they had to throw out,

[Mona Kane Croft]

I'm sure lots of things were scrapped.  But she did say the Red Swan plot had already been planned, and was just adapted to include Mac's death.  Truthfully, I wish she had scrapped that one!!  LOL.

[Contessa Donatella]

I realize I was not very clear. Sorry about that. What I meant to say was the part that had to be thrown out was about the anniversary of Cory Publishing which corresponded to the personal anniversary of Mac himself. That, of course, would have left room for the Red Swan mystery to stand, to some degree at least, as it had already been written. Probably only having to be tweaked.

[Contessa Donatella]

An analysis of JFP's effect on the demo W18-49 at Another World in 1995-96.
Sources:
https://www.jason47.com/days/nielsens1995.html

https://www.jason47.com/days/nielsens1996.html

4-22-96 AW 2.7
              GL 2.5
              ATWT 2.3
4-29-96 AW 2.6
              GL 2.4
              ATWT 2.1
5-6-96 AW 2.9
              GL 2.5
            ATWT 2.3 
5-13-96 AW 2.7
             ATWT 2.5
             GL 2.4
5-20-96 ATWT 2.4
               AW 2.3/14
               GL 2.2/14
6-3-96   GL 2.5
              AW 2.4/16
             ATWT 2.4/16
6-17-96 ATWT 2.4/16
             AW 2.4/15
            GL 2.2
6-24-96 AW 2.4/16
            ATWT 2.4/16
            GL 2.2
7-1-96 AW 2.5/17
          ATWT 2.5/17
          GL 2.2
7-15-96 ATWT 2.6
             GL 2.3
            AW 2.1
7-22-96 AW 2.5/16
           ATWT 2.5/16
               GL 2.2
7-29-96  AW 2.8
               ATWT 2.3
             GL 2.0
8-5-96 AW 2.5
          ATWT 2.4
          GL 2.0
8-12-96 ATWT 2.6/17
                 AW 2.6/16
                GL 2.2 
8-19-96 AW 2.8
               ATWT 2.4
               GL 2.2
8-26-96 AW 2.6
               ATWT 2.2
                GL 2.1
9-9-96 AW 2.9
         ATWT 2.1
           GL 1.9
9-16-96 AW 2.8
         ATWT 2.3
          GL 2.0
9-23-96 AW 2.8
           GL 2.2
            ATWT 2.1
9-30-96 AW 2.7
            ATWT 2.2
           GL 1.8
This accounts for all the instances where AW rated better in the W18-49 demo when compared to ATWT & GL in 1996. There is only 1 week in 1995 where this occurs & as you will see, it is rather different.
9-25-95   AW 2.4/17
               ATWT 2.4/16
                   GL 2.4/16  
In the rest of the time covering May 1995 to Sept. 1996 AW was as low as 1.6 and as high as 2.7.
           

[Melroser]

IMO, the best part of the Red Swan was Cali coming on as Paulina. I loved Cali in the role and found her interesting. (Tho I later enjoyed Judi just as much).

[Mona Kane Croft]

Yes, Susan Sullivan was invited to both appear as Lenore on the 25th anniversary episodes and to attend the show's 25th anniversary party in New York.  She declined to appear as Lenore, but did fly to New York to attend the party.  

I'd really love to see a full list of AW's former actors who attended the anniversary party. There are a few photos of the event floating around online. Susan Sullivan appearrs in a couple of those photos.  But I have never seen an entire group photo or a list of actors in attendance.  

I also wish TPTB had asked Judith Barcroft to appear as Lenore in the anniversary episodes, after Ms Sullivan declined.  The two women have simiar acting styles, and I'm sure Barcroft would have had great chemistry with Nick Coster (Robert Delany),  

Edited January 22 by Mona Kane Croft

[Khan]

I wonder why Susan Sullivan declined to appear in the anniversary episodes.  Was she still on FALCON CREST at that point?

[Contessa Donatella]

A decent screencap of the Red Swan.

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In one of these clips, everyone & their brother is trying to buy the danged thing. Lucas wants it badly. Other people want it too. Rachel says to all, NO. it's the last thing I have from my husband.

 

Edited January 22 by Contessa Donatella
more more more

[TEdgeofNight]

No one asked for JFP’s ratings, but thanks for proving she was the best EP at the end of the show. Successor Savitz was a disaster and Goutman carried the cancellation. 

[Contessa Donatella]

Okay, besides the numbers, there's a need to look at perspective. This represents these 3 P&G soaps at 6th, 7th & 8th place, so almost the absolute bottom. Also this is 14 weeks, which is one week more than a business quarter & the entertainment "cycle". Plus: 

July 22-26: 2.5 / 16 (Tie with ATWT and B&B for 6th place. Increase due to Olympics)
July 29 - August 2: 2.8 / 17 (6th place. Increase due to Olympics)

 

And, as has been pointed out there is the issue of balance when we look at $$$ spent & damage done. Then, finally we have to note that AW is her shortest EP tenure, which MUST be a reflection of how successful she was considered by her employers.