BOMBSHELL Details on Prospect Park Deal: Has All My Children's Online Debut Been MOVED to January? Is General Hospital ALREADY Part of Licensing Deal?!
Scuttlebutt is growing that fans of ABC Daytime soap operas are in for quite the season of change as not two, but likely all three Mouse House sudsers begin to transition to web series over the next year and a half. I'm hearing from multiple sources that General Hospital, the only daytime soap set to continue on ABC beyond January 2012, is part of the licensing pact that production company Prospect Park signed with ABC.
"Prospect Park has a deal in place that gives them the same rights to General Hospital that they have with All My Children and One Life to Live, once GH ends its run on television," says a source.
While ABC has maintained they have no plans to cancel General Hospital, with Katie Couric's talk show slated for next fall, the network's daytime lineup losing an hour to affiliates to facilitate said debut and ABC planning to premiere The Chew and The Revolution in September and January respectively, GH doesn't have a confirmed timeslot post September 2012. All of which has been previously reported.
"Even if one of the new shows ABC is premiering fails, everyone knows this is General Hospital's last year," an insider states. "The moment ABC cancels GH, Prospect Park's rights to broadcast the show for 10 years kicks in, just like with the other two shows."
Speaking of those other soaps, Prospect Park's lack of communication with the cast of All My Children— which wraps production next month and is set to air last on ABC this Sept. 23— has whipped the set of the L.A.-based sudser into a frenzy.
"Some people are excited, others not so much," says one actor. "Really people just want to know what the hell is going on? We have lives and careers to plan for."
From what I've gathered, what's "going on" is there is unfortunately no way Prospect Park can make good on previously reported plans to start airing All My Children online just three days following the ABC finale. In fact, the online version of the long-running sudser likely won't premiere until January 2012.
"The New York Post story [which broke the deal to move the shows online] took Prospect Park by surprise," explains one insider. "As people are now seeing, things weren't quite in place. They plan on making a go of [taking the soaps online], but the leaks have had them scrambling to adjust their plans."
According to my sources, Prospect Park is now asking All My Children's head writer Lorraine Broderick and creator Agnes Nixon to end the serial's network run with a life-or-death cliffhanger, where the audience won't know who in Pine Valley lives or dies.
"That way, if certain actors decide not to do the show, it can be readily explained when the new show debuts alongside One Life to Live next year on the web," says the setsider.
Despite all the growing pains associated with the ABC soaps moving online, many in the know remain optimistic.
"In the short run, the fact that some popular stars might not go with the shows will piss off fans, but this is still a win for the soap opera genre," says one mole. "The very fact that someone is willing to keep these shows going with all the bad press soaps have been getting is something to celebrate. We just have to wait and see if they [Prospect Park] can make it happen."
Keep checking back with Daytime Confidential as this industry redefining story continues.
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Comments
12 February 2008
1 hour 14 min
Lord, they better do something like Greta's Coronation on DAYS. The montage of everyone in danger and certain characters getting shot was excellent. Another tornado will hit and 40% of the cast will be dead come January LOL
Prospect Park better promote the living SHIT out of AMC during it's 4-month hiatus...
16 October 2009
2 weeks 3 days
Wow thanks for the info Jamey. I really don't like the sound of that "life or death" cliffhanger but thinking about it, it would kind of make sense. How else would they explain almost (or perhaps even more) than half of PV being gone by the time its online? Man I really want to know whose staying or going. This seems really messy. How would the life or death cliffhanger be? Would all of PV be at some big event where a tragedy happens as the cliffhanger and were left to guess who died & who didn't? Wow. I really would hate the show ending like that. I'd rather see it end on a good note..
I'm glad GH will be a part of the Prospect Park project.
31 March 2008
39 weeks 3 days
It actually makes more sense to debut AMC: Online in January. That way, they could promote it a whole lot and nurture it and get stuff together advertising wise and cast/crew wise. I am not mad about this at all. PP should, however, take a cue from The Bay and promote the show by doing low cost prequels (Far From The Bay isn't low cost though) Confessions... was a simple one shot doc interviews type of thing.
My idea is that something happens if/when Jackson and Erica get married at the daytime finale. I could see Jane doing some shit.
In a way I DO want AMC to end on a good note.
Also, while were talking AMC's move to the internet, I love the current opening but when they make the move, could they go back to basics with the opening? I never DID like the title not being in old english font on a book like from 555-5555. I would love to see a remake version of the 555-5555 opening. No bells and whistles like the 555-5555 opening. I want to see pictures falling on top of other pictures. Taking pictures saves more time than using video. They could update it a little by using digital frames along with the pictures falling on top of pictures. Or also (sort of setting the tone) they could use somebody taking a picture of a couple or characters with children (I could see Bianca and her children posing with Kendall and her children.) Sort of thinking out loud.
13 December 2009
19 weeks 2 days
No offense to these people but they are waiting because they have careers and lives to plan for? Before this deal was announced, what the heck were these people doing. Me I would continue planning for whatever I was going to do post AMC and OLTL regardless. Anyone sitting around waiting is foolish. It also gives you more leverage if and when you head into negotiations knowing not all your eggs are in one basket.
As for changing the finale, I dont get that at all. Agnes already said the show was going to be left in a position where it can be picked up. If they feel they need a natural disaster of some sorts to pull in people it doesn't speak well to me. I hope they have more in their bad of tricks thsn same old same old otherwise these ventures will flop to the nth degree.
22 July 2011
2 weeks 1 day
This whole Prospect Park thing is smoke and mirrors. ABC was looking for a way to remove some of the tarnish from their reputation by appeasing the fans. There may be on-line versions of AMC and OLTL but neither will look anything like what we currently see on ABC.
15 March 2009
1 day 10 hours
Wow that would be really dumb to end with a life or death cliffhanger.
PP needs to get their heads out of their arses and realize not everyone will be able to watch the web version of AMC, and therefore ending the show like that will cheat people who won't be able to watch.
So far PP isn't impressing me, this all sounds like a hot mess. This is why people should be careful what they wish for, I think the web AMC is going to flop miserably
2 June 2011
1 year 42 weeks
ABC had better take a wait and see attitude before rushing to place GH on the broadcast cancellation roster. GH might be the only thing bringing viewers to ABC daytime come January, since many soap fans who still feel betrayed will never watch The Chew and The Revolution.
I think that ABC is simply trying to appease viewers by agreeing to online deals with Prospect Park for AMC and OLTL. Execs realized that soap fans were outraged and lost viewers meant their new shows would only fail. Despite ABC's deal that will allow two soaps to continue online, in my view, it is not enough and therefore I will never watch ABC daytime or prime time when the soaps are gone. Let's hope many soap fans share the same view, strength in numbers.
19 October 2008
1 year 21 weeks
Smoke and mirrors is exactly right. Even if there are good intentions somewhere in this deal, there is a blatant lack of common sense. There is zero chance the shows can afford to go online with their current budgets and cast and if Prospect Park hasn't already gathered the teams and talent and made deals with everyone, people will scatter for new opportunities if they can.
Sounds to me Prospects Park has simply licensed the brands and will do their own thing with them that will not really resemble the shows we all know. They will have to hire everyone for free or little pay so you will only see actors you never heard of and maybe they will get a couple of familiar faces on board to make it seem legit.
1 April 2009
2 weeks 14 hours
I'd love to see CBS or NBC swoop in, grab up the ABC talent (think your Slezak's and Knight's people!) and create a whole new soap...a soap NOT on ABC, obviously. Ahhh, wishful thinkin'.
And anyone who envisions GH still on the air after, say, 2013 belongs on an Orlando Jury. The writing is on the wall. All it needs is Katie Couric sporting a bump-it and horrendous bun.
17 March 2010
7 hours 36 min
Nor does it build any sort of goodwill towards PP and their AMC. Oh great, some of my favorite characters may be maimed or killed. Yippee. PP could easily use Mrs. Nixon's and LB's original plan to end with a cliffhanger, and then do a time leap to explain some characters' absences. That's no more lame or overused than a third effing tornado barreling through Pine Valley.
So a soap vet or two, not even necessarily AMC or OLTL vets, surrounded by hair models who couldn't even get cast as extras on one of those ABCFamily or MTV teen shows.
12 February 2008
1 hour 14 min
All of you naysayers are doing exactly what ABC wants. If you guys don't watch online, Frons & Sweeney will be the victors. They already say that these shows are not worth it anymore, and ya'll will show them how worthless they are by not watching.
Why in the hell would this PP deal be a smoke screen to appeased fans? This would mean that ABC actually gives a shit about us. Disney doesn't care about soap fans. they proved that by canceling the shows in the first place.
Come. Sept 2012, GH is toast. Who cares if Katie Couric pulls in a 0.9? It's gonna be a whole hell of a lot cheaper to produce, so they'll still make money off of it. People thinking that GH could stay on ABC if the new shows collapse are kidding themselves. The network will just develop new bullshit to replace it.
I'm sorry to say, but most of the viewers who won't be watching weren't counted anyway. They don't have Neilsen boxes in their house. Plus, Madison Ave don't care about baby boomers. The net will appeal to the tech-savvy demo they want...
5 July 2008
3 hours 57 min
Thanks ThebEST
This naysaying is stupid and did anyone truly believe the sept 26 start date
If anything I could see Both OLTL and AMC starting on the web at the same time Like Jan 30th for example and I agree NY Post broke too early and PP wasnt ready
People are gonna go people are gonna stay and some roles will be recast. The same would have happened if it went to another network
Actors need to not be putting down the NET makes em no better than ones who slam soaps
As for GH I hope thats true so the actors still have jobs past sept 2012.
4 May 2008
1 year 42 weeks
I think both AMC and OLTL will look very different online, with only a handful of familiar faces staying on with the shows dominated by mostly new characters.
5 July 2008
3 hours 57 min
Time will tell AC but I for one will give it a fair shotinstead of quitting out of fear of what may be
8 September 2009
22 hours 41 min
Prospect park doesn't even have to force LB and Agnes to do life or death Melrose Style cliffhanger...all it needs to do is speed up the show a few months or a year, and then gradually explain later what happened, and why certain people are no longer in PV.
A year or so later, once the shows are more stable, maybe they can convince the actors that didn't move to come back and film those stories that happened in the 6 month gap?
5 July 2008
3 hours 57 min
Thats a good Idea. Jump a head like DH and OTH did on PT. It gives both shows (AMC, OLTL) the chance to use that missed time to create new story for the characters
18 February 2009
1 hour 27 min
They should have everyone in Pine Valley jump off the cliff into the Pine Valley Ocean, and on their plummet, they realize the water below is turning into a rainbow of colors. Then, when they all claw their ways to shore, the come out as South-Park-type animated versions of themselves. That way, they don't have to deal with any of those pesky actors and they can produce the show for a fraction of what it costs now.
16 December 2007
18 weeks 1 day
I find the idea of a life and death cliffhanger as its tv finale disturbing and disrespectful to the fans who will be unable to follow the show online. Can't some of the characters who won't be continuing with the show just move away? Can't some roles be recast? It may be dramatic but I don't think fans want to see a bunch of popular characters die or put in danger as the show's tv finale. I think AMC's tv finale should be dignified, not a GH style stunt. It doesn't feel like the right way to go for AMC at all and if thats what they do than I'm not watching PP's new version of AMC.
4 May 2008
1 year 42 weeks
angrierblackerman, that is a good idea. I'd do it with a slight twist, though.
Give AMC a proper ending on ABC with everything tied up. Then in the last few moments, Erica Kane collapses and is rushed to the hospital. She wakes up in her hospital bed only for Bianca to tell her she's been in a coma for a YEAR. Cue shocked look on Erica's face. Presto! Instant cliffhanger! Tune in to Prospect Park to discover the new status quo and find out what happened during Erica's "lost" year.
12 February 2010
4 days 6 hours
My head is spinning from all of this drama. This roller coaster is zooming around too fast.
I need a drink.
5 July 2008
3 hours 57 min
AC I Like that Idea
4 May 2008
1 year 42 weeks
Hey Jamey, can you please look into something re: Prospect Park?
Since OLTL and AMC air are broadcast in Canada on Canadian networks, is it possible they will stay on TV in Canada or other countries?
18 February 2009
1 hour 27 min
/A\ (soon to be re-branded as CTVtwo) has already set its fall schedule and B&B is moving into the AMC timeslot. I just hope the PP website won't block international viewers, but I don't think it will, since the reason American network websites block their shows is so Canadian viewers (for instance) will be forced to go to the Canadian network websites to view the shows. (Of course, the problem with that is that not all American shows air in Canada, and not all Canadian websites post all of the shows they carry.)
22 January 2008
6 hours 2 min
@AlistarCrane, I will definitely ask around about Canada. The thing is Prospect Park is not talking to ANYONE, so until they reveal their plan in more detail, a lot is up in the air.
9 September 2008
12 hours 58 min
I love the idea of a super cliffhanger! (Of course, I would). All this rigamarole about being disrespectful to fans who won't be able to tune in online is just hogwash. Those fans would be lost regardless (hello, they can't watch online!), so why not give online connected current tv viewers at least some reason to tune in on the interwebs™ instead of giving them reason to tune out by tying up everything in neat little bows or letting people "move away." (Nice, yes. Compelling, no.) Now, there are a few ways they could do it, drawing from the illustrious/infamous cliffhangers of Soaps of Daytime Past:
• Flood Pine Valley like "Search for Tomorrow" did the town of Henderson. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii8rD2SSCHo)
• Moldavian massacre, Erica & Jack-style! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8ToWMFe-lM)
• Have Erica put in front of a firing squad in an Arab country and the screen cut to black, like they did to Sloane on "Capitol" (and Jessica on "Soap"). (CAPITOL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQWjQQ576gk) and SOAP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoMLspq6H9s)
• At Erica & Jack's wedding reception, have gunshots ring out as the camera pulls skyward from outside the building, then cut to a funeral where we only see the legs of the mourners and a casket lowering into the ground, a la Falcon Crest's brilliant first season cliffhanger. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOyFWR2cp-E)
• Burn down the Chandler mansion with everyone trapped in it, just like the did when Southfork was torched on Dallas or when that racist bastard Teague set fire to the church with ALL of Oakdale in it! (DALLAS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4P9jiSK7xg and AS THE WORLD TURNS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ9eq8apih4)
• Was someone....MURDERED?? Edge of Night Style! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF7vHtD4Wig)
• GENERAL HOSPITAL: Too many to mention.
OR...Agnes & Lorraine could do it Pine Valley Style!
MARDIS GRAS BALL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09yB0joTGrI
THE LAST TORNADO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8DZUGVeC7A
THE CLASSIC (AND BRILLIANTLY PRODUCED) FIRST TORNADO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzQwxCvkayI
18 February 2009
1 hour 27 min
Ha! Those links (haven't watched them all, but they) bring back some great memories! I think an Earthquake would be a good cliffhanger. It would not only leave everybody hanging, but when the dust settles in January, characters would be in pockets of the rubble together and it would help to re-establish the characters' relationships and allow for a nice combination of action and character development. (Remember how Stuart and Marian bonded in the explosion at Holidays?)
An earthquake also allows for some branching-off drama: some could be trapped in an area where the air may be running out; some could be trapped in an area where another cave-in could kill them; exposed wires in another area could threaten fire and/or electrocution. This could be a great opportunity to really show the skeptics what the online edition can do!
Or maybe this whole Prospect Park deal could fall through between now and then. Either way, this is an exciting time to be a "soap industry" watcher (if not a "soap" watcher).
7 June 2011
1 year 6 weeks
I'm glad that AMC isn't going to start until OLTL is ready to move online. They definitely are gonna be more useful as a package deal.
I'm conflicted on the cliffhanger ending because in one way it would make for a more exciting ending, leaving tons of questions, obviously. Hence cliffhanger. And since I'm going to follow the show online it will be an exciting time. BUT at the same time they are wrapping up a legendary show and AMC : Online is going to be a completely different show in my opinion. I don't want to think I watched a show for so long only to have everyone over the age of 18, besides Opal, die a horrible death in the finale.
I would really rather do the normal ending that they had written. Wasn't there a rumor that LB & Agnes were gonna end on a cliffhanger anyway before PP even came into the picture? I could deal with a nice cliffhanger that doesn't involve anyone who is anyone dying. I really don't think any key characters will move online. I'm going to watch anyway, but lets not kill every person in AMC's recent history.
9 September 2008
12 hours 58 min
Did someone say EARTHQUAKE?
Presenting The Great Santa Barbara Earthquake of 1984 (as the full page ads in TV Guide proclaimed them for TWO WEEKS!!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgMYoF1ZkrU
(In Spanish, but hey...)
11 April 2009
7 hours 20 min
Please, CBS and NBC are not going to create a new soap opera. As for Prospect Park, to be fair, I can't see how they could get AMC on the web by September 26. They don't have a marketing program in place. Jumping to the web would require months of advertising and a program to get non-Internet users onto the web. They'd have to have partnerships in place that they probably don't have now.
Wouldn't it make more sense for them to use the necessary time build the proper Internet and marketing program first?
4 May 2009
1 hour 26 min
Please give us a solid show for GH's final year Garin.