Days Of Our Lives
RATINGS: General Hospital Only Soap Up In Total Viewers!
Courtesy/ABC
The ratings are out for the week of January 30th through February 3rd and it was ABC’s General Hospital who performed the best of all four network daytime drama series, in that they were the only soap to gain in total viewers.
GH added +83,000 bringing their tally to 2,719,000. The gang in Port Charles also added viewers in key womens demos: 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54, but tied an all-time low for the fourth straight week in the 18-34 ratings share.
Meanwhile, over at The Young and the Restless, the CBS top rated sudser lost – 183,000 viewers more than any other soap. Y&R also lost viewers in all key demos and tied an all-time ratings share low for the fifth straight week in women 18-49.
The Bold and the Beautiful also lost viewers for the week losing -154,000 and tying an all-time low in the womens 18-49 ratings share demo.
Over at Days of our Lives, the lone NBC soap opera lost – 11,000 viewers and lost viewers in all key demos and tied an all-time low in the 18-34 ratings share. View the entire ratings picture via SON here.
Numbers are based on Live+Same Day ratings
(Compared to Last Week/Compared to Last Year)
Total Viewers
1. Y&R 4,584,000 (-183,000/-283,000)
2. B&B 3,664,000 (-154,000/+21,000)
3. GH 2,719,000 (+83,000/-266,000)
4. DAYS 2,249,000 (-11,000/-318,000)
So, what did you think of the ratings performance of your favorite soap? Which soap has you the most interested? Which soap is making your want to tune-out and why? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
That’s an awful lot of viewers lost for Y&R number one or not. It’s bad that soaps have so many fickle viewers that want certain people and as many over the top stories as possible. Yet when they get what they want they then find something else to moan about just to tune out again. I really wish the majority of people who stop watching would just stop altogether. Sally Sussman will be pushed into making a show she’s not comfortable with so the bone heads who’ve tuned out will come back for every sweeps month and leave again. Soaps aren’t all explosions kidnappings and loony toons running all over the city. In their heyday they were character driven well thought out shows. They still should be. As goofy as parts of Days is its still good and very watchable. Viewers now a days want fast non stop unwatchable drama.
I agree about character driven stories and the audiences claiming ‘boredom’ all the darn time because they have short attention spans. I miss soaps as they were. This current generation of reality tv viewers want constant strife and bed hopping or they get bored. I wish I could say it is all younger viewers that want that but I’m seeing that lack of attention span in most demographics. I watch GH but I can barely hang on…too much over the top crap with no resolution. Too many characters without real storylines…and very few storylines about believable subjects. I can say that Days does a better job of dealing with every day issues. But, it also has out of nowhere crappy storylines like Soras-ing Ciara just so she could become a rape victim. WTH? That was an obvious ploy to grab ratings that failed miserably and insulted long time fans. After saying all of that, I wish GH and Days writers would actually WRITE real stories instead of recycling the same soap stuff from the last 10 years over and over again. If they keep trying to appeal to fickle reality tv viewers and the super young…they are writing their own epitaph.
ITA with both of you, I am so sick of some viewers who complain about EVERYTHING and EVERYONE on Y&R! Why do they even watch? If a show made me that miserable, I’d stop watching. I think some people just live to complain. Then they threaten to never watch again, but there they are commenting and complaining anyway. I have watched since John Abbott had his first heart attack. Sometimes it’s been bad, MAB was the worst, but never once did I stop watching or threaten to. The writers can’t possibly please all the viewers all the time and they shouldn’t try, just write!
These ratings puzzle me. GH saw an increase after we viewers endured week after week of just God-awful stories? For the last two months we have been subjected to that idiot Sonny rubbing his temples while moaning and whining about having to be imprisoned in his luxury mansion because he was under house arrest? He’s no sainted martyr like Cool Hand Luke who had to work on a chain gang and was stuck “in the box” merely for chopping off the heads of parking meters.
I hate Sonny with the heat of thousand suns because he has lowered the bar as to what makes a soap opera hero. How can we become angry with Julian, Ava and Franco for getting away with their crimes when the main hero has done much worse? Yet, he’s supposed to be revered and pitied? For the last two days that moron has been holding Ava at gun point because this man, who clearly suffers from impulse control issues, and who just isn’t very bright, thinks she killed his son. Does he not learn from his mistakes? Does he not remember he murdered AJ in cold blood for his mistaken belief that AJ killed Connie? This stupid thug kills first and asks questions later. I swear, I bet that mobster moron Tweeted,”Ava killed my son, so I’m gonna kill her” before he had his ankle bracelet taken off. There is no sense of crime and punishment on GH and therefore, no viewer satisfaction. I am shocked the ratings went up and I hate that this sends the wrong message to the writers and EP. In my opinion, they are not doing a very good job at all. I fast forward through so much of GH but very little through Y&R.
I really do not trust these ratings.
AMEN very well put!!!
BJ ADDISON SU000 and all. .I’d never truly searched Nielsen in depth till tonight. Here’s the long and short of it. Nielsen uses paper diaries for most homes. .this is changing mid-year as of 2017 to set top devices with people meters and no more diaries. The number of Nielsen homes is 20,000 yes 20,000 with approximately 50,000 viewere in total between all age ranges. The ratings are more ad based to help advertisers rather than the networks. Thus every so often you are prompted to push a button to prove you are watching. .this is done in 30 second intervals most likely during ad time. The reason the Nielsen households are so low is basically a mathematical guessing game. So assume 500 18-34 year old females are watching Teen Mom on MTV -all household members are given a number and remote to be accurate-then Nielsen assumes that the majority of female viewers in that age group, ethnicity and class standing are generally watching the same show. Basically a handful of Americans represent ALL of America when it comes to TV likes and dislikes. You can imagine me now picking up the pieces of my face -like Humpty Dumpty falling off a wall-and gluing the pieces back together again. This antiquated system has seen some of the best television shows come and go simply because. The network who benefits the most won’t complain and the ones who’ve even thought about it most likely dropped the obvious dispute in light of advertisers. These few viewers have devastated the daytime landscape and it’s sure no to change anytime soon. So there you have it.
Right rant but wrong show, Sammie Jo.
The current cool trend on this site is to come here everyday to spread extreme hate for GH…always harping on the cons but never pointing out the pros…clearly getting upset whenever the ratings rise by looking for ways to discredit the bump by saying that the Neilson system must be broke…and worst of all spreading as much negativity as possible whenever MF writes a positive column…and everytime there is a stretch when GH does show improvement and starts getting good like right now…it is the usual chronic complaining and ridiculous nitpicking about this or that…some were even rooting for cancellation a few weeks ago…and ever since Phelps and Pratt were fired it’s been nothing but a love fest for Y&R on this site…even though the Young and Sussman era is much more boring and getting far worse ratings…it’s the new cool current trend to shift this extreme hating over to GH…nobody ever talks about B&B and everyone looks for positives with DOOL…but overall it’s been my experience that nothing Y&R or GH can do will satisfy the fans on this site…nothing.
Great sleuthing, Dave! That explains so much. Thank you. You’re so right, the rating system seems strangely antiquated and out of sync with the technology of our times. We can do better, can’t we?
I think you are generalizing, bj. Do you think everyone ” of the current generation” whom, you assume, likes reality TV?
I am a millennial, and I detest reality TV, with the exception of ” The Voice” and the defunct “American Idol”.
I certainly do not have a short attention span, and I, too, like soaps ‘the way they were’, as I remember them when I was younger.
So, please do not judge us all by a few. I have no idea to what age group you are referring.
I never pay attention to the ratings….I care not which soap is no.1. I watch because I enjoy my soaps, albeit many of us are critical. However, it does not mean we are bored, or not appreciate good writing.
I will give kudos when deserved, as I see it.
As someone already said on this site….the younger generation, does not bother with soaps. Their entertainment is found on their phones etc.
The only ‘younger’ viewers are probably children, who watch with their mothers or grandmothers. My son, nieces and nephews ( all under 12) watch soaps, and they do get bored with some scenes/stories. Are you referring to them?
The Nielson ratings are as outdated and as unfair as the electoral college. With that said…the Nielson’s are getting on board and have increased their statistics to include online and I believe are starting to incorporate mobile services. Still, leaves out too many viewers.
One correction to davlestev: the ratings are for both advertisers and network. advertisers are looking for specific demographics to market their products..which in turn tells them which demographic is watching a particular show. If the numbers aren’t high enough, the advertisers pull out of buying ads during that show’s timeslot…the networks lose money…we lose our shows.
Davlestev1, I so agree…I have said it before, people complained and they are still complaining and not happy about Y&R…I am actually liking Y&R for it’s now character driven stories and not that fluff that CP and JFP conjured up…It’s the first time that I have watched Y&R daily in years. I do agree we do need more mystery and excitement but I think that will come. If people will recall, Bill Bell told very slow story telling. I mentioned on another post that Y&R reminds me of This is Us for daytime. I am also liking B&B and GH. Just remember that Sally has been back for only 2 months and it takes a while to build stories for she had a major mess to clean up…
ok..
here i how it is..
It is Not if We watch or don’t watch- it is what the Nielsen families ratings watch..
I do not believe younger people would even consider being a Nielsen person, because it demands something of them..
Perhaps it is the older peoples that agree to be monitored, but no way younger peoples would mess with it unless someone in their family has accepted being a Nielsen person..
We are merely a 00.1 estimated percent of what they watch, it’s not if the general public likes Y&R but if a the Nielsen families like it.
Younger people and many up to 40, do not care to watch a soap opera, not in this media era..
Another think to point out about “Nielsen families” – they may be more conventional and less likely to use current streaming technology. I’ve also questioned how much the Nielsen ratings matter to broadcast networks that are getting more accurate numbers in total from streaming services like Roku, Hulu, YouTube, iTunes, Amazon, Netfllix, etc. and their own websites. I think that totals more viewers (in the millions) whose numbers they can see in real time than the “20,000” household sample used by Nielsen. If you think about it, 20,000 is miniscule considering the U.S. population is over 325+ million people. I know Hulu has 12 million subscribers, and its growing now that they’ve made a deal with CBS to carry their programming starting next year. All the viewing information is completely private, never gets released to the public & is directly to the networks. You can get a feel for the programs that are the most popular by seeing the shows under “Most Popular.” But, the weekly rise and fall of viewership on one show is not seen by the public.
Finally a nice shocking surprise on Days at the end… Did not see that coming… Bravo!!!!
Women 25-54 Rating
1. Y&R 1.41 (-.1/-.21)
2. B&B 1.19 (-.07/-.18)
3. GH 1.15 (+.06/-.01)
4. DAYS 0.87 (-.04/-.2)
—-GH only soap to bring in the older viewers.
Women 18-34 Viewers
1. Y&R 136,000 (-12,000/-78,000)
2. B&B 126,000 (+2,000/-61,000)
3. GH 113,000 (+4,000/-72,000)
4. DAYS 78,000 (-11,000/-67,000)
—-The Young people are tuning out…
they need younger writers to write for younger people.. (just fact nothing personal towards anyone..
18-49 women viewers is only demographic that matters.
Y&R: 552,000
GH: 488,000
B&B: 477,000
DOOL: 384,000
those are terrible numbers for all the soaps. this genre is really aging
Young people tend to binge watch a storyline. They also watch on demand; not live which is what ratings emphasize – for it to “count” with Nielsen, it has to be watched within 5 days which is their survey period.
Let’s face it, young people are tuning out of everything that isn’t on their phones. lol
Oh good point, Sammie.
ouch those cbs soaps numbers. Y&R is so boring. the stories are weak with no stakes,and the same conversations everyday. one major problem Y&R has is their is no interesting couples. Billy and Victoria and Nick and Chelsea are a snoozefest. as for B&B,the Spectra revival has been terrible.
Y&R = Febuary sleeps.
The whole show has been painfully boring since SSM took over in early December….two years ago at this time we had Pratt deliver a thrilling exciting Febuary sweeps with huge ratings around 5.5 million viewers… in all my years watching has Y&R ever been this slow paced…no drama and no conflict of any kind that pulls in my interest…it’s like watching people socialize over tea at a country club for an hour every weekday…so boring day after day with very little happening of note.
I am loving Y&R as of late. Gloria has spanked the life into characters like Jack, Michael, Lauren and Ashley. I love Lauren’s friendship with Phyllis,and I love Sharon’s relationship with her daughter Mariah.
What I don’t love–Chelsey and Nick, Hillary and Devon and the redundancy of Victoria and Billy.
I also am puzzled as to why they removed Victor’s choppers much like the dentist did to the abominable snowman in Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.
Where has Victor’s spirit gone? Why is he suddenly so cuddly? I can only hope that this is the calm before the storm because suddenly this once feisty, fighter, CEO and founder of Newman Enterprise is acting like he works as a Walmart gretter.
i may not have liked some of the things Pratt did,but he had exciting sweeps. the show has been a total snoozefest since the writing change. the writing is also really outdated. SSM needs to come into 2017
Pratt’s Y&R was virtually unwatchable: Jack’s South American crime lord doppelgänger; Ashley’s 20 minute aneurysm; that ridiculous millennial murder mystery centered around the deaths of a failed stalker and a meter maid which served no purpose except to let Summer screech for the better part of 6 months; Neil hiding a seriously injured Hillary in a dirty boat house for months on end; Stitch’s bad seed kid causing Abby 3.0’s miscarriage; the chemistry-free Billy/Phyllis affair; Victor’s affair with a prison doctor; the entire Simon Neville drug trials debacle; the Pass Key and Paragon Project snooze fest; that god-awful baby switch mess which was predicated on a ret-conned backstory involving Nick and Dr. Anderson that long time viewers know never happened; Lily’s ten minute affair with Joe Clark; Noah and Marissa; Marissa and Luca; Luca and Summer; Avery Bailey Clark’s rape; Michael pushing Lauren and Cane together; Neil being reunited with his mom Uhura five minutes before she died; the Top Of The Towers-ing Inferno; the off-camera Newman oil spill; the roof collapse at The Underground; the plane crash involving the entire Winters family; Michael losing his law license after throwing Victor’s defense; the endless attempts to make Dylan interesting; Adam’s identity reveal followed by Adam going to prison and then Adam getting out of prison and then Adam going back to prison and then Adam being broken out of prison only to “die” in an explosion for the second time in three years (seriously, what are the odds?); the off-camera paternity test that was pulled out of thin air to make Adam Christian’s father; Sage’s never before mentioned journal that suddenly was a plot point in sending Adam to prison; and the boring Kevin/Mariah/Natalie “triangle.”
Y&R was on fire today! I never fast forward through Y&R but fast forward through almost half of GH on a daily basis.
I truly feel Sonny is the ruination of this show.
Days is still too dark….someone always trying to harm someone..Nicole/Chloe/Holly story is sort of interesting but in the good old ‘Days’ of soap writing there would be high court room drama involving a custody battle…is Stephano dead or alive has gone on for over 30 years and had run its course long ago…making him alive again is a lame way to free Hope…why not write it as temporary insanity instead of the always back-from-the dead plot?…lets make the show more true to life than some of these over the top stories from the 1980s which was ok back then because of GH and its popularity …its not the 80s anymore…lets bring the show back down to earth,,,bring back the music again with a nightclub setting…bring in some lite humor that isnt too campy…bring in some love stories…murder plots and fights are ok once in awhile but not every week!…GH is ok but they still need to utilize the cast a tad better…whatever happen to young love TJ and Molly…why isnt Monica in on the budget cuts at GH?…dont be afraid to kill off certain characters and let them stay dead…dont have characters like Ava kill someone like Connie then keep her around like a heroine,,,you can write villains without making them cold blooded killers if you plan to keep them on the show like ATWTs Lisa or Another Worlds Iris?…Y&R has gone stale to me but it does have some pretty good actors and famliar faces to keep it number one!
Key for any generation and time is good story telling. Even if you look at the very popular StarWars in all it’s manifestations for those who think soaps need only younger writers…they use strong soap drama elements… it’s a very good story, character driven, diversity, family lineage being a big one, humor, love stories, adventure, loyalty, deceit, etc. Some days the good side prevails, other days it doesn’t. So don’t fixat on writers age…how about both younger and older writers? Just like life’s tapestry!
Yes, Rose. I actually prefer the older writers….more heart and soul. Inspiring writing is timeless and ageless. I don’t think age has anything to do with it….it is all about the writer himself/herself.
Besides, it is a preference. I don’t like futuristic/SyFy storylines invading my soaps, for instance….nor do I like overwhelming crime stories….I prefer family-based, as you point out, stories, with drama and a splash of intrigue, subterfuge, love/hate etc……the basic ingredients.
But, we cannot all be happy. I do point out that writing which annoys me, but never would I stop watching. Soaps are a part of me and glad we still have a few left.
GH has been terrific soap in recent weeks.
It has improved but still a little cliched with Charlotte not liking Lulu-her mom-and prefers Nina who is in for a rude awakening when she learns Valebtin is only using her…
I need to watch the GH you’re watching because the one they show in my area is really awful with some snail paced plot about Nelle trying to get revenge on Carly by being a great personal assistant while secretly putting a bra in Sonny’s bedroom; Hayden laying off nurses instead of the HR person; the most feared Cassadine being a former hunchback linguist who got Extreme Makeover: Soap Edition and ended up crazy hot; Alexis being an alcoholic who let herself go but kept her house immaculate; Olivia Jerome returning from the dead to buy the hospital and having an inside track because she sees everything that goes on at the hospital via the security cameras (the same cameras which apparently never taped any of the hospital murders that Paul committed when the Port Charles police were investigating); and Lulu believing that an egg stolen from Crichton Clark in 2014 is now her 7-year-old daughter.
Bah ha ha ha ha!
Alan, you slay me. That was hilarious and gave me a much needed laugh.
ALAN I AM ROFL would but that TPTB see THIS POST…BWAHAHAHA
I agree Newman. I have really been loving it lately. You said something in your previous post about negativity. It is very easy to dissect and pull apart soap operas — they churn out over 200 shows a year so there are going to be some bad episodes and storylines that people don’t respond to. For me, if I find that I’m bashing a show all the time and not able to say anything good about it, that’s when it’s time to give it up. There is another site where people post their opinions about GH as if it’s their full-time job — there are zero positive comments and they seem to have this gang mentality where they get off on bashing the show. What’s the point? If the positives did not outweigh the negatives, I wouldn’t be here or watching the show.
Charlotte seems like card carrying member of the Children of the Corn. She’s a little spooky but I do wish Lulu would stop acting like such a horse’s ass.
Hell, I’d be scared of Lulu too/
I don’t understand Lulu’s preoccupation with Charlotte — hell, she already has the (tragically named) Rocco who we haven’t seen her with since Christmas. Lulu reminds me of Y&R’s Victoria who seems more interested in the attention she gets from having kids than actually being a mother.
And I am sick to death of Lulu’s endless shrieking about Valentin being a killer. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Valentin killed Nikolas — but Lulu seems to conveniently forget (along with the writers) that she killed Scotty’s son Logan Hayes, her mother Laura killed David Hamilton, her father Luke killed his own father, Nikolas’ aunt Alexis killed Luiz Alcazar and Kiefer Bauer, and her sainted father-in-law Sonny killed AJ Quartermaine. People in glass houses, Lulu…
I agree with Newmanwins and ncboston1. While of course we can dissect the soaps for all their lunacy…do you expect them not to be??? Soaps, or at least the defunct OLTL and the hangin-in GH have always been over-the-top…always had an splash of cartoonish characters, people back from the dead, exaggerated moments, criminals ravaging their towns…and I love most of it! I don’t watch soaps to get a reality check. They’re escapism…a familiar place with familiar people. There are stories I hate and stories I love; stories that hold my interest and others that need to wind up. But I also realize as I’ve said before (as have some others), these shows are written for a daily viewing on a yearly basis and have gone on for decades. If you don’t know what to expect from a soap after all these years than it’s probably you, the viewer, who is not in touch.
Kudos to GH for bringing back some of the dearly departed…I, for one, love when characters…dead or alive…come back. If he or she is a criminal occasionally they should pay…like Sonny. I’ve said repeatedly Michael shouldn’t have given Avery back and Michael should have stayed a Quartermaine. I don’t want Sonny gone as in off the show…I just wanted him to pay by losing Michael’s love…his loyalty.I don’t want Julian or Ava gone either. I have no desire to see characters I love leave the show, even for the sake of “paying for their crimes.”
As for Lulu being crazy over Charlotte, I doubt any parent wouldn’t go to any length to bond and raise his/her child. She’s acting out of love and a need to finally reunite with her daughter. She just needs guidance so as to not drive her child any further away.
I agree, I have been a fan for about 30 yrs, and not since the nineties have been hooked like now, in recent years I only checked in to see metro court bombing, 50th Ann, and Luke’s departure, other then that there was no real dialogue on GH for the past couple years. GH, to me, was always a real show , a real place, where it didn’t matter what story was happening as much as the characters/ actors in the stories having real dialogue to act . I guess some viewers just want bombs every week, I’d rather the great scenes , and the writers now have been giving us those.
I’m not looking for the soaps to tell a great story every time or to abandon the lunacy and campy over the top moments — I AM looking for the shows to be well written, generate story from their history, have internal logic, and respect the viewers…something GH doesn’t do these days. None of the stories Jean and Shelly tell have any repurcussions which drive further story — case in point, Morgan’s death: Sonny was absolved of guilt, Carly returned to him, and Josslyn’s 10-minute hatred of Sonny was worked out in one scene. It often feels like it’s too much trouble for the writers to write conflict (other than between Sonny and Ava) so they just let everyone mend fences and move on (Monica should be LIVID that her son’s killer is free instead of being courteous to him).
As I’ve stated numerous times, GH’s biggest problem is its obsession with all things Sonny to the detriment of other potential stories: whatever happened to the secret of Helena’s bequeathment to Laura (she just gave up her search after the Campus Disco thing)? Is anyone else finding it hard to believe that Liz hasn’t called daddy Jeff Webber (or sister Sarah) to tell them about Hayden/Rachel? What ever happened to the flashdrive with Ava’s confession that she killed Kate? Who is Nathan’s father? What about the storybook little Jake drew about the girl on Cassadine Island? Why is former hunchback linguist Valentin the most feared Cassadine? What’s up with Kristina and Parker? What’s up with Kristina and Aaron? What happened with that brownstone renovation project Michael was in charge of? What happened to the free clinic Michael was going to open on the site of the old Spencer house? Now that Nikolas is dead, why hasn’t Hayden told the police that Nikolas was the one who had her shot to get Shawn out of prison? Why hasn’t Delia checked in on Ava, Avery, and Kiki? Will it ever be revealed that Mayor Lomax stole the election from Felicia?
That many dangling plots gives me the impression that there is no long term story in place.
You must have missed the last scene on Friday… Stephano is dead and has been dead…..
The main thing driving me crazy about GH right now is that they keep referring to Morgan’s death as a murder. Nobody murdered him. It was no one’s intention that he should die. As I recall it he stole a car and that resulted in his death. I’m tired of hearing Sonny and Carly and everyone else (even the police commissioner) talk about finding the person who murdered Morgan. Did someone plant a bomb? Yes. Did they plant it in Morgan’s car? Nope. It would be more correct to say that they want to find out who planted the bomb in Julian’s car which inadvertently caused Morgan’s death.
I agree, feels like morgans death is going to go on forever. I wish the show would sometime do a time jump like prime time shows do, and several years have passed, and we would be into new storylines, or if anything start making other storylines top priority, like how bout Laura trying to get justice or vengeance for nikolas ? Instead all we see is her once a week saying she going to do something But nothing happens.
That is a good point, Mister Media.
I also wish someone would mention that Morgan’s legal limit was way over the top–he was completely smashed and even if there was not a bomb in his car, he very well could have hurt or killed himself and some other innocent driver due to driving under the influence.
Well Morgan’s limit was only over the top because Ava messed with his meds and thus his head. In essence, even though not deliberately, she DID kill Morgan! He would never have gone on that bender and taken the car… But of course, no one knows that. Not sure they ever will.
That’s not correct. If you plant a bomb in someone’s car, which shows malice and forethought, in that it was planned out in advance, and a person dies, regardless of whether it was the person you intended to die, it’s still murder. That doesn’t change because Julian was the intended target and Morgan got in the car instead. That’s not the way the law works. It’s still murder. And Morgan would have been charged with grand theft, had he lived.
Thanks for the technical and legal clarification. Although it may be murder according to the letter of the law, I guess my problem is that everyone is acting AS IF Morgan WAS the intended victim. I haven’t heard a single soul say, “if only Morgan hadn’t drunkenly stolen that car he would be alive today”. Instead they all act as if someone was out to kill him.
Yes, Dan….which would have been Ava’s fault. She messed with his meds, which put everything in motion. I guess the domino effect never ends? LOL
The only crime on GH is Sonny, Carly, and the memory of Morgan stealing all the screentime.
Ahhhh, Sonny. It so amazes me how relevant this character still is!!!!!! I wish I had the vision of appreciating his charm.
The stuttering, the mumbling, the less-than acting……he only comes alive with gun in hand? Big, little man!
Good start to February sweeps for GH
I like your enthusiasm Newmanwins!
Why is it general hospitals ratings are always a big deal on here and the rest of the soaps are an afterthought?
Because gh is a big deal duh!!!
Hmm….good question.
It is interesting to me how it is the same soap opera writers that just rotate from one show to the other. Why can the genre not attract up and coming writers. Young blood so to speak. I watch GH and Y&R I know the acting is great but for some reason I do fast forward a lot don’t rush to watch them like I used to. Not sure why that is. Maybe it is too much of a time commitment now. Perhaps it is the fact that there are good night time serials, this is us, Nashville, the Chicago series, that are like soap operas but are only once per week so not as much time and more time to build anticipation on what is going to happen next.
I don’t like the “new” Nashville. Very disappointed.
Rebecca, sadly, I took Nashville off my DVR list. It used to be must see TV for me but not anymore.
Soooo disappointing, isn’t it? The writers have done so well on their previous shows so I was hoping it’d be great, as well. But I knew, as I’ve written on other posts, once they announced their “changes” that it wouldn’t be the same. They axed Luke and Layla for no apparent reason and introduced new characters that I didn’t wait in anticipation to see! I mean…c’mon…those of us that were rooting for someone to pick up the show wanted the SAME show! Instead, we got a facsimile of. It doesn’t feel the same. I used to get a sense of the music “community.” I loved how they all knew each other and the interactions within that community…the love/hate, the dynamics but all within the country music microcosm. Now, they’re just telling individual stories and none of the major players connect anymore. There’s Maddie’s story, Scarlett and Gunner’s, Juliette’s, etc. I miss “the gang.” Sucks!!!
I’m sure there are younger writers but no one hires them. From what I understand it’s extremely difficult to get anyone to look at a script. I’ve often said the fans have better ideas than the writers, and that’s true.
I just finished watching a Spanish soap, Velvet, which had me on the edge of my seat. The acting, the character development, the real way in which they approached the plots, the friendships – absolutely spellbinding. Everyone on Netflix is screaming for the next season. If only GH could be written that way. I was a zombie – I would watch one episode before I went to bed and stay up and watch two more.
When will Ron’s material start airing for DAYS? May? It will be interesting to see his take on the soap. I am really enjoying TH right now though!
August. Ready to wait?
2019…..
Last I heard Days was ahead by 6 months ahead of what is being aired. So you will not see Ron’s story hit the canvas unitl July
I thought that changed when they went dark for awhile
The new YR by Mal Young and Sally Sussman is tanking. Its incredibly dull with zero storylines happening, very talky scenes and no excitement. Pratt/JFP literally had 600000 to 800000 viewers more. Yes it was more stunt driven aka towering inferno and plane crash. JFP must be having the last laugh.
When the Y&R fans heard that Sally Sussman was coming the boards were jolly happy to have her… Many were talking as if she was the coming of soap writers…
Most were saying she was soooo great soooo wonderful and she was going to be the best that ever happened to Y&R.
I miss Pratt …
Suoo, since you’re constantly harping on younger writers being more adept at generating ratings, you must know that Pratt is sixty years old as is Sussman.
They are the same age.
hey Addison ..
yup, both Pratt and Sally are 60ish..
and when it comes to which of the two is the better writer it is definitely Pratt, so yah miss him..
I will always want young writers 🙂
Okay Su, I’ll bite. I think you like to “stir the pot,” a term another commenter coined to encourage discussion. I’ll just say after reading your comments for several years, I don’t know why you even watch soaps. Same old, same old…. Not young enough; too old; writers/stories suck; not enough violence aka Sonny, etc; ratings/Neilsons; rarely happy about anything. You do have a right to say whatever you want as long as MF will print it. And I have my opinion, as well as being able to FF comments for reasons of my own. Not every story line or character is going to make me happy all of the time, but I’d rather concentrate on the positive and be grateful we still have soaps and now vets we like to see visiting different home towns.
I also miss Pratt…he kept things entertaining…maybe Pratt can return?
outside of the Marco fiasco,cabin murders,and the baby switch,i thought Y&R was solid under Phelps and Pratt. it was certainly more intriguing than what we are getting now. Mal Young and SSM have sucked the life out of this show. it’s just so boring
y n r….zzzzzzzzzzzzz
thrs nothn promising in development!…
lilys becoming a model again just like her mom and its causing domestic probs?…zzzzz
reed s a punk and vics pissy and the talented and sexy jason thompson s hot affair with phylis got derailed for a supporting dad role?
eilleen davidson s promised a story worthy of her finally and gets a budding romance with a geek?
glorias everywhere again?
victor lets jabot acquire fenmores bacause hes mentoring abby and reading crosswords?
geez….. the y n r new regimes really falling flat…. cant wait to see if nick hooks up with his deceased brothers wife?…not
I don’t buy Lily as a model anymore than I bought her mother Dru as a prima ballerina.
I’m also wondering where the “eavesdroppers” are who always seem to invariably be behind a door are to know there is a condo seeking mole on the GH board working on Tonja’s behalf…like Tracey and or Monica, anyone? And they are rich. Why aren’t the marshalling their contacts and friends? And isn’t Lucy in on this as a “realtor?” Shame on Lucy if she is. Grrrrrrr.
I knew this would happened– I for one like Y&R slower pace and the dialogue that forces you to actually listened to the words and the drama and conflict isn’t throw at your face as if you had no brain cells to understand good writing. Dylan’s final scenes with his mother, father and wife were great — but I suppose there is a fraction out there that would of preferred if Dylan had gotten blown up without so much as goodbye to anyone– and that is the trick to soap writing, there has to be a balance between the two approaches — you can’t be killing off characters everyday or having them kidnap everyday– or have mindless sex scenes one after the other– but you got to do little more than see people argue over fragrances and Victor suddenly turning into a saint– to keep viewers tune it. Once upon a time viewers would stay tune for the long game, but in today’s world SSM has to pick up the pace or her come back will be shortest live in soap history– sad but true.
SSM pacing is terrible. everything is moving at a snails pace. she needs to pick it up. in todays day and age,things need to be moving faster
Contrary to a lot of the doomsday posts I’m always reading about GH, that has the show with one foot in the grave, it’s holding its own in that 2.6 to 2.8 million viewer range, and in 2nd place in the all important 18-49 demo. I’d like to see it get over the 3 million mark again, but it’s hard, all the soaps are on a roller coaster from week to week in terms of the ratings. Up, down, up, down. It’s hard to build momentum.
I think GH is solid right now, not spectacular by any means, but it’s keeping my attention each week. As usual with GH, the acting is carrying the show.
Valentin and Nina are a real highlight for me, and the unraveling of the backstory between him and Anna. I can’t praise James Patrick Stuart enough, he is a fantastic actor. Whether he’s playing anger and vindictiveness, or crying in explaining the emotional backstory of the character, he is a joy to watch. The “Hunchback of Notre Dame” angle isn’t my favorite, to be honest. But he’s making it work. I found myself getting teary eyed along with him as he was detailing his past, talking about how people used to pity him, you literally felt the sadness and hurt that he was expressing. That’s when you know you’re witnessing exceptional acting, when a performance can emotionally move you like that. Michelle Stafford is the best she’s been since coming to GH, as well. Her recent scenes with Finola Hughes were tremendous.
The story with Carly and Nelle is finally heating up, you have the upcoming stuff with Olivia Jerome that Tonja Walker herself promised is going to be good, the drama at the hospital, Kiki and Dillon who I am really liking as a couple, Alexis and her issues, which Nancy Lee Grahn is doing a brilliant job portraying. There is a lot I’m enjoying on the show.
I totally agree! You can’t make every viewer happy. When Ron C., Wrote GH people complained. When Bob Guza was the HW, viewers said the show was too violent. Same goes for Y&R. People called Phelps and Pratt hacks and how they were destroying the show. Well, now they are gone and still complaints. Yes, I agree they need to address Adam and Chloe’s deeds, but give Sally and her team time to rebuild the show. Sharon can’t constantly be the town pariah and Nikki not being able to handle her problems, turning to the bottle. It’s been done over and over!
Finally…the voice of reason.
None of the soaps’ ratings were impressive but touting GH as the only soap to add viewers isn’t really all that impressive when you note that they are still down 266,000 viewers from this time last year.
Face it, GH — Jean and Shelly’s material is awful. No romance, no couples worth rooting for, no storylines that have a ripple effect across the canvas (actually there really aren’t any storylines at all, just things happen with no real repurcussions) — nothing but Sonny, Sonny, Sonny. Anything that might be working for a scene or two is quickly backburnered for a week or more (or becomes all about Sonny) so that the show can focus on worshipping its resident criminal “hero.” Maybe I’m in the minority but I don’t want to watch a show where a criminal always wins and the good people get nothing (including no airtime).
How does this show have talent like Genie Francis and yet all we get is this never ending Morgan mess and the snail paced Nelle story? The Morgan story lost any impact it might have had the second the writers absolved Sonny of any guilt and Carly forgave him for the umpteenth time despite his “career” being the reason her son is dead. Laura should be the emotional center of the show, driving story and featured prominently. When Sonny, Carly, Jason, and Sam are on 4-5 days a week and Laura is on maybe 4 times a month there is clearly a problem.
The show should be ashamed it has missed so many opportunities with Laura — in light of recent events with Charlotte, she should be talking with Lulu about how learning she was not Barbara Vining’s daughter affected her at an early age; forging a friendship with Ava over their shared loss of Nicolas (this would be a great way to soften Ava’s character a bit); working to build a relationship with Charlotte since she missed so much time with Lulu; interacting with Monica since they both work at the hospital and Monica was Laura’s confidante back in the day (she even prescribed birth control pills for Laura behind Lesley’s back); and dealing with former business partner Lucy’s attempts to get Kevin back. Mining Laura (and the show’s) history could generate some compelling character driven story that might bring back lapsed viewers sick of nearly two decades of violence and mobsters. Just my opinion…
This post is spot on accurate. Hopefully Mr. Valentini reads the feedback from his show’s viewers. General Hospital has the potential to return to greatness…the pieces are all there.
I suppose Nora Buchanan is the bitchy new D.A.?
Oh damn, Alan. I hope this doesn’t make you nervous, but I bloody well LOVE you!
Alan, I would hire you as head writer in a heartbeat!
I’ve said in the past. all these years Lulu needed her mom and Genie wasnt on the show and now that she is, NOTHING!
Lulu is soooo getting on my nerves, Timmmy. I know, I am being mean. Thing is, I love Emme ( I was tempted to put 3 ems in her name, hahaha) so much.
Perhaps she is being written as an annoying gnat in preparation of her exit ( maternity leave).
In the long run, Charlotte does belong with her. Again, I must say that, considering how this little girl cabe to be, the law should be on Lulu’s side. Valentin stole the egg, zygote, embryo, fetus…whatever it was. Such farce!! It’s a soap!!
Y&R is just dull. I have gone for days not watching and reading recaps, then erasing shows I taped and never watched. I was so excited when it was announced that Sussman was returning to Y&R. Now it’s just tragically awful. CBS & Sony can’t be happy with the falling demos & ratings collapse.
Sally may not last long if this continues. no good couples,weak stories with no stakes ,and the same conversations everyday is what Sally has done. she’s putting the audience to sleep
They have positioned actors where they are being who they were I have not watched since Steve Burton left wonderful scenes with him and Case! Can’t recreate the past big mistake to make Gloria front and center that was the downfall ten years ago.
i find Gloria annoying and don’t like she’s getting all this airtime. last time Sally was here,she shoved Gloria down our throats and the ratings tanked. seems like Sally didn’t learn her lesson
Yeah, Robert. I see what you mean. We have seen Gloria at her best and at her worst.
As yourself, I really am not ready to go through a repetition of the conniving, always needy Gloria.
I must confess I was really happy she was coming back. But, I honestly thought it would be the guise of a new era, as it were….a return of atonement, not more of the same nonsense. Ahhh, well!!
Hi, kay,
Wonderful to see you here. Missed you.
Yes, Sharon Case deserves a gold medal for her steadfastness. She hangs in there no matter what caca-writing is flung at her.
Well missed a chunk of Y&R for the Trump talk. Might have caused some loss. I’m loving B&B. Unfortunately GH is ok in parts. JMHO 🙂
Oh I forgot loving Sally Spectra and the whole show is great and better w/o Brooke clinging to Ridge who I do like w/ Quinn but love her Eric also.
My favorite recent GH development is the Jason & Curtis teaming, leaving clueless downer Sam in the background. These two are dynamite together. Unlike Valentin and Nina and that horrific Charlotte. Is Nina out of her addled mind? She’s perfectly happy to keep Lulu from her daughter forever just so she can play mommy. Get over it, Nina. You’re making a fool of yourself!
I know, Soaphound. It just doexn’t make sense. Considering how Nina suffered the loss of her own baby….or the fact that she ‘craved’ being a mother; she should identify with Lulu’s anguish of not being able to even look at her own daughter. I thought, of all people, Nina would be sensitive to Lulu’s feelings, as a mother.
But, I guess, you have a point. Nina fears losing Charlotte. Obviously, Nina wants to take Claudette’s place in the girl’s life. There is no room for Lulu.
Step away haters!!!!! GH is the best soap on TV. Some stories take longer to develop than others. It happens on every soap. But in the past 3 years, GH has been a must watch hour on daytime TV. Stop hating so much and enjoy the ride.
Right on Darnell!
Damn right…GH is entertaining as hell lately…so tired of the repetitive haters.
It speaks volumes that the one show no one is talking about, either positive or negative, is B&B. Looks like they’ve invested alot of money in this Australia shoot. Good luck to Brad Bell on generating some excitement. Apparently he has to take the cast halfway around the world to possibly generate some buzz.
Y&R has been dreadful. Nick and Chelsea will be a major snore as a couple BUT, the only good thing is pairing them together will guarantee someone will be back as Adam. Adam asked Nick to oversee Connors’s well being not snatch up his wife!
The Jack and Gloria stuff was funny BUT with Gloria’s history, Jack bringing her into the Jabot fold was absolutely stupid!
The recasts of Billy and Phyllis STILL do not resonate any excitement. Good actors miscasted!
Tristan Rogers is ONCE again just bumbling through his days at Y&R. He is with Jill and they are great together but he AGAIN, has no storyline!
The Reed stuff is SO ridiculous! Wrong kid for the part and there are no kids his age to act with.
Devon is a complete MORON!
The ONLY reason a photographer was casted is to cause trouble between Lilly and Cane. She asked the photographer dude if he was in a relationship and he said he is keeping it low and shit. Huh! What he means is he will F Lilly, F up her marriage and slime his way out of GC!
Sally and company, you are #1 but you havent done much yet. Yes, its still early in your tenure BUT where is a story for Ashley? Tracy? The Chancelor family. Remember them?
Agree, agree, agree, Timmmy. Outstanding post.
Please do not scare me with Nick and Chelsea.
But, you are right….the only reason Chelsea and Nick are being ‘set up’ is because sn Adam return is in the offing.
Cane is turning into the personification of ‘Cain’. I cannot stand him. Another Lily affair? Oh, Lawd, please spare me.
I am loving Victoria, though……and, Jason/Billy has made a millimeter of progress with me. Who would have “thunk”. Yet, I still mourn Billy Miller.
Gina Tognoni’s acting is forced for me. She is no femme fatale….no vamp….and, no Michelle Stafford. This is her best, I guess. She should just be herself and not try so hard.
Jill will always be Jill. Money above love of family. Hmmmm. Not so different from Gloria.
Thank you dear, heres wishing you and Dr. Jude a HVD! [Sounds like a disease!] Happy Valentines Day!
Julie Berman was so much better as Lulu. BUT, part of HER problem is Dante. He doesnt do it for me and they have NO chemistry. The writers suck. I know, old news! Bring back Julie, Johnny Z and his dad or create an Anthony twin just to get Bruce Weitz back on the show.
Lulu should get Charlotte back BUT I love her and Valentin’s relationship. By the way, how many sets of crayons does she own!!!
Thanks, Timmmy.
Too funny….the disease part. HaHa.
ER plays Lulu like a spoiled rich girl that is the problem !
I am yet to understand the charismatic effect Dante has on viewers. What am I misding? He is soooo blah and ordinary to me. And, his acting is nothing extraordinary. I feel the same for Andre, actually.
I do like Lulu, per se….but, lately? I don’t know. We can’t always expect the best, albeit they try.
Well Emme gets a pass….she’s pregnant…Wish her a healthy baby!!
They can kill Dante off for all I care. Morgan was a loser and Michael is so bland! Michael was running ELQ in which they NEVER show that mega company and now he is on the board at GH? What the freak? Maybe he will be police commissioner next? DUMB! I wonder if Lulu will be written off for a bit while she delivers her baby? Maybe she will disappear and return with Nick?
Well, I don’t know about killing Dante. Just not make such a big deal about this character. What a lame cop. Why did he not arrest his father for holding a gun in Ava’s face? Nepotism. I know it’s a soap, but the viewer does see the double standard here. So sick of this!!! So sick of ashen-faced Sonny. Why do they put that weird, colorless make-up on Maurice?
Yes, Michael should have remained at ELQ. He showed character and determination…he is just a wimp, now….worrying about Nelle, and everyone else…..he is starting to look like Ashley Abbott…all dressed up and nowhere to go. Ha!!
Oh, WOW, Timmmy….Lulu returning with Nik….that’s a plan….as long as it’s Nick Stabile.
Too funny, Alan…. full synopsis of Y&R, these past couple of years….except you forgot that aging stud, Victor, who is so irresistible to any woman, young or old , namely , the prison doctor (Meredith). On what planet?
I am not looking forward to whatever this thing between Ashley and Ravi is. Yuck. She’s old enough to be his mother. She struts hither and yon, flipping her tresses this way and that. Really? And then we complain?
Of course I will comment on ridiculous writing!! What’s next? Another cat fight between Ashley and Phyllis over Ravi? Poor guy. LOL.
C’mon, now…..
They are really wasting Eileen! Ravi needs to work at GC Buzz!
Right, Timmmy? What compels these writers to pen such a juvenile storyline for Ashley? She is a mature woman, intelligent….with a good hold on her feelings, yes? I hope I am wrong; but, if this idiotic writing is in the making, shame on TPTB to distort this loved and valued character so.
I truly am up-in-arms about this potential story.
I may be getting the wrong vibe from her; but, my insticts….down to my little toes……tell me she is falling for Ravi. Is Phyllis?
What the heck is plaguing these women? Well, Phyllis isn’t that much older….still, it’s like going beddie-bye with a baby.
Wow, wow, wow…..Mr. Michael Fairman…..what lungs you have!!!!!! Your voice is incredibly amazing!!!! Kudos and thanks for the treat! Do you have an album out there somewhere??
You even sound like George. I listened to the recording a few times…sooooo good!!
Sharon’s dad should appear and Ashley could fall in love with him? I will not knock the writing YET, too early BUT their first episode they showed the Abbotts eating breakfast and I licked my chops! Its never been the same. Tracy is gone, Ashley is lost and Jack is a complete MORON! Also, I would like the first Kyle they had on the show who looked a little like Michael J. Fox. Maybe Lauren’s son will hook up with Abby?
You’re right, of course, about holding back complaints about the writing, Timmmy. I did say I didn’t want to jump the gun.
But, sometimes, body language speaks louder than words. And, Ashley, when around Ravi gives him some signal which is both encouraging and confounding, at the same time. Perhaps, it is subconscious? Her little nuances of ‘come hither’, are not very becoming of an older woman towards a much younger man, regardless of how good/younger than her age, she looks. It’s king of pathetic.
I guess, Ravi has not had too much experience with women. He definitely is not a player. This could be the quality an experienced, much older woman ( I will not go as far as calling her jaded, but, connect the dots, LOL) finds attractive.
Needless to say, if this is the case, Eileen is certainly mastering her craft.
However, TPTB may be teasing us….well, shame on them. Eileen should not be wasted with this sort of adolescent storyline….what would be the point. It’s not as if Ravi were a teen ( gross)….he’s a grown man, albeit seemingly, ‘untried’, but not for Ashley. If anyone looks forward to this sort of development? Well, gee….speechless!!
By the same token, I would not mind a ‘union’ between him and Phyllis….she’s not only much younger than Ashley, but it would create chaos and befuddlement for people…especially Jack and Billy. I don’t care how much Jack balks against his feelings, he still desires Phyllis….as does Billy, who will never grow out of his immature persona. He is forever in the throes of what to make of his vacillating feelings for both Victoria and Phyllis.
I, also, like a new relationship for Abby….she’s so sweet and bubbly. She needs someone who is there for her ….to rest her head on his shoulder; someone who gets her. Not, ‘detached’, scruffy Stitch. Anyone would be an improvement.
Oh yeah, what is it with him? ….just grow a beard or shave!! Stubbly and bristly growth causes itchiness and facial rashes, LOL.
In the many years I have been watching Y&R, I don’t ever remember seeing Sharon’s dad ( love Sharon, my favorite on the show–other than MS–). I eould welcome an appearance….most definitely. How about Walt Willy? Interesting thought, Timmmy.
Beyond the Gates
Daytime Drama Casting Directors Talk Four of the Most Challenging and Important Recasts of Their Careers
Daytime soap opera casting directors: Greg Salmon (The Young and the Restless) Marnie Saitta (Days of Our Lives), Christy Dooley (The Bold and the Beautiful) and Kim Coleman (Beyond the Gates) discussed the process of casting for a daytime drama series from contract players to under-fives along and their expectations for auditioning, plus behind the scenes casting tales at their recent panel from the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.
The entertainment industry event helps actors receive inside intel from leading casting professionals and took place just over a week ago at the Meryl Streep Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles.
Moderated by noted journalist Jim Halterman, one of the more intriguing moments of the panel discussion occurred when the subject turned to the challenges of a recast on a soap opera and replacing a popular actor with another in a very key role. Each of the four casting directors were able to put a spotlight on such an occurrence and all were leading men on their respective soaps.
Photo: SAGAFRAFoundation
For Marnie Saitta at Days of Our Lives, she was tasked with finding the new EJ DiMera. James Scott had become amazingly popular in the role from 2006-2014. Then, enter Dan Feuerriegel, who had the right stuff for DAYS to finally pull the trigger and cast the new EJ. The character returned on-screen in 2021 after 7 years.
RECASTING EJ DIMERA
“I do know now how to best approach a recast, like I’m casting a new character,” explains Marnie. “I feel like the actor just has to come in and make it their own. You can’t even try, looks-wise, to be quite honest. Obviously, EJ DiMera is kind of a focal point (of DAYS) and Dan was such a champ. I swear to God, I think I brought him in maybe six times. I would bring him in for other characters, but I kept thinking he’s really good for EJ and it didn’t go. Then, I brought him for something else, same thing. I knew that the role of EJ was going to be really difficult to find, and it finally clicked. He took EJ in a different direction. He has a totally different vibe, but equally as effective.”
RECASTING ADAM NEWMAN
For Greg Salmon, he discussed the pivotal role of Y&R’s Adam Newman, who was previously by Tracker star, Justin Hartley and what he looked for to be able to find the right actor to be the next black sheep of the Newman clan.
“We had Justin Hartley playing the role of Adam Newman before he went to This Is Us, and now Mark Grossman has been playing him,” explained Salmon. “So that was a really tough role to recast. Before Justin, there were two other people (Chris Engen and Michael Muhney) who played the part. Adam Newman is central to the show. This is Victor Newman’s (Eric Braeden) son. So, it’s an incredibly important character to the show. But now, Mark Grossman’s been playing the role for several years now. He’s completely made the role his own.”
Photo: JPI
Salmon added the key attributes that Mark Grossman or someone like him brings into an audition for the role of that is being recast, “I really think it just comes down to the person’s energy and what they’re bringing to the character,” explained Greg. “You can’t think, ‘Well, I know Justin Hartley looks like this. And the guy before him looked like that,’ because then you’ll just get trapped. You’re not trying to find another Justin Harley. You’re trying to find another Adam Newman. I just remember Mark came in and I think he read with Eric Braeden, and he read with a few other people of the Newman family, and his energy was just off the charts. You know, this is how Adam should feel. Eventually, I think the audience really accepted him.”
RECASTING RIDGE FORRESTER
In a little-known casting story, The Bold and the Beautiful’s Christy Dooley shared how Mark Grossman almost became one of the Forresters! “He tested for us (at The Bold and the Beautiful). Mark came in and read for the role of Thomas Forrester and he was my choice for the role,” says Dooley. “The role wound up going to Matthew Atkinson, but then he came down to read for The Young and the Restless.”
Dooley was also tasked with one of the biggest soap recasts in history when Ronn Moss exited The Bold and the Beautiful in his signature role of Ridge Forrester which Moss played from 1987-2012. Eventually, Thorsten Kaye took over the role at the end of 2013.
Photo: JPI
“When Ronn Moss left the show, Brad Bell (executive producer and head writer, B&B) said, ‘I can’t recast him right now, he’s just too familiar.’ So he waited. The character was always talked about because he is one of the Forresters. Brad finally said, ‘We need to bring him back. We got to find somebody.’ Then to get Thorsten Kaye, who’s so different than Ronn, and he made it completely his own. He’s just amazing at it, so I think time helped (between bringing on a new Ridge.)”
RECASTING DR. TED RICHARDSON
For Beyond the Gates, Kim Coleman, she has a soap opera that is now building a new legacy only in its second season. However, in season one, Maurice Johnson became the first recast in series history when he was replaced as Dr. Ted Richardson with Keith D. Robinson and at a critical point in the storyline.
Coleman explained, “I think it was a transition and everyone was in agreement that it was the right thing to do. And then fortunately, we brought in an actor that the audience knew. They knew his face. He was great. Keith made it his own and there was not a lot of controversy and it wasn’t complicated. Keith D. Robinson is on the show now and everyone loves him. So, it was a very smooth transition.”
You can check out the full conversation with daytime casting directors, Greg Salmon, Marnie Saitta, Christy Dooley and Kim Coleman below.
Now let us know which of the four recasts noted do you think was the most successful? Were you surprised to learn Mark Grossman was a favorite of casting director Christy Dooley for Thomas Forrester before landing his role as Adan Newman? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
Summer is here and that means soap fans can look forward to some steamy romps, some new romances and some shocking love match turns. So, who might hit the sheets with who? Who might just start a new love affair? Who might turn back to their exes?
We are highlighting five potential pairings that have us wondering what will play out in June as Swoon gave their upcoming monthly rundown on love in the afternoon. Take a look at what’s being teased and then you can let us know how you feel about it!
On The Bold and the Beautiful, now that Will (Crew Morrow) and Electra (Laneya Grace) “seemingly” are back together, R.J. Forrester (Brayan Nicoletti) and Dylan (Sydney Bullock) will hit the dance floor and then the bedroom. Will they actually fall for each other, or eventually plot to split up Will and Electra?
Photo: JPI
In addition, will Remy (Christian Weissmann) get his man back, now that things are looking up for Deke (Harrison Cone) if he works with Hope (Annika Noelle) at Logan? Remy had convinced himself through his support of Deke all will be forgiven? But let’s not forget what he’s capable of … blackmailing cousin Dylan and making deep fakes of Electra and plastering them all over social media.
EXES AND NEW FLAMES
Days of Our Lives summer sizzle extended preview first previewed a surprise lip-lock when it showed Chad DiMera (Conner Floyd) sharing a moment with Belle Black (Martha Madison). The thing of it is, it’s caught on a “Kiss-Cam.” Previously, Belle was in a relationship with Chad’s brother, EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel), so where is this heading? To the bedroom? Stay tuned.
General Hospital continues to have two execs, Willow Cain (Katelyn MacMullen) and Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard), dancing around each other. The heroic cop seems determined to help out Willow since he believes she was wrongly accused of shooting her husband, Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison).
Viewers know she did that and even worse! With Chase’s wife, Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) threatening Willow to get her claws away from her husband, and Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) trying to shove Willow and Chase together to make her look like a cheating wife to get the leverage against her, we wouldn’t be surprised if something happens between them, but what?
On The Young and the Restless, after his live-saving bone marrow transplant following his aplastic anemia diagnosis, Malcolm Winters (Shemar Moore) returns to Genoa City and reconnects with Dr. Stephanie Simmons (Vivica A. Fox).
It was through Dr. Simmons diligence, Cane Ashby’s (Billy Flynn) marrow, and learning that he has son in Holden Novak (Nathan Owens) that makes Malcolm have a lot to be thankful for, and he just might rekindle his romance with Stephanie with whom he dated back in the mid 90s.
So, of those listed above, what potential pairing has you most intrigued? Which are you not happy about? Do you think all of these characters will enter into a romance or an affair … or it’s all just a big red herring from their respective soaps? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Summer Sizzle Super-Sized Teaser: DiMera Legacy On the Line, a Health Crisis, Plenty of Romance and Backstabbers
As things get hot, so does Days of Our Lives as the summer months are here and that means temperatures go up on the Peacock streaming soap opera.
Now the long-running drama has released its summer sizzle promo video, where there are a lot of quick little nuggets that tease DAYS fans of what is to come.
First, much of the action centers around the machinations of EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) as he is heard saying about the family legacy, “Father built an empire, and I must carry his vision forward.” Meanwhile the extended trailer shares, “When legacies are built on lies, even love leaves a scar Not every wound heals, not every bond survives. In Salem, even the innocent have something to hide.”
Photo: Peacock
EJ IS EVERYWHERE
Philip Kiriakis (JP Lavoisier) warns his friends and families about people losing everything thanks to EJ, which in turn has him in a major showdown with Gabi (Cherie Jimenez), and let’s just say, he is not too pleased with her.
EJ is heard saying, “Everything I do, every decision, every sacrifice. I did for this family.” That includes: bringing back his sister from the dead and Lexie (Nikki Crawford) looks very unhappy about something. In another moment, EJ is about to throttle his sister, Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) when he yells, “You tried to murder my son.” Does he finally know what Kristen’s plot was with Sophia?
EJ even appears to be firing Dr. Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) from her job at University Hospital. Sarah is also seen making out with Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) making everyone wonder if she is finally over Xander Kiriakis (Paul Telfer) ? Thing is, he is truly not over her.
Then, there appears to be a public health crisis with pills that are laced going around Salem. Chanel (Raven Bowens) is trying her best to hang on as she is about to bring a baby into the world while battling breast cancer. Scared, she asks the doctors, “I need to know about the effects on my baby.”
MACHINATIONS AND THE TRUTH OF THE PAST
Another bad boy is back in Salem when Dimitri Von Leuschner (Peter Porte) seems back to his evil ways. Meanwhile, Stephanie (Abigail Klein) fires a gun, but at who? The truth about Cat’s (AnnaLynne McCord) past may finally come to light and be the downfall of her relationship with Chad (Conner Floyd) and maybe EJ too.
Back in July 2025, Peacock confirmed that Days of Our Lives will return for its 62nd and 63rd seasons. The series celebrated its 60th anniversary in November of 2025, and continues to shoot ten-months in advance of dropping new episodes.
Take a look at the summer sizzle Days of Our Lives extended promo below.
Then, let us know what is most intriguing to you? Does much of it excite you … or not so much? Weigh-in via the comment section.
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