The numbers are in and as they say in the business world, numbers don't lie. Daytime fans do not like cheap daytime television. Sorry, ABC. Of course, when one is referring to cheap daytime television, one is speaking about the two daytime talk type shows that took over the time slots for two very beloved and two 40-year-old traditions: "All My Children" and "One Life To Live." These shows have the real names of being called "The Chew" and "The Revolution."
If you asked many people on the street, what these shows were about, most would have no clue. They probably would say that they were some kind of cooking and lifestyle types of shows. This is how little most people care about these shows. Chances are most people couldn't tell you the names of the hosts of these shows, either. Yet, everyone knew and still knows who Susan Lucci is. Chances are that most people even know her character's name: Erica Kane, even people who may never watched "All My Children." This is because these shows are culture based shows. These shows have been watched by mothers, grandmothers, grand-children, great-great-children, etc.
Who called these replacement shows cheap shows in the beginning? That person was Brian Fronz, the once head of ABC Daytime television. That is what he referred to "The Chew" when Susan Lucci asked what show would be replacing "All My Children." He stated that it was a show that would cost 40 percent less to produce. That sounds like cheap entertainment in most people's eyes.
When you make something cheap, you usually get cheap results. Nobody wants to watch something that has been referred to as cheap. Plus, the fans weren't ready to give up their daytime dramas? Why would they be ready to give them up when these shows was still entertaining, was still leaving them wanting more, was still keeping them hanging onto the edges of the seats? These shows were filled with drama, romance, intrigue and even lines that would make the fans laugh? Where else would they find entertainment like that?
As for the ratings, the replacement shows have not held their own. During the week of January 23, their second week of being on the air, "The Revolution" ratings went down to a low 1.53 million viewers. This was lower than their first week by 9 percent. A year ago, at the same time, "One Life To Live" was averaging, 2.51 million viewers. "The Chew" lost 6 percent of their viewers during this same week and isn't matching the viewers "All My Children" had at the same time last year.
Since the numbers don't lie, it seems like ABC made a big mistake. It seems like the executives should have listened to the fans. It seems like the daytime dramas still had a spot in daytime, they just didn't realize it.
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