Disney/ABC Domestic Television announced today that Cedric “The Entertainer” would be replacing Meredith Vieira as host of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire,” beginning with the shows 12 season scheduled to debut in national syndication this Fall.
According to a report by the New York Post, ABC is developing a real-life version of its popular daytime soap “General Hospital.” A network spokesperson confirmed the Post’s report and said that the possible series, which recently began taping at UCLA Medical Center, is in its “earliest, pilot stages,” and is intended “either for syndication or maybe cable.” Of course, the news has put soap opera fans into a tizzy as they are now worried about the fate of “GH” when they really shouldn’t be – yet.
Marc Berman of TV Media Insights has been doing an excellent job in reporting the overnight ratings data for ABC’s new daytime talk show “The Chew,” which replaced soap opera “All My Children” in the 1:00 PM ET/12:00 PM PT timeslot on Monday, September 26. Since the talker debuted it has lost ground compared to “AMC’s” performance at the same point last year in television households. Now more than a week since its debut, Berman has revealed that the show is also losing ground in the all important Women 18-49 sales demographic compared to how “All My Children” had performed as well.
On Tuesday, May 17, fans of ABC’s recently canceled “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” protested outside of the Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City as the ABC Television Network presented its 2011-2012 broadcast television schedule to its owned & operated stations, affiliates, advertising partners, and the dozens of press outlets gobbling up everything said during the networks upfront presentation. Joining protesting fans were Colleen Zenk (ex-Barbara Ryan, “As The World Turns”), Mimi Torchin (founding Editor in Chief of Soap Opera Weekly), and “One Life to Live’s” Ilene Kristen (Roxy Balsom). Also making their presence known was the Broadcast Television Union NABET CWA Local 16.