Breaking News
Impeachment Hearings On Broadcast Networks Show Ratings Much Lower Than The Daytime Soap Operas They Are Preempting
In an infuriating article written by FOX news, off of a study from NewsBusters, the news outlet and others have come to the realization that all of us who want our soaps back on the air already know. That is … that the network daytime dramas ratings are far better on a day-to-day basis than people tuning into network TV during the day to watch the impeachment hearings of Donald Trump.
Soap fans have been furious that in the afternoon network TV is pulling their soaps off their normal airtime across all coasts. Daytime soap viewers feel that all of the 24-hour news cable outlets should be the the place to go to see the hearings during the day; as to not to preempt the drama on General Hospital, Days of our Lives, The Young and the Restless, and The Bold and the Beautiful.
Photo: CBS
Just for the record, the study via NewsBusters showed that on day one of the impeachment hearing the networks scored as such: CBS averaged 1.52 million, ABC 1.29 million viewers, and NBC averaged 1.26 million viewers. Thursday’s were even worse with CBS averaging 1.4 million, ABC 1.2 million viewers and NBC had 1.1 million viewers.
Now compare that to the weekly daytime soap ratings and total viewers which while it ebbs and slows is still way about this. According to the study: “The Young & The Restless” has been averaging 3.7 million viewers during the 2019-2020 season and The Bold & The Beautiful averages 3.15 million viewers. ABC’s General Hospital averages 2.15 million viewers while NBC’s Days of Our Lives averages 1.95 million viewers.”
Share your thoughts on the pre=emptions of your favorite soaps, and how the impeachment hearings are, of course, not bringing in higher number in the day-part via the comment section below.
If I wanted to watch the
Impeachment. I would watch CNN news channel . If I wanted to. . There losing viewers. Much more people want to watch there shows. Not the impeachment. In my opinion nothing is going to happen anyway .
Not all of us have cable.
I’m sorry, I am a faithful soap opera watcher and have been my whole life, but if people think it’s more important to watch fictional escapism than deal with the issues facing this country and our government, then they are part of this nation’s problem. And that’s not a Republican/Democrat thing. Everyone seems to have made up their minds without actually watching the impeachment trial. We the people are in charge of our government. This is a presentation to us the people so we can draw our own conclusions no matter how we vote. If we can’t give up the soaps for a couple of days and pay attention to something critically important, than we don’t deserve to live in a democracy. The soaps will be back next week, but will our democracy survive?
AMEN!!!!
Totally agree. I am a faithful soap opera watcher as well. But I watched the hearings everyday.
There’s a lot of people out there that want to keep the American people in the dark about what this administration is doing to our country. I think a few days of missing my soap (which will be aired later) it not a big price to pay to be informed about what this administration has done and is doing to harm our democratic values.
Sounds as though you really ARE being kept in the dark.
..and lets be honest, if young and the restless is the soap of choice we re certainly nothing missing anything. This show is such shit right now josh griffiths writing it on the toilet
#firetrump
#fireJoshGriffith
Yes yes yes.
sonniorsolita, Very well said. I agree with you. I’m glad the broadcast networks are showing the proceedings from Washington DC. Kudos to them.
I agree. Also want to add that if we want to keep our democracy everyone of voting age should vote. The average is around 40% who did not vote for the last two presidential elections. Too bad about the wild card electoral college.
I agree. But want to add if we want to keep our democracy everyone of voting age should vote. I read about 40% of voting age didn’t during the last two presidential elections.
thank you. When reading complaints about pre-empting a frikking tv show in lieu of news of international importance, it makes me somewhat sad but mostly it makes me realize how this loser got elected (not by the popular vote, I must remind) in the first place.
Exactly! Well said.
I certainly agree with the sentiment that the proceedings should be broadcast and available to the public and that in the long run, the impeachment trial is much more important than any television entertainment. That said, the impeachment proceedings have been going on well into the night, and I don’t think NBC, CBS, or ABC has been pre-empting prime time programming to show them live during those time periods. So I’m certainly sympathetic to the argument that the soaps didn’t need to be pre-empted either; if it’s important enough to pre-empt programming, that doesn’t change magically at 7 pm. I think the question isn’t “Should the soaps have been pre-empted?” but “What wasn’t ALL network programming pre-empted whenever the trial was in session?”
As for watching or not watching: no, I didn’t, and it isn’t because I don’t care about the future of the country or the (theoretical) importance of what’s going on. It was clear from the beginning–at least to me–that no witnesses were going to be called (not to mention that several senators were foolish enough to declare which way they were going to vote before the trial had even started–I mean, OK, your mind is already made up, probably the majority of senators had made up theirs too, so in that sense it’s just honesty, but to say that out loud? Yikes!), which in turn made it crystal clear to me that I wasn’t going to be able to “draw [my] own conclusions,” at least not any meaningful ones, and I wasn’t going to get any information beyond what’s already out there in the public domain through the endless news coverage over the last couple of months.
I do agree that people should care, at least in theory. But when those in charge behave so irresponsibly as to make a mockery of the process, I’m not going to waste my time on watching the debacle. The fix was in from the beginning–in both the House and the Senate. There wasn’t a chance in Hades that the House would not impeach. Ever. And there wasn’t a chance in Hades that the Senate would convict. Ever. We can’t do anything anymore in this country–not even something as significant as impeach and try a president–without partisan bias taking center stage. If anything should be making people mad, it’s THAT. And THAT is what keeps me up at night worrying about the fate of our democracy, much more than the behavior of the President or this impeachment trial. I find that behavior disturbing, and I have lots of questions, but I never for a minute–not from the start, back when the word “impeachment” was first spoken–believed that I was going to get any useful information from the impeachment process about what that behavior was, how far it went, how significant it really was, etc. And both the House and the Senate have proved me right (the latter having done so more blatantly, thus angering me more, but I’m under no illusion that what went on in the House was totally untainted by partisan maneuvering, either).
So when the networks are pre-empting the soaps (and other programming) to cover serious discussions about how we’re going to mend this rift among the populace and move forward in this country without splintering further, count me in; if they’re truly serious discussions, I will so totally watch. But this impeachment trial fiasco? No thank you. I’m grateful it was there and available to me if I wanted to watch it (I do agree that one network covering it each day might have been sufficient, although I’m wondering if there are still areas of the country that have access to only one television station, in which case, no, it wouldn’t have), and I’m glad to see that a fair number of people on here felt differently from me, thought it was worth their time, and did take advantage of the opportunity, but: no. And I don’t feel the slightest bit unpatriotic or lacking in civic responsibility for not bothering.
Michael (not Fairman)…I did watch most everything from Mueller Kavanagh and Impeachment. Where I did have to tune out frequently was the presidents defence team. I gain a lot, not just from the facts presented, but watching the individuals demeanour, words, body language. It really gives you a sense of the person that news clips and summaries never will. Throughout all the hearings I watched there were some who testified I found quite impressive, courageous, and patriotic with the information they gave. They made me proud to be an American unlike many who will go nameless.
Lets keep news where it belongs..on news stations..when i got cable..mtv was a music channel now its stupid reality..E was entertainment turned Kartrashian marathons..i could go on…cable/networks have gotten worse that i think i might give up tv viewing all together…and this wasteful trial makes it all the worse..elect a new president in Nov if you dont like Trump…i think the impeachment was hurried up because they want to prevent Trump winning again and really for no other reason…i dont hate Trump or Like him…he doesnt take any bull,,,and has been the toughest Potus so far who isnt going to hide behind some goody two shoes fakeness like some past presidents pretend to be…sorry but thinking the whole world is going to come together in peace will never happen…our country will always have enemies and always will..no other person elected will bring world peace when none has ever found a way to make our own country a peaceful nation as there will always be hate no matter the time or who runs this country
their is no need to preempt when their are a bazillion news outlets on cable and streaming
Millions don’t have, can’t afford, or just don’t want Cable or internet. Their choice. And it IS the responsibility of the broadcast networks to bring this crucial time in history to those people. END OF!
Like missing the goings on in fictional television Cities impacts your daily life to the point of annoyance. Something’s off there. JMO
But will the IIC at the networks realize that the soap fans are not going to support their ridiculous interruptions of their soaps for something they can see in full on the 24-hour news channels or in summary on the evening news? I have my own opinions on what’s going on in ‘D.C., but I still don’t feel my soaps should be replaced by this…nor interrupted to let us know someone said this or that, or someone farted for Pete’s sake. They respect the evening line up enough not to interrupt it for such things and many of prime time shows are rated lower than the soaps. It’s just a bad mind-set on the part of the network brass that continue to allow this disrespect. I hope this report will help them realize our soaps deserve better.
It all doesn’t matter.
— -Trump approaches speedy acquittal — —
The Fix is in from day one..
Mitch will never allow trump to be removed.
There will be No witnesses nor documents.
It’s just another reality show
to make it appear there was/is a trial.
It will be over sooner than later.
People who know trump is guilty
your justice is via voting.
People who believe he is innocent
will go happy along with trump.
Either side, go vote!
America’s future is in your hands, either way.
What frightens me is encouraging people to vote who obviously do not understand a Democratic Republic or the Constitution. If you lose the Electoral College, you lose the Republic.
Tidbit;
The presidential elections of 1876, 1888, 2000, and 2016 produced an Electoral College winner who did not receive the most votes in the general election.
All, Electoral College Presidents were Republican’s..
so- it seems to be the Electoral College delivers Republican presidents.
I have total faith that the lord will lead us through these troubled times just very sorry that Washington once again has made a mockery out of this what a bunch of bloody fools we finally have a president that is wanting to put us first what is wrong with that ???everyday I pray for this country and people I don’t agree with we live in a wonderful country we are free we have a right to speak our minds we are finally in a great economy a great market and you can come to this country legally what’s wrong with that??? President Trump is not a racist not anything close what happened was he dared to expose the boys club for what they are both sides please get on your knees and pray for this nation and stop please stop with the hate
So much wrong with what I just read, but am choosing to take the high-road on it. Keep up your own positivity, Kay.
Thank you I will once you are a believer the rest just falls into place I was not a fan of Obama but I respected that he was president and never cursed him or wished him harm I feel the same way about anyone who has held this office I personally would pull my finger nails out ugh to be a president ! My mother would have made a great one so very smart she would have demanded a balanced budget or she would have thrown you to the wolves she was the hardest worker I have ever known great business woman most compassionate soul I have ever known ! I wish I was half the woman she was so yes I would like us to get it together but I am not naive Washington has always been a cess pool of idiots ! Saying all that we walk our own path whomever is in office we make our lives enjoyable and my husband and I are very happy we just pray every nite that it all works out ! Newsflash for the networks people will finally tune out they will be disgusted they won’t come back it just won’t happen and they only have themselves to blame ! Keep it cool Scot! And no I am not offended in any way you are more then entitled to your opinion I just wish you would come over to my side of thinking and be happy life is too short not to be! God speed he has it handled always has!
“I just wish you would come over to my side of thinking and be happy life is too short not to be!”
Never said I wasn’t happy; merely that I am not a believer or supporter of who is currently in office. But, again, taking the high-road on this one, as I don’t like mixing my political views with my soaps.
There are other ways to watch the trial. PBS, CNN, etc. Give me back my soaps!!!
The impeachment hearings are just one big fiction, played out as written by the elite and performed by the minions. It is all scripted bs…as is all of politics. I just wish people realized it. Truth is stranger than fiction! I would still take the soaps anyday…at least the actors in the soaps are attractive, as opposed to the actors in government!!!
Since George Washington became president-
Trump is the 3rd president in U.S. history to be impeached.
That’s why there is preemptions.
))It’s sorta a big deal, ya know..
This whole cluster is an embarrassment to this country. Other countries must laugh at the way our politicians are spending their time and wasting our tax dollars! Who the hell would ever want to be in politics. IF you had a agenda that you actually wanted to do something good for the country, the other side will dig crap up on you, attack your family and stall anything that would benefit the country in a positive way! END this witch hunt. Go out and campaign and let the chips fall and go on with your life! Quit bitching about not getting your way or not coming out on the winning side. It used to be if you lost, you would get up off your ass and try that much harder next time. Be an American!
Well said Timmm but it is going to be ok I think most Americans are worn out they just as my family does want you to get out of our way !! We are not fools we have and always will take the bull by the horns as my daddy god bless him use to say and let’s get going !
I love love love my GH. With that said, I’m happy to finally hear more than one side of the story as to what did it did not happen with the President. This gives me the opportunity to draw my own conclusions without bias.
It’s the ratings to follow this chaos which will matter most. DOOL, probably picked up a bit 01/20-24, but was also the stupidest, inane week of Days ever broadcast. Way to tell a story Ron! In a way it mirrors the stuff on the other networks, Andriod Schiff as Summer…all around it’s bad tv.
This is a farce! I don’t watch soaps, not for 40 years, but a few times I tried to watch Dr Oz for some info I thought his show could give me and instead it was this nonsense that is supposed to be a “trial” about what? It is just a group of poor losers who have nothing else important to do, like maybe, RUN the COUNTRY, like THEY were elected to do. If he is such a terrible POTUS get out and campaign against him ( how about with TRUTH this time!) instead of standing up there on TV (WOW!) all self important! A least they are adding to our longevity because laughter adds years to your life, and this whole TRUMPed up farce is just a great laughable JOKE!!!
I am grateful it has been on the broadcast networks. I do not have cable and want to watch the hearings. One solution would be to have CBS, NBC, and ABC take turns showing the hearings on alternate days and have regular programming on the others. That way those of us who want to watch the historic hearings, but don’t have cable can watch.
Breaking News
Jacob Martinez is ‘Days of Our Lives’ New Javi Hernandez Replacing Al Calderon in the Role
Finally! The casting has been revealed as to just who would be Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Days of our Lives, Javi Hernandez. On Friday, April 30, the long-running soap opera revealed Jacob Martinez is taking on the part and he will first be seen this coming June 30th and then on all-new episodes streaming on Peacock.
As previously reported, the popular Calderon exited the soap opera last year to join the cast of the NBC primetime medical drama, Brilliant Minds as nurse Nico Silva, who in May will air the remainder of their second season. The series has been on the bubble for renewal by the network. His last episodes as Javi will also air this May on DAYS.
Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming, Martinez has been secretly ensconced in all the drama in Salem for quite some time. When viewers see the new Javi in story, we should learn what will happen in Javi’s relationship with Leo Stark played by Emmy winner, Greg Rikaart, plus his continued relationship with his relatives in the Hernandez clan. Currently, when Javi returned to Salem after taking care of his ailing father, and after the bust-up of his marriage to Leo thanks to Dimitri (Peter Porte), he claimed he had moved on with someone else while he was away from Salem.
Photo: JPI
Like Calderon before him, Martinez is a multi-talented actor and singer. Jacob’s resume is impressive having appeared in the musical In Pieces: The Musical at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and he was hand-picked by Joey Contreras to play the role of Grey. Other credits include: the short film, Memory Swim and the play Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage.
Martinez hails from Norfolk, Nebraska and appeared when he was very young at the Johnny Carson Theatre, and as DAYS fans know, Jacob is now working at the Days of our Lives studios, right where the “Tonight Show” is filled. In addition, Jacob Martinez is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).
Taking to his Instagram on Thursday, April 30 once the news of his casting was revealed, Martinez, expressed, “Way too many people to thank in one post, so I’ll just say THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to each and every person who continues to pour into me and encourage me to chase my dreams. I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am. I already feel beyond blessed, supported, and loved. See you all in Salem ⏳”
Jacob Martinez appeared on Friday on the Days of our Lives Instagram account announcing his casting. You can check it out below. Deadline was the first to report the casting switch.
So, excited to learn who is the new Javi Hernandez? Please welcome Jacob Martinez to the role and be on the lookout for his debut on June 30. Comment below.
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This week starts with heartbreaking news. Patrick Muldoon, best known for his roles as the original Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives and later as Richard Hart on Melrose Place, died on Sunday, April 19, at the age of 57. Reports indicate his death was sudden following a heart attack.
Muldoon’s sister, Shana Muldoon-Zappa, told TMZ on Monday more details on her brother’s death, “Patrick went to take a shower Sunday morning after drinking coffee with his girlfriend in their Beverly Hills home. His girlfriend decided to check on him after he was taking too long and found him unconscious on the bathroom floor?” Shana added that paramedics rushed over and tried to revive Patrick, but there was nothing anyone could do.
Soap fans first saw Muldoon as Kate’s (Lauren Koslow) son on DAYS back in 1992, where he quickly became a fan favorite during the on-screen love story between Austin and Carrie Brady (Christie Clarke). Patrick left the series in 1995. He later made comeback for appearances in 2011 and 2012.
Photo: JPI
On Melrose Place, he played bad buy Richard Hart from 1995-1996. Patrick launched his acting career while in college landing the role of Matt in the 1990 sitcom Who’s The Boss? alongside the likes of Judith Light (ex-Karen, OLTL) and Tony Danza. Following his graduation, Patrick nabbed a recurring role as Jeffrey Hunter in Saved By The Bell by 1991.
Throughout his decades long career, Muldoon also starred in several motion and TV series including his leading roile in Starship Troopers (1997). He also had parts in Deadlock (2021), Vanquish (2021), Dakota (2022), Marlowe (2022), and Murder At Hollow Creek (2023).
Photo: JPI
Not only was Patrick an actors, but a producer and a musician and singer. He often made appearances and put out music with his band, The Sleeping Masses. Muldoon was the band’s lead singer and guitar player. Patrick was also a producer of TV and film projects.
At the time of his death, Patrick was also an executive producer on a the movie “Kockroach,” which is currently in production.
Taking to his Instagram, just a few days before his death, Muldoon expressed,“So excited to be a part of this amazing project KOCKROACH directed by Matt Ross starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Edgerton, Zazzie Beetz And Alec Baldwin. Filming now in Australia,” he captioned his post.
Sadly, on April 24, Muldoon can be seen in his 2025 film Dirty Hands also festuring Denise Richards (ex-B&B, RHOBH), which will be released on digital streaming platforms on VOD.
Muldoon is survived by his partner, Miriam Rothbart; parents, Deanna and Patrick Muldoon Sr.; his sister and brother-in-law, Shana and Ahmet Zappa; and their children, Muldoon’s beloved niece Halo and nephew Arrow Zappa.
Share your remembrances and condolences on the loss of Patrick Muldoon via the comment section, which is followed below by the trailer Dirty Hands due out later this week on digital platforms.
All My Children and Hallmark alum, Jonathan Bennett has been cast in the newly-created role on General Hospital as Joe Fitzpatrick.
Look for Bennett to make his debut on the ABC soap opera next month in May. Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans for his work as JR Chandler on All My Children from 2000-2001. Later, he landed the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout role.
Jonathan would go on to star in seven Hallmark Channel movies and then hosting and producing the network’s reality competition show Finding Mr. Christmas, Bennett has also appeared as a contestant on Season 19 of Dancing with the Stars, plus Celebrity Big Brother in 2019, and he starred on Broadway in Spamalot.
Courtesy/ABC
Frank Valentini, the executive producer of General Hospital shared to Deadline who first reported the casting news, “We’re so excited to have Jonathan joining our cast. He’s a tremendous talent and will be a fantastic addition to ‘GH.’
After the news broke, Bennett took to his Instagram and shared, “There’s a new guy in town…” Meanwhile, the official General Hospital account shared a pic and expressed, “He’s already tired of us telling him his hair looks sexy pushed back. Welcome to the family, Jonathan Bennett.
Bennett is married to Jaymes Vaughan. Back in 2022, they became the first gay couple to appear on the cover of the wedding magazine, The Knot.
So, what do you think of the casting of Jonathan as Joe Fitzpatrick? Is he the new man for Lucas? Share your thoughts via the comment section.
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