The demise of one of broadcasting’s oldest institutions, the daytime soap opera, crept closer Thursday as ABC announced it would end two of its long-running daily serial dramas, “All My Children†and “One Life to Live.†The decision will leave ABC will just one soap on its schedule, “General Hospital.†CBS has eliminated two of its venerable soaps, “Guiding Light,†which was dropped in 2009, and “As the World Turns†which was canceled last year.
Erica Kane released a statement:
“It’s been a fantastic journey,” Susan Lucci said in a statement Thursday. “I loved playing Erica Kane and working with [show creator] Agnes Nixon and all the incredible people involved with All My Children. I’m looking forward to all kinds of new and exciting opportunities.”
Ratings for “All My Children†have fallen since 2006, to 2.4 million from 3.2 million viewers and to a 0.9 rating, from a 1.8 in the major category for soap operas, women between the ages of 18 and 49. For “One Life to Live,†the audience fell to 2.6 million, from 3.2 million in 2006, and to a 1.0 rating from a 1.8 rating in women 18 to 49.
ABC said it would replace the two soaps with much less expensive, unscripted programs. One show, “Chew,†will be devoted to cooking and nutrition, featuring the chef Mario Batali, among other hosts. The other program, “The Revolution,†will focus on issues relating to health, weight loss and “lifestyle transformations†and will devote each week to the efforts of one woman to lose weight over a five-month period.
The two shows being canceled have a long heritage at ABC. “One Life to Live†has been on the air 43 years. “All My Children†has run for 41 years and became perhaps best known for the creation of the villainous Erica Kane, played by Susan Lucci. The two soaps will finish their runs by then. “All My Children†will conclude in September and “One Life to Live†in January. “Chew†will have its premiere in September and “The Revolution†in January.
Finally, there is an end to a soap. Wonder which is next
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