May 29 - June 2, 2006

[cal3]

Should she get credit for a ratings increase? No. Three days of ratings doesn't make a ratings increase. Despite Malones summer of Santi he was responsible for ratings that are generally better than those Hackley has been delivereing for over a year. If and when Hackley starts generating ratings in the 2.7-3.0 range routinely then we can talk about credit.

Balance seems to be in the eye of the beholder. Viki, Clint, Asa, Nora, Kevin, Kelly, Dorian, David even Michael and Marcie being seen once or twice a week for a few minutes here and thre isn't balance in my book. Most of the characters front and center are rather new being created in the last few years -- and that's part of the problem.

[dtchicago]

I don't think Highley is perfecct by any means, but I have watched OLTL for about 12 years now and her show is more consistent than most of the writers that have written for the show before her (with the exception of Malone's first stint). Of course, she plays her favorites (John, Evangeline, Natalie, Spencer, Paige, etc) too much, but what writer doesnt? Also, in terms of the ratings, she is the only writer that has been able to make OLTL a competitor to the other ABC shows. OLTL usually ranks far behind both AMC and GH but over the past 2 years, Highley has made OLTL a real competitor to AMC and even GH. I can honestly say that in comparison to some other shows, OLTL's writing is not bad! If anyone can remember how bad AMC got last year, or how DAYS continues to struggle, then you would recognize that Higley isnt all that bad. Finally, if Higley has done one thing, it is that she has stirred the pot. If OLTL was truely bad or even worse... BORING, then nobody on here would be talking. Talk is what keeps the buzz going. Talk is what got a bunch of people to tune in last week. IF a writer was to give the fans exactly what they want, the show would be boring and their would be no reason to tune in. So, in sum... yeah HIgley isnt perfect, but OLTL is not a bad show nor is the writing.

[2shane8]

I agree with (and appreciate) many of your points, but Malone's run in 2003 often saw OL outrank AMC, and ditto JFP's reign in the late 90s. As for OL having a couple of weeks ahead of GH, I think it's only Higley who has managed that, but I'm not certain.

[SteveFrame]

Well I don't like Higley's version of OLTL at all. I have only stayed with it out of loyalty, but even loyalty is tested many days. Even under Malone's second tenure (which I thought was pretty bad) if I had to miss it during the day, I always watched the night time show on SoapNet or caught it on the weekend for the marathon. There are many many many days that I miss it and never bother to watch the show. That is sad since I used to would never miss OLTL. It AMC, Days, and ATWT have been my faithful viewing shows for several years now. I quit watching AMC in February. I only watch now when I am with my Mom at the nursing home.

I have not given up completely on OLTL but I have been close. Yes dtchicago, she has made it to where it competes with AMC and GH but I think more of that has to do with the fact that both shows are very bad now. AMC has lost a lot of old time steady viewers. GH has too. Dena has turned OLTL into about the same type of show they are. All 3 shows are bad so competing with them is not a good thing in my mind.

And frankly I will have to wait to see if the ratings she was able to get last week hold on. Before that OLTL was still below them - usually by .2. I do know that the ratings fell very quickly this time after the big hoopla of Todd's execution. A good writer would be able to capitalize on that. But that is the big problem with all the ABC shows right now. They do these big stunts and get people to tune in but then go back to business as usual and can't keep the viewers. Look at what AMC and GH did in February. They both went up but did they hold on to those viewers - NO.

Well OLTL is doing the same.

Out of the writers in the last 10 to 15 years the only other one I would like to get another chance is Claire Labine. I thought she did a fairly good job, and I would like her back with less interference. We have had Malone back and he stunk. I would like to see Claire return and really be able to tell stories like she can.

[Jess]

I may disagree with Steve on certain characters -- Nash and Antonio LOL -- but I totally agree with much of this post. For a very long time, I was a true supporter of Dena. I thought she did a very nice job ending the Santis. I thought the DID story was a very good idea because Jess had become so unbearable and really my problem with Antonio is not Antonio it is Java so I thought the break up was a good idea. I liked Tess and nash in the summer. I liked that she brought back Clint. I liked David and Dorian. There was a lot a liked. But that ended late last year.

Now, there are many days when I don't recognize this show. Why this show can't use the very talented Heather Tom, Dan Gautheir, Erika Slezak, Jerry ver Dorn, Robin Strasser, Kristen Alderson, Timothy Stickney, Hillary B. Smith and on and on and on in good stories is a mystery. It is a sure sign of a very very poor show. There is no reason for it.

Now I don't blame Higley solely. Michael Malone and Josh Griffin are brilliant writers. Griffin is now over at Y&R I think. why did the stink their last year, and why are the same patterns continuing now? We are flooded with new characters and this show no longer is even a remnant of its old self. The writers can't create good conflict in characters, there is no depth to any of them and the show relies on gimmicks.

I think Frank is a big problem and I think Frons is a big problem. it's hard to lay it soley on Frons anymore. I can't help but think a guy that is that busy running soapnet and abc daytime now has little time to diddle too much into OLTL.

[Adam]

Its always nice to see the neglected OLTL get some press and be the top rated show for ABC... regardless of its current state.

[PhoenixRising05]

Wow I just love how a few weeks ago Days had record lows and now it's liek the only show up from last year in HH. The ratings are nuts .

Days is going to have a nice few weeks so things are going to get interesting.

[Angela]

MONDAY, MAY 29

1.(1) Y&R: Monday: 4.3/5,859,000 (+674,000)

2.(2) B&B: Monday: 3.1/4,121,000 (+342,000)

3.(4) OLTL: Monday: 2.9/3,776,000 (+245,000)

4.(5) AMC: Monday: 2.8/3,698,000 (+205,000)

5.(3) GH: Monday: 2.6/3,304,000 (-265,000)

6.(7) DAYS: Monday: 2.3/3,058,000 (+18,000) (NOT COUNTED)

7.(6) ATWT: Monday: 2.3/3,008,000 (-35,000)

8.(8) GL: Monday: 2.1/2,798,000 (+3,000)

9.(9) PSNS: Monday: 1.2/1,560,000 (-77,000) (NOT COUNTED)

TUESDAY, MAY 30

1.(1) Y&R: Tuesday: 4.6/5,846,000 (-13,000)

2.(2) B&B: Tuesday: 3.4/4,269,000 (+148,000)

3.(3) OLTL: Tuesday: 2.9/3,776,000 (SAME)

4.(5) GH: Tuesday: 2.8/3,531,000 (+227,000)

5.(4) AMC: Tuesday: 2.7/3,420,000 (-278,000)

6.(6) DAYS: Tuesday: 2.8/3,393,000 (+335,000)

7.(7) ATWT: Tuesday: 2.5/3,137,000 (+129,000)

8.(8) GL: Tuesday: 2.1/2,910,000 (+112,000)

9.(9) PSNS: Tuesday: 1.6/1,930,000 (+370,000)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31

1.(1) Y&R: Wednesday: 4.4/5,728,000 (-118,000)

2.(2) B&B: Wednesday: 3.2/4,137,000 (-132,000)

3.(3) OLTL: Wednesday: 3.0/3,974,000 (+198,000)

4.(5) AMC: Wednesday: 2.8/3,676,000 (+256,000)

5.(4) GH: Wednesday: 2.7/3,498,000 (-33,000)

6.(6) DAYS: Wednesday: 2.6/3,411,000 (+18,000)

7.(7) ATWT: Wednesday: 2.6/3,313,000 (+176,000)

8.(8) GL: Wednesday: 2.3/2,882,000 (-28,000)

9.(9) PSNS: Wednesday: 1.6/2,098,000 (+168,000)

THURSDAY, JUNE 1

1.(1) Y&R: Thursday: 4.3/5,523,000 (-205,000)

2.(2) B&B: Thursday: 3.1/4,052,000 (-85,000)

3.(3) OLTL: Thursday: 2.6/3,538,000 (-436,000)

4.(4) AMC: Thursday: 2.6/3,416,000 (-260,000)

5.(5) GH: Thursday: 2.6/3,371,000 (-127,000)

6.(7) ATWT: Thursday: 2.5/3,324,000 (+11,000)

7.(6) DAYS: Thursday: 2.5/3,119,000 (-292,000)

8.(8) GL: Thursday: 2.1/2,853,000 (-29,000)

9.(9) PSNS: Thursday: 1.5/1,860,000 (-238,000)

FRIDAY, JUNE 2

1.(1) Y&R: Friday: 4.1/5,492,000 (-31,000)

2.(2) B&B: Friday: 3.3/4,205,000 (+153,000)

3.(6) ATWT: Friday: 2.6/3,415,000 (+91,000)

4.(5) GH: Friday: 2.5/3,285,000 (-86,000)

5.(7) DAYS: Friday: 2.5/3,175,000 (+56,000)

6.(4) AMC: Friday: 2.5/3,151,000 (-265,000)

7.(3) OLTL: Friday: 2.4/3,107,000 (-431,000)

8.(8) GL: Friday: 2.2/2,897,000 (+44,000)

9.(9) PSNS: Friday: 1.5/1,769,000 (-91,000)

[R!ck]

Up in every category vs last year. Nice

[alwaysAMC]

Wow nice seeing AMC and OLTL rebound...I figured OLTL would get high numbers - the execution played out nicely (even though the entire story has irritated me with Blair's character assassination).

What is happening to GH? Ouch - the least watched ABC soap - not sure that's happened in quite some time!

[All My Shadows]

Wow about the daily ratings for ATWT. Did Lucy's return have THAT much of an impact?

[Carolyn1980]

Why does ABC state in its press release that GH, AMC, and DAYS were all tied at 1.8 for 3rd in the women 18-49 demo, but the list here puts it tied with 2nd with OLTL.

(Is it just me, or are the DAYS ratings always inflated here compared with how they show up in the mags?)

[King]

SON gets its ratings from a few different sources (Toups, Rugrat, lkstreet) . They're right.

IMO, the soap mags, SOW in particular, have really fallen to the depths of soap tabloids. I don't really believe or trust anything in there anymore, not even the ratings.

[Toadstool]

It's pretty sad when we can't even trust the ratings. I'm trying to think of when the mags turned the corner to irrelevance. Any ideas?- or I guess that's a whole new thread.

[bellcurve]

Is it just me, or are Y&R's numbers staying steady, DESPITE the SOAPnet move? Wonder if my theory was accurate: Younger viewers and working moms watch Y&R at night...and the nursing home audience that was there to begin with, stayed.