From: riddle@brahms.udel.edu (Tammy Riddle)
Subject: SB:  SOW Info
Organization: University of Delaware
Distribution: world 
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 17:27:32 GMT


SPEAKING MY MIND by Mimi Torchin, Editor-in-Chief

This is a sad, if not unexpected, day.  SANTA BARBARA is
officially canceled, and although I suppose NBC gave the show
every opportunity to succeed, I can't help but feel something
else could have been done to save this sometimes remarkable,
sometimes maddening but always valuable show.  SB certainly has
had its ups and downs since it premiered July 30, 1984.  The
fatal downslide seemed to begin when Bridget and Jerome Dobson,
the show's creators, were ousted in a "political coup" in
September 1987.  Although there were some memorable storylines in
the years following their departure, the soap never regained the
freshness and originality -- largely due to its iconoclastic
humor -- that it exhibited in its early halcyon days.  The
cancellation of this show, though depressing in its own right, is
far more alarming for what it implies about the overall future of
soaps on NBC.

One of the prime reasons for SB's demise was the loss of several
affiliates, including major markets like Philadelphia and Boston. 
When NBC gave up its power over its affiliates many years ago,
the network severely undermined its ability to protect an ailing
show.  When you lose markets, you're handicapped at the starting
line in the ratings race; and ratings, as we know, are the bottom
line.  There's a really frightening prospect hanging over the
heads of NBC soap fans now that SB has been canceled, and that's
the weakening of the rest of the network's lineup -- if you can
call two shows a lineup.  NBC in its infinite wisdom has decided
not to replace SB with another soap.  NBC has been burned by both
SB and GENERATIONS, though the network self-immolated in the
latter case by prematurely canceling the young soap.  Soaps are
expensive to produce.  They're expensive for the affiliates to
run.  Game shows are cheap; and talk, as they say, is even
cheaper.  NBC has decided to go with the game show option,
putting both ANOTHER WORLD (which becomes the second-lowest rated
show with the axing of SB) and DOOL in considerable jeopardy.

It's a proven fact that most people view soaps by network,
watching some or all of a lineup.  How will NBC as a two-soap
network hope to compete with CBS and ABC which have full, four-
soap schedules?  The two remaining NBC daytime dramas -- AW and
DOOL -- will now be surrounded by undoubtedly riveting game
shows.  Isn't that just what the entertainment world needs? Isn't
that just what the viewing audience has been waiting for?  What a
supreme lack of imagination NBC has shown.  Should these shows
draw enough viewers to allow stations to make even a small
profit, the affiliates -- having been allowed to diddle
mercilessly with the daytime lineup -- are likely to jettison AW
next (it's already been dropped in a few markets).  That would
virtually signal the end of soaps on NBC.

In the meantime, however, the demise of SANTA BARBARA is
heartbreaking enough.  The loss of that show and its truly
talented cast puts a pall on daytime's present, and perhaps even
its future.

*****

JILL FARREN PHELPS ON WHY SB FAILED

The news of SANTA BARBARA's cancellation is being felt deeply by
GUIDING LIGHT executive producer Jill Farren Phelps, former
executive producer of SB.  "I feel very sad.  I think it's not
only a terrible sign of the times in terms of the future of
daytime, but it's very sad that something that was originally so
brilliant was able to be destroyed for so many reasons over the
course of the last eight years," she says.

"If there ever was a time to tell the fans that they must be very
vocal about what they like, what they believe in, long before
their shows get to the place where SANTA BARBARA got to, this is
it," Phelps says.  "I worry about GUIDING LIGHT and the hours
that are now at the end of the soap day being affected int he
same way, because if affiliates see success at this hour by
programming it themselves, then who's to say they won't go after
the other soap operas?"

Phelps feels SB's problems was that, "It's been a victim of so
many different voices and different ideas about what it should
have been, what it could have been.  Not to mention the lawsuits
(between creators Bridget and Jerome Dobson, New World Production
and NBC) over the ownership of it.  It was always fighting to
survive," she notes.

"In the end, from what I understand, they had gotten themselves
together with Paul Rauch and Pam Long," says Phelps.  "But it was
in such a weakened condition for so many years, there was just no
way to get it up there fast enough.  Once viewers defect, it's
really hard to get them back.  And they kept losing affiliates.

"It's not good for any one of us to be in a situation where a
soap gets canceled and another doesn't go in its place," Phelps
adds.

*****

SANTA BARBARA CANCELED -- Last episode Jan. 15, 1993

After months of speculation and rumor, SANTA BARBARA was canceled
Sept. 26.  The soap, which premiered July 30, 1984, will air its
final episode Jan. 15, 1993.  NBC has announced that SB's time
slot will be filled with game shows.  Informed sources tell SOW
that talks are underway that could take SB to ABC, but concede
such a deal is "probably a pipe dream."

Warren Littlefield, president, NBC Entertainment, commented on
SB's cancellation, "NBC is committed to the daytime daypart, and
this commitment is shared by our affiliates...."  Word of SB's
demise came down in a joint press conference to announce the
formation of an Affiliate Daytime Committee, and the assignment
of John Rohrbeck, president of NBC Television Stations, to take
over responsibility for daytime programming as well. (John
Miller, executive vice president, advertising and promotion and
daytime and children's programming, will now report to Rohrbeck
on daytime.)

Susan Lee, vice president of daytime programs for NBC
Entertainment, who retains her current post added, "We would like
to salute everyone involved with SB, which we believed is a
wonderfully produced serial, as evidenced by the numerous Emmy
Awards the show has received over the years.  However, given the
current daytime environment, we concluded that it's simply not
economically feasible for us to continue to broadcast the
series."

According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, sources say the
network's decision to dump SB was made when "Rohrbeck refused to
continue carrying the soap opera after key affiliates in Boston,
Philadelphia and St. Louis dropped the show."

James McNamara, president and CEO of New World Entertainment, co-
owner of the soap, said, "While we are very disappointed that NBC
decided to allow the series to leave the network, given the
rapidly changing economics of network television, we understand
their actions.  The many fans of the show will be happy to know
that discussions are underway with other broadcasters which may
permit the series to continue in production."  Insiders believe a
move to another network or cable is unlikely.

SB personnel got the not surprising cancellation notice the
weekend before McNamara's announcement.  "It's like falling out
of the womb, but hey, you go onward and upward," says Jed Allan,
who has portrayed the Capwell patriarch for seven years.  "I'm
going to miss the role, if in fact, something doesn't come
across.  There's some chance of maybe going in another
direction...of going into a syndication situation."

Nancy Lee Grahn, who's been on the show for 7-1/2 years, found
out SB was canceled while she was on vacation.  She is trying to
put a positive spin on the situation.  "I know that it's sad when
people lose their jobs, especially today.  But I also know that
all good things end.  There are endings and there are beginnings. 
That's what life is about.  I know it's going to get very
difficult as it gets toward the end of the show.  SANTA BARBARA
is a place I've come to think of as home."

Grahn thinks two major problems brought about the show's demise: 
"Timing and changes.  I think the show was really cursed with
things happening at the wrong time.  Whenever there was a problem
or something wasn't working, there'd be a change at the network
or company.  Then there were legal problems," she says, referring
to the long-running dispute over creative control between SB
creators Bridget and Jerome Dobson, New World and NBC.  "There
was always this feeling of the carpet being pulled out from under
you," Grahn continues. "It was rough dealing with that.  Whenever
things started to come together and everyone was dancing to the
same music, the carpet would be pulled out again...There were
always new writers, new actors, lots of changes....A lot of time
that was because the ratings were never high, and there was
always this attempt to try and get them higher, which is
understandable.  But in attempt to do that, very often they would
fix what wasn't broken and break what didn't need to be fixed."

Allan thinks economics, not content, killed SB.  "Absolutely
nothing went wrong with the show.  We just don't have numbers
because we don't have people watching.  We don't have people
watching because people are dropping out on us.  People are
dropping out on us because the network doesn't have control of
the affiliates.  How can you get numbers without having a major
percentage of the market?  At ABC it's all the major percentages
of the market.  They have more control over their affiliates,
from what I understand...New World was very fair with us.  Even
the vice president of NBC daytime admits we have a great show and
has been fighting like crazy to keep it on the air.  I have no
quarrel with them.  It's just that numbers are numbers."

A source close to the situation seconds Allan's opinion,
specifically laying blame for the show's recent decline -- and
ultimate failure -- on the network's flagship station,
WNBC/Channel 4, New York.  "When that station moved the show from
3 p.m. to 12 noon in 1980, that was a big bungle.  It was just a
small blurb in The New York Times, but it was a very big blurb in
my opinion, because after that is when other stations also began
to move it."

SB has been airing as a prime-time show in France since 1985, and
in several other foreign countries as well.  With 1,000 new
episodes not yet seen outside the U.S., the soap will be seen for
at least four more years around the world.

THOSE OTHER SOAPS:  Although both DOOL executive producer Ken
Corday and Bill Bell Jr. have soaps in development (Corday's
MANHATTAN LIVES, starring Deidre Hall, who plays Marlena on DOOL;
and Bell's COMING OF AGE) which were vying for a spot on the NBC
lineup, both declined to comment either about plans for their
shows or about NBC's decision to replace SB with game shows.

*****

LIFE AFTER SOAPS -- Lane Davies:  With Six You Get Chaos

Lane Davies (ex-Mason, SB) has had a busy year:  He welcomed a
second son April 6, and while he was working on THE BOLD AND THE
BEAUTIFUL filling in for Ronn Moss (Ridge), he learned that
WOOPS!, a pilot he'd made for Witt-Thomas Productions, had been
picked up by Fox.  And he directed and acted in the Santa Susanna
Repertory Company (in Simi Valley, CA) production of DRIVING MISS
DAISY, after which he reported back to work on WOOPS!

WOOPS! (created by Gary Jacobs) examines what might happen if a
nuclear accident reduced the Earth's population to six people. 
The survivors, who must rebuild the world, are a diverse group: 
Davies is Curtis Thorpe, a stockbroker who is now penniless. 
"It's my usual yuppie-scum kind of role," Davies explains.

Last season, Davies' nighttime series GOOD AND EVIL (with Teri
Garr) went off the air almost as soon as it arrived.  "It was a
terrible time slot.  We were having an awful lot of fun; it's
rare that you get people that talented together in the same
place.  It was disappointing to say the least, but right away
Witt-Thomas Productions put me in NURSES, EMPTY NEST, THE GOLDEN
GIRLS in guest spots, and then put me in the WOOPS! pilot.

"Paul Witt and Tony Thomas are fabulous to work for because they
don't have to prove anything.  They've had SOAP, THE GOLDEN
GIRLS, and other successes.  They're very relaxed; they don't
have that air of desperation, like some production companies," he
adds.

Davies's co-stars on WOOPS! are Fred Applegate as Jack Connors,
Cleavant Derricks as Dr. Frederick Ross, Meagen Fay as Alice
McConnell, Marita Geraghty as Suzanne Skillmand and Evan Handler
as Mark Braddock.

WOOPS!, which made its debut Sept. 27, airs Sundays 10:30-11 p.m.
ET.  Check local listings.

*****

MAIL CALL -- PUBLIC OPINION

Cruz's exit from SB brought mixed reactions.  One reader took
exception to a letter that attacked SB for making Cruz look like
a jerk by having him give Frank an hour of freedom.  "Even though
it wasn't the best decision, Cruz id human.  If he didn't have
flaws, we wouldn't have a character to root for."  Another reader
in California was "completely blown away" by A. Martinez'
performance on his last day:  "The Cruz/Kelly airport scenes were
right out of a classic '50s film."  A reader in New Jersey had a
few problems with how the departure was handled:  "In the rush to
sacrifice himself for his newly found daughter, BJ, Cruz also
sacrificed Chip and Adrianna, two small children with an absent
mother in great need of a father.  Are we supposed to admire
Cruz?  I, for one, am appalled!"

*****

SPOILERS



THIS WEEK:  Warren has second thoughts about BJ's guilt or
innocence.  BJ shies away from her parents when she feels they
have misjudged her.  Angela decides to show just ho much she digs
Ted, but uses CC for his money.  Ted and Lilly decide they like
island life.  Sawyer becomes a punching bag when he refuses to
throw a fight.  Ken is jealous of Andie and Reese's relationship. 
Lilly asks Connor to check on Ken's past.  Jodie and Micah have a
momentary parental reunion.  Minx plays cupid for Lionel and
Gina.  Mason and Julia realize they must have a trial separation
when they end up on opposite sides of a legal case.

NEXT WEEK:  Ken speeds up his plans to get rid o Sophia.  Micah
realizes Sawyer and Aurora are planning a life together.  Jodie
feels deserted.

That's all for now.

--Tammy
-- 
**************************************************************************
I always have THOUGHTS about anything;      * Tammy Riddle - U of Delaware 
 However, SOLUTIONS might be another story! * riddle@brahms.udel.edu 
**************************************************************************