Y&R producer/writer Maria Bell: 'Fans really just want to see their favorites'"We already have such an incredibly strong cast — to add a character is a major decision," Bell said discussing the arrival of former GENERAL HOSPITAL star Genie Francis. "A lot of fans really just want to see their favorites. ... I knew it would be an exciting addition to weave her into the canvas among all these other strong people."
Eight Programs Set to Begin Filming in New York; From Cops to 20-Somethings
Eight new prime-time series are slated to shoot in New York, including shows produced by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, Judd Apatow and J.J. Abrams. That represents a significant rebound for the city's film-production industry after a period in which it lost its longest-running series, LAW & ORDER, and suffered the cancellation of its last remaining soap opera, ONE LIFE TO LIVE
"If you look at these numbers, there's a lot of evidence to support the idea that people are finding it easier and more appealing to produce in the city," said Katherine Oliver, commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment.
Part of that appeal stems from the state Legislature's approval last year of $420 million in film-production tax credits through 2014.
After Oprah, who will fill the void in daytime TV?
"It's a jump ball for everybody," says DR. OZ executive producer Mindy Borman. And it all adds up to a "major disruption" that will leave daytime devotees scrambling for alternatives, says Hilary Estey McLoughlin, president of Warner Bros.' Telepictures Productions. "There's really never been this kind of sea change in daytime. There's never been this many changes in stalwart hosts with this much audience appeal." Viewers won't "abandon TV, but what will they watch?"
"It's change that's generational," says Brian Frons, daytime chief for ABC Television Group. "Serials for the most part are Baby Boomer programs, and as Boomers age out of the key selling demographic, we need to look at alternatives."
GLEE's Jane Lynch will host the Primetime Emmys
The Emmy Awards will air on Fox this September, with Mark Burnett executive producing.
Ingo Rademacher speaks out about GENERAL HOSPITAL exit
"A lot of fans are saying it's because of Bob [Guza], but Bob wrote for me for a good 14, 15 years," Rademacher notes. "I should be grateful for that. I can't be overly upset because he didn't write for me towards the end. That was his call. He, obviously, didn't feel that the character needed to be written as much anymore. That's his call. I can't go up there [to the executive offices] and complain."
DAYTIME SOAP OPERAS
