Is ABC Daytime About to Announce a Two-Year Pick Up For One Life to Live?!

[bellcurve]

Now, now. Just because ATWT was canceled, that doesn't mean you need to spoil the fun for the rest of us.

[Sylph]

Well, that would be the case if anyone actually considered these posts by Ruxton Hills/Soapsuds seriously. Since no one's doin' that and knows what they're about...

[Saving ATWT]

I'm tired of this whole 'the genre is dommed' talk. Soap viewers aren't looking for NCIS or lost: The production values are higher but it is a very different style of story telling. I don't see more and more soap fans flipping to Law and Order on TNT at 2pm. I actually think soap ratings gains are possible and we've been seeing this happen this season with Days, ATWT and GH. Yes, some ex fans have returned but it has to be assumed that some new fans have tuned in. As for the issue of the ATWT finale, it was a slow ratings build up and the poor writing didn't even deserve a 1.9 HH. We all get to focused on week to week gain and looses but, aside from the PGP shows, soaps are slightly up as a whole for the year. Y&R has a slight gain on top of its already bloated ratings and OLTL is doing really well in key demos. The only show that I see as in possible danger is AMC--they should have never fired Pratt who, regardless of style, was moving ratings upward.

A few shows will live albeit possibly not on daytime or on their current network. Airing new content on daytime (when a lot of people are working) is an outdated formula and, eventualy, the network will follow cable's lead and make a shift into prime time when you have max viewership. This, or we will all be downloading shows through something like iTunes.

[Khan]

Yes, ratings gains are still possible, but [broken record] nothing is possible without good story [/broken record]. But good luck convincing TPTB of that.

Frankly, I don't care whether OLTL ever gets renewed again at all. This show "died" for me a long time ago. Now, it's just an excuse to watch Mark Lawson flex for a whole hour -- and I can get that from soaphunks.net!

[Saving ATWT]

True, remember reading a story about how Gen X can't write and it would seem the boomers are burnt out. Gen X is sort of a bridge generation which seems to lack a solid style or emotional subtext. Different for the sake of different doesn't cute it. I am X and noticed this a lot in various writing classes.

[Khan]

Why? Because they don't read. They're influenced more by which TV shows and movies they watched as kids than by anything else.

[Saving ATWT]

Yeah, and rather ironic that the first real TV Gen can't write for television. Also, Gen X was one of the smaller generations thus there are simply less options. I even see this problem with print journalism like JM and Newsweek.

So Khan, looking for a writing partner?

[Khan]

They can't write for it, b/c so-called irony can never compensate for a tight dramatic structure or (in the case of sitcoms) a well-crafted joke setup and punch line. (There's also such a thing as writing from character and not from pop culture reference. In order to accomplish that, however, you have to realize that what works IRL (i.e., sitting on your couch, snarking at characters on TV screens and laptops) doesn't always work as drama. In drama, characters are supposed to live fuller lives.)

Well, the problem there is that editors and writers believe they have to dumb down the content in order to make it more easily digestible for those who are becoming used to downloading that [!@#$%^&*] on their phones and as such, are developing shorter and shorter attention spans. Problem? Attention spans are decreasing, b/c they're making them decrease. BITD, if you really wanted to understand what's going on in the world, you kinda had to stretch your brain a bit. If we could do it once, surely, we can do it again!

Always.

[marceline]

I wonder if ML knows how many people he's single-"chestedly" kept watching that show.

[Khan]

If I were his agent/manager, I'd certainly mention that to Frons come time for contract renewal. ;-P

[Saving ATWT]

I'm of the mindset that elites have taken it upon themselves to dumb down various forms of story and that it all stems from a blanket condescention for the 'masses'. A lot of change occured during the 1970's and all this 'short attention span' talk is really code for 'add 5 affirmative points'. It is as if these writers really think the vast majority of watchers/readers can't follow their 'brilliance'. Also, this is a generation trying to define it's own style with each writer hoping to be the post-modern Bill Bell.

So much of this has to do with money. I remember all the talk about viewers having no interest in international news. This is totally untrue. Networks don't want to spend the money on global reportage. The same is true with the sitcom and drama. Tight story often costs more money while loose plots require less cast and lower production values.

I can't email out of this system (no idea why) so drop me an email about your writing.

[Southern]

Maybe this will help put those pesky cancellation rumors to rest. TV Guide Magazine has exclusively learned from ABC that the network recently struck new deals with One Life to Live executive producer Frank Valentini and head writer Ron Carlivati. Valentini, who yesterday celebrated his 25th anniversary with OLTL, has signed a two-year contract to remain with the show. Carlivati's contract is for three years. Unlike CBS and NBC, ABC actually owns its daytime dramas, so the concept of a show pick-up doesn't really apply here. Thus, this news is as close as it comes to ABC acknowledging its commitment to keep the show on the air. Next week, I'll bring you the first post-deal interview with Valentini and Carlivati, in which they discuss their new lease on Life and where they plan to take the show in the future. In the meantime, can we all just relax a little bit?

[lovely_m]

http://daytimeconfidential.com/2010/09/29/breaking-news-oltls-frank-valentini-inks-new-two-year-deal

[marceline]

Where can I get the Wendy Williams "I can't" gif?

[Sylph]

Here ya go: