The Soapgeist - Dec. 7/09

SOAP CEMETERY
As The World Turns cancelled!
This just in — As The World Turns, the long-running daytime drama, will complete its final season on CBS in September 2010. CBS has decided not to renew the show for the 2010-11 broadcast season, thereby ending its 54-year run on the network.

“Throughout our history, As The World Turns has remained dedicated to sharing compelling stories that have entertained fans for more than five decades,” said Executive Producer Chris Goutman. “We are disappointed and saddened by the news that the show is not being renewed. It will certainly be a loss for all of us, and for the show’s loyal audience.”

“As The World Turns has been a cornerstone of our business and a tremendous asset to the company,” said Brian T. Cahill, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, TeleNext Media, Inc. “We are proactively seeking a new outlet to carry the show, and are open to exploring innovative formats and relationships that will enable the future success of ATWT.”

The epitome of multi-generational, serial storytelling, As The World Turns has been entertaining generations of fans for more than half a century. The show boasts a well-loved and long-tenured cast, including actress Helen Wagner (Nancy Hughes) who spoke the first words on the première broadcast of ATWT in 1956. To this day, Nancy is still at the helm of the Hughes family, earning Wagner the distinction of portraying the longest-running character in television history. Other veteran cast members still on the show today include Eileen Fulton (Lisa Grimaldi) and Don Hastings (Dr. Bob Hughes) who each have played their characters for 49 years; Marie Masters (Dr. Susan Stewart) with 41 years; and Kathryn Hays (Kim Hughes) who has starred on the show for 37 years.

As The World Turns has tackled many contemporary themes over the years, including AIDS, Alzheimer’s, alcoholism and more, while remaining true to the show’s rich history and realistic characters. In 1988, the serial made history by introducing daytime television's first gay male character, Hank Eliot (played by Brian Starcher), for which it was honored at the first annual GLAAD media awards in 1990. Created by Irna Phillips, As The World Turns premièred on April 2, 1956 as a 30-minute live television show, unprecedented at the time for a soap opera. Top-rated from 1959 to 1971, it was the first daytime serial with its own spinoff, Our Private World, which aired in prime time. The show switched to color on 1967, and expanded from a half hour in length to one hour in 1975. Over the years, ATWT has been awarded numerous accolades, including 58 Daytime Emmy awards. Set in the fictional Midwestern town of Oakdale, As The World Turns launched the careers of many now-famous Hollywood celebrities, such as Dana Delaney, James Earl Jones, Julianne Moore, Parker Posey, Meg Ryan, and Marisa Tomei to name a few.

SUDSIEST QUOTES FROM THE WEEKEND
“The future of soaps [lies] in the hands of the fans — where it belongs.”
—Gotham creator Martha Byrne to Lana Nieves on the explosion of soap web shows
Translation: And not in the incapable hands of P&G/TeleNext.

Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan): “Wait! Is that a Daytime Emmy?”
Whoopi Goldberg harrumphs: “It still counts! A girl’s gotta eat!”
—Whoopi Goldberg on an awards show-themed 30 Rock episode this past week when Tracy questions her “Emmy win” because it’s a Daytime award
Translation: Bitch, suck on it! Julianne Moore, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Anne Heche aren’t complaining!

WEEKEND SUDS FLASHES
Wheeler heads to World Turns! Thank you, Frank — One Life’s Hunt axed! Gotham welcomes more soap vets!
• OMFG: Several set sources confirm that show-killer Ellen Wheeler (Another World, Guiding Light) has been hired by World Turns as a “director.” One furious actor tells Soapgeist, “It’s a nightmare. You know we’ll be cancelled now!” Never thought I’d say this — but I hope Christopher Goutman is never let go. Only in soaps, folks, only in soaps! Good luck, Oakdale. You’ll need it now.

• First Chuck Pratt and now this: Soap Opera Digest columnist Carolyn Hinsey wrote on her Facebook wall that she was hearing Crystal Hunt was fired from One Life. Soapgeist can confirm the hair model was indeed let go late last week. It’s a done deal. Party at my house! Has Brian Frons had a brain transplant? And did TVGuide.ca pay for it?

• Mark Teschner who? Emmy winner Martha Byrne is angling for a casting Daytime Emmy Award! As we hinted in Suds and Soapgeist this past week, Kurt McKinney has joined the cast of Gotham. This past weekend, Welovesoaps.net broke the news that McKinney, who is best known for his roles as GL’s Matt and GH’s Ned, will be playing the role of Liam Kelly (cool name, BTW, Martha!). Roger Newcomb also reported that former World Turns star Melanie Smith has also been added to the lineup as Claire, Catherine’s sister. The next episode will air tonight at 8 p.m. ET. “Gotham will air every second Monday,” Byrne tells Soapgeist.

• Newcomer Kimberly Matula has been cast in the role of B&B's future slut, Hope. She will first air on Jan. 11. Is Sean Kanan next? We’re not telling.

• D’oh! A former GL director told the audience at this past weekend’s Las Vegas event, So Long Springfield, that had Guiding Light been cancelled just one month earlier, Lifetime would have picked the sudser up. “The main problem was that Lifetime had already cemented their fall lineup, but they wanted it,” he said. April Fool’s Day, indeed!

SOAPS SYLLABUS
The Loving murders — This is how you write a murder mystery, folks!
Inspired by TVGuide.ca’s news that Lisa Peluso is joining the cast of Gotham, Daytimeconfidential.com’s founder Luke Kerr posted the riveting and brilliant denouement of the Loving murders. Wow. If you want to be reminded of how great soaps used to be, even a low-rated one, then watch these chilling, thoughtfully written episodes. You go, Christine Tudor!
 
AWARDS SHOW CENTRAL
Fancy Face and the Former Psychic on 30 Rock
In one of the best-written episodes of the fall season, Tina Fey tackled the EGOT-phenomenon (artists who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Awards) for us awards-show geeks! For dessert, DAYS’s Peter Reckell and Kristian Alfonso appeared during the Emmy-worthy show’s epilogue with a hilarious bit. Once you watch it, click here for the astute observations of Theenvelope.com’s award show queen, er, king, Tom O’Neil.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK James Franco’s GH mug shot This is what happens to your face when you star on a soap opera!

WEB SHOW OF THE WEEK
Venice finally debuts …
… and it’s ah-mazing! Did. Not. Disappoint. Congrats to everyone involved. The production, lighting, sound, acting and writing were all spectacular. Most importantly, I felt for the first time I was finally given a proper Otalia send-off through watching life and post-sex with Gina and Ani. Heaven has a cushy pad all reserved for Crystal Chappell! I’ll have a more in-depth review after a few more episodes air. Brava! P.S. How dreamy is Galen Gering in HD? Very! By the way, La Chappell tells Soapgeist that Venice will air out every Friday at 8 p.m. PT. So stay tuned.

Plus, according to Welovesoaps.net’s Roger Newcomb, these are the amazing results from the Venice love this past weekend:

YouTube Honors for this video:
#1 - Top Favorited (Today) - Entertainment
#8 - Top Rated (Today) - Entertainment
#9 - Most Discussed (Today) - Entertainment
#18 - Top Favorited (Today)
#70 - Most Discussed (Today)
#92 - Most Viewed (Today) - Entertainment - Germany
#97 - Most Viewed (Today) - Entertainment - Australia
#64 - Most Viewed (Today) - Entertainment - Canada
#79 - Most Viewed (Today) - Entertainment - New Zealand
#94 - Most Viewed (Today) - Entertainment - Israel
#50 - Most Viewed (Today) - Entertainment
#64 - Most Viewed (Today) - Entertainment - Spain
#55 - Most Viewed (Today) - Entertainment - Netherlands
#68 - Top Rated (Today)
#39 - Top Rated (This Week) – Entertainment

DYKE AND GREET
Lea DeLaria’s Big Gay Toronto Adventure
Scott Evans who? Out One Life actress Lea DeLaria will be appearing at Toronto gluten-free/organic resto/bar Big Mamma’s Boy on Dec. 10-13 and then from Dec. 17-20 for variety dinner show with Maggie Cassella, international comedian and former producer of Planet Soap. Click here Surf over to for times and prices. Yep, I’ll be there, so don’t be shy and say hi!

SUDS POLL
Who should we name ‘09’s Entertainer of the Decade? Click here to make your pick!
—Deidre Hall, DAYS
—Eric Braeden, Y&R
—Crystal Chappell, DAYS/GL/Venice
—James E. Reilly, DAYS/Passions
—Mr. Kitty, Y&R
—Alison Sweeney, DAYS
—Hogan Sheffer, World Turns
—Martha Byrne, World Turns/Gotham
—Michelle Stafford and Joshua Morrow, Y&R
—Steve Burton, GH

THE IDIOT RATINGS — Nov. 23-27/09
Winner: DAYS is still KING year-to-date! Suck on that, Brian Frons!
Loser: One Life and World Turns still battling it out for last-rated soap!
Numbers are based on Live+Same Day ratings
(Compared to Last Week/Compared to Last Year)

Total Viewers
1. Y&R 4,908,000 (+91,000/-201,000)
2. B&B 3,200,000 (-30,000/-622,000)
3. DAYS 3,100,000 (-24,000/+369,000)
4. GH 2,667,000 (+12,000/-286,000)
5. AMC 2,618,000 (+87,000/-91,000)
6. OLTL 2,461,000 (-67,000/-299,000)
7. ATWT 2,416,000 (+31,000/-399,000)

Households
1. Y&R 3.6/12 (+.1/same)
2. B&B 2.3/7 (same/-.3)
3. DAYS 2.2/7 (-.1/+.2)
4. AMC 2.0/6 (+.1/same)
4. GH 2.0/6 (same/-.2)
6. OLTL 1.9/6 (same/-.2)
7. ATWT 1.7/6 (-.1/-.2)

TOPS OF THE DECADE
Who were the standouts in Y2K?
Every Monday, Soapgeist will be rolling out the top shows, actors, couples and storylines until ’00 decade is officially over. See if you agree. This week? Best Villainesses from the new millennium. My buddy Michael Fairman of On Air On Soaps is weighing in as well.

15. Vanessa Bennett, AMC
14. Janet From Another Planet, AMC
13. Liv Locke, Port Charles
12. Claudia Zacchara, GH
11. Annie Lavery, AMC
10. Ava Vitali, DAYS
9. Carmen Santos, GL
8. Alison Perkins, One Life
7. Stephanie Forrester, B&B
6. Helena Cassadine, GH
5. Tabitha Lennox, Passions
4. Tess Brennan, One Life
3. Sheila Carter, Y&R/B&B
2. Patty/MJ Williams, Y&R
1. Ellen Wheeler, GL’s Executive Producer
Dishonourable Mention — One Life’s Stacy Morasco
Reader’s Choice — Barbara Bloom, CBS VP — tie — Marlena the Serial Killer, DAYS

THE NELSON RATINGS
Can’t watch all the soaps this week? No worries — here’s a cheat sheet!
 
Top 4 Soaps to Watch:
1. Venice, You Tube/Venicetheseries.com
2. Days of our Lives, NBC/Global
3. Gotham, Gothamtheseries.com/You Tube
—tie — As The World Turns, CBS/Global
 
Top 3 Storylines to Watch:
1. Nicole’s Go-Straight-To-Jail Card, DAYS
2. Bo and Hope: Mayan Ruins, DAYS
3. Snyder White Female, World Turns
 
Top 6 Actresses to Watch:
1. Crystal Chappell (Carly, DAYS)
—tie — Crystal Chappell (Gina, Venice)
3. Louise Sorel (Vivian, DAYS)
4. Jessica Leccia (Ani, Venice)
5. Martha Byrne (Catherine, Gotham)
6. Sarah Brown (Sandy/Agnes, B&B)

Top 5 Actors to Watch:
1. James Franco (Franco, GH)
2. James Scott (EJ, DAYS)
3. Billy Miller (Billy, Y&R)
4. Tom Pelphrey (Mick, World Turns)
5. Roscoe Born (Mitch, One Life)

Top 3 Most Entertaining Performers:
1. Louise Sorel (Vivian, DAYS)
2. Amanda Setton (Kim, One Life)
3. Robin Strasser (Dorian, One Life)
 
Top 4 Duos to Watch:
1. Fish and Kyle, One Life
2. Laura Wright and Brian Frons, YouTube
3. Henry and Brad’s ghost, World Turns
4. Tiger Woods and Austin Peck

Top 3 Rivals:
1. Nicole vs. Sami, DAYS
2. Mitch vs. Llanview, One Life
3. Franco vs. Jason, GH

Top 3 Triangles to Watch:
1. Carly/Bo/Hope, DAYS
2. Sami/Rafe/EJ, DAYS
3. Sonny/Olivia/Johnny, GH

Top 3 Guilty Pleasures:
1. “Nut Meg” Snyder, World Turns
2. Brad finally being “inside” of Henry, World Turns
3. How stupid P&G/TeleNext is! Heck, they should be awarded an Olympic medal!

Top 3 Families To Watch:
1. The DiMeras, DAYS
2. The Kiriakises, DAYS
3.  The Cramers, One Life

Top 3 New Duos To Watch:
1. Gina and Ani, Venice
2. Alexis and Mac, GH
3. Catherine and Richard, Gotham

Top 3 Duos To Avoid Like the Plague:
1. Greg and Rachel, One Life
2. Bo and Nora, One Life
3. JR and Marissa, AMC

Top 3 Young Actors:
1. Drew Garrett (Michael, GH)
2. Lexi Ainsworth (Kristina, GH)
3. Lauren and Hailey Sinnema (Sydney, DAYS)

Top 3 Biggest Wastes of Talent:
1. Carolyn Hennesy (Diane, GH)
2. Jason Cook (Matt, GH)
3. Eileen Fulton (Lisa, World Turns)

Top 3 Hair Models:
1. Denise Vasi (Randi, AMC)
—tie — Jackie MacInnes Wood (Steffy, B&B)
—tie — Stephanie Gatschet (Madison, AMC)

Top 3 Soap Magazine Covers (based on art direction):
1. Soap Opera Weekly— DAYS’s Carly/Bo/Hope
2. Soaps In Depth — Adam/Sharon/Nick, Y&R
3. Soap Opera Digest — GH’s Jason and Franco

Top 3 Best Reads/Buys at the Newsstand:  
1. Soap Opera Weekly
— tie — Soap Opera Digest
3. CBS Soaps In Depth

Top 3 Soap Moments To Watch:
1. Friday: Jason and Franco finally meet in person on GH! “Sorry, Jason, I’m totally topping this time. I’m no Sonny Corinthos,” demands Franco. 
2. Monday: Layla and Cristian finally make love on One Life. “Man, I forgot how much I love me some chocolate sugar,” moans Cristian. “I’m just glad to be off of the New Couples To Watch list now that we’ve done the deed,” groans Layla. [Ed. Note: No kidding!]
3. Friday: World Turns’s Brad inserts himself in Henry. “I knew this would happen one day,” smirks Henry. “Heck, you’re the only one it hasn’t happened to on this set,” reminds Peck!

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Nelson Branco is a Toronto freelance entertainment journalist, who regularly contributes to Hello! Canada, The National Post, The Los Angeles Times' theenvelope.com, TV Guide USA, tvguide.com, Inside Entertainment, OUT, and fab magazine, along with spearheading the soap coverage for TVGuide.ca's popular daytime TV hub. After graduating from Ryerson University in 1997, he moved from Toronto to New York in 1998 to take on the roles as senior news editor at Soap Opera Update. Branco first freelanced for Soap Opera Weekly as an intern in 1994, and after leaving Soap Update to help create and launch Bauer Publishing's In Touch Weekly in 2003, Branco continued to freelance occasionally for its sister publication, Soaps In Depth. Most recently, he helped create and launch Canada's first celebrity magazine, Weekly Scoop in 2005 as its news and entertainment director. Branco is also a contributor to a new TV show titled Planet Soap to air in Canada and America.