It's so funny how the fortunes of CBS daytime and primetime were in opposite directions in 1987/88. Daytime we saw Y&R regularly finishing #1, As the World Turns going strong, Guiding Light appears to have gained some lost ground with Pamela Long's return as HW, B&B was not yet a hit. Primetime we saw CBS entire lineup tanking and it was about to enter third place mess era.

FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 3/28/88-4/1/88 & 4/4/88-4/8/88:

FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 4/11/88-4/15/88 & 4/18/88-4/22/88:

One month into the Writer's Strike so I think we're starting to see strike material on screen now.

As the World Turns I believe around this time was Julianne Moore departure but I haven't found the exact date of the last episode of her original run anywhere. I thought it was very classy of her to return for one episode when As the World Turns was coming to an end. Fun fact, her return episode April 3, 2010 was 25 years 1 day from her debut episode April 2, 1985.

Edited October 22, 20232 yr by kalbir

ATWT:

Barbara confronts those that wronged her during her trial and time in jail.

Barbara vs Lucinda (After Barbara learns Lucinda stole Simply Barbara from her)

Andy alcoholism story begins landing him in the hospital barely hanging on to life. Some nice Lucinda and Kim scenes at the hospital.

Holden and Emily hot shower scene.

Laura is confronted by her brother Beau. Laura continues to be infatuated with Bob.

Tom reads Margo's good bye letter.

Tom goes looking for Hal after reading Margo's letter.

Hal proposes to Barbara.

Holden overhears Andy and Paul talking about the secret they are keeping that the baby Emily lost wasn't Holden but James baby.

Edited October 22, 20232 yr by Soapsuds

1 hour ago, kalbir said:

One month into the Writer's Strike so I think we're starting to see strike material on screen now.

As the World Turns I believe around this time was Julianne Moore departure but I haven't found the exact date of the last episode of her original run anywhere. I thought it was very classy of her to return for one episode when As the World Turns was coming to an end. Fun fact, her return episode April 3, 2010 was 25 years 1 day from her debut episode April 2, 1985.

Not yet on both cases.

ATWT still has written by in the credits. When the strike begins the credits read story by.

 

@kalbir

The strike writing started in May.

Julianne left in May but oddly reappears at the end of May.

Sabrina is already gone in April. Only Frankie remains on the canvas.

Edited October 23, 20232 yr by Soapsuds

Thanks @Soapsuds

FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 4/25/88-4/29/88 & 5/2/88-5/6/88:

FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 5/9/88-5/13/88 & 5/16/88-5/20/88:

ATWT:

Laura commits murder

Laura goes to the wedding uninvited.

Barbara and Hal wedding begins.

 

Btw 

GL numbers are atrocious!!

1 hour ago, Soapsuds said:

GL numbers are atrocious!!

I thought they were gaining lost ground with Pamela Long return as HW. Perhaps the drop is due to strike material.

FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 5/23/88-5/27/88 & 5/30/88-6/3/88:

FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 6/6/88-6/10/88 & 6/13/88-6/17/88:

Great numbers for ATWT. Tied for third. Very crowded at the top. Only GL continues to struggle with their fluff storylines.

Man, after seeing such a nice rebound in January and February, I was hoping to see a spike for everyone during May sweeps, but now we're seeing just the top soap (sometimes top 2)  in the 7's with the rest of the top half down in the 6's.  I guess it's inevitable. And now it makes sense at how DAYS will soon be able to hit #1.... 

It is great to see these numbers. The soap digest didn't tell the real story and the missing weeks are golden.