Does Katie Couric Want to Save 'General Hospital'?
The soap might be a better lead-in than 'The Revolution'
Since the announcement of Katie Couric's upcoming talker, "General Hospital" fans have been worried the new show will take down ABC's final sudser. With "The Revolution" still under-performing, however, word is Couric is telling ABC that the soap is looking like a better lead in for "Katie." Keeping the sudser around is also a great way to keep daytime fans from boycotting her show and turning it into a dud.Bing: More about "General Hospital" | More about Katie Couric
Katie Couric and her exec producer Jeff Zucker have been voicing concern about "The Revolution," which can't seem to get any footing in the ratings game, according to TV Guide sources. While word is ABC Daytime's Times Square Studios is still committed to creating more non-scripted shows, the magazine also hears that the neither the doctor show nor the game show in the works looks like a home run. The last thing the net needs is another talker flat-lining in daytime.
This sounds like good news for "General Hospital," especially as the buzz comes at a time when the show is turning high drama and juicy casting into a rating's boost. The show first killed off Dr. Robin Scorpio (Kimberly McCullough), who grew up in front of fans, and then her explosive death brought back veteran faves Anna, Robert and Holly (Finola Hughes, Tristan Rogers, Emma Samms), with Dr. Noah Drake (Rick Springfield) arriving on March 19.
At the same time, with the "One Life to Live" exec producer and writer now at the helm in Port Charles, Llanview's Manning family crashed into town. In yet another explosive storyline, Starr's (Kristen Alderson) car went over a cliff with true love Cole and baby Hope inside, setting the Llanview expats up for a battle with Sonny. Todd and Blair (Roger Howarth, Kassie DePaiva) have already burst onto the scene to support their daughter and John McBain (Michael Easton) is set arrive March 13.
"General Hospital" hopes to keep the ratings momentum going with those storylines, as well as the upcoming returns of more Port Charles veterans, including Robin Mattson's Heather Webber and Kristina Wagner's Felicia. What more, with vet Jack Wagner coming back to the net for "Dancing with the Stars" and buzz that Kin Shriner is bringing Scotty Baldwin back to Port Charles, "General Hospital" is teasing "more good news to come."
In other words, stay tuned.
"General Hospital" airs weekdays on ABC
Katie Couric trying to save General Hospital? Give me a break. The only thing she's trying to save is her own hide. She knows damned well if ABC cancels GH to make room for her show she will be boycotted and her show will tank. It will probably tank anyway. Her 15 minutes came and went several years ago.
This is a bone from ABC if I ever saw a bone. Yes, someone would have to be an idiot to want The Revolution as its lead in. It is obviously bombing in a big way. Of course, Katie Couric would rather follow GH. But she is no friend to GH or any other soap opera. She just doesn't want to be boycotted with the rest of ABC.
Sorry, Katie, I like GH in the 3PM slot. I don't get home from work until 3PM, and I don't want to see you, I want to see GH.
Katie Couric would be a fool not to back General Hospital if she wants her show to make it out of the starting gate. She should make sure they keep General Hospital in its original time slot and her show to follow it. The Revolution is a revolting development so I am hoping Sweeney will keep her word according to her quote "Its all about Eyeballs " and cancel it But then again what are the chances of ABC really doing the right thing.... this would happen in the perfect world.... and in the perfect world ABC would have never cancelled AMC AND OLTL and there ratings would still be doing at least 3 x better than they are now.
I love GH and I've been a fan for over 20 years. I usually watch the show over the internet because of a conflict in my work schedule. When I first found the show on one of the social network sites I was surprised by the number of fans join in conversation every evening to share what they liked and disliked. Since that time I have made many internet friends. They are people from various economic, ethnic and social backgrounds. I have even met some who were overseas (military- they were able to continue watching the show because of one selfless devoted fan willing to SIMPLY upload the show daily). I hope that GH will continue to run on ABC for many years.
I must say that Katie Couric is one of my favorite hosts, but I cannot watch her in replace of my evening tradition of watching GH to wrap-up my day. For the record, I took stand against FOX News and even stop watching IDOL (loved the show) so I’ll have no problem with avoiding ABC.
After loosing AMC to the stupid "Chew" I can only hope that smarter people will soon see the error of their ways. GH is the last soap on ABC and if it goes alot of prime time viewers will boycott the shows on ABC. There is always cable, and it isn't too bad during the day from 12 until 2.
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Deanna Barnert | Los Angeles, Calif.
Entertainment journalist Deanna "TVDeeva" Barnert visits sets, interviews industry players and critiques the final product. Buzz's daytime TV queen covers it all for MSN TV, but loves her sitcoms, soaps and any juicy drama that doesn't call itself Reality TV.
