AMC: "Grossly over-budget"

[Southofnowhere]

Springer .Maury and Springers ex bodyguard(Can't think of his name) all moved to CT.

[EricMontreal22]

But they rate even lower than the soaps When you said ALL the talk shows I was thinking stuff at least like Dr Oz, etc... Springer and his psin off prob get more of the audience they want in CT anyway (kidding)

[Errol]

Jill Farren Phelps calls Frons

Phelps: I need money for this shoot out we're going to have on Pier 17 where Sonny gets shot in the head by Carly because she caught him with Brenda again. Think Sonny shooting Carly in the head while giving birth to Sonny's kid some years back.

Frons: Sonny's life in peril? That surely will drive up the ratings. You'll have the money in your budget within the next 20 minutes.

Frons calls Frank Valentini

Frons: Since you aren't using the money at the moment, I'm going to take x amount out of your budget this week. GH needs it for a big event. Don't worry, you'll get it back in the end as I'm certain the ratings potential for GH will spill over to OLTL.

Valentini: But...

Frons: I didn't ask you to respond. I was telling you as a courtesy.

Frons about to hang up...

Valentini: But, I got Roger Howarth to agree to come back to the show...

Frons: Really? Well good for you Frank. Just make sure he works on the cheap as he did on ATWT. I can't afford to pay him more than x amount because the network won't give me more money. I wish I could help you more, really, I do.

Frons hangs up the phone

[dragonflies]

That's actually what I was going to say, they'd have been better off moving the show to CT and if they had, they'd most likely still have David Canary around more too

[EricMontreal22]

Has any *network* show moved to CT? Was there ANY thought or chance AMC might? Was this ever a viable option? Or is this all talk cuz of those talk shows? (I'm asking as I'm really not sure)

It's true ABC is renting a studio in LA but they DO have crew and people in LA--do they in CT?

[SFK]

I remember reading that there was in fact talk of AMC moving to *either* L.A. or CT, and that the decision came down to the wire. I need more solid evidence though.

Maury, Jerry, and Steve all tape in Stamford which is an urban-suburban 'burb of NYC. A lot of the older vets have homes near there, Slezak, Canary, even the Zenk-Pinters, and it would be a short drive for them. However, it is on average an hour-long (more or less depending on local/express/peak hours) ride up from the city damn near $13 one way (I live in the area, R. Sinclair can tell you). The show would probably have to give out travel stipends for cast and crew living in the city, at least in the beginning, but then folks would probably be on their own. That would kinda suck.

[bellcurve]

As long as GH looks good.

[Mr. Vixen]

Oh my bad. I thought I read that she was flying back and forth too and so was her family??? My bad!

[dragonflies]

It was confirmed AMC was all set to move to CT, but at the last moment decided on LA. I can't remember the reason why.

ETA: I think the reason why was because LA had a studio they could rent that they could use for HD, and CT didn't

[marceline]

Eighteen months is a long time to hold on to a devaluing property in the hope that the audience will come back. It'll really get interesting if Disney manages to sell off ABC in the meantime.

[Southofnowhere]

Thye Bus them in from New York.

[Southofnowhere]

I bet DC wouldn't have retired at all and of course TK would have stayed. Plus CT would have been perfect for outdoor taping year around.

[Eric83]

Yes, I would love to see that.

I appreciate all your insightful info in this thread.

[SFK]

And don't get it twisted Eric, there is definitley *that audience* in CT too.

[SFK]

ITA, if anything, I bet DC would have been ecstatic to spend his last years on the show in such a comfy situation. I seriously hope OLTL considers this possibility when/if budget issues in the city seriously make them consider cancellation (though they are apparently always under budget, ahead of schedule, ratings being the real issue). I really don't think OLTL would be lucky enough to make the cross-country trek.