I am the very first to bang the "GH Sucks!" drum. Guza has gutted the heart out of it for a marathon of mob with a side of mob and more mob, with the crumbs left to the hospital side, so he can claim the name of the show does still have merit.

That said, GH also goes dark plenty. Actors have tweeted about their breaks and whatnot, and GH now tapes a bunch of episodes at once, too. Then again, while going dark may save some money, well...the maintenance of the HD equipment and, more importantly, using the usual airhogs WAY OVER their contract minimums must negate all of that.

So I can only guess, where GH is concerned, that it stays afloat due to its name, past glory, and, while it is true that its HH ratings are no different from OLTL/AMC, it often does do better in the almighty demos (and even those aren't great; but #2 of a shrinking pie is still #2, and Frons is obsessed with demos.)

One last reason/theory I can think of is, while online is still often seen as "fringe" versus offline? I have noticed that while ALL soaps do have passionate fans, the GH/Days fans are a breed unto themselves. And I think that as crazy as it can get, maybe the network takes that "passion" into account, as well. Sure, a sinking ship is a sinking ship. But #2 demos + rabid fans + coasting on past glory/history + Frons backing = GH safe (for the moment).

The AMC/OLTL fans seem more rational/moderate/calm. But maybe I'm wrong there. It would not be the first time.

Just my rambling thoughts.

Edited August 29, 201015 yr by Wendy

JHC is the EP and the budget is under her control.

In a few months AMC won't be able to the park stuff unless they buy an show making machine.

IMO AMC would have been better off moving to CT like all the talk shows. What made them think things would be cheaper in LA?

Cuz TV Union labour is significantly cheaper than in NYC. (BTW out of curiousity what talk shows are in CT?)

Edited August 29, 201015 yr by EricMontreal22

JHC is the EP and the budget is under her control.

In a few months AMC won't be able to the park stuff unless they buy an show making machine.

IMO AMC would have been better off moving to CT like all the talk shows. What made them think things would be cheaper in LA?

The added factor to moving AMC to LA was that Frons wouldn't have to fly to NY to talk face to face with actors, producers, writers, etc. That saves the company lots of money. First class airfare everywhere you go with a company car driving you everywhere you want to go just for a day or two in the city is very costly.

One last reason/theory I can think of is, while online is still often seen as "fringe" versus offline? I have noticed that while ALL soaps do have passionate fans, the GH/Days fans are a breed unto themselves. And I think that as crazy as it can get, maybe the network takes that "passion" into account, as well. Sure, a sinking ship is a sinking ship. But #2 demos + rabid fans + coasting on past glory/history + Frons backing = GH safe (for the moment).

The AMC/OLTL fans seem more rational/moderate/calm. But maybe I'm wrong there. It would not be the first time.

Just my rambling thoughts.

I dunno how big a part it plays, but that's undoubtedly true (everyone remember the Days of Our Lives/sometimes GH Awards--ie the SOD Awards?)

I think it is high time I do that article I've been planning on how much a 30 second ad costs for AMC, GH, OLTL....

Because, like a lot of OLTL fans, he believes that everything AMC gets comes at OLTL's expense.

True dat.

The added factor to moving AMC to LA was that Frons wouldn't have to fly to NY to talk face to face with actors, producers, writers, etc. That saves the company lots of money. First class airfare everywhere you go with a company car driving you everywhere you want to go just for a day or two in the city is very costly.

I can fix that. Fly coach and use cabs.

There, I guess I'm a budget whiz too.

I think it is high time I do that article I've been planning on how much a 30 second ad costs for AMC, GH, OLTL....

YES please do!

AMC has a smaller cast, but it also has Lucci. While I know she's taken pay cuts, I'm sure she's still expensive to keep around. And they fly her back and forth between NYC, and I'm sure pay for her to stay at some ritzy hotel while she's there. Same goes for Alicia Minshew, and apparently, her whole family.

AMC doesn't fly Alicia back and forth, she and her family bought an apartment in LA. They only go to NY to check on her husbands restaurants, according to her.

Edited August 29, 201015 yr by AllmyDaysatGH

I can fix that. Fly coach and use cabs.

There, I guess I'm a budget whiz too.

*votes Marceline for head of ABCD*

AMC doesn't fly Alicia back and forth, she and her family bought an apartment in LA. They only go to NY to check on her husbands restaurants, according to her.

While it adds up, I'm pretty positive Lucci, since doesn't she work three weeks on, two off or something, has a condo in LA now. The thing is flying her return every 6 weeks isn't the kind of thing that really makes budgets unmanageable.

So either way, I'm not thinking AMC is a spend crazy show. I'm thinking that GH is given all the money they ask for, but it subsequently comes out of AMC and even OLTL's budget. I wouldn't be surprised if more of it comes from AMC. Because if OLTL is consistently coming in under or on budget, wouldn't ABC want to cut AMC's to show try and force them to do the same?

Frons did some video Q&A thing with Laura Wright a while back and basically said he can move money around as he sees fit when he thinks something is worth the $$$. And of course that moving around is probably uni-directional to GH. That really bugs me.

AMC doesn't fly Alicia back and forth, she and her family bought an apartment in LA. They only go to NY to check on her husbands restaurants, according to her.

AMC hasn't spent a cent on AM or CBL" moves to LA.

Edited August 29, 201015 yr by Southofnowhere

I can fix that. Fly coach and use cabs.

There, I guess I'm a budget whiz too.

Put Minshew and fam. up at a Ramada Inn, and you've got yourself an under-budget show.

I truly hope it's not a permanent thing, that would really suck. And I appreciate what you wrote, LeClerc!

I appreciate it too. It was nice to see some hard and fast facts.

Thanks!

YES please do!

I second that motion. Curious to see that.

Frons did some video Q&A thing with Laura Wright a while back and basically said he can move money around as he sees fit when he thinks something is worth the $$$. And of course that moving around is probably uni-directional to GH. That really bugs me.

me too. I can understand GH having a larger budget but it kind of seems unfair that AMC and OLTL's budgets have to be cut so GH can have more money