All: One soaps budget cut by 50% according to DC

[marceline]

I don't think it's OLTL. I don't believe all the "Valentini is a bugdet wizard" stuff but I have no doubt it's already got the smallest budget. So it's either AMC or GH. My gut (a la Bo Buchanan) tells me it's AMC but I could see it being GH based solely on the idea that they probably have the most available to cut. Successful or not, AMC already did something by moving west. GH has pretty much just gone about its business so it could be their turn to feel the pain.

ITA but Frons isn't the only person in this mix. There are other execs, advertisers, shareholders, board members and potential buyers of ABC to think about and if enough of them start getting nervous, he'll do what needs to be done or hit the unemployment line with everybody else

[Adam]

If all the soaps cut 20 scripted episodes a year already, I am very nervous where this 50% is going to come from, whether its GH, AMC or OLTL. My guess is the most expensive stars will be gone. So many have already taken a pay cut already. In AMC's case, how many NYC people uprooted their lives to move with the show... something tells me some wouldn't be too upset with leaving and going back to NYC. I;m thinking big here. I'm thinking Lucci big here

[DRW50]

May sweeps:

Jason and Franco have a Super Soaker Showdown. Meanwhile, special guest star Shelley Hack, Dante's grandmother, holds Lulu hostage in a cardboard box.

[bellcurve]

They shouldn't have made this transition with Julie Carruthers in charge to begin with. She has shown, time and time again, that she is incapable of balancing a budget.

The writing is a problem on this show, I totally agree. But alot of AMC's problems, IMO, is that the production is so unimaginative and uninspired.

Debmar-Mercury....The New King World!

ABC needs to do a full hour of news, ala Megyn Kelly/FOX News. Except less partisan.

Debmar-Mercury....The New King World!

ABC needs to do a full hour of news, ala Megyn Kelly/FOX News. Except less partisan.

[marceline]

Yep. As I said in the MCE thread, the holidays are over and all the business folks are back to work. Now that the lawyers, accountants and business managers are back, these things can start going through.

[DRW50]

I've heard they're going to hire Campbell Brown for an all day block.

[teplin]

Just look at DAYS: Big stars cut, whoever is left takes an even bigger pay cut, the same sets are used every day, scenes are banged out in assembly-line fashion, rehearsal and direction are basically non-existent.

That said, I do think DAYS gets a lot out of the little it has.

But yeah, the relative success of CBS' The Talk has, I'm sure, accelerated the demise of the ABC lineup.

[bellcurve]

Good Lord, Carl, do you hate me that much?!

At least you didn't utter "Ashleigh Banfield."

[OLTL_fan]

GH

The show just has soooo many characters that are useless and pointless.

[DRW50]

Come on, you know if they give a news person that much time it's going to be a lousy one.

I wonder if they will drag Joan Lunden back.

Unfortunately nothing ever seems to change that.

[bellcurve]

She's not 18-49 female friendly. Robin Roberts should be worried too.

[DRW50]

Tabitha Soren!

And ABC decides to steal Jane Lynch from Glee to replace Robin Roberts.

[bellcurve]

Sam Champion will be giddy with delight.

If ABC is considering axing one of it's soaps for a talk/news hour, the best bet is to put that on in the noon hour and push the soaps to 2 and 3PM. If OLTL is canceled, push AMC back so the two soaps are paired together.

Courtesy of Giddens:

Jamey_Giddens Jamey_Giddens

Still wondering which soap got hit with the huge budget cut? I'll give you a hint, it ain't in NYC. http://tinyurl.com/46pzaa7

17 seconds ago Favorite Retweet Reply

[DRW50]

That makes sense, to move both soaps up, although I hope ABC doesn't cancel any soaps.

I think GH is more and more likely as the show with the budget cuts. I wonder if they've had a feeling for a while, which would explain the slow downgrading of Liz's role on the show.

[Scotty]

Well...that leaves OLTL off the hook then.