AMC and OLTL Canceled!

[You're Soaking in it]

They can't just "bump her up" to head writer on the cheap. They have to compensate her accordingly. I doubt Swajeski & Kreizman were big-ticket, anyway... LB might be less expensive than two people, but she's certainly not at a plain-label price tag.

I'm sure on Broderick's end, she would want to pen the show's ending (as opposed to letting K&S do it). As one of AMC's veteran writers who has been there on-and-off through most of its lifetime, her affection and passion for the show is probably only surpassed by Nixon herself.

As for sentiment, as I said before, while it's a business, the sentimentality factor isn't lost on TPTB: they know it sells to fans - as it should. Here's to hoping that since the sun is about to set, that Frons' hands will be off... There really isn't much reason to be too control-freakish now, anyway. Let the writers write. I'm optimistic that, since the party's almost over, things will move more toward that direction.

[SFK]

Actors are in an unenviable position when they feel outraged by, and wish to speak out against TPTB, many of whom are insecure and egomaniacal people with the responsibilities of businessmen and the sensitivity yet none of the talent of artists. This is especially tough if you're part of a small incestuous clique like daytime soap opera. There is integrity and there is employment. CH could have still sat on her hands and held out for a spot on GH. Her and her ex's soaps have been cancelled so she's undoubtedly sentimental and upset and perhaps white wine is involved.

Robin Strasser has never bit her tongue yet she's managed to express her very strong opinions while being respectful and thankful for the fact that she is still employed. AMC and OLTL are now gone and she knows she'll never work for JFP, so why not let it all hang out? Women like her and Victoria Rowell are eccentric but harmless and do not deserve the disrespect they've gotten. The world needs angry people, angry people bring about change. It's just sad that when "colorful" women who are no crazier than your aunt who is the highlight of the cookout speak up and speak out, their arguments are handicapped by their kook-factor. Until the Luccis and Slezaks of the biz speak out, these are the breaks. But why should those ladies speak out and run the risk of sounding ungrateful when they've ridden that front burner through thick and thin? They don't have as much to be outraged about. Look at the FOJ phenomenon ("Well she's always been nice to meeee..."). Everybody's looking out for #1.

[Vizion]

Yeah I don't think that is it at all.

I think this is it lol.

I don't think any of them give a damn about soaps. I don't think any of them thought far ahead enough as to determine that the replacement shows will definitely be unsuccessful and only make money for ABC and therefore they should align themselve with soap fans. I think they thought "Alright, let's just tell them we're on their side and maybe we can sell them some vacuums" and Target and the others who are encouraging fans to call them and give them all of their personal information....that one seems obvious too.

[trish672]

Still, couldn't have Hoover just stated their intent to pull the ads once the next soap went off the air? It would have achieved the same ends and gotten them the same amount of publicity. I just think the way they are going about it sends the unspoken message that the soaps aren't financially viable. Therefore why not pull the ads ASAP? No risk. Big reward.

[DRW50]

I never said they gave a damn about soaps. I think they believe that these new shows are going to give them very little revenue, that they are being thrown on the air only as a time filler (and one of them is supposedly having huge problems already), and that ABC is taking them for suckers. So this is a way for them to draw a line in the sand, because ABC is saving all this money while assuming advertisers will go along blindly.

If they thought they could make money from these new shows then they would never abandon the network just for some PR boost, especially since most people aren't going to go buy a Hoover (unless they were already going to buy one) over this decision.

It blows a hole in this grand ABC spin that these shows are hip and cool and the way of the future and that all the obese and unwashed just waiting for The Filler can change the world.

[Southofnowhere]

Let's not forget Megan Mctavish was offered the HW job and said no.

[DRW50]

I think that message would have been sent if they'd pulled their ads before OLTL and AMC were canceled.

Hoover is bailing on ABC's power grab while spinning themselves to look better.

[Vizion]

Ehh, I still don't agree, and at this point nobody but Hoover has done anything. So it's not "they", it's Hoover, who I still think is merely trying to sell soap fans some vacuums and get some positive press for themselves.

[Jonathan]

I'm listening to the podcast and Michael Logan is calling bs on Frons saying the decision to cancel both was made in the last week. ML says the decision was made the last week in March.

[SFK]

Electric vacuum cleaner company pulling its ad dollars because they've taken off the stories, I feel like it's 1954, just surreal...

[DRW50]

It's still "they" as in a major advertiser. This also makes it more likely that the other advertisers will tighten the screws with ABC.

I just don't believe anyone who runs a successful company would jettison a relationship with ABC on the idea that soap fans will rush to order vacuums in gratitude. Most people aren't going to do that. I think they know these shows are just slapped together and they are pulling out because there is no longer any reason to go along with ABC. ABC has given advertisers zero reason to want to support these shows - everything from the concept, to the titles, to the rollout, has been a PR mess.

[LoyaltoAMC]

Wait, I must've missed that one. Did he really offer her a job. I guess it's no surprise. He actually liked her. Even when she left, he said that "Megan was exhausted and needed a rest," implying that she could very well be back some day.

[SFK]

Tim Gunn's been pinch hitting for Meredith Vieira on Millionaire (12:30pm on my ABC affiliate). Of course I couldn't help but wonder.

[~bl~]

Maybe the marketing guy just really loves his mother and he thought this was the best Mother's Day present he could get, plus if sales increase for less ad dollars he gets a bonus as a VP.

[You're Soaking in it]

That was a rumor... Later, one of my former colleagues told me that it was bunk that one of the soap sites pulled out of the sky; that she has become too polarizing to fans and cast/crew alike for such a return to be even considered.