Ratings from the 80's

[Paul Raven]

Nothing spells success more than a spin off from a failing show.

In the Texas thread there was discussion on how the spin off was (mis) handled and the damage that was done to both shows.

[JoeCool]

Strong ratings from the ABC hour-long shows. Does anyone know what was going on then? Another World is tanking.

[kalbir]

July kids are off school plus the ABC big three appealed to a younger audience.

[Soapsuds]

The February 28 episode was released on DVD

EXCLUSIVE: SoapClassics Releases New AS THE WORLD TURNS DVD: The James Stenbeck Story

Episode 1.  Last Bus to Nowhere. February 28, 1980

James Stenbeck tracks down Barbara Ryan in Oakdale.

 

Barbara Ryan had a scandal in her past.  Before coming back to Oakdale, she had given birth to a secret love child, the result of a torrid affair with a mysterious man named James Stenbeck.   Barbara had given the baby to friends to raise as their own, without ever telling her lover she had a child..

 

Settling in Oakdale in 1978, Barbara began to pick up the pieces of her life.  She became engaged to a local lawyer, Tom Hughes, and was eventually reunited with her infant son, Paul. She seemed destined for a quiet, happy life until James Stenbeck caught up with her.

 

In this episode, Barbara boards a bus in an attempt to elude Stenbeck. But he corners her, and forces her to confront the fact that she will never be truly free of her past. (NOTE: Herrera and Zenk traveled to Santo Domingo in 1980 to shoot flashback scenes which aired in this and other episodes.  This is the same trip the Roger/Holly GUIDING LIGHT scenes were shot--both were overseen by GL producer Allen M. Potter.)

Another episode of ATWT on DVD. The May 2 episode.

Episode 2.  The Bride Decides.  May 2, 1980

Log: Barbara Ryan Chooses James Stenbeck Over Tom Hughes

 

Barbara Ryan was torn between her present and her past. She had agreed to marry the conventional and dependable Tom Hughes, but had fallen back in love with the passionate and seductive James Stenbeck. Forced to make a decision, she ultimately left Tom at the altar, and agreed instead to marry James.

 

In this episode, James and Barbara try to start a new life together, but tension quickly arises between the couple and the Hughes family. (NOTE: This is DAYS OF OUR LIVES star Peter Reckell's first episode.)

 

Principal Cast:  Anthony Herrera, Colleen Zenk, Don MacLaughlin, Helen Wagner, Eileen Fulton, Peter Brouwer, Don Hastings, Kathryn Hays, Julie Ridley and Peter Reckell.

[AbcNbc247]

I’m still wondering who was the bonehead who thought that setting up so much of the Texas storylines on AW was a good idea.

Was it Paul Rauch? Or somebody above him? 

[Beetle Bailey]

I don't understand why Texas was created at all, especially since AW was fading.  If Somerset, Lovers and Friends and For Richer, For Poorer did not work, why did NBC think yet another spinoff would work?  It would have been better for NBC to invested more time and money into The Doctors like ABC did with General Hospital.  Instead of that stupid idea on AW being 90 minutes, the schedule should have been Days from 1-2, The Doctors 2-3 and AW 3-4.  And then if the ratings did not increase, then make adjustments.   Or maybe Days should have had the spinoff and ran it for 30 minutes and TD the other 30 minutes and kept AW as the last soap of the day.

[JAS0N47]

FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 7/28/80-8/1/80 & 8/4/80-8/8/80:

 

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[MichaelGL]

Now EDGE and DOCTORS flip flop on who will be the least watched soap. 

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[Soapsuds]

ATWT doing well. I just posted recently the July 30, 1980 episode of ATWT.

[Soapsuds]

July 30 promo for SWT. I had forgotten that TPM was on SFT.

 

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[JoeCool]

Very Strong Number 1 General Hospital and Number 2 All My Children. Another World tanking.

[kalbir]

Wow the ABC big three are killing it. Lets see if the momentum continues when the kids return to school.

[soapfan770]

It’s always been interesting to me that when it comes to daytime spin-offs just failed out right miserably. Somerset had modest success but petered out, Texas flopped out of the gate, The City was DOA, and Port Charles was just there filling a time slot with low ratings and many affiliates airing overnight. 
 

Seems to me “sister soaps” i.e. Y&R & B&B or AMC & OLTL were more compatible. AW tried this with Lovers & Friends/For Richer For Poorer but the timeslots were bad choices, compounded by bad writing. 

[JAS0N47]

FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 8/11/80-8/15/80 & 8/18/80-8/22/80:

 

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FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS (FAST NATIONALS): WEEK OF 8/25/80-8/29/80:

 

Edited July 27, 2023 by JAS0N47

[MichaelGL]

EDGE sure shot up in the ratings during Aug 25-29

Edited June 22, 2023 by MichaelGL