AMC: Lifetime TV Movie Franchise Announced

[Liberty City]

Exactly... plus, I'm going to say it: Lifetime has produced some good films.

[Soapsuds]

You're ridiculous!

I'd give anything if this was news about ATWT.

[John]

 

I want this to be a success. However I want quality production and story. I do not want something that taints AMC's legacy. 

These movies have no producer or writer attached yet. I would feel better if they  worked out those details before announced this project. 

Edited September 12, 2024 by John

[Vee]

I don't expect a Lifetime TV movie to be all things to all people. It has maybe 90-100 minutes runtime, it won't tie up a ton of loose ends and it will be self-contained; it won't do everything I want or anyone wants. But it can be a nice return. And my preference for AMC (or any ABC soap) would be for it to return to streaming in a regular weekly or seasonal format. But it can't be denied that cable TV movies like the Lifetime franchises do well and have a considerable lifeline. And it's pretty likely most AMC stars would make themselves available for something like that. So I can't see why anyone would want to tamp down expectations for either this or The Gates.

The fact is that any new soap opera programming is bound to be compared to the other vastly inferior shows on air right now, whether they are direct timeslot competitors or not. If GH, DAYS, Y&R or B&B look bad next to The Gates or a series of Lifetime movies, that is those shows' problem. Maybe they should try not being consistently bad.

Which, I think we're all agreed, would thrive In this environment same as GL. It's just very sad ATWT has lost some key veterans like Kathryn Hays or Liz Hubbard in recent years.

"Pine Valley" had names attached and went nowhere. Which was probably for the best, judging what we heard about its tone and focus. I think it was going to end up a tryhard hackjob. You can say a lot about Lifetime but they're not trying to compete with Riverdale.

Edited September 12, 2024 by Vee

[dragonflies]

At least Lifetime will have some kind of budget for it as opposed to if it were on daytime.

I read it's called "Christmas in Pine Valley"

I wonder if it will feature any of the kids now grown? Like Spike, Ian, Gabi, etc 

[reallyhateskateonlost]

If it doesn't have David Hayward, forget it.

[Vee]

I know Deadline is claiming "Christmas in Pine Valley” is a title, but I'm honestly not convinced this is not some classic 'reporting on the soaps' lazy Googling since there apparently is already a Great American Family movie by that name from 2022. (The nerve!)

[Maxim]

At this stage of the game, with soaps finally getting some energy back and showing signs of life (The Gates), I think this is the most wonderful news. If it's successful it really can be a hint to the people in charge that AMC is still alive and breathing, reading to be unleashed once again.

I want to see a re-started cancelled soap in my lifetime. These past few years EVERYTHING is getting a re-start, it's so in fashion, that I think it's time soaps benefit from this retro nostalgia. 

And even if it's just a bunch of movies - I applaud the idea. 

[All My Shadows]

Seeing this as anything other than a positive/win is insane to me, but whatevs. I absolutely 100% mentioned this as a perfect way to continue GL and ATWT back in the day (do not make me go find the posts!), so to see it actually happening with AMC is incredible.

To me, in several ways, this is almost (almost) better than it returning as a regular series. No need to worry about the regular ratings race (or whatever it is for streaming), no constant cast comings and goings, no aimless storylines going on and on, no complaints about front burner/back burner characters, etc. If it moves forward, we know we’re getting two complete movies telling two complete stories. If they’re a success, maybe we get more. If they’re not a success, we are losing nothing. It just seems to be a much safer, less stressful way to bring back a show that last aired over a decade ago and primarily appeals to an older audience.

To me, it’s exactly the same as when the likes of Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, Eight is Enough, The Waltons, Dallas, Murder She Wrote, The Rockford Files, and Hart to Hart returned as movies in the 80s and 90s. If our soaps join that canon of classic TV franchises, I am thrilled because right now, they are just collecting dust. GL and ATWT have basically faded into obscurity at this point.

Edited September 12, 2024 by All My Shadows

[j swift]

Eight is Enough and Hart to Hart are interesting analogies because both movies picked up exactly where they left off years earlier.  Arguably they were watched by fewer people, and certainly they were on the air for a shorter time.  Which is why I am so intrigued by the question, will the AMC writers feel the need to re-introduce the characters? 

For example, I'm sure we'll get the typical dialogue where characters unnaturally and unnecessarily reference each other's connection (i.e. "Hey cousin Joe!" or "If that's what you want, Mother").  But, will they need some newcomer who needs to be educated on the history of the Chandlers, the Martins, and Courtland Industries? 

Personally, I'd love it to focus on Tad's daughter, Jenny because she is the nexus of so much history. They have a huge creative task of balancing nostalgia with attracting a new audience, and I am tuning in just to see how they pull it off.

Edited September 12, 2024 by j swift

[All My Shadows]

I think what benefitted all those primetime shows is that they were in daily reruns basically since they went off the air, meaning anyone tuning in to a reunion movie would have most definitely been familiar with all the characters. I think in the case of AMC, it would be wise to find a balance between spelling out connections and letting the new audience figure it out. No one tuning in needs a play-by-play of the Martin family history. Returning viewers already know it, and new viewers will need to know only what they need to know for the storyline of the movie(s). I wish the show still had an “official” home on the web that curious new viewers could be directed to in order to learn all the history. They can’t exactly promote the numerous YT channels with old episodes.

[Planet Soap]

Lifetime has put out some ridiculous content, they've also occasionally put out some good content. But, whatever Lifetime has done recently is far more interesting to sit through than anything any soap scribe has put on the air in the last decade.

If any soap would be prime fodder for Lifetime that's B&B with its trashy salaciousness.

I too would prefer a daily serial, but I'm curious to see where this goes.

Totally agree. It's sad that a lot of the P&G soaps such as those two are barely mentioned in pop culture nowadays. ABC soaps seem to have more of a cultural staying power with layman audiences.

[Jonathan]

I’m practically on my knees praying for this to happen. Please, please, please—just like Sabrina Carpenter says! As I mentioned in the other thread, All My Children is sitting on a goldmine of characters ready for spin-offs, whether as limited series or TV movies. Plus, there’s a whole roster of notable alumni who would probably jump at the chance to come back, especially since it’s a short-term gig!

[Soapsuds]

Another World too?

[titan1978]

With studios being so wary right now to try anything new, I am not shocked that they are looking into their catalogues for IP to use and landed on using soap characters to anchor some tv films to guarantee that at the least first one has eyes in it.