"Days of Our Lives" Canceled?

[Danja]

Who watches the afternoon soaps?

Days of Our Lives: Entire Cast Released From Contract — Is the End Nigh?

https://tvline.com/2019/11/12/days-of-our-lives-cancelled-cast-fired-season-56/

 

[anti-matter]

Holy cow! This has been on since forever, I'm thinking the announcement is publicity hype or contract renegotiations.

 

[Turtletrekker]

This would have broken my mother's heart, rest her soul.

 

[Turtletrekker]

Holy cow! This has been on since forever, I'm thinking the announcement is publicity hype or contract renegotiations.

This show literally predates television.

 

[StarCruiser]

^ Started on Radio... Remember Radio?

 

[bigdaddy]

It's a contract trick to save money. Also they keep the characters and change the actors all the time so it's not that big of a deal. I don't think it will be canceled next year.

That said it will be canceled for good within 5 years.

 

[Greg Cox]

Apparently they already have enough eps banked to get them through Summer 2020.

 

[Kor]

^ Started on Radio... Remember Radio?

Pepperidge Farm remembers.

Fun fact for those who might not know: in the old-time radio days, "soap" operas were melodramatic serials sponsored by soap companies. The name stuck for this genre. A memorable feature was the swelling organ music. Guiding Light was another soap opera that started on radio. The TV show ended in 2009.

Other (non-soap opera) shows that started out on radio include Have Gun, Will Travel; The Lone Ranger; Dragnet; and Gunsmoke.

Kor

 

[StarCruiser]

There were a BUNCH of old TV shows that were originally Radio shows.

Some of them have been remade as films.

Perry Mason, started as a series of books and then several films in the 1930's - before the classic Raymond Burr series.

Soap Operas were never my thing - not really my mother's thing either.

 

[Shaka Zulu]

The soap opera genre wouldn't die in the United States if they tried to come up with soap operas like these three British ones that are about ordinary people.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

The soap opera genre wouldn't die in the United States if they tried to come up with soap operas like these three British ones that are about ordinary people.

Maybe. Everyone in American soaps is independently wealthy, even going back to the greatest of all soaps, Dallas.

 

[Velocity]

Pepperidge Farm remembers.

Fun fact for those who might not know: in the old-time radio days, "soap" operas were melodramatic serials sponsored by soap companies.

Kor

Laundry detergent also sponsored early tv soap operas. At least one company (Dreft?) gave away towels in the detergent box as a bonus. Things came to a halt in my Aunt's house while her "stories" were on. What a long time ago THAT was.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Laundry detergent also sponsored early tv soap operas. At least one company (Dreft?) gave away towels in the detergent box as a bonus. Things came to a halt in my Aunt's house while her "stories" were on. What a long time ago THAT was.

"Not now, my serials are on"

 

[Redfern]

"As the World Turns" was my late grandmother's (b. 1901 - d. 1990) one and only tawdry passion. During the early to mid 80s, there was this one character, a successful "businessman" that was just irredeemably evil, orchestrated the deaths of people who crossed him, arguably gave JR Ewing a run for his money. But my grandmother adored him! Why? "Well, he dresses nice and has a proper haircut." Merciful Mother of Mogg!

 

[cardinal biggles]

There was a year or so where I would watch Guiding Light after getting home from school; this was back in the mid-90s when a pre-Providence and CSI:NY Melina Kanakaredes was in the cast. Also during Michael "First guy to cark it on TOS" Zaslow's second go-round as bad guy Roger Thorpe.

 

[Forbin]

Used to watch it with my mom when I was a little kid. Nice to see Hope is still around - I remember when she was born! :O

 

[BillJ]

Apparently they already have enough eps banked to get them through Summer 2020.

If that's the case, then it probably is getting the axe. Returning that final hour back to affiliates for daytime syndication in the Fall of 2020, which is more lucrative for them.

 

[J.T.B.]

Used to watch it with my mom when I was a little kid.

Me too. I wasn't even sure it was still around. Then in the '80s when I would work on the farm for my grandpa, he liked to take a nap around that time and I'd watch it because it was the only thing on (IIRC the only other channel that got reception had The Waltons, which I hated). John De Lancie was on it. It was over the top but a few years later my sisters were watching it and it had become really far out, with supernatural powers and magic talismans and people pulling off rubber face masks all the time.

 

[Noname Given]

And the hilarious thing is some soaps DID delve into Sci-Fi/Fantasy storylines:
https://www.laweekly.com/five-amazing-ridiculous-soap-opera-plots/

Days of Our Lives Does Demonic Possession

In 1994, whoever makes the choices at Days of Our Lives decided it would be perfectly reasonable for one of its key characters, Marlena Evans, to become possessed by a demon.

The Colbys Does Alien Abduction

The Colbys was an awesome spinoff of Dynasty that lasted two seasons, from 1985 to 1987. It is unlikely that anyone would even remember it were it not for the fact that a major character — Fallon Carrington Colby (!) — was abducted by aliens in the final episode.

Dallas Has the Longest Dream Ever

In 1986, Dallas wasted everyone's time with an entire season that turned out to be a dream.

Passions: Like a Regular Soap, Plus Satan

Passions was possibly the worst and the best thing that has ever been on television. This was no normal soap — it was daytime drama that incorporated warlocks, witches, magic and, oh, you know, a closet that doubled as the gates of Hell.

General Hospital Does Vampires

...in January 2013 — General Hospital had a vampire storyline.

 

[Turtletrekker]

General Hospital also did a story where a James Bond style super villain tried to freeze the world.