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Denver Post: "OLTL soon to announce deal to live for two more years"

This weekend The Denver Post’s, Joanne Ostrow has an article about the state of daytime titled: It’s a New Dawn for Daytime as Sun Sets on Oprah, 2 Soaps.” In it, she discusses the current cost-cutting measures soaps and other daytime programming are going through to endure, and how As the World Turns and Guiding Light recently faded to black.

However, there was one very  interesting quote that Ostrow reported: “ABC owns its soaps, unlike the CBS relationship with P&G.  ABC’s One Life to Live is soon to announce a deal to live two more years.”

Ostroff also interviewed TV Guide’s Michael Logan, who offered up this interesting comparison in how networks and advertisers view the soaps, when in fact even soaps are higher in ratings then some Emmy Award winning primetime television dramas.  Logan stated, “Mad Men, draws some 2 million viewers a week on AMC while As the World Turns was canceled with 2.5 million watching five days a week.”

The Post goes on to say,  “The industry is in flux, scrambling for new economic models, determined to find less expensive ways to draw audiences. Network executives don’t talk about creating mass hits; they talk about efficiently filling airtime.”

So let’s hope this One Life to Live deal will give the struggling soap a chance to climb the ladder in the daytime ratings , so that it can live more lives.

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As long as they keep hiring talent like the Ford brothers will not help them. After Friday’s show I have my doubts that it should. Some how drivers ED isn’t my idea of a soap. Nor is watching the texting for almost an hour! Sorry if they want to use the kids like this send them to the Disney channel.

A nice six pack abs only gets you so far.

here’s a quote from Nelson Branco’s “The Soapgeist” for Sept 27, 2010 about the Driver’s Ed scene…

“whether it’s Todd and Téa sailing around New York City or Darren taking a driver’s lesson (which was hilarious, btw). On this show, looks are just as important as what’s script deep.”

I thought it was pretty funny as well.

Why would they be signing a two year deal? ABC owns all three of their soaps. This soonds suspect to me.

Why do so many people dislike the Ford family? I have watched this show since 1984, and i quite like them. I can’t wait for the father to appear. I think people should give them a little more time and see where things go. I think we were meant to dislike Robert Ford, and since so many people do, haven’t the producer done their job?

I do not necessarily dislike the Ford family, I just think there are too many of them brought on and way too soon. I like Ford and James, Nate is okay, but Inez is totally miscast. Had they stuck to just James and Ford, it may have been okay. Heck, they could have stuck with Inez and Nate and left the reveal of their ties to her other two sons til MUCH later…..after we had more of a chance to get invested in any of these characters. Too much, too soon, bad casting with Inez, and what appears to be vets pushed aside in favor of this new family. I think those are some reasons The Fords are not going over as well with the most viewers.

I think they will find redemption if they pull back on their airtime for a while, re-cast an age appropriate actress to play Inez, explain more of the backstory in terms of INEZ as top why she left her two boys in favor of saving herself and Nate. So far Inez has been presented as a likeable enough character, but that is hard to believe when you think of her having left her two oldest sons with an abusive father. Why? Why didn;t she take them? Get them out of the situation? Getting fans to like her is going to be an uphill climb. She left two kids in a n abusive situation while she escaped with only one of her sons. Mother of the year she is not!

happy to see oltl renewed for two more years

So, TPTB are “scrambling for new economic models, determined to find less expensive ways to draw audiences”…Really? Why not try this…cater to your loyal, long-time fan base (you know who we are, the ones who have stood by the show through thick and thin) and GET RID OF THE DEAD WOOD!…all the new characters, like the shirtless brothers and their “oh, woe is me” mother, and the newest heroine of the show, Dani. (maybe just less airtime for her). Get back to the veterans, ES, RSW, HBS, RS, KD and JvD (even though he hasn’t been on OLTL as long). They are the absolute heart and soul of the show and the reason OLTL has lasted 40+ years, and brought the show to where it is today. They are excellent, talented actors who are still at the top of their games and absolutley more than capable of carrying major storylines of their own. Oh, and the only reason I and many, many others still watch the show. This will keep your loyal fans, maybe draw new ones and save money at the same time. This is just a thought though.

MIchael Logan’s comment comparing the ratings of ATWT to Mad Men is narrow-minded and doesn’t tell the full story. Yes the ratings are slightly higher, but ATWT has absolutely no resale value – Mad Men gets revenue from DVDs, foreign rights, and will be packaged for syndication at a whopping cost for the network. Also, what are the production costs? Soaps costs lots of money to make them look good, I’m sure Mad Men costs more, but again the costs are offset by other forms of revenue than just network advertising.

I love soaps and have been watching since the late 70s, I tape Y&R every day and will not miss an episode so I’m not a soap-hater, but I’m a realist. A lot of the soaps simply don’t know how to tell good stories any more and that’s why they’re going off the air.

I think one of the biggest problems with the soap industry is that the writers are not staying true to the characters on the show, and they aren’t listening to their audiences anymore. They spend way too much time focusing in on the younger demographic, and are neglecting their hard core, long-time fan base. Look at AMC for the biggest example of this…..the writers have completely desimated this once glorious show, and it is completely unwatchable. Although, I don’t understand why OLTL is always the show that people are under fire for….it’s one of the better soaps on ABC. It’s the Y&R of the ABC network, in my opinion. I do believe they need to spend more time focusing on their veterans and less time with the younger actors, but it’s still a great show. Teen stories are for the summer time…..It’s time to wrap all this Ford Family and Dani drama up. Let’s focus on Vicki, Dorian, Bo, Clint, Nora, Marty, John, Blair & Tea….Oh, and bring back Lindsey. I think she and Clint could raise a lot of hell together.

I agree with you Torrey. That is exactly what I was talking about in my post above. STOP THE INSANITY already with the teen stories. I DO NOT care about Destiny and Darren and Dani and Nate and their drivers ed. class. These scenes were absolutely ridiculous and a waste of time. I FF through all the teen-scenes. Starr, Cole, Langston and Markko were enough, all the newbies are OVERKILL!

OLTL will get some of the viewers who used to watch “The World Turns” and I will watch it when Reva (Kim Zimmer) debuts this week on it.

OLTL may get some of the viewers who used to watch ATWT, but I sure as hell won’t be one of them. For me as well as other’s, there is no other soap that can replace ATWT.

Breaking News

Kim Kardashian, Emma Roberts and Marlene King Land ‘Calabasas’, a Soap in the Vein of the ‘O.C’ and ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, at Netflix

There has been lot of soapy projects coming to life and in the works of late, and now comes word that Kim Kardashian is executive producing a new series in development for Netflix called Calabasas.

After a bidding war last week, it looks like Netflix cemented the development deal from Kim, and her producing partners American Horror Story co-star Emma Roberts (pictured below) and Pretty Little Liars creators Marlene King and Alexandra Milchan.

The concept of Calabasas is based on the book If You Lived Here You’d Be Famous By Now by Via Bleidner.  King set to write the adaptation and will serve as the series showrunner.

Photo: JPI

According to Deadline, Calabasas is said to be in the vein of primetime young teen and young adult soaps the O.C. and Beverly Hills 90210. The story follows “Via, a 16-year-old sheltered Midwestern Catholic school girl whose world is turned upside down when her family moves and she’s forced to transfer to the fast world of Calabasas High where nothing is as it appears and where everyone is trying to be someone else. It’s a place where dreams come true … but not without complications and sometimes unforeseen consequences.”

Photo: Hulu

As fans of the Kardashians know, Kim and her family made the town of Calabasas a household and worldwide name. Kim being attached to this project helped make its sale. This marks her fourth project to sell since the writers and actors strikes concluded at the end of last summer.

So, would you be interested to see a teen soap called ‘Calabasas’ on Netflix from Kim and company? Comment below.

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General Hospital

Ellen Travolta Makes Another Return to General Hospital

If General Hospital’s Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) nuptials are on, you didn’t think Grandma Gloria Cerullo would miss out on the festivities, now did you?

Casting news from Soap Opera Digest reveals that Ellen Travolta is back taping scenes that will air the week of May 13th on the ABC daytime drama series.  When viewers learned that Carmine Cerullo, was also on his way back to Port Charles, now in the face and body of actor George Russo, it only made sense that Grandma Gloria would join Grandpa Cerullo. Look for them both mid-May.

As most people know, Ellen is the older sister to John Travolta. She first make appearances as Gloria back on GH in the mid-90s. Most recently, she returned to the Quartermaine mansion to meet up with daughter, Lois (Rena Sofer) and granddaughter Brook Lynn for Thanksgiving in Port Charles in 2023.  Michael Fairman TV interviewed Rena Sofer and Amanda Setton late last year where they shared what it had been liking working with Ellen, who remains very close to Sofer in real-life.

Photo: JPI

Amanda shared: “We fell in love immediately. What’s crazy is my maternal grandmother was Grandma Gloria. I had her till I was 30 and we were so close. She was really like a second mom to me. So, when I got this script and I’m reading “Grandma Gloria”, it was so bizarre. And then in meeting Ellen, she looks like my grandma – same haircut, same high cheekbones. It really did feel like I had a few days with my grandma. It was very, very special for me. Ellen is sweet, prepared, professional, talented and funny to boot. So, it was one of the best weeks I’ve had at work. I hope she comes back. My fingers are crossed.”

Photo: ABC

Now, we can’t imagine Brook Lynn and Chase’s wedding day to be smooth sailing, in fact, expect just the opposite, but could it be Grandma Gloria who is ultimately the hero or the calming voice of reason for any pre-wedding jitters? Stay tuned.

So, glad to know that Ellen Travolta will be back for Brook Lynn and Chase’s big day? Comment below.

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Days Of Our Lives

Kristian Alfonso Returns to Days of our Lives for Tribute to The Late Bill Hayes

After a few weeks of Days of our Lives fans being upset that Kristian Alfonso (Hope Williams) was not on the first list of initial returns for Doug Williams’ funeral and episodes honoring his portrayer, the late Bill Hayes, comes word that the popular star is back and taping scenes.

Kristian reported to work on the Peacock streaming soap opera on Monday, April 22nd. She shared how important it is for her to be back for this particular return to the show that made her a household name.

“My return is very bittersweet,” Alfonso told TV Insider,  “because it is the end of an era with Bill gone. So to return to Days is very sad. I am appreciative that they came to me to include me in their series of shows honoring Doug and I’m very happy to see everyone, but I’m entering the studio with a heavy heart.”

Photo: JPI

It was back in 1983 that Kristian first debuted as Doug’s daughter, and now 41 years later looking back at it, and her time with Bill Hayes is very emotional for her.

“I remember my first scenes with him/ He was very loving, very welcoming. That he was very talented and an incredible actor and an icon, that all goes without saying, but my personal relationship and my working relationship with Bill, it was home,” expressed Alfonso. “Doing the scenes with Bill, I felt like I was with my dad because there was so much warmth and reality.”

Photo: JPI

Alfonso did express some deep regret, in that she had wanted to work with Bill Hayes during her last appearance on the soap back in 2023, but according to the iconic actress, there was something in the works but it never materialized.  “I’m sad that I did not get the opportunity to do the storyline that Ron (Carlivati, head writer) had planned/ It was great; we returned to Salem to reunite with our families and I would have had father/daughter scenes with Billy. What Ron had written was beautiful and emotional and it was a fantastic story. I was 100 percent for it and the fans would have loved it.”

Photo: JPI

As for if Bo (Peter Reckell) and Hope will be back on-screen together anytime soon, Kristian would only say, “What I will say is don’t give up hope.” Doug’s passing and memorial episodes will stream later this year come late November into December.

So, are you happy to learn that Kristian Alfonso is back taping episodes surrounding Doug’s memorial episodes? 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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