Days of Our LIves-related stories
Posted Mar 20th 2010 11:02AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Industry, OpEd, Daytime, Pickups and Renewals, Ratings, Reality-Free
If you been keeping track of the daytime ratings, you probably noticed that
'Days of Our Lives' has been on an upswing. NBC noticed. In fact, after a shaky year in which the threat of cancellation hung over their necks like the Sword of Damocles,
'Days of Our Lives' has been renewed for another year.
That means that this November, NBC and 'Days' will be able to celebrate 45 years on the air. In making the announcement, Marc Graboff, Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, said, "'Days of our Lives' continues to be a favorite of the daytime audience and we are thrilled to keep it going through its 45th season. 'Days' has shown year-to-year increases in key female demographics and remains both relevant and fresh creatively."
Continue reading NBC Renews 'Days of Our Lives'
Posted Feb 4th 2010 3:27PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Daytime, Video, Celebrities, Obituaries, Reality-Free
If you've been a soap watcher, you've probably seen the work of
Frances Reid. Best known as
Alice Horton on 'Days of Our Lives,' Frances Reid died yesterday at the age of 95.
For more than 40 years, Frances was the matriarch of the Horton family, Grandma Alice, one the wisest, wittiest and most charming oldster on daytime. She was
'Days of Our Lives' Rock of Gibralter, her character was the center of her family, the heart that kept it all together even when bizarre circumstances threatened to tear the Hortons apart.
Continue reading 'Days of Our Lives' Matriarch, Frances Reid, Dies At 95
Posted Dec 31st 2009 10:05AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Industry, OpEd, Daytime, Celebrities, Cancellations, Ratings, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free
I'm not going to go into
the best and worst things that happened in the world of soaps in 2009, but I have do some thoughts I'd like to share. So before we drop the ball and turn the calendar to 2010, a few highs -- and lows -- from daytime this past year.
1. Disappointing daytime. How could any soap fan not be upset about the fate of
Guiding Light and
As the World Turns in 2009?
Guiding Light departed daytime after 72 years, going out not with a bang, but definitely a whisper. The show was a shadow of its former self, relegated to on-the-fly shooting with camcorders and lights that were likely bought at Home Depot. CBS then made the pain of
GL's exit more painful but announcing that
As the World Turns would be ending in 2010.
Continue reading Looking back at the soaps in 2009
Posted Dec 24th 2009 2:06PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Daytime, Celebrities, Casting, Reality-Free
How's this for coal in your stocking? Right before the holiday break, the powers that be at
Days of our Lives axed Bryan Dattilo. They told the 16-year veteran that he didn't have to return after the New Year. He and the character of Lucas Roberts are done.
Bryan has been through this revolving door before, ironically. In 2001, he was also let go from
Days of Our Lives and re-hired a year later. So, perhaps, he's not too concerned about losing the job.
What's interesting is that his current contract was good through February 2010 and at least based on what's happening now, there doesn't seem to be an exit for the Lucas character.
Continue reading Merry Christmas on the soaps: Days dumps Dattilo, B&B hires Conroy
Posted Dec 18th 2009 6:07PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Daytime, Celebrities, Casting, Reality-Free
There's good news and bad news from the soap world, and considering lately that the bad news has been horrific --
As the World Turns getting cancelled -- this might be a bit over-dramatic. However,
William Russ was fired and Stephen Nichols hired at The Young & the Restless. Bad news for Russ, a very good actor who was doing just fine as Tucker McCall, new billionaire in Genoa City. Good news for fans of
Nichols, who was bounced from Days of Our Lives last February.
According to the powers that be at
Y&R, the McCall character is going in a different direction. That prompted Russ's dismissal. According to Stephen, Russ handled the firing with grace and class. He left a note in the dressing room for Nichols and wished him well in the role.
Continue reading William Russ out, Stephen Nichols in at The Young and the Restless
Posted Oct 19th 2009 10:03AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Daytime, Video, Casting, Reality-Free
I'm still not really over
the end of Guiding LIght, but if there's one thing soap fans know, you have to move on. You get over the end of
Santa Barbara, mourn the loss of
Another World, remember forever that before vampires were in vogue in prime time, Barnabus Collins ruled daytime, despite rickety sets and off-the-rack costumes.
That said, even while people are saying that soaps are dead -- or dying -- I'm excited about
Crystal Chappell returning to
Days of Our Lives.
You want to know how excited? I'm going to watch. After
Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn were unceremoniously dumped by the soap, I drifted away. But I'm willing to give
Days another try, especially because my curiosity has been piqued about Crystal's return.
Continue reading I'm psyched about Crystal Chappell's return to Days of Our Lives
Posted Sep 30th 2009 11:00AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Daytime, Casting, Emmys, Reality-Free
Is it even possible to imagine
The Young and the Restless without Eric Braeden as hero/villain Victor Newman? You would think not, but then
Days of Our Lives moved on without
Deidre Hall as Dr. Marlena Evans, didn't it? Still, Braeden and his alter ego Victor is still a front and center presence on the show, an integral part of the storytelling. Therefore, the news that
The Young and the Restless is contemplating killing off Victor if they cannot resolve the contract dispute with Braeden is a shocker.
Braeden is working now under a contract that lasts till 2010, and his reps have said that he would take a pay cut once the term is up. However, producers are asking him to take a pay cut now. That, my friends, is the rub. Braeden wants to help the show stay on the air, but he's not ready to take an economic hit until he has to. That's understandable.
Continue reading Will The Young and the Restless really kill off Victor Newman?
Posted Aug 17th 2009 10:02AM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Other Sci-Fi/Supernatural Shows, OpEd, Lost, Heroes, Reality-Free, Gone Too Soon
Long-time readers of this site might remember the recurring feature "
Short-Lived Shows." While this column may bear a resemblance to that beloved early
TV Squad staple, there are notable differences. In particular, I'll be going much more in-depth about the show's fate, its cast, continuing fan support, and possible story continuations in different mediums.
Also, to make this column, a show must have actually been good. Shows that are canceled and deserve it certainly aren't "Gone Too Soon." They're perhaps not gone soon enough. Furthermore, a GTS could just as easily have been on the air for years before ending abruptly. If I'm sitting here wondering what happens next and now I'm never going to find out, that's gone too soon.
Which brings us to our first entry. HBO is known for groundbreaking television, but even they didn't know how much ground they broke with
Carnivàle in September 2003. On the surface, it was yet another brilliantly produced period piece, perfectly capturing the look and feel of the Great Depression era United States. Underneath, it was nothing short of the epic struggle between good and evil.
Continue reading Gone Too Soon: Carnivàle
Posted Aug 8th 2009 7:02PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Industry, OpEd, Daytime, Celebrities, Reality-Free
First,
Paula Abdul walks away from American Idol (or was she shoved out by the producers a bit?), now comes news that
Susan Lucci's not sure about sticking with All My Children when the ABC soap relocates to Los Angeles in December. My thought was there's no way La Lucci was going to pass on the chance to keep on working, but she's saying it's a tough decision. "I don't know ... I love the show and I love playing Erica, but I'm just now going to have a couple of days off. It's a lot to think about."
Could Susan truly be thinking anything but, "Yes, I'm going"? Seriously,
All My Children has been her mainstay for 39 years. That's right, nearly four decades of continuous employment in essentially a starring role.
Continue reading Is Susan Lucci quitting All My Children?
Posted Jul 28th 2009 2:30PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Industry, OpEd, Daytime, Watercooler Talk, Reality-Free
There will be no reprieve from the governor, no last minute miracle save. No, the end is approaching and
Guiding Light will stop filming the week of August 3. The CBS soap opera will air its last show on September 18, 2009, and the 72-year-long run of America's most enduring daytime drama will officially wrap.
Fans have been hoping that somehow, someway
Guiding Light would find a new home, but neither CBS nor Procter and Gamble have been able to save the show. Soapcentral.com has reported that efforts have been made to no avail. "We have not been able to secure an outlet to carry the show moving forward. We are extremely disappointed with this outcome, but we are confident we have exhausted every possible option," said TeleNext Media SVP Brian T. Cahill.
Continue reading The end is near for Guiding Light
Posted May 15th 2009 10:32AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Daytime, Emmys, Reality-Free
They have feuds. They have babies (at least one of them). They have daily debates. But the ladies of
The View have no sway with
the Daytime Emmys. Well, that's not entirely correct. The ladies themselves, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Barbara Walters, Sherri Shepherd and Elisabeth Hasselbeck, received an Emmy nomination in the category of Outstanding Talk Show host(s), but their show was snubbed.
Whether it's deemed a Talk Show/Entertainment or Talk Show/Information, it's not deemed worthy. But
The View's missing nomination is merely one of the many oddities of
the 36th Annual Daytime Emmy nominations. Something is really bizarre in the batch of noms.
Continue reading Weirdness in the Daytime Emmys nominations
Posted Mar 17th 2009 12:03PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Daytime, Reality-Free
There are many things the soaps do well. You know, things like lavish weddings, fancy dress balls, murder trials, even corporate boardroom shenanigans. On the other hand, there are more action-oriented story lines that just bring out the worst in soaps.
In the last few weeks, for instance,
All My Children staged the worst looking motorcycle/car crash I've ever seen on TV. It was riotously funny, and that was not the desired effect. When a wedding gown-wearing Greenlee (sans helmet) careened off the road into a frozen river, the sight of her veil flying in the wind as the tires screeched, with the headlights blinking and the actors pretending to be tossed around, was a hoot. All I was thinking while watching the accident was: "Could this be executed any worse?" (Also, what a waste of Rebecca Budig's return.)
Continue reading TV Squad Soap Report: Do what you do best... drama!
Posted Mar 4th 2009 10:55AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Daytime, Reality-Free
It's been a little over a year since
Guiding Light bolted from the confines of a New York studio to create a reality based production, a sort of cinema-verite style that brought to life a real New Jersey town to "play" Springfield. The results have been middling at best, but recently
GL has lurched forward in a positive way and that can all be explained in two words/one name --
Grant Aleksander. The actor is back as Phillip Spaulding, one of the most important characters in the history of the show.
The last year of
GL hasn't only been about the new production. Coinciding with all that physical change which has set more and more scenes outdoors and in "wild" set, the cast has been undergoing massive change. Top line veterans Ricky Paull Goldin, Nicole Forester and Beth Ehlers have all departed, and recently John Driscoll was tragically killed off.
Continue reading TV Squad Soap Report: Aleksander the Grant
Posted Feb 4th 2009 5:02PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Daytime, Cancellations, Reality-Free
NBC seems determined to destroy
Days of Our Lives, the last soap left on the network. After receiving a truck load of negative press for
firing/letting go/dumping Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn, the producers are now dropping the axe on perhaps the most popular romantic couple ever on the show, Patch and Kayla. According to
Soap Opera Digest,
Mary Beth Evans and Stephen Nichols have been let go.
This may seem like an economic necessity for
Days of Our Lives, especially since the soap only has a year-and-a-half to prove to NBC that it's still viable -- that was the length of the pick up it received when it was renewed in 2008 -- but to fans this is just another slap in the face.
Continue reading Days of Our Lives dumps another supercouple
Posted Dec 4th 2008 1:04PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Celebrities
There are two things that I find disturbing about the news that there's a reality show in the works for married actors
Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna for TV Land. Number one, do we really need another show biz couple exposing their personal lives for the cameras? Number two, why is TV Land getting away from celebrating TV history by broadcasting great old shows to do banal entertainment like this kind of unscripted drivel?
Are audiences really clamoring for more of this stuff? I know I'm not, and I don't know anyone else who is! Seriously, this is not reality TV. There's nothing real about it except that they're using their real names. (Yes, those are their real names!)
Continue reading TV Land plots a Harry Hamlin & Lisa Rinna reality show
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