 Actors Shemar Moore and Susan Lucci during the 38th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards held at the Las Vegas Hilton on June 19, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. ABC had announced the cancellation of 'All My Children' and Lucci, its longtime star said, "“Daytime television is alive and well — look at all the talent in this building tonight!” Flo DiBona: Millions of soap opera fans are willing to put our consumer purchasing power behind whoever saves soaps from extinctionONLY ON THE BLOG: Answering today's OFF-SET questions is ardent soap opera fan, Flo DiBona of Sacramento, CA.  When she is not watching soap operas, Ms DiBona is a principal consultant and subject matter expert in global enterprise electronic content and records management. On Monday, June 20, 2011, a group called Fans United Against ABC will be holding nationwide rallies near at least two dozen ABC affiliate TV stations in an attempt to save the recently cancelled daytime and primetime soaps. In April, ABC announced it was cancelling the long-time favorites "One Life to Live" and "All My Children." What was your first reaction when you heard that AMC was going to leave the air this September? I experienced disbelief, shock and numbness, in that order. During the numbness, I realized I was not the only one who depended on these shows. I began thinking about the elderly, ill and incapacitated who depend on these shows far more than I do. That’s when I decided to lend my voice to this Soap movement. "All My Children" premiered on Jan. 5, 1970. Is it possible that you have seen every single episode? Although I know many who have seen every episode, I began watching in 1977 and missed the first seven years. Based on the stories of fans I’ve met in this movement, I feel like a newbie to the show! Why do the lives of these fictional families in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, mean so much to you? Where do I begin? These characters relieve stress. No matter what goes on in life one can go to Pine Valley and clear their thoughts. I have created the requirements and functional designs for global enterprise systems. To do so, you create the system in your head first based on business needs. Until the formal requirements and design are written, every known detail of that system is stored in your head so you can address business, functional, design, integration, technical, regulatory, and other aspects of the system. Pine Valley is a place I can routinely go and clear my mind for a short period without affecting the still virtual system rolling around in my head. It is the pause that refreshes and rejuvenates. When going through difficult, challenging periods in life as we all do, Pine Valley is a temporary reprieve. Often, escaping to Pine Valley provides new perspective to real-life issues. These characters are part of the American culture and our heritage. Generations of families, including mine, have shared these characters’ stories. They often serve as a bridge. Pine Valley is the common ground that crosses generations, ethnic backgrounds, political, financial and social lines. As a consultant, I meet many people and often All My Children is the common thread that forges new relationships. The show has made stars of many actors: Ruth Warrick played Phoebe Tyler, the "Queen of Pine Valley." Beginning in episode #10, Susan Lucci has portrayed Erica Kane, the town's "bitch goddess" who seems to have been married close to a dozen times. Other actors come to mind: Michael Nader, Kelly Ripa, Josh Duhamel. Who are your favorites? My favorites – every single one of them! They all contribute, or have contributed, to the character of Pine Valley. Although not a regular character, my absolute favorite is Agnes Nixon for creating these and so many other wonderful stories. Some standout favorites, yes, Ruth Warrick – a star in her own right pre-Pine Valley was fantastic as Phoebe. We had a cat for sixteen years that was named Phoebe in honor of her character. It goes without saying that Susan Lucci is a long-time favorite. She is the reason I began watching the show. Thirty-three years ago, two male friends were so hooked on the show, Susan Lucci, and Erica Kane that it hooked me. Michael E Knight (Tad) is another favorite as well as Josh Duhamel, Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos, David Canary, the list goes on and on! Right now, every single actor on the show is my favorite because in spite of this impending doom of cancellation, each and every one of them is showing up every day and delivering professional, quality performances. It speaks volumes for each of them as individuals. Erica Kane supposedly had an abortion in 1973–possibly the first legal abortion in a script on American TV. Did this surprise you? Although I didn’t watch the show at the time, I certainly heard about it from others watching. I was thrilled to hear of the storyline. A few years earlier I had a teenage girlfriend who in desperation got an illegal abortion and almost died. The psychological effects were lifelong. Whether you believe in abortion or not, it will always beat the alternative of a back room butcher which some will feel desperate enough to choose with no alternative. Agnes Nixon is my hero for being brave enough to write that storyline. By the way – it turns out Erica DID NOT have an abortion after all. Years later, the son she was carrying showed up in Pine Valley. It seems the abortion doctor stole the baby for his infertile wife to raise. Only in the soap world! That is exactly what is so wonderful about them! Reality has no bounds in Pine Valley! According to various reports, "All My Children" is averaging 2.5 million viewers a day. That's down 9 percent from the last TV season, and not enough viewers to keep it on the ABC schedule. They are running a business. Why do you think they should pay attention to the fan protests? I question the accuracy of these reports and take exception to them. Most figures are based on Nielsen polls and ratings. There are less than 250,000 Nielsen boxes being used to poll households in this country today. There are over 200,000,000 viewers (that’s two hundred million) in this country and that does not include Canadian viewership. When numbers are gathered regarding viewership, it is based on receivers in a household, not number of viewers. For example, a household may have four adult viewers but one receiver box. Any cumulative information gathered from that box is going to be reported as one household which is going to translate to one viewer, not the two, three, four or more in multiple age demographics that are actually viewing. How does that accurately represent viewership? Sudz.Tv has initiated a Mail-In Coupon Campaign where they are collecting coupons from viewers that ask their service provider to either create or support a soap opera-based network. This campaign will produce the indisputable physical evidence of what Soapers want and the aggregate numbers from this campaign will help show actual interest in the show. Although I attended the April nationwide rally in Sacramento, CA, I will be supporting the June 20th rally from behind the scenes. While Fans United Against ABC rallies in over twenty cities across the country, thousands of us will be behind the scenes emailing, faxing, and calling affiliates to show that the people standing outside their offices each represent millions of viewers. We will be receiving updates during the rallies and relaying them via Twitter and Facebook. The goal of this rally is impact on Disney/ABC business-as-usual and spreading the word. If AMC leaves the air, "General Hospital" will remain as ABC's only daytime drama, meaning only four will be left on ABC, CBS and NBC's daytime schedule. What will you watch? I very rarely watch All My Children during the day. We DVR it and watch it when the family sits down for some quiet time together in the evening. We laugh together and discuss storylines as we watch. General Hospital will not remain on the air. We have seen every indication that a cancellation announcement is eminent. All My Children and One Life To Live will almost definitely leave ABC. For as long as General Hospital remains, many will leap to it when these shows end on ABC if they don’t already watch. Except for the three soaps, millions of viewers are turning their backs on all ABC programming. My focus right now is on saving these shows and the soap opera genre. As for a viewing alternative, it will depend greatly on what kind of support CBS and NBC shows this movement. Our future viewership will depend on it. We may end up putting our support behind all remaining shows and become viewers. My goal, and the goal of millions of others is to ensure that all of these shows find a new home where they can be stewarded properly. We are willing to put our viewer loyalty behind whoever steps up, but most importantly, we are willing to put our consumer purchasing power behind them. Hear us roar! |
  @inthearena on Twitter Last night was our final show. Thanks so much for your support. What will you miss most about the show? #cnn inthearena.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/04/mar…
Columnist Laura Washington and @nprscottsimon revealed their 50th birthday wishes for President @BarackObama. #cnn inthearena.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/05/50t…
#Debt commission co-chair Alan Simpson slams the "disappointing" debt deal, saying Washington is "dysfunctional." #cnn inthearena.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/04/deb…
Ben Stein says we may very well be headed towards a double-dip recession, but "things are not that terrible." #cnn inthearena.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/04/ste…
Our last show is 2nite, please join us at 8pm ET. One of our favorites was @FareedZakaria, who was on last night! #cnn inthearena.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/03/zak…
 |
© 2011 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Contact us | Work for us | Help
Hear US ROAR!! There is no stopping us now, ABC had no idea of the fury they were about to unleash, they thought we would go away. What they failed to realize is that many of us have been watching these shows for the majority of our lives and can't fathom a day without Erica Kane or Viki Banks. Soaps have more staying power than a reality or talk show and we are all aware of it, when it comes to daytime entertainment they need to start sinking the same money into it that they sink into prime time and stop purposely writing the shows into the ground, respect the history and respect the viewers. New Soap channel here we come!
Hear us roar!!!! We will never give up. We will support any network or cable station who will pick up these show. Pine Valley is here to stay. Angie, Jesse, Tad, Dixie, Erica and everyone else needs are help. It's time to keep show them how much they mean to us. They need us now more then ever. They still have so much left to say. They need a chance to say it.
I totally agree with you, Jessica. From the various blogs, I've learned that ABC is cancelling the shows due to the ratings. Well, many households today have both the husband and wife working. Therefore, most, if not all women (single and/or married), usually have to TiVo or record their soaps so that they can watch them at night. I, personally, work full-time so I watch my soaps on the SoapNet channel at night. I hope ABC saves the soaps, because, frankly, I'm getting tired of reality TV.
Flo is 100% right. ABC is disregarding approx 5 mil viewers between these 3 shows. I will change my channel and take my spending money elsewhere. Whoever steps up and supports soaps we will support you!
5 million viewers? If we suppose only one person is viewing these soaps, then they are throwing away 8 million that watch daily. If you count the ones who watch on Soapnet, then add in another 1.3 million. Now with those two added together they are throwing away at least 9.3 million daily viewers if only one person watches per household. Not counting online viewing and DVR. Estimates indicate at least 20 million viewers daily watch these shows. Good luck ABC with your new crap. I seriously doubt the new shows will command these type of numbers.
As a 27 year old that watched two soaps, As the World Turns and Guiding Light. It truly saddens me that Daytime Actors and Actresses do not get more respect than they do! How do you take shows that last as long as all these shows have and not actively work towards finding them a replacement home before you announce the cancellation! Just think of how many more people we are putting into unemployment? It's different to leave a show by choice but they are doing it by force, and it is unfair. It's unfair to the crews, the actors, and the many viewers that have spent their lifetime watching these shows! I would love to have my already canceled soaps back, at this point it would have to be reruns, but I hope we can save these soaps before they die! If you love soaps, or you know someone who did please print, share, and fil out the coupons on the website sudz.tv We really need as many as we can get. Attend the protest as well. Hit the Facebook soap saving groups! We need all voices! And thank you CNN for this beautiful blog.
I tape my Soaps during the day. I predict the new replacement shows will have a very short life. MILLIONS of professional people as well as the fortunate to be at home watch these daytime dramas, including many brainy and acclaimed actors. On rare occasion, I mean very rare, I'll tape the View and watch it at night. I won't need to tape a food show in the middle of the day, when cable will accommodate me at night, sans the need to tape. Loyalty pays. Mr. Fron's lack of it will come back to bite him I'm afraid..... there are no fans more devoted than soap fans! Boo to you! >:(
I seek for everyone to join together in the fight for our children teachers unions handicaps older folks who really needs staffs doctors nurses sir mr mark dayton is only one person so if everybody stands with us to pray that rich stop being lazy get off our disable children unions are not to pay for them to keep getting fat off them please understand i am one who beleives in if all come holding hands life can be stronger as one god bless peace for all amen
Oh also please stop all this talk about stopping our shows thats keeps our children life learn from every disney chan nick cnn you should understand it could be you next please a b c shows c b s ect only if everyone could think back how life was with out it hmm my grand ma told me how life was so hard than can you please hold faith amen
Whoa Debbie, you are out in left field aren't you? How did your rant pertain in anyway to what this article was subjected?
We fans have been watching these shows for 40 years, how many other shows have been on this long..we have growen up with these soaps and will fight to the death to save them...so hope some network will pick them up..if ABC/Disney will sell them cheap..since they don't want them...
I thank Flo so much for getting everything out there and her views are right on. I enjoy her facebook page. Flo and the members have been working so hard to save the soaps. I have been watching AMC for over 30 years and will miss my escape to Pine valley unless someone could pls pick it up. I will not tune in to ABC again. Disney is also cancelled.
We are United in Saving Our Soaps. This is the American way.... Thanks for all the people that is helping us save our soaps. We are also trying to save thousands of jobs. This is suppost to be the time to save jobs, not destroy them. I have stopped buying Hershey and all the sponsers of ABC, we will not buy from. Hoover is the best for supporting the fans. Thanks to everyone that is helping Support Our Shows...
NBC is trying to buy both for 100 million, half what ABC originally was demanding. Negotiations are still underway. NBC will own creative and broadcast control and Sony will package and produce in a joint venture. That is if ABC will make concessions.
retailme not and Printapon saves me lots of time and money and more than that it make the online shopping lot more fun when you get discount!!
I am a "Day Oner" for all 3 of the ABC soaps (I am 64). My maternal grandparents, mother, both my daughters and my grandaughter are (or in my grandparents and mother's case were) lifelong fans. That's five generations of loyal viewers.
Years ago, I broke my back (and am virtually crippled) have a severe heart condition, If ABC takes AMC/OLTL or GH, they I will NEVER watch that channel again. What they are contemplating is heartbreaking.
Thank you Flo and CNN for doing this
Obviously there is a large number of consumers out here who are not being satisfied–a ready-made market just waiting to be tapped. With all the many television networks and channels out there, I cannot believe that some bright business person out there can't find a way to profitably continue this genre. Whether it involves pay-per-view or subscription or reduced number of shows per week or other cost-saving measure–whatever. I feel sure there is a way to do this. Ideally someone could purchase the rights–if ABC would agree (which they may not out of spite), or alternatively someone could create new soaps employing many of our favorite actors. I just think there must be a way for someone to make money off this existing, loyal, dedicated fanbase. I do fear ABC may make the cost prohibitive for purchasing the rights or refuse to sell altogether as they have shown no interest in pleasing or respecting the fans. This is why I think it might be necessary to create new soaps–although my first choice would be to keep AMC and OLTL going.
I have been watching "All my Children" since it began. When I worked, I would record it and watch in evening. When cable came out, I always made sure I had the Soap Channel so if I missed an episode I could see it. It has always been a stress reliever and a topic of conversation with friends and family. Now days, we talk about Reality TV and how sick we are of it. Most are either boring, violent, vulgar or just plain silly. It's pretty sad that these decisions are made to get rid of soaps but I never got a say nor did anyone else. I do not plan to watch the new shows nor will anyone else that I know. Something has to be done! If ABC will not back down, Why can't the Soap Channel become a basic free channel and all soaps continue there? They show the repeats now at night. Just make it so all fans have access!
I completely agree with Flo and the rest of the soap fans. We rely on these shows. I started watching when i was about 7-8 years old with my mom! I'm going to be 27 and i still watch. The only time i missed my show is when the storm knocked my power out for a week!!!! Even then i came back and DVR'd the week of it on SOAPNET! Come on the guys have their sports the women need their soap operas to keep them sane day to day!!!!!
Flo is absolutely 100% correct, and ABC I have to ask does whoever is running things over there half even half a brain in their heads? Look I see it this way even if they didn't want to keep the shows on ABC itself there is no reason whatsoever to get rid of soapnet, they could have carried their crappy reality shows on ABC until they inevitably fail and sink while continuing oue soaps on soapnet, but noooo they want to turn soapnet into yet another childrens channel when they are all over the disney networks talking about how kids need to be more fit and healthy and stay active hippocrates. Their pockets are getting fatter off of their contribution to obesity and laziness in our youth they would rather them sit behing a screen eating chips and candy with a soft drink in their hand watching more tv so they can make money rather than continuing these quality and loved stories to millions of fans across the country. They could have had children, soap fans, reality fans but no they are being stupid and cancelling our shows and not only being stupid but selfish as well refusing to sell to another network because they know damn well how many fans there really are and that the fans would follow the shows so they lease the rights to someone like prospect park who ultimately was going to dismantle them anyway so they could continue to collect off of the fans while someone else was doing the work and not even good work instead of freeing our shows to a network that would do the shows and the fans justice. Something just doesn't add up for me if they don't want to be in the soap industry anymore why won't they sell? I think we all already know they would rather them die than see them thrive somewhere else where someone else is making money and getting the viewers and ratings from them.