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Ricki Lake Talk Show Canceled! While Some New Talkers Are Axed, Others Are Still Waiting In The Wings!

By Michael Fairman

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Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

This came as no surprise but today official word was handed down that The Ricki Lake Show was canceled and will not be renewed for the 2013-2014 season.   Stephen Brown, Twentieth TV’s EVP of programming & development, stated on the cancellation:  “While we are proud of the topics the program tackled including childhood obesity, life-after the military, divorce, and addiction we were simply not able to breakthrough the crowded talk show marketplace.”

According to Deadline.com,  a similar notice will be given to the Jeff Probst Show.  Along with Lake and Probst, Anderson Cooper’s talk show, Anderson will also not see another season.

But while we hoped that programming executives and syndication arms would realize that there is just way too much talk shows on daytime, there are still more programs waiting in the wings to infuriate soap fans that include the following hosting their own talkers: Kris Jenner, Bethenny Frankel, Arsenio Hall ans Queen Latifah!

So soapers, do you think there is way to much talk on daytime at this point? Does it seem like a guest makes the round from show to show to show to promote their projects? Which talk show’s do you watch?  Let us know your thoughts!

 

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“So soapers, do you think there is way to much talk on daytime at this point?”

There’s that rhetorical question again.

There have been too many talk shows for a long time. Ricki Lake – isn’t this the second time she’s tried the talk show route? Kris Jenner, Bethany Frankel – trying to feed off their “reality” show success? I personally don’t watch talk shows, period. Not during the day, not at night, not interested. And yes, it does seem that the same people show up on them talking up their latest projects. As far as I can tell from program listings, that is, since I don’t see them myself.

Yes, way too many talk shows, what is there left to talk about.? Maury and Jerry Springer need to go away too.

i agree

Good Riddance!

i agree,too bring amc and otol back on the air and get rid of chew

And critics say soaps are derivative and repetitive?!?!?!? These talkers recycle guests, even cannibalizing on each other to fill their hours. Let’s close our mouoths save for some savvy storytelling, please. The talk format has not generated anything new for some time. And the demands of corporate American and audiences will not allow for anyone to break through or be original anyway. I am tired of crass. I am tired of lowbrow. I am tired of judge shows. Come one, webs and syndicators, work it… or maybe give us back our original continuing stories. Thank you!

I would not watch any talk show except Ellen if I did watch talk shows. I care nothing about actors and so on. I don’t care about any of the same old crap that they all seem to talk about. Yuk. They will be gone and recycling new ones soon. They are doomed before they start.

Maybe Prospect Park can save these cancelled talk shows and move them on line like they did the soaps AMC and OLTL? JUST JOKING!

We dont need anymore talk shows! Havent the poor ratings made even a dent in their heads???? SOAPS MATTER! When will they get it??

I don’t watch talkers period. Same old same old…

When are the highly paid morons at the networks going to realize people are sick and tired of talk shows. I don’t watch them. Bring back Love in the Afternoon.

they should have never cancelled all my children and one life to live.

Yes, there’s too many, what they need to do is have more soaps even if only 30 minutes ones, but then again that’s way to much tv for anyone, we just need the ones that are still here to survive with high ratings.

There are only so many times a day you can watch someone interview Jennifer Anisten about her upcoming movie and talk about the mayors cheating scandal. Make a game show and a half hour soap and call it a day kids. Build a lineup

Andrson could stay the rest can go…………Ricki take Katie with you…

The view is enough for me and it is just the 1st 25 min (Hot Topics). If the guest is on GMA earlier in the day then I don’t to see then again. If other shows like Katie or Dr. Phil get an exclusive then I usually see most of the best stuff on GMA or AH.

Never watched her. Oh wait. I don’t watch any of them. Or the talk, or the view, or doctors and shrinks, or judges. I watch soaps.

All I can say to all the network exec’s out there who thought they could replace soap operas with talk shows is Karma is a bitch.

My television’s life is in danger should Kris Jenner get a show.

Most talk shows have talked themselves out, and are just a show case for celebrities to pitch their goods. If they could tackle and handle current social/political topics like Phil Donahue did, or Oprah did when she started out (towards the end she became too celebrity focused too!), they could be interesting, but now many of them are just places for famous people to become more famous! Actually, Steve Harvey’s show has not been bad, he has been bringing on ‘regular’ people, and helping them deal with day to day lifestyle issues.

notice how ellen degeneres is getting no backlash from creating betheney frankel’s daytime talk show. ellen is very vocal against lgbt bullying but she gives a talk show to a real housewife? the whole premise of the housewife franchise are women being catty and saying degrading things abt each other. bravo pretty much glorifies bullying. oh that’s right. ellen has no problem w/ the housewives bec the bullying is between lgbt people. hollywood and the mainstream manhattan media and the entertainment press are against lgbt bullying and speak abt lgbt suicides and yet the Office of Minority Health (OMH) and National Asian Women’s Health Organization (NAWHO) has reported that suicide is the fifth leading cause of death among Asian americans overall compared to the ninth leading cause of death for white Americans. The highest suicide rate are among Asian american women 66 and older. Asian american girls have the highest rates of depressive symptoms of any group and 71% of southeast asian americans meet the criteria for depression and other major affective mental disorders w/ 81% percent Cambodian americans. 16% Asian american women have contemplated suicide compared with 13% of other americans. females ages 15 to early 20s who are Asian american die from suicide at a higher rate than all other groups. but hollywood and the mainstream media and entertainment press never speaks against that bec they only speak abt gay bullying and lgbt suicides. while actors and actresses only talk against gay bullying and lgbt suicides bec that gets them press and publicity and helps their careers and gets them favorable acting reviews. hollywood has made it acceptable to bash Asian americans and therefore hollywood has directly contributed to these high suicide rates among Asian american women. of course the mainstream manhattan media and hollywood and the entertainment press won’t criticize ellen for giving a former real housewife a platform when the real housewife franchise glorifies bullying. typical from the progressive manhattan media and the tolerant entertainment press and biased hollywood.

Are there to many talk shows? Now that’s a hot one! What kind of idiotic question is that? Oh and the one that I watch, NONE OF THEM!!!!!!

Another brand new soap opera

Gouge My Eyes OUT…. Kris Jenner? Oye! Retards watch too much “reality”.

isn’t she all that christening herself Queen of Reality….

I miss the game shows.. good ones..(not ones like deal or no deal..stupid show)….or the variety shows like Carol Burnett. What happened to comedy? Something to make you laugh and lighten your day? No one in the business has any kind of imagination any more. Since the OJ trials television has gone down the drain. Reality shows are just a drain on society, and talk shows will never have another Johnny Carson. I’m a scripted story person. Love the soaps. Build them up from morning till the news in the evening……ya know….like it used to be when TV was good.

Excellent point, LisaK.

CBS has Drew Carey so why don’t they have him do his cable show during the daytime or bring back Whose Line is it Anyway.

I would think if one network can get by with reruns of America’s Funniest Home Videos and I Love Lucy (not complaining about the Lucy part), then the other networks could find something else besides TALK SHOWS for their lineup. I would also love to see another half-hour soap start up instead of decimating what we have left.

Maybe if one of these talk shows tried something new we really would watch. Maybe…

Yeah, like maybe have no one talk. Now that would be something. Seeing how long they could keep quiet instead of talk, talk, talk, talk, talk. What else is there to talk about?

Kris Jenner, Bethany Frankel, Meredith Viera, Queen Latifia are just a few waiting for a talk show spot. I’ve also heard that ABC is salivating waiting for ratings to tank for GH. They apparently want to replace it with a weight loss reality show similar to biggest Loser. God help us all…

I may be in the minority here, but as an American, I feel talked-out. News is on around the clock, on a million websites, and on a hundred talks shows. I just want to be entertained for a while, people.

I’m right there with ya, Tom. I can’t believe that anyone wants MORE talk.

Days Of Our Lives

Netflix Canada to Stream Past Episodes of ‘Days of our Lives’ and ‘The Young and the Restless’

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Days of our Lives and The young and the Restless

Canadian soap opera fans, this October looks to be bringing you classic American television show favorites via Netflix. The streamer has reportedly licensed a large slate of iconic favorites including Days of our Lives and The Young and the Restless.

Beginning the week of October 26 via Netflix Canada (hopefully, soon in other regions too), the streamer will post previously aired catalogue episodes of both iconic series. No word yet from where they may be starting from, although many of the other series in the retro line-up are from the 80s and 90s.

Meanwhile, all-new episodes of Days of our Lives and The Young and the Restless will continue to be available and shown via Corus Entertainment Canada.

This week also marks the beginning of Y&R’s season 54 which officially begins on Thursday, October 8! And come November 11, new material from the head writing team of Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor make their debut. The series debuted on March 26, 1973.

Peacock’s Days of our Lives is entering into their 62 season. The soap was officially renewed back in July of 2025 through its sixty-third season, which runs during the 2027–2028 television and streaming season. DAYS tapes ten months in advance of dropping new daily episodes of the drama in Salem. The series debuted back on November 8, 1965,

Before DAYS and Y&R drop on Netflix Canada, none other than ABC’s Dynasty comes your way with all nine seasons beginning on October 12 along with full seasons of Bewitched, Charlie’s Angels, The Facts of Life, The Love Boat, and The Twilight Zone.

Previously, Netflix Canada added Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman featuring One Life to Live favorite, Joe Lando (ex-Jake Harrison) and Diagnosis Murder, which featured Victoria Rowell (ex-Drucilla, The Young and the Restless).

So, looking forward to finding out what years Canadian fans will get of Days of our Lives and The Young and the Restless when its served up later this month on Netflix Canada? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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‘Another World’s’ Mark Mortimer, Who Played Nick Hudson, Dies at 59 from Cancer

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Mark Mortimer

It’s been a rough week for Another World fans with the news of both the passings of Mark Mortimer (ex-Nick Hudson) and as previously reported Robert Kelker-Kelly, (ex-Sam, Bobby Reno/Dr. Shane Roberts). Sadly, Mortimer died following a courageous fight with cancer. Mark was just 59-years-old.

Mortimer died back on September 23 in the greater Chicago area and was laid to rest in St. Charles, Illinois. He made his television debut on Another World in 1996, becoming the third actor to take on the role of Nick Hudson following Justin Chambers and Kevin McClatchy. In story, Nick was introduced as the son of Michael Hudson (Kale Browne) and the half-brother of twins Vicky and Marley (Jensen Buchanan). Mortimer remained with the soap until it came to its heartbreaking end in 1999 after 35 years on NBC.

Mark credited his AW costars with helping him develop as an actor. Speaking with Soap Opera Weekly in 1999, he shared, “My fondest memory of being on the show was getting an opportunity to work with fine actors like Jensen Buchanan, Eric Morgan Stuart (ex-Chris Madison) Anna Stuart (ex-Donna Love) Tom Eplin (ex-Jake McKinnon) and Timothy Gibbs (ex-Gary Sinclair). They’ve really been great. When I came on the show, I didn’t know much about acting, but they’ve been very helpful to me. It’s been like one big class for me, which has been really rewarding.”

MARK MORTIMER CHOSE TO HELP OTHERS AS HE FOUGHT CANCER

According to his obituary, “Cancer became part of Mark’s story in 2024, but it never became the definition of it.  Instead, Mark chose to use what he was experiencing to help others. Together, Mark and (his wife) Christie founded the Integrative Access Foundation, created to give people facing cancer access to integrative therapies that might otherwise be financially out of reach. What began in the middle of their own difficult journey became a mission of hope for other families.”

Mark leaves behind his wife Christie; daughter, Hunter; Mom, Sharlene Pearson; Father Emil (Belinda) Mortimer; Siblings: Micheal Mortimer, Michele (Bill) Doyle, Martin (Shannon) Mortimer, Melissa (Bob) Gassmann, David Mortimer, Tyler Mortimer; In-law’s John & Barbara Allen, Chad (Jeanne) Allen and Beth Allen. Many Nieces and nephews, his IOC Construction family; and countless friends who touched his life immeasurably.

In lieu of flowers, Mark’s family asked for memorial donations to be made to the Integrative Access Foundation to continue Mortimer’s mission of helping others facing cancer.

You can check out this segment below from Monday night’s Entertainment Tonight on Mark’s passing.

Now, share your condolences and remembrances for Another World’s Mark Mortimer in the comment section.

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General Hospital

Van Hansis Marks Two Years as ‘General Hospital’s’ Dr. Lucas Jones

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Van Hansis

It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since Van Hansis made his debut as the recast Lucas Jones on General Hospital. It was back on October 4, 2024 that GH fans got their first look at the former As the World Turns (ex-Luke Snyder) favorite in his new soap role.

Hansis became the fifth actor to play the role of the adoptive son of the late Bobbie Spencer and Tony Jones, and the biological son of the late Julian Jerome and Cheryl Stansbury. Prior to Van, C.J. Thomason (2002–2003), Ben Hogestyn (2005–2006) Ryan Carnes (2004–2005, 2014–2020, 2024) and Matt Trudeau (2020–2021) had played the part.

When Van left daytime after As the World Turns sadly went off the air in 2010, it would be 14 years until he stepped back into the updated frenetic pace and grind of acting on a daily soap opera.

Van Hansis

Photo: ABC

LUCAS CAME HOME TO PORT CHARLES

Since Lucas has been back in Port Charles, he fell in love with the late Marco Rios (Adrian Anchondo) who was murdered, moved into a new apartment with his current roommate (soon to be love interest?) Joe Fitzpatrick as played by Jonathan Bennett, has become best buds with the “Britch” Dr. Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud), and has found himself involved in multiple other storylines. However, now that Van is firmly implanted on GH, might Lucas get a leading storyline of his own? Stay tuned.

In the meantime, to acknowledge his two-year anniversary at General Hospital, Hansis shared via his Instagram a photo montage and some heartfelt “thank you’s’ and words. “Two years ago yesterday, Lucas Jones came home to Port Charles looking a little different. Looking exactly like me.” began Hansis.

“When I took on the role, I was told it would be a heavy recurring for a few months and then we’d see where it goes – being based in NYC at the time, I thought it would be a fun little gig that would bring me back to my old stomping grounds of daytime for a bit.”

Van Hansis

Photo: ABC

GENERAL HOSPITAL HAS BEEN LIFE-CHANGING FOR VAN HANSIS

Next, the longtime New York-based actor confirmed he has now moved to Los Angeles as this new chapter of his life has unfolded, and how grateful he is that the show’s writers and producers have continually given more for Lucas to do.

Van explained, “But then they kept writing for me more and I fell in love with Lucas, and everyone around him (in front of and behind the camera). I wanted to stay a while and am so grateful I have. Being a part of GH these last two years has been life changing. Literally. My family and I are Angelenos now, I’ve made incredible new friendships and have been able to revisit old ones.”

The five-time Daytime Emmy-nominated actor concluded with, “Thank you Frank (Valentini, executive producer, GH), thank you Mark (Teschner, casting director, GH), for inviting me to the party. You throw a great one. ”

So, happy to know Van is sticking around General Hospital for some time to come? What has been your favorite Lucas Jones moment over the first two years of Van’s run? Let us know via the comment section below.

 

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A post shared by Van Hansis (@van.hansis)

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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