Ann, I agree with you that Geary would probably stay forever...but I think they're going to push him out the door...in a "positive" public relations way.

I'm cheering if that happens. Too bad Benard and Burton won't be following him out the door.

As for your suggestion that ABC go the talk show/game show route...I think the performance of Wayne Brady's "Let's Make a Deal" will be something ABC will be watching closely. If it does well.....ABC soaps are gone sooner than later.

BTW, I've given up on my original idea that ABC's soaps would all go out at once. I finally realized that that would really be a PR nightmare for the network. They really do need to weed them out one-by-one, like CBS is likely starting to do. So inevitably, one will go first....and unfortunately, I think it will be OLTL next year.

Yeah, it is looking like ABC will phase out its soaps.

Still, I have to say, I find all of this behind-the-scenes stuff so much more fascinating than the shows themselves right now. I really am addicted to it.

Same here. I am fascinated watching the death of a tv genre. ABC's decision to move AMC was a surprising twist. Can't wait to see how it plays out.

The problem is, the decision is in Frons' hands. And all three shows are pretty much doing the same right now, in every single demographic. So it comes down to costs....AMC will likely end up being the cheapest to produce with the move to LA. OLTL, the cheapest right now, will become the 2nd cheapest. And GH will be the most expensive. I think even if those above Frons tell him that GH should go instead of OLTL, because of the cost....Frons could easily come back and say he will just cut those costs somehow.

In fact....and I don't really think I'm going out on any big limb here....I think Tony Geary will probably retire in 2010, and if Genie Francis is feeling generous, she'll come back to escort him off the show. That will save a lot of money right there.

Believe me.....I'd prefer to keep OLTL around over the other two...but I just think Frons is stacking the deck against OLTL right now. IF, as it has been rumored, an ABC show is going to be canned in 2010, the only way OLTL can avoid being the unlucky one is to suddenly and consistently become higher rated in one area--the 18-49 female demo. I just don't see that happening. The ABC soaps are just too similar in performance (Nielsen-wise) lately.

(But I will be thrilled if I am proven wrong

I know. It just sucks that it doesn't matter what OLTL does or how empty and overbudget AMC and GH have become, they still get a pass from Frons.

Still, I have to say, I find all of this behind-the-scenes stuff so much more fascinating than the shows themselves right now. I really am addicted to it.

Me too. It's like a soap all its own but without the predictability. Soaps and newspapers are both dying and there's nothing to do but see how it turns out.

Edited August 14, 200916 yr by marceline

I still say the way it's going with OLTL, it could possibly outlive AMC and maybe even GH. They seem to be hemorraging less viewers at this time, and they get the most critical acclaim(at least they DID) and the show while has it's moments doesn't suck as hard as AMC and GH do

ALL I have to say is RIP GH AND JASON MORGAN

Sh!t, Y&R got a 3.2 on Friday!

I hope the hacks running that show don't take it as people hating Nikki and that they couldn't care less about seeing her. I can definitely see how Y&R tumbled last week though.

The rises DAYS was getting earlier in the year seem to be wearing off, but nothing lasts forever anymore, especially in daytime.

Embrace your inner Nikki-hate, A!!!

:lol:

If I was Frons, I would make my decision on what was best for future programming and reducing production costs so GH would be the first to go. AMC and OLTL would be solid led-ins for the new inexpensive talk show at 3:00 p.m. Aisha Tyler is young and hip. To bring in the 18-49 women demo. I would make sure sthat she has hip hop and pop acts on her show along with celebrity guests over the typical talk show topics. After a year, I would dump OLTL and a year later AMC so by 2012, 2013 the latest all the ABC soaps would be gone.

Edited August 14, 200916 yr by Ann_SS

ATWT need to get those Total Viewers up again. The 2.2 is very alarming. Goutman is featuring some vets now but it might be just too late. Many have left the show without looking back.

I am afraid that you are right. The writing has been too bad for too long. In the past month, I have even quit watching every day (and I have been watching for over 20 years). I have said it 1000 times, but the self-contained episodes are the stupidest idea to ever be introduced to soaps, and are 100% how ATWT approaches things now. No suspense, no investment, and no reason to tune in tomorrow. NO BRAINER.

I gave up my final soap (Y&R) in March. Looks like it was just in time. While these ratings suck, I'm not at all surprised by them. When you have writers that couldn't care less about the long term viewers, nor what the majority of the viewing audience wants to see, this is what happens. And viewers are leaving Y&R in droves!

Edited August 19, 200916 yr by Becki