News
NY POST: NYC's Soap Bubble Bursts – End of an Era following OLTL's Finale!
Courtesy/NY Post
We always thought of Gotham, the Big Apple, as Soap City! After all, it was where all the big soaps originated from, and now as we prepare to say farewell to One Life to Live this Friday, it means that there are no longer any network television soap operas being produced in this once thriving metropolis of this iconic and rare storytelling genre!
Today’s New York Post takes a look at the decline of the New York City soap opera production with interviews from several of the actors from One Life to Live, All My Children and Guiding Light. Here are some of the commentary excerpts below from the piece, and then some of the quotes from some notables in the soap world.
NY POST: “When ABC’s One Life To Live airs its final, inevitably tearful episode on Friday, an era will end for NYC-based TV soaps, which date all the way back to 1950’s The First Hundred Years, CBS’s first ongoing serial daytime drama about two couples who were next door neighbors. Sixty-two years later, following the recent cancellations of its local brethren — All My Children, Guiding Light and As the World Turns —OLTL is the last show standing in what used to be one of the city’s most thriving entertainment industries. On 66th Street between Central Park West and the Hudson River, ABC’s OLTL and All My Children were shot, while CBS’s Guiding Light and As the World Turns were filmed on 57th Street near the Hudson. (Another World was shot in Brooklyn until its cancellation in 1999, and the soap Loving taped in Manhattan from 1983-1995.)”
Kassie DePaiva (Blair, OLTL) on the unique brand of storytelling only told in soaps: “I’ve had babies stolen, I’ve been shot, I’ve shot people, and I’ve had about eight marriages and three miscarriages. We had a public execution of my fake husband — stopped at the last minute. And, obviously, I’ve slept with tons of really good-looking men… The beauty of soaps is that it takes a village to make it work, and you get to work with really hardworking people.”
Ron Carlivati (Head writer, OLTL) on how to write for a soap no matter how outrageous the storylines might get: “It’s not all evil twins and separated at birth. At the same time as we have evil twins, we also try to tell stories that are relatable to our audience. For example, the show recently ran a story line about bullying, a topic ripped from the headlines. As long as you write the characters true to who they are, you can send Viki to Mars, as long as she has the appropriate reaction.”
Several of the actors commented on the ending of the New York soap scene saying they never thought they would see the day: Jordan Clarke (Ex-Billy, GL, now The Colonel, Venice) “I saw a chart showing the revenue, and it looked like a plane diving to the ground” Bob Woods ( Bo, OLTL) “I never thought it would happen. To think that there wouldn’t be soap operas produced in New York! I always thought there would be the serial format on ABC, as long as there was an ABC.” Erika Slezak (Viki, OLTL) “It leaves a huge hole in daytime TV and in the days of our fans. ABC tells us the audience doesn’t want entertainment anymore; that they only want information. I don’t buy that. I want something that will make me laugh, make me cry.”
Let us know your thoughts on this on seeing the once thriving Mecca of soaps gone and with it, all the talented performers and crew members who are now out of jobs! All we can say, it’s a terrible and tragic loss for everyone: fans, performers, creative’s, and the city of New York!
News
Christel Khalil Reveals She Almost Quit Acting After ‘That’s So Raven’ Audition, But Then Came ‘The Young and the Restless’
The Young and the Restless fan favorite, Christel Khalil (Lily Winters) is the special guest on this week’s edition of Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart which dropped today on Tuesday, June 23rd.
During the interview with Rebecca and Greg, Khalil who had played Lily Winters on-screen since August of 2002, nearly 24 years with the CBS soap, shared how early on her teenage acting career, she was ready to call it quits in show business, after a heartbreaking audition for the lead of a new Disney Channel sitcom, which later turned out to be the hit seres, That’s So Raven, starring Raven-Symoné which ran for four seasons from 2003-2007.
Christel recalled what happened. “I was 14 and I had always auditioned for all these Disney projects. So I auditioned for That’s So Raven, it was between me and Raven-Symoné and it was called at the time Absolutely Psychic,” explained Khalil. “The character was this girl who had psychic ability, but then when Raven got the role, they named the title of the show after her.”
Photo: CBS
HOW A BROTHERLY TALK CHANGED THE COURSE OF CHRISTEL’S CAREER
Reliving the disappointment to Greg and Rebecca, Christel explained, “I lost that part and I was just so devastated, because for the network call there were 20 people in the room watching me, and I just have always had such performance anxiety. I just completely bombed the audition and it was terrible. So, I was just devastated. I was actually going to quit acting and then I got the final call for The Young and The Restless and I wasn’t going to go.”
It was Khalil’s brother, who actually got her to reconsider, and if he hadn’t, we would not have our Lily Winters in Genoa City! Christel recounted, “I was like, ‘You know what? I’m done. I don’t want to do this anymore. I’m just going to hang out with my friends.’ I was just devastated. My brother, who is seven years older than me, and he had quit acting at the same age that I was at that time. He said to me, ‘I promise you, I actually really regret quitting. Just go on this audition and if you don’t get it, you can quit.'”
Christel’s screen-test for the role of Lily was actually with the late, great, Kristoff St. John who would play her father Neil (Later it was revealed to Lily, that Neil’s brother, Malcolm Winters was her bio-dad).
Photo: CBS
ACTING WAS EASY WITH THE LATE KRISTOFF ST. JOHN
“So, I went (to test for Lily) and I remember the screen-test was with Kristoff St. John. It was just so easy to act with him because he’s just so there. I remember just being on set, and that was my first time there for a screen-test where you were actually on set. I had never experienced that before. It was my first time being with an actor and having makeup done, which just helps you really be able to do your best work.”
Recalling the screen-test with the St. John, Khalil, “It was where I had to be emotional ( in the scene) and I always had issues being emotional at auditions. But I was there with him, it just came, and it happened. It was natural and I felt so good and it was amazing. It stands out in my mind a lot.”
You can check out the full Soapy conversation with Christel Khalil where she also discusses juggling motherhood, marital life, and the demands of soap operas.
Fan can listen to weekly episodes of Soapy on Audacy or wherever podcasts are available, and can watch full video episodes weekly on the CBS =Brand YouTube Channel. Whether a lifelong fan or discovering the genre for the first time, SOAPY offers a fresh, fun behind-the-scenes look at the stories – and storytellers – that define daytime drama.
Now let us know, over the years what had been your favorite Lily Winters story on Y&R as played by Christel Khalil? What did you think of of Christell’s recollection where she was up for the lead of “That’s So Raven” as a teenager, before it was even titled that? Let us know via the comment section.
This summer beginning on July 21, Netflix streams the return of WWE: Unreal for its third season. The behind the scenes docudrama series gives fans a glimpse of life in WWE and inside the writers room, as injuries, last-minute pivots, and career-defining decisions reshape WWE’s biggest event of the year, WrestleMania 42.
WWE Unreal is taking fans deeper than ever inside World Wrestling Entertainment’s creative process, The hit docuseries will once again pull back the curtain on some of the biggest moments, boldest decisions, and unforgettable storytelling with some of the WWE’s greatest legends who’ve shaped the industry and new stars who are emerging as prominent parts of the future.
In the new season of ‘Unreal’ which consists of 5 episodes at 50 minutes each: John Cena says goodbye, a fan favorite returns, and the next generation of Superstars rise to the occasion.
Photo: WWE
The cast and WWE superstars featured include: the aforementioned Cena, plus Cody Rhodes, Liv Morgan, CM Punk, AJ Lee, Trick Williams, Lash Legend, Stephanie Vaquer, Oba Femi, Bron Breakker, Chelsea Green, Matt Cardona, Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.
As previously reported AJ Lee revealed on General Hospital star Maurice Benard’s (Sonny Corinthos) mental health series, State of Mind, that she was part of the cast of WWE: Unreal.
WWE: Unreal production credits include: Directors/Showrunners: Chris Weaver and Erik Powers Executive Producers: Peyton Manning, Jamie Horowitz, Ross Ketover, Keith Cossrow, Ken Rodgers, Jessica Boddy, Lee Fitting, Ben Houser, Marc Pomarico Sr. Producers: Harley Glantz, Brian Decker, Michael Flynn Producers: John Galiani, Dan Gati, Jeremy Lundblad Production Companies: Omaha Productions, NFL Films, Skydance Sports, WWE.
So, what do you think of the loglines for the new season of WWE: Unreal? Who are you most excited to see featured in the behind the scenes drama from the list of WWE superstars and the twists and turns leading into this past April’s WrestleMania 42? Let us know via the comment section below.
If you have ever tuned-in to the soap opera genre over the last 50 years, and witnessed some of the greatest romances, drama, classic and outlandish storylines of all-time, you would have seen Deidre Hall smack dab in the middle of it as longtime Salem heroine, Dr. Marlena Evans.
It was 50 years on this date, June 21, 1976 that Hall first appeared on DAYS on NBC which was its home for 57 years before it moved to its current streaming platform on Peacock in September of 2022.
In Hall’s first episode she was introduced as a psychiatrist treating Mickey Horton (John Clarke) at Bayview Sanitarium after he suffered a complete mental breakdown. Mickey learned that his brother Bill Horton (Edward Mallory) was the biological son of Mike Horton (Wesley Eure) with his wife Laura (Susan Flannery) and that he had been lied to for years and years. From that moment on, the rest is television and soap opera history. Days of Our Lives put Hall front and center.
Photo: NBC
There were so many heartbreaking and shocking story twists involving the beloved Marlena. One of the first was the historic crib death of baby DJ (Don Jr.) in 1980, Marlena’s infant son with Don Craig (Jed Allan). The story had never been told on daytime television and Hall’s performances received accolades from TV critics to fans when Deidre received thousands of letters from grieving mothers who had gone through the same thing in their own lives.
DAYS also brought Deidre’s twin sister, Andrea Hall Lovell to the show as her on-screen sister Samantha, who had a grudge and even locked Marlena up in a sanitarium and took her place! Fast-forward and in 1982, DAYS launched the Salem Strangler story where everyone believed Marlena was his next victim, only it turned out to be Samatha. Jake Kositchek (played by Jack Coleman) was revealed to be the actual serial killer.
Later, Deidre would assume the role of Marlena’s look-alike, Hattie Adams in 2004, once played by her sister, Andrea. Over the years, Hattie has come back to Salem and caused trouble giving Hall a chance to play a different type of character, then the always upstanding Marlena.
Photo: JPI
THE LOVES OF MARLENA
Deidre Hall struck gold with all her leading men: from the late Jed Allan, to Wayne Northrop as Roman Brady, and of course, her enduring love story with the late John Black played by the iconic Drake Hogestyn. In fact, Marlena’s 1986 wedding to John (who was believed to be Roman at the time) remains a favorite of fans to this day.
TOP MARLENA STORYLINES OF ALL-TIME
While the list is long, here are several that were some of the memorable during Deidre’s five decades in Salem!
The Possession (1994- 1995)
Considered one of the most ambiguous, outlandish and unforgettable story arcs in soap opera history, then Days of Our Lives head writer, James Reilly went there! Marlena was possessed by the devil! That included; the demonic eyes, hissing at father John (Black) the priest, morphing into creatures, and the classic levitating in her bed! It became a cultural phenomenon and cemented Deidre Hall’s status as a daytime television legend. Just ask Ryan Gosling!
Photo:JPI
The Affair with John Black (1993)
John and Marlena’s forbidden love could not be denied and they had passionate affair, while she was still married to the real Roman. Problem was her daughter, Sami (Alison Sweeney) caught her mother having sex with John on a desk that changed Sami forever.
The Salem Stalker Mystery (2003-2004)
In a shocker, Marlena was revealed to be a serial killer who bumped off several Salem favorites residents who were all alive on the island of Melaswen (spelled “New Salem” backward). Turns out, she was manipulated and gaslighted by Andre DiMera (Thaao Penghlis) to do the “killings” and had no memory of her actions.
The Pier Scene (1991)
This remains Michael Fairman TV’s all-time favorite Deidre Hall moment, which featured some of the best acting in the storied careers of both Hall and Drake Hogestyn.
In the story, a presumed-dead Marlena returns after four years. One foggy night on the pier, John is alone, and Marlena steps out of the fog to reveal herself, and is reunited with the love of her life. You can watch it any year, any decade, and in any moment, and it will have you reaching for the hankies again and again. (best music score fo a soap scene of all-time too!)
Photo: NBC
Kristen’s Secret Room Reveal (1997)
Marlena was caught in Kristen Blake’s (Eileen Davidson) elaborate web of lies, when she was held hostage in a secret wine cellar/room until John managed to track her down, leading to an iconic on-screen reunion. The classic catfight between Hall and Eileen Davidson was one for the ages.
It should be noted that Maison Blanche, Queen of the Night, Possession, Aremid and Lady in a Cage were all a part of classic DAYS storyline and all featured Hall at the epicenter of it from 1993-1996.
THE RECENT YEARS OF MARLENA
In recent years, DAYS brought back the possession 2.0 storyline under then head writer Ron Carlivati in 2021 where the devil leapt back in Marlena after taking advantage of a frail Doug Williams (the late Bill Hayes)
In 2025, viewers watched the end of the love story of John and Marlena, as John succumbed to injuries sustained in an explosion saving a vial of medication needed to bring Bo (Peter Reckell) back to life. Marlena has been a widow on-screen since June of 2025 as Hall as portrayed the good doctor struggling with her grief and to move on with her life since his death.
Photo: JPI
One story that never goes away is Stefano DiMera’s (the late Joe Mascolo) obsession with Marlena, his “Queen of the Night.” Even in death, Stefano is toying with her from the great beyond with the mysterious chess set and the missing “pawn,” that he had gifted John and Marlena in his will. The mystery is currently unfolding on all-new episodes of Days of Our Lives.
Tune-in to Days of our Lives on the Monday, June 22 episode as Marlena looks back at her 50 years in Salem.
Share your congratulations to Deidre Hall for this incredible 50-year milestone as Dr. Marlena Evans on Days of Our Lives in the comment section. Then let us know, what is your all-time favorite storyline or moment in the life of Marlena over the past 5 decades? And, just for kicks, and to celebrate this amazing milestone, here is Marlena levitating below circa Christmas Eve 1994.
Christel Khalil Reveals She Almost Quit Acting After ‘That’s So Raven’ Audition, But Then Came ‘The Young and the Restless’
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Marlena Looks Back at 50 Years in Salem
‘WWE: Unreal’ Season 3 Premiere Date, Cast of Superstars, Announced by Netflix
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Carly and Lulu Make Plans to Rescue Their Children; Anna Looks Determined to Secure Her Freedom
Deidre Hall Marks 50 Years as ‘Days of Our Lives’ Dr. Marlena Evans
Maurice Benard Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’ Writers; Teases Upcoming Sonny Scenes with Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric
‘General Hospital’s’ Controversial Luke and Laura Rape Episode: Writer Sheri Anderson Reveals Behind the Scenes Decisions and Admits ‘I Was Wrong’ to Defend It (Exclusive)
‘Days of Our Lives’ Eric Martsolf Recalls Moment He Learned He Was Cast as Brady Black, and Last Scenes with Drake Hogestyn (SOAPY Exclusive Preview)
‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Weighs-In on Dante and Elizabeth Pairing and Sharing Scenes with Rebecca Herbst (Exclusive)
GENERAL HOSPITAL Promo: Rocco’s in a Panic as Britt’s Health Takes a Turn, Chase is Called to the Carpet
Christel Khalil Reveals She Almost Quit Acting After ‘That’s So Raven’ Audition, But Then Came ‘The Young and the Restless’
‘WWE: Unreal’ Season 3 Premiere Date, Cast of Superstars, Announced by Netflix
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Carly and Lulu Make Plans to Rescue Their Children; Anna Looks Determined to Secure Her Freedom
Deidre Hall Marks 50 Years as ‘Days of Our Lives’ Dr. Marlena Evans
Y&R Preview: Matt Clark Asks Phyllis on a Date, Would You Be Down for the Pairing? Roger Howarth & Michelle Previously in GH’s Franco/Nina Romance
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ABC YOUR CRAZY !!!!!!!!
We DO want entertainment …I dont know what you are thinking infop is good BUT TO MUCH ON THE ALL THE SAME THING S EVERY HOUR OF THE DAY PLEASE !!!
I agree with ES, people want programs that they can cry or laugh along with. I will miss being able to follow along with the show, taking a hour break from reality to watch a program that I was continually in sync with and at times felt like I was watching family or situations I was facing in my life, OLTL had moments that dealt with raw, real life situations. Sure there was a lot of marriages ending, crazy stalking psychos, people escaping jail, but then there was the couples that had real life situations. Moments that the fans and viewers could relate to. Cancer story lines, losing someone, complicated real material that these actors, writers, producers brought into our homes everyday. Watching a soap opera is SO much different than a regular primetime series because a soap continues on in the summer, its a 5 day a week program to enjoy and take time out of a hectic day for many of us fans. A primetime series is something that occurs once a week, that just isn’t the same to me. I’ll forever miss One LIfe To Live, and it will indeed leave a huge hole in many of our hearts without the show. I’ve watched the show as long as I have been old enough to remember. I remember sharing my afternoons as a child with my Mom watching along. I grew up watching and continued on watching. I don’t plan on viewing the programs replacing my soap and I think its a shame to lose this show. A huge mistake in my thoughts. Best of luck to all those from OLTL and lots of gratitude and heartfelt thanks for the handwork they did to bring something so special to our homes to view 5 days a week!
Well said Cathy!!
Nicely stated and agreed. It’s that time U can just take a momemt for yourself with the soaps to escape your reality. It’s a good clean escape on top of it. Ur not hurting anyone, causing any problems, or doing drugs. U can have a good cry with the soap, or you can BASK in the Glow of love with the couples with the dynanmite chemistry, or U can have yourself a good laugh at the rediculous and crazy plots they come up with. But whatever one you do, you are safe in your home, hurting no one taking a moment. Soaps lighten the heart in many ways. And for some people sick, shut in, old, handicape, they provide the PERFECT escape into another life unknown to these people.
Join us sending bar’s of soap to the ABC studio’s. Let them see our fustration, having to deal with soap arriving across the United States and Canada. One woman said she is canceling her cable and getting a Dish, so that Disney can’t profit from any channels they own on cable. Also, there is a petiton going around on Facebook, which is seeking 10, 000 signatures. Send your soap to the Abc studio’s and PASS THIS ALONG AND POST ON THIS AND OTHER SOAP OPERA SITES INCLUDING ABC.COM
excellent post!!
Now that all the NY soaps are gone, I hope that this trend of cancelling soap operas stop as of today and doesn’t spray itself on the L.A soaps.
AMC was taped in LA and GH is getting the ax too…
AMC was taped in LA for a mere year out of its 41 years. AMC is a NY soap, not a LA soap.
And GH hasn’t been canceled.
I wouldn’t hold your breath, Heather. ABC Daytime is the Cooking to get FAT, then, we will show you how to LOSE WEIGHT channel.
I’m not saying that GH won’t be cancelled. I’m just saying that we shouldn’t be speculating stuff until they happen.
Because if we’re gonna speculate about things, I could go on and say that the four remaining soaps will all be gone in the next 5 years.
I hate to see, or not see, Slezak on my TV. Although I love Jeanne Cooper, if she ever needs replacing, please consider Ms Slezak as the new Katherine Chancellor.
I think it is a travesty to cancel the soaps!!!This is an American institution!! There are women out here who have been following soaps since they started as 15 minute segments on the radio!!! I DO NOT WANT TO SEE ANOTHER TALK SHOW!!! If I want to watch another cooking show I will watch the Food Channel or Bravo!!! I will not watch ANY of the replacement shows!! And I am limiting my ABC viewing!! Also, although I have 5 granddaughters, there will be NO Disney Channel on in my home!!! I sincerely hope that one of the other stations will be smart enough to pick up the soaps and their many millions of viewers!!!
You go Michele. Let me start by suggesting this that I read from one of the Fans yesterday. She is CANCELING CABLE and getting a DISH (pass and POST this around, along with your idea, No Disney Channels-they FIT together VERY well with your idea) If you get a dish, no money goes to Disney for any of their channels. Canceling Cable all together fits your idea perfectly. Disney gets no money. Second, JOIN US in sending BARS OF SOAP to the abc studio in nyc, so the executives and the new shos will be BOMBARDED by soap coming in from people across the United States and Canada. There is some petition going around on Facebook, I’m not on Facebook and the Fan didn’t make it clear what was to be done.
yes ,and I am one of them, watched gh since the beginning ,thats almost 49 years ,Ive watched all the abc soaps ,changed alot of diapers ,made alot meals,and clean the house ,happy ,sad ,sick ,the soaps were always there for me.these next 5 days will be so hard ,knowing every minute that goes by,we come closer to the end of one life to live ,Even today ,hell since the soaps have been canceled I feel like Im going to a funeral .that someone so close to me died,or is dying and I cant do a thing about it ,and I have done everything you can think of to save these soaps ,today I read ,I cant remember where but the writer said what I have been saying abc is going for the younger people the dont care about the over 49 group and we were not counted in the ratings ,I dont watch much tv ,but I did watch the soaps and they are leaving the daytime hours,and that makes no sense ,why abc couldnt keep soapnet ,Its the only place you can see soaps,out of 5 million other channels ,It goes back to the same thing ,Im beginning to sound like a broken record,greed abc has more money in the pockets ,and good programing gets thrown out the window with common sense.abc has me for general hospital ,but thats all the time they will get from me,ever.
Just goes to show you how out of touch ABC is with its fans…. I’m not sure they recognize the gravity of their decision. Soon, it will all come to light. Talk shows have always come and gone, over the years, but it has been the soap operas that have withheld the test of time. Now, Executives are telling us that the Soaps’ time has come….and we all know this is so they can line their pockets with more cash. If ABC/Disney was really standing behind their soaps, they would have figured out better ways to cut cost, so that they could continue to produce these shows. I curse the day that Disney ever got involved with ABC.
I remember when that happened and I said to several people who watched the abc soaps like me ,What will disney do about the soaps?will they keep them ? and slowly through the years the soaps were getting cheep except one life to live they took big cuts and the cast and crew still put out quality shows ,I hope what mickey mouse did to there afternoon lineup comes back big time and chews them in the ass ,the have some stupid people working there ,hey abc ,did you ever hear this saying?you dont fix something that isnt broken ,abc is broken now.
Torrey, I don’t disagree with you, but the concept of being in touch with fans is simply feel-good public relations. Corporations are more focused on the interests of shareholders and investors. What fans want is irrelevant; they will get what maximizes revenue.
The killing of OLTL lifted a veil for me. Most of television is an insipid, banal wasteland. Its celebrities are embarrassing caricatures incapable of offering anything genuine or entertaining. Information is often biased and juvenile. Generally, it’s a mind-numbing, manipulative enterprise to make money for others at the viewer’s expense. OLTL was the real deal, but in the absence of quality entertainment, I won’t waste my time on the garbage being substituted.
WOW-you said it David.
Totally agree with you, David.
I will mIss one life to live so much. Will not be watching the revolution don’t need anymore of these shows. Abc is making a mistake. Haven’t watches the. Chew either.
having the wonderful world of soaps in NYC,afforded a symbiotic relationship between the soaps & theatre.Talented actors could work in both mediums,even at the same time.This is part of the success of the long running soaps in London.This is now a great loss to the NYC scene.
The actors that do soaps in London, is the threater nearby? ( This is part of the success of the long running soaps in London.)
Yes.they even have radio dramas,& now since the cancellation of GL,the world’s longest radio soap THE ARCHERS.I have attended the taping of radio shows in BBC studios in the West END of London.EASTENDERS is filmed in suburban London,and concurrently seen actors in theater and TV.Unlike the USA,British TV & film & theater is centered in London.Now in the USA,TV & film is West Coast based & theater is NYC based-3,000 miles apart.
I will miss OLTL So Much!
Thank you to all of the actors for the best 40years of television, you made me laugh, tou made me cry, you helped me raise my children, God Bless
I will continue to watch GH, because of FV and RC. The View, The CHOMP and The Make-Over mess will not be watched by me. The ABC heads along with that pompous ass Frons,, will see viewership for their network erode!
Agree 100%
I cannot fathom how Disney, with all the money from their theme parks, shows, and child related products,etc., cannot afford to keep this time-honored tradition in television history on the air!! I think Walt Disney must be spinning in his grave!!!! Many immigrants have learned English from watching these shows , a trivia fact I came across in reading some celeb bios. Also, we woman are not alone!! It is a published fact that many NFL players TIVO some of the soaps, especially All My Children because of La Lucci!! LOL!!! And, Brian Frons, who made the decision, Resigned ,quit or got fired, not sure which, but either way… whats up with that?? You make a MAJOR decision like cancelling a genre that has been in existence for at least the 58 years that I have been alive and then you leave the network?? Something smells in Denmark!! (No offense to Denmark,just an old saying! LOL!) WE WANT ANSWERS!!!!
I heard last night that the Disney family is looking into buying the L.A. Dodgers baseball team. So no money for soaps, huh?
seriously a baseball club? and michele you are right ,walt disney has to be spinning in his grave ,look at all the trash they have on now ,and frons he didnt cancel the soaps alone ,abc is using him to make them look good ,hey people ,we didnt know he was going to cancel the soaps ,do they really think were all that stupid.Its greed.and they should get rid of some 0f there primetime shows ,theres room for one live to life.
If the NETWORKS would look at the numbers of hits the daytime drama’s have been getting ever since ABC and other networks chose to make daytime and primetime programing available via the Internet (ON DEMAND). They will see that the FANS have never stopped watching. Many of us have been recording and really looked forward to an escape from reality (even if just for a few hours.)
I work in the medical field, and many of us Surgery Staff members MALE and FEMALE all would unwind during our break and for some of us who would miss any of the soaps got an ear full(update) from our colleges. It kept a lot of peace in the work place because we would gossip about the characters rather then each other. I am still hopeful that Prospect Park may find some kind of way to revive our programs. Perhaps a network can just change the format.
Primetime soaps would always come on once a week… Daytime can do the same thing.(Maybe seasonal) And, I bet you they would be the highest rated programs on daytime. There is no entertainment that has the same energy as the daytime drama’s have been doing for decades.
I must agree that on visits to different doctor’s offices and hospitals I have been able to watch my soaps while I am waiting in the waiting room. Usually the soaps become a brief bonding experience between, me, other patients, and the receptionists and/or medical staff. At work it is the same way. Co-workers and I can’t wait to see each other at work to talk about the storyline and what we might have missed. We try to figure out what is going to come next. We the fans want the escapism and fantasy that soaps have to offer. It gives us something to get away from our everyday troubles. If I miss my shows during the day, I watch it online. Many people do! I am so upset that they didn’t choose to back down from making this mistake instead of just admitting that they were wrong. OLTL has been on fire lately, which makes this hurt even more!
You are so right. If OLTL was “dying a natural death” that would be one thing-you always hate to lose a soap but sometimes they run their course. But good grief, OLTL is & has been for months & months, the very best show there is! That fact & the way this whole thing has been handled, not to mention the awful “replacement shows”-this just all adds up to a disgusting mess. It hurts bad.
It is a disgrace to all of the people who worked these shows, who watched these shows, who loved these shows! They have been a part of our lives for 40+ years, we have laughed, cried, screamed and cheered with these guys. The bonehead move of ABC daytime will ruin them! have a heart Iger..make that call, reverse your decision!!
I totally agree with all my fellow posters on this board. I, a life-long Illinois citizen, have also dearly loved the NYC-based soaps in my TV viewing lifetime very much!
Disney fails to realize that soap operas are not fad or a trend of tastes/lifestyle. Soaps are an institution. From radio to TV soaps have had a loyal viewership every Mon-Friday for 43 years.
Soap Opera’s are like Rock & Roll; they will never die.
Soap Operas will be noted in history and ABC/D will hold its’ shame in the archives.
Well with OLTL gone, ABC will only be getting 1 hour of my daily viewing time, GH. I can’t believe this day has come.
Me too. That one hour & that’s it. I have been watching my local news on the ABC affiliate all my life but am dropping that too. I can’t believe this is happening. Keep thinking somehow something will save this show for us.
I don’t care what ABC says. If I want information I will look it up online. They think that young people don’t like soaps, well I am young and I love soaps! I have been saying this from the time I heard they were cancelling these 2 iconic shows: I have been watching ABC Soaps ever since I was a little girl. My grandfather was a huge fan, and I would sit on the floor and watch these shows while he sat in his special chair. No one could get him to run an errand until 4pm. After he passed away in 1997, I have felt like I am still sharing something with him while I watch “our” stories. ABC is now ripping out a piece of my heart. There are millions of fans who feel this way about our soaps. ABC is going to cause a deep bitterness amongst their fans. Many fans along with myself have already vowed to never watch the shows that they are replacing them with. Sorry ABC I will turn to another channel during that timeslot once my show is officially gone. The fans cry, laugh, and grieve alongside their favorite characters. We yell at the screen at the hated characters. We have invested our hearts into these shows. ABC is out of touch. Of course we want entertainment. Why else would they still turn around and make a primetime show like “Revenge”. Obviously they know that the fans want to see salacious, passionate, backstabbing, romantic, ENTERTAINING storylines! Thanks alot ABC for betraying all of us! I guess they’ve been producing soaps for so long that they mastered the art of backstabbing!
I so agree with you! I will not watch anything that replaces my shows. I’m so sick of food shows and makeover shows. We have talk shows running out of our wazoo’s as it is! If ABC had ever asked us loyal viewers what WE wanted, they would’ve found out that we DON’T want more informational shows, we DO WANT our soaps! OLTL is my favorite show, day or night, of all time. I cannot believe this is happening. I’ve been a faithful viewer and fan of ABC for over 35 years. Well, not anymore! ABC lost millions of us when they made this horrible decision and cast us fans aside as if we were garbage. I hope they rot. Just sayin…..
I will miss all the soaps as one by one they are gone,but we still have 4 left.
Days Of Our Lives is the one I have been watching sence Nov.1965