The BC Bulletin- A Man and His Awards- May 2011; Volume 6, Issue 5

In this BC Bulletin:
Late Breaking News- ABC Cancels Two Soaps for the Price of One
Tony Nominations- Predictions for Best Play and Musical, and Revival Races
Daytime Emmy Nominations- Final Predictions
May Sweeps- Who's In and Who's Out for the 2011-12 season?

LA LUCCI AND LA SLEZAK: Susan Lucci and Erika Slezak have both been on their respective ABC soaps for a combined 81 years and have 7 Daytime Emmys (6 of them Erika's) between them and 29 nominations (21 of them Susan's) between them. Both of these daytime divas will be looking for work in the coming months as ABC cancelled both "All My Children" after 41 years, and "One Life to Live" after 43 years.

It feels like the end of an era for daytime television. In 1970, there were 17 soap operas on the air. By 1985, there were 13. In 1990 and 1998, there were 11. In 1993 and 2000, there were 10. By 2004, there were nine. Eighteen months ago, there were seven. Nine months from now, there will only be four.

On April 14, ABC announced, in a move in which they call "an evolution", that it was cancelling both the long-running daytime dramas "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" due to declining ratings, rising production costs, and to make room for new lifestyle shows which are being named "The Chew" and "The Revolution", respectively. "Chew" is a cooking show produced by one-time talk show host Gordon Elliot, while "The Revolution" is a show produced by former kids quiz show host J.D. Roth.

ABC Daytime President Brian Frons addressed the cast of "All My Children" in person from their Los Angeles set, and the "One Life to Live" cast was addressed via videolink from their New York set.

In the Daytime Television Forums of Goldderby, poster 742 said this about the double cancellation: "It was GL that started this. When CBS saw fit to cancel the longest-running program in broadcast history without significant backlash, it became very, very easy for other shows to be let go. But even though there had been talk of this for quite a while, it's still a gut-punch to read that it's happened, especially when it seemed that at least one show would be spared due to poor pilots. In 2012, there will be only 4 soaps left on the air. That means that the 2013 Daytime Emmys may go forward without any drama series categories, because with only four soaps, I think under the current rules you'd have to nominate just one show."

This double-move for many ABC affiliates across the country are just two major changes, as "The Oprah Winfrey Show", which airs on most ABC affiliates, ends its 25-year run on May 25.

"All My Children" will end its 41-year run in September, and "One Life to Live" will end its 43-year run in January.

Reactions from Online:

From Facebook (via the CD101 Morning Show in Columbus, Ohio- http://www.cd101.com)-

Shauna Cash Reeves- "They should cancel them all...such a waste of airtime." :)

Brandon Dawson- "I guess Those Were The Days Of Their Lives."

Bryan Curtiss- "RIP- AMC (1970-2011) & OLTL (1968-2012). And then there were four..."

Timothy J. Turner- "Oh Great, Now I'm going to have to find another reason to get up and go to work in the morning."

Shawna Stultz- "Somewhere there is a 60-year-old-housewife-formerly-a-stay-at-home-mom sobbing in her pillow."

Matt Hilinski- "These shows are still on the air?"

From the Goldderby Forums of The Envelope-

742- "And then there were Four. It was (Guiding Light) that started this. When CBS saw fit to cancel the longest-running program in broadcast history without significant backlash, it became very, very easy for other shows to be let go. But even though there had been talk of this for quite a while, it's still a gut-punch to read that it's happened, especially when it seemed that at least one show would be spared due to poor pilots. In 2012, there will be only 4 soaps left on the air. That means that the 2013 Daytime Emmys may go forward without any drama series categories, because with only four soaps, I think under the current rules you'd have to nominate just one show."

Boidiva02- "I am beyond upset. This is the worst news ever. (All My Children) and (One Life to Live) are the two shows that made me fall in love with soaps to begin with. I cannot believe they canceled BOTH shows. I thought for sure they would save at least one of them. I am so upset. Just beyond upset. This is the worst news ever for me."

Bibblyicious- "When GL was cancelled, I completely lost it. Felt like the death of an old friend."

MARKPGH- "Frons and ABC should be ashamed of themselves, especially for what they did to the (All My Children) cast....making them move across the country, uproot their lives in (New York City) with the promise that (All My Children) will thrive and continue on."

Italian Stallion- "I don't know if anyone else was thinking this, but, do you believe that ABC had the intentions on pulling the plug on '(All My Children)' all along; and that in fact, Lorraine Broderick was being courted back to end the series?! "

OLTLfan- "The replacement shows sound completely unappealing. I wouldn't be surprised if (All My Children)'s replacement is off the air by the time (One Life to Live) ends in January. And hopefully Frons will be so busy micromanaging his lifestyle shows that Broderick and Carlivati have creative control over the soaps' final months. Maybe the shows can go out on a high note."

east/west- "Slowly, but surely, the stories are going off into that goodnight. I do not expect (The Bold and the Beautiful), (Days of Our Lives), and (The Young and the Restless) to get contract renewals once their contracts are up."

GloFish- "I must add the two shows they are replacing (All My Children) and (One Life to Live) sound like utter trash. Garbage to nth degree. The last thing TV needs is more self-proclaimed life experts telling people how to live and what to eat. Could ABC not think a single new or fresh idea. They are replacing an old genre with one that is overexposed already. Also (General Hospital)'s ratings will probably tank, at least at first. It looses not one but its two lead-ins. Many soap viewers will watch all three even if they only truly like one or two. Now the (All My Children) and (One Life to Live) viewers will probably just stop all together."

Double D- "In this bleak economy, who wants to watch poorly written soap operas about wealthy white people?"

Scoopster- "This is truly AWFUL news. My thoughts go out to all the (All My Children)/(One Life to Live) fans, actors, directors, just everyone involved with these two legendary dramas. ABC just gut 67% of their daytime drama lineup in ONE FREAKING DAY...I just cannot believe it. This reminds me of when NBC pulled the plug on ANOTHER WORLD and then SUNSET BEACH 6 months later, that one stung back in 1998 and this one hurts even more considering the state of the genre. Wow, only 4 soaps left...I doubt DAYS OF OUR LIVES will make it past September 2013, when its contract is up. Cancelling (Guiding Light)/(All My Children) was one thing, but (All My Children)/(One Life to Live) always felt more "mainstream" to me. To be honest though, I am not suprised that the 4 more successful soaps of the last 20 years are now the 4 remaining soaps on the air."

BC- "The domino effect that Ellen Wheeler began at Guiding Light moves over to ABC. Two years ago, there were 4 New York soaps, nine months from now, they'll all be extinct, like the Dodo bird."

On May 3, the nominations for the 65th Annual Tony Awards will be announced, and it looks like voters from the American Theatre Wing will be reading from The Book of Mormon. This irreverent hit musical from the creators of South Park, about the Mormon religion, is expected to sweep this year's Tony Awards. Critics have praised the musical for its take on the Mormon religion. There will be a lot of newcomers in the acting categories that are expected to reap nods, such as members of the cast of Mormon, plus breakout star of Born Yesterday, Nina Arianda, are expected to get nominations as well as big names like Daniel Radcliffe, Dame Vanessa Redgrave, Al Pacino, Edie Falco, and Frances McDormand.

The 65th Annual Tony Awards will air live on CBS from a new venue this year, the Beacon Theatre, on June 12.

Here are the BC Bulletin predictions for four main categories- Play, Musical, and the two revival categories.

Best Play
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Good People
The Motherf***er with the Hat
The War Horse

Best Musical
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
The Book of Mormon
Catch Me If You Can
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Best Revival of a Musical (NOTE: Only two eligible shows this year)
Anything Goes
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Best Revival of a Play
Born Yesterday
Driving Miss Daisy
The Importance of Being Earnest
The Normal Heart

On May 11, the nominations for the 38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be announced. This could be the end of the line for the soap operas for this awards, as the number of soaps has dropped over the years. Next year, there will only be six soap operas eligible, and for the 2013 Daytime Emmys, only four. Going back to this year, the submissions were revealed recently in TV Guide for the Drama Series races, and of the seven submissions, it is between four shows for three slots- the late As the World Turns, which submitted the Bob and Kim 25th Anniversary episode, The Bold and the Beautiful, which submitted two Skid Row episodes, Days of Our Lives, and General Hospital, which submitted an episode with special guest star James Franco.

Here is an analysis of the final predictions for the nominations in main categories- not just the soap opera categories, but the talk show and game show categories as well, for the Daytime Emmys this year.

Drama Series
As the World Turns (CBS)
The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
General Hospital (ABC)

SURPRISE PICK (nobody listed above that could get in): either All My Children (ABC) or The Young and the Restless (CBS)
LAST ONE IN: As the World Turns (CBS)
FIRST ONE OUT: Days of Our Lives (NBC)

COMMENTARY: B&B is in. They could be the third (and possibly final) soap to three-peat in this category. ATWT has one final chance if voters are sentimental about their submission. DAYS and GH are fighting for the final slot.

Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Michael Park as Jack Snyder (As the World Turns, CBS)
James Scott as E.J. DiMera (Days of Our Lives, NBC)
Maurice Benard as Sonny Corinthos (General Hospital, ABC)
Robert S. Woods as Bo Buchanan (One Life to Live, ABC)
Peter Bergman as Jack Abbott (The Young and the Restless, CBS)

SURPRISE PICK (nobody listed above that could get in): Christian LeBlanc as Michael Baldwin (The Young and the Restless, CBS), Jon Lindstrom as Craig Montgomery (As the World Turns, CBS), Jerry ver Dorn as Clint Buchanan (One Life to Live, ABC)
LAST ONE IN: Michael Park as Jack Snyder (As the World Turns, CBS)
FIRST ONES OUT: Steve Burton as Jason Morgan (General Hospital, ABC), Peter Reckell as Bo Brady (Days of Our Lives, NBC)

COMMENTARY: Park, Scott, and Benard are pretty safe, when it comes to the nominations, and this is Benard's Emmy to lose. Bergman could sneak in a declining category. The filler fifth slot is still up for grabs.

Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Debbi Morgan as Dr. Angie Hubbard (All My Children, ABC)
Maura West as Carly Tenney (As the World Turns, CBS)
Colleen Zenk as Barbara Ryan (As the World Turns, CBS)
Susan Flannery as Stephanie Forrester (The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS)
Laura Wright as Carly Corinthos (General Hospital, ABC)

SURPRISE PICK (nobody listed above that could get in): Alison Sweeney as Sami Brady (Days of Our Lives, NBC)
LAST ONES IN: Laura Wright as Carly Corinthos (General Hospital, ABC), Colleen Zenk as Barbara Ryan (As the World Turns, CBS)
FIRST ONES OUT: Kristian Alfonso as Hope Brady (Days of Our Lives, NBC), Alicia Minshew as Kendall Hart Slater (All My Children, ABC), Alison Sweeney as Sami Brady (Days of Our Lives, NBC)

COMMENTARY: This is a tough race. Colleen Zenk, if the video quality of the tapes for ATWT weren't all fucked up in 2002, would have won one nine years ago. Laura Wright is long overdue for a nomination, as are Alison Sweeney and Katherine Kelly Lang. Morgan and Flannery are getting in, that is an almost certain, but with the Daytime Emmy voting, nothing is really 100 percent.

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Trent Dawson as Henry Coleman (As the World Turns, CBS)
Eric Sheffer Stevens as Dr. Reid Oliver (As the World Turns, CBS)
Jonathan Jackson as Lucky Spencer (General Hospital, ABC)
Brian Kerwin as Charlie Banks (One Life to Live, ABC)
Billy J. Miller as Billy Abbott (The Young and the Restless, CBS)

SURPRISE PICK (nobody listed above that could get in): Doug Davidson as Paul Williams (The Young and the Restless, CBS)
LAST ONE IN: Brian Kerwin as Charlie Banks (One Life to Live, ABC)
FIRST ONES OUT: Cornelius Smith Jr. as Frankie Hubbard (All My Children, ABC), Jacob Young as J.R. Chandler (All My Children, ABC), Doug Davidson as Paul Williams (The Young and the Restless, CBS)

COMMENTARY: This is Dawson's last chance for an Emmy, but his breakout ATWT co-star could one-up him. Jackson could easily win his fourth Daytime Emmy if he submitted the episode where Lucky confronts Liz and Nikolas. Reigning champ Miller could sneak in again this year, as could co-star Davidson.

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Julie Pinson as Janet Ciccone (As the World Turns, CBS)
Julie Berman as Lulu Spencer (General Hospital, ABC)
Nancy Lee Grahn as Alexis Davis (General Hospital, ABC)
Bree Williamson as Jessica Brennan (One Life to Live, ABC)
Amelia Heinle as Victoria Abbott (The Young and the Restless, CBS)

SURPRISE PICK (nobody listed above that could get in): Tricia Cast as Nina Webster (The Young and the Restless, CBS), Terri Conn as Katie Peretti (As the World Turns, CBS), Melissa Claire Egan as Annie Lavery (All My Children, ABC)
LAST ONE IN: Amelia Heinle as Victoria Abbott (The Young and the Restless, CBS)
FIRST ONES OUT: Melissa Claire Egan as Annie Lavery (All My Children, ABC), Arianne Zucker as Nicole Walker (Days of Our Lives, NBC)

COMMENTARY: Pinson surprisedly won last year, and in a weakening race, she could defend her title. But two-time defending Younger Actress champ Julie Berman could sneak in this race. Heinle could definitely get one in.

Younger Actor in a Drama Series
Mick Hazen as Parker Munson Snyder (As the World Turns, CBS)
Zack Conroy as Oliver Jones (The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS)
Scott Clifton as Liam Cooper/William Spencer III (The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS)
Chandler Massey as Will Horton (Days of Our Lives, NBC)
Chad Duell as Michael Corinthos (General Hospital, ABC)

SURPRISE PICK (nobody listed above that could get in): Anyone other than these five above
LAST ONE IN: Mick Hazen as Parker Munson Snyder (As the World Turns, CBS)
FIRST ONES OUT: Edward Alderson as Matthew Buchanan (One Life to Live, ABC), Casey Diedrick as Casey Peterson-Woods (Days of Our Lives, NBC)

COMMENTARY: The number is dwindling with the number of remaining soaps left on the air. Next year, there may only be two nominees in this category, not just because of cancellations (AMC and ATWT), but the age limits of the category (Clifton, and maybe Conroy) as well.

Younger Actress in a Drama Series
Kim Matula as Hope Logan (The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS)
Molly Burnett as Melanie Layton (Days of Our Lives, NBC)
Shelley Hennig as Stephanie Johnson (Days of Our Lives, NBC)
Lexi Ainsworth as Kristina Corinthos-Davis (General Hospital, ABC)
Emily O'Brien as Jana Hawkes (The Young and the Restless, CBS)

SURPRISE PICK (nobody listed above that could get in): Jacqueline McInnes-Wood as Steffy Forrester (The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS)
LAST ONES IN: Shelley Hennig as Stephanie Johnson (Days of Our Lives, NBC), Emily O'Brien as Jana Hawkes (The Young and the Restless, CBS)
FIRST ONES OUT: Kristen Alderson as Starr Manning (One Life to Live, ABC), Brittany Underwood as Langston Wilde (One Life to Live, ABC)

COMMENTARY: Like the Younger Actor race, the number next year is expected to decline with cast departures (O'Brien and Underwood), and cancellations (AMC).

Writing in a Drama Series
As the World Turns (CBS)
The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
General Hospital (ABC)

SURPRISE PICK (nobody listed above that could get in): One Life to Live (ABC)
LAST ONE IN: General Hospital (ABC)
FIRST ONE OUT: One Life to Live (ABC)

COMMENTARY: ATWT won the Writer's Guild for the second time in the last three years for the final episode. Could ATWT win a fifth and final Writing Daytime Emmy? Or will B&B repeat?

Directing in a Drama Series
The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
Days of Our Lives (NBC)
One Life to Live (ABC)

SURPRISE PICK (nobody listed above that could get in): The Young and the Restless (CBS)
LAST ONE IN: The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
FIRST ONE OUT: General Hospital (ABC)

COMMENTARY: GH didn't do a disaster show that I am aware of in 2010, unless you count James Franco. OLTL will probably submit the Prom Night musical episode that they submitted in the Drama Series race.

Talk Show- Entertainment
The Ellen DeGeneres Show (Syndicated)
Live with Regis and Kelly (Syndicated)
The Talk (CBS)

SURPRISE PICK (nobody listed above that could get in): Rachael Ray (Syndicated)
LAST ONE IN: The Talk (CBS)
FIRST ONE OUT: The View (Syndicated)

Talk Show- Informative
The Doctors (Syndicated)
The Dr. Oz Show (Syndicated)
Dr. Phil (Syndicated)

SURPRISE PICK (nobody listed above that could get in): None
LAST ONE IN: Dr. Phil
FIRST ONE OUT: Ha!

Morning News Show
American Morning (CNN)
Good Morning America (ABC)
Today (NBC)

SURPRISE PICK (nobody listed above that could get in): Fox and Friends (Fox News)
LAST ONE IN: American Morning (CNN)
FIRST ONES OUT: American Morning with Robin Meade (Headline News), The Early Show (CBS)

COMMENTARY: GMA and Today are in, no matter what. The third slot is always up for grabs, no matter what.

Game Show
Cash Cab (Discovery Channel)
Jeopardy (Syndicated)
Let's Make a Deal (CBS)

Talk Show Host
Dr. Mehmet Oz (The Dr. Oz Show, Syndicated)
Regis Philbin & Kelly Ripa (Live with Regis and Kelly, Syndicated)
Rachael Ray (Rachael Ray, Syndicated)
The Hosts of The Talk (The Talk, CBS)

SURPRISE PICK (nobody listed above that could get in): Dr. Phil (Dr. Phil, Syndicated)
LAST ONE IN: Rachael Ray
FIRST ONES OUT: The Hosts of The View (The View, ABC)

COMMENTARY: I don't think we'll see either Oprah or Ellen in this race. The hosts of ATWT's replacement, The Talk are definitely frontrunners in this race, despite their being (currently) five hosts.

Game Show Host
Ben Bailey (Cash Cab, Discovery)
Alex Trebek (Jeopardy, Syndicated)
Wayne Brady (Let's Make a Deal, CBS)

Breaking News in terms of the Primetime Emmy submissions, Fox submitted Family Guy in the Comedy Series race for the fourth straight year, and Raising Hope co-star Martha Plimpton has been entered in the Lead Actress race. HBO submitted Tim Robbins in the Supporting Actor race for the film Cinema Verite. Nominations will be announced on July 14.

On the April 19 season finale of NBC's Parenthood, young Amber survived a drunk driving crash, Adam Braverman gets fired, and Kristina tells Adam she's pregnant. On April 28 on The Office, Michael Scott said "goodbye" to Dunder-Mifflin for his flame Holly in Boulder, Colorado. The May Ratings Sweeps is a time for the networks to wrap up storylines for the season before heading off into a break for the next season, or in some cases, hanging it up for good. The 2011-12 schedules will be announced in mid-May for the networks, and there are a lot of shows that are on the bubble, which means the status is unknown for these shows.

Who is in and who is out? That is what the networks will be discussing. Some shows are already safe, but other shows remain in limbo, most notably Two and a Half Men, who fired star Charlie Sheen in March.

ABC- Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Dancing with the Stars, Cougar Town, Modern Family
CBS- How I Met Your Mother (renewed through 2013), The Big Bang Theory, CSI, Survivor, Hawaii Five-O, The Good Wife, Undercover Boss, The Amazing Race
Fox- Bob's Burgers, Raising Hope, American Idol, House, Fringe, Glee, Bones
NBC- The Office, 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, Community

ABC- Brothers and Sisters, Mr. Sunshine, Happy Endings, Body of Proof, V, Better Than You
CBS- CSI: New York, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, CSI: Miami, The Defenders, Shit My Dad Says, Rules of Engagement, Mad Love, Two and a Half Men (with or without Charlie Sheen), Blue Bloods
CW- One Tree Hill (eight years is like an eternity for the CW), Hellcats, Nikita
Fox- Breaking In, The Chicago Code, Lie to Me
NBC- Chuck (surprise? Hardly, this is the fourth year in a row the show has been on the bubble), Parenthood (NBC should move it to Thursday @ 10PM and give it a chance to shine), The Apprentice (contingent on Trump's Presidential run), Law & Order: Los Angeles, The Event, Harry's Law

ABC- Too close to call
CBS- Too close to call
CW- Supernatural, Vampire Diaries
Fox- Breaking In
NBC- Parenthood (deserves another shot), Harry's Law

ABC- Off the Map, Detroit 1-8-7, No Ordinary Family, Mr. Sunshine, Happy Endings
CBS- The Defenders, Shit My Dad Says, Rules of Engagement, Mad Love, CSI: New York
CW- Smallville (ending its long 10-season run), One Tree Hill, Hellcats
Fox- Traffic Light, The Chicago Code, Lie to Me
NBC- Friday Night Lights (ending its run), Perfect Couples, The Paul Reiser Show (already gone), Law & Order: Los Angeles, The Event, Chuck (NBC thinks it's overstayed its welcome)

In the Next BC Bulletin:
Tony Awards Preview- Is The Book of Mormon beatable?
Daytime Emmy Awards Preview- Who will win on Daytime's biggest night?
Bicentennial Countdown- The Best of Columbus Strikes Back Preview
Bicentennial 10 for 10- 10 Greatest Programs that Premiered in the Summer (Sex and the City, The Lawrence Welk Show, South Park, The Prisoner, Mad Men, Six Feet Under, Entourage, Northern Exposure, Survivor, Weeds)
A Look Back at the 2010-11 season, as we get towards the Bryan and Silver Garbage Award Nominations

Looking Ahead to July:
Tonys Recap
Daytime Emmys Recap
Bicentennial 10 for 12- To be announced
Where were you in '76? What the Bryan Awards would have looked like in America's Bicentennial Year
Primetime Emmy Nominations Preview
Bryan Award Nominations Preview
Silver Garbage Award Nominations Preview