* More purposeful scenes. As nice as it was to see AMC's Angie chatting with Dr. Joe, for example, and catching up on everybody's doings, that sort of stuff isn't going to fly on the new, streamlined schedule. Not even on a show like "The Waltons" or "Little House for the Prairie" could you write a scene where essentially nothing happens. From now on, plot (character-driven plot, of course, but certainly gripping plot that relies more on dramatic reversals of fortune and of character) is the name of the game. If a scene doesn't advance the plot in a significant way, it's a waste of playing time.

You're probably totally right. You're also breaking my heart with this since I live for scenes like Angie/Joe or David/StepNora that are just fun ways to see favorite characters interacting and I feel like we JUST got these back for the first time since the late 90s. But AMC/OLTL fans are well versed in adapting by now and we will adapt again.

You might not have to adapt again, greens. AMC and OLTL might keep on like always. I'm saying, though, these shows would be foolish now to write episodes as if they are on five or four days a week. If you have concerns about pacing now....

Everyone needs to just chill out and roll with it how it is, we could end up back at 4 episodes a week at some point in the future. For over a year, the shows were off the air, now that they are back, we ought to support them even if they are reduced to two episodes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/17/business/media/less-all-my-children-and-one-life-to-live-on-web.html

BTW Dale, did you see my post about FXCanada having a The Americans marathon all day Monday for the long weekend? While I guess it won't affect you as I believe you watch OLTL and not AMC, it looks like the soaps are airing at a special time early that day (6pstam) and then at their usual late night (1am PST) airing so won't be skipped over.

Thanks for the tip, Eric. I am actually watching both shows! But I have taken to watching on Hulu. Did you hear about the one click of a button way for us to get Hulu here in Canada via Firefox?It's an add on they offer! If you have not heard about it, PM me, and I'll give you the details.

Edited May 17, 201312 yr by Dale

Jill Larson

Personally I think this is a good decision for a couple of reasons.

I think licensing demands required Prospect Park to mount and premier this new network with way too little time to write long term story, to build the infrastructure it takes to produce these shows. When we first arrived, the building was almost bare, PA's were running around buying hangers for the costume dept, toilet paper for the johns, we had NOTHING, they had to buy pens, chairs to sit on, everything.

Everyone has done a Hurculean job, truly unbelievable, the shows look wonderful, I am so very proud to be able to be a part of this daring undertaking. Our producers and writers work until 4:00AM nearly every night, I wondered how long this could continue.

And though this is not the reason for the decision to scale back on the number of episodes posted per week, I think it will provide some real pay-off in the quality of the shows we produce, because great shows, the ones you love to watch, whether All My Children, One Life or MadMen, Downton Abbey, Walking Dead, require time to be created and written with long term thought and care. Taking a break from production will provide the creative team a chance to catch their breath and really bring our shows to a new level of what I hope will be greatness, not just as "daytime", but as outstanding new programming.

But none of this addresses your disappointment at losing 2 episodes a week. We are all disappointed, of course, but let's try to be patient, as we would with a child learning to walk. Everyone, every single person, from Jeff and Rich to our caterers and interns is giving their all to make this a success. We must keep up our excitement, keep spreading the word, we have some really fantastic shows in the making right now, some exciting characters coming back on the canvas, there is much to look forward to.

In closing I'll say that I LOVE chocolate! But I'm hypoglycemic and really shouldn't eat sugar. So I am very selective, I don't binge on the cheap stuff, I buy the most expensive, beautiful chocolate I can get, and savor it a little at a time, and Man, do I get pleasure from it! Let's look at our shows as the best chocolate there is and pace ourselves, it could be an even better ride!

We all love all of you, so let's just keep on keeping on and have faith that together we have a long happy journey ahead!

I really liked that post by Jill Larson.

Where I disagree with Jill is the following: Saying the quality will be better because there are less episodes, when the episodes that have been taped for AMC in the last cycle were designed to be aired 4 times a week doesn't fly. Until the people behind the scenes get a chance to adjust what they are doing for this schema they will only be as good as what we had been getting.

they werent designed to air 4 times a week. Both shows shoot out of order by set and then are edited into shows as needed. The fact that these air twice a week now wont hurt the impact of the story. it should make fans wanting more.

Edited May 17, 201312 yr by John

I was already liking the shows 4 times a week; I'm not particularly worried about not liking them 2 times a week.

But the fact that they had to crank out X number of episodes in X amount of time may have factored into their overall product quality of the shows already aired/filmed.

I'm sure if they found Ellen Wheeler from whatever institution she checked herself into, she could crank out 4 craptastic episodes a week all by herself. Pine Valley and Llanview residents could all live in the same public bathroom.

But the fact that they had to crank out X number of episodes in X amount of time may have factored into their overall product quality of the shows already aired/filmed.

I'm sure if they found Ellen Wheeler from whatever institution she checked herself into, she could crank out 4 craptastic episodes a week all by herself. Pine Valley and Llanview residents could all live in the same public bathroom.

LMAO

I actually think this is going to encourage binge viewing even more. I can see alot of people saying "oh heck I can just fit that hour for AMC(OR OLTL) in over the weekend, I'll just watch my show(s) then"

Agreed....

I'm caught up with OLTL but 3 days behind on AMC.

But the fact that they had to crank out X number of episodes in X amount of time may have factored into their overall product quality of the shows already aired/filmed.

I'm sure if they found Ellen Wheeler from whatever institution she checked herself into, she could crank out 4 craptastic episodes a week all by herself. Pine Valley and Llanview residents could all live in the same public bathroom.

Love u Tim......bwahahaha

I'm sure if they found Ellen Wheeler from whatever institution she checked herself into, she could crank out 4 craptastic episodes a week all by herself. Pine Valley and Llanview residents could all live in the same public bathroom.

Well, on the bright side, at least someone will be there to keep Taylor Thompson company.

But the fact that they had to crank out X number of episodes in X amount of time may have factored into their overall product quality of the shows already aired/filmed.

I'm sure if they found Ellen Wheeler from whatever institution she checked herself into, she could crank out 4 craptastic episodes a week all by herself. Pine Valley and Llanview residents could all live in the same public bathroom.

LMFAO