While I agree they get too much airtime, they aren't in four episodes this week. According to the day by day spoilers, they are each on 2 days other than the special Valentine's show. Valentine's however should have included more of the cast. Casey is related to Johnny and so far it appears he isn't part of it.

The ironic thing is that most (but not all!) of these favorites you mentioned are favorites of TPTB, but from what I read on other soap boards throughout the net, are NOT favorites of most fans. If they're not super huge fan favorites, then why are they on over and over and over and over again? It's time we all faced the fact that TPTB could care less what fans think, for the most part, and do what they want. The interesting thing is that many primetime shows that I watch do take into account fan feedback and switch things up when things aren't working, but that seems to be an extremely rare occurrence on this show.

Plenty of offliners watch ATWT and enjoy Paul, Meg, Dusty, and Craig.

If the sum total of who is posting on a soap message board was an accurate count of actual fans, soap Nielsen ratings would be even lower than they currently are. It's not a high enough number.

People online are vocal, that doesn't necessarily make them the majority.

People who post on message boards represent a sample of the viewing audience, of course, but not the entire viewing audience. From what I've read, there are people that post on boards that represent a vast variety of different people. Are these samples of people that post online representative of the entire population of viewers? We would have to ask a statistician that question. As the sample of people on message boards is the largest sample of opinions that I or I can imagine you or anyone else can get, I think that that's the best way to infer what the general viewing audience thinks of the show. While it might not be 100% representative of the entire viewing audience, it's probably the closest thing we can get.

This problem of using the same 5 characters endlessly while using the 20+ other cast members as filler has been a problem on ATWT for years now. This show has ALWAYS been horribly unbalanced. But sadly, there's nothing we can do about it. TPTB will always have their favorites and THEY will always be the ones the writers will focus on.

Me being a Nuke fan in particular, I've learned that you have to set the bar much lower. They'll never have 18-22 episodes a month like Craig or Dusty. But the least I can do is hope to see Luke and Noah go from 4-6 episodes a month to around 7-10. That seems like a more realistic goal....sometimes.

Quote:As the sample of people on message boards is the largest sample of opinions that I or I can imagine you or anyone else can get, I think that that's the best way to infer what the general viewing audience thinks of the show. While it might not be 100% representative of the entire viewing audience, it's probably the closest thing we can get. I don't think I agree with you on this, NoahFan. Posters on message boards are a particularly motivated kind of fan; they take the active step of starting (or joining) conversations, and often (but not always) have a particular axe to grind -- in the sense that they want to discuss something. A far greater number of fans constitute a "silent majority" of folks who just watch the show and don't post to forums or write letters to magazines or call networks. Forum posters are, in a sense, "superfans," and "regular" fans' opinions may or may not match. The point being, I'm not sure that one can suggest that Paul & Meg (to pick a couple at random) are wildly popular (or unpopular) just because they have a lot of partisans on the boards. Those fans may be vocal but that doesn't make them representative of the greater pool of viewers.

Quote:This problem of using the same 5 characters endlessly while using the 20+ other cast members as filler has been a problem on ATWT for years now. This show has ALWAYS been horribly unbalanced. But sadly, there's nothing we can do about it. TPTB will always have their favorites and THEY will always be the ones the writers will focus on. Me being a Nuke fan in particular, I've learned that you have to set the bar much lower. They'll never have 18-22 episodes a month like Craig or Dusty. But the least I can do is hope to see Luke and Noah go from 4-6 episodes a month to around 7-10. That seems like a more realistic goal....sometimes. Exactly. I don't understand how the same 5 characters constantly being frontburner while the other 20+ characters being filler is good for the show at all. All the fans who are fed up with those few characters on the frontburner get bored and tune out. Then you have all the other characters that are so lacking character development, good writing, screentime that nobody can possibly even try to care about them. You can't try because all anybody can feel is frustration, causing them to stop watching. What good is a show with only 5 of the same people on the frontburner and all the other characters are wasted?

Quote:There is no reason for Craig, Paul, Meg, and Dusty to be on almost every single day for weeks and months on end. This week, they'll all be in four episodes. The Valentine episode is all about them. I am already sick of these characters. It is overkill. The main focus on these four is just looking like blatant favoritism now and is killing the show. I agree 100%. Anyone who can't see it is in deep denial, or on ATWT's payroll

Quote:Plenty of offliners watch ATWT and enjoy Paul, Meg, Dusty, and Craig.If the sum total of who is posting on a soap message board was an accurate count of actual fans, soap Nielsen ratings would be even lower than they currently are. It's not a high enough number.People online are vocal, that doesn't necessarily make them the majority. ITA, and the same can be said for other soaps as well. Loud does NOT equal Majority. Most viewers do not post about what they like or don't like, they simply tune in when they like what is happening and tune out when they don't. That is the "silent" vote that TPTB would be wise to keep in mind.

Sounds to me you do not like these actors because they are extremely instrumental to the show. RH, GM, MW, or let me just use the character's names, Paul, Meg, Craig, Jack, Lucy, Carly, who else did you say oh yes and Dusty. Could it be that they are the crux for the show. Not the gay dudes, or the other teens. could it be that the ones who watch this show has been watching it for many,many,many years????? Maybe you can't or don't want to understand many of us want to see true, every day life in the suburbs. Yes, Gay people exist but me I don't really care one way or the other. The Bible states that homosexual is forbidden, look at Sodom and Gormorrah. I would love to see Nancy, Kim, Bob, Susan, and of course THE FAVORITES because they are what makes this a show. If you don't like it, turn to GL or AMC!!! I'm sure you will find what you want there. Maybe that is why GL is going off the air.

No it is not. The Powers That Be knows what is what and they know that Paul, Meg, Dusty, Lucy, Jack, Carly, Craig, Janet and the rest is what is having people turn to the show. The rest is just ashes in the wind. I love Kim, Bob, Lucinda, Damian, Barbara who is very sick at the moment (but I'm sure you could care less). These are the people who made this show and the rest of the peons on trying to hang on. I just pray that ATWT's does NOT go off the air because people like you want other junk to show. I hope the monitors will not remove my response but they probably will cause I just might offend you. Tuff!!! Maybe I'm offended by your post!!

Again, Mandee, you are in aworld of your own! The ones that are on most of the time are the ones that bring in the viewers. Not the Lukes, Noahs, Parkers etc. Maybe you should just go to another show and get off of ATWT's. It's apparent you are not a fan of the show. It's not just about one or two couples. It's about those who bring in the most fans. Get a grip!

You know I happen to be a Carly,Jack,Craig, Paul & Meg fan but am also a fan of Luke & Noah as are many other people out there so I don't believe that mandee is in a world of her own.

Let's remember to keep discussion respectful. Everyone has a right to practice their religion, but we encourage posters to not impose those beliefs onto others.Thanks.

I don't believe it's favoritsm that is killing the show. It's the storylines as a whole.It's creating engaging stories that enhance characters without CHANGING the characters. I think alot of writers today, have lost what made soap opera's so great in the past, in order to try and create shock value. With that, we end up getting no character or couple growth, instant storylines that are never truly explored to their fullest potential and are over before they even began. And finally, the ruination of a beloved character or couple.To me, Soap Opera's have always been about 'romance'. I don't see much romance going on at ATWT, hopefully that will change AND SOON.But hey, I'm not bitter or anything.

Of course favoritism isn't the only thing that is "killing" ATWT, but I do think it plays a part. With a more balanced show there is a chance you will like at least a good part of it. IIt's different when one story is on 3-4 times a week all the time when you don't like that story. There's a bigger chance of people skipping those episodes.I think the show should go back to at least 3 storylines a day. I would lie if I didn't enjoy it when Nuke gets 22-24 minutes of airtime in an episode, but for the show overall I think it's better if there are more stories in an episode. The chance that you like at least 1 or 2 of the other stories that day is bigger. I'd think there would be less skipping this way.

I totally agree they need at least 3 stories in a day. It is way too easy to just skip a show this way with only 2 stories and if it is getting 22-24 minutes of a show, and you don't like it then why watch? It only becomes more painful to me. I was terribly bored last week with so much focus on the kidnapping story. I like the characters in it with the exception of the twins but the execution was horrible and I think the characters could have been used in a much more interesting story. It could have been a much more powerful story if it focused on the Lily/Damian and Luke/Damian relationships and the effect of that on Holden. We need character driven and not plot driven stories.