Goodbye Soaps, Hello Food?

[tyketime]

Not the final nail in the daytime soaps coffin, but it's getting damn near airtight now:

ABC has announced that the network is “evolving” its daytime offerings by canceling “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” and making room for two new shows.

The two longtime staples of afternoon TV-viewing will conclude in September 2011, and January 2012, respectively.

So what will you be watching instead? An hour-long show all about food called “The Chew.” It’ll be hosted by “Top Chef” fan favorite Carla Hall, “Iron Chef” Michael Symon, nutrition expert Daphne Oz, “What Not to Wear’s” Clinton Kelly and Mario Batali. According to the release from ABC, the show will cover all angles of food, examining it “as a source of joy, health, family ritual, friendship, breaking news, dating, fitness, weight loss, travel adventures and life’s moments.” That one will launch in September.

The other show coming to ABC is currently being called “The Revolution,” and is focused on “health and lifestyle transformations,” the statement says. The idea is to help viewers live better lives by showing them how to “transform all areas of their lives, from relationships to family, food, style, home design, finance and more.” It will also feature one woman’s five-month weight loss journey each week, and will reveal each step of the story over five days, with a final unveiling of her total transformation on Fridays.

[Abe Sargent]

Not the final nail in the daytime soaps coffin, but it's getting damn near airtight now:

What soaps are even left now? GH, Days, what else?

[MrBug708]

I love the fact that Days has like 7 generations of kids within 40 years age of each other

[JonInMiddleGA]

I love the fact that Days has like 7 generations of kids within 40 years age of each other

That's the effect of SORAS: Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome.

Meanwhile DOOL has to be happy they got their 2 year extension signed a few months back, last week they hit an all-time low for average viewers (who have turned off in droves during the "fake Rafe" storyline).

[Matthean]

That's the effect of SORAS: Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome.

Meanwhile DOOL has to be happy they got their 2 year extension signed a few months back, last week they hit an all-time low for average viewers (who have turned off in droves during the "fake Rafe" storyline).

So you're a guy who knows what storylines are going on in a soap opera? :lol:

[tyketime]

So you're a guy who knows what storylines are going on in a soap opera? :lol:
And the problem with that is...???

[sterlingice]

So you're a guy who knows what storylines are going on in a soap opera? :lol:

Prominent in the wrestling thread, too, which is like soap operas for guys ;)

SI

[Abe Sargent]

Looks like Young and the Restless and Bold and the Beautiful are the last two besides Days and GH. Who will be the last one standing? Survivor - daytime Soaps, coming up next!

[RainMaker]

(who have turned off in droves during the "fake Rafe" storyline).
Come on man.

[JonInMiddleGA]

So you're a guy who knows what storylines are going on in a soap opera? :lol:

Now it's mostly just from being in the room when my wife has it on, they lost me several years ago as the characters kept getting younger while I kept getting older, not to mention the acting getting worse over time.

But I've pretty much been able to give you a reasonable recap of DOOL for most of the past 30 years. My grandmother & mother both watched it, I kept up with it when I was out of the house, eventually my wife (who was strictly a CBS soaps fan) has picked it up.

Joe Mascolo as Stefano DiMera is one of the great TV villains ever, always a treat for me to watch him work.

[Drake]

I support any television revolution that leads directly to more women knowing how to make me sandwiches.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I support any television revolution that leads directly to more women knowing how to make me sandwiches.

Doesn't really help anymore, no one on the shows ever eats at home.

[Drake]

Yeah, but I figure daytime television can be used to show women all the people winning free stuff they don't have because their husband isn't making enough money and how to engage in needy, drama-filled relationships...or it can be used to teach them how to stop being fat-assed cows while learning to make tasty sandwiches.

I don't see any downside here.

[stevew]

I've always had a thing for Alison Sweeney. I think she's held up well in the past 15 years.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Yeah, but I figure daytime television can be used to show women all the people winning free stuff they don't have because their husband isn't making enough money and how to engage in needy, drama-filled relationships...or it can be used to teach them how to stop being fat-assed cows while learning to make tasty sandwiches. I don't see any downside here.

{smacks head} Oh, I get it now. I thought you meant women making sandwiches on the soaps, not the new food shows.

Yes, I'm old. I actually remember when you'd see women in the kitchen on soaps.

[DaddyTorgo]

Now it's mostly just from being in the room when my wife has it on, they lost me several years ago as the characters kept getting younger while I kept getting older, not to mention the acting getting worse over time.

But I've pretty much been able to give you a reasonable recap of DOOL for most of the past 30 years. My grandmother & mother both watched it, I kept up with it when I was out of the house, eventually my wife (who was strictly a CBS soaps fan) has picked it up.

Joe Mascolo as Stefano DiMera is one of the great TV villains ever, always a treat for me to watch him work.

You're not helping your cause here at all - just FYI

[stevew]

I was fond of the one story where stefano's daughter faked a pregnancy with John to break up his relationship with Marlena. Then they had that character also play a retarded girl named Susan, a nun and a male hitman. Such range. Plus Stefano is awesome.

[JonInMiddleGA]

You're not helping your cause here at all - just FYI

Eh, one of those things I don't feel a need to defend really. Happy enough to explain it, but not defensive about it at all.

And especially not on a board that has seen threads devoted to all sorts of less reputable shows.

[Suicane75]

I fully realize how I'm gonna come off here but man this really sucks for a lot of people. My mother is DEVASTATED. She's been watching ABC soaps for a good 30 years. I know it's a demographic that's easy to make fun of but those people have been devoted to the programs for years and now they're having the rug pulled out. Kind of stinks.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I fully realize how I'm gonna come off here but man this really sucks for a lot of people. My mother is DEVASTATED. She's been watching ABC soaps for a good 30 years. I know it's a demographic that's easy to make fun of but those people have been devoted to the programs for years and now they're having the rug pulled out. Kind of stinks.

Went through that around here when Guiding Light was cancelled.

Not many shows have three generations of regular viewers, but it was one that did. For my wife, the link it provided to her late grandmother (who introduced her to the show as a very small child) was strong & made the demise of the show pretty emotional. On the bright side, she's actually somewhat legit FB friends with a couple of the cast members now, they actually communicate with fans on their personal sites & come across as being pretty decent folks all things considered. That's a whole other aspect of the soaps that probably doesn't get enough credit, they seem to have a much closer connection (or willingness to be connected) to their fans than most TV genres, sci-fi being probably the closest genre to compare it to.

[Suicane75]

Went through that around here when Guiding Light was cancelled.

Not many shows have three generations of regular viewers, but it was one that did. For my wife, the link it provided to her late grandmother (who introduced her to the show as a very small child) was strong & made the demise of the show pretty emotional. On the bright side, she's actually somewhat legit FB friends with a couple of the cast members now, they actually communicate with fans on their personal sites & come across as being pretty decent folks all things considered. That's a whole other aspect of the soaps that probably doesn't get enough credit, they seem to have a much closer connection (or willingness to be connected) to their fans than most TV genres, sci-fi being probably the closest genre to compare it to.

Absolutely. My mom (55) has spent the past 30 years coming home from work and unwinding by watching OOTL, AMC and GH. Hell, up until about 10 years ago I knew pretty much every storyline.

My mom even has a clipping from our local newspaper of when I was very little and a reporter asked me who I was gonna be on Halloween and my reply was Asa Buchanan.

The sheer amount of years most viewers have invested in these shows is unprecedented.

[RainMaker]

Went through that around here when Guiding Light was cancelled.

Not many shows have three generations of regular viewers, but it was one that did. For my wife, the link it provided to her late grandmother (who introduced her to the show as a very small child) was strong & made the demise of the show pretty emotional. On the bright side, she's actually somewhat legit FB friends with a couple of the cast members now, they actually communicate with fans on their personal sites & come across as being pretty decent folks all things considered. That's a whole other aspect of the soaps that probably doesn't get enough credit, they seem to have a much closer connection (or willingness to be connected) to their fans than most TV genres, sci-fi being probably the closest genre to compare it to.

Someone described it to me as the female equivalent of a favorite sports team just leaving town. You've followed it for years, they become a routine in your life, and it's gone.

I guess on the brightside, with all the cable channels and services like Netflix, there is a lot of good content available. I've gotten my Mom into Netflix and she's loved going through shows she never saw and watching through them.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Absolutely. My mom (55) has spent the past 30 years coming home from work and unwinding by watching OOTL, AMC and GH. Hell, up until about 10 years ago I knew pretty much every storyline.


Since she'll never see this, I think I'm okay to say it: it blows my mind to realize how close in age my wife is to your mom. (she's got 8.5 years on me & I turned 44 yesterday, you do the math ... so that I could say that technically I never said her age)

[JonInMiddleGA]

Someone described it to me as the female equivalent of a favorite sports team just leaving town. You've followed it for years, they become a routine in your life, and it's gone.

I almost used that same analogy, except I was gonna go with "not having your team be on TV anymore". What they said is actually much closer.

I guess on the brightside, with all the cable channels and services like Netflix, there is a lot of good content available. I've gotten my Mom into Netflix and she's loved going through shows she never saw and watching through them.

Same community took a hit on that last year too, with the demise of Soap Net.

[sabotai]

I watched One Life To Live for a brief time about 15 or so years ago. What drew me in was the trial for Todd and pals for rape (I've always been a sucker for crime/courtroom dramas), and then his pardon (for reasons I've forgotten). Watched on and off for a few years after that since I liked the character. He was a great villain.

[Suicane75]

Since she'll never see this, I think I'm okay to say it: it blows my mind to realize how close in age my wife is to your mom. (she's got 8.5 years on me & I turned 44 yesterday, you do the math ... so that I could say that technically I never said her age)

lol.

[Suicane75]

I watched One Life To Live for a brief time about 15 or so years ago. What drew me in was the trial for Todd and pals for rape (I've always been a sucker for crime/courtroom dramas), and then his pardon (for reasons I've forgotten). Watched on and off for a few years after that since I liked the character. He was a great villain.

That was probably around the last time I watched religiously. There are quite a few really good actors on soaps, for all the bashing it gets. That in particular was a great storyline. I don't remember the particulars but Todd coming to grips with what he'd done and then eventually saving Marty in the middle of a storm or an accident or something was really good tv.

Steve Burton and Maurice Bernard on GH are guys I always like watching even they have been doing pretty much the same storyline for what seems like 20 years.

[Buccaneer]

Since she'll never see this, I think I'm okay to say it: it blows my mind to realize how close in age my wife is to your mom. (she's got 8.5 years on me & I turned 44 yesterday, you do the math ... so that I could say that technically I never said her age)

Funny that your wife and mine are exactly the same age.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Bring back Melrose Place.

They tried that, didn't work.

[Suicane75]

Give it about 7 years and let Ava Sambora star. I'll wait patiently.

[molson]

I've never watched an episode of any of these soaps but these cancellations still make me kind of sad. It's a real part of America going away. And these are all 50+ year continuous stories, and people have been hanging with them for decades. It's odd that they can't live on in some form, somewhere, with all the media/tv outlets out there.

[sterlingice]

That was kindof my thought as well when they mentioned it on NPR. It's part of Americana and surprising that while we can put on hundreds of hours of even crappier things, we can't find space for something like this, even when I wouldn't watch it myself.

SI

[JonInMiddleGA]

I've never watched an episode of any of these soaps but these cancellations still make me kind of sad. It's a real part of America going away. And these are all 50+ year continuous stories, and people have been hanging with them for decades. It's odd that they can't live on in some form, somewhere, with all the media/tv outlets out there.

As far as new episodes go, the cost of production has simply reached the point of being more than the revenue they can generate. There's too many other ways to market to women now, it's a different world. The same ad dollar that was once spent on daytime television can be shifted to online ads or cable & hit the same target with greater accuracy.

What's happened to the soaps is pretty much the same thing that happened to the magazines that targeted women, aren't as many of those as there once were & most of the ones that survived aren't nearly as large.

Doesn't change the sad aspect of it, but it's understandable.

[Butter]

"The Chew"??

[Ksyrup]

The plus side of this is that the porn industry is always on the lookout for hot young women with little or no acting ability, so...

[Ksyrup]

"The Chew"??

I assume it's supposed to be a humorous take on The View. But it seems like a big risk for such a small pay-off. Here...HAR HAR. OK, now what's the real name of the show?

[Thomkal]

nice to see Carla from Top Chef get a chance to do another show. Hope it works out despite the loss of the soap operas.

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, I'm glad to see they are bringing the muppets back to daytime TV.

[fantom1979]

I am going to guess that the Soap Opera channel (Soapnet?) is quickly running out of programming.

[DaddyTorgo]

The plus side of this is that the porn industry is always on the lookout for hot young women with little or no acting ability, so...

:lol:

[Passacaglia]

I am going to guess that the Soap Opera channel (Soapnet?) is quickly running out of programming.

Soapnet is already scheduled to be replaced by Youth Disney or something like that.

[Thomkal]

Ksyrup, please don't edit my posts.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Soapnet is already scheduled to be replaced by Youth Disney or something like that.

Dies January 2012, replaced by Disney Junior (their attempt to compete w/ Nick Jr). Dis, Jr will largely rebrand the current Playhouse Disney block on the main Disney Channel.

[DaddyTorgo]

Ksyrup, please don't edit my posts.

Yeah - what's up with that?? I definitely saw Thomkal's post earlier that had something about the Muppets returning to TV.

:eek:

[cuervo72]

Goodbye Soaps, Hello Food?

Tells me that housewives are now more interested in food than they are sex.

(actually...not sure I needed to be told that)


I've always had a thing for Alison Sweeney. I think she's held up well in the past 15 years.

Hells yes.

[Ksyrup]

Ksyrup, please don't edit my posts.

Sorry, I thought I was editing my own post right under yours to add the swedish chef line (re the muppets). I hadn't returned to the thread until now, so I didn't realize the mistake.

[Thomkal]

that's what i figured Ksyrup, so no problem here.

[Wolfpack]

Dies January 2012, replaced by Disney Junior (their attempt to compete w/ Nick Jr). Dis, Jr will largely rebrand the current Playhouse Disney block on the main Disney Channel.

Actually, the rebranding has already happened. The morning block of preschool/primary school shows on Disney Channel is now referred to as Disney Junior and has been for a couple of months now. Seems a bit copy-cat considering the existence of Nick Junior (then again, Nick Jr hasn't been Nick Jr for very long itself--used to be Noggin).

[RainMaker]

Interesting take on the decline of Soaps.

Zynga Draws Audiences From Fading Soap Operas | Adweek (http://www.adweek.com/news/television/zynga-kills-soaps-130951)

[JonInMiddleGA]

Interesting take on the decline of Soaps.

Zynga Draws Audiences From Fading Soap Operas | Adweek (http://www.adweek.com/news/television/zynga-kills-soaps-130951)

Sounds like a pretty weak theory to me. I've seen no sign of problems with multi-tasking within the demo. There's better arguments to be made, IMO, for the decline being related to both increasingly targeted programming & changing demographics than to social media. There's almost certainly a better case to be made for the rise of reality shows contributing to the death of the soaps than for social media, with a much longer data set to back it up.