There's good news and bad news on the CBS soap opera front. The good news is that The Young & the Restless has been renewed for two years. The bad news is that As the World Turns could be axed just like Guiding Light.
The Young & the Restless is CBS daytime's top rated soap. It's been number one in the Nielsens for nearly 20 years running. So the renewal wasn't a big surprise. However, the pick-up came with a warning to cut costs, tighten the budget and, basically, don't expect the stars to get big raises anytime soon. In the past year alone, two of the veterans -- Melody Thomas Scott and Jess Walton -- opted to take less money when the show threatened to write them out or recast. Welcome to the brave new world of daytime!
The situation is more dire at As the World Turns. At the CBS media day in L.A., president Nina Tassler was cautious about the future of the last remaining Procter & Gamble soap opera. When asked if ATWT was in a better position than Guiding Light, Tassler said, "It is hard to say. It is one of those things where you watch and you talk. All of daytime is a challenged daypart."
"Challenged dayparts" is a euphemistic way to say that the networks are looking for ways to continue programming in daytime only if it makes money. If turning the time over to local stations is more cost-effective than creating soaps or game shows or whatever, the nets will do it, and we'll be seeing more and more syndicated fare.
I'm a longtime soap fan, so it pains me to see shows like Guiding Light canceled, and now ATWT is on the ropes. Unfortunately, the TV landscape that once made soaps great afternoon entertainment no longer exists. There's too much choice and too much competition for viewers. The networks can squeeze the budgets and downplay the stars, but by doing so, the soaps are changing. Unless someone can figure out a way to reinvent the genre, daytime dramas as we know them are fading away.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 15)
8-07-2009 @ 12:07PM
Aml said...
I do not watch soaps, but it is sad to see so many of the being cancelled. What bothers me is that many of my local networks affiliates have replaced them with infomercials in the middle of the day. If they are not going to do something different with the time; I have to admit I am liking that CBS is bringing some game shows back; they might as well allow people to enjoy their soaps. While it may not be cost effective, at least it is respectable.
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8-08-2009 @ 7:59AM
crickett said...
It truly saddens me that GL is being canceled. It will be like a part of my life is over. I rush home from work so as not to miss it. I don''t know what I'll do with that hour of my life now. I honestly believe that some things are better left as is.
8-10-2009 @ 4:54PM
Cathy P said...
I am 57 years old and I grew up watching the CBS soaps. I am so sad to see Guiding Light leave the airwaves. I wish somehow that the show could go on. They are really pulling out all the action nowadays! I hope Harley makes an appearance before it is over. Now I have to admit the ATWT has been so boring and I am not watching it like I did in years past! The story lines were dull.............
I LOVE THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS AND I CANNOT IMAGINE IT EVER GOING OFF THE AIR! I am so grateful for Tivo.
8-08-2009 @ 6:20AM
angelire1st said...
WELL BEING AS I HAVE HEALTH PROBLEMS AND IN THE HOSPITAL ALOT. I GOT TO WATCHING THE SOAP OPEARS'. I AM HAPPY TO SEE THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS WILL STILL BE ON. I HOPE THEY DON'T AXE, MY ABC SOAPS EITHER....
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8-08-2009 @ 1:33PM
Ginger said...
Would you believe they are replacing Guiding Light with a game show remake of Let's Make A Deal????
Honestly, Have they lost their marbles? Do TPTB think that this is actually a better choice and will add viewers??? I just shake my head.
These actors are outstanding and doing an impossible job to make the last weeks better than anything we've seen before. The emotions must be running high. Have you ever worked the last 2 weeks of a lousy job you know is ending? These actors love their job and don't want it to end, yet they are giving the performances of their lives for us faithful viewers. I don't care if things change in tv viewing, soap opera fans are out there and no one is considering what they want to watch. I for one will do housecleaning instead of watching a stupid game show...Ginger
8-08-2009 @ 6:44AM
A.D.D. said...
A lot of potential http://www.americashottestanchorwoman.com voters
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8-08-2009 @ 6:28AM
"C" said...
ATWT??? Are you kidding me?? First off i love this show! Ive been a faithful fan since 1986, as was my Mom from the late 50's till she died in 1993. i cant believe CBS is considering giving it the ax. If they need to ditch one, ax the Bold and the Bimbos(Beautiful)! B n B sucks, its boring, rediculous, and has the most repetitive story lines ive ever seen. Leave ATWT on the air!!
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9-07-2009 @ 11:01PM
julie said...
ATWT, has changed characters too much and brought in bad replacements. LiLLy is not as good as the old lilly she is being replacedly by(she sucks). however the old lilly played Rose so much better than Lilly who was boring. I couldn't believe Rose was killed off. I thought that Bob was just trying to keep her safe and that she would be brought back into the show, once they found out who was trying to kill her. I relize that it is hard to have one person play two, but Rose had a lot more going for her. what is going on with Carla now she must be the star of the show, but I feel like maybe she wont be back or maybe she will be replaced. Look at what happen to Lesli Kay she is playing Felecia now on the bold and the beautiful where she don't have much of a part at all but on ATWT she was great, Holden x, who found Mike and she played better than katie who got hooked up with Mike after everything that had happened to Lesli Kay, she has been feleica for so long I forgot what her name was on ATWT. I feel those girls can act as well as the old Mike.
8-08-2009 @ 6:48AM
JDSparkle said...
Please don't axe soap operas! They're a family tradition for us. All the new, younger shows are missing the history that keeps us fans hooked. My daughter watches all the shows I watched for years. Even when a soap isn't sizzling at the moment, it's the history of the characters that keeps me loyal. I think these flash in the pan reality shows and others will never have the loyalty the soaps have. If you ever slash Y & R, I'll never watch CBS again! As for As the World Turns, I was washing Nancy wash dishes when the shooting of President Kennedy was announced. How can you let such parts of our lives go away? Thank you---a loyal fan
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8-08-2009 @ 6:58AM
Layne said...
Wonder if the demise of these shows has anything to do with the addition of the gay element as outlined in TV Guide?
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8-08-2009 @ 10:42AM
micglo said...
You have got to be kidding???? Why not just blame being gay on world hunger and the changing of the weather and hell the economy toooo....You people make me sick. God made us all wonder what secrets you hvae hidden in your closet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
8-08-2009 @ 12:00PM
Foxylady said...
I hope it had something to do with the gay element. We do not need our kids watching this garbage.
8-08-2009 @ 2:31PM
Biloxi2SF said...
Layne and Foxylady, ya'll have figured us out. Getting rid of the daytime soaps is part of our nefarious "Gay Agenda" that you homophobes always declare is behind all your problems. I guess your bigotry is ok with the under age sex and pregnancies, the murders, the adultery and every other 1o Commandment that is broken on these dramas. Remember the Bible? It's the big book that ya'll always hide behind when you attack us for existing. Maybe with the extra hour, you will now have, you can actually read it. Or, maybe, get off your butt and educate yourself as to what some of the real evils in this world are, y'know, prejudice and judging people that are different from you. I think the Bible addresses those issues too. Maybe you'll even use that hour to do a crazy thing called charity. But honestly, I hope thay don't cancel any of these shows. I'd hate for any of the gay actors to be unemployed, and actually, the hour(s) that you spend in front of the TV is an hour of peace for the rest of us.
8-08-2009 @ 10:16AM
edithsmith5 said...
I just can't amagin what life will be like with NO Guilding Light , No Reva , NO Josh , these people are MY family.. and now your thinking of taking As The World Turns off. are you people NUTS ?? I suppose Bold & Beautifull will be next HEY !! Don't" mess " with Our soaps. And don't even think of taking the Young And the Reatless off. I've watched these soaps for the last 50 years . I've planned my shopping and all my appointments around these soaps. The soaps have more commericals than soap any more but Hey commericals are good , they pay the bill and I can cook and do my house work when there on You might want to think about putting something good on , on Saturday nights . Oh what a poor line up...... But 'Hey" don't mess with our soaps.... Edie
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8-10-2009 @ 8:08AM
H.Heston said...
I watch Guiding Light everyday, I will miss it so much, would you reconsider, what would you put on in place of it. I am very dissappointed.
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8-08-2009 @ 7:23AM
DFTH said...
I have an idea!!! Take some of the reality shows off the air and put some of these soaps in there place in Prime Time! Remember Dallas/Falcon Crest/Dynasy/Melrose Placeetc...they did well on Prime time!
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8-08-2009 @ 7:28AM
kathy said...
WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH THESE IDIOTS THAT ARE CANCELLING THE BEST SHOWS. GUILDING LIGHT AFTER MANY YEARS AND NOW MAYBE ATWT. R THEY NUTS. I WILL NEVER WATCH ANOTHER SHOW AND THAT CHANNEL IF ANYTHING ELSE IS CANCELLED. WHATS GOING ON IN GUILDING LIGHTS PLACE "A REALITY SHOW A TALK SHOW OH BOY JUST WHAT WE NEED. DONT THIS JERKS THINK OF THE PEOPLE WHO WATCH THEM. GET A LIFE AND LEAVE THE BEST SHOWS ON. MONK, WITHOUT A TRACE, THE UNIT TAKING THEM OFF THE AIR ALSO IS NOT RIGHT. I KNOW THEY ARE ARE DIFFERENT CHANNELS BUT THE POINT IS LEAVE THEM ON..... PUT THE LIGHT BACK INTO DAYTIME.. ITS TRADITION.
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8-09-2009 @ 2:33AM
Darlene Roche' said...
Ditto a hundred times!!!! GL is the best daytime soap on tv besides Y&R. ATWT is next. I agree if you have to cancel ,let it be B&B or one of the boring talk shows. Leave our favorite soaps on!!!!!!!!My Mother watched for years & now I watch & so do my daughters & her young ones even watch when schools out,we record & watch later when junk is on the tv.
Loved The Unit too.
8-08-2009 @ 11:04AM
Anne said...
WHAT R THEY THINKING!! They are not. These are the two best shows on the aire. I guess I will start a boycott on all CBS shows until they resume thier brain activity.
8-08-2009 @ 1:06PM
Elaine said...
Taking away analong TV, several good shows, ATWT (which I have watched since it started). I have been seriously considering turning the set off and going back to reading a book.