There is more bad news on the daytime soap front as TV Guide Magazine has revealed there's a chance ABC will axe not one but two daytime soaps soon (ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE).We would love to think this is a sad April Fools' Day joke, but unfortunately have been hearing the same thing for a while. The scary part is that ABC might finally have replacement shows they are happy with this time. The lack of a "suitable" replacement has saved their soaps in the past. It's likely we'll know the outcome of ABC's decision very soon.
TV Guide Magazine has learned that the network is not just planning to cancel AMC in the coming days but will very likely cancel ONE LIFE TO LIVE, as well. Word is, ABC Daytime chief Brian Frons has a talk show and reality show lined up for fall — both of them much cheaper to produce than soaps — and he needs to clear the schedule. More disturbing, insiders say Frons has been extremely cavalier about all this, showing no signs of sorrow or regret about a drastic decision that will leave GENERAL HOSPITAL as the network's only daytime soap. When contacted for comment, ABC Daytime PR chief Jori Petersen told us, "I have no announcement, and these are just rumors that you are hearing. I am sorry to hear that they're escalating but I cannot confirm anything."
It's too bad ABC doesn't look to the indie soap world to learn how to produce a quality continuing drama on a small budget (see two-time Indie Soap of the Year DIARY OF A SINGLE MOM by Robert Townsend as a prime example). It can be done. Nothing beats good scripted drama, especially yet another talk or reality show.
DAYTIME SOAP OPERAS
