Tuesday, April 19, 2011

NO MORE LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON

Well, he did it. It took many long and arduous years but he did it.

Last week, all of us who have been touched so monumentally by daytime, either being a disrespected fan, or a disrespected participant, are angry, sad, and in disbelief. To think that we will no longer be able to see characters that we have come to consider our own is a very odd feeling. It feels like a death in the family. It is why soaps have had the following they’ve had for nearly half a century! Your characters in your stories have made you feel the gamut of emotions from A to Z. Every day!

Soap actors and audiences dance a dance. We laugh together, cry together, survive together and love together. That’s what makes a family. Whenever I would hear you-know-who make a speech and call us the “ABC family,’ it made my skin literally crawl. You don’t treat your family like they don’t matter.

Someone is counting on the fact that today you are all whipped into a frenzy, and that tomorrow and next week you will have forgotten and forgiven. Say it loud. WE WILL NEVER FORGIVE OR FORGET.

Now you may be saying, ‘but CAT, you are usually so Zen! “And to that I say, “yes, yes I am, but being Zen does not mean not feeling our feelings. I’m pissed off. Being angry is necessary! Can’t move forward without moving through. Can’t get Zen without acknowledging feelings and disturbances first. People who read my tweets can see that I am really fired up (no pun intended) over this whole thing. Dammmmn right! Do I think this know-nothing owes anyone a job? No I do not. Do I think the man owed people who gave ALL for all of those years a little respect? YES. Yes I do. Am I surprised? Not one bit. After all, I found out I had my last day of work by reading it on a magazine cover that was on the stands the day after I shot my last show, which meant that the magazine people knew for a week before I did! For crying out loud.. man up! Tell people WTF is going on. I loathe cowards.

“The ratings kept declining” he will spin. And I say

“Yes, well that was the plan, wasn’t it?” Isn’t that what you have been doing with all of your character assassinating and lame story telling? Isn’t that what you’ve been doing micromanaging your producers, writers, and staff to insanity? Business 101 teaches that you hire super competent people and let them do their job. Control freaks find this nearly impossible, which is why they ultimately fail. Its pure arrogance to think that you know what the audience will accept on shows that they knew far, far better than you. They didn’t accept mediocrity, and for that, the viewers were punished? What’s wrong with this picture?

Actually, How he stays employed is a mystery… however life is funny, and karma is not just a theory. It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow , but he has some karma coming, that’s for sure. SO many people hurt under his tenure.

A lot of destruction for someone unimaginative! As a hypnotist, I am in the business of imagination, so I feel extrememly well qualitfied to make that statement. Plus, my friends who work there have told me that you- know-who often asked his staff to give him their “best 50 ideas” as if it were a challenge. That used to amaze me. Just piss-poor chess playing if you ask me. In my world, YOU come up with the ideas that you intend to take credit for. If someone asked me for my best 50 ideas, unless it was a contest to win something (like credit for my idea) I’d tell them to get their own eff-ing ideas.

It was always hilarious listening to you-know-who’s “people” sound like that Twilight Zone episode, “Children of the Corn” where everyone was so afraid to lose their life to a little tyrant that dared people to disagree, so no matter how horrible he behaved, they were running around saying “that’s a real good thing you done. A real good thing!” while being scared to death of the kid. Sometime life imitates art in the saddest ways.

From the get go it was very clear to those of us who had been through many regimes that you-know-who did not like soaps. It always felt as if he was in contempt of them. We actors said it all the time, it was very hard to understand. That’s a hard pill to swallow when you love the genre. It’s hard to know what will make something work, and then watch it being absolutely decimated by someone you have not one iota of respect for.

Good and important people to the shows were fired, moved to another state, and then salaries were cut. Not necessarily for the best intentions. After all, they had to find those funds to pay big money for the girl of you-know- who’s fantasies De Jour. This in turn created animosity in the casts. It starts at the top, they say. Indeed. Poison trickles down and infects companies like a cancer, damaging morale that is nearly unfixable. In my 27 years of acting, In the five regimes I worked under at that network alone, I have never seen anything like it. In 30 years as an entertainer, I can not recall a more reviled executive.

I spent the majority of my career on ABC Daytime, 17 years to be exact, between LOVING, THE CITY and ONE LIFE TO LIVE, I played as many emotions and wonderful roles an actress would want to play. I am not looking to act on soaps again, it is not about that. It is about respecting the hard work all of us did to try and keep these shows alive in spite of a person who clearly had his own agenda. It is for the fans, my friends who I am eternally connected to and grateful for.

I have kept my feelings inside for a long, long time and it feels like a million dollars to get them out. Now I get to be Zen Cat again.

In closing, I want to say how proud I was to see everyone feeling their feelings on twitter and facebook. I love how social media connects us all and gives a voice to the truth, not the spin. You have a right to be sad and angry. Being disturbed makes us get things done. I can tell you that this network most likely won’t budge on their stance, because that would make the grim reaper wrong and we can’t have that, but you never know what you might accomplish by making noise. You just never know. ABC daytime was once an incredible arm of the company to work for. They can be again, but not like this.

I am so proud of your stamina. I am proud to stand with you. In the meantime, I will keep hypnotizing folks, making the world laugh, shoot my pilot, finish my book, and look forward to looking forward.

In the immortal words of Robert DeNiro..

It’s just a game, Focker.

Love For Sure,

Cat

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72 Comments:

Blogger Ashara said...

Preach Cat PREACH!!!!!!!!

April 19, 2011 at 5:07 PM  
Anonymous Judy said...

Cat,
you spoke from your heart, I commend you for that. I am honored to have you stand beside me in this fight against you-know-who.
Thank you!
Love,
Judy

April 19, 2011 at 5:12 PM  
Blogger Joanne Olivieri said...

Catherine,

I love this post and the fact that you are telling it like it is. I've been watching AMC since the beginning and watching OLTL here and there. I always loved you and Bo together :) Dennis Parlato who had a small stint on the show as Michael Grande was my creative writing teacher in high school.

You are right, it is like a death in the family. Not to mention the fact that hundreds/thousands of people will be out of work, effecting their livelihoods and ABC doesn't care at all. All they care about is money. It's very sad.

We are fighting the good fight and have seen some success already with Hoover pulling their ads. We have also had some attention in the New York Times. We won't give up. This IS about respect and doing what is right.

Tell Michael we love him. He and Susan have been two of my all time favorites and I always wanted to see them get together - on screen :)

Thanks for your post. I'll get it out on some of the pages if you don't mind.

Joanne

April 19, 2011 at 5:15 PM  
Blogger Karen said...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I know this must have been a difficult blog to write, given your experience in the industry and the long-term relationships you have had with some of the people still involved in ABC daytime. I know that sometimes fans have a difficult time separating the actors from the characters they play, but I know that you are more than Lindsay from OLTL...and maybe some day I'll get to see you perform in a live show.

Now I just have to figure out how to subscribe to your blog...

April 19, 2011 at 5:18 PM  
Blogger Freelance Shop-A-Holic said...

I can't get over how tactless the entire situation was handled! Screw these Aholes for doing this to the hard working actors and crew! As a once hard working actor myself I am so pissed!
I love what you stand for my dear... keep it up! And PLEASE DO NOT EVER stop making the most amazing makeup brand in existence!
What goes around comes around! Karma is a total Biotch!!!!
What an idiot
http://freelanceshopaholic.blogspot.com/

April 19, 2011 at 5:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well said! Always loved to watch you!

April 19, 2011 at 5:20 PM  
Anonymous Candice said...

Thanks for sharing that! I love AMC & OLTL! I have been watching for over 30 years. I cant imagine life w/o these soaps. I love you to! You are awesome.

April 19, 2011 at 5:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for sharing your feelings on this. I often thought that hiring certain actors caused the firings of others. There are a couple of actresses who have been hired who (although there characters added some drama) we could have done without, in place of GOOD WRITING.
I hope that a solution can be reached. I really liked OLTL the best, though my favorite would alternate given the storyline, but I watched them all (via online, dvr, or live) faithfully. It's a shame that the network could not take advantage of the different sources of media and done more to market these shows. :(
Anyway..thanks again for sharing and allowing us, your fans, to share with you.

Tonya Love- Oakland.

April 19, 2011 at 5:50 PM  
Anonymous JR said...

Thank you Catherine for being so honest! I am so sick of that freak who is in charge that I could scream! He has ruined characters or attempted to since he started and I am so OVER him.. I hope and pray that something changes and that idiot is fired but I've been praying for that for way too long now. I HATE what he has done to my shows and I know I am not alone!
Thanks for letting us hear another perspective! From someone whose seen it from the inside!

April 19, 2011 at 5:50 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

OMG! I love you Cat, YOU ROCK!!

April 19, 2011 at 6:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

GOOD FOR YOU!!! Let them have it. ALTHOUGH you may want to be a little more specific it would seem people think you are only referencing General Hospital and its actresses :)

April 19, 2011 at 6:09 PM  
Anonymous Jeanene Dunn said...

Thank you for speaking out about this. I really hope they hear us. I'm going to stay positive that maybe, just maybe we'll get through.

April 19, 2011 at 6:12 PM  
Blogger Soapdom Blog said...

Catherine, thank you for your honesty and candor on this issue. I, for one, am still reeling over the news. Not only that, I am upset with ABC Daytime for "leading me on." Whenever I would contact them asking to comment on the "rumors" regarding cancellations, they led me to believe -- in so many words-- that cancellation of AMC and/or OLTL was simply out of the question. Cut to late last week. It's just horrible how they handled the entire thing. I wish everyone on the shows, cast, crew, producers, writers, directors, the very best. There is so much talent there, it will find a home elsewhere, of that I am sure. But as watcher of the ABC soap line up, I won't be tuning in to ABC daytime after the soaps are gone.

Luv ya,
Linda Marshall-Smith
http://www.soapdom.com

April 19, 2011 at 6:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you for telling the truth. As a fan I have watched for years as favoritism is played with characters because someone decides that they like them. I've watched actors feel like they have to kiss the backside of someone they clearly do not like in hopes to save their job. I've watched as fans are treated as if they are unworthy of watching ABC Daytime. It's a mess. And while it makes me very sad that daytime soaps on ABC are gone (and lets be real, GH's cancellation notice is in the mail, it just hasn't arrived yet), that karma truly is a bitch and the bitch bites certain people in the ass.

The only good thing about this situation is the honesty from many of the actors. I encourage a tell all book.

April 19, 2011 at 6:42 PM  
Blogger peggy said...

Thank you, Ms. Hickland. I have enjoyed watching you over the years and appreciate your very heartfelt dialogue. I AM heartsick at the thought of losing both of these soaps and truly hope that SOMETHING can be done? Why doesn't this guy get fired??? I don't get it. When there is a "cancer" you get rid of it by any means possible. I hope the powers that be can get that done. Sincerely, Peggy

April 19, 2011 at 6:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you for every word! I have felt exactly that way. It's a crime what is happening and someone needs to be convicted! I, as a fan, am mad as hell! How dare ANYONE claim to know what I want to see. Reality/Talk/Game shows????, Hell no! Give me great storytelling executed by superb actors! This is not over by a longshot!

April 19, 2011 at 7:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A group of fans are hoping to take out a full page ad in The Hollywood Reporter, http://boards.soapcentral.com/showthread.php?696406-WWDDD-What-Would-Dr.-Dave-Do-about-cancellation-Full-Page-Ad-in-industry-paper!

April 19, 2011 at 7:05 PM  
Blogger Jodi Langston said...

Well said. Many of us grew up with the soaps and the characters have become part of our lives. It will be like missing a part of our family.
All we can do is hope for the best and hope everyone involved will be able to find work and move on with their lives. Asking people to pull up stakes and move to L.A. when it was known the end was coming...that's just cruel. This was a well thought out plan.
When they said soapnet was ending I knew it wasn't a good sign.
We feel their pain and wish everyone the best!! They will be missed.
Best of luck, Cat.
Jodi

April 19, 2011 at 7:20 PM  
Blogger Anne said...

Very well put, Catherine.

I never could figure out why Frons hired people like Charles Pratt. That man butchered all the characters. Maybe that was Fron's intention all along like you said.

I am boycotting all ABC shows, and I will tell my friends and family to do it as well. Fron's should have been fired ages ago. And Cath, I too believe in karma.

April 19, 2011 at 7:22 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I loved you as Lindsey and now even more as Cat!!!! Rock on!!!

April 19, 2011 at 7:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

WOW How inspiring!! WE fans are fighting hard.Thanks for rooting for us for us!!YOU ROCK CAT!!!!
TYTY
@jen_healy

April 19, 2011 at 7:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting this. It's good for a fan to hear! The validation and words of encouragement will keep us going! BTW what your describing seems to be the norm these days in corporate, education and many other fields. I know for myself speaking out and it having an impact is making me feel awesome on many different levels, for the soaps and all the people involved and for myself having been laid-off twice! We need to go back to the days when hard work and loyalty meant something...

Thanks Again!

April 19, 2011 at 7:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wonderful commentary!!! You said it all and said it well. From a devoted soap fan of both shows, may I say how much I miss seeing you on the screen. Have always thoroughly enjoyed your performances and the crazier your character was, the better I liked it! Thank you for all of your work and I wish you much success in the future.

April 19, 2011 at 7:50 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Well said! We may not be able to save One Life to Live because of the immeasurable arrogance of ABC's network executives. One in particular. But we're not going to make this decision go easily for them. We will not be quiet and let him sweep us under the rug. Not this time. If ABC and Disney support this man and his decisions, then they will also feel the consequences from the anger of One Life to Live's loyal fans. We're going to shake up their world just the same way Lindsey shook up Nora's. If they want to destroy daytime, they can go right ahead and do it. But we're going to make it as messy and painful for them as possible and cost them as many dollars as we can along the way. Thank you for honesty. There isn't enough of it in this world and certainly not enough of it coming from the brass at ABC and Disney.

April 19, 2011 at 8:05 PM  
Anonymous Jennifer Fischetto said...

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. As a proud and longtime viewer of ABC soaps, I could see and sense the changes on my loved shows, but thought it was my imagination. I'm glad to know it was not, but saddened with the outcome.

April 19, 2011 at 8:26 PM  
Anonymous loretta jamar said...

I agree with you and it's good to know that you understand how we feel. I have been watching SOAPS since 1970... ABC SOAPS. I do hope something good comes out of this. There are disabled and elderly people who live to watch these shows; I have seen it firsthand in nursing homes. Some people will literally die... this is too much, two shows at the same time. Yikes! I love your closing "In the immortal words of Robert DeNiro..It’s just a game, Focker." Beautiful ...
Luv, Loretta

April 19, 2011 at 8:51 PM  
Anonymous Rosie Peat said...

Thank you so much for posting this. As mad as fans of both shows are about the cancellations, many seem equally as appalled by the behavior of Disney executives in allowing AMC to be moved to LA knowing it was on the chopping block, of constantly lying to fans about the status of shows, for the manner in which the casts and crews were informed of the cancellations and more. Both you and Robin Strasser deserve a great deal of credit and commendation for your willingness to tell the truth and for having the courage and conviction to do so.

April 19, 2011 at 9:01 PM  
Blogger Shadow said...

Bless you for sharing this. It's hard not to feel bullied. It's worse knowing that people who work hard, do their best and care so much about what they do & who they do it for have been bullied and dismissed so thoughtlessly. It's been so obvious on AMC the pest couple of years. When Broderick returned at the beginning of last year the show transformed. AMC actors are talented, but nobody can fake it forever. The stress starts to show. I can't help but wonder if some are so quiet because they're just tired of the stress and constant speculation. For all the soon to be out of work cast & crew and fans who who've been told way too many times lately that they dont matter and aren't ideal enough, thank you for speaking out & lending some validity & credibility to how we're feeling.

April 19, 2011 at 9:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Brilliant post, thank you for sharing and putting into words what I am not eloquent enough to convey.
When karma comes, she is going to hit he who must not be named like a Mac truck and it couldnt happen to a more deserving guy.

April 19, 2011 at 9:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

When you swing, you swing for the fences! I've been a fan since back in the City days, and I think my love and respect for you have just reached the stratosphere.

Thank you so much for speaking up, Ms Cat. Here's hoping that your voice and those of the fans and advertisers are hears.

April 19, 2011 at 10:04 PM  
Anonymous Karen Pappas said...

Thanks for the honesty and the especially the courage to say it. You have told it well and we support you and what you have said here - it is about respect. You are right, WE WILL NEVER FORGIVE AND FORGET. Regards, Karen Pappas

April 19, 2011 at 10:19 PM  
Anonymous Heather Bee said...

Great post, Cat. Many people don't understand the relationship of soap viewer/show/actor. We cheer on and follow an actor even when they leave us for something different, then cheer louder when they come back to us 8yrs later. We cry with them, laugh out loud, share then with our friends and families. My 7 and 9yr olds know the music to GH, my husband will sit and watch 3 or 4 shows online with me (I watch on Hulu or ABC.com).

He's only watched for a few years on and off, but I tell him all the time,"OMG, you don't know the significance of that! 15yrs ago, this happened and then a few years later this other thing happened, and now, HOLY CRAP, this event is coming full circle!" He is always amazed that I know 35yrs of GH and other ABC Daytime history. Well, honey, my Mom watched, my babysitters watched, I watched. I remember Angie and Jesse, Liza and her crazy Mama, Mrs. Nelson, Opal and Daisy and PC. I remember Clint and Asa and Drew and Delilah. I remember when Scotty and Laura were married, when Frisco came back from the dead, Dr. Noah Drake,Drs. Alan and Monica Q and Lucy Coe, when Anna and Robert FINALLY got together, when BJ died and Tony broke my heart. I saw Jackie Zeman a few weeks ago and I didn't want to SAY "I've watched you since I was 3 and now I'm 40", but I have.

We don't have cable TV by choice, but the ONE SHOW I always watch is GH. THANK GOD it's not cancelled (yet). But I also pop in on AMC and my BFF is a giant OLTL fan. Yes. These characters are like family and YES YES YES. They will be sorely missed. I am So Sad to see this happening. Art, in general, is being sidelined in our society and many actors on daytime are master artisans. We are behind your community and pray for a reprieve.

Thanks for voicing what we are saying!

Heather

April 19, 2011 at 10:29 PM  
Anonymous shirleedee said...

I'm not so sure ABC, as an entity, exists anymore. I more and more get the feeling that The Mouse House is totally in charge.

April 19, 2011 at 10:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well said Cat! What goes around comes around and I sincerely hope that he gets his and soon! I have watched One Life to Live off and on for almost 20 years. My husband and I used to record it and watch when we'd get home from work. I think it's the only soap he's ever gotten into. I stay home now so I try to watch live when I can. I am truly saddened and angry about this unfortunate turn of events. I will not be tuning into ABC anymore except to watch the soaps. I feel that the shows they are replacing the soaps with don't have a place on ABC Daytime. I have the Food Network and Style Network if I wanted to watch shows like them. ABC doesn't need to cancel soaps, they need to cancel the jokers running it.

April 19, 2011 at 10:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Catherine LOVED your guts and honesty in saying what we all agree with you on. THANK YOU Loved you as Lindsay and we miss you in Llanview! Won't you join us on our Facebook page and campaign. As you have already heard Hoover Corp. has pulled all abc advertising and is joining us....we would be honored if you did, if nothing else just to post and put your two cents in!! Thanks again!!!!
Save Our Soaps!!!

April 19, 2011 at 10:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love you Catherine, thanks for being honest and telling it like it is. OLTL has too much life left in it to go down like this. I will participate in all the boycotts being organize and hopefully others like Hoover will listen.

I have been a fan of your since Loving, then The City, then OLTL. Lindsay is one of my favorite characters on OLTL and your relationship with Nora was one of the best. I keep hoping to see you back on OLTL, but I know that the only reason why I don't see you there is because of you-know-who. Hopefully his Karma will get him soon!

April 19, 2011 at 10:52 PM  
Blogger Halla said...

well said Cat!!! This is a sad time for soaps and I will guarantee that I will not watch any replacement shows on ABC and bytw, I miss you on OLTL :/

April 19, 2011 at 11:04 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That was amazing & perfectly said!! Not one word out of place & spoken so true & from the heart!! Good for you girl!!! Your an amazing person, inside & out! Much love & blessings to you!!! My faith for ABC & the soaps is in the LORD! Through him, all is possible & his WILL...... will be done. Xoxoxo

April 19, 2011 at 11:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have always been a big fan of yours and was sorry to see you go(each time). I agree with you 100%. I grew up in theater as my mom is a Prof of Theater Arts. She has studied under, with and trained amazing actors and I think of all the hard work every one you have put into these shows. Years of hard work and dedication. I appreciate it and understand what it takes to do this every day. I am in awe of the amazing talent on these shows. We haven't even addressed the crew that makes this happen or the writers that come up with new scripts every day!
I have been a fan since I was 2. I have been watching ABC soaps for 38 yrs. I started with my grandmother, watched with my mother, even my father got involved during the "Luke & Laura" years. I have brought my kids up on them (son 20 yrs, daughter 16 yrs & son 13 yrs), My husband is now a fan as well. His favorite Charachter is the first Todd Manning: Roger Howarth.
How can they cancel these shows? It is our family. We have laughed, cried, loved and hated along with them for decades. I don't know what I will do not being able to share this with my grandchildren someday. A great part of our history is going to die if they cancel these shows.I even pay for a DVR every month for the last 5 yrs so I don't miss them. Funny thing is, I am not a fanatic. I have never posted or commented before this. Just a faithful fan who thought my TV Family would always be there. I now feel the need to post, comment and scream if I have to!
Thank you Zen Cat for having the guts to speak out and let us know that we are not alone in our feelings of betrayal and sadness. You are awesome, even if we can't watch you on OLTL :)

Aeryn
W.P., FL

April 20, 2011 at 12:18 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Let me guess, Cat. LW definitely falls into the 'his girl' category!

April 20, 2011 at 1:05 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

kudos Cat. this is just wrong, wrong, wrong.

April 20, 2011 at 2:01 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Its nice to hear the truth from a real insider.We the fans have known this about YOU KNOW WHO for years.He is a bully and a know it all who had no interest in listening to the fans.What I and many fans are wondering is where are the stars in support and outrage in this,so far only you and Robin have spoken out in the unfairness of all this.The statements made so far are all polite little things,where is the rage from them that we as fans have?

April 20, 2011 at 2:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A brave post. Thank you.

April 20, 2011 at 3:05 AM  
Anonymous Kim Goodwin said...

This is the most well written article I have read about this situation. Thank you for sharing this with all of us. You are well respected and I feel awful for all the cast and crew that lost their jobs due to corporate greed. I to believe in karma and he will get what is coming to him. He moves everyone from NY to LA and gives them paycuts when all along he knew he was going to change the shows and went behind everyone's back and lied. The actors got their 2012 schedules the week prior. He knew people were going to be on talk shows the week before so he didn't want anything said about it so he was lying to everyone. As he said this change was over a year in the making of being replaced so why would he ever move people's lives to another state and their children knowing they would be out a job. This is one heartless person. He is ruining real TV and his ratings will go down across all shows and the new shows will fail. He took away thousands of jobs. He won't take our calls and leaves a voicemail message stating if you have a complaint it will be deleted automatically. Who does that as a so called professional running a major network. He is ruining ABC and I am sure the other networks will enjoy their higher ratings going forward due to our boycott and the awful shows now on. This will hurt the network more than it will ever help. It sickens me that something I grew up with is ending. Being a stay at home mom the soaps is all I can escape to each day. So many dedicated their lives to these shows and now they end over corporate greed. OLTL comes in 3rd on the ratings and it is still cancelled so ratings is not the reason. Disney also played a big role in this decision. The rating systems are so flawed and it is ashame because if they were accurate the ratings would prove even more that the shows should never have been cancelled. Thank you for your wonderful article.

April 20, 2011 at 4:44 AM  
Blogger K9MOM said...

I'm so glad you posted this, Cat. You're a class act. I've (we all) missed you so much on OLTL and all understand why you can't/won't work in those conditions. It's been a sad last 6 days for me. Still feel like there's been a death in the family...I guess there really has been. Keep up the good fight. Love ya!

April 20, 2011 at 5:13 AM  
Blogger Karen Kaye said...

Thank you.

April 20, 2011 at 6:04 AM  
Blogger Smooshiest said...

You couldn't have said it better; I'm really only an AMC fan (but watched you on Capitol and The City before). I have no idea what is going to happen regarding the cancellation of these two iconic programs, however, the fans appreciate what you are doing! Thanks!

April 20, 2011 at 7:29 AM  
Blogger Claudine said...

Cat, just had to say - you rock! Beautifully said. We viewers who have been priviledged enough to watch AMC and OLTL (and The City, and LOVING) knew you were beautiful and talented... but lady, you're strong and smart too! Thank you for writing this.

April 20, 2011 at 7:40 AM  
Blogger LK said...

Love it, Cat! Right on the mark. Thanks for saying what so many of us have been thinking! You are the best

Laurie

April 20, 2011 at 8:48 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Catherine,I love your frankness and appreciate you saying what so many of us have suspected&said for years. We knew he was putting posion in the IV of ALL the ABC soaps since the day he was hired. We knew,from his statements about "training the viewers"how little respect he had for us and what contempt he had&had for the genre. We were told we were being irrational.We were told that no one would intentionally kill of shows on the network they work for. We were told ratings are falling because of "changes in viewing habits" "cable has erroded the viewing habits"etc. Many of us responded to that with a loud and resounding Bull!! Well now the veill has been lifted and we see how right we've been. We see him for what he(and his leading lady)is. Many know that there is no hope(or very little) this decision will be reversed but we want to make sure that he&his good woman never forget what happens when this kind of flagrant disrepect and insult is heaped upon the faithful and the loyal!
Kudos and thanks to you Catherine for voicing what so many of us have felt all along!
Many thanks and best wishes,
Dr.Ivankipling

April 20, 2011 at 8:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ABC isn't a family. It's a business. And if you ever thought otherwise, you were deluding yourself. It's nice to be able to think of our jobs as extended families, but it's not good to do so. Circumstances change, and many businesses will let "family" go without a second though.

Clearly, many are unhappy with Brian Frons. But doesn't the soap opera problem go well beyond him? CBS and NBC have cancelled soaps, too. Was Frons responsible for their ratings declines as well? Soap ratings have severely declined over the past two decades - you can't blame all or even most of that on Frons.

Times change. There are more channels. Fewer people watch television in the daytime. Broadcast networks can't even afford scripted television on all of their primetime schedules - Saturdays are all reality or reruns. In this day and age, when the traditional broadcast nets are competing with cable for fewer eyeballs, it simply doesn't make sense to spend all that money on scripted television in the daytime hours.

That's not to say the serial is dead. It's a wonderful format and will continue to live on primetime. But times change, and there simply aren't enough viewers willing to devote so much of their time to a five-day-a-week serial anymore - the ratings have clearly shown that over the last fifteen years. Frons may or may not be a jerk, but he can't stop the changing times.

April 20, 2011 at 9:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Catherine Hickland, you are my hero. Beautiful words from a beautiful lady. Thank you for speaking your mind, soaps mean a hell of a lot to many and you captured what soap fans have been thinking for years. Much love to you and to all fighting the good fight!

April 20, 2011 at 10:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wonderful blog. I love how you laid it out like it is and pulled no punches. They want us all to just go away. In someways we will, but not in the way they hope (by giving up). We cannot and will not be bullied. We will fight the good fight. If in the end they stay with their present course,it will be them who lose, if they (he) think for one minute we will watch what they tell us to watch, a rude awakening will soon be in store for them.
Thank you for your honesty........love it
Marji Meisner

April 20, 2011 at 11:54 AM  
Anonymous Miry said...

I absolutely love this post & you for speaking the truth!! (& shaming the devil!!)

April 20, 2011 at 12:55 PM  
Anonymous LenoreNJ47@aol.com said...

Love your blog Ms. Hickland! You have put into words what so many of us have also felt about Fronzie over the years since he took the helm. We knew he had to be doing it on purpose - that he really never loved the soaps he was supposed to manage. We could tell by the writers he chose and the stories he approved. He pulled dirty tricks. He favored only one or two that he obsesssed over. He always appeared to be a dirty old man and very untrustworthy. You are only as successful as the respect you garner. I have never heard one written word about anyone respecting this man. All I have heard is disdain. Eventually you get back what you give out.

April 20, 2011 at 1:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you for the joy you brought to the fans.

April 20, 2011 at 1:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you Catherine for having the guts to write this. It just confirms what I suspected all along. Brian Frons was hired to kill the soaps under the guise of trying to help them. Disney is at the bottom of this whole thing, wanting to get out of soap business entirely. Anne Sweeney hired him to make that happen without anyone discovering the real truth - that TPTB not the fans were the ones responsible for the bad ratings. IMHO, this whole situation is disgusting and puts a real black mark on Disney's marketed image. The only dreams they are really interested in making come true are their own. They really don't care a rat's a** about the fans who have helped turn them into the powerful mouse house they are today. Truly sad when you can't even depend on Mickey Mouse to do the right thing.

April 20, 2011 at 2:06 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

The ratings are down? Maybe...but what about the fact that the majority of us soap watchers probably work during the day and dvr at night. I was told that we don't count? Or is it actually strictly per Nielson?

April 20, 2011 at 3:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you for giving voice to all the people who might be afraid they might lose their jobs if they said the truth. What you are saying became increasingly clear to me as the years went by, and the death of SoapNet (where ABC Daytime gets significant ratings for its shows and makes money off of other people's shows) blew my mind. It told me where his heart was. And the micromanagement...it could only have ended this way. Bringing back ------- ----- and giving her all the storylines and the air in the room, and the money, and the accomodations, etc. (And you can take that actress out and replace with a handful of others and a few writers/producers who were golden favorites as well) certainly did breed resentment, and may have juiced ratings temporarily, but what juices ratings and holds viewers is writing compelling appointment TV that is well acted by people you care about, not people who will leave after six months. I'm mourning, but thank you for saying this.

April 20, 2011 at 3:48 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Soap fans everywhere, whether they watch AMC/OLTL or not, think this move by ABC is a huge slap in the face to its daytime fans. To take TWO shows away from ABC daytime fans on the same day shows a real lack of consideration for ABC viewers.

It seems to be ABC's way of saying, "We don't care about our viewers."

Well, guess what, ABC? As much as you obviously don't care about your viewers, you are TEACHING your viewers not to care about you.


I don't feel the need to watch ABC anymore. I won't put in time watching their cable offerings, either. I won't give care to a network that shows no care for its viewers.

Once upon a time, ABC, I loved your network. Once upon a time, I thought you cared. Now, I know better. Maybe it was a lesson I had to learn. I learned it at Brian Frons's knee.

April 20, 2011 at 7:00 PM  
Anonymous Mariann Aalda said...

Well said, Catherine! As ABC soap alumna, myself, (Edge of Night)
...as well as a hypnotist...I want to share with you how I weighed in on the subject on my blog, as well. -Mariann

http://open.salon.com/blog/mariann_aalda/2011/04/20/the_white_ford_bronco_that_ate_pine_valley

April 20, 2011 at 7:11 PM  
Blogger Tuck Miller said...

I have watched AMC since it's inception, and am not sure if I will ever watch another soap. If I do, it will NOT be on ABC!!

I am still praying that both soaps will be saved....

April 20, 2011 at 7:16 PM  
Anonymous Tadders Girl said...

I hope Frons, Sweeney and Disney realize that hell haveth no fury like a scorned soap fan. And contrary to what they think there are one hell of alot of us. It' ain't over til it's over.

April 20, 2011 at 11:45 PM  
Blogger JHS said...

Bravo! Bravo!

I admire your courage, honesty, and willingness to stand up for what is right.

April 21, 2011 at 2:53 AM  
Blogger deb famularo said...

Brilliant post, you echoed our feelings perfectly.

Karma will definitely come back to bite him in the ass.........

April 21, 2011 at 6:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I clearly remember years ago working as a background actor on AMC for 4yrs and "you know who" called out to me on the set and said "....and you, Christmas Tree, take your place over here"...I had a hair dressing for a holiday part, I felt it was a little disrespectful at the time....now I realize it was probably the most kindest thing he's ever said to anyone, in comparison.

April 21, 2011 at 9:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The reason I truly hate Frons is not his so called business decision, but the way he lied to these people who need to support themselves. He told them only a few weeks earlier in a staff meeting that the rumors were false and he was not cancelling AMC. The stars then twitted to relax rumors not true. Giving them a schedule into 2012 is another sick mind game and looking back, this was the plan all along. He planned to kill these two shows and he started with AMC by dragging everyone's feet there. I at first was upset that Thornston was being all in your face, but now it makes sense. He is a pisces and they see right through peoples lies and I'm sure he knew what Frons was up to. Thornston was smart to stay where he is. He is best friends with Alicia and Rebecca (who by the way is not to blame - she left the show after 2008 because she hated how they were writing her character. Plus I think at that time her husband Bob G. (now ex) and her were going through issues and she wanted to go home to california to fix them. LOL I blame Bob Guirney for ruining my Greenlee character. When she married him, he went to California and she followed, which is natural to follow your husband. She is a soap actress just like Susan Lucci. She left many times but came back because she could not make it out there. Sorry La Lucci but I remember your attempts.

The behind the screnes crew might have a better chance at getting work, but these actors/actresses will not. There is not enough parts out there and truthfully they only do well on soaps.

Catherine, I came on here to read your blog because someone said you trashed Rebecca Budig and I'm glad to see you did not. Did you notice in the picture on daytime confidential who frons is pictured with? Unfortunately, in today's economy and how easy it is to be replaced I guess I don't blame actors/actresses from sucking up with people who make the final decisions. Everyone needs their paycheck.

Lies to them and lies to us is what keeps irking me on this issue.

April 21, 2011 at 11:24 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It is a sad day when someone is given a power that they use in negative way. Catherine you are a shining star in the blog world. Thanks for sharing all your thoughts and I enjoyed OLTL when you were on it. I have been a "religious" watcher of AMC & GH for 35v years or more and got into OLTL being in between the two all these years. Ryan's Hope was part of my daily schedule when it was spun from GH.

Michael is such a pleasure to watch as well as Susan and I just lovvvve Steve Burton(who doesn't)! I have a GH book that I purchased at a Garage Sale and every once in awhile I like to look back.

I hope that this is not the end of all my favourite DAYTIME shows! Kuddos to you for speaking up Catherine.

Adrienne
Vancouver, BC Canada

April 24, 2011 at 2:18 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

thank you for your honest comments, I enjoyed your character on OLTL There will be a big void on daytime TV, but those of us who can will be reading, knitting, walking, going on with our lives without TV! And night time TV stinks also.

April 24, 2011 at 5:01 PM  
Blogger JenMG said...

Raven recently posted a link to your blog and wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your writing and thoughts. You could not have said better when you compared the end of these shows to a death in the family, and watching the destruction of a genre I've enjoyed since I was 8 years old is devastating.What TPTB don't understand is that many of us have soap watching intertwined in our day as routine and will simply switch channels to get caught up in another network soaps rather than watch cookie cutter reality TV.

May 17, 2011 at 6:10 AM  
Anonymous minnesotamike said...

i agree with about abc daytime, this was the plan when they took over and they got the blessing of tptb at the network somehow

December 29, 2011 at 1:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow- I am impressed with the amount of comments as I scroll down this page. I am SO pissed off that Frons and Sweeney have ruined ABC daytime. One Life has been so awesome, I can't believe the idiots that make these descions have the power to waste such incredible talent. The only good thing about this travesty- the asshole Frons has lost his job. Here's hoping Sweeney is next.

December 29, 2011 at 8:22 PM  

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