In a feature in Sunday's New York Times titled "Days of Some Shows’ Lives Continue," producers from DAYS OF OUR LIVES, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL and THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS were "eager" to share the measures they were taking to remain vital and relevant in television’s changing landscape. Only ABC's GENERAL HOSPITAL declined to comment. Below is a summary:DAYS OF OUR LIVES (renewed until 2013)
“The goal is to respect the tradition of the show,” said executive producer Greg Meng, “but tell the stories as they can be told today,” using modern dialogue in two-week or even three-day story arcs.
"We realized we needed to take the show back to where it was,” he said. “The show is about traditional Midwestern family values, and how they’re constantly tested. That doesn’t change.”
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (renewed until 2014)
Maria Arena Bell, executive producer and head writer, said: “Once upon a time soaps wrote to Fridays, where things would slowly build throughout the week, and Friday you’d have a stunning cliffhanger to keep your attention. I still build to Fridays, but my motto is that every day has to be a Friday.”
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (renewed until 2013)
“We’re no longer the schmaltzy, fluffy romance of the ’80s,” said Bradley Bell, the show’s executive producer and head writer. “Women are more independent and edgier,” he said. “The dialogue is clever and witty.”
“The old theory says: Keep things moving slowly, because if people are only watching two or three times a week, they need to know what’s happening,” Mr. Bell said. “Our new theory is: Something has to happen every day, and it’s more important to feel as though you’ve missed something by not watching.”
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