All My Children
DAYS Deidre Hall On Soaps: "The Two ABC Shows, AMC & OLTL Were Canceled By a Man Who Was Not Very Knowledgeable About What He Was Doing!"
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
Why do soap fans love Days of our Lives Deidre Hall (Marlena) so much? One of the main reasons is because she has always been a champion of the genre, and its enduring art form, and respects and understands its legions and millions of loyal fans!
In an interview promoting her appearance this weekend at She: Art Expo For Women in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Deidre talks about the state of the industry including its future, where she related her thoughts about former ABC Daytime Chief, Brian Frons who canceled two iconic shows.
Deidre shared, “The two ABC shows, All My Children and One Life to Live, were canceled by a man who was not very knowledgeable about what he was doing. He thought it would be cheaper to do a game show or reality show. It isn’t about budgets. Women have been watching these shows for so many generations they are invested. They’ve shared them with their grandparents and grandchildren. It’s their touchstone, it’s their family.
The reason we are their family is because we’ve been there for viewers almost 50 years. We were there when they came home from school and Grandma was in the kitchen with our show on, when they went off to college and had something in common with their roommates watching the show. We are there when people go into rest homes, on holidays when nobody comes to the table. We know our audience really loves us. We’re family. The ABC executive, who is now gone, didn’t get that. We’re never going off the air. There will always be a wonderful place for soap operas.”
When asked what she thought about the soaps now being online, (AMC and OLTL) Deidre’s sentiments were, “I don’t know if you can ask your audiences to go to the smaller screen. They are used to having you right there in their house. We don’t ask you to pay for it (the daily show); online needs the audience to pay a dollar (soaps on iTunes are 99 cents per episode download). It’s a different way to do business.”
So what do you think about Deidre Hall’s comments about what soaps mean to people? The mistake made by ABC canceling All My Children and One Life to Live in favor of cheaper forms of programming, that to this day, that decision has caused such a ripple effect in so many ways? And the way fans are trying to get use to the new format of the revival of those two series AMC and OLTL online? Comment below!
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Love her. That is why Deidre is one of my favorites.
I think she’s right that there will always be a place for soaps-just hope TPTB know that too. There are lots of primetime shows I have watched for a season or two, then stopped watching, but I have been watching soaps for decades. So I have definitely stuck with them. I do think being on everyday helps, because when a season ends I may not pick it up again or even week to week for some shows.
She is 100% right on with her comments, that’s for sure. ABC-TV made the biggest blunder in television History by canceling both AMC and OLTL. Personally, I’m not crazy about the on-line inceptions, but it’s better than nothing. AMC on-line feels more like a spinoff than a continuation, but I keep watching and am trying to hope for improvements. Diedre Hall is also correct that asking people to pay to watch on-line is different from the days of coming home after school and your show was on in the Living Room. The whole ambience has changed, and part of the… Read more »
not a hundred percent right hulu is free
Well, I was just generalizing. Yes, HULU is free, but I pay for Hulu PLUS, so that I can watch the shows on my (through my) tv set, it’s not the same to me watching it on the computer although at times I watch clips that way.
Many people prefer on the go ”smaller” screens, iPads and phones.. Most all TV are now also internet TV’s and that brings all on the internet, including the soaps, on the big tv screen.. Also, internet devices as Roko bring the soaps to your tv, as do Play Stations etc.. For the people who do not know how to put the internet soaps on their tv, they need to inform themselves.. Watching internet soaps on a TV is just a click away. The ones that can’t, the worlds media moves on into the internet 21st century and some will be… Read more »
Completely agree. We watch AMC through Hulu Plus on our living room TV and Y&R via traditional broadcast. There is little difference between the two experiences — except for the bonus that I can watch AMC when I travel domestically (maybe internationally, too, one of these days!). Progress is good.
Even if you watch the soaps on regular hulu, you can spend $15.00 for an HDMI cord to hook your laptop/computer to your tv screen. I do that whenever I watch anything on hulu. Beats paying $100.00/month on cable.. that’s for sure.
This is absolutely true. I didn’t watch AMC or OLTL, but I was just watching the SOD Awards from 1999 last night, on footage I had transfered from VHS to DVD… and it made me sad to see that there used to be so many soaps and now there are only these few left. And to see that those soaps aren’t the same either, because they’ve all caved to hiring cheaper actors who don’t feel right, instead of giving us the soap we all loved and had to watch. I watch DAYS and GH, and while GH is certainly trotting… Read more »
I love her & agree with her. While I am glad to be able to see the soaps online nothing can ever replace having them on my big beautiful flatscreen tv in my den or being able to watch tv in bed!
If your television has the correct ports…you can connect your pc to it with an HDMI cord and watch it on the big flatscreen.
I’m happy about the cancellations. Because now we have more cutting edge serials online. Though, OLTL could be better than it is right now. But I love the state that both series are in and feel safer knowing Prospect is in control!
prospect park only owns the lease the do not own the show, and feeling comfortable with them is a joke, they have no clue either about what they are doing at all!!
Loving Prospect Park and their vision. OLTL has a tighter cast focusing on fan favorites, no useless filler. The stories are getting better and better on both shows. Thrilled!
HA Prospect Park has done a phenominal job,and if they stop production tomorrow,I would still say it.
They did something awesome they brought AMC and OLTL back from the dead in great soap opera fashion.The roadblocks were put up and these under dogs did it any way.Are things 100 % no,but it’s way better than some of it was under the old regime(poison pancakes anyone).This is a work in progress and with a few cast additions(when they can coordinate),it will only get better.
I watch them more now than I did then.
She is SO very right! My theory is that as a little boy he felt deprived of his momma’s attention because of soaps, so as soon as he had the power he took revenge. lol I’m sorta joking, but he for certain had no knowledge of the power of soaps. Ratings go up and down. To come in and take two daytime shows that had made it through everything that was thrown at them, and each lasted 40 something years; was ludicrous. He could have taken them to 30 minute shows for awhile if he wanted an hour slot to… Read more »
She’s awesome! I agree with her statements about ABC’s blunder, but disagree about her assessment about going online. I prefer the mobility of watching my shows online or on my phone. I even watch GH and Days online. (And many men have been watching these shows as well…even though most probably won’t admit it)
It is True, as proved by the resurgence of oltl and amc,they are our connection, and bf didnt know what he was doing when he canceled them.
She’s right. Older viewers will not watch in big numbers on computers, mainly because they don’t own computers. I watch my mom’s favorite. I would never give it up, especially for shows that feature foods I would never eat.
PP needs to focus on the future of the soaps.. The new/now generation who will be the ones to keep the soaps thriving are internet bound.. Daytime tv is struggling to keep going.. The world runs on computers and most every household that have children of any age have/need a computer for their children’s education, school class rooms are internet ready.. Every collage student owns a computer.. Most All younger working class own a computer.. I feel bad for the older who are left behind because computers are not of the world they know, live in.. But- there is a… Read more »
PP is a joke, ill say it again this company will not be around in the near future, everyone blames ABC for the AMC and OLTL cancellation of the shows, I do not know many 80 plus year old women who use a computer, most older ladies I know watch the tv, the quality on a computer is NOT the same, its like watching the best movie on a phone…does NOT even compare!!!
I know many older folk who would be insulted by that thinking.
CT don’t bother this chick is nothing but a troll!!
I agree, there is something comforting about watching a show that’s been around for 50 yrs., we watched it with our Grandmas, we watched it with our moms, we discussed it with our friends at school, like they were real people! And some of the actors are still on the show, and we know their histories, we were young when they were young. We’ve grown up together. I love the character development you get with a soap, like no other genre. Can’t have long, drawn-out conversations in a movie, you’ve got 2 hrs. to tell the story! Soaps have all… Read more »
ABC made the mistake of hiring Brian Frons and then he was let go, soap fans need to realize that mistakes happen and they learn from it, ABC is not the bad guy, they thought they hired someone with intelligence and they were wrong!!! Many companies hire people who are not competent and then just let them go after.
It was more than just Frons….and he got his orders from somewhere above…
Still he was the one who pulled the trigger if he did not want to do it he could have said no and quit, as he got fired anyway!
deidre hall i love you so much. what a nice lady and terrific actress. deidre is straight to the point. i agree with her comments. brian frons is an idiot. cancelling both shows was a huge mistake. i hope abc chokes on it. abc will never admit there mistake in cancelling both soaps. thank you prospect park for bringing all my children and one life to live back. like stefano dimera says bravo. lol.
abc made the right decision, by cancelling one life to live and amc. i want to see more reality shows and game shows on abc. gh will be cancelled early next year. i know that, for a fact. gh is not a good soap anymore. poor writing and awful storylines. time for gh to go. deidre hall needs to mind her own business. she works for nbc. who the hell cares about deidre. she is a diva and wants attention. go away deidre. we dont want your opinions at all deidre. i only watch cbs soaps. dont watch days anymore.… Read more »
How do you know it sucks if you don’t watch it? (Btw, it doesn’t suck and is the best it has been in a long time.) I am not the biggest Deidre fan, but you have issues.
As if anyone cares about what this “lisa” thinks.
Don’t you dare start on Electra Woman or suffer the consequences.lol
btw lisa seems to repeat herself quite a bit doesn’t he?
Love what she said! However, you can watch these shows on your computer free of charge on Hulu. I happened to purchase Hulu Plus so I can watch it on my TV. ABC may have problems going forward. If there are a lot of women out there like me, I don’t plan on watching any new ABC shows daytime or nighttime. I say new because I want to keep support the shows I already watched. Castle being one of them with Nathan Fillion (ex-Joey-OLTL). The others are also soap like shows. Grey’s, Scandal. General Hospital is a given! No DWTS,… Read more »
Enough, please. Quit acting like ABC is the only network to cancel daytime soaps. Geez, be grateful the shows were revived and brought back elsewhere. In case you forgot, CBS (in tandem with P&G) pulled the plug on two of the longest running programs in TV and broadcasting history in the prior two years. Those soaps are now gone, probably forever. No grudge against CBS for that? And NBC has axed 5 or 6 soaps within the last 30 years. It’s not just ABC, folks.
I happened to watch the 2 shows that ABC canceled. If I want to choose to not watch ABC, that’s my right. I am grateful the shows are back. I make sure to watch every week. That does not mean that I have to support a network that thought nothing of bringing in someone to over see daytime, then let him run the shows into the ground. They gave no thought to their long time employees, and even less thought of the people who have watched the soaps for 40 or more years. ABC didn’t even try to save the… Read more »
Chris, first – yes there is some anger at CBS and NBC for their cancellations. The big difference is that those networks had to do it ‘in tandem’ as you said, with the owners of the shows (P&G). abc/d owned their own shows, so it was completely their decision and all grudges are against only them. BUT, it wasn’t just the cancellation of these two shows at the same time. It was also the way they tried to justify their decision. When they said most people didn’t want scripted programming anymore – that was a lie. When they said most… Read more »
I have noticed ABC primetime ratings have dipped quite a bit in the last two years. Granted, part of that could be that the primetime shows quality has gone down.. but maybe a small part could be a boycott of all things ABC.
I FULLY AGREE WITH DEIDRE HALL. SOAPS ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE, THEY ARE HERE TO STAY. I’VE BEEN WATCHING THEM FOR OVER 45 YEARS.
Folks, please try to understand already- Daytime soaps are NOT charities. Networks don’t/won’t keep them on the air out of the goodness of their hearts. They’re not dedicated to preserving the genre. TV is a bottom-line business, and the soaps have to make $$$ (or at least break even) for their networks/producers in order to stay on the air. As long as they can do that, they should be ok. But if ratings keep slipping (especially among the key 18-49 female demo that pays the bills, thus resulting in less ad revenue coming in), networks will have no choice but… Read more »
She’s just as delusional and naive as many soap fans. The truth is that daytime soaps are business properties, not nostalgic photo albums. Yes, it’s very sad to see any soap that’s been on for 40-50 years or more be cancelled and I feel deeply for longtime viewers of those shows. But if a show is no longer earning (or capable of earning) enough ad revenue for its network and/or production company to offset the high production costs involved (a major factor, like it or not) these shows are going to be in jeopardy of getting the axe. That’s just… Read more »
Real soaps as opposed to continuing dramas were never just about a television show– true daytime dramas were an experience based in connection. Connection between the viewer and the characters on screen. Connection between actors and their fans. Connection between those who gathered together to watch at the same time, whether it was neighbors watching on 12 inch B&W t.v., or young women watching on college dorm lounges sets or snuggled up in your pj’s on the sofa with your pet cat while sick. When these shows go on line or are offered on cable at any time of day,… Read more »
You are absolutely right. I also believe that is why these Soaps are struggling today. The writers are having a hard time truly connecting with the audience. The Imagination of storytelling is no longer there. Getting a good storyline for a show has become a joke because a lot of these networks are hiring these young writers who for once were probably not a reader as kid to understand what it means to have the imagination of bringing a character to live. I’ve stopped watching. The storyline are a bore and the so call young actors can’t act except dress… Read more »
I love Deidre Hall and her character Marlena. Just like on DOOL she is a supporting mom and grand-mom; she is very supportive of the Soap genre.
Marlena is now a great-granny for starters. second- I agree with Deidre Hall – except – she needs to be more accepting of other platforms. I can watch my DAYS on Android or iPhone…and perhaps one day – someone may come calling for her to have her own talk show or series like Mr. Kevin Spacey has his on Nteflix…. Third – Soaps are NO WHERE near extinction – look at the hubba ratings of OWN’s “The Haves and The Have Nots” – that is CLASSIC soap writing at its best. ALL the soaps are UP in ratings across the… Read more »
She really gets it! Days was there when I got home from school, when my boys were babies and I was a stay at home mom, when I was sick, and now when I am retired! In fact, Days has been more reliable than my husband was! I do miss some of the other soaps…. Guiding Light’s Reba & Shane, for instance! Days needs their super couple back! Where’s John? Where’s Bo?
I love Deidre Hall and hope to see her receive her star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame next year!!! Does Melody Thomas Scott have a star? I hope she MTS does’nt roll her eyes at Deidre’s good fortune! People need to learn to be nice like Deidre. DH is a small part of a great show. Days is great with and without her, but I will always support her. Some people sound like they support the soaps according to their favorite network. I support my soap because it is exciting day after day. Deidre was asked a question and… Read more »
Deidre obviously doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Instead of trying to support the online soaps, she’s dissing them. She’s saying their audience has to pay for the shows online, which is not true. She obviously doesn’t even know they’re being shown on OWN now, on TV not just online. She obviously feels threatened by web soaps, but she needn’t worry — there’s room enough for everybody. Deidre, do your homework before you speak!
She is spot on. Only a lot more polite than I am. Brian Frons is the man who referred to an entire fan base as “soap terrorists” not dedicated or loyal and diehard but “soap terrorists”. He had zero respect for the genre the actors, writers and audience. THANK GOD he’s gone
Love most of what she said. I do hope someone has since informed her of the free option to watch these shows AND that there are a number of ways to watch them on a television versus a computer.
All 3 networks have cancelled soaps as audiences and revenue dwindled. The Chew has been successful and the network gave an hour back to the local affiliates. I say ABC is happy with their decisions. Cannot bring myself to watch online soaps, when something is over it is over. The only thing I miss on All My Children is Tadd Martin and MEK. Deidre Hall is protecting her turf, naturally she does not support online programming as the salaries are so much less.
she obviously knows this business better than a lot of executives!
i have to agrre with Deidre. i have been watching Days since the early 2000’s with my grandma and i have always been a fan of Days and of Deidre and Drake. u go Deidre tell it like it is. 🙂
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