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The Meredith Vieira Show A Firm Go For Fall 2014! Stations Picking It Up Due To KATIE's Looming Axe!

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

According to Broadcasting & Cable this morning, “The Meredith Vieira Show is the first syndicated first-run show to get a firm go for next fall. NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution has sold Vieira in more than 60% of the U.S.for its broadcast syndication debut next September, said Ed Swindler, president, NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution and president, NBC Broadcast Operations.

The NBC Owned Stations staked their claim to Vieira in July, soon after NBCU decided to pick the show up to series.  Besides NBC, stations from Hearst Television, Sinclair, LIN Media, Cordillera Communications, Gray Television, Post-Newsweek, Schurz Communications, London Broadcasting, Hubbard Broadcasting, Bonneville, Meredith, Young, Raycom, Quincy, Cox and other groups have acquired the show.

According to sources, many stations are picking up Vieira to hedge their bets if Disney-ABC’s Katie does not return for a third season. Hearst, which owns 13 ABC affiliates, is ABC’s biggest affiliate group.

The NBC Owned Stations are expected to air Vieira at 2 p.m. in many markets, leading into the group’s two established talkers: NBCU’s Steve Harvey at 3 and Warner Bros.’ Ellen DeGeneres at 4. Those stations have holes at 2 p.m. after CBS Television Distribution ended the low-rated run of Jeff Probst after only one year.  The show will be produced in New York, with Vieira serving as an executive producer as well as host, and will be produced and distributed by NBCU DTD.”

So, what do you think of stations clearing Meredith Vieria in case Katie Couric’s show falls by the wayside? Would you be at all interested in watching a Meredith talker over a Katie talker?  Yes, we all know we would prefer to have a soap on, but that is not likely to happen any time soon, unfortunately!

 

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This will not have any impact in the NYC media market re: WABC /Katie since it looks like it will be on WNBC at 2:00. What about Days of our lives?

dool now comes on at 12:00 noon on the east coast………………

Not in NYC.

oh – well it does in philadelphia………..

Another boring show same topics different host. Katie might as well stay on the air.

I know, right. I don’t understand why soap bloggers are so adamant about slamming Katie Couric.

No. 1: “General Hospital” was NEVER cancelled because of her talk show (which airs on NBC, CBS and ABC affiliates all over the country).

No. 2: If/when it is axed, another talk show will take it’s place, not the return of a soap.

If you want to blame some shows, blame “The Chew” and “Revolution.”

Too many talk shows already. That would be three hours of talk, talk, talk. You hear the same thing over and over with the same set of ” EXPERTS”. Too much. Stop trying to replace Oprah not possible!!!

No thanks. I cannot remember the last time I even watched a talk show. I watch the CBS morning show and news for a few minutes each morning. Bring back OLTL.

I wonder what that means for “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?”,which M.V. used to host and is now hosted by Cedric The Entertainer,since it airs in the 2PM slot after DAYS on KNBC in Los Angeles.

I love meredith vieria her talk show will be a huge hit. cancel days of our lives. its really boring now.

right on anna i totally agree with you. days of our lives will be gone soon. i smell a cancellation coming soon. meredith seems like a nice lady. katie couric puts me to sleep. i have never liked that woman. she is really full of herself

meridith i love that woman so much. her show will have good ratings. i hope this means katie will be cancelled. i hate katie so much. katie is greedy, i cannot believe they threw 20 million dollars to katie. what a waste of money. where people are starving all over the world. katie is dumb dumb. people don’t care for her anymore.

JUST MY OPINION: It boggles my mind that you are in a soap opera website, yet you are writing or wishing that Days of our Lives gets cancelled!!??? People lets support our serial dramas, regardless if we watch that show or not..I for one am hoping the genre continues to regrow..If people are wishing that certain soaps should be cancelled, then why be on a website about soaps?? JUST MY OPINION

You do realize that this is a blog that promotes the soap genre,don’t you?

At least we can expect her to be soap positive (as KATIE was, surprisingly). If we can’t do anything about these talk shows, they should at least be good vehicles for promoting the remaining soaps. CBS sibling show THE TALK is obviously the best at this, but KATIE promoted both DAYS and GH milestones and produced a prime time special. As long as Meredith does the same, I can’t complain. It’s not like AW is coming back to NBC 🙁

I say “can expect” given Meredith’s fandom of GH and her multiple appearances as Bree, the former madame (who was taught the business by OLTL’s Renee, we learned) turned Lucy Coe-assistant/confidante. She seems to have a good relationship with soaps which would hopefully lead to some synergy, if not for GH, then for DAYS, which needs it. It has no “TALK” and deserves much better ratings lately, than it’s been getting. Get some cross promotion going!

What makes them think one will succeed where the other failed? Too many talkers as it is. Somebody needs to come up with a new way to score daytime viewers. Soaps evidently aren’t doing it, but neither was Katie.

While I really like MV and dislike Katie, I still
will not tune in.GH is the only daytime
Show I will watch.I wonder if ABC understands
How bad they messed up!!Miss my soaps.

I want action…not talk…i only watch soaps and reruns of Match Game on GSN!!!

why doesn’t some one come up with another soap opera that would be nice instead of another talk show who needs them to many already

It would be nice to see a new soap but they are too costly to produce…i doubt any network would be interested!

Katie still took the money out of OLTL, in essence. Damage done.
She gets the money too, 1%.
Also, she treated her staff and crew like crap, so who cares. She still wins big.

Doesn’t matter to me because I watch Ellen when Katie is on. I like Katie but Ellen is such an amazing host.

I think you should change the title of your website to Michael fairman on air soaps and talk shows.Your website is constantly giving free advertising to these stupid talk shows.The soaps are dying stop writing about the dumb talk shows.Your website should only talk about the soaps.The cackling hens of the talk get more publicity on your site then the soaps.Your site needs to start talking about how to keep these soaps alive.This is supposedly your bread and butter in life.The real reason all my children is not taping is because there is no money.The soaps are extremely expensive to produce.They need advertizers with lots of cash to save them.Concentrate on our soaps and stop giving free publicity to these dumb talk shows!

you sound bitter and miserable. talk shows are daytime as well. if you don’t like it. leave the site. plain simple. go have your breakfast you need it. lmao

Love Meredith Vieria and so glad she is in and Katie maybe out! I find Meredith to be a breath of fresh of air as opposed to Katie who really is more into herself! I am so unhappy Meredith does not do the Millionaire Show and miss her tremendously. Congratulations Meredith! You rock!

i love meredith too. she is a very openminded person. and also everyone loves her. katie couric is fake. watch it folks katie will stab you in the back. lol

ONE LIFE TO LIVE is all I will say.

ONe life to live , I agree

DITTO!!!!!

DITTO!:)

No thanks–won’t watch !!Bring back OLTL and AMC to abc !!

that will never happen. abc wants out of the soap business. oltl and amc will never come back to abc or any other network. lets all accept OLTL will never come back again. prospect park are idiots flakes, and are playing games with us.

still not watching another boring talk show, they are so stupid putting money on failed talk shows, BRING BACK ONE LIFE TO LIVE , if they want ratings ugh stupid asses

I agree 100%…

I agree—another boring talk show.

When OLTL and AMC were canceled you could not give them away to any network tv station or cable..
None/No network stepped up to take them, none..
The networks and even cable do not want the expense and huge undertaking to air a soap opera..
Seems they are a taboo to all networks to invest in them..

Thank all powers that their are still 4 soaps remaining

Daytime tv struggling to keep alive.. Cooking shows are the lowest budget there is to be had, next to nothing to produce/air. a cooking show.
Second is the cheap category are talk shows..
Soon, during daytime air time we will be seeing infomercials to pay the bills..

If not for the networks running cheap talk and cooking shows during daytime tv there would be no money to keep the very expensive daytime soaps on the air..
So– air cheap talk and cooking shows to keep a budget run/produce the soaps..
Without the gawd awful cheap talk and cooking shows there would be no money for the huge expense to air the soaps..
We need the pitiful very low budget cooking and talk shoes to keep the soaps alive!!

Stop with the talk shows. Enough already. Bring back OLTL. That’s what we all want.

LOL@ everyone here saying “not another talk show”. These are the same jilted lovers who still haven’t gotten over their beloved soaps leaving them, yet if they thought about it would realize that for ages and ages, said soaps were also on 3 hours a day on every network. No different.

I adore Meredith. She’s one in a million people whose talk show I would consider watching. That’s not because I love talk shows, but I do love Meredith. In a perfect world, she should be a news anchor again and leave daytime to scripted programming.

I will not be watching Meredith.. Another talk show please! And Queen Laifa has a talk show also now. Why do they keep putting out these talk shows? I am not interested at all. I rather watch a soap opera over a talk show any day.. I watch GH and when it is over at three, I put in my dvd player one of my movies to watch..

talk shows ,cooking shows will become extinct , GH prooved there is still life in soaps , abc should swallow there high almighty pride with stuck up execs , bring back our soaps to loyal fans who watched and made them rich if it wasn’t for us!!!! , ……more failed programming to come …abc can eat it like lucy cole on gh said:)

prospect park are lying asses too,…..

I would watch Meredith, but bring back OLTLand AMC too. Please don’t get rid of the other soaps that are on right now . The fans have spoken and what they want so try to find a way to do what the fans want and you will all be heroes.

i feel sorry for meredith , i like her , its obvious her show won’t stick ,its going to be the same as katie , i wish her well she seems like a great person 🙂

The problem isn’t the programming the problem is the whole network system is failing. Gone are the days where people had only three networks to choose from and those three networks could guarantee their advertisers large audiences to watch their ads. Slowly but surely, network television will be gone– replaced by a more a on demand format, where the consumers chooses which product to watch and when, and advertiser will target ads to individuals– by the kind of show they choose– sort of like what Google does now by targeting ads based on which websites you visit. Right now we are in this stage where the glory days of the Big Three are fading fast—- and they are trying for dear life to hold unto what little audience they once had but for cheapest amount possible. Until the network system dies completely, we will endure more of the same. Reinvention is the only long term solution to the problem.

Agree, and-
I can not understand how some people can hope for OLTL and AMC to return to any network tv station, it will never happen, never..
We are very fortunate to still have the 4 remaining soaps..

Daytime will soon be cheap tv, I even see infomercials coming to daytime to help keep it alive..
And yet, some people think OLTL and AMC could return to daytime haaa haa!!
(god bless those silly people lol)

I would much rather watch Meredith than Katie. My fear is that they’re actually going to put her on in place of General Hospital. I won’t watch her if that’s the case!

Like Meredith…but please, no more talk shows!

daytime tv is dying.. it’s the networks night time programming keeping daytime alive, money wise..
low budget very cheap talk and cooking shows are what is keeping money in the bank to produce our very expensive soaps on the air..

—- taking from hand to put in the other ..

Yawn, yet another talk show I’ll never watch… At this point, with all the talk shows and “reality” programming, a soap would be about the most original thing a network could offer.

I enjoy Katie when she has programming worth watching, or a celebrity I care about. But otherwise, I don’t tune in. Hopefully Meredith has a stronger go!! Wishing her all the success!!

Personality-wise, give me Meredith Vieira over that Katie Couric ANY DAY!!!!! Meredith is such a wonderful breath of fresh air…and…she knows how to keep it R-E-A-L!!!!! Unlike Katie, who is so fake and annoying. And the sound of Katie’s voice is EVEN MORE ANNOYING!!!!! No Thank You. TEAM MEREDITH VIEIRA!!!!!!!

Most likely I will not tune in as there are too many talk shows. I prefer good daytime drama like OLTL and AMC that ABC cancelled. Also there are too many cooking shows on too like that silly Chew. If ABC wants to cancel a show, chew up the Chew. Long live General Hospital!

Another boring talk show that will be cancelled like Katie!

Unfortunately, we all need to accept the fact that our soaps are gone for good. At some point, a really good soap will get going on the Internet. People are trying hard to make that happen. I get tired of people critizing PP. No one wants to bring the soaps back more than PP. They have invested a lot of money into the soaps. They had no idea how hard a task this was going to be. They are having to pave the way for themselves and others. I ,too, get frustrated with the lack of info from PP. I have accepted that PP may not be successful in bringing back our soaps but applaud them for trying and breaking down some barriers.

I think Michael needs to change the name of this site. I understand that since soaps are being cancelled, he needs to expand into the talk shows. I am happy that he does this because it does allow us to discuss these awful shows. He lets us speak unlike ABC. ABC kicked me off their chat room because I said I hated the Chew. I will always boycott ABC. It is so funny watching ABC try to win us back by bringing in some of our favorite characters, the latest being Delia. I will never watch ABC again no matter how they try to lure me.

Thank you Michael Fairman and Prospect Park. ABC….I hope you fail.

There are already too many talk shows on every channel. Just leave DOOL and GH alone. I have been watching them since I was a child. I used to watch these shows with my mother and grandmother. Talk shows need to get their own forum.

News

Robin Strasser Meets Kristen Alderson’s Baby Kiera in a One Life to Live Reunion

For years, Robin Strasser (ex-Dorian) and Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) have been the best of friends and the best of co-stars. On One Life to Live, Kristen was only six-years-old when she began her journey as Todd and Blair’s daughter and met the iconic Strasser.

Now in 2024, Kristen is a new mom to her baby girl, Kiera. Strasser, who lives in New York, along with her best friend, John, traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, just a few days ago to visit the Alderson family and spend the day with Kiera.

Taking to her Instagram a very happy Kristen shared, “Look at who came to visit today! Robin & her bestie John! Robin and I got all misty eyed when she met Kiera today!”

Photo: JPI

In a very touching part of her post, Alderson expressed, “Robin is such a special person in my life, it means so much to me that we’re as close as we are. She’s just the best❤️ A great day of laughs & a great brunch spread😍”

Robin added, “I’ve been smiling since I met her. I’m a big softie for babies, but what a doll Kiera is!” The Daytime Emmy-winning star, also shared, “I’m so grateful for my ongoing friendship with Kris and Kathy. Amazing women and loyal friends!”

What do you think about Kristen and Robin’s enduring friendship and recalling their time on One Life to Live? Comment below.

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General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Writer Shannon Peace Let Go, and Shares on Sprina: “One of My Only Regrets is to Not Have the Opportunity to Develop That ‘Ship’ Further”

As General Hospital’s new head writing team of Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahy gets off the ground and running, there are still changes a foot on the writing team.

Now comes word via breakdown writer Shannon Peace that she is no longer on contract with the long-running ABC soap heading into its 61st season. Peace shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram, thanking the fans, and the show for the opportunity and the importance of diversity in the writers room.

Peace began, “After almost 3 years on staff and 106 episodes penned, I am no longer on contract with General Hospital. Writing for this country’s longest running television serial drama has been an education of epic proportions; I will forever be grateful that I earned my WGA card on a daytime fixture that holds memories for so many.” (Peace pictured below with GH EP Frank Valentini and script writer, Charlotte Gibson from about ten months ago).

Photo: SPeaceIG

Shannon added “Even more importantly, as the sole Black breakdown writer (and only POC in the writers room) during my tenure, I pushed for vital interactions and discussions that prioritized inclusion, visibility, and representation”

The writer pointed to the example of vital interaction when in story, “Stella and Portia’s frank July 2022 conversation about the role race played in Esme’s framing of Trina is just one example of the impact I’m gratified to have had.”

Acknowledging former GH co-head writers was also part of Peace’s farewell expressing, “Appreciation to my former bosses, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor – not only taking a chance on me, but for valuing my opinion and championing my voice.”

Courtesy/ABC

Many GH fans know that Peace was key to the development of the love story between Trina Robinson and Spencer Cassadine as played by Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez. Shannon gave a special shout-out to ‘Sprina’ fans, “I also want to thank fans who were supportive of my work, especially the recognition of my love for ‘Sprina’. One of my only regrets is not having to develop that ‘ship’ further.”

She concludes her statement with,”In the aftermath of a historic writer’s strike that shed new light on the troubling ways writers are regarded in daytime, my sincere hope is that General Hospital recommits to valuing staff writer efforts and input, with a more intentional focus on diverse viewpoints — and thrives for another 60 years.”

Accompanying her post, Shannon added, “Thank you all for the love and support these last few years. I hope GH fans get all they hope for and more!”

So, what do you think about GH not renewing Shannon’s contract? Will there be more continued changes afoot? What do you think is the future of ‘Sprina’ anyway at this point as viewers wait to see if Nicholas Chavez officially returns to the show?  Comment below.

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Peter Reckell returns for a second visit with Michael Fairman following the wrap-up of his recent run as Bo Brady on Days of our Lives.Leave A Comment

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