When thinking of daytime dramas like “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The Young and the Restless,” extreme drama, intrigue, love and romance probably come to mind. But how about comedy? Is laughter an important component within daytime dramas?
Breaking News and Headlines
Industry
One thing we’ll soon find out is how much of an effect SOAPnet’s demise will have on “General Hospital,” if any at all. In a new promo touting the multi-platform availability of ABC’s sole remaining daytime soap opera, the network wants to make sure its viewers have every opportunity of catching up with the latest happenings in Port Charles.
The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) announced today nominees for Outstanding Achievement in Television, New Media, News, Radio, Promotional Writing, and Graphic Animation during the 2013 season for its annual Writers Guild Awards. In the category of Daytime Drama, NBC’s “Days of our Lives,” ABC’s “General Hospital” and CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” are set to duke it out when the ceremony takes place on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at simultaneous ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York.
Prospect Park amends lawsuit against ABC, claiming the network schemed to create a “mega soap” by integrating characters into the “General Hospital” landscape.
The onscreen comings and goings in the soap opera industry are enough to make anyone’s head spin, and the behind the scenes business is just as action packed! In fact, three soap stars have recently made bold moves by switching agencies.
So by now you may or may not know that same-day airings of CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” are now available on TVGN after just over seven years on SOAPnet. To keep you up-to-date with the soaps transition, we thought it best to provide new and old viewers with some tidbits on TVGN and “Y&R’s” move to its new home.
Looking at how daytime television has become the pre-primtime of the entertainment landscape in more ways than one, Variety.com, now part of Penske Business Media, LLC (owners of Deadline.com and TVLine.com), has highlighted several of daytime’s biggest stars in front of and behind the scenes who help make the daily drama, the fun & games and the topics of discussion millions of viewers tune into each and every weekday. Those featured in the article include Angelica McDaniel (Senior Vice President, CBS Daytime), Frank Valentini (Executive Producer, “General Hospital”) Kelly Ripa (Tak Show Host, “Live with Kelly and Michael”; ex-Hayley Vaughan Santos, “All My Children”), Heather Tom (Katie Spencer, “The Bold and the Beautiful”), Katie Couric (Talk Show Host, “Katie”), Judge Judy Sheindlin (Judge, “Judge Judy”), Carla Hall and Clinton Kelly (Co-Hosts, “The Chew”) and many more.
As People Magazine gets ready to release its special collector’s edition honoring 50 years of “General Hospital” on Tuesday, March 12, the editors of Soap Opera Digest have collaborated on their own special tribute issue for the ABC Daytime drama series. Going on sale on Monday, March 25, the full sized Digest issue will include “revealing interviews, backstage gossip, photos, memories and more!”
In a report outlining the tremendous turnaround daytime soap operas have experienced in recent months, following five years of consistent cancellations, which found numerous soaps ending their runs starting with “Passions” in 2008, “Guiding Light” in 2009, “As The World Turns” in 2010, “All My Children” in 2011 and “One Life to Live” in 2012, Deadline is reporting that CBS and ABC are about to forgo another year of fan heartbreak. According to the sites sources, the networks are expected to continue production of “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “General Hospital” for the foreseeable future. This news would follow in line with NBC’s recent announcement that it had renewed “Days of our Lives” through the next television season (2013-2014).
Had “All My Children” remained on the air beyond its final September 23, 2011 episode, cast/crew and fans all around the world would have been celebrating the daytime soaps 43rd anniversary today, January 5, as the drama series debuted on this day in 1970.
