OWN picks up Jamey Giddens scripted show!

[Khan]

 

Exactly.  A (good) series' audience might be small in the beginning and either maintain its' size or (God willing) expand over time.  However, if a series begins with a small audience and then LOSES half of that audience -- especially in the beginning, when initial impressions are critical -- then there's a better than good chance that viewers at least sampled the show at the start, didn't think the show was "going anywhere," and quickly tuned out.

 

I'm not suggesting OWN couldn't or wouldn't have renewed "Ambitions" for a second season, but they looked at the numbers and likely believed the potential for growth (or, at the very least, stability) was not there to justify the expense of more episodes.  Moreover, if they HAD renewed the show, given its' poor ratings performance, they probably would have renewed with the caveat that Jamey and the rest of the team overhaul every aspect of the show, from the cast on down.

Edited January 27, 2020 by Khan

[VanessaReardon]

Ambitions was a failure. No way around it. Giddens should be embarrassed. He kept saying on his podcast that HE knew how to write a soap. He wrote a soap and it failed. Bigtime. Don’t let the door hit ya, Jamey. Buh bye.

[Antoyne]

Nothing to embarrassed about to me, it was an enjoyable show.

[John]

Jamey got a chance and it wasnt my cup of tea but I was happy for him. If he wants to find a new home for Ambitions, go for it

 

As for PP & his reactions. Look He didnt like the players (PP) BTS and he was right. The shows were great but Rich & Jeff mismanaged them by spending so much coin on catering so the actors wouldnt leave campus. Then they did overwork the crew and that led to the strike. 

Like I said the shows were good but Jeff & Frank had no idea how to do a daily soap and DC were right to call them out

 

 

Edited January 29, 2020 by John

[BetterForgotten]

He's saying on Twitter he's now focusing on developing new projects and hopes to resume Ambitions "one day." I guess he's already given up on trying to resurrect this someplace else. 

[Khan]

 

It's just as well.  "Ambitions" wasn't exactly a cult hit that got treated unfairly by its' network.

 

My advice: work on adapting "Ambitions" as a novel instead.  Who knows?  If the book becomes a "Fifty Shades"/"Outlander" kind of hit, maybe a new and different network or streaming platform might be interested to pick it up again as a limited or ongoing series.  Stranger things have happened.

[Vee]

PP was absolutely mismanaged, but DC's objection to those shows was not about that. They objected to them not being made by Carlivati and Valentini, who they'd felt had been robbed. DC was easily flattered or courted by many creatives over the years; it was a cult of personality.

Edited January 29, 2020 by Vee

[John]

Now that you say that I do seem to remember DC folks that Cartini should have been allowed to EP GH, AMC & OLTL. 

That would have been an epic fail, two people cant effectively produce 3 daily soaps at once

[Khan]

If Ron Carlivati and/or Frank Valentini had been allowed anywhere near AMC, I think @marceline and I would have needed to be checked into the hospital immediately for cardiac arrest.

[All My Shadows]

DC wanted so badly for AMC to be the Addie to OLTL's Dorian. The invalid sister who couldn't function on her own and needed the guidance of the flashy and exciting sister. The [!@#$%^&*]! 

[DramatistDreamer]

FWIW, from what I've been reading in trade blogs, OWN has been going on quite the dumping spree lately.  A number of their shows are being canceled these days.  My guess is that they are looking to shift the types of programming they had become known for in the past five or six years. 

Perhaps they're following the Netflix model of 1-3 seasons and then gone for most series?

[KMan101]

 

They were mismanaged but as Vee said, Jamey was always bitching about Carlivati and Frank not running them. Like they were Gods. He kissed their ass like no tomorrow. His bitching always left a bad taste in my mouth truthfully.

[DramatistDreamer]

It's been years since I listened to the DC podcast but I do remember JG mocking Eric Nelsen's acting style, which I thought was kind of harsh, especially with Nelsen having relatively little experience in the daytime genre (I think he previously had a daypart role as a child for one episode of GL), I was more inclined to give him a bit more time before passing judgement.  Well, Nelsen got the last laugh because his resume has only grown since then.

[Khan]

 

If anything, I was glad Frank and Ron weren't involved in the online series.  It still didn't grab enough of my attention, I'm afraid, but even I have to admit it was better than how it had ended on the network.

[KMan101]

 

I was thrilled too they weren't involved! lol

 

I think AMC needed a bit more fleshing out, but OLTL got right into things. Shame what could have been.