ABC succumbs to daytime greed ...
... by pandering to the "reality" show fanatics, cancelling One Life to Live and All My Children to be replaced by gab and cooking programs. And with a straight face they announce this is in response to public interest! C'mon, ABC. We know producing soap operas has become outrageously expensive but the daytime audiences like them. Since the mid-'70's ABC programmers have shown contempt for fans by cancelling Ryan's Hope, Edge of Night, Loving, and a couple of other short-lived daytime dramas. Both OLTL and AMC have had great stories mixed in with the mediocre. But this type of serialized drama has been popular for several centuries exemplified by Dumas and Dickens with immensely read and discussed romances and satiric tales, as well as Doyle with Sherlock Holmes. Soap operas may have originated with an eye to the female stay-at-home audience but in modern times with TV recorders readily available the audience has expanded to all age groups in all walks of life.
At this point in time the OLTL storylines are excellent, suspenseful and ENTERTAINING to both watch and discuss with other fans. Excited to hear Roger Howarth is returning to the show, we are shocked to learn ABC is pulling the plug on this loved drama.
These days there is so much junky programming on daytime it's difficult to believe a responsible network would want to inflict more inane chatter and insipid tips on cooking to those of us who for one reason or another watch soap operas.
For generations soap opera fans have been devoted to their shows. Other networks have cancelled beloved shows but somehow ABC kept the faith with 3 hours of weekday afternoon programming. Surely something can be done to save both OLTL and AMC. Most of us "silent" viewers don't want to lose that contact with Vicki, Erica and all their associates and cohorts.
Please, ABC, reverse your "cruel" decision.