Ratings Report for the Week of December 16-20, 2013

With its lineup consisting of soaps “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful,” game shows “The Price is Right” and “Let’s Make a Deal,” and talker “The Talk,” CBS Daytime posted double-digit growth during the fourth quarter in viewers compared to the year-ago period, while each series was up or even in Women 25-54 and Women 18-49. In fact, “Y&R” was first in both key women demos.

Fans love it when their show goes on location, but whatever happened to exterior shots – images of outdoor locations inserted before a scene takes place between characters – which were heavily utilized on “Passions,” the now defunct NBC and DirecTV daytime soap opera?

In its newsletter, “The Bold and the Beautiful” executive producer and head writer, Bradley P. Bell, shared the following teasers of what fans can expect for their favorite characters in the next couple of months on the CBS Daytime drama series.

We’re guessing you’re sad that Christmas is over. So are we! But don’t fret, because there’s one more gift to come: New Year’s resolutions from some of your favorite “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The Young and the Restless” stars! Several of the sister sudser’s actors let Soap Opera Network in on the ways they hope to achieve perfection (or at least near perfection) in the year to come. And guess what? They also spilled the deets on how their characters should tackle 2014, as well! Read on for the fun, and happy New Year from Soap Opera Network!

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?

It’s been quite some time since Soap Opera Network last brought its readers a weekly breakdown of what’s going to happen during the upcoming week of soaps. With our new sense of direction and focus as we get ready to enter a new year, and a new phase for the site, we thought it would be a great opportunity to get back into the previews game.

In an episode aptly titled “Dinner Party,” “The Bold and the Beautiful’s” Darin Brooks (Wyatt Fuller) is returning to ABC’s “Super Fun Night” on Wednesday, January 8, 2014, which finds his character, Jason, and wife Jazmine (Ashley Tisdale), show up drunk to Jazmine’s sister’s dinner party.

With a new year kicking things off next week, CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful” promises to bring a new beginning, new enemies and new surprises to the table for the rich and the fabulous Forresters, Spencers, Logans and Fullers. In a newly released promo, Ridge (Thorsten Kaye) and Katie (Heather Tom) share a tender moment as the clock strikes 12, while Hope (Kim Matula) and Wyatt (Darin Brooks) look to move on…together, and Donna (Jennifer Gareis) and Quinn (Rena Sofer) stand their ground as they prepare for battle.

Multiple Emmy-nominee Thorsten Kaye won the hearts of soap opera audiences with his strong portrayal of “All My Children’s” Zach Slater, “One Life to Live’s” Patrick Thornhart and “Port Charles’” Ian Thornhart, but can the actor strike gold again as Ronn Moss’ replacement in the role of “The Bold and the Beautiful’s” Ridge Forrester? It won’t be the first time an actor has walked into the shoes of a major character whose previous portrayer is very much loved in the role, but then again, these aren’t just any old shoes to fill! Soap Opera Network caught up with Ridge’s onscreen dad, John McCook (Eric Forrester), who’s not only been working with Kaye as Ridge since day one, but who’s also quite familiar with the father/son dynamic the two characters have established over the years. Read on to get his take on the bold recasting choice, how he views Kaye’s approach to the role and what’s in store for Eric and Ridge in the weeks ahead!

‘Twas the week before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring… except for all us! Soap Opera Network contacted soap actors with care, in hopes that responses soon would be there. Whether traveling, visiting family or just snuggling in bed, these “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The Young and the Restless” actors’ plans will dance in your head!

Ratings Report for the Week of December 9-13, 2013

TVGN is proving why it’s now the “the new way to watch soaps.” With the network already picking up encore airing rights to “The Young and the Restless” this past summer, and “The Bold and the Beautiful” earlier this month, the network plans to provide soap fans with even more “soap” for their viewing pleasure courtesy of the new documentary, “Who Shot the Daytime Soap?” Airing Monday, December 16 at 8:00 PM ET/PT, preceded by airings of “B&B” at 6:30 PM ET/PT and “Y&R” at 7:00 PM ET/PT, the documentary tackles the history of daytime soap operas as told by those who were there during the good times, the bad times and the new times.

December 2-6, 2013

Each week Soap Opera Network publishes ratings reports that break down the highs and lows of the four remaining daytime soap operas – “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “Days of our Lives,” “General Hospital” and “The Young and the Restless” – in total viewers and the all important key women sales demos (Women 18-34, Women 18-49 and Women 25-54). Today, with both ABC and CBS noting the success of “GH” and “Y&R,” respectively, TheWrap has published a piece entitled, “If Soaps Are ‘Dead,’ Why Are Their Audiences Growing?” In its report, the publication notes that each of the soaps are up season-to-date in all key ratings categories. Meanwhile, some of the replacements for the canceled ABC versions of “All My Children” and “One Life to Live,” specifically talk shows, have all “come and gone like, um, sands through the hourglass.”

Having wrapped up her stints as “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The Young and the Restless’” Amber Moore, actress Adrienne Frantz is setting off in a new direction with her latest role: A guest spot on FX’s western series, “Justified!”

Like “As The World Turns,” “Days of our Lives,” “General Hospital” and “Guiding Light” before it, producers of CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful” have announced a new partnership with Pan Macmillan and its digital-first imprint, Momentum, in which the publishing company will release a series of novellas surrounding several characters from “B&B.”

Ratings Report for the Week of November 25-29, 2013

In an newly released interview with Soap Opera Digest columnist and Tainted Dreams blogger, Carolyn Hinsey, “The Bold and the Beautiful’s” Thorsten Kaye opens up about his role as Ridge Forrester on the CBS Daytime soap, but it’s his comments on Prospect Parks’ version of “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” that has all eyes open.

On Friday, December 13, Ridge Forrester returns to CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful” as played by daytime soap veteran, Thorsten Kaye. The actor takes over the role from Ronn Moss, who departed the series in 2012. In a promo released by the network, Ridge drives up the Forrester driveway and gets ready to embark on a new journey, but where does he fit in? You’ll just have to tune in to find out!