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Entire Cast of Days of Our Lives being released from their contracts

Come the end of November, Days of Our Lives is going on hiatus for four to five months. Show is releasing all the actors from their contracts during that period.

Don't worry, show will still continue to air during that time. Days films so far in advance, they have 8 months worth of shows already filmed. So, viewers can continue to watch the show every day (except when preempted for impeachment hearings).

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by Anonymousreply 197November 18, 2019 1:44 PM

Please release me, let me go.

by Anonymousreply 1November 12, 2019 3:45 PM

Has such a thing ever HAPPENED before??

What is the world coming to???

by Anonymousreply 2November 12, 2019 3:47 PM

Where's the "I can't believe you posted this, OP" troll when you really need him?

by Anonymousreply 3November 12, 2019 3:47 PM

By firing everyone, if they decide to resume production they can offer the actors a lower salary in a "take it or leave it" scenerio

by Anonymousreply 4November 12, 2019 3:50 PM

This is apparently a tragedy of triple proportions.

by Anonymousreply 5November 12, 2019 3:54 PM

More detail:

Reps for NBC and Sony declined to comment for this story. A Sony source, meanwhile, tells TVLine that the studio is not involved in the contract negotiations with the cast. “The actor deals are through Corday Productions,” explains the insider, referring to Days‘ production company. A spokesperson for Corday Productions, meanwhile, did not reply to TVLine’s request for a comment.

An insider cautions that because Days shoots eight months in advance, the show will have enough episodes in the can when it stops production at the end of November to last through Summer 2020. If NBC does renew Days, production is expected to resume in March. But by releasing the contracted cast members from from their commitment to the show, producers have no guarantee who — if anyone — will return.

“It’s actually a shrewd — if cynical — business move,” sniffs one insider. “If Days gets picked up, [Corday] can offer the actors new contacts at a reduced rate and with a ‘take-it-or-leave’ it attitude. Worst case scenario, they lose half their cast. Best case scenario [for Corday], everyone agrees to return at a lower salary.”

Despite the gloomy turn of events, a source tells TVLine, “All indications are that NBC would like to keep the show going.”

The news comes as Days is shaking things up on-screen. This week, the soap is fast-forwarding the narrative by one year. “This is a great way to reset things in Salem,” executive producer Ken Corday told TVInsider.com of the time jump. “It will be a catalyst for many more [changes] to follow.”

by Anonymousreply 6November 12, 2019 3:57 PM

Back in the day Deidre Hall was such a superstar she had a 52 week cycle with a two episode guarantee. So if she was on her old contract, TPTB would still have to pay her. But now that she has a "no frills" contract, she is being given the heave-ho like everyone else.

by Anonymousreply 7November 12, 2019 3:57 PM

I am shaking!

by Anonymousreply 8November 12, 2019 3:59 PM

Dee Hall could always go back to Y&R. She played nurse Barbara Anderson during the show's first year in 1973.

Can you imagine what Melody Thomas Scott would do if they brought Dee over?

by Anonymousreply 9November 12, 2019 4:01 PM

Time to cancel this shit show.

by Anonymousreply 10November 12, 2019 4:01 PM

I never watched Days and haven't watched any since AW went off the air in '99, but it's sad to see another soap die. There was something special about them, once upon a time.

by Anonymousreply 11November 12, 2019 4:09 PM

Crap entertainment for dumb housewives. And I do mean DUMB.

by Anonymousreply 12November 12, 2019 4:13 PM

Why do they tape 8 months in advance?

by Anonymousreply 13November 12, 2019 4:18 PM

[quote] Why do they tape 8 months in advance?

To save money and cut costs

by Anonymousreply 14November 12, 2019 4:20 PM

Yahoo!

by Anonymousreply 15November 12, 2019 4:21 PM

They've been filming 8 episodes a week for over a decade and taking a week off once a month. Thus, it has gradually built up that they are now 8 months in advance.

by Anonymousreply 16November 12, 2019 4:22 PM

Which will be last standing: Y&R or GH?

by Anonymousreply 17November 12, 2019 4:23 PM

bring back One Life to Live

by Anonymousreply 18November 12, 2019 4:23 PM

Last standing will be B&B because it does so well overseas.

by Anonymousreply 19November 12, 2019 4:23 PM

Probably B&B r17.

by Anonymousreply 20November 12, 2019 4:24 PM

Days of Our Lives is an American institution. I hop it survives. And it’s a hell of a lot more entertaining than other shit talk show or shit cooking show.

by Anonymousreply 21November 12, 2019 4:24 PM

God, that show's so shit I forgot about it... yes, B&B will be last show on the air.

by Anonymousreply 22November 12, 2019 4:25 PM

If Greg Vaughan needs any consoling over this decision, I am available.

by Anonymousreply 23November 12, 2019 4:31 PM

[quote]R9 Can you imagine what Melody Thomas Scott would do if they brought Dee over?

What if they also brought Melody Anderson?? (“We’re just trying something out...”)

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by Anonymousreply 24November 12, 2019 4:33 PM

I’ve ignored DOOL posts for years. Could not care less. But this is interesting. Seems like some third rate channel would pick it up - for pennies. Just have to get some fame-starved actors to play the roles. Which is easy. Thousands making minimum wage would do it just to be on TV.

by Anonymousreply 25November 12, 2019 4:38 PM

[quote]R12 Crap entertainment for dumb housewives. And I do mean DUMB.

You slur every poster here with that remark. And I most certainly RESENT it!

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by Anonymousreply 26November 12, 2019 4:40 PM

R25 The unions would never allow soap stars to work minimum wage (at least not in 2019-2020).

If that was the case, then all of the cancelled soaps over the past 30 years would be making an affordable comeback (which they aren't).

by Anonymousreply 27November 12, 2019 4:41 PM

But what about my stories?

by Anonymousreply 28November 12, 2019 4:46 PM

I watched it for a couple of years. I think it was in Nicole stole Sami's baby era. It's sad all the soaps are going. The writing is terrible though. To think it really wasn't too long ago that there was a entire cable channel devoted to them. I miss OLTL, I used to watch that on Soapnet and it was the best of the bunch.

by Anonymousreply 29November 12, 2019 4:46 PM

They’re definitely going to end up losing a few of the younger cast members. They’ll end up on another soap or something at The CW.

by Anonymousreply 30November 12, 2019 4:47 PM

According to reports, DOOL is the #1 show watched on NBC.com

(even beating all of their prime time shows) so it at least has that accomplishment going for it.

by Anonymousreply 31November 12, 2019 4:50 PM

They shoot 8 episodes in 1 week (five work days)? Crazy. I hope those actors get paid per episode and not time.

by Anonymousreply 32November 12, 2019 5:03 PM

I've often wondered why they do not run the soaps in prime-time. I've also wondered why they do not switch more to a telenovela format where the show runs a limited run. They could bring back all the old ones and rotate them throughout the year. The soaps today still move too slowly for viewing habits.

by Anonymousreply 33November 12, 2019 5:04 PM

R33 here - I also meant to add that they should also return to being 30 minutes.

by Anonymousreply 34November 12, 2019 5:05 PM

There’s already been a thread on this OP. Would it have killed you to have done a search first before you posted this? I mean really? What’s wrong with having a little consideration for others and doing a search first? Would it really have been that hard? Would it?

by Anonymousreply 35November 12, 2019 5:09 PM

Suzanne Rogers is going to star in the 50th Anniversary revival of "Follies", while Bill and Susan S. Hayes are going to revive Bill's 1953 Broadway hit, "Me & Juliet".

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by Anonymousreply 36November 12, 2019 5:16 PM

[quote] Crazy. I hope those actors get paid per episode and not time.

Union rules is that actors are paid per episode - however they do not get paid, until the episode airs. So for the next 8 months, the actors will still be receiving a pay cheque everytime one of their episodes air.

by Anonymousreply 37November 12, 2019 5:21 PM

Can we have a guest appearance by Linda Evans as Linda Anderson before this goes off the air?

by Anonymousreply 38November 12, 2019 5:24 PM

Soaps seem like such an anachronism. I can't even imagine people at home during the day watching them, with all the modern distractions available. Who is the audience now (besides Datalounge caftans)?

You'd think they'd have gone the way of game shows and faded by now.

by Anonymousreply 39November 12, 2019 5:30 PM

[quote] I've often wondered why they do not run the soaps in prime-time. I

The reason why the Soap in the UK continue to thrive is that they are (1) only 30 minutes (2) air in the 7:00 to 8:00 time-period - because of being in that time period, they can continue to maintain a viewership, unlike in the USA being in the afternoon less and less people watch TV at that time.

Back in the mid-80s they tried to copy what the UK did by syndicating a soap (Rituals) with the intention of encouraging as many of the stations to air in that 7 to 8 PM timeslot. However it was a ratings disaster and stations quickly moved the soap to afternoon or late evening.

Honestly Soaps are a dead genre, it will never make a comeback because people viewing habits are that they want instant gratification. And soaps are just slow to hook people in that fast,

But Tyler Perry is finding some success with his tele-novelas he is producing for the OWN network. So maybe soaps going to cable and doing a limited run, might be the future.

by Anonymousreply 40November 12, 2019 5:31 PM

Do you know how much actors on soaps make per episode compared to actors on normal shows r37? I read guest stars ~10k, series regulars 20-100k, leading actors 80-500++k All depending on network, success, seniority and number of episodes of course. But soap stars wont get that much if they shoot 8 episodes per week.

by Anonymousreply 41November 12, 2019 5:37 PM

[Quote]I can't even imagine people at home during the day watching them, with all the modern distractions available.

My guess is that people watch them while doing housework or cooking etc. You can easily follow but don't really have to pay attention or miss anything. I would prefer sitcoms, a news channel or even a talkshow though.

by Anonymousreply 42November 12, 2019 5:42 PM

I doubt NBC will cancel the show since, as some upthread mentioned, it does so well on NBC.com, especially since they are getting ready to launch peacock.

by Anonymousreply 43November 12, 2019 5:43 PM

I can't even imagine it's lasted as long as it did.

by Anonymousreply 44November 12, 2019 5:44 PM

NBC doesn't own DOOL, Sony does.

by Anonymousreply 45November 12, 2019 5:47 PM

The great thing about soaps is that unlike other shows where you binge watch them and then wait months or even a year for more episodes, you don’t have to wait for more episodes of soaps.

by Anonymousreply 46November 12, 2019 5:49 PM

R41 day players (guest stars) would get paid scale - everyone else gets paid about six figures - we are not talking 500K, but in the 100K range. Some of the vets probably make 250K a year. Nobody is being paid higher than that, In heyday Deidre Hall was making 1 million dollars a year. Susan Lucci 3 million a year. NO ONE is making million dollar salaries anymore.

by Anonymousreply 47November 12, 2019 5:49 PM

R45 yes but unless Sony can somehow shop it to another network it depends on NBC to renew it

by Anonymousreply 48November 12, 2019 5:50 PM

R48 no one is going to buy Days

by Anonymousreply 49November 12, 2019 5:52 PM

Maybe some of the actors will now take jobs where they have to do nudity

by Anonymousreply 50November 12, 2019 5:53 PM

My point is why should NBC continue to pay Sony for this product. Yes NBC will have Peacock soon, but it wants to use it to air content it owns. NBCU can simply let DOOL die and create something new for peacock, that it owns. They may try for a weekly soap opera or something.

by Anonymousreply 51November 12, 2019 5:54 PM

[quote] NBCU can simply let DOOL die and create something new for peacock, that it owns. They may try for a weekly soap opera or somethin

NBC complaint has been they cannot make money off of Days through merchandising or other means, other than ad revenue. They kept the relationship because of its valuable demo to women 18-34. But now that the audiences have shrunk over the years, they see no reason to continue the relationship.

by Anonymousreply 52November 12, 2019 5:57 PM

Days is sooooo screwed up from the fat guy and also now carlivatti there’s just really no hope. I mean a show like GH with the ice princess has been able to find its way back but days is just so out there. And truthfully the gay storylines have eroded much of the audience. I can only watch B&B now because a half hour is it for me. And B&B is just good old stupid soap opera.

by Anonymousreply 53November 12, 2019 5:57 PM

[quote]. I can't even imagine people at home during the day watching them, with all the modern distractions available.

I doubt the majority of the audience is watching them in real time. There's this thing called a DVR...

by Anonymousreply 54November 12, 2019 6:07 PM

R51 Maybe, NBC will just buy out Sony.

by Anonymousreply 55November 12, 2019 6:29 PM

With Ken Corday currently suing Sony why would they now feel inclined to go out of their way to try to shop Days to another network.

by Anonymousreply 56November 12, 2019 6:41 PM

R56 Plus, he is the one behind this, since according to the reports all the actors contracts are through Corday Productions. I could see Sony just wanting out and selling out to NBC to let them deal with Corday.

by Anonymousreply 57November 12, 2019 6:45 PM

[quote][quote]Back in the day Deidre Hall was such a superstar she had a 52 week cycle

Well, I guess that WOULD save money on tampons.

by Anonymousreply 58November 12, 2019 7:35 PM

Somewhere, a tired Ted Turner sits back in his chair, clicks a pen shut, shakes his head and sighs.

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by Anonymousreply 59November 12, 2019 7:43 PM

R58 Don't get into a pool with Ms. Hall.

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by Anonymousreply 60November 12, 2019 7:44 PM

It's been alleged that NBC in one of Days recent renewals that one of their demands was that tv licencing fees for the show be lowered because the ratings for the show sucked.

by Anonymousreply 61November 12, 2019 9:52 PM

It seems like the show is over. They'll probably bring their core cast back to wrap up three storylines.

by Anonymousreply 62November 12, 2019 9:54 PM

Don't let DOOL die. The serial story genre must continue.

by Anonymousreply 63November 12, 2019 10:03 PM

Chandler Massey says it's not over.

by Anonymousreply 64November 12, 2019 10:03 PM

[quote]Chandler Massey says it's not over.

Why? Because Chrissy Metz's album hasn't dropped yet?

by Anonymousreply 65November 12, 2019 10:11 PM

As this appears to be the decision of Corday Productions and not Sony, it would look like Corday just gave Sony grounds for a counter suit of their own. Recently, much of Corday's suit was dismissed.

Does anyone know exactly how the ownership of the show is structured?

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by Anonymousreply 66November 12, 2019 10:17 PM

You really don’t expect me to wear a yellow ribbon until it returns, do you?

by Anonymousreply 67November 12, 2019 10:29 PM

So, I went and read the lengthy legal document in my link a R66. Apparently, it is fully established that Corday solely and completely owns DAYS, with Sony acting solely as a third party distributor between Corday and NBC. Also, NBC pays around $775,000 a week to air DAYS. So what I could see happening is Sony making a deal with Corday, where he drops the remainder or his suit and they cancel all agreements between them. Then Corday and NBC can make a deal directly with one another, with NBC/Comcast becoming the distributor for the program and providing studio space. Since NBC would now be able to better exploit the show, across their multiple platforms, for revenue they might consent to keep the weekly fee stagnate.

by Anonymousreply 68November 12, 2019 11:00 PM

People magazine is reporting Days will most likely be renewed.

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by Anonymousreply 69November 12, 2019 11:30 PM

Really?! In that huge cast only ONE person of color??!!

by Anonymousreply 70November 12, 2019 11:33 PM

R70 Looking at that picture I see two African Americans, maybe three, one Latino, and one that is at-least partly Asian.

by Anonymousreply 71November 12, 2019 11:40 PM

That photo is also at least three years old.

Show currently has 3 African American actors on contract, several more recurring.

Has two Latino actors on contract.

by Anonymousreply 72November 12, 2019 11:43 PM

R47 I read when Sami left DOOL she was making $30,000.00 a week or $1.5 million a year.

Rumor had it Alison wanted a raise & when they refused her, she left the show.

by Anonymousreply 73November 12, 2019 11:47 PM

With 8 months worth of episodes in the can, that means they've filmed episodes that will air well into July.

But televised impeachment hearings could preempt the show a lot in the coming weeks. So, those 8 months worth of episodes could get stretched out for 9 months or more.

Also factor in the Summer Olympics, which are July 24 to Aug 9, which should also preempt episodes. So, those 8 months worth of episodes could get stretched out for 10 months.

by Anonymousreply 74November 12, 2019 11:49 PM

The show does miss Sammi. She was played out and annoying.

by Anonymousreply 75November 13, 2019 12:04 AM

TV soaps are a slowly dying genre rooted in another media era. I think some uk soaps will be in danger within less than a decade given the rate at which they are losing viewers and or their dying older viewers are not replaced by younger viewers.

by Anonymousreply 76November 13, 2019 12:11 AM

The show has stumbled along since Sami and EJ left.

[quote] TV soaps are a slowly dying genre rooted in another media era.

I loved them back in the day, but people just have so many other options. So many "nighttime" shows (US or UK) have serialized stories that scratch that itch of characters you can follow. Hell, even the agony porn of shows like Criminal Minds and SVU have at least some elements of serialization.

by Anonymousreply 77November 13, 2019 12:15 AM

It was rumored that Dee demanded a raise or she would leave and that's why several of those nuteens and a few staff members were eventually fired. Just to help pay for her raise.

by Anonymousreply 78November 13, 2019 12:16 AM

R77 The problem is that the seasons now are so short and with much too long between them. Take the Netflix Mexican soap House of Flowers, I binge watch a season in a day, then I have to wait a year or more for the next season, by which time I have forgotten what happened last season. At least with a soap, I never have to worry about that happening.

by Anonymousreply 79November 13, 2019 12:22 AM

R77 Yes it's not looking good for their long term future. In the uk tv executives really killed the goose that laid the golden egg by oversaturating arguably overexpising soaps and quickening viewer indifference and their demise.

by Anonymousreply 80November 13, 2019 12:30 AM

I agree with the above poster that the suit may be a ploy between Corday and NBC to have Sony sever ties so NBC can buy the show. I also think this cast release story was an intentional plant to drum up interest. it has been picked up by just about every news organization and every story references the time jump. As is said, there’s no such thing as bad publicity.

by Anonymousreply 81November 13, 2019 12:32 AM

If the show gets $775,000 a week then that comes to $155,000 an episode.

Does anyone know how the budget breakdown goes? Cast? recurring actors? sets? wardrobe? crew?

by Anonymousreply 82November 13, 2019 12:33 AM

I want to create a Kickstarter Campaign to turn it into a serialized podcast if nothing else!

by Anonymousreply 83November 13, 2019 12:54 AM

I'd like to see Dee Hall on GH as a Carly recast. Get rid of Laura Wright and bring in Deidre Hall. She and Mo would have great chemistry.

by Anonymousreply 84November 13, 2019 1:10 AM

[quote] I read when Sami left DOOL she was making $30,000.00 a week or $1.5 million a year.

No way she would be paid that much, soaps were being cancelled left and right during the time she left and NO ONE at that time was making over 1 million dollars a year

by Anonymousreply 85November 13, 2019 1:14 AM

[quote] It was rumored that Dee demanded a raise or she would leave

They fired her once, and if she did that, TPTB would say "bye-bye"

by Anonymousreply 86November 13, 2019 1:15 AM

Allison Sweeney thread (she & hubby are outed as repubs supporting Mitt R.)

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by Anonymousreply 87November 13, 2019 1:41 AM

I don't go by these celeb salary sites but I can't find where Sweeney made $1.5 million a year.

I read all the print soap digest mags but I'm drawing a blank on them as well.

I guess this is the closest I'm going to get tonight=

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by Anonymousreply 88November 13, 2019 1:45 AM

YAAAAAAYYYYY!!!

No more freakin' Drake Hogestyn, or however you spell his name. THE worst actor in the history of television, with his 'Squinting and Whispering School of Acting'.

by Anonymousreply 89November 13, 2019 1:46 AM

That's hilarious R88. At the bottom of the link it has a little ticker showing how much Sweeney has made since you've been on the page!

by Anonymousreply 90November 13, 2019 1:48 AM

I always remember a traumatizing episode from the late 1960s, on which Susan with bangs and a flip was arguing with her husband, and her toddler fell off the back yard seat swing. I cried hard, I tell you.

by Anonymousreply 91November 13, 2019 1:52 AM

I think one thing they just want to do is get the taping caught up. I also think it's to Corday and NBC's advantage to get Sony out of the picture. I also think NBC pulls this shit for publicity.

by Anonymousreply 92November 13, 2019 3:43 AM

More importantly, does Deidre Hall's pussy stink and what size tampons do you think she wears?

by Anonymousreply 93November 13, 2019 3:45 AM

They're trying to slash costs so it makes financial sense to move the show to Peacock when it debuts next year.

by Anonymousreply 94November 13, 2019 3:52 AM

They can't move it to an online only platform because of the people who watch it on their lunch hours at work and OTA. They watch it at the nail salon where my mom gets her nails done. Remember Deidre Hall does have a smelly pussy and does use sanitary napkins as opposed to tampons.

by Anonymousreply 95November 13, 2019 4:01 AM

[quote]They can't move it to an online only platform because of the people who watch it on their lunch hours at work and OTA

An audience that is shrinking and dying. Streaming is the only option for growth (along with the illusion that the viewership will cover the budget of shooting five hours of show a week).

by Anonymousreply 96November 13, 2019 4:06 AM

It time to just put the soap opera genre out to pasture. It’s a dated concept that just isn’t interesting or relevant to most people today.

by Anonymousreply 97November 13, 2019 4:07 AM

R96 you really are stupid. That's the final nail in the coffin.

by Anonymousreply 98November 13, 2019 4:17 AM

If you had told me in 2010 that DOOL would still be standing in what is nearly 2020 I would have laughed at you.

Time for this POS to go.

by Anonymousreply 99November 13, 2019 4:39 AM

So, culturally, what has changed to make it not relevant anymore?

Saying cause it's a piece of shit is not an answer.

by Anonymousreply 100November 13, 2019 4:52 AM

Days won't likely add a build up during the hearings; if a show's pre-empted they tend to show it late at night and then just keep going.

But multiple back to back pre-emptions might change that procedure.

by Anonymousreply 101November 13, 2019 5:07 AM

R96 you stupid piece of shit. Think how awful AMC and OLTL did in their online only revivals. The existing soaps just aren’t ready for that. There’s still a core older audience that doesn’t want to watch all young kids or dvr or watch it online. So shut up.

by Anonymousreply 102November 13, 2019 5:26 AM

R100 High-speed internet and reality TV. Pre-2000, soap operas helped bored people temporarily escape their boring lives by watching characters live glamorous lives and get caught up in scenarios that seemed scandalous. Now we live in a world where people can watch reality TV stars do the same things, only it’s real life and twice a scandalous, making soap operas not seem shocking at all anymore. Plus, with high-speed internet and WiFi, people have a multitude of options and ways to entertain themselves at any given moment instead of watching a boring stuffy soap opera.

by Anonymousreply 103November 13, 2019 5:37 AM

[quote]Union rules is that actors are paid per episode - however they do not get paid, until the episode airs.

What? Where did you get that? I am a union actor and I guarantee no such provision exists! The actors are paid weekly as one would be in any other job, none of this "when the episode airs" foolishness!

by Anonymousreply 104November 13, 2019 5:50 AM

[quote]Think how awful AMC and OLTL did in their online only revivals.

They were online only revivals financed by an underfunded startup company on an obscure website a decade ago.

NBC is launching Peacock, their streaming service, and they need as many marquee brands as they can get to draw eyeballs. That said, they have the whole NBC catalog and the backing of a megacorporation.

And today a lot more grandmas know how to access the internet how than when AMC and OLTL failed online.

Streaming is growing, broadcast is shrinking, and that's not going to change.

by Anonymousreply 105November 13, 2019 5:54 AM

The short-lived OLTL and AMC online versions aired in 2013. The world has changed a lot in the six years since then. More people are used to the concept of streaming now. Even many of the older viewers who make up the core audience for soaps.

Not sure if there is enough of an audience for Days to survive online only. But its much more likely to be a success now than in 2013.

by Anonymousreply 106November 13, 2019 10:00 AM

There's fucking 300 channels, clearly one could pick it up.

by Anonymousreply 107November 13, 2019 10:05 AM

I don't even watch soaps, but I still think this is sad. It's the end of an era.

by Anonymousreply 108November 13, 2019 10:07 AM

The Devil made them do it.

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by Anonymousreply 109November 13, 2019 10:08 AM

I'd really like Days to succeed on a streaming platform so someone would revive the shows I used to watch with my mom: As the World Turns and Guiding Light.

by Anonymousreply 110November 13, 2019 11:04 AM

[quote] What? Where did you get that? I am a union actor and I guarantee no such provision exists! The actors are paid weekly as one would be in any other job, none of this "when the episode airs" foolishness!

You better brush up on your Union book, because on soaps actors have been paid PER EPISODE since soaps began in the 1950s and that hasn't changed from then to 2019 - They have NEVER been paid weekly. Producers and networks would LOVE to pay actors weekly (as it would be another cost-cutting measure) but that would bust Union rules.

by Anonymousreply 111November 13, 2019 12:01 PM

Point 1: R111, I think you are confusing the point. Yes, you are right actors do get paid by the episode, but they still get a once a week paycheck just like everyone else. Shows aren't writing actors one check per episode. If an actors appears in 3 episodes for a week, he will get a check the following week or whatever the pay schedule is, for those three episodes. An actor with a contract knows what his or her salary will be for the year. The rate and episode count is all negotiated before contracts are signed. And because of budgets, actors rarely exceed their guarantee these days.

Point 2: The ABC shows that were streamed failed because 1) Streaming was still in its infancy and 2) Prospect Park had no idea what it would mean to produce a soap opera. They could not make the financials work. 3) Soap opera is designed for a niche audience and it requires a commitment. Streaming shows have 8-13 episodes a season. It's a quick binge watch and then you're done until the next season. Take make soap opera work on a streaming platform, you would have to completely reimagine what you currently consider a traditional soap. The storytelling and basic DNA would have to completely change. And soap fans have proven that they don't like change all that much.

by Anonymousreply 112November 13, 2019 1:15 PM

I just can’t follow this thread anymore.

by Anonymousreply 113November 13, 2019 3:26 PM

So how long do we give the soap genre and are us soaps more vulnerable to the axe sooner than UK ones?

by Anonymousreply 114November 13, 2019 3:28 PM

Wasn't there a Soap channel at one time?

by Anonymousreply 115November 13, 2019 3:39 PM

I understand the problem with renewal is the breakdown of contract negotiations with Macdonald Carey.

by Anonymousreply 116November 13, 2019 3:54 PM

Dee was once the highest paid actor on Days but at some point it's alleged that Alison surpassed her and became the new highest paid person on the show and that allegedly Dee didn't like that. Ken Corday is part of the reason why James and Alison decided to the show.

by Anonymousreply 117November 13, 2019 5:30 PM

R116 Frances Reid is making donuts to pass around to the cast and crew in consolation. There's a special drugged one especially for Drake Hogestyn because his acting hasn't improved since 1986, and frankly, Ms. Reid is sick of it.

by Anonymousreply 118November 13, 2019 5:52 PM

Frances Reid has actually been contracted to return to her first soap, "Portia Faces Life", although they are changing the last word to reflect current times.

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by Anonymousreply 119November 13, 2019 5:54 PM

[quote]Dee was once the highest paid actor on Days but at some point it's alleged that Alison surpassed her and became the new highest paid person on the show and that allegedly Dee didn't like that. Ken Corday is part of the reason why James and Alison decided to the show.

Dee was fired and off the show for a few years. When they hired her back it was for a much lower paycheck but a girl has to pay the mortgage.

by Anonymousreply 120November 13, 2019 7:25 PM

R112 but what about those popular WEEKLY primetime soaps?

Soap fans loved them, and they were THE most popular shows globally, during the 80s

by Anonymousreply 121November 13, 2019 7:25 PM

What about the Bell soaps, on CBS? how are they doing. Aren't they sold to overseas markets, where they do well? They look pricey to produce.

by Anonymousreply 122November 13, 2019 7:38 PM

sometimes it's not about the money so much as it is -- as someone really smart in the industry says to actors -- 'having a place to go to on Tuesday'

by Anonymousreply 123November 13, 2019 8:47 PM

The soap genre could easily thrive on streaming. Yes, the format would need to be retooled completely: a 10-13 episode story arc once or twice a year. Reboot one of the old ones like Secret Storm with the original characters. You could even do a Days reboot with the original Horton family played by new actors.

by Anonymousreply 124November 13, 2019 9:33 PM

Would that really be classed as a soap that 12 13 episode block format?

by Anonymousreply 125November 13, 2019 10:04 PM

R93, she’s 72 years old. What use would she have for a tampon?

You should be asking, what size Depends does she wear?

by Anonymousreply 126November 13, 2019 10:27 PM

These shows should have gone to 30 minutes two decades ago. More of them might have survived.

by Anonymousreply 127November 13, 2019 10:48 PM

Bring back Dark Shadows!

by Anonymousreply 128November 13, 2019 11:00 PM

[quote] Bring back Dark Shadows!

I'm sure someone's looking into it

by Anonymousreply 129November 13, 2019 11:03 PM

R127, they all used to be 30 minutes.

R125, I don’t know that there’s a strict definition of a soap opera, beyond “melodramatic serial originally sponsored by a soap company.” There’s nothing that says they have to be on for an hour every weekday for decades.

by Anonymousreply 130November 13, 2019 11:04 PM

R127 Some of the soaps in the UK have far too many episodes and its damaged the quality enormously.

by Anonymousreply 131November 13, 2019 11:04 PM

[quote] they all used to be 30 minutes.

Yes, darling, I know. And they need to be that short again, to possible get people to watch, either after a long day or work or on their commute home.

by Anonymousreply 132November 13, 2019 11:06 PM

I wouldn't say that the AMC and OLTL revivals failed on streaming, if you go back and look at it, they were regularly among the top ten programs on itunes, and seemed to be doing very well on hulu. They failed because they were produced by a startup that couldn't finance or manage them. They also got good ratings on Canadian broadcast tv and OWN here in the US, but they both dropped them because Prospect Park cut the number of episodes which violated their contracts for four to five episodes of each per week. NBC and Corday would be much more likely to correctly manage DAYS, whether on NBC, Peacock, or both. I doubt they would move it only to Peacock, at least at this time. They want to be able to exploit it over multiple streams to earn as much money as possible, much like CBS is able to do with Y&R and B&B on both CBS and CBS All Access.

R128 The CW is considering it.

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by Anonymousreply 133November 13, 2019 11:10 PM

[quote]Yes, darling, I know.

Listen, if you don’t lay off that bitchy queen shit, I’m gonna come over there and fuck you.

by Anonymousreply 134November 13, 2019 11:13 PM

[quote]they all used to be 30 minutes.

Actually, some of them used to be FIFTEEN minutes.

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by Anonymousreply 135November 14, 2019 1:50 AM

R135 I think fifteen minutes would work well again, you could watch them as five 15 min daily episodes or one 75 min weekly episode.

by Anonymousreply 136November 14, 2019 1:54 AM

Yes, it was a revolutionary idea in April 1956 when As the World Turns and Edge of Night both debuted at a whopping 30 minutes, twice as long as any of the other soaps on the air.

by Anonymousreply 137November 14, 2019 1:55 AM

R130 I remember when "Love of Life," "Search For Tomorrow," "Valiant Lady," "Hawkins Falls," and "The Brighter Day" were fifteen minutes.

by Anonymousreply 138November 14, 2019 2:01 AM

R125, Agnes Nixon began her soap writing career under the tutelage of Irma Phillips.

by Anonymousreply 139November 14, 2019 2:05 AM

r138 is one ancient elder gay.

by Anonymousreply 140November 14, 2019 2:09 AM

R138 You can go on Internet Archive and re-live those days. I love watching the old 15min soaps on there, since I never got to experience them.

by Anonymousreply 141November 14, 2019 2:13 AM

Nightly network newscasts used to be 15 minutes as well.

by Anonymousreply 142November 14, 2019 2:46 AM

People saying soaps are a relic, network newscasts are really the unneeded relics that serve no purpose, anymore.

by Anonymousreply 143November 14, 2019 2:50 AM

r139 Irna

by Anonymousreply 144November 14, 2019 3:13 AM

I first began watching Days when Alex Marshall and Sister Marie Horton found out that their daughter Jessica Blake had split personalities, one of them being the promiscuous Angel, who was trying to fuck serial killer Jake Kositchek. Good times.

by Anonymousreply 145November 14, 2019 3:27 AM

Does anyone know, do they pay MacDonald Carey's heirs for each episode, for his voiceover?

by Anonymousreply 146November 14, 2019 3:33 AM

R146, my guess there was a buyout; there was a buyout I think when Michelle Stafford continued to strut that gorgeous figure of hers at the end of the YR opening credits.

by Anonymousreply 147November 14, 2019 3:39 AM

FCF would like your attention.

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by Anonymousreply 148November 14, 2019 3:48 AM

Fat Fuck Freddie!

by Anonymousreply 149November 14, 2019 4:18 AM

Obviously posters on this thread have only a few grains of sand left in their hour glass.

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by Anonymousreply 150November 14, 2019 4:46 AM

R146, True Story. I went to LA for a seminar back in 1997. Went to the local grocery store where a lot of B-list TV and so-called movie stars shopped (can't remember the name). On the way out, who should be heading in but McDonald Carey. A homeless guy was sitting near the entrance, asking everyone who passed for spare change.

Carey, projecting theatrically to the non-existent back row, looked at him and said, "Oh go fuck yourself," and proceeded to head in for his quart of Jack Daniels.

by Anonymousreply 151November 14, 2019 5:54 AM

R151, well, that must have been a neat trick; DAYS characters come back from the dead on air, but not so much off-screen.

Carey died in 1994.

by Anonymousreply 152November 14, 2019 6:11 AM

Kristian Alfonso posts on Instagram that you should read the news but not 'THAT' report -- referring to the TV Line article.

Has SHE read it?

It says all the cast is being taken off contract, NBC wants to renew the show, and that the show is in the power position in that it can lowball out of work actors when they renegotiate or the actors are in the power position b/c they can go off to another show.

What in 'THAT' story is wrong?

by Anonymousreply 153November 14, 2019 6:23 AM

Well, this is awkward r151. Hope you did not tell that fancy fake story very often.

by Anonymousreply 154November 14, 2019 6:25 AM

Oltl and AMC were really the first online series. Or at least the first to shift from traditional TV to online. This was even before House of Cards dropped on Netflix. Nobody really knew how it would work out, and it didn't.

Prospect Parks biggest failure was relying on its own website and iTunes. I should have partnered with Hulu. But even Hulu did not have original programming then.

Today, ABC would shift them to Hulu.

by Anonymousreply 155November 14, 2019 6:26 AM

Okay R152, so I goofed on the year. It was 1991, my bad.

by Anonymousreply 156November 14, 2019 6:38 AM

R143 I think their both in their different ways are equally on track to becoming irrelevant relics.

by Anonymousreply 157November 14, 2019 7:04 AM

I see what you did there, r154.

by Anonymousreply 158November 14, 2019 11:22 AM

R156, six years is a LOT of sand in the hourglass.

by Anonymousreply 159November 14, 2019 11:59 AM

[quote]network newscasts are really the unneeded relics

And yet they're watched by more people than CNN, MSNBC and FOX combined.

Just as DOOL is still watched by more people than the vast majority of prime time cable shows.

by Anonymousreply 160November 14, 2019 12:06 PM

R160 I didn't say they weren't watched, just that nightly newscasts are un-needed, between cable news channels and the internet, we can get news every minute of every day.

by Anonymousreply 161November 14, 2019 1:01 PM

The cable news channels tend to focus on one or two stories each day to the exclusion of others. If you want a nice 30 minute summary of the day's events, the nightly network news is still the best place to get it.

by Anonymousreply 162November 14, 2019 1:19 PM

[quote]between cable news channels and the internet, we can get news every minute of every day.

Which is one of the reasons we're in the mess we're in now. Just one example -- in the interest of feeding the gaping maw of 24/7 news, cable and the Internet elevated the Hillary Clinton email story way beyond it's importance.

We were better off with a half hour of national news each night and a populace that read newspapers.

by Anonymousreply 163November 14, 2019 2:25 PM

Just FYI, the latest thread being used for P&G soaps talk has been paywalled.

by Anonymousreply 164November 14, 2019 2:34 PM

Muriel is such a hate-filled bitch.

by Anonymousreply 165November 14, 2019 2:37 PM

R164, perhaps someone could let Aunt Liz know, and she could start a new Midwestern Marvels thread. Thanks.

by Anonymousreply 166November 14, 2019 2:59 PM

[bold] #Justice4TheSalem300

by Anonymousreply 167November 14, 2019 3:07 PM

Send to streaming, add ass shots for the hot guys, more people will watch

by Anonymousreply 168November 14, 2019 3:29 PM

Network newscasts are also irrelevant because the shows are taped and shown on a three-hour delay in the West. That wasn't a huge deal 50 years ago, but with the population shifts in the intervening decades, they no longer make sense.

by Anonymousreply 169November 14, 2019 4:30 PM

As for the public caring about news, it was reported this morning that so few people watched yesterday's Impeachment Hearings that 75 stations returned to regular programing after one hour. We can learn what happened on the 6 o'clock News.

by Anonymousreply 170November 14, 2019 5:12 PM

[quote]they no longer make sense.

They’ll make sense as long as millions of people are watching them.

by Anonymousreply 171November 14, 2019 5:16 PM

[quote]As for the public caring about news, it was reported this morning that so few people watched yesterday's Impeachment Hearings that 75 stations returned to regular programing after one hour.

Where did you hear this? Fox News?

Please provide the link.

by Anonymousreply 172November 14, 2019 10:49 PM

[quote]They’ll make sense as long as millions of people are watching them.

No one cares about how many people are watching -- it's the type of people that advertisers are trying to target that matters.

by Anonymousreply 173November 14, 2019 11:07 PM

13 million people combined watched the Impeachment Hearings yesterday.

When was the last time DOOL (or any soap) got 13 million viewers?

by Anonymousreply 174November 14, 2019 11:43 PM

New P&G Magnificent Midwestern Cities thread at link.

Thanks for alerting me it was needed.

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by Anonymousreply 175November 15, 2019 12:42 AM

With the exception of Deidre and Drake who seem to have nothing else to do, are the rest of the cast members just going to sit around for months waiting to see what happens or are they going to look for work elsewhere? If it’s the latter, some of these actors may not even be interested coming back if they get gigs elsewhere.

by Anonymousreply 176November 15, 2019 9:04 PM

Hollywood isn't exactly clamoring to hire soap actors, R176.

by Anonymousreply 177November 15, 2019 9:14 PM

R176 They would have to be extremely lucky. Billy Flynn was off for months this year and still ended up coming back. Christopher Sean has been gone for more than a year, and all he's really got is his voice acting for Star War Resistance.

by Anonymousreply 178November 15, 2019 9:20 PM

R177 I don't know, I mean how many big names started on soaps?

A lot

Including some people like Kathy Bates and Ed O'Neill, who you wouldn't expect, but we're "soap actors" at one time

John Aniston did an interview a few years back where he talked about acting alongside Christmas Reeve, just before he was hired as Superman, on the long cancelled soap Love of Life, Reeve played bigamist Ben Harper, in the mid 70s for a few years

by Anonymousreply 179November 15, 2019 9:27 PM

But Lifetime is r177 for one of their frau movies.

by Anonymousreply 180November 15, 2019 9:37 PM

[quote]r179 how many big names started on soaps? A lot ... Including some people like Kathy Bates

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by Anonymousreply 181November 16, 2019 12:11 AM

Christmas Reeve...

by Anonymousreply 182November 16, 2019 2:06 AM

I know R182.

by Anonymousreply 183November 16, 2019 7:45 AM

Kathleen Turner, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Bacon and Julianne Moore (seriously) all got their starts on soaps.

by Anonymousreply 184November 16, 2019 11:43 AM

actors like paul telfer (and before him shawn christian) have movies and night time tv credits to their resume for years now.. christian has found consistent work since he left days and i have no doubt telfer can and will do the same.. as for the other actors younger or older on days, not so sure..

i actually thought that shawn christian and now telfer are "too good" for a daytime soap...

by Anonymousreply 185November 16, 2019 12:09 PM

[quote] I don't know, I mean how many big names started on soaps?

They represent a tiny fraction of people who appeared on soaps.

How many actors who were regulars when AW, ATWT and GL ended did we ever see again? Precious few.

by Anonymousreply 186November 16, 2019 6:04 PM

Jesse Lee Soffer (Will Munson) has been on the "Chicago" TV shows consistently.

Billy Magnussen (Casey Hughes) was in the film Into the Woods and the TV show Kimmie Schmidt among other things.

Meridith Hagner (Liberty Ciccone) starred on Search Party on TBS.

Not to mention Michael Park in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway.

by Anonymousreply 187November 16, 2019 6:17 PM

You've listed four out of 100+ actors who were contract or recurring on three shows. Throw in OLTL and AMC and the numbers get even worse. My "precious few" stands.

by Anonymousreply 188November 16, 2019 6:24 PM

I listed ONLY those from ATWT (because that's the one I know). At the end there were maybe 30-35 actors on contract. More than 10% were not only "seen again" but have been seen fairly regularly.

by Anonymousreply 189November 16, 2019 6:26 PM

The stigma of soap acting has lessened over the years. It's no longer the deal breaker that it once was. Casting agents are looking for people with social media followings, who can learn their lines, and hit their marks. Many soap actors bring all three to the table.

Good acting is important and soap acting really is a different beast, but any actor who is lucky enough to get chosen for any gig can adjust with the proper rehearsal time and a good director.

And lastly, soap acting is not easy. Shooting 81 pages a day with minimal rehearsal time and without the ability to fine tune scenes and motivations would be tough for even a Meryl Streep.

by Anonymousreply 190November 16, 2019 6:27 PM

R182, Christmas Reeve was Christmas Snow's cousin.

by Anonymousreply 191November 16, 2019 8:21 PM

it's all a roll of the dice.

Look at the women of ATWT: Parker Posey, Meg Ryan, Marisa Tomei and Julianne Moore.

I thought some of them would do well after soaps, but all four? Two having Oscars?

Well, I thought Julianne would. Seriously.

But, seriously, you can never tell who's going to hit and who won't.

by Anonymousreply 192November 16, 2019 8:24 PM

[quote] And lastly, soap acting is not easy. Shooting 81 pages a day with minimal rehearsal time and without the ability to fine tune scenes and motivations would be tough for even a Meryl Streep.

True. It is one of the reasons Joan Collins didn't stay on GL longer. She said she didn't realize just how difficult it is.

by Anonymousreply 193November 16, 2019 8:44 PM

R181 Five years before, Kathy played Phyllis, an old friend of Sara Dancy's on "The Doctors", who was a bridesmaid at her wedding to Mike Powers.

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by Anonymousreply 194November 18, 2019 12:39 PM

Kathy shared a few scenes with another future megastar on "The Doctors".

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by Anonymousreply 195November 18, 2019 12:40 PM

Sorry to say “Days” has seen better Days. The writing sucks!

by Anonymousreply 196November 18, 2019 1:42 PM

Soap writing in general has a fan gurl mentality to it. When veteran adult characters start to speak like that, you know they must be cringing when they get the scripts.

by Anonymousreply 197November 18, 2019 1:44 PM
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