ATWT Canceled

[JaneAusten]

I think many today have outside or other sources of income today. If they don't it's pretty naive of them. SOaps or not, unless you are a name, getting gigs is pretty tough. I do think soaps are not the norm in terms of income. It;s treated as almost a 9 to 5, 5 day a week job in terms of income. Most acting jobs are not like this. You work in a film ,commerical, PT episode, theatre you get paid for that and may not have another job for months. Financial folks who work with actors tell them to save their money when they work just for that reason. I suspect in this day and age most do and have other income sources.

It's still sad because it's not just the actors out of work it's all the other folks who actually make the show run day in and day out. It' incredibly sad for viewers yes but I really feel for the folks behind the scenes who will be out of work.

My opinion and it's only an opinion is that New York is actually a better place to be over LA. The theatre to me is a much more viable avenue for many. But that's just an opinion of course.

[CSF]

You're right about that. I'm not sure how much theatre work there is in LA, but the chances of actors getting work in theatre and being able to keep their health insurance is much more likely and possible in NYC.

[Faulkner]

Sorry if this is already posted, but Time Magazine has an interesting take on the death of soaps.

http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2009/12/09/the-world-has-turned-why-are-soaps-dying/

[SFK]

Yeah, of course some exists, but L.A. simply is not a theatre town. You'd be much better off in D.C. or Chicago if you want to pursue theatre anywhere other than New York. Of course it raises the question of who in the cast wants to be an actor and who wants to be a star. For some, L.A. will be the obvious, the ONLY choice for them as they want to make it in primetime and film (or on another soap). And it's not like well-paying theatre roles are just lying around NY waiting to be picked up either. But I agree that the theatre aspect is a definite plus about making NY an actor's homebase. It's not just about NY productions, but Equity auditions for regional theatres across the country happen in NY, for jobs usually paying around $600-$1200/wk. The tiny number of Equity auditions you see posted out in L.A., there's just no comparison. Out there, it's pretty much TV and film or "safety job"/unemployment. But when you're depressed, at least the sun is shining.

[Actor87]

You might not remember, but I was here, too.

Franky, way to make me tear up! Thanks for that awesome 1st post!!!!

As far as the cast goes, I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I think ATWT has one of the most talented casts in daytime. The fact that they're going to be out of work is heartbreaking. However, I like to think that cast members like Hubbard, Widdoes, Masters, Hastings, etc. have enough money saved up to retire comfortably. As for the other cast, I can see some becoming daytime staples, floating from soap to soap, and I can see others quietly fading into the abyss of "former soap star" working types (much like Marcy Walker). It's tough for me to think about who should survive.....who should go on to more prestigious work....because I want them all to find success. West, Park, Hensley, Menighan-Hensley, Pinson, Colombino, Dawson, da Cruz, Leyden, etc. They're all extremely talented actors that deserve work.

[Juliajms]

Ummm NO. Scandal and soap opera are not synonymous. I could care less what happens to Jon and Kate. I could care less who Tiger is banging. I do care about the residents of Oakdale and what is happening in their fictional lives. What a bunch of celebrities do in their personal life is not terribly interesting to me.

[bellcurve]

Understand that this is the way the mainstream sees the almighty soap. They see it as trash, scandal, melodrama, pretty white people with problems. The mainstream tends to focus on these things, along with classic soap cliches/staples(i.e. the tags, the switched at birth/back from the dead stories), instead of focusing on what soaps are and what they could be.

And I don't think it could ever be fully explained to someone who isn't passionate about soaps and the work. It's like explaining to someone who hates Star Trek why science fiction is so popular.

But the article definitely makes a point. People are getting their fix for these things in other places. I know The Hills probably has more intrigue and more suspense than any daytime soap opera on the air today. And no one is raped or murdered on that show. And there are no earthquakes either. Yet.

[DRW50]

Yes, but people have always gotten their fix in other places. Hollywood scandals, like Lana Turner, or Ingrid Bergman. Watergate, Iran/Contra, Clinton's impeachment, these were all seen as soap operas by many in the public, and by quite a few members of the press.

Stuff like The Hills or Jon and Kate is more of quasi-soap that people move on from within a year or two. It's the same type of fad as people had in the past when they were hooked on the Loud family, or on Roots, or on the other big miniseries like Thornbirds. Jon and Kate posted huge ratings losses as soon as the hype wore off earlier this year. The Hills has had continual ratings losses this year and was just barely renewed.

This has gone on for many years. The main difference is stuff like TMZ and Drudge, but it's the media, which is now wholly committed to scandal and low attention span material, which has changed. They cover those sites 24/7, whereas the public, by and large, is still busy trying to put food on the table.

I think Time is trying to be more far-reaching because the real story is more boring -- the networks think viewers are idiots. They thought they could chase away viewers who weren't demographically acceptable and replace them with young people who never showed up. Now the soaps manage to bore or alienate just about everyone, and the networks feel free to slash them down to nothing or to cancel them. And they can count on the press to find some way to blame it on everyone but the suits.

[JaneAusten]

Bravo and well said.

[Adam]

RIP ATWT... I watched the show periodically throughout my years of daytime watching, and I pretty much agree with everything that has been said thus far. With GL, it was a shell of its former self, and while ATWT has had problems just like every other soap, it still had its heart. My heart goes out to its legions of fans here and those who aren't online. I hope they give it an ending that will do it justice.

Sad day,

[Soapsuds]

Hmm...the man is an !@#$%^&*]. ATWT is a goner yet his wife's a s s h a t of a show...Big Brother which sucks big time in the ratings is still on the f u c k i n g air!!

And Sylph why are you still posting here?? You didnt even watch the damn show!

That's the sad part. ATWT still has most of its heart on the show. GL was really not GL when it went off the air. ATWT still has many vets on but was infested with way too many ABC actors.

[Soapsuds]

Sigh....I wonder what happened to AnnaWorldTurner?? She was a great poster and miss her dearly. Oceanview is another poster sorely missed. I know where GMOB is at....LOL. I havent lost touch with him...

ATWT was always my favorite soap. The 80's theme music still gives me chills to this day. I love watching eppys and the closing credits on youtube.

It will be a sad 10 months and beyond once ATWT no longer turns.

[alphanguy74]

Today Tyra Banks aired the first high colonic televised on national TV... The future of daytime TV is HERE, boys and girls!! Why watch quality, riveting drama when you can watch some bitch getting her ass hosed out? And then after, you can tune into Maury Povich and see street trash take paternity tests. And let's not forget Jerry Springer. Makes me want to say F U C K it and put in my Wonder Woman DVD's. I'm watching PBS create MORE and MORE.

[trish672]

I think the TIME article got it half right. I think it's just that people are less likely these days to sit through the endless pile of garbage that is on daytime when there are so many other better options. If I decide to call in sick from work and hang out at home, I'm not watching the soaps I used to love. I'm either watching a TV series on DVD or Hulu. When that doesn't do it for me I'm on the net posting on ONTD. There are so many awesome choices now that weren't there 5 or 10 years ago. It seems the only ones left watching soaps are the ones who are still emotionally invested. Those who aren't invested will drift to entertainment sources they deem more worthy of their time. If soaps were still something worth investing my time in and I felt payoff was guaranteed, I'd be there. But I now know better and so do the many people that left this genre behind.

When competition is fierce businesses know that they have to step up their game or GTFO. But that's just it. The suits want OUT. Knowing this, why would any of the old viewers be inclined to return to soaps? I won't even mention new viewers. No way in hell the genre attracts a new audience unless they're hiding a clone of Robert Pattinson somewhere.

[Soapsuds]

I tend to do DVDs too..the TV DvD ones like Dallas, Dynasty, Facts of Life...etc...I wish ATWT would come out on DVD in some form.