ATWT was number 1 in 78 and wasnt it like 7 in 79? No wonder the suits freaked out!

First half of 79 ATWT dropped to #4 in the ratings and in the second part of 79 ATWT dropped to #6. It would be #5 for most of the 80's except for 86 and 87 where it was #4. It never hit number 1 again after 78 but did hit #2 several times in the weekly rankings during the 80s with only Y&R ahead of it.

As the history books say, GH was in danger of cancellation at this time. But I have to wonder why? Yes, it was in need of help, but would they really pull the plug when it's ahead of so many other shows, including fellow ABC sudser, Edge of Night? Was it an expensive show to produce, moreso than the other ABC shows, I wonder?

Interesting point re GH cancellation.Did it being a California show have any bearing on the issue?

Maybe the focus groups were negative. The show did go through several writer changes in the year before Gloria Monty arrived and perhaps TPTB felt it was on a downward spiral.

And ABC had an Ann Marcus soap'The Best Years' in development.

As the history books say, GH was in danger of cancellation at this time. But I have to wonder why? Yes, it was in need of help, but would they really pull the plug when it's ahead of so many other shows, including fellow ABC sudser, Edge of Night? Was it an expensive show to produce, moreso than the other ABC shows, I wonder?

These ratings are after Monty/Marland had taken charge I believe. Everything I can find says she was offered the show in 1977 and in place nearly all of 1978. The show was dull, and looked old fashioned compared to clips I have seem of AMC, RH, and OLTL from the same time period. The show must have been expensive, I think Denise Alexander alone was paid a fortune to go to ABC, which I read in her We Love Soaps feature a couple of years ago. How much was exaggeration in the meeting to convince Monty to take the show who knows. But it was outside the box thinking and she did drive the ratings through the roof.

These ratings are after Monty/Marland had taken charge I believe. Everything I can find says she was offered the show in 1977 and in place nearly all of 1978.

I just did a quick search to see if I could find an exact date. The Variety archives don't mention Gloria Monty in regards to GH at all until March 1978. A June 1978 newspaper article states that Monty was asked in January 1978 to take over the show. The article also states that Monty went to work after ABC dropped four episodes because they were so dull. Monty's first GH listing in the Variety archives is in regards to a casting call in the March 27, 1978 edition: "Available regular role: male, 33-36. a looker, dynamite, doctor, leads the perfect life, 2-to-3-year contract. Agents only send SAG and AFTRA submissions to Pat Kirkland, General Hospital" so that must have been for a role GH fans would know.

Edited February 1, 201510 yr by JAS0N47

I just did a quick search to see if I could find an exact date. The Variety archives don't mention Gloria Monty in regards to GH at all until March 1978. A June 1978 newspaper article states that Monty was asked in January 1978 to take over the show. The article also states that Monty went to work after ABC dropped four episodes because they were so dull. Monty's first GH listing in the Variety archives is in regards to a casting call in the March 27, 1978 edition: "Available regular role: male, 33-36. a looker, dynamite, doctor, leads the perfect life, 2-to-3-year contract. Agents only send SAG and AFTRA submissions to Pat Kirkland, General Hospital" so that must have been for a role GH fans would know.

Thanks! I wonder if this is Alan Quartermaine?

This is what I could find, a Tune in Tomorrow article from Feb 19th 1978. Mentions Monty took over a few weeks before, so I guess she started either very late December 1977 or early Jan 1978.

Funny thing is Edge of Night was ABC's lowest-rated serial (as it was for pretty much the entire run), but if you look at the 18-49 numbers Edge was 12th overall or just above the midpoint.

Edge actually did well for ABC because it drew a younger audience and enabled ABC to charge more for ads.

Clint Ritchie said that OLTL was about to be cancelled when he joined the show, but that the introduction of the Buchanans saved the show. Always took that statement with a grain of salt. By that time (circa 79), OLTL was #3 in overall HH ratings, and probably still #3 in demos. Was it really ever in danger of being cancelled?

Clint Ritchie said that OLTL was about to be cancelled when he joined the show, but that the introduction of the Buchanans saved the show. Always took that statement with a grain of salt. By that time (circa 79), OLTL was #3 in overall HH ratings, and probably still #3 in demos. Was it really ever in danger of being cancelled?

The only story with buzz that people talk about from that era are the many antics of Karen Wolek and Marco Dane. Clint was a popular edition but I don't think the show was in danger then. Nobody in th OLTL book spoke about it either.

This is what I could find, a Tune in Tomorrow article from Feb 19th 1978. Mentions Monty took over a few weeks before, so I guess she started either very late December 1977 or early Jan 1978.

Thanks! That's the closest to a start date I have seen.