HOLIDAY MIRACLE: Prospect Park Back On Track To Revive AMC and OLTL

[allmc2008]

As much as I hate Guza/McTavish they knew how to tell a compelling story in the sense they were not boring plus they were pretty coherent for the most part.

[Errol]

As I said, I was too lazy to report that the other day. Will churn out something later today.

[leahanna]

thanks, do you have any word on ME, is he waiting to hear from PP and what does that mean exactly, that they have a deal like RH, they are just waiting on filming dates and such

[SOAPSFOREVER]

A breakdown writer being assigned a week of outlines is definitely a exception and not the norm. There may have been some special reason the head writer wanted one breakdown writer to outline all five episodes for one week (Emmy or WGA submissions possibly), but this just doesn't happen in the day-to-day. Breakdowns are closely scrutinized by the head writer(s), EP(s), the networks and sponsors. They are reviewed weekly before being assigned to the scriptwriter. If the pacing and structure the head writer wants isn't there, extensive rewrites of the outlines happen (by the breakdown writer from notes from the head, EP and network). The breakdown writer has a lot of people to please, and works within a very tight framework. Head writers have a lot of people to please, too, but the really good ones are very involved in overseeing outlines, because the air script is generated from the outline. Most head writers are involved in all facets of the writing process, not just coming up with long term story (that's more a story consultant's position).

[SOAPSFOREVER]

So if they knew how to tell a compelling story, why weren't they more successful pulling in audiences? Guza literally drove GH into the ratings basement, and McTavish was fired any number of times for sinking ratings. Just because a story isn't boring doesn't mean it resonates with the audience. Soap viewers want an emotional connection to their characters. If they're going to invest, the head writer has to give them a reason to care. I never found Guza was very successful at that. I think McTavish was more interested in shocking the audience than staying true to the characters (Eric's un-abortion pops to mind). I'm not saying these head writers aren't talented, or that they didn't spin some interesting stories. But much of the time the heart and emotional connection was missing. That's the kiss of a death for any soap writer.

[allmc2008]

I am not talking about ratings and audience acceptance I am talking about keeping the audience tuned in. Sure the stories were awful and disrespectful BUT they were still pretty coherent. If they were not coherent like you say there wouldn't be ANY viewers. Also, keep in mind there are plenty of younger fans that became fans of GH during Guza's reign. For the record I am not defending McTavish/Guza BUT I understand how they won emmys.

[Antoyne]

Has there been any mention of Trevor St. John?

[Angela]

Writers like Lorraine Broderick were fired for driving the ratings much further into the toilet. Point?

McTavish and Guza gave AMC and GH some of its better ratings of the past 20 years. If not the best.

McTavish and Guza could get too gimmicky but neither was really the King or Queen of it, James Reilly was both the King and Queen of gimmick writing.

[Angela]

Stephanie Gatschet ‏@TBDStephanie

Ha! Same here! Wah wah “@ChristinaBLind: To all concerned, I have not yet been contacted by Prospect Park.. #lastonetoknow”

[John]

Given that Miranda is now 16, Im sure AMC is recasting Binks. Alao I dont think Madison is needed

[marceline]

This is why I hate the idea of SORASing Miranda and AJ.

[John]

Id Rather have Madison's ex hubby back that actor is HOT

[Jonathan]

Miranda is living with Opal while the entire Kane Klan is in a coma.

[SOAPSFOREVER]

Can you point to specifics about LB "driving the ratings much further into he (sic) toilet"? Both she and McTavish had multiple tenures on AMC. Which are you referring to?

Also, when we talk successful ratings, we generally think of a head writer's ability to sustain high ratings over time, not just a few weeks in sweeps. McTavish and Guza did have stretches where they strengthened the ratings, but it never really sustained. Certainly not like a Bill Bell. Or Irna Phillips, who kept ATWTs rating consistently high for a number of years. (If you can show me the ratings data backing up your claim that Guza and McTavish brought their shows the best ratings for the past twenty years for a sustained period, I'll gladly concede the point (weekly fluctuations aside).

Jim Reilly was Jim Reilly. He had a certain style that worked, and didn't. He was extremely bright and creative, whatever you thought of his style. I also think he loved the soap genre, something I'm not sure Bob Guza ever did. It was an outlet for his writing, but the passion for soaps of a Claire Labine, Bill Bell, Agnes Nixon or Douglas Marland never shown in his writing.

[Angela]

Wouldn't that be a Koma?

Hopefully they keep the character in the dark about the mom-killed-dad, dad-rapist stuff until the period where they can get Lucci, Minshew and maybe a new Bianca (or ER; CBL is probably too young) on for a while.

Any go around after her initial one had horrible ratings. I usually have a ratings chart but I haven't been paying attention to the soaps in well over a year.

Just because you're a critically acclaimed writer doesn't mean you get great ratings. Just because you aren't a critically acclaimed writer does not mean you always get horrible ratings.