Share |

I’m really starting to think so.  You probably heard that CBS has cancelled “Guiding Light”.  Now, it looks like “As The World Turns” is next on the chopping block.  Here’s an article about this.

Basically, CBS plans to replace “Guiding Light” with an updated version of the classic game show, “Let’s Make A Deal”.  Now, I’m old enough to remember the original with Monty Hall, I loved it as a kid.  But, as often happens when someone tries to update a classic, it’ll likely be very lame.  And so will whatever game show they come up with to replace ATWT, should that soap be cancelled.

Over at ABC, it’s just been announced that “All My Children” is moving from New York to Los Angeles, as a cost-cutting move.  “One Life To Live will be staying in New York, but moving to the studio that AMC will be vacating.  Article here.

The problem with AMC’s move is that it’s possible that many of the long-established actors may not want to make the move.  For example, Susan Lucci, who has played Erica Kane since the show began back, has a long-established residence in New York, and she may not want to move to L.A.  But maybe that is part of the cost-cutting…if these highly paid soap veterans get dropped to recurring status or simply decide to leave completely, that eliminates their salaries.  Then  they can create new characters and hire young unknowns to play them, people that are willing to work cheaper.

But this could really backfire, because people will stop watchng the show if their favorite characters leave because of this move.  Then ABC will have a great excuse to cancel it completely, no doubt putting another lame talk or game show in its place.

NBC may soon be soap-free.  All they have now is “Days of Our Lives”.  The cancellation of “Passions”, a show I never watched, but I know a lot of people liked it, resulted in NBS showing yet another hour of “The Today Show” in its time slot in many markets.  But how long before Days tanks, now that many of their big-name stars have left, mostly due to budget cuts.

I find all of this very sad.  People like me like to watch soaps as a form of escapism.  I hate the new trend of these cheaply-produced talk and game shows, as well as reality shows.  I’ll take well-written fictinal stories any day.  Talk shows, especially have gotten ridiculous and often depressing.  Even long-established shows, such as Dr. Phool, have gotten too tabliody.  He sunk to a new low this past season with all of that crap about Octo-Mom.

If soaps go away completely, a lot of us may not even bother to turn our televisions on during the day. I do know that I will NOT be watching the new “Let’s Make A Deal”, and I certainly will not watch anything that replaces “As The World Turns”…which is actually my favorite soap right now.

Such a crying shame. :(