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Article: Can Daytime Soaps Stay Afloat?; via TV Guide
Topic Started: Dec 9 2008, 11:00 PM (1,186 Views)
Rick
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Dreamlander

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The entire daytime-soap industry seems to be on the bubble. Ratings for the eight sudsers are on a steep decline, with some having lost half the audience they had 10 years ago. Top tier stars on ABC's shows, including legends like Susan Lucci, and Anthony Geary are being asked to take substantial pay cuts. And NBC's Days of our Lives recently fired it's two most popular and enduring stars, Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn, in order to trim the costs and remain on the air for at least 18 more months. Some consider this a sure sign of the coming soap apocalypse. Others consider it survival.

"In the economic climate, we are being very very aggressive to manage our costs and keep our soaps on the air," says Brian Frons. "We've turned to our stars and asked them to accept lower salaries for the team, and there's been a real camaraderie about that." Contrary to reports, Frons swears he's not adpoting a hard, take-it-or-leave-it approach while negotiating these recuded deals, and so far no one has quit in protest. Nor is everyone affected by the cuts. Lower paid newbies, who make around $1,000 per episode, won't suffer. It's the superstars, earning between $7,000-$10,000 per show, who'll feel the pinch.

"We are asking more from the people who have more," adds Frons. But don't fret about La Lucci. Sources close to the diva say she'll still pull in $1 million per year even after the cutback.

NBC won't comment on the Hogestyn/Hall axings, or the 40% paycut the surviving stars are reportedly taking. Similar pay reductions have already hit CBS's Guiding Light, and since last year many scenes have been shot, low budget on location in Peapack, NJ. The actors, including four time Emmy winning actress Kim Zimmer, change costumes in cars, and do their makeup in the rear view mirrors. So far,their sacrafice is a bust. Since the new au natural style kicked off, GL has lost 21% of it's female 18-49 audience.

Still CBS daytime chief Barbara Bloom says her network "remains optimistic and committed to the [soap] genre, which is not going to implode," adding that the soaps still play to a sizeable crowd--currently 24 million-plus-and that doesn't include replays on SOAPnet and the Web sites like hulu.com. What's more, Bloom insists, "It's not just about stopping the erosion. It's still possible to raise the ratings."

True enough. AMC's recent tornado caused a 20% spike in viewers, ATWT jumped to the #3 spot in the Nielsens with the romance of gay teens Luke and Noah. And CBS's Y&R took a strong leap last month with the presumes death of Kay Chancellor, played by 80-year-old firecracker Jeanne Cooper. "Soaps won't die as long as we remember to do one thing," says Cooper. "Deliver the kind of show the viewers want. When you do that, you can't lose"
Edited by Rick, Dec 9 2008, 11:06 PM.
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CodeBlazeNuke
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good saying from cooper.. but does Chris Goutman think that way not really. some fan have to fight tooth and nail to get their favorites on like Luke and Noah for ATWT.
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Implosion


Rick
Dec 9 2008, 11:00 PM
Please link only


The entire daytime-soap industry seems to be on the bubble. Ratings for the eight sudsers are on a steep decline, with some having lost half the audience they had 10 years ago. Top tier stars on ABC's shows, including legends like Susan Lucci, and Anthony Geary are being asked to take substantial pay cuts. And NBC's Days of our Lives recently fired it's two most popular and enduring stars, Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn, in order to trim the costs and remain on the air for at least 18 more months. Some consider this a sure sign of the coming soap apocalypse. Others consider it survival.

"In the economic climate, we are being very very aggressive to manage our costs and keep our soaps on the air," says Brian Frons. "We've turned to our stars and asked them to accept lower salaries for the team, and there's been a real camaraderie about that." Contrary to reports, Frons swears he's not adpoting a hard, take-it-or-leave-it approach while negotiating these recuded deals, and so far no one has quit in protest. Nor is everyone affected by the cuts. Lower paid newbies, who make around $1,000 per episode, won't suffer. It's the superstars, earning between $7,000-$10,000 per show, who'll feel the pinch.

"We are asking more from the people who have more," adds Frons. But don't fret about La Lucci. Sources close to the diva say she'll still pull in $1 million per year even after the cutback.

NBC won't comment on the Hogestyn/Hall axings, or the 40% paycut the surviving stars are reportedly taking. Similar pay reductions have already hit CBS's Guiding Light, and since last year many scenes have been shot, low budget on location in Peapack, NJ. The actors, including four time Emmy winning actress Kim Zimmer, change costumes in cars, and do their makeup in the rear view mirrors. So far,their sacrafice is a bust. Since the new au natural style kicked off, GL has lost 21% of it's female 18-49 audience.

Still CBS daytime chief Barbara Bloom says her network "remains optimistic and committed to the [soap] genre, which is not going to implode," adding that the soaps still play to a sizeable crowd--currently 24 million-plus-and that doesn't include replays on SOAPnet and the Web sites like hulu.com. What's more, Bloom insists, "It's not just about stopping the erosion. It's still possible to raise the ratings."

True enough. AMC's recent tornado caused a 20% spike in viewers, ATWT jumped to the #3 spot in the Nielsens with the romance of gay teens Luke and Noah. And CBS's Y&R took a strong leap last month with the presumes death of Kay Chancellor, played by 80-year-old firecracker Jeanne Cooper. "Soaps won't die as long as we remember to do one thing," says Cooper. "Deliver the kind of show the viewers want. When you do that, you can't lose"
Sorry Rick...whats the reference or source of this article? (wanting people to link should not prevent sourcing the original piece, as we want to give props to the author and to the news agency)

I am highly interested in this whole drama of the execs killing of our favorite genre daytime soaps....

There have been many articles of late in the LA Times about this. One article talked about how an NBC exec actually said that he is not interested in ratings as it is all about the bottom line...can you imagine?

I would say that the ratings very much affect the industry's bottom line, as the more of us there are the more advertisers they can pull in. However, NBC's line of thinking explains its crappy soaps and lack of investment in the team behind the soap.
Edited by Implosion, Dec 9 2008, 11:15 PM.
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OneBadKitty
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CodeBlazeNuke
Dec 9 2008, 11:10 PM
good saying from cooper.. but does Chris Goutman think that way not really. some fan have to fight tooth and nail to get their favorites on like Luke and Noah for ATWT.
Hang in there, my dear Nuke fan. They have some good scenes coming.
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CodeBlazeNuke
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OneBadKitty
Dec 9 2008, 11:15 PM
CodeBlazeNuke
Dec 9 2008, 11:10 PM
good saying from cooper.. but does Chris Goutman think that way not really. some fan have to fight tooth and nail to get their favorites on like Luke and Noah for ATWT.
Hang in there, my dear Nuke fan. They have some good scenes coming.
well it seem like Noah still underuse and undevolpe (sp?). her like Arm candy or a prop for Luke.

sorry about that it just i feel like Noah need to be will rounded character then what he is now.

I love the story for Luke to grow up in just wish we would have so Noah POV becuase even his story line this summer was more in Luke POV then his.

ok rant over
Edited by CodeBlazeNuke, Dec 9 2008, 11:24 PM.
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Kenny
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$1,000 an episode for newbies?

Damn! That's harsh, LoL.
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~bl~
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I read this article in the print version of TVGuide magazine. If you work 100 shows a year at $1,000 each you are at $100,000, which is a good salary. The union minimums for performers is a little under $1,000 an episode on an hour show, so they really can't be cut all that much.
Edited by ~bl~, Dec 9 2008, 11:29 PM.
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Implosion


~bl~
Dec 9 2008, 11:28 PM
I read this article in the print version of TVGuide magazine. If you work 100 shows a year at $1,000 each you are at $100,000, which is a good salary. The union minimums for performers is a little under $1,000 an episode on an hour show, so they really can't be cut all that much.
Does this number depend if you are signed or not?

Hmmm...what category of performer does this number correspond to...?

Your post has raised many questions for me...as I don't necessarily have a problem with the amount soap actors get paid...esp if they have done the time to earn that wage.
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King
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Oh, Babs Bloom. Denial ain't just a river in Egypt.
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daysfan
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Wow, its no secret that GL has had such a low budget for a looooong time now, but changing costumes in cars, doing make up in the rear view mirror?

So sad!
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Rick
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Implosion
Dec 9 2008, 11:11 PM
Sorry Rick...whats the reference or source of this article? (wanting people to link should not prevent sourcing the original piece, as we want to give props to the author and to the news agency)
Source is in the title description ;)

Can Daytime Soaps Stay Afloat?
Via TV Guide
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Mason


daysfan
Dec 10 2008, 01:41 AM
Wow, its no secret that GL has had such a low budget for a looooong time now, but changing costumes in cars, doing make up in the rear view mirror?

So sad!
It's actually kind of hilarious, albeit in a sad, pathetic way.

I'm just imagining La Zimmer watching herself apply lipstick in her rearview mirror before getting out to go film in a dreary field in the middle of nowhere, LoL!
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FanODays


Am I supposed to feel sorry for TV stars having to take a pay cut when the entire country, if not world is on the brink of financial doom? As I see it they still have pretty cushy jobs, working 3 or 4 days a week, and less than 8 hours a day, not a bad deal. Sure they have occassional days or weeks that are more intense but so do I and so does the rest of the world.

Funny, I've heard nothing about Frons, Corday or Guza taking pay cuts just Nixon, god bless her soul.
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bellcurve
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There's cutting costs and then there's being downright lazy.

GL is a pathetic show. They may have worked on their video operation, lighting, and sound, but there are so many things they could do to make their low budget crapfest somewhat better.

I was watching yesterday during Marina and Mallet's wedding. What I could not get over is how mixed all of the shots were. We had shots of it raining outside in Peapack, then shots of the EXACT SAME porch, showing "Springfield Township" blanketed with snow, and then, you have the in-studio stuff where you didn't hear sounds of precipitation at all.

Was there no other way to work around the weather? Couldn't Ellen Wheeler have taped the scenes in an order where the rain suddenly turned to snow, so it's not so jarring for viewers to see mixed shots like that? I know they can't up and decide to cancel or postpone a shoot because of they money they've banked into it, but it seems like they have very few lines and that some of that stuff is improvised or cut on-location anyway. That could have been plenty of time for them to figure out what the weather was going to do.

Does she or the Coordinating Producer check Weather Channel before they travel? Do they even care?
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Mason


Mallet and Marina got married?! VOMIT.
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Implosion


Rick
Dec 10 2008, 01:51 AM
Implosion
Dec 9 2008, 11:11 PM
Sorry Rick...whats the reference or source of this article? (wanting people to link should not prevent sourcing the original piece, as we want to give props to the author and to the news agency)
Source is in the title description ;)

Can Daytime Soaps Stay Afloat?
Via TV Guide
Thanks, much appreciated Rick.
Lord I am soooo upset over this whole issue. What will it take for the networks to get back into the game. Have you heard that they are moving Jay Leno's show to prime time. This is craziness...if they were truely invested in the soap genre they would have moved Days to seven pm...that would get all the ratings they need. But noooooooooo ...they move a talk show. Sigh........
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Tammy
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Kenny
Dec 9 2008, 11:27 PM
$1,000 an episode for newbies?

Damn! That's harsh, LoL.
They should be greatful... I dont make that in a MONTH lmao :P
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shiningstar


Rick
Dec 9 2008, 11:00 PM
"Soaps won't die as long as we remember to do one thing," says Cooper. "Deliver the kind of show the viewers want. When you do that, you can't lose"
Too bad the people running the sunken DOOL ship haven't gotten that memo. Thanks for posting.
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