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AD AGE new expose on new daytime entries shoving out soap genre!

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

In a new AD AGE feature titled, Daytime TV’s New Entries Push Soaps Toward Drain, quotes from ABC Daytime President, Brian Frons, and CBS Entertainment Sr. VP Daytime, Barbara Bloom are represented.  First up, the emergence of The View competitor The Talk – all about mommy talk show – that replaces As the World Turns. But then, the article points out several key rationales as to why the soaps are dying off and the audiences are dwindling, and here they are.  1) The shows are hitting much less of their target 2) The gratification of watching soaps has gradually been replaced by attachment to other media properties. 3) Daytime is no longer monolithic.

However Ad Age goes on to say, “Not everyone hears a death knell for the genre — just a call for fiscal prudence in managing survivors. Unlike CBS and NBC, ABC owns its soaps — “General Hospital,” “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” — and Mr. Frons believes they have a future on the network. “Like all TV, the strong survive and the weak are replaced,” he said. Although viewership patterns have changed, soaps remain “very strong performers,” he said, capturing a large and passionate audience. CBS also sees a place for the programs, but also realizes that daytime TV “is in a challenging time of transition,” said Ms. Bloom, “and we need to have the strongest players doing that battle.”

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

ABC has tested a raft of ideas to keep viewers interested while keeping costs low. The network moved shooting for “All My Children” from New York to California, taking “about 20%” off production costs by allowing for easier storage and transport of sets. The network is bringing back fan-favorite characters, including Alicia Minshew as Kendall Hart Slater on “All My Children” and Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo as Brenda Barrett on “General Hospital.” ABC has also generated some buzz by enlisting actor James Franco to take part in the medical soap.

In the future, TV networks and stations are likely to fill more of their airwaves with programs that get people talking but don’t require them to watch an hour-long show five days a week. Viewers these days want to dip in and out of shows, media analysts suggest, so talk shows, quiz shows, health-and-wellness programs and even infomericals might better fill the bill.  “Just as soaps celebrated a fantastical, fantasy world of relationships run amok two generations ago, self-help, reality and advice shows will fill the void in the future,” said Paul Kurnit, a marketing professor at Pace University.”

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I am not a soap addict, nor a soap fan, really. But I did get hooked on OLTL for the story of Kyle & Oliver (KISH). When ABC decided to cancel the story, they lost me (and many more) as a viewer and left me angry. Forever. I think some people must be sick of reading about how upset KISH fans are with ABC for killing KISH, but .. whatevva. #WorstDecisionEver!

I am not a soap addict possibly because it’s true that “viewers these days want to dip in and out of shows” as media analysts suggest, but I will take any good/strong soap story over ANY quiz show, health-and-wellness program, infomerical, self-help, reality and advice show…

I think the viewers’ market needs analysis people still manage to over-look a certain demographic/viewer group. I guess, I’m still not mainstream enough for daytime tv…

Y&R contract is up next year, better start preying for a miracle; no campaigning in the world is going to save the soaps now. ATWT & GL fans did everything they could. That witch is going to kill ’em all, and her little dog too.

I have zero interest in “dipping in and out” of stupid shows like infomercials or reality nonsense! If my favorite soaps are cancelled I am sure I will some other activity to take their place that will probably not be on the television!

Smart idea no Soaps no viewers buying any products.

All My Children

Carol Burnett Talks About Being a Superfan of ‘All My Children’ on ‘Live with Kelly and Mark’

In a heartfelt reunion, of sorts, the one and only Carol Burnett appeared on Monday March 25th episode of Live with Kelly and Mark.

Burnett had first met Kelly Ripa (Hayley) and Mark Consuelos (ex-Mateo) back when they all appeared on All My Children together. Carol played Verla Grubbs first in 1983 and then again in the 90’s.

Host Kelly Ripa (ex-Hayley, AMC) noted to Burnett that “we go back a long time”. She also described Burnett’s character of Verla Grubbs, “extraordinary in every way.”

Carol’s love for All My Children is well-documented, hence legendary soap creator, Agnes Nixon, created the role of Verla for Burnett.

Photo: ABC

Speaking on how her passion for All My Children began, Carol told Kelly and Mark, “It started with my kids. They would watch at noon. I said, ‘What are you guys doing?’ I sat down and I started to watch and I got hooked!”

When Carol’s family decided to travel through Europe during one summer, the comedic legend recalled thinking, “How am I going to last if I don’t know what’s going on in Pine Valley?” She revealed she had a friend, “who sent me a telegram to the (different hotels) on Fridays to bring me up to date.”

Photo: ABC

In a hilarious moment from the segment, Carol recalled receiving a late night telegram while in Lake Cuomo when there was a knock at her hotel room door from the hotel manager who was shaking.

Carol related what it said, “Erica is still in a coma. Mark slipped again and ran away from rehab.” As Kelly and Mark broke into laughter, Burnett continued, “Chuck has learned that Donna is carrying his baby, who was once a hooker.”

Check out Carol explaining how she became an AMC Superfan below.

Now, let us know, did you enjoy Carol as Verla Grubbs? What show do you consider yourself a Superfan of? Tell us in the comment section.

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All My Children

Malachy McCourt, ‘Ryan’s Hope’ and ‘All My Children’ Actor, Dead at 92

If you watched Ryan’s Hope through its 14-year-run, you know that Kevin the bartender became a beloved “member’ of the Ryan clan on the defunct ABC daytime drama series. The character of Kevin MacGuiness became so loved by the fans because of the actor who portrayed him, Malachy McCourt.

Sadly, according to his wife Diana McCourt to The New York Times, Malachy passed away on Monday from a heart condition and battling cancer. The actor was 92-years-old.

Playing Kevin on Ryan’s Hope was not much of a stretch for McCourt, because in his lifetime, he was the owner of 1950s Irish pub Malachy’s on Third Avenue in Manhattan. Known as one of the city’s great story-tellers, patrons from longshoremen to the actor Richard Harris would stop in and talk all things Irish with . On Ryan’s Hope, Kevin was best friends to “Ryan’s Bar” owner, Johnny Ryan (Bernie Barrow) and he tried to keep Delia (Ilene Kristen) on the straight and narrow.

Photo: ABC

In his soap opera career, McCourt also was widely-known for his role of Father Clarence McCourt on All My Children especially come Christmastime. Was Clarence, actually St. Nick? That was always the proverbial question. McCourt also appeared on the New York soaps: One Life To Live, Search For Tomorrow and Another World. Other roles included: Devil’s Own, Brewster’s Millions, The Molly Maguires, and Starman, to name 

Later in 2006, Malachy ran for governor of the state of New York as a Green Party candidate. He tackled social issues of the time including being an advocate for gay and lesbian groups to march in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Photo: ABC

McCourt’s childhood was recounted within his brother Frank McCourt’s Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir Angela’s Ashes, which detailed their mother’s attempt to raise the four of their surviving seven children in poverty in Limerick, Ireland. Later, Malachy wrote his own memoirs: 1998’s Monk Swimming, and 2000’s Singing My Him Song.

Malachy is survived by his aforementioned wife, Diana, daughter Siobhan McCourt; sons Malachy Jr., Conor and Cormac; stepdaughter Nina Galin; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Share you remembrances and condolences for Malachy McCourt via the comment section, but first check out this scene from a 1983 episode of “Ryan’s Hope” featuring the late actor with Ilene Kristen.

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All My Children

‘Live with Kelly and Mark’s’ Annual ‘After the Oscars’ Show Brings Backstage Interviews, Fashion Review and Red Carpet Arrivals from Movie’s Biggest Night

Monday morning, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos took to the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood for the talk show’s annual Oscar post show.

However, this time it would be Consuelos’ first time as the co-host of ‘Live’ for an Oscars episode. Mark took over the gig from Ryan Seacrest to team with his wife back in April of 2023 and since then the show has seen a ratings spike hitting several all-time highs.

The After the Oscars show opened with a tribute to the movies were the former All My Children stars took on iconic roles from: Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct to Barbie and Ken in Barbie, to the Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller role’s in the romantic comedy Something About Mary and more.

Courtesy/DisneyABC

During After the Oscars, Kelly and Mark were shown in clips backstage as the first stop for the newly-anointed Academy Award winners including: Finneas and Billie Eilish and Da’Vine Joy Randolph. The Bachelor host, Jesse Palmer was the talk show’s guest correspondent who spoke to the nominees, and celebrities as they were entering the Dolby Theatre on Sunday night.

Singer Andy Grammar took to the stage and performed on Live’s  After the Oscars show as well, and Project Runaway’s Elaine Welteroth shared her thoughts on the night’s Oscar fashion.

You can watch the full ‘Live with Kelly and Mark After the Oscars’ show below, plus the full movie parody below that. Now let us know, what do you think of Kelly and Mark’s first post-Oscar show together on ‘Live’? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

 

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