Shame GH couldn't hold onto its ratings gains for even two weeks. Could it be viewers who were hoping Mr. Wolf would rid the show of the mob are dismayed that it continues to be prominently featured? And could viewers who were hoping that Dante was not the lead actor 4 times a week are also dismayed by his continued dominance of screen time?

I don't know...but if I were wanting the ratings up, I'd start there.

Young and restless bring back my Sharon and Adam. Maybe i will watch again. Whoo Hoo for OLTL they deserve it. GH is there any hope we will get back Greg Vaughn as Lucky?

As always great ratings article, Jamey!!!

Days:
It's been so depressing with the attacks, Maggie fighting for her life, Sami's health scare, can't wait for Melanie and Darrell's writing to start, with Jack, Marlena, John, Austin, and Carrie in tow. Can't wait also to see Sarah Brown.

As for the ABC soaps:
AMC:
Yeah the returning from the dead stuff may be too Sci-fi for some of us but I love it.
JR acting out of control, glad the Jesse/Angie baby stuff's wrapping,and Marissa/Bianca, AMC is on fire!!!

OLTL:
I cried like a baby when Robin Strasser (Dorian), sad she's gone. Love the Todd/Victor stuff, the only thing I don't like is Rex seeing "Gigi" or whoever that is, just a little bit much.

GH:
Maybe those 230,000 were disappointed that GH hasn't stop centering around the mob, but there are at the hospital a lot more. The women are stronger, Garin has turned that around, but it feels like something's missing still. The what if fantasies were good didn't like the endings to Monica and Liz's fantasies, I did love the flashbacks though, Steve, Leslie, and Rebecca have not aged at all.

Y&R is without a doubt, lifeless right now without Melody in the canvas. The only storyline that has really kept me watching is the Tucker/Devon storyline the rest is just bogus! Genie Francis and her atrocious character cooked up by Maria picking fights with Jill, and having sex with Jack just send shivers down my neck!
Do us ALL a favor and just bring Nikki back Maria!

Soapfan616, you got it right with the second option for me. I barely watched GH that week because of, as usual, too much Dante (even one minute of Dante is too much Dante!!! LOL), too much Siobhan and Lucky, too much Jason and I was not intesrested in the dreams thing at all as I am no Jason lover...
And not enough Johnny and Alexis and Anthony was in killer mode instead of "most enjoyable villain mode". Didn't watch Monday either. Came back as soon as Alexis was on as well as Johnny... So I watched much more of GH this week (and we have been spared Dante for the past 2 days, HAPPY DANSE!)

But I have watched every sequence of every episode of OLTL. Even watched three times the Dorian/Viki montage and I was in tears the three times. LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Tea remaining with Victor, that's my girl and FL and TSJ just proved again that their chemistry is off the charts. I know that this week's ratings for OLTL will be very high again with Victor's death and those heartbreaking scenes between Tea and Victor as well as Tea/Dani. My question is for next week and the week after when Victor/TSJ will be gone for good not to be seen before at least PP in the best case scenario. I know that I am not sure that my OLTL current passion can survive no Todd-Victor/Tea anymore on my screen. I used to love RH but I don't see the same chem with Blair/KDP and they won't be enough to keep me watching I fear...

Who will Jason be? Let me say who cares and it seems GH's non stop promo run on every cable network out there didn't entice anyone to watch because who cares. Shockers that Jason is exactly the same. Yeah I was on pins and needles waiting only not and my magnificent Alan wasted on that crap. Maybe people are sick of being promised less mob and being lied to again so they tuned out. And Jason cook is still dull as dirt as he was on Days. NOt even Queen Liz can make him interesting. Well thats not a shock.

Whats missing on GH is still family and friendships and with the show gutted from those famileis and friendships that were organic and important to the show(Brenda/Robin, EMily/Liz, Alexis/Jax) or the sibling relationships(Alan/Tracy, Lucky/Nikolas, Jason/Emily, Georgie/Maxie) who cares about the manufactured relationships of Robin/Liz, Steve/Liz or Lucky and ? well Lucky has no relationships on this show anymore with any of his family. ALl thats left is the played out Jason and Carly. You can't write what the show lost with which was gutted which were real character driven years in the making friendships and heart. The heart of GH LIz(vomiting) cannot replace that.

Y&R no words that show is pathetic. I would love to say its been a tad better this week only because I got to see Nina and Paul and Jill is full business mode for a change. I don't even mind Lane but please get Genevieve off my screen. I love Genie but its painful. I shutter at Debbi's arrival.

AMC and Project Clusterfeck can take a hike. This week(not ratings week) was terrific with Angie Jessie and the baby fallout but I feel cheated because this was a story that should have played out for months but LB decided to focus on SciFi Dr. David Zombie Frankenstein Hayward. I have to say today was the first day in months I felt like I was watching AMC in years. Good scenes, and even Zach was likable. It helped that the showkilling Zendull and Rylee were not on and no PROJECT ORPHEUS crap for the most part.

And I want to say if AMC can bring Dixie back from the dead for lets see the upteeth time, I am waiting for someone at GH to wake up and bring back Alan, AJ, or Emily. And can I say Dixie's return IMO a zzzzzzz. She and Tad are deadly dull now and MEK just looks uninterested but he and CAra, well AMC was onto something with them but another wasted opportunity. Oh well. I would have much preferred Adam and Brooke back for 2-3 months over Dixie and Zach.

I think that the sudden pivot with Liz and Sam being attracted to each other--sexually--in the wake of Jason waking up asexual is NOT going to make many longtime fans happy but will certainly get everyone talking. I hear that Lam go to an adult toy shop together in early October!

Lante and Lulu weren't on the show at all last week, which is the week these ratings are for. Dante was on one day with Olivia. How are they being blamed for the ratings? It was all Carly, Liz, Lucky, Sonny and Jason all week.

GH: When I heard Guza was gone from GH, I hoped that the writing would change the canvas around. I quit watching a long time ago because of the mob focus that made them the savior of the town, the ridiculous key-stone cops, and the misogynistic storylines. I was hoping that with the change in writers, that GH would return to a more balanced show that focused on relationships that didn't fall apart 6 seconds after they began, for one thing. I hope the Sonny/Jason focus will change. I'm staying in the shadows, peeking at it for now.

OLTL: I tuned in as of late, and found that even though I hadn't watched in a long long time, I recognized characters and could catch up. I loved it.

Y&R: Bell, Hamner and Sheffer have to go. Again, my problem is balance and focusing on only a few characters till I get sick of them. Storylines are begun, yet dropped just when they get good. I don't trust the Bell team. Though Gen was written horribly, putting GF in a hard spot, I do like how the Atkinson family is being given some screen time. I love seeing Jill and Colin, along with Cane and Lily. That stories has so many possibilities that I'd like to see happen.

Where in the world is Melody Thomas Scott? Did Hackarena think she could force-feed us Genie Francis and we would just forget Nikki Newman? Sorry, the blondes are not interchangeable. I loved Genie all those years she appeared on GH, so she just seems miscast in her new role.

One life to live = BEST SHOW EVER!

Once again, I'm letting you all know about a petition letter that will be sent to Sony/CBS to fire MAB, SH, and HS from their duties at Y&R. You can see and sign the petition as well: http://yropenlettercbssonypictures.blogspot.com/

Also, we do have a FB page dedicated to getting MAB, SH, and HS fired. "Like" us and join the campaign to rid the show of these horrible writers! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fire-Maria-Arena-Bell-from-the-Young-and-t...

We also have a twitter feed as well: @FireMABCompany

Any questions, don't hesitate to ask! Daphne and I will do the best we can to answer those questions for you!

Let's all work together and rid Hackeria Bell from Y&R along with her two idiotic co-horts!

I agree with most comments about Y&R. I've watched since day one, but at this point, I'm fast forwarding through much of the show. I am so afraid it will be cancelled because it has certainly gone to you know where lately and is getting worse. First, get Melody back NOW!!! Get back to story lines about people we care about. It's like all of a sudden we're being fed a NEW show and they think people are going to accept it!? Nope,most of us aren't. Devon, Tucker's son!? Kay creating a record label for Devon!? Genie Francis....Paleeeeze! This show has come unraveled and I truly hope some sensible writing puts it back together and saves it. Y&R writers take note and HEAR what fans are saying before it is too late!

JMHO..It's definitely the bad storytelling, no balance and starting a good story and then shelving it for a long period of time, forced feeding us the same characters day in and day out..Because the week in question most if not all the core characters were shown that week..And if you look up the episodes count for August, all the core characters/actors with the exception MTS are in the top ten.. And The newbies aren't on enough to make a different. It's the way they're telling the story is what drove the viewers away..People watch soap opera for romance.. And all the couples are broken up...It's time MAB start putting some couples with chemistry back together, I am for one am glad Jill and Colin are back together for the minute because they're a great sexy mature couple along with Nikki/Victor.. They really need to cook up some romantic reunions, that would get the viewers watching again..I think Adam/Sharon, Lily/Cane and Billy/Victoria really need to find their way back together.. I may not care for any of those couple but a lot of the fans do..Plus, we need fun, fun, fun and enough with all the gloom and doom..How about throw a big lavish party where everyone dressed to the nine..

Y&R: Um… WTF was that crock Maria was spinning about bringing MTS back??? Huh??? What??? Where??? When??? How??? Y&R as of late actually hurts my feelings… Oh, and is Diane still dead??? Does anybody even care???

Wait, what? Is that what’s actually happening there??? Hope/Liam/Steffy is totally Brooke/Ridge/Taylor… but funny enough, Taylor’s daughter is the huzzay (but I like Steffy, lol), while Brooke’s daughter is the one not shaking her milkshake for the boy at the yard.

Just another quiet day in Salem… which reminds me, I should call my pimp and tell him I won’t be working the block near 7-11 tonight; too many of us girls getting tricked instead of treated.

I’m shocked Liz wasn’t blamed for the heat wave and lack of rain as well. WHY is she always a victim? RME. It is hard being a Liz fan, I gotta say…

On the flip side, I do like that Sam is being written more to who she was when she first came to town. Now, please send Anthony’s ass on a one way trip to Moldavia.

I have to catch up on AMC this weekend.

OLTL: It was great last week even through the damn preempts and the switching to a previous episode during Dorian and Viki’s goodbye. Stacy should just stay dead and CH should never return to my screen again. Sorry, but I couldn’t stand her on GL and just despised the hell out of her here. I still think when we actually “see” her, she’s going to be looking a lot like FF. Her hair color is literally ice blonde like CH's was. No other reason for her to be looking like that AD. I’ve read that folks are speculating a Heaven Can Wait storyline… something similar to what they did with Al, new face, new body, old soul, whatever. If it looks like a Gigi, if it walks like a Gigi…

I know some other folks may not see chem between RH/KDP, but I saw it with that kiss at the premiere, I saw it when he said he admitted leaving that island and risking his life to be with her during their fight, I saw it even when he blamed her for everything (par for the course for him), and hopefully I'll continue to see it when they share more alone scenes this month and so on as they attempt to reconnect, rebuild and repair their relationship. It's been a long time and Blair has been romantically removed from all men named Todd for years now. It's not like they just split up like they always had in the past, she literally thought he was 1st, dead, and then someone else, and forced herself to move on from what she THOUGHT she had with this man when he chose another, and now she's learned he's not who she thought he was and all that she forgave of Todd in the past, loved, accepted, cherished and had actually moved on from was never really "her Todd", as Dorian put it, and she's a mess, but trying to hold it together for those around her and ignore her feelings entirely, denying until she's blue in the face, instead of voicing the truth.

Todd just doesn't get it, which doesn't surprise me, because it's typical when it comes to his feelings for Blair. He never left that place in his heart where she's concerned and he clearly doesnt get how or why she could or would be removed from it, which is where the "how could you not have known?" comes from, so he's gotta work a bit harder than he has in the past to get her back into his orbit. They've barely gotten any time alone (two alone scenes total since the kiss last month, and they were short plot points), and none to talk about anything relevant dealing with just the two of them. They've had no real time to breathe and accept each other again and just talk, instead of fight and blame. She hasn't even touched his face yet, and that was Blair's "thing" where he was concerned, so I have to conclude that this is a purposeful choice on both ends until the time is right. I hear it's all coming once the dust settles and they get more relevant scenes about THEM, so I'm willing to be patient for the slow burn, they need it, it's been too, too long to just jump back into what they once had, considering they were not even together when he disappeared. Chem is subjective. I gave Sonny/Brenda up until the sex, and that was generous, and finally tossed in the towel when it got awkward. I realized my initial instincts about both them and her return were right on the money. I didn't see the chem with them anymore because VMG wasn't playing Brenda. She was playing someone trying to play Brenda and failing at it, miserably, therefore, I didn't see the same heat they brought in the 90s or even in 2002. I see things in the way that T&B interact and look at one another and in the acting choices that remind me of the old days during the friendship when they were attracted to each other, before things got complicated. Well, they're still attracted to each other, but things GOT complicated, and they're going to have to deal as adults, something they've both been avoiding. They're not on the same page yet, nor should they be given the amount of time he's been away and what has happened since. It'll take time and it should. I know the hardcore T&Bers of yore see it too, but to each his/her own... I'm excited to see what comes out of the few months left for them. At the end of the day, I ride or die for T&B.

Great ratings, rants and raves, Jamey!

Ummm, not even the newly sainted MTS can save YR now!!! Yes she should be there, and YES she was a major part of the show for a long time, but she simply is not the cure for all that ails Genoa City.

The state Y&R is in saddens me. The scene this week of Jill and Genevieve having to share an office SPOKE VOLUMES about the current state of the show. I was embarrassed for Jess Walton and Genie Francis.

Jamey. Brian Frons told Gordon elliot to tell me to remind you AGAIN that OLTL's ratings are a fluke, a curiosity to people who want to see a species before it becomes extinct. Because we all know that no one has time for stories anymore.

I'm not surprised by GH still struggling in the ratings. I don't have enough faith that GW is autonomous enough to be allowed to write a good story for the GH "top two". I've watched clips and can see that he is making a difference with the rest of the show, but since the show focus has always been Sonny and Jason, it's hard to tune in when only the "supporting" cast is getting better story. Sonny is alreay a lost cause to me, and Jason's story has been lulling me to sleep for years. As for Jason's story last week? I could just youtube clips from 2005(?) when Jason took drug to find Michael and ended up with an aneurysm. Sam snotting at his bedside, talking about Hawaii, and being together forever. SSDD. I'm over Jason Morgan as he has been written for the last 8 years. GW needs to give the man a personality to go with his good looks if he wants to get me to watch again. What's really the difference if Sonny thinks for Jason or Sam does? When will Jason think for himself? I tune in again when that happens.

Wow this from a website that was lauding Mrs. Bell almost every day. Now gone are the nicknames "Auntie RiRi" etc. Its just amazing to see the pendulum swinging to the other side more.

Another thing, if Melody Thomas Scott is so good why hasn't she worked on anything else since leaving Y&R in April? Oh Please Sony is telling that diva that if she is that good, then she should be capable of getting another another acting gig somewhere else. This whole crap is starting to smell like Victoria Rowell's argument for wanting to go back to something that seems hell-bent on not wanting her back.

My advice to all those actors is to best TPTB and get an acting job on a show that's working and gaining steam. Stop trying to fight to get on dead houses.

Plus soap audience makes the worst critics anyway. So what do we know other than what's in front of us. And that's all I have to say.

Melody Scott Thomas' absence isn't responsible for the ratings hitting bottom. It's the story. I can only believe that MAB felt it necessary to create all of these ludicrous storylines because she feels that mania will bring in ratings. It's not working.

Characters on Y&R have been behaving illogically for the last few years. This week we saw two very smart business executives, Jack Abbot and Jill Foster Abbot Fenmore, made no business sense:

Jack hired Genevieve as marketing director. Genevieve has no business experience. She was involved in a huge scandal. Yet, Jack, the CEO of a billion dollar cosmetic firm decides to hire to lead his marketing team?

Jill, who is co-CEO of a large, successful department store, leaves that position to return to Jabot to become its marketing director. No one in business takes such a huge backwards step in her career unless she is in financial and career dire straights. Supposedly, Jill did this for the chance to eventually regain the CEO position at Jabot. Why would she do this? She had more autonomy and control as co-CEO and co-owner of Fenmore's.

Every day, we read about another Y&R actor who is landing a gig on a primetime show. Is there any wonder that all of these actors are reading the writing on the wall and know that their steady gig at Y&R is coming to and in 2014? Seriously, I would encourage every actor on Y&R to audition like hell for new gigs.

People need to get over the whole "women 18-34" demo, stay at home moms are a thing of the past. Catering too much to that demographic is a big reason soaps are failing as a genre.

Get with the times people, this isnt the 70's & 80's anymore!!!!!!!!!!!

So who "killed" Victor. I think Shane did it and Brody witness it and took Jack to the hospital.

What is it going to take for someone at Sony/CBS to wake up and fire these idiots? MAB lacks the talent to be running this show with all the responsibilities she has been given. Someone please throw this show a life vest!!!

@met, I am not sure what board you are referring to in post #19. Most of the comments here have run against MAB since I joined this board. As for soap audiences being the worst critics--who better to critique than the show's audience? We are the ones who will either tune in or tune out.

josstheguy, you are correct, MTS absence is not the reason Y&R is going down the tubes. The ill-advised direction of the writing is the primary reason.

No Daisy, I agree that GW should give Jason Morgan a personality that equals Steve Burton's good looks. (I am so shallow that I'll look anyway.) Over the years, Jason has been the one with better critical thinking skills than Sonny. Although Jason is supposedly second in command, whenever he is out of the picture, Sonny (and the organization) head to hell in a handbasket

GHfan-4now, I am totally with you on sending Papa Z's ass packing for good. Just watch old Hill Street Blues episodes if you have doubts about Bruce Weitz's ability to play crazy. At this point, the novelty has worn off and BW looks like a one-trick pony, despite his immense talent. It is as if TPTB @ GH have been reading Hackarena Bell's playbook at Y&R.

I have to say, anyone expecting the mob to be completely removed from storylines the second Garin took over is in for a rude awakening. To remove it instantaneously without so much as an afterthought would do the show a great injustice due to the fact that the mob has played such a major role on the show for more than a decade.

How about focusing on everything Gavin has given you: stronger women, less actor domination, more Qs, the return of Stuart Damon and Robin Christopher, more Jason Cook.

As Gavin spends more time developing his stories, the mob influence will decrease, I can almost guarantee it. But it can't happen overnight.

I think its a good sign that Gavin has been able to give you some of what you had asked for. It has certainly entitled him to a little faith and time to get this right.

Sorry, but I'm actually ENJOYING Y&R minus MTS. Besides what did she contribute as of late other than walking around making snide remarks here and there? They haven't had a decent storyline for her in years. Reminds me of the MANY, MANY years she walked around ranch wringing her hands all damn day.

No doubt, Y&R has got its problems. When I watch some of the new characters added to the mix, I just keep asking, why? They are adding nothing and taking time away from the characters that I love.

But, I'm not ready to burn MAB at the stake just yet. I don't think all hope is lost. Now, if the ratings don't recover a little when Billy (and hopefully MTS) returns to the mix - and GC's residents/couples start working their way out of the depths of despair - then, I'll worry.

Hackarena Bell is too busy trying to turn Genie Francis into a viable replacement for Melody Thomas Scott (which, unfortunately, will NEVER happen!) to care that this show has been transformed into garbage.

And those of you who are saying that Melody Thomas Scott is not an important piece of the Y&R puzzle really sadden me, and I couldn't disagree more. You might not like her, but you can't deny that she's a keystone actress/character. Aside from Jeanne Cooper, she's the longest-running female character on Y&R, and you can't throw out 32 years of legacy with the bathwwater, not even by bringing on another daytime legend. These two actresses are NOT interchangeable. Frankly, I used to enjoy Genie Francis' performances, but lately I just roll my eyes whenever she comes onto the screen. Genevieve is nothing but a cartoon character, and her onscreen rivarly with Jess Walton/Jill seems forced to me, and it stopped being interesting about 10 minutes into its inception.

And I agree, anyone who thinks that this website is the type that kisses Maria Bell's heavily-Botoxed ass couldn't be further from the truth. You only have to read 95% of the commentary on here to figure that out.

Change, I fear, will NEVER happen until Y&R loses its #1 spot in the ratings. I don't want to see this show fail because I do have a heavy nostalgic attatchment to it, since it was the 1st soap I ever fell in love with, but if that's what it takes to get rid of this horrible woman (Maria Bell!), then the ratings can't plummet fast enough for me. I already find myself watching LESS and LESS..........and trying to hold back my urge to vomit most of the time when I do. Something must change.

The Absurd and the Creativeless is still on a downward trend. Jamey, you have joined my ranks of not putting one iota of attention into the the #1 daytime drama, that whet from having Neiman Marcus quality stories to Dollar Tree bargain basement deals. So they need to cut her and the whole head writing team. I can't stress more the need for Sally Sussman Morina to team up with Kay Alden and together those two get the show back on track.

Until then Maria will continue with her charades. I have a feeling she just watched Freddie vs Jason and wants to incorporate that into the show, since she gets her ideas from movies.

We all have to remember she's "doing things they've never done before." And she touts that as her success.

But shit if I could get to helm the show as EP the first thing I would do would be a Paul Rauch style firing. I'll send a lackey to see Julia Pace and Eddie Winslow on their way to their cars to inform them, "You have just worked your last day." Then I'll call Genie Francis to my office in true Rauch style and tell her, "You're not even worth it!"

Then like Gloria Monty I will kill all the scripts a start fresh.

We won't be in talks with Vicky Rowell we'll be signing deals. And I' finally hire Lawrence Saint Victor to play Nate Jr.

The writing team would work out a way to keep Nikki on air and honor the limitations on MTS's contract.

Wow I am not the only one who shortly watch GH to see Liz and Jason fantasy. I had to stop watching because it is still boring like hell.

As for Y&R too many useless character get rid of NuHeather, one note Chloe, boring Cane and even more boring Lily and what about useless Daniel and the worst Abby.

Other than NuHeather noting wrong with their talent, but can they be more antipathic and moronics? YES, they can be utterly destroyed KAY, the worst mother ever.