Public Domain

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — From the staff and management of Soap Opera Network, we hope that everyone has a safe and Merry Christmas. May you spend the holiday with friends and loved ones and may you remember the true reason for the season!  Merry Christmas!

Public Domain

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — From the staff and management of Soap Opera Network, we hope that everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday. May you spend the day with family and friends, count your blessings, remember what you are thankful for, and try not to eat too much turkey. Happy Thanksgiving!

AFTRA/Prospect Park

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — After rumblings for the last two weeks and a shocking report by Deadline Hollywood earlier today, Prospect Park officially pulled the plug on plans for producing online versions of ABC’s “All My Children” and “One Life to Live.” Of the key issues, Prospect Park cited its inability to come to terms with the unions including those representing the actors (AFTRA) and the writers (WGA). Shortly afterward, the various unions began issuing statements in response to the production companies decision.

The Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) issued the following to Soap Opera Network, “We were disappointed to learn that Prospect Park’s financing fell through. Prior to the end of last week, we were close to a fair deal for the writers.”

On Monday, November 14, Soap Opera Network spoke with a rep from the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), who stated they were still in talks with Prospect Park. Unfortunately, as noted in the statement  issued to media outlets today, those talks went no where as the production company wasn’t communicating well with the union.

via Press Release

AFTRA Statement Regarding Prospect Park’s Decision to Suspend Production of “One Life to Live” and “All My Children”

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 23, 2011) — The following is a statement from AFTRA, the union that represents actors on “One Life to Live” and “All My Children”:

“AFTRA was deeply disappointed to read that the executives at Prospect Park have decided to suspend their efforts to produce the long-running and popular daytime serials, ‘One Life to Live’ and ‘All My Children,’ via online distribution.

Despite initial progress in our negotiations with Prospect Park toward resolving a fair agreement to cover the performers appearing on these programs, we were perplexed and disappointed that for the past month Prospect Park has not responded to our repeated inquiries to resume those discussions. We now conclude from the press reports that Prospect Park faced other challenges unrelated to our negotiations, which prevented continuation of those discussions.

We remain hopeful that an opportunity to revive these two popular series will emerge in the future, and remain ready to resume discussions should that opportunity arise.”

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About AFTRA
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO, are the people who entertain and inform America. In 32 Locals across the country, AFTRA members work as actors, broadcasters, singers, dancers, announcers, hosts, comedians, disc jockeys and other performers across the media industries including television, radio, cable, sound recordings, music videos, commercials, audio books, non-broadcast industrials, interactive games, the Internet and other digital media. The 70,000 professional performers, broadcasters and recording artists of AFTRA are working together to protect and improve their jobs, lives and communities in the 21st century. From new art forms to new technology, AFTRA members embrace change in their work and craft to enhance American culture and society. Visit AFTRA online at www.aftra.com.

Prospect Park

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Soap fans across the web aren’t sure what to believe anymore as there are reports that Prospect Park is now without enough funding to support both “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” on its Online Network (TOLN), but considering both soaps were just a small part of the overall planning behind the network does that now mean that the Online Network itself is dead as well?

When pressed for comment on the status of both “All My Children” and “One Life to Live,” the much talked about lack of funding and other matters, a Prospect Park representative told Soap Opera Network “we have no comment at this time.”

Thomas A. Montalto/MontaltoPhotos.com

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — In a new Facebook posting that went up just a short time ago, actress Susan Lucci has taken to the social networking service to clear the air regarding the status of “All My Children” and its move to the internet and plans for her inclusion in the online version of the long running ABC soap.

“I want my fans to know the truth. There has been miscommunications as a result of statements in the press that I am one of the reasons that All My Children is not moving forward. This is simply untrue and not the case. We have been in discussions since Prospect Park first expressed interest in moving the series online, and in correspondence dated September 8th, I made it clear that I would be ecstatic to be a part of ‘All My Children’ in a prominent way if they committed to producing the series for another year. I have not heard back from Prospect Park since then, in fact, I learned of their decision not to proceed with ‘All My Children’ at the same time you did, through the media,” said Lucci in her posting.

“It’s been a privilege and honor to be involved with the ‘All My Children’ family for so many years, from working closely with Agnes Nixon to getting to know millions of devoted and wonderful fans.”

Previously it had been reported that Lucci turned down Prospect Park’s financial offer, which doesn’t appear to be the case per Lucci’s statement.

Disney/ABC Television Group

Developing at Soap Opera Network… a number of actors are privately and publicly confirming they will not be joining “One Life to Live” when it goes online via Prospect Park‘s Online Network.

Joining Terri Conn, who announced her decision via Soap Opera Digest, are John-Paul Lavoisier, Farah Fath, Nic Robuck, Bree Williamson, David A. Gregory, Kristen Alderson and Eddie Alderson.

More news to come…

On Saturday, November 5, 2011, the cast of NBC’s “Days of our Lives” will be celebrating the the 4th Annual “Days of Days” fan event at CityWalk at Universal Studios Hollywood. While signing autographs, the stars will be signing with their very own personalized Adler Collection pens (see photos for samples). Soap Opera Network has partnered with the pen maker in giving away a free personalized pen to three lucky winners along with a personalized video congratulations from a “Days of our Lives” cast member.

The giveaway will run from 6:00 PM ET on Thursday, November 3 through 12:00 PM ET on Saturday, November 5, 2011.

To enter, answer the following question correctly and you will automatically be entered in a random drawing that will take place immediately after the close of the giveaway.

Question: What month, day and year did “Days of our Lives” premiere on NBC?

To enter, submit your full name and mailing address to [email protected] with the answer to our question (make sure to include “Days of our Lives” in your subject line).

TERMS & CONDITIONS

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Open only to legal residents of the U.S. and Canada who are 18 or older. Commencing on Thursday, November  3, 2011 at 6 p.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) and continuing through Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 12 p.m. ET, Soap Opera Network will run the “Days of Days Fan Giveaway!” in which three (3) Adler Collection pens  will be given away to three lucky individuals that correctly answer the question, “What month, day and year did ‘Days of our Lives’ premiere on NBC?” To enter, submit your name, mailing address and the answer to [email protected]. Emails must include “Days of our Lives” in the subject line. There is a one prize limit per winner. A total of three winners will be selected. Winners will be notified by e-mail. Offer valid while supplies last. Names and addresses will not be used for any other purpose by this site or its corporate parent (see privacy policy).

About the Adler Collection
Adler Collection creates, manufactures, personalizes and retails contemporary accessories and executive merchandise. It markets a range of finely crafted items with designer detailing and embellishments appropriate for gift-giving and personal use. Fine writing instruments, luxurious leather portfolios, travel accessories and specialized table-top merchandise are personalized items available through its’ catalogs and website theadlercollection.com.

Mitchell Haaseth/NBC

via Press Release

‘DAYS OF OUR LIVES‘ TIES FOR #1 IN THE VALUABLE WOMEN 18-34 DEMO FOR BOTH THE WEEK OF OCT. 3-7 AND THE SEASON TO DATE

IN THE KEY DEMO OF WOMEN 18-49, ‘DAYS’ RANKS #3 FOR THE WEEK, MATCHING ITS TOP RATING IN 16 WEEKS

VERSUS THE SAME WEEK LAST YEAR, ‘DAYS’ IS UP 5 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – October 14, 2011 – For the week of October 3-7, “Days of our Lives” (1.0 rating, 7 share among women 18-49, 0.6/4 among women 18-34) ranked #3 among network daytime series in the women 18-49 demographic and tied for #1 in the women 18-34 race. Versus the same week last year, “Days” was up 5 percent in total viewers (2.5 million up from 2.3 million).

“Days” matched its highest women 18-49 rating in 16 weeks (since the week of June 13-17).

Season to date, “Days” is tied for #3 in the women 18-49 category and tied for #1 in the women 18-34 demo. So far this season, “Days” is up in total viewers by 2 percent versus last season (2.512 million vs. 2.454 million).

Ratings reflect “live plus same day” data from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of “live plus seven day” data except for the two most recent weeks, which are “live plus same day.”

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — October 8, 2011 marks the tenth anniversary of Soap Opera Network, an online magazine celebrating the world of soaps past, present and future.

Soap Opera Network began as an online message board on the then popular ezBoard (now called Yuki) platform by two individuals that wanted to start a more industry based discussion forum for fans of the soap opera genre with the idea that not only could one discuss the comings, the goings or the general news of the day, but have the opportunity to learn more about the names, the faces and the minds of the people that help make daily dramatic serials happen year in and year out. At launch, soap operas “All My Children, “As The World Turns,” “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “Days of our Lives,” “General Hospital,” “Guiding Light,” “One Life to Live,” “Passions,” “Port Charles,” and “The Young and the Restless” were on the schedules of television networks ABC, CBS and NBC.

In November 2002, Soap Opera Network left ezBoard and became its own .com service.

Thanks to elaborate databases such as a ratings archive (how soaps rated over the years), episode count archive (who appeared in episodes of a soap opera each and every month and year), its end credit archive (who wrote, directed or produced each episode), including a listing of episode writers and directors along with profile pieces on more than 80% of the writers, producers and directors, Soap Opera Network has cornered the market on information surrounding the inner workings of the soap opera format.

Over the course of its ten years, Soap Opera Network has interviewed a number of daytime’s biggest stars and behind the scenes personnel including Susan Lucci, Erika Slezak, Melody Thomas Scott, Maurice Benard, Steve Burton, Sarah Brown, Hillary B. Smith, Robert S. Woods, Ilene Kristen, Ken Corday, Cameron Mathison, Cady McClain, Eden Riegel, Judith Light, Bradley P. Bell, Brian Frons, Maria Arena Bell, Sherri Shepherd, Daniel Goddard, Greg Meng, Marlene McPherson, Darrell Ray Thomas, Nancy Curlee, Melissa Archer, Kristen Alderson, Julie Pinson, Ron Carlivati, Frank Valentini, Linda Dano and many more.

Current Soap Opera Network staff is as follows:

Xavier Toups, Co-Founder
Errol Lewis, Editor in Chief; General Hospital Editor; Days of our Lives Editor
Angela Rosa, Managing Editor; All My Children Editor
Scotty Gore, Managing Editor; One Life to Live Editor
Venus Stone-Cutter, The Young and the Restless Editor
Gehrig Burnett Jr., The Bold and the Beautiful Editor