Well GH brought back Brenda BUT kept Guza!

People who quit watching GH because of Guza writing, did what I did, I start watching because of Brenda BUT stop watching because I cannot stomach what Guza serve; stupid people and one or two watchable story like scrubs.

Sorry Jamey I know you like Guza but I hate his writing.

As for Y&R at its worst; it is still 10 time better than all the others!

Y&R does not have any competitors in most markets. I think this is part of why its ratings don't suffer. Still and all, none of the soaps has the following of a few years ago when Days, for example, was getting 10 million viewers. The audience is just not there anymore.

I'm surprised that GH isn't doing better since Brenda has now been brought into the Sonny/Jason orbit.

While Y&R has been more consistent than the other soaps on a week to week basis, last week it was down more than 200,000 viewers from the same week last year. Over the past two years the HH rating has been 3.7, and while it's good that they held steady that number represented their all time low just two years ago. Over the past month or so, they haven't even gotten up to a 3.7, they've been stuck on 3.5, and even though this is just the second week of the season, I wouldn't be surprised if they ended the year at 3.5 or lower. I think it's going to take a lot for them to see 3.7 again. In fairness, I'll admit that they did see an increase in the 18-49 demo last year, but I think part of the reason for that is because the previous year saw them reach a record low with that age group.

The problem with DOOL is that it's just SO FREAKING BORING. So what, now Sami shot EJ, is keeping THAT secret from him, but he knows and is pretending to have amnesia to get revenge on her. It's the same plot over and over and over again. Revenge on each other, keeping the same tired secrets, there is nothing new. Brady burrying Vivian alive sounds good on paper, but the story being played out on screen has been a real snoozer. First of all, EM is boring as Brady. Sorry to those who like him but he just doesn't make me feel anything. The only time he shows any life is with JA as Victor and I credit that to the greatness of John Aniston. Secondly, the main reason the Vivian burries Carly alive story was so great is because it was fresh for daytime, and plus she was actually burried underground, which made everything seem so much more claustrophobic. Besides all of that, I would much rather watch Vivian scheming against people than see her a victim. She's more fun that way. Carly's return to the show has been an utter disappointment, and although I'm actually liking her friendship with Chloe, I still find Daniel to be a bore (why do women fall all over themselves for him?) Chloe should be in a triangle with Brady and Phillip, like the old days. NB has much more chemistry with JKJ than she's ever had with Daniel, so I don't care about her thinking she's carrying Daniel's baby. And Jamey, you're right, the show needs Marlena (and John, too). With everything that has happened to Sami over the past couple of years, Marlena desperately needs to be there. Maybe DH is too expensive, maybe she's difficult, I really don't know. But the show hasn't been the same without her.

go figure...CBS's head brass, Babs Bloom, made a decision to "Cancel" 2 of their soaps within 2 yrs. ATWT was getting around 2.3-2.5 million eyeballs, GL was getting 1.9-2.1 million eyeballs, so their are some pissed off dedicated CBS viewers that are NO LONGER. The total eyeballs GONE is probably around 3.0-3.2. Anyone think Lets Make A Deal is pulling any bigger rating the GL? Maybe close to the same rating point but cheaper to produce and air. Does anyone think that The Talk will come close to ATWT's rating...I think not and then you have CBS's daytime ratings in toilet for next 3-5 years, every network scrambling around trying to find that breakout hit for daytime the next 5 years with nothing but failures on their hands because they will keep cancelling daytime soaps.

I agree with all your points, conqueringblue, except that I think one way for them to bring back Marlena is for John to die offscreen and for a grieving Marlena to return to Salem. I loved Drake in the early days, but I got a little tired of him over the last couple of years. Days is really the only show I’m still emotionally invested in, and I really want to see it back on top.

Has anyone seen the ads for the show that is replacing ATWT?

I saw it yesterday when I was watching B&B and boy....pretty awful.
One of those women I don't even know who she is.

I cannot wait to see what ratings that brings in.

Some people won’t like my saying this, but that has never stopped me before: It was a mistake to bring back Crystal Chappell. Ever since she came back the whole dynamic of Days has been thrown off kilter. She’s an incredibly talented actress, but TPTB obviously don’t know what to do with her. She needs to be cut from the cast. Sometimes you just cannot go home again.

capwell, I kind of agree with you about CC and Carly's return. I don't think these writers know how to write Carly Manning, because ever since she's returned to the show, she's not the same character I remember. Besides that, the show spent so much airtime on her secret about her daughter, only to have it be revealed and then... nothing. Now she's meddling in Chloe and Daniel's business, and the whole story is just so bland (doesn't help that Daniel is a bland, boring character)

To be honest, nothing would make me happier than for Carly to leave tomorrow, for Bo and Hope to reunite and for Marlena to return to town. And this is coming from someone who once considered Carly to be her favorite character back in the early 90s

Capwell, my brother, I happen to agree. And it's really not her fault. The quality of the writing on Days has been very sub-par. The dialogue that she and the other characters have to say is just so bad some days that I cringe to hear it.

I'm not surprised at GH lost in viewers and key demos. Its so pretty to look at, but as I've heard from you before its "shiney cah cah."

Now Guza's theme is "pining over men." I see Brenda a 40 yr old successful international acclaimed business woman pining over a man who dumped her at the alter 20 yrs ago. While he is wooing, banging another woman buying her a dress on the island.

This isn't what (some) of their fans signed up for..Now she's plopped in PimpHouse2 with the pets while Robin is stuck in a well...(which is a good storyline yes it has holes but its not bad)

I would have written Brenda to come back re: one simple thing Robin who she accidently bumped into in of all places our largest continent Africa.

This Balkan villain could have played out the same way in via Rome, PCharles because they're going to follow her there anyway..

Unlike some, I liked the lead in showing her glam life in Rome but I think (still not clear) on exactly "how" women drive story...but this was an example as I understand it of Brenda doing just that. Yet it seems there are complaints about her not being in PCharles.

But who is left that she knows? Not many, Yes, the Rome deal could have been cut short no doubt about that.

I didn't like Jason bringing her back like a petulant child and watching him look bored overacting in reaction shots signifying how he doesn't want to be there to protect her

(why couldn't Robin be her entry)? Or her being written not to take seriously men wanting to not only harm but kill her...and it took a dose of heroin for her to finally get it.

I tuned in to see Brenda but its the same ole formula the perils of Pauline women must be saved by a man...I wonder who gets Robin out the well Ummmm will it be Maxi? (or even Mac)? I'm desperate for women on this show to show some gumption... get Epiphany to round up her BFFs that we never see go search for her.

They may as well play the old Mighty mouse song in the backdrop..."here I come to save the dayyyyy.."

Tricia Cast's Nina (same said for Beth Maitland's Tracey)is simply amazing there's nothing else to say re: this actress and if she isn't nominated for an Emmy I'll be disappointed...she's a scene stealer.

I hope you get an interview with her!

Anyone think Lets Make A Deal is pulling any bigger rating the GL?

The ratings fluctuate from being slightly better to the same, but more importantly, CBS can produce five episodes of Let's Make a Deal for the same amount of money that it cost them to produce one episode of ATWT and GL.

FIRE GUZA!!!!!!!!! Come on ABC what does it take to get the message across. Folks ain't buying his garbage!!!

FIRE GUZA!!!!!!!!! Come on ABC what does it take to get the message across. Folks ain't buying his garbage!!!

FIRE GUZA!!!!!!!!! Come on ABC what does it take to get the message across. Folks ain't buying his garbage!!!

I don't blame CC or the character of Carly. The writers will not write for any leads other than Sami and Hope its like they are afraid to write for anyone else. Arianna got the boot, Nicole gets storylines but their usually "supporting" and Maggie well at least she's got something to do. Honestly if your last name isnt Brady/Horton/Dimera you arent going to get a decent storyline.

I am talking about a decent lead storyline or heck even a supporting one but they just wont write one for Carly. I think that they were actually shocked that so many people like Bo/Carly together (even though everyone knows that Bope is endgame) so they are dragging their heels on breaking them up. You can go home again if the writers are talented enough or know the characters history well enough.

Also color me shocked that not alot of people are into Brady talking to Vivian while she's "buried alive" ugh that plot is awful especially when you put it up against the original buried alive plot.

Oh and the repetitiveness of Sami/EJ/Rafe she needs to pick a guy for real at least for a little while viewers need breaks.

I agree Guza needs to go. I personally did not watch last week because I hated to see Jason run to Rome to be with Brenda for all that time. They stretched that out too much. Why did they not bring Brenda straight to PC? That made no sense. Also, VMG's acting has suffered in her time away from GH. Her laugh probably grated on everyon's last nerve, that they just decided no more.
GH writes women with no backbone, and can apparently only survive life with a man glued to their side. It is so pathetic.

Y&R alone made a modest gain. The other Soaps just keep hemorrhaging fans.

I agree with you Katiebug9624 and you are on point. Days only writes for Sami and Hope. They are not giving anyone else any interesting story. And by focusing on Sami and Hope and giving them these boring stories (Sami shoots EJ and Nighttime Snooki Hope goes to Prison) you are losing viewers. The Safe vs. Ejami debate always gets press for being this hot love triangle but they are on everyday and Days is now at the bottom in HH and losing overall viewers every week. Who the hell cares about any of these three characters? Daniel and Chloe are so boring I want to fall asleep just typing their names. Who gives a damn who the father is and whether or not they get together. Why are they even together as a couple? They are a snoozefest with absolutely ZERO chemistry. And yes the Vivian and the moving Isabella's remains is just disgusting and insulting. Why is Dena Higley still employed as a head writer? It is beyond comprehension. If Corday keeps her he deserves to get his show cancelled next. Idiot!

So much wrong with GH-- they have the best cast, best sets... and yet manage to f'up a comeback that should have been huge.
I know no one likes this but I still think soaps should go back to 30 min. All of them.

SoapFan75 Thanks! I really think Higley needs to go actually I believe she never should of been hired in the first place Erika Slezak knows bad writing.

You know I actually like Sami (well used to now she crys to much) and Hope but these storylines are just gawd awful.

and your right nobody cares about Daniel/Chloe well some might but more people want to know why they aren't capitalizing on Chloe's history with Brady/Phillip...probably the same reason Carly is now the villain of Salem now.

I think that Days has squandered what it was given. The EJ/Sami storyline ended with little fanfare (a wedding with no people there?) Lindsey Hartley has been fired and Crystal Chappell has no storyline other than to worry about Chloe's baby daddy.

Soapfan75, Katiebug, etc.: I wholeheartedly agree about Days being boring. I have stopped recording Y&R and Days on DVR because they are just so blah. I will watch to see storyline arcs ending (the big reveals or whatever), but it's because I am SOOO tired of the storylines. I'm tired of Days revolving around EJ/Sami/Rafe too. It's like they are Dena Higley's old/new toy she's been fascinated with for too long. The show does not have to revolve around them.
What's scary about Days' situation is that if it continues to drop in the ratings, it could be gone in a year or so because NBC is more than likely being bought out by Comcast and they will eventually clean house. They may want to get out of the soap business altogether. There is no James Reilly around anymore to reinvent the show or the show gets cancelled scenario. I still can't get over them getting rid of Dena Higley her first time around as HW and then bringing her back again. Geez! Get a clue people! Didn't she bring a storyline bible in the second time around, and that's why she was hired? I can't remember what I read. Maybe I just dreamed that up.

Nathang1983 AMC fired and brought back Megan McTavish and then fired her again, so Recycled Higley is no surprise. Daytime is the best recycler on earth, because they never get rid of bad writers. It just stuns me that this woman still has a job. If they are so interested in recycling writers, how about a good one for a change. How many times can you have characters repeat the same lines? If I have to see Daniel walk up on Carly and Chloe finishing a conversation and asking "why would Chloe have to worry about" whatever person they were talking about, I am going to scream! Arghhh!

The Young and The Restless remains the number one daytime show for a series of reasons that the other soaps have ignored. Y&R remains on top because they didn't try and reinvent their show. They keep their vets front and center. They remain true to the history of the show and refer back to older plots and characters that the longtime viewing audience remembers and relates to.
The audience, especially the older audience has invested decades into these characters, its the reason they continue to tune in everyday. It is this older generation that turns the younger generations of their families into new viewers. Watching soaps is something family members of many generations do together. My mother got my sister and myself into watching General Hospital and my sister got her daughters into watching the show. General Hospital has made a seriously wrong choice to so drastically change its history and lose the longtime characters that the viewers have invested their hearts into. Once these characters are gone, so are the viewers, because the emotional attachment to the show and characters is broken, thus making it easy to walk away from the show. Give the audience a reason to come back, The only problem with daytime isnt the audience, its the extremely bad writing. The audience is NOT stupid, they can see badly written plots, and they know what their characters will and wont do. Bob Guza and ABC you have seriously screwed up, you have given the audience a reason to stop watching, they no longer care about the characters and plots on the show, since you have gotten rid of or killed them all off. This makes it so much easier to walk away.

I agree with those who say Days has gotten boring lately. I hope things turn around when Melissa Reeves comes back.

As for the ABC soaps, I am a little surprise AMC is not up a little bit because it has been pretty decent, but with the constant Rylee pimping I don't think anyone's surprise.

I agree the problem with GH, (though I have like the Scrubs storyline) is that the writing overall has been terrible. Guza needs to go but as we all know that is not happening.

I am with you Jamey, know that Ron and Frank have fresh paper, they better get it together, as long as Frons stays out of it.

Days needs Ken Corday to invest and spend a few dollars on sets and lighting....and a new writer...Characters that can keep this show alive till 50th anniversary...Kristen/Marlena/John/Roman(real Roman wayne) and Vivian being evil, Lawrence being alive. im sorry but i think they should have written Hope and Bo off for a while instead of John and Marlena.

Brenda and Jason in Rome was not the problem last week.

Lucky's awful storyline of lookibg like and impersonating a known killer is ridiculous. Lucky's Irish accent was more painful to my ears yhough.

Who cares avout Sonny and Claire? They are flat as a couple, and we all know he will dump her as soon as he sees Brenda again.

I am still enjoying the Scrubs story, but one good story does not make a soap or bring in the ratings.

I hope that Ron C. and Frank V. will be allowed to do their thing at OLTL.

u mean Brenda's return still didn't blow the ratings sky high?? I'm shocked!! Just shocked!! why didn't I see that coming?

We'll we see ratings on The Talk? We better all hope that it will fail miserably for the sake of other soaps. How are the ratings for temporary slot first Price is Right and another LMD?