ALL: General Retro Soap Discussion

[Contessa Donatella]

I now have a perfectly good copy of the 1982 Daytime Emmys, complete, and I've gotten what I want out of it. My plan is to delete it. If anyone wants a copy for themselves, PM me for a download link. Downloading files from a Mega acct is easy.

[Paul Raven]

I know there is a lot of talk about the Daytime Emmys but the nominations/judging has always been so inconsistent and suspect, that I wonder what value they have ever had?

It certainly didn't pay off in ratings for a best show winner, or opportunities for actors (you never saw Daytime Emmy winners being sought for primetime or even other shows.)

It just seem to be an ego boost for certain producers and some (deserved) recognition for certain actors and writers etc but that's it. Especially when episodes submitted were written just as Emmy material and not always indicative.

I would have jury members be required to watch a specified  random week of shows to get a better flavor for each, in addition to submitted episodes. That would at give a broader indication of the acting, writing etc than purely Emmy bait.

 

[Contessa Donatella]

Now I also have the same situation but the 1991 Daytime Emmys, looking for a good home for it. If that is you, you know what to do. 

 

[Tisy-Lish]

Question about soap opera sets. Which soap opera set was "retired" longest from a show, yet brought back many years later?  Explaining more clearly -- Which previously used set had the most years "retired" before being brought back??  

I'll suggest one: On Guiding Light -- the Reardon boarding house kitchen. First appeared around 1979-80.  Not sure when last seen, but unseen for years.  Then returned around 1995, when Nola returned to GL.  

I'm sure there are better examples than this one. I'd enjoying hearing the memories of other revived sets (used as the same locations) on soaps.  

[Contessa Donatella]

The Daytime Emmys have never been about the daily show. When getting voting members to watch reels made available to them is a challenge, the very idea of trying to get them to watch daily episodes is quite obviously not only impossible but ludicrous as a concept. 

 

So, elsewhere the subject of Irna's not finished autobiography has come up & with it the idea that people would like to read it & discuss. 

[Contessa Donatella]

These 5 pdfs are alleged to be Irna's unfinished autobiography. 5 files, 5 download links. 

https://mega.nz/file/iDpnmLYB#uFLdDRq7XDYB3TQZz_d-rCQrhSmPP0miJ8A-UlTt77k
https://mega.nz/file/qCRziRhD#uTBHqnDQHsXd1FhV2mme_tS6P9vHIvMKpqRTbbJD7OU
https://mega.nz/file/mT5GFRpD#EfgB4OCm_fhD27Q0lyudOK8LsI0pNY5-J1m6icIQ3ks
https://mega.nz/file/LfoliSwK#JCOcpXZgNvhfJjMpoXMTRao1HEYsAvjxVp5PEQ-WoUw
https://mega.nz/file/mboUDaKI#GJHW7zULntx2K1et3mlIuuHv-93_fcRlYPeYAkbovgI

Please read & discuss. 

[Paul Raven]

Article discussing the state of daytime in 1971. The 3 networks were competitive for the first time thus leading to the 'daytime wars' of the 70's, with shows cancelled, soaps expanding etc.

The high drama of network daytime CBS, reigning champion of the dollar -profitable weekday schedule, faces toughest challenge in 13 years.

Although CBS is virtually unchallenged as the ratings leader in nighttime, the picture in daytime, where CBS also leads, is as different as day from night. To begin with, costs of programing are much lower in daytime than in nighttime TV, and the profitability thus potentially higher. For this reason alone, network rivalry in this area is traditionally intense, although not so frequently subject to public view. This year, particularly, the developments in daytime programing are dramatic.

It is the first time in 13 years that CBS has been threatened seriously. It continues in the leadership position, but both NBC and ABC are nipping at its heels; in the season to date, CBS is but three tenths of a percentage point ahead of NBC, and but two-thirds of a percentage point in front of ABC.

Average ratings for network programing in the daytime periods (Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. -4:30 p.m. EST) this season stand at CBS 7.6, NBC 7.3 and ABC 7.0, giving CBS an edge of 4% above NBC and 9% over ABC. In the similar period of 1970, CBS's lead was more impressive: 8.4 vs. NBC's 6.9 and ABC's 5.9.

It is necessary to go back 13 years to find an NBC daytime performance comparable to this year's -and only twice within that period has NBC showed up as well. In the 1958 -59 sea- son, CBS and NBC were in a tie-a 7.7 rating for each -while ABC was a poor third, just starting on its historic "Operation Daybreak" (in which ABC began the so- called scatter plan in daytime, with advertisers buying participations). ABC's rating then: 3.6.

NBC again broke through in daytime in the 1961 -62 season: CBS 7.6, NBC 7.1 and ABC 4.1. In the intervening years, daytime television on the weekdays belonged to CBS. It was at perhaps the crest of its leadership in the 1965 -66 season. CBS then had a 4.5 percentage -point advantage over NBC (CBS 10.6, NBC 6.1 and ABC 4.7). CBS officials place the "big turn" in daytime in the 1962 -63 season with the catchy power of the Password game in the lineup. In that season, CBS came up with a three -percentage -point lead over NBC -CBS 9.2, NBC 6.2 and ABC 3.9.

From then on it was CBS by a comfortable margin, season after season. ABC's daytime performance has followed the upward curve. While -as CBS officials readily concede -CBS had perhaps nowhere to go but down, ABC could experiment in its scheduling, and hopefully only go up. It did, but not immediately. After a steady climb, ABC's breakthrough occurred in the 1969 -70 season (CBS 9.2, NBC 7.1 and ABC 7.0) with the network gaining ground with its game show scheduling of such vehicles as Let's Make a Deal. Although ABC failed to hold that showing in the 1970 -71 season (CBS 8.9, NBC 7.6 and ABC 6.4), it is now performing at its best daytime level in history. ABC authorities say that network has been building for what might appear to be at least near parity in weekday programing.

They cite Let's Make a Deal as having "started things up" with General Hospital and One Life to Live giving additional impetus to the movement. From ABC's point of view, the crucial change in daytime audiences occurred in 1969 when audience shares foretold a "big difference." The real improvement and change in daytime, they say, started in the third quarter of 1971. That followed a repositioning of two daytime staples -ironically Password, CBS's 1962 -63 vintage powerhouse, and Love, American Style. The former series was punched into a new spot in the schedule last spring: Love followed in the summer (the series is still strong in ABC's nighttime lineup).

Although ABC executives speak guardedly of daytime audiences more on a level with those of CBS and NBC, the two challenged networks demur. ABC, they note, is nowhere near parity in daytime, although the improvement is admittedly impressive. For one thing, they contend, ABC does not program during the same hours as do NBC and CBS, and ABC carries one hour less than the other two networks in the daytime period. Moreover, they claim the hours that ABC does not program are those with least audience potential. (CBS and NBC start the schedule - excluding Today on NBC and Captain Kangaroo on CBS-at 10 a.m., take a hiatus for a half -hour at 1 p.m., return at 1:30 and program through to 4:30 p.m. ABC starts at 11:30 a.m., does not pause at 1 p.m. but continues through to 4:30.) ABC counters that not only are daytime clearances holding this season, they are actually showing improvement. In numbers, ABC is clearing an average 153 stations live (88.2% coverage) and an average 26 outlets delayed basis (4.4% coverage) for a total 179 stations representing a 92.6% coverage. Last season, clearances were 149 stations live (87.7% coverage), 27 on delays (4.4% ) for a total 176 stations representing a 92.1% coverage.

NBC authorities state flatly that their network is in its "strongest daytime position in 10 years -since late 1961." They note how the margin has narrowed between NBC and CBS since last fall; assert NBC has invested money and time in daytime serials, while CBS's "are wearing thin" (the researchers at NBC point to a general lowering of share levels of CBS drama serials in 1971 vs. 1970). ABC's assessment agrees, and also emphasizes the drop in appeal of CBS's soaps, intimating a possible loss in "quality control."

CBS, while not denying the declines in its soaps, refuses to accept the implication that the drama serial may be curtailed. (CBS has eight soaps compared with NBC's five and ABC's three). Four of CBS's shows are Procter & Gamble vehicles: As the World Turns, Search for Tomorrow, Guiding Light and Edge of Night. CBS authorities say you can be sure P &G as well as CBS programers are working on plans to strengthen their respective properties. CBS officials contend the drama serial not only is still well up in share (although off from prior years) at the network but continues as the most "flexible" among daytime entries. If a game show starts to plummet, they say, there's not much that can be done to "change" the format. With soaps, a fall -off in viewer interest can be countered by extensive changes in storyline and /or characters; a role can be written in or out of a script almost at will.

CBS cites just such a turnaround accomplished with Love is a Many  Splendored Thing. Fred Silverman, then in charge of daytime programing at CBS (and now in charge of the whole ball game), effected a series of changes until "only the title and the music were recognizable." The surgery worked. For years, CBS has been conscious of the adage that change for the sake of change, when the network is on top, entails needless risk. But the numbers have changed now and CBS must contend with the altered picture. "Everybody is ashamed of daytime," one CBS executive admits. Changes will be made. The first quick snip comes Dec. 20 when My Three Sons replaces The Beverly Hillbillies in the 10:30 -11 a.m. period. Hillbillies is one of three shows rated lowest on the CBS daytime schedule -the others are the seemingly tireless Lucy and Gomer Pyle (the latter, at least, considered by CBS officials as a candidate for cancellation.) Snips two, three and onward may be expected to follow in rapid succession.

[Mitch64]

Actually, the boardinghouse kitchen set was used up to 1985 when the Reardon's were all written out but Maureen. It then came back (different set) when Bea came back when Chelsea was introduced..after Long came back the second time and wrote Bea off, it disapeared (there was brief scene years later of Mo and Chelsea in a portion of the kitchen that looked totally different again..) until right after the custody battle of Peter ended, and Ed gave the deed of Company and the Boardinghouse to Bridget. (How I remember all this but can't remember peoples' birthdays...)

Rauch got rid of the kitchen set..(because really, would Cassie or Reva ever use it) but when they saddled poor Nola with the stalking Buzz storyline..and made her a pathetic sad sack...she had a galley kitchen in her sad room in the Boardinghouse..for..whatever reason but obviously to make her look more pathetic.

[Contessa Donatella]

Recently we found out that on GH Frank has repurposed the AMC Edmund Grey set. What was it named, Wyldwind? I was fairly amazed. It's been a very very long time since it was used.  AMC was cancelled in 2011 & I don't think it was in active use right before the end. 

[j swift]

I was reading the NYT article on Roku's purchase of FrndlyTV.

As anyone who has read my posting knows, I think re-airing old soaps is an imprudent idea.

However, I will admit that if large media companies are looking for more streaming content.  And, if advances in AI continue to make the digitization process faster and cheaper.  Those of you who want the owners of the IP to release anything in their vaults may have reason to be hopeful.  Because the makers of TV's want to get into streaming in order to encourage young people to get back in the habit of updating their TV devices every few years.  And, Roku's plan is market exclusive content, that you have to buy a Roku device to view.  And you-know-who has a ton of content to sell.

Edited May 1 by j swift

[Contessa Donatella]

Interesting. I love my Roku. 

No, I don't know. Who? I mean Disney def does. I would think a number of parties have stocks.

[Tisy-Lish]

Mitch, thanks for that history of the Reardon Boarding House kitchen.  I had always assumed that every time the kitchen set returned, it was a recreation of the original set.  So I have been wrong about that.   Was the kitchen set ever used later, while Buzz and the Coopers owned the boarding house?  

Edited May 2 by Tisy-Lish

[janea4old]

To be clear, I know there have been a gazillion reveals at events on soaps.

But these are usually events that would happen anyhow, like a city commemoration or a long-planned wedding.

My *specific* question:  Has a character ever orchestrated an event to occur, for a seemingly benevolent reason, but actually for the sole purpose of spilling a reveal at the party, to the surprise of the event planners/hosts.
Specifically: an event that the event hosts wouldn't have thought of making happen, and the hosts planned this event -- only due to the seemingly-innocent urging of the outside instigator who is secretly planning the reveal.

This is NOT about an event that would have happened anyways.

My reason for asking:  April/May 2025, on BeyondTheGates, a couple was NOT planning a wedding anniversary party.  But there was a plot by an instigator to convince the couple to have the party, and the motivation for this was so that the instigator could do a big reveal.
The party wouldn't have happened if the instigator hadn't suggested it.
I'm wondering if this has ever happened before on a soap, that a big event came into existence due to the plotting of the revealers.

[j swift]

 Yeah, I guess what easily comes to mind are guests who have taken advantage of a situation to reveal a secret (e.g. the mistress stopping a wedding to say that they're pregnant), or a host who planned an event to reveal things (like John Dixon's plan to humiliate Lisa at their engagement party on ATWT).

But, that's a whole other level, where you can manipulate someone to throw a party in order to ruin it.

[Contessa Donatella]

Well, in a way DAYS "Renee Dumonde DiMera Threw a Party & Invited Everyone & Then Told the Whole Town Off" if you see what I mean. She definitely pretended that she was throwing this shindig for a pleasant reason while she KNEW her real intent wasn't pleasant AT ALL. And, everyone in Salem was targeted by her in this way.  I mean it was supposedly a celebration of her engagement. But, that is not what happened!

I think it checks off all your boxes. And, before today I would definitely have called it "singular". There was nothing like it. Now, there's something not only similar but possibly .... more far-reaching?

I was just struck by a thought. When MVJ was tasked to write a catfight, she wrote the best catfight that has ever existed. I'm not sure but what if she's done it again?!!

 

 

Edited May 2 by Contessa Donatella