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Les Moonves on Future of CBS Soaps: "We Believe They Will Be On For a Long, Long Time!"

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

Today at the TCA’s (Television Critics Association) press tour session for CBS, the network boss, Les Moonves spoke on the future, and his thoughts, on the two current daytime drama properties that air on the network … The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless!

Moonves related: “They’re doing well. They’re profitable. They were able, a few years back, to do the shows a bit more economically. Our daytime (soaps) have gone way up this year, and their profitability has gone way up.  We believe those two soaps will be on for a long, long time.  We don’t think the form is dead.  Obviously, there are a lot less than there used to be, but we’re very pleased with what they’re doing.”

Doug Davidson (Paul, Y&R) jumped on his Twitter account to acknowledge  Moonves statements to the press, stating, “Les Moonves is Da Man. He’s supported #yr #bb for all of his years @CBS. I know! I was there! #Straight shooter #great leader. @CBSDaytime”

So are you enthusiastic over Les Moonves support of Y&R and B&B? Do you think they will continue to thrive for a years to come on the network?  Share your thoughts!

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As long as the shows are making them money and there isn’t something else available that might make them more money than those shows– then yes they will be on. But if either of those two things changes, it will be bye bye. Because in the end all the matters to the networks is the bottom line. The key words in his statement is profitability.

Was he at the helm when Guiding Light and As the World Turns were taken off the air?

Yes. He axed ATWT so his wife could have The Talk. I do’nt watch
anything with Julie Chen!!! YawneR is worse than the soaps he and
his wife destroyed. If it was on the up and up, why have her host TT?

Yes, he was in charge. Funny that you would mention that. I vividly remember his comment when ATWT was cancelled: “Only the ‘special’ soaps will survive.” It came back to me as I read this quote from him. (BTW: I still don’t know what he meant by “special soaps” but clearly the group didn’t include the Oakdale folks).

I’ve always liked Doug Davidson and appreciate what he has done for Y&R over the years. However, I’m having a hard time becoming as supportive of Moonves as he did in his quote. Two years ago, it looked CBS would toss all of its soaps off the air. Now, Moonves and Angelica McDaniel gush on and on about how fantastic they are doing.

The ratings for the shows have improved but they are far below what they used to be. Moreover, from a creative angle, Y&R and B&B are barely watchable.

I’m not trying to be the voice of doom about this. I WANT these shows to survive but I just don’t see the improvements that Moonves and his crew keep fawning about. Moreover, I don’t really trust that Moonves is that supportive of these shows. They clearly have cut costs further (evident in the quality of what we see on the screen these days) and the shows must work somehow from a profit angle. However, I wouldn’t say they have made some HUGE comeback like his comment suggests.

Sorry, I just don’t put a lot of weight into these glowing remarks. I remember the hatch job done on ATWT and GL to well to do that.

I thought ATWT & GL were through Proctor & Gamble!!

Yes, P&G produced the soaps and CBS aired them on their network. P&G owns all copyrighted material connected to those two soaps. So when CBS decided to no longer air them on their network, P&G could have sold them to another network. But P&G wanted to get out the soap opera production end of things so they didn’t bother.

Thank you! I’m looking forward to another 40 years of the Young and the Restless!

…and at least 25 more years of B&B!!

I don’t care if it’s profitability! As long as they stay on!!! Of course, they have to make a profit….it is a business after all…everyone says that like its a bad thing!

Yes, nothing wrong with making money- and entertainment is a business. But supporting them as long as they make a profit, isn’t the same thing as supporting them through investment.
If this network was truly supporting the genre, they would invest the money in hiring the best writers, producers, directors, actors, and trades people they could. They would invest in high production values and promotions. They would be interested in developing new soaps— that is supporting the genre.
But just be willingly to air a Sony and Bell produced product as long as it makes money for you, and something else better doesn’t come along– is not IMO supporting the genre.
And trust me, there is a way to do invest in the genre and make money, but no network is willing to go there anymore. They will air what they have until they find a good reason not to.
So I don’t object to them wanting to make a profit– I object to them saying they are supporting the product when in fact they are not. They are profiting from it, not supporting it. Big difference.

Well said.

No, I don’t agree with Les at all. Onbothera shows they are breaking up marriages and turning teens into scrumbags. Nobody really work..The scripts look like what William Bell wrote and baby Brad picked up off the floor to use over and over. And getting rid of Hunter Tylo and her family, the only characters that can act.

Any business must remain profitable to ensure it’s future and it is no different in soaps. In addition to this, you must have good story lines or the actor/actresses are enticed to walk. Let’s hope the soaps do survive for years to come- long live the soaps!

HE CANCELLED ATWT’S. BRING IT BACK!!!!!! I don’t watch the talk and never will.

I wish he’d kept ATWT on the air…i miss Lilly, Holden, Lucinda, Luke,…i miss them all!!!

Don’t forget Barbara and Emily! I still miss my show!

They were great too…especially Barbara and when they did that Upstairs Downstairs Christmas special…i taped that and watch it every Christmas season.

Good news to hear!

GL and ATWT were much better soaps than Y&R. I have never watched TT and don’t intend to.

I do’nt care how people spin this: The fact is that he killed ATWT and gave his
wife a show that took the place of it. All of the doubters may change thei minds
when there is talk of a spinoff of The Talk. The best way to save the soaps is to
not support the other crap.

News

Robin Strasser Meets Kristen Alderson’s Baby Kiera in a One Life to Live Reunion

For years, Robin Strasser (ex-Dorian) and Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) have been the best of friends and the best of co-stars. On One Life to Live, Kristen was only six-years-old when she began her journey as Todd and Blair’s daughter and met the iconic Strasser.

Now in 2024, Kristen is a new mom to her baby girl, Kiera. Strasser, who lives in New York, along with her best friend, John, traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, just a few days ago to visit the Alderson family and spend the day with Kiera.

Taking to her Instagram a very happy Kristen shared, “Look at who came to visit today! Robin & her bestie John! Robin and I got all misty eyed when she met Kiera today!”

Photo: JPI

In a very touching part of her post, Alderson expressed, “Robin is such a special person in my life, it means so much to me that we’re as close as we are. She’s just the best❤️ A great day of laughs & a great brunch spread😍”

Robin added, “I’ve been smiling since I met her. I’m a big softie for babies, but what a doll Kiera is!” The Daytime Emmy-winning star, also shared, “I’m so grateful for my ongoing friendship with Kris and Kathy. Amazing women and loyal friends!”

What do you think about Kristen and Robin’s enduring friendship and recalling their time on One Life to Live? Comment below.

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General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Writer Shannon Peace Let Go, and Shares on Sprina: “One of My Only Regrets is to Not Have the Opportunity to Develop That ‘Ship’ Further”

As General Hospital’s new head writing team of Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahy gets off the ground and running, there are still changes a foot on the writing team.

Now comes word via breakdown writer Shannon Peace that she is no longer on contract with the long-running ABC soap heading into its 61st season. Peace shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram, thanking the fans, and the show for the opportunity and the importance of diversity in the writers room.

Peace began, “After almost 3 years on staff and 106 episodes penned, I am no longer on contract with General Hospital. Writing for this country’s longest running television serial drama has been an education of epic proportions; I will forever be grateful that I earned my WGA card on a daytime fixture that holds memories for so many.” (Peace pictured below with GH EP Frank Valentini and script writer, Charlotte Gibson from about ten months ago).

Photo: SPeaceIG

Shannon added “Even more importantly, as the sole Black breakdown writer (and only POC in the writers room) during my tenure, I pushed for vital interactions and discussions that prioritized inclusion, visibility, and representation”

The writer pointed to the example of vital interaction when in story, “Stella and Portia’s frank July 2022 conversation about the role race played in Esme’s framing of Trina is just one example of the impact I’m gratified to have had.”

Acknowledging former GH co-head writers was also part of Peace’s farewell expressing, “Appreciation to my former bosses, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor – not only taking a chance on me, but for valuing my opinion and championing my voice.”

Courtesy/ABC

Many GH fans know that Peace was key to the development of the love story between Trina Robinson and Spencer Cassadine as played by Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez. Shannon gave a special shout-out to ‘Sprina’ fans, “I also want to thank fans who were supportive of my work, especially the recognition of my love for ‘Sprina’. One of my only regrets is not having to develop that ‘ship’ further.”

She concludes her statement with,”In the aftermath of a historic writer’s strike that shed new light on the troubling ways writers are regarded in daytime, my sincere hope is that General Hospital recommits to valuing staff writer efforts and input, with a more intentional focus on diverse viewpoints — and thrives for another 60 years.”

Accompanying her post, Shannon added, “Thank you all for the love and support these last few years. I hope GH fans get all they hope for and more!”

So, what do you think about GH not renewing Shannon’s contract? Will there be more continued changes afoot? What do you think is the future of ‘Sprina’ anyway at this point as viewers wait to see if Nicholas Chavez officially returns to the show?  Comment below.

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Peter Reckell returns for a second visit with Michael Fairman following the wrap-up of his recent run as Bo Brady on Days of our Lives.Leave A Comment

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