News
ABC Daytime Jilts Carly Phillips
By Mala Bhattacharjee • Posted: Apr 22, 2011
Fans from all walks of life have been devastated by the April 14 cancellation of ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE — and New York Times best-selling romance author Carly Phillips is among them!
"I am a dedicated ABC soap opera fan dating back 35-plus years," Phillips tells Soap Opera Weekly. "I've been through the older ones that are long gone, but I could always count on AMC, OLTL and GH."
Phillips has written more than 25 novels, including Harlequin's March release Hot Item, and this September's release from Berkley, Serendipity.
She credits soap operas with helping her writing process, saying their influence "has been profound. For example, people know I have a writing connection to Kelly Ripa, who chose The Bachelor as the first romance ever on a nationally televised book club.
"What many people don't realize is that I had watched Kelly since her Hayley Vaughan days on AMC. I thought her character was so well-defined and fleshed out — strong yet vulnerable. There are so many positive things daytime TV offers to people; women in particular. Not just the fantasy escape — which romance novels also offer — but the trials and tribulations of real problems and issues, and how a well-written character overcomes them. I've learned from it as a writer. I will miss these shows and characters and feel their loss deeply.
"I just don't know what I am going to do with my afternoons; how I will write without them in the background," admits Phillips. "'Devastated' doesn't begin to describe how I feel. And betrayed."
Phillips acknowledges that she is far from the only person to feel so strongly — and that ABC Daytime fans are just the latest group to suffer the loss. "For years, soap fans have stood by while other people's favorite soap operas were canceled. It's a pity we didn't do more than think, 'There but for the grace of God go I,' because now, as ABC soap opera fans, we are in that same position," she sighs. "AMC and OLTL gone with one fell swoop? Short-sighted is putting it mildly!
"We hear all the time that ratings drive network decisions. However, what about those of us who record and watch later? Those who watch on SOAPnet later at night or on the weekends? There is legacy in soap operas," asserts Phillips. "There are people whose lives and incomes are intertwined with the medium. There are other occupations that thrive on soaps: magazines and romance writers like myself. I don't know what I will do with my afternoon hours, but I can tell you I will not watch ABC," stresses Phillips. "I won't watch anything the network puts on as a replacement. There are things in life that cannot be replaced. Soaps are one of them."
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I am so glad you posted your opinions on the canceling of these shows. Brian Frons thinks we all sit on our butts all day and eat bon bons...I hope he loses his job over this garbage. I ahve been out of work and it is no picnic trying to get a new job but I know I can do a better job at this than him and I have no experience with programming, but sometimes I think I could definately pick better shows than the executives do that only get canceled...they need to ask us viewers what we think about all these shows...
I am boycotting ABC until they change their minds except for my soaps hope they lose lots of money on their new decisions..
Ms. Phillips, you are so right about the soaps, they mean so much more to our group of people who just watch the" Soaps" They bring us hope, laughter, and a little escape. And they bring up so many of lifes challeges and issues we face today. I have been watching both shows since 1970. I have taped every show and I have even been to NewYork twice for the AMC fan club luncheons. All the actors are amazing . I am devasted and betrayed. Mr. Frons is so wrong by this decision. I will not watch any other soaps after January. I'm planning to cancel My Soap Opera Digest in January even though I have 2 more years on my subscription. I have not watch GH since the late 80's.
I too will watch GH, but nothing else ABC puts out. BUT I think that GH will get axed also. Maybe not for another year, but I think ABC wants to get rid of all soaps otherwise why pul the plug on the Soapnet channel for another kiddie channel?
Please someone (s) re-generate All My Children and One Life to Live- Not purchase them- rename them. Hire/ Pull together cast & crew . Get Ms. Agnes Nixon's support. Get studio space and a channel to air. Get Sponsers. Rename the soaps for legal pruposes and continue on with the characters we have loved for "All these Decades"
Gone have been the days, apparently some one decided, that grandma or ma or dad or grandpa could sit down and actually introduce their children or grandchildren to their soaps. (That next generation of soap viewers) Soaps are about stories and characters- Agnes Nixon knew that when she created them. People watched (and before that listened). Soaps have never been about darkening the sets and jerking "real TV" camera movements. Or any other gimmicks that some one individual decided to foist on millions of viewers. They've been about having good, solid writing and writers that are or are willing to familiarize themselves with the characters of their show and yes sometimes push the bounds. It's been about the countless actors and actresses that have created these memorable characters that have enriched or sometimes filled our lives. It's been about the staff and crews that have tirelessly brought these stories to life. This is so beyond sadness for any one given person or any one show. It is a sad time for Television. Please, someone(s) – Pull together and save story telling at it’s finest. – regenerate theses soaps!
I've posted a lot of comments about Brian Frons taking AMC and OLTO off the daytime slots they are in and inserting yet more uninteresting talk show drivel to replace it.
I had forgotten that not only will the actors/actresses in the soaps be without employment, but also the people who write and produce it along with everyone who works daily in sound and camera, makeup, wardrobe, etc.
I'm sorry if I missed anyone who works to get the soaps out to we viewers who appreciate their hard work and effort each day.
I thought this was noteworthy because of Brian Frons stupid decision to inflict yet more garbage in the way of boring talk shows and so-called self-improvement shows.
I hope someone makes Brian Frons watch his "new" shows every day, for months and months.
I enjoyed your article very much. Soaps are more than just stories; one can learn from them too. I remember learning about Autism from AMC for example. I hope you'll contine to watch GH.
Since you base a lot of your books on the soap backgrounds, try watching mun2 (mun dos) channel 42 in NYC. They have certain stories with English sub titles and the are well worth it. Also, there's East Enders - a British soap on WLIW (Ch. 21) in NY.
ABC is so wrong in doing this but money is everything in so many businesses. I've watch GH and OLTL from the very beginning as well as AMC.
I think everyone should boycott the shows that are replacing AMC and OLTL and post on their FB and Twitter accounts asking everyone on there to boycott them too.
No worries! I will NEVER stop watching GENERAL HOSPITAL! :)
Ms. Phillips, please do not stop watching General Hospital.....in my opinion, ABC/Disney and Fronz are looking for an excuse to cancel GH. If the ratings slip, GH will be the next soap to go with the wind.
I myself have watched the soaps with my grandmother and mother, I purchased my first VCR in 1975 and taped my soaps...a few of my friends also purchase VCR's (Beta's) and we each would tape a different soap - on weekends we would exchange tapes. I've always taped and now DVR my shows to watch at night - I'm not one of those counted by Nielsen but I am a loyal watcher and I'm devastated at the rash of cancellations....AW, GL, ATWT and now AMC and OLTL.