ABC Daytime to Make Major Lineup Decisions in Coming Weeks

[Pavarti31]

I was under the impression that OLTL was generating more good will? Sort of like the little engine that could? They got left behind in NYC, no HD, but yet managed to make the sluggish and fat AMC look silly.

[bellcurve]

When it came time to pick a soap to cancel to accommodate Passions, NBC chose Another World over Sunset Beach. And AW was performing better in households and probably 18-49 demos too.

Sometimes, the higher rated show doesn't always survive. I bet if they do get rid of OLTL, they'll move Carlivati and Valentini to AMC.

[DRW50]

I always got the sense that NBC was getting rid of both no matter what and just didn't want to cancel at the same time.

I think Valentini would be asked to move but probably not RC. I think Frons would rather have someone else.

[marceline]

*marceline stretches and cracks her knuckles*

SLAP!!

Don't you DARE put that out there again! Do you hear me?! Don't you dare!!

[bellcurve]

LOL. They both signed longterm deals that were probably with the network. Not necessarily OLTL.

[marceline]

Then let them work craft services on The View!

[Jonathan]

Just a single slap? Not a triple + hair toss?

[CCCapwell]

Well in that case, NBC wanted Passions to air in the 2pm timeslot held by AW and the decision to cancel SUBE was already made but not did not become public for a few months later, the AW cancelation and PSSNS premiered happened in the summer 1999 and SUBE aired its final episode Dec 1999. It would have made no sense to cancel SUBE in the summer, move AW to SUBE timeslot for PSSNS, only to cancel AW in December. The only possible connection between the AW/SUBE cancelations and this present issue is TIMESLOT! Lets say ABC wants to launch a 4pm talkshow (all times in this post are EST timeslot), affiliates would want to get an extra hour elsewhere in the daytime if they are giving up 4-5pm and where oh where do you think they would like?? a 2pm timeslot in between AMC and GH, I think not! lol I suspect they would want the 1pm timeslot since 12-1 is already their time so it would be a 12-2pm two hour block for the affiliates. Now certainly they could cancel the 2pm soap OLTL and move AMC to 2pm but that would make sense only IF the 1pm soap was higher rated and it is not, because the 1pm soap is lower rated than the 2pm soap IF affiliates want the 1pm timeslot, it makes sense to simply cancel the 1pm soap. not only does canceling AMC make more sense ratings wise, its a risky proposition to move a show's timeslot, will ABC want to take that huge chance of canceling OLTL which is onbudget and does slightly better in the demos over AMC to move AMC to 2pm? it just doesn't make any business sense to cancel OLTL, if affiliates want the 1pm timeslot, much like when NBC wanted AW's timeslot, the show in the timeslot gets canceled, sorry AMC fans, its just how I see things.

[marceline]

The next few days and weeks are going to be very trying and we must all listen to the better angels of our nature. My better angel only slaps once.

[DRW50]

Does Valentini have any particular style - it seems like he is just sort of there, like JHC, but he mostly keeps the show on budget.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Yes, if they look good with their shirts off, then they must be hired, no acting necessary.

[DRW50]

OLTL does seem to be in this trap (and has been for at least ten years), but I wasn't sure who it was. The bits I've seen of the show when Higley was there seem so different than the show under RC, and Malone's time also seemed different. The only real similarity is how cold and disconnected everything is, although that sums up all of daytime now.

[marceline]

Exactly. I'd rather shut AMC down with my own hands before watching him turn it into The Rentboy Chronicles.

[Vee]

Compared to Gary Tomlin's era, the man candy ratio on OLTL today is quite tame. You'd think people never watched Doug Marland's heyday with John Wesley Shipp, the speedos, the stable boys, etc.

And yes, there is a significant difference between Higley's era and RC's. Everything about Dena Higley's OLTL was a sucking chest wound of entropy. It was absolutely soulless. With RC you have a chance for something decent.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

I remember an interview with Mark Lawson where he said Valentini directed his audition and made him eventually audition in his underwear.

To me, that summed up what a creep this guy seems to be and spoke volumes about the type of "look" he wanted on the show. Most of the males cast seem to have a very plastic Ken doll look these days.