I was one of the people that really enjoyed the first 2 years under Hogan, though I certainly didn't see it as ATWT's "Renaissance" like others did because I think he burnt out really quickly. I think the quality dropped significantly around 2002.

But to each his/her own. I think the biggest issue with Hogan was that he obviously had his favorite characters, and the ones that weren't were significantly backburnered... especially the vets. I think they were ignored A LOT more by Hogan than by JP now.

And, you know what? I was actually glad that they got rid of him. But I still think they should used that as an opportunity to get a brand-new HW, and not just let JP have complete control.

Oh yeah, JP should have had a co-HW. I don't believe that anything could have saved ATWT -- it could have had the best writer EVER and been at its best ever, and I still think it would have been circling the drain -- but I sure wish I could say that I've enjoyed it over the last couple of years. Sure, on an episode-by-episode basis, there have been many, many great, watchable episodes. But all of it strung together...it's been pretty bad.

So no Reid for this whole week so Barbara can babble on to a clown and Katie and Chris can bore me to death.

I believe if Goutman and Jean had been replaced about three years ago and CBS amd Televest had just cared about the show and tried to keep it going we wouldn't be facing cancelation now. In an industry that shuffles writers and producers as often as soaps do, Goutman and Jean can be thankful and count themselves lucky to have had a job this long.

I agree with PJ that the core was still there.There were still characters that could have been brought back and a lot of history to be mined.

I can't believe that Jean Passanante is going back to OLTL. It won't surprise me if she gets the HW job. I expect to see Goutman at OLTL too. If not as an EP then surely as a director.

I am loving that we are seeing Lucinda and Barbaa,Bob and Kim a lot now.

JP still having a job is a slap in the face, to both ATWT and OLTL fans.

I agree. (Even though earlier I said that the show "died" ages ago. I should have said a big part of it died... but some of it's still there.)

And I like that we are still seeing some of our beloved characters. Lucinda and Barbara have always been my favorites by-far (Kim too), so I'm glad they are still so involved.

And damn, Kim might have been the *only* good part about today.

Colleen Zenk Pinter definitely deserves better material than what they gave her today - talking to a clown and hugging it. And I didn't get why she was trying to light off fireworks - surely she should realize that is so dangerous to do in an enclosed space. Alot of good it would do to attract attention but you burn in the fire it creates. Today's script was weak. Kim was the best part of the show.

JP still having a job is a slap in the face, to both ATWT and OLTL fans.

Ruin one soap, you are rewarded with a job to ruin another soap. The soaps have become a joke.

Ruin one soap, you are rewarded with a job to ruin another soap. The soaps have become a joke.

Why OLTL would hire her is beyond belief. OLTL is a mess and to add Jean P. to it writing staff is madness.

Oh yeah, JP should have had a co-HW. I don't believe that anything could have saved ATWT -- it could have had the best writer EVER and been at its best ever, and I still think it would have been circling the drain -- but I sure wish I could say that I've enjoyed it over the last couple of years. Sure, on an episode-by-episode basis, there have been many, many great, watchable episodes. But all of it strung together...it's been pretty bad.

I agree. I think a good HW and/or EP *might* have prolonged the show... maybe 1 or 2 more years? But I think we lament about what might-have-been because we all want to see the show at its best.

But the bottom line is that P&G checked out ages ago. I think AW's cancellation did them in. Once they wanted out, that was that. That's why when GL was cancelled, the writing was on the wall for ATWT.

Edited July 8, 201015 yr by Anastasia Beaverhausen

Why OLTL would hire her is beyond belief. OLTL is a mess and to add Jean P. to it writing staff is madness.

It is an industry full of nepotism that has contributed to its self-destruction. People hire their friends, lovers and family members in spite of their lack of talent and ability. Passante is rumored to be RC's good friend so he brings her aboard to write OLTL is already in jeopardy of cancellation due to his own incompetence. And as someone pointed out earlier no doubt that Goutman will show up at OLTL as a director at some point.

Edited July 8, 201015 yr by Ann_SS

I thought there was already some tidbit about Goutman being hired at OLTL. Maybe I misunderstood.

It is an industry full of nepotism that has contributed to its self-destruction. People hire their friends, lovers and family members in spite of their lack of talent and ability. Passante is rumored to be RC's good friend so he brings her aboard to write OLTL is already in jeopardy of cancellation due to his own incompetence. And as someone pointed out earlier no doubt that Goutman will show up at OLTL as a director at some point.

Yeah..Goutman will be on OLTL before we know it. It's a shame some talented ATWT actors are out of a job yet Goutman and Pissy continue to get employed even though they killed a legendary soap!

Yeah..Goutman will be on OLTL before we know it. It's a shame some talented ATWT actors are out of a job yet Goutman and Pissy continue to get employed even though they killed a legendary soap!

Not only the actors, think about the crew who slaved away for a fraction of the salaries that the writers and actors received. It absolutely killed me to read Goutman saying in that last AP article that he and Passante fought to keep ATWT on the air. The delusional nutjob actually thinks that they did a good job, but other factors like shifting demos are solely responsible for cancellation. He acknowledges no responsibility..

Edited July 8, 201015 yr by Ann_SS

Not only the actors, think about the crew who slaved away for a fraction of the salaries that the writers and actors received. It absolutely killed me to read Goutman saying in that last AP article that he and Passante fought to keep ATWT on the air. The delusional nutjob actually thinks that they did a good job, but other factors like shifting demos are solely responsible for cancellation. He acknowledges no responsibility..

Nutfob is approriate for Goutman. He is delusional. He did nothing but hire ABC actors on ATWT. He did NOTHING to save ATWT. Stupid A-Hole!!

Seriously, though. What could anyone have done to "save ATWT?" Look at the ratings. They don't spike when "things get good" nor do they dip when "things get bad." They steadily fall, and nothing in this whole wide world can ever get the ratings back up to a practical level. It's easy to go on and on about people killing shows, but honestly, I think it's just the grief talking. Whether a show is well-written or not is PURELY subjective. There's not a factual thing, not a "standard," involved at all, so to act like one's own opinion speaks for the entire viewing audience's is a little narcissistic, no?

To be honest, I have to respect anyone who's able to string together 250+ hour-long episodes each year with somewhat coherent stories and not get entirely overwhelmed. Am I fan of those stories? Most of the time, no. But am I going to project that belief onto every member of the audience and say that the main reason why the show's numbers are down is because of a subjective characteristic of the show? No indeed. We don't even know how many people watch the episodes online or tape it or DVR it. So basing everything on the outdated, nearly-useless Neilsen system isn't really accurate.

Seriously, though. What could anyone have done to "save ATWT?" Look at the ratings. They don't spike when "things get good" nor do they dip when "things get bad." They steadily fall, and nothing in this whole wide world can ever get the ratings back up to a practical level. It's easy to go on and on about people killing shows, but honestly, I think it's just the grief talking. Whether a show is well-written or not is PURELY subjective. There's not a factual thing, not a "standard," involved at all, so to act like one's own opinion speaks for the entire viewing audience's is a little narcissistic, no?

To be honest, I have to respect anyone who's able to string together 250+ hour-long episodes each year with somewhat coherent stories and not get entirely overwhelmed. Am I fan of those stories? Most of the time, no. But am I going to project that belief onto every member of the audience and say that the main reason why the show's numbers are down is because of a subjective characteristic of the show? No indeed. We don't even know how many people watch the episodes online or tape it or DVR it. So basing everything on the outdated, nearly-useless Neilsen system isn't really accurate.

A LOT could have been done. First, bring back Martha B. as Lily. Ratings haven't recovered since she left. Get rid of all the dead weight like Janet, Liberty, Dusty(he is NOT the Dusty I remember..he is so useless now), Vienna, Henry, Jon L. Craig and bring back Scott Bryce ..why fire the guy??..Bring back storyline focus on the vets...and if I were Goutman I would have fired Pissy and given the HW duties to Susan Dansby and a rehired Penelope K.

I would do more but thats a few things..

A LOT could have been done. First, bring back Martha B. as Lily. Ratings haven't recovered since she left. Get rid of all the dead weight like Janet, Liberty, Dusty(he is NOT the Dusty I remember..he is so useless now), Vienna, Henry, Jon L. Craig and bring back Scott Bryce ..why fire the guy??..Bring back storyline focus on the vets...and if I were Goutman I would have fired Pissy and given the HW duties to Susan Dansby and a rehired Penelope K.

I would do more but thats a few things..

And all of this would have brought the ratings straight up?