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‘Neighbours’ Canceled; 37-Year Soap Opera Cannot Find New Home

Photo: Channel 5

Sad news to report, but we saw this coming.  After attempting to find a new home on TV or digital platforms, the show’s producer, Freemantle, has announced that Australia’s long-running soap opera, Neighbours will come to an end.

According to Deadline, the producers attempted to find funding for the show, when it fell through with its UK broadcasting partner, Channel 5 back in August of 2021.  Despite a sole investment from Australia’s 10 Peach, it’s just not enough to save it.  Neighbours has seen a ratings decline in the last several years.

In a statement from a Freemantle spokesperson it said: “Despite an extensive search for alternative funding, we simply have no option but to rest the show,” said a statement this morning.  To our amazing, loyal fans, we know this is a huge disappointment, as it is to all of us on the team. We thank you for all your messages and support and promise to end the show on an incredible high. From here on, we are celebrating Neighbours.”

Currently in Australia, Neighbours airs at lunchtime and is repeated in the early teatime slot along with another Aussie longstanding favorite,  Home and Away. 

Photos: AP

Some of the biggest celebrities started their careers at Neighbours’ Ramsay Street including: Russell Crowe, Chris Hemsworth, Liam Hemsworth, Margot Robbie, Guy Pearce, Kylie Minoque, Murray Bartlett, Natalie Imbruglia, and more.

No word yet on when the final episode of Neighbours will air.

In a tweet on the show’s official Twitter account it shared: “We are so sorry to say that after nearly 37 years and almost 9000 episodes broadcast we have to confirm that Neighbours will cease production in the summer.”

So, what do you think of the news of the cancellation of Neighbours? Comment below.

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Sad for neighbours fans!
Scary a longstanding serial in a primetime spot could be cancelled…
Neighbors used to air in Canada on regular tv awhile back then went to cable!

Unfortunately the way y n r has been treated by cbs the past several decades since Kay Alden and John Smith were let go ( minus maria arena bell at times) I feel this will be the shows fate aswell. Everyone who doesnt watch y n r faithfully will be suprised as it is a cbs daytime landmark. But those regular viewers will atest its being purposely sabotaged for cancellation because of ‘ratings decline’ ( aka,lack of network support)

I’m very sorry to hear this news. I don’t live in Australia but I can definitely related to the tremendous loss fans of this show will feel. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss our beloved One Life to Live. This is another blow to the daytime serial genre. I guess the suits just don’t think there is money in it anymore.

Congratulations to the entire Neighbours cast and crew, past and present, on 37 years on the air.

Well it’s no surprise. Their largest audience was in the U.K. at over 1 million, along the lines of Days viewers here, and just under that. Whereas in it’s origin country Australia, daily viewership was only one hundred thousand plus. The U.K. saved the show from prior cancellation but could no longer withstand the growing budget. Of course more additions to the large outdoor purpose built set didn’t help, nor the increase in on location shooting. Even the 50,000 person signed petition was no help. Watch or lose it is TV’s mantra worldwide.

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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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The Young and the Restless and General Hospital Actress and Writer, Meg Bennett, Passes Away at 75

Meg Bennett, who had played Julia Newman and later became a writer for the top-rated daytime drama, The Young and the Restless has died at the age of 75.  The news comes from her family who shared that she lost her battle to cancer back on April 11th.

Daytime fans remember fondly, Meg’s portrayal of Victor’s (Eric Braeden)first wife. Bennett joined the show in 1980, after her first soap stint for two years in the role of Liza Walton on Search for Tomorrow.

Impressed by her story notes, the late Bill Bell, then head writer of Y&R, had Meg doing double duty acting and writing on the show from 1983-1987. When he decided to write off the character of Julia, he also wanted Meg to stick around as a writer.  Not only did this begin a whole other daytime career for Bennett, but she was not done playing Julia either. Throughout the decades, Julia would still come back to Genoa City for a visit. Most recently, Y&R fans saw Julia in 2018, and again in 2020.

Photo: JPI

Bennett also appeared on Santa Barbara and was a writer on that show as well from 1991-1993. She played the role of Megan Richardson. It was next that Meg had her longest writing stint coming to ABC’s General Hospital. Meg wrote for GH from 1993-2011.

In 1995, Bennett won her first Daytime Emmy for writing and her personal life changed after falling in love with nine-time Daytime Emmy winner, former GH head writer, Bob Guza Jr. In addition, GH also utilized Bennett for her acting skill when she was cast as the villainess Allegra Montenegro.  Meg and Bog Guza were officially married in 2004 and purchased a home once owned by Boris Karloff and Gregory Peck.

Photo: JPI

Additionally, Meg wrote for The Bold and the Beautiful 1987-1989 and later served as a executive story consultant to Brad Bell from 2002-2004.  She also wrote for Sunset Beach, Generations and GH: Night Shift throughout her writing career. She went on to win five WGA Awards for GH and Santa Barbara.

Meg is survived by her husband of 19 years, Robert Guza Jr., two stepdaughters, four grandchildren, a brother and a sister.

Share your remembrances and condolences for Meg Bennett via the comment section below.

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Steve Kent Reportedly OUT as Sony Pictures Television VP in Charge of DAYS and Y&R

On Friday, reports surfaced that Steve Kent, Senior Executive Vice President of Programming at Sony Pictures Television, is no longer with the company and overseeing the Sony soap operas, Days of our Lives and The Young and the Restless.

According to Soap Opera Digest, a set side source reported that Kent’s last day was last Friday, April 12th, which was one day after what would have been his final appearance in his Sony VP role at the Days of our Lives 15,000th episode on set celebration.

During that ceremony, Kent gave a brief speech giving kudos to DAYS for its incredible milestone. Days is a co-production of Sony Pictures Television and Corday Productions, while Y&R is produced by Bell Dramatic Serial Company in association with Sony Pictures Television.

Photo: JPI

Kent started his soap opera career as a producer for CBS’ defunct Capitol and then as the supervising producer of NBC’s Santa Barbara from1984 to 1993.

Photo: JPI

At Sony, before his role overseeing the soaps, Kent was Senior Executive Vice President of International Productions for Sony Pictures Television International department.

If reports are true, the question becomes who has taken over his position, and would oversee DAYS and Y&R from the Sony side? Share your thoughts on this developing story via the comment section below.

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