Developing Story: A Soap Mystery...

Is ABC Daytime about to lose one of its soaps?!

Back in 2010, ABC was in talks for developing new talk shows. Two of the shows generating most buzz are a Will & Grace-esque talker with Tori Spelling and Jeff Lewis, the other a cooking show with Danny Boome. Additionally, word on the street is that there may be a 'male' version of 'The View' from Barbara Walters (creator) and BIll Geddie. Word on the street says ABC will be making a decision in the coming weeks. The question now remains: how many talk shows are going to be picked up and how is this going to affect the trio o soaps currently airing.

“They have to make a decision by the end of the First Quarter of 2011 in order to get one or more of the shows on the air by fall,” says a source. “Affiliates are getting antsy with Oprah leaving the airwaves with no clear cut successor. The decisions ABC will be making will have ripple effects throughout the ABC Daytime lineup and yes, the soaps will be affected."

What exactly all this means for ABC Daytime isn’t so easy to decipher. What is for certain is the fact that soaps are no longer as profitable as they once were. An industry insider reveals, "two of the ABC soaps have been over budget in recent years.”

In the fall of 2009, ABC decided to shut down production of All My Children and move the soap to Los Angeles. Despite efforts, the 41 year old soap has continued to run over budget since relocating in January of 2010. The source reveals, "Julie [Hanan Caruthers, All My Children’s executive producer] just can’t seem to bring it in under budget”.

While most of the 6 remaining soaps have gone to a production model of getting scenes in one take, AMC allegedly still does several takes for each scene and boasts other financial risk factors that concern the powers that be. Meanwhile, ABC’s most popular soap opera, General Hospital has also run into budget woes of late. 

GH, which premiered in 1963, reportedly saw its budget slashed significantly recently, resulting in the firing of popular star, Rebecca Herbst, a move that has since been rescinded. However, sources say more cast cuts are forth coming.“General Hospital isn’t in any immediate danger,” says a setsider. “It has the strongest brand by far.”

That leaves All My Children and One Life to Live — the latter (OLTL) being the only ABC soap to reportedly come in under budget consistently. Frank Valentini runs a very tight ship and manages to deliver a consistent show, despite the fact that production in New York is always more expensive than Los Angeles.