insult to injury

[gwynnega]

So a couple of weeks ago it was confirmed that One Life To Live and All My Children are going to be cancelled. Despite fan outcry (and Hoover pulling its ads from ABC in protest), the cancellations appear to be going forward.

Now there are rumors that ABC will be replacing General Hospital with a Katie Couric program next year. Unlike OLTL, GH has not been a good show for awhile now. Mostly it's been treading water, writing-wise, despite a very good cast. Occasionally there will be an amazing episode or two--as with last week's stunning episode focusing on alcoholic Luke Spencer's intervention--which makes it even clearer how lacking the show is on a day to day level.

But I don't want GH to be cancelled--I want it to get a new head writer who isn't burnt out (as Bob Guza obviously is). Now I'm wondering if ABC has kept Guza on because he's burnt out, so it won't hurt as much when the plug is pulled. It looks like the brass at ABC have their hearts set on the end of scripted drama on their daytime lineup.

Comments

[kore]

last week's stunning episode focusing on alcoholic Luke Spencer's intervention

Damn, that was awesome. Also, uhhhmmm, Anthony Geary got HOTT. (I never liked him when he was younger.) And also has chops! It was v well-done.

It really is the end of daytime scripted drama. That's just stunning.

[gwynnega]

Tony Geary is an amazing actor (when they give him meaty material). And yes, he has gotten better-looking with age...

If ABC drops all their soaps, there will only be three left! Damn.

[usedtobeljs]

That was incredibly powerful. Damn but Jonathan Jackson is amazing. (I hope he finds something that gives him a place to show his stuff, if it can't be GH.)

[hugs]

[gwynnega]

I can't imagine seeing anything on TV to top that scene anytime soon. Jonathan Jackson is just incredibly good. When GH is firing on all cylinders, it's still really hard to beat...

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

That's an amazing scene. Daytime shows don't get the credit some of them deserve. Every so often over here I'll find a one week daily special on BBC1 that really hits home.

[gwynnega]

I love that the scene still has impact for someone not familar with the show. I suspected that would be the case...

[freixenet.livejournal.com]

Oh, god, Lucky...what a man you've become. I haven't watched GH regularly for years, so it is enthralling to watch all that potential be realized. And Luke, damn him, continues to break my heart. I'm deeply distressed to see that the legacy of daytime is being drained away--stuff like this isn't easily found elsewhere.

It took me a while after watching this to be able to respond. :( Hard, hard to watch.

[gwynnega]

When it really works, there's nothing like daytime drama, with all that history (like watching Lucky grow up). I hate that ABC doesn't value that.

[fishsanwitt]

I am so angry about all of this that I haven't commented - because I'm afraid my rant would go on for *days*!

I, and so many others, grew up with the soaps. Brian Frons and Anne Sweeney suck ass.

[gwynnega]

I'm so angry about it too. I started watching GH in 1980. I hate the idea of these stupid execs being able to kill a beloved genre.