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TV Guide on Why ABC lost Hope for Its Soaps!

Courtesy/ABC

Courtesy/ABC

Today TV Guide has an analysis and commentary on why ABC lost hope for its soaps and decided to pull the plug on One Life to Live and All My Children. And the cost analysis of putting on a daytime soap per week as opposed to the new reality shows, The Chew and The Revolution. Here are the key ‘takeaways’ from the news item below!

“Greater choice and audience fragmentation have meant lower ratings for all programs. The daytime soaps built their cost structure during a time when the networks had little competition. The ratings have reached a point where even after cutbacks, ABC was on a path to lose money on All My Children and One Life to Live if they stayed on the air next year. The cost of producing each ABC soap ran from $750,000 to $1 million a week.

The new shows that will replace them will each be $575,000 a week or less. There’s The Chew, a food-centric lifestyle show hosted by chefs Mario Batali, Michael Symon, Top Chef‘s Carla Hall and nutrition expert Daphne Oz, and The Revolution (working title), a health and lifestyle show with Tim Gunn. And unlike soaps, the episodes can be repeated.

CBS is already seeing higher profits for its new daytime chatfest The Talk, even though the ratings are slightly below those of As the World Turns, the soap it replaced. When CBS recently gave multiyear renewals to The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, it was at significantly lower license fees.  Many viewers will miss the soaps, just as some miss the variety show, the big-budget miniseries and other TV fare of a bygone era. It’s the price viewers pay for living in a multi-channel world, where they can watch what the want when they want.”

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All I know is when AMC and OLTL goes off the air my TV will turned to NBC Days of Our Lives and CBS Young and The Restless. I have no interest in watching these replacements.

When AMC goes off, I will be watching Y&TR to see many of my GH faves who have or are on their way their. In fact, I have begun recording it already. I already only have ABC on during the hours that all three soaps air. I used to watch Dr. Oz and Oprah right after, but not since this decision was made.
Before and after, I tune to another channel.

EVERYONE should boycott ALL ABC programming EXCEPT for the three soaps!

We should all boycott abc Ireally looked forward to watching these shows I will chage to another channel so all other programs on after them will also loose their ratings Ill have to see what channel 5 has to offer!!!! Thumbs down abc

The ABC soaps downturn was due to Brian Frons. They could still be viable under the right leadership.

Absolutely!

I hope Brian Frons Chokes on the Chew.

HA! I like that!

That was beautiful.

This is what america really need another food show isnt america to fat now!!!!Down with abc

Michael, why do you bother directing us to yet another ABC apologist? Why give them the press?

Here’s another take on the TV Guide story that is worth reading:
http://daytimeconfidential.zap2it.com/2011/04/25/cheap-crap-abc-daytimes-replacement-shows-to-cost-under-575000

Quoting from the above link: “As for The Revolution, that show is having to be completely retooled, because it sucked donkey balls, according to my sources. Instead of telling Frank Valentini, “Look man, I need you get the budget under $600,000 a week. I know it will be tough, but it is what it is,” ABC is going to tear apart a show that is turning out stellar episodes and is Number 3 among women 18-49, for a show that wasn’t good enough for the fall? I’m sad about AMC’s fate, but what’s being done to One Life to Live is flat out criminal.

Let’s reflect again on the many, many failed reality/talk projects Brian Frons and Co.attempted to get off the ground at SOAPnet. . . .

I don’t care how many ways they try to spin it, I’ll never be convinced it makes good business sense to allow Brian Frons to oversee the transition of ABC Daytime away from soaps to programming women are allegedly clamoring for more of. This is the man who was surprised by Kathy Brier’s success on One Life to Live because she doesn’t look like a Playboy Bunny. Guess what, neither do most American women. Now Frons wants to micromanage a weight loss reality show? Really?

We’re talking about the guy who put amazing talents like Jackie Zeman, Leslie Charleson, Catherine Hickland and countless other veteran actresses out to pasture fo no other reason than they got older. I have a question for Frons: If actresses’ freshness expires at the age of 50, what about executives? What’s good for the goose oughta be good for the micromanager. I’d say Frons is well past his sell by date.”

I agreee totally!!!!!!!!!!@

While obesity is a major health problem in the U.S. and Canada, why would we want another tv show on FOOD. There are some of us out here that prefer to watch other shows. You waste our time on Reality shows which are getting more trashy per new show. Not everyone out here watches these types of tv shows either. I am in my mid- 50’s and I am not “old”. I have watched soaps forever. Several different ones in fact. I have watched AMC since forever. It has been the one steady soap that has been on forever. I watch soaps for entertainment purposes, to get away from the real world. Not to be brought down by people fighting, arguing and thinking they are better than the rest. I do not need to watch someone else’s personal life.

I cant begin to think I want be able to see my soaps. what a sorry decisionI’M 62 you will put a gap in a lot of peoples lives

I will NOT WATCH The Talk as it replaced my much loved soap As The World Turns and I will make sure NOT to watch these new shows either. Too bad we can’t get more people to tune out these low budget, low entertainment shows. TV is going to crap!

I agree abc is turning into crap!!!!!!

abc please reconsider saving our soaps or your rating in general will fall the so willyou losse big time with this horrible sorry disgusting stupid decision

The only daytime program that I watch on ANY network is All My Children, which I dvr daily. Boo hiss ABC, Disney, and the pathetic Brian Frons. CHEW on your respective derrieres.

I have Dish Network – over 100 channels but what do I watch during the day – All My Children and One Life to Live. Your brought garbage in (Brian Frons) and he is putting garbage out. To Brian Frons: when the cast of AMC took a pay cut – did you? I bet not. ABC/Disney, you had better look at the moron you have running the show. You are losing millions of viewers. I will never watch another ABC program – EVER. I am more than happy to give my viewership to NBC or CBS. At least they don’t have idiots at the helm.

With Cheaper substitutions…more money will be put in Fron’s pocket. ABC and Disney are cancelled ..Sorry Johnny Depp!

their stupid they don’t care about their ratings they already know they stink both programs are flushed down the toilet where these turds with feet walked up from the sewer. They won’t sell the rights to our soaps cause they know both shows will not be accepted and their not I don’t watch either of them and I never will. I have tuned in elsewhere to watch soaps in the daytime. We won’t quit abc we won’t quit that alone makes us the winners and your right your all the biggest losers!

I have not watched ABC sincw the cancellation of AMC and OLTL. I do not even watch disney channels or anything that is ABC related. I got to watching CBS and now I leave my TV on that Channel during the day. I read more with the noise in the background of the TV. The soaps were a release from the strains of everyday life. My viewership used to be with ABC but now their programming is not worth watching.

All My Children

Carol Burnett Talks About Being a Superfan of ‘All My Children’ on ‘Live with Kelly and Mark’

In a heartfelt reunion, of sorts, the one and only Carol Burnett appeared on Monday March 25th episode of Live with Kelly and Mark.

Burnett had first met Kelly Ripa (Hayley) and Mark Consuelos (ex-Mateo) back when they all appeared on All My Children together. Carol played Verla Grubbs first in 1983 and then again in the 90’s.

Host Kelly Ripa (ex-Hayley, AMC) noted to Burnett that “we go back a long time”. She also described Burnett’s character of Verla Grubbs, “extraordinary in every way.”

Carol’s love for All My Children is well-documented, hence legendary soap creator, Agnes Nixon, created the role of Verla for Burnett.

Photo: ABC

Speaking on how her passion for All My Children began, Carol told Kelly and Mark, “It started with my kids. They would watch at noon. I said, ‘What are you guys doing?’ I sat down and I started to watch and I got hooked!”

When Carol’s family decided to travel through Europe during one summer, the comedic legend recalled thinking, “How am I going to last if I don’t know what’s going on in Pine Valley?” She revealed she had a friend, “who sent me a telegram to the (different hotels) on Fridays to bring me up to date.”

Photo: ABC

In a hilarious moment from the segment, Carol recalled receiving a late night telegram while in Lake Cuomo when there was a knock at her hotel room door from the hotel manager who was shaking.

Carol related what it said, “Erica is still in a coma. Mark slipped again and ran away from rehab.” As Kelly and Mark broke into laughter, Burnett continued, “Chuck has learned that Donna is carrying his baby, who was once a hooker.”

Check out Carol explaining how she became an AMC Superfan below.

Now, let us know, did you enjoy Carol as Verla Grubbs? What show do you consider yourself a Superfan of? Tell us in the comment section.

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All My Children

Malachy McCourt, ‘Ryan’s Hope’ and ‘All My Children’ Actor, Dead at 92

If you watched Ryan’s Hope through its 14-year-run, you know that Kevin the bartender became a beloved “member’ of the Ryan clan on the defunct ABC daytime drama series. The character of Kevin MacGuiness became so loved by the fans because of the actor who portrayed him, Malachy McCourt.

Sadly, according to his wife Diana McCourt to The New York Times, Malachy passed away on Monday from a heart condition and battling cancer. The actor was 92-years-old.

Playing Kevin on Ryan’s Hope was not much of a stretch for McCourt, because in his lifetime, he was the owner of 1950s Irish pub Malachy’s on Third Avenue in Manhattan. Known as one of the city’s great story-tellers, patrons from longshoremen to the actor Richard Harris would stop in and talk all things Irish with . On Ryan’s Hope, Kevin was best friends to “Ryan’s Bar” owner, Johnny Ryan (Bernie Barrow) and he tried to keep Delia (Ilene Kristen) on the straight and narrow.

Photo: ABC

In his soap opera career, McCourt also was widely-known for his role of Father Clarence McCourt on All My Children especially come Christmastime. Was Clarence, actually St. Nick? That was always the proverbial question. McCourt also appeared on the New York soaps: One Life To Live, Search For Tomorrow and Another World. Other roles included: Devil’s Own, Brewster’s Millions, The Molly Maguires, and Starman, to name 

Later in 2006, Malachy ran for governor of the state of New York as a Green Party candidate. He tackled social issues of the time including being an advocate for gay and lesbian groups to march in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Photo: ABC

McCourt’s childhood was recounted within his brother Frank McCourt’s Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir Angela’s Ashes, which detailed their mother’s attempt to raise the four of their surviving seven children in poverty in Limerick, Ireland. Later, Malachy wrote his own memoirs: 1998’s Monk Swimming, and 2000’s Singing My Him Song.

Malachy is survived by his aforementioned wife, Diana, daughter Siobhan McCourt; sons Malachy Jr., Conor and Cormac; stepdaughter Nina Galin; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Share you remembrances and condolences for Malachy McCourt via the comment section, but first check out this scene from a 1983 episode of “Ryan’s Hope” featuring the late actor with Ilene Kristen.

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All My Children

‘Live with Kelly and Mark’s’ Annual ‘After the Oscars’ Show Brings Backstage Interviews, Fashion Review and Red Carpet Arrivals from Movie’s Biggest Night

Monday morning, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos took to the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood for the talk show’s annual Oscar post show.

However, this time it would be Consuelos’ first time as the co-host of ‘Live’ for an Oscars episode. Mark took over the gig from Ryan Seacrest to team with his wife back in April of 2023 and since then the show has seen a ratings spike hitting several all-time highs.

The After the Oscars show opened with a tribute to the movies were the former All My Children stars took on iconic roles from: Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct to Barbie and Ken in Barbie, to the Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller role’s in the romantic comedy Something About Mary and more.

Courtesy/DisneyABC

During After the Oscars, Kelly and Mark were shown in clips backstage as the first stop for the newly-anointed Academy Award winners including: Finneas and Billie Eilish and Da’Vine Joy Randolph. The Bachelor host, Jesse Palmer was the talk show’s guest correspondent who spoke to the nominees, and celebrities as they were entering the Dolby Theatre on Sunday night.

Singer Andy Grammar took to the stage and performed on Live’s  After the Oscars show as well, and Project Runaway’s Elaine Welteroth shared her thoughts on the night’s Oscar fashion.

You can watch the full ‘Live with Kelly and Mark After the Oscars’ show below, plus the full movie parody below that. Now let us know, what do you think of Kelly and Mark’s first post-Oscar show together on ‘Live’? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

 

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