SPECIAL REPORT: ABC to Make "Major Decisions" About Daytime Lineup in Coming Weeks
Don’t shoot the blogger. Remember all those talk shows ABC started developing last year? There were the two from ABC Media Productions (one a Will & Grace-esque talker with Tori Spelling and Jeff Lewis, the other a cooking show with Danny Boome) and one, a “male View” from Barbara Walters and Bill Geddie. I’m hearing, in the coming weeks, ABC will be deciding if one or more of these projects will land on The Mouse House’s daytime lineup come fall of 2011.
“They have to make a decision by the end of the First Quarter of 2011 in order to get one or more of the shows on the air by fall,” says a source. “Affiliates are getting antsy with Oprah leaving the airwaves with no clear cut successor. The decisions ABC will be making will have ripple effects throughout the ABC Daytime lineup and yes, the soaps will be affected."
As to what exactly all this means for ABC Daytime’s three soap operas, that isn’t so easy to decipher.
“It’s no secret the soaps aren’t as profitable as they once were,” says one industry insider, “and two of the ABC soaps have been over budget in recent years.”
In the fall of 2009, ABC Daytime decided to uproot All My Children and move them to Los Angeles in a cost-cutting effort, however sources tell me the 41-year-old sudser has continued to run over budget since relocating in January of 2010.
“Julie [Hanan Caruthers, All My Children’s executive producer] just can’t seem to bring it in under budget,” says a source.
Reportedly, whereas most of the soaps left on the air have gone to a production model of getting scenes in one take, AMC allegedly still does several takes for each scene and boasts other financial risk factors that concern the powers that be. Meanwhile, ABC’s most popular soap opera, General Hospital has also run into budget woes of late.
GH, which premiered in 1963, reportedly saw its budget slashed significantly recently, resulting in the firing of actress Rebecca Herbst, a move that has since been rescinded. However, sources say more cast cuts are forth coming.
“General Hospital isn’t in any immediate danger,” says a setsider. “It has the strongest brand by far.”
That leaves All My Children and One Life to Live—the latter being the only ABC soap to reportedly come in under budget consistently— for ABC to determine the futures of, and while reps have maintained the shows produced by ABC Media Productions won’t necessarily end up on the ABC channel, numerous sources have confirmed to me that the programs were in fact specifically developed for The Mouse House’s daypart.
Keep checking back with Daytime Confidential as this story develops.
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Comments
21 June 2010
30 weeks 6 days
This is not good news! I'm almost scared to come to this site now, because I have a feeling it will be filled with very horrible updates.
29 December 2007
1 week 1 hour
Uh-oh!
23 April 2008
2 days 13 hours
Looks like everything is about to come to a head real soon. I still say that the cuts were made in the wrong places. Instead of slicing and dicing what is seen on screen, the behind the scenes needs to be examined. Nobody did that, so the same product is being created, and the same money lost. My best to One Life to Live in this battle for survival!
4 May 2009
28 min 16 sec
I have really been wondering recently that if it was OLTL who had to move to CA who would have went?
Erika Slezak?
Robert S. Woods?
Robin Strasser?
Etc.
20 August 2009
6 weeks 2 days
Tori Spelling talk show... really? Bah! I want my One Life to Live. Aren't there enough stupid talk shows on already.
29 December 2009
25 weeks 4 hours
Not good at all and we won't shoot the messenger. Thanks for the update Jamey.
23 April 2008
2 days 13 hours
Thought: With OLTL winning it's times slot against another show, is that a plus?
11 April 2009
1 hour 50 min
Jamey,
I don't understand why OLTL can come in under budget but AMC & GH can't. Why not make OLTL's executive producer head of ABC soaps? He obviously knows how to make a good looking show. Couldn't he do the same for the other ABC shows? Obviously, the executive producers of GH and AMC just can't get their act together.
As much as people admonish Frons for his many faults, he has invested in both AMC & GH. GH got budget to hire to fan favorites, Vanessa Marcil and Jonathan Jackson. Neither one received a great return story.
Part of the reason why AMC moved to LA was to receive California's tax credits. Aren't they helping?
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all three soaps survive.
8 December 2009
17 weeks 6 days
Well the ONLY ABC soap I care about is OLTL. They are the best by far. GH will be the last ABC soap standing, unfortunately, so that leaves OLTL & AMC. Between those 2 I'm not worried about OLTL anymore. It's the best budgeted & the best written of the 2. Also, OLTL just cast Austin Peck, plus with them consistently beating AMC in the ratings (which OL beat both GH & AMC for 3rd daytime soap the week of 7-11th) I don't see them in trouble. Not to mention the rumors of RH coming back, & while it pains me to say it (cause I LOVE TSJ) if RH will keep my OLTL on the air then so be it. But AMC just sucks. They've gone downhill ever since they moved to Cali & since David Canary left. Oy vey with ABC daytime & Frons.
21 June 2010
30 weeks 6 days
You know who they need to fire?
BRIAN FRONS!
This man does not care about this genre. The fact that he is allowed to dictate story behind the scenes is a joke.
12 February 2010
10 hours 18 min
Wow, I was JUST thinking the other day......"My life would be sooooo much richer with MORE Tori Spelling in it." (insert not-so-subtle eyeroll here!)
ABC Media Productions must be filled with mind readers!!! 
(PLEASE note my heavy sarcasm! I can seriously feel the chunks start to rise in my stomach!!!)
My poor AMC!! It's basically unwatchable and they STILL haven't developed the foresight to get rid of Julie Hanan Carruther's worthless behind??? I just hope that Agnes Nixon doesn't lose another one of her babies. SMDH! This show is on it's last leg. I am starting to feel the same gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach that I felt just before they announced that ATWT was canceled!!! Get rid of the HACKS that are writing over there, start telling some entertaining stories again and restructure the show, and then MAYBE this show can avoid the guillotine!!!
P.S--The devil is soooooooo busy over there that it's not even funny!!!!
I am thrilled to hear that GH is in no immediate danger. It still vacillates between being my favorite show and my 2nd favorite show (behind Y&R!~). I just wish that Guza would get his ISH together. I know he is capable of doing so much better than he has been doing in the past year, and I would love to see this show TRULY return to it's former glory!!!
20 February 2009
1 hour 4 min
Last week's (Feb. 7-11)ratings, waiting for your take Jamey, showed OLTL coming on strong and GH falling back after the snow increase meanwhile AMC at the back of the six soap pack. I think to attribute RH's firing to budget cuts is to drink Fron's Kool-Aid. When budget cuts are announced entire storylines are cut and groups of actors are fired, if and when that happens it will have zero to do with RH.
21 June 2010
30 weeks 6 days
alstonboy4315
LOL!! @ the first paragraph!
I think GH has been great these past couple weeks. I'm glad that its not in danger.
AMC unfortunately is...I am actually enjoying it right now. But I am a newer viewer, so I don't know the history of the show.
21 June 2010
30 weeks 6 days
maxsmom...
GH still holds strong in all the demos. They are averaging about a 2.1 every week, where as about 2 months ago they were averaging a 1.9, 1.8.
OLTL's ratings went up because of the paternity reveal, but I have a feeling those ratings will go back down..
4 May 2009
28 min 16 sec
The head-writers at AMC need to bounce and so does Julie. Julie has been EP since 2003 or 2004. She needs to go.
5 July 2008
6 hours 41 min
UGHH Talk Shows On The Nets Dont Really Work Save The View
Would Be Better If They Were SYNDICATED
Maybe Part Of This Big Reveal Is Changes at the top of ABC Daytime
12 February 2010
10 hours 18 min
Well, Jlafferty---
God bless you, but I am just not ready to reinvest in AMC yet! Trust me, if you had watched it in the 80s, 90s and in the early 2000s (up until McTavish left in 2006), you'd see exactly what elements are missing. It hurts me to see this show falling so deep into unwatchability/the crapper!!! My grandmother used to watch this show EVERY day, and I remember having to listen to it outside her bedroom door b/c she didn't let any of her grandkids watch soaps (for fear that they would be a bad influence on us!
)
And I would sneak and watch the show here and there. Back then, it was MUST-SEE TV. These days, it's just...........
for me!!
But if you are watching, please keep doing so. It needs all the eyes it can get to keep it going until they FINALLY hire new writers! I just can't do it, though!!!
14 January 2009
3 weeks 5 days
If they think the talk shows are going to be better then the soaps, they better think again.
5 July 2008
6 hours 41 min
So No Soap Gets Canned Cut Them To 30 Mins Each and Start Them at 1230 With AMC, OLTL and GH. Then That frees Two Hour For The Talk Shows If They Want To
21 June 2010
30 weeks 6 days
alstonboy4315..
Yes, I have been watching GH for almost 30 years. So I get what your saying.
As a new viewer, not knowing the history of AMC, I enjoy the newer characters, the dialogue is a bit strange at times and I can't stand that Ryan/Greenlee! UGHH. but I enjoy it most of the time.Plus that Griffin character is like...sex on a stick! I could look at him all day!
I don't want any of the soaps get canceled..who wants to see more talk shows? I don't give a rats ass about Tori Spellings opinions on life and politics.
10 February 2009
7 hours 22 min
In AMC's defence, they are the only Mickey Mouse soap who has soaps as competition, the number 1 and number 2 shows no less. However, whose fault is it that an inept EP is still in charge?
5 July 2008
6 hours 41 min
A Male "view" No Thanks I Didnt Like Any Of The Males They Had Moderate Last Year and hey Tried You Know Thats why Tried that To see If It worked. It Didnt. EPIC FAIL
Tori & Jeff. Sorry Id Just Watch Will & Grace
Cooking Show, Over A Soap No Thanks
20 February 2009
1 hour 4 min
Jlaff, the 7th is the week I went back to OLTL after an 8 month layoff and while there are elements I don't like ie. the Fords, and as much as I once loved Kristen Aldersen, I think they give her too much to do, in a way the Fords, Langston, and Dani were built around Starr, I am sticking with OLTL to see how this plays out. I'm always interested in Viki, Dorian, Bo and Nora, Rex without Gigi, and I love Brody.
I just returned to GH Feb. 21 after tuning out when RH's firing was announced and to all those who question how viewers can tuneout when a favorite leaves, I say in whom? am I supposed to root on this show. I like VMG as much as I like RH but this story has not worked in the 6 months she's been back. I like KMC/Robin most of all and the Fatal Lisa Niles Attraction ran out of steam 6 months ago. Another favorite NLG/Alexis who has more story potential than almost everyone on the canvas combined hasn't driven story since actually when was the last time and I for one hated the Jerry Jax relationship. My point and it's in here somewhere is I can't be the only one frustrated and wanting a change not to every story my way but like OLTL give me something for my vets and maybe I can tolerate the newcomers.
1 April 2008
32 weeks 3 days
If it is to air in the time slot vacated by Oprah and for affilates like the article says, the project would be syndication (like Oprah is). No set network would air the talk show just whatever affilate picks up the show to air in that time slot.
5 July 2008
6 hours 41 min
Of The Three None Of Them Sound Good But Tori Could Be Syndicated
10 February 2009
7 hours 22 min
maxsmom, you rock! Very well put!
8 December 2009
17 weeks 6 days
OK I'm just going to say this. I am in NO way trying to spark some heated/hated debate. I'm NOT that person, but about the ratings.... IF OLTL could get half the ABC Daytime promotion of GH & AMC then maybe, just maybe, they could stabilize their ratings!!! Stevie Wonder in a dark basement could see that OLTL is the least promoted ABC soap. I mean ABC freaking promotes GH on Lifetime & ABC Family!! OLTL's major issue has always been the ratings & the ratings just DO NOT tell the accurate story of the soap (cause it's packed full of win & 3 amazing Divas that bring it each time they're on screen). They are the 1 soap that is continuously fluctuating. A few weeks they're up, a few weeks they're down BUT for a long time now they have NOT been the lowest rated. They've just got to figure out how to stabilize that & they've got to find a way to promote theirselves cause lord knows Frons won't do it.
5 July 2008
6 hours 41 min
AMC Is The Soap Thats Way Over Budget So Hers An Idea, Cut AMC To Thirty Minutes. That Way AMC Could Shoot 2-3 Shows A Day and Have 4-6 Months Off Every Year
Re Do The line up
12:30PM: AMC
1PM: OLTL
2pM: GH
3PM: New ABC Talk SHow
4PM: Syndicated Fare
24 November 2009
1 year 12 weeks
Okay, I have an idea that might make some fans unhappy but I am going to put it out there anyway. ABC should cancel AMC and move some characters over to OLTL and downsize the OLTL cast as well. First get rid of the following OLTL characters: Charlie, Joey, Aubrey, Richard, Phylicia, Inez, James, Nate, Theo, Darren, Vimal, Rama, Cristian, Marty and Cutter. They are not adding any value to OLTL at all. In fact, most of the stories they are in are boring and I FF through them. Second, now here’s where you can integrate some of the AMC characters: Erica and Kendell decide to move Fusion to Llanfair because it cost effective and Erica. Erica and Clint are attracted to one another which creates tension with Vicki who wants to get back with Clint after her divorce from Charlie. Bo hires Jesse as his second in command which requires Angie to move as well. Richard and Phylica are killed in a car accident and it turns out Shaun and Destiny are Angie’s cousins ( Phylica was Les Baxter’s sister). Frankie moves as well and wants a fresh start after his bitter divorce from Randi and becomes attracted to Vivian which starts an immediate rival with Shaun. Kendell and Blair are both attracted to Tomas and fight for his affections. Ryan Lavery finds out he’s a long lost Cramer and wants his piece of the pie and he and Dorian start to fight. It turns out he’s not a Cramer and starts an affair with Dorian. Tad and Jake decide to relocate to Llanview as well for a new start in life. Tad and Echo start a romance (Michael Knight and Kim Zimmer…HOT)! Jake could pursue Kelly Cramer. And then Adam Chandler comes to Llanview as well! David Canary could come out of retirement!
I know it’s out there but what a dream cast!
20 February 2009
1 hour 4 min
thank you curacaoman