In an interview with Michael Fairman, Tristan Rogers postulated some theories as to why General Hospital is suffering a ratings dip.
Rogers tells Fairman that he believes that General Hospital has a real problem because of its past. "There is an issue with the core body of fans...Now that core body of fans is deserting it, and when the last one turns off, that’s it. The new fans will not support it in a way that the older, foundational group will."
Rogers believes the show has to keep its old viewers first and foremost, going after new groups after the old fans are solidly behind the show again.
I don't need to point out that General Hospital is doing the exact opposite. I'm an old fan, and I couldn't agree with Rogers more. The people who followed GH in the late '70s and '80s are passionate about the show's history. When they see that history rewritten, and the old stars ignored or rewritten, it's painful, and they stop watching.
General Hospital had no problem in those days bringing in new viewers. There have always been young characters introduced to draw in younger fans. Jason, A.J., Brenda, Robin and Stone, were once the Michaels and Kristinas. The difference now is that GH is disenfranchising its older fans.
GH missed the boat by not lengthening Laura's stay, rewriting the Luke & Laura story, diminishing the role of the Quartermaines, killing off Alan, failing to bring back characters like Lucy Coe, and failing to keep Tristan Rogers and Anna Devane around longer.
I realize that fans don't have to think about soap opera expenses, but I still have a suggestion for the writers: Take a look at some of the fan fiction out there and suggested storylines on the message boards. There are some incredibly exciting ideas out there. Obviously, you're not coming up with anything on your own that's going to save this show.
Comments
I could not have said it better! This is not the same show anymore! And the only time they show the hospital is when one of sonnys clan is taken there. This show needs claire labine. It is worse than when the eckerts were on! And i miss alan he was the heart of the show not sonny!
I agree! I started watching GH in 1994 and I don’t recognize this show anymore! It’s nothing but mob, mob, mob and if you’re not involved w/ the mob, you have no storyline. Look at the Q’s. Where’s Bobbie? They killed Tony & Alan, they re-wrote Luke & Laura’s history. The show’s a mess. We ‘old’ fans are tired of the BS & tuning out. No new viewers r coming in. That spells disaster!
I started watching this show in the ’70’s.
YES I am a 70’s child!!!
I can handle changes, however there is so much writing left that would pertain to Monica, Bobbie, Mac, the Weber’s, etc..
Why can’t Monica start dating?? Or Bobbie?? Mac & Alexis would be a hoot. We have the untold story of Jake. Where is Liz’s parents?? LOVED Jeff Weber. Plenty of writing material available, this is a choice the writers are making.
I agree whole heartedly. I now watch GH in a matter of 15 minutes because i fast forward everything. I do like Carly and the Maxie Spinelli story line but that is it. I also think they should have brought back Lucy Coe long ago. Once they cancelled Port Charles they should have done something for those stars.
I would have to see what the demographics/ratings say because I am not sure there are that many fans from back then that are still watching except for die-hards that will watch anything. I think there are a lot of newer fans who like a lot of action and ones who enjoy anything as long as it is about Sonny and Jason. I think these things brought the ratings up (or demos) a while back and that’s why they love Guza and stick with him. Yes, the ratings have gone down, but have they gone down more for GH than other soaps? I’m not so sure. Also, the network ONLY cares about ratings and demographics, not what fans say or what is posted online. I love Tristan, but I don’t think he necessarily knows what he’s talking about because the people who watch the show now are not necessarily the people he hears from or knows about. The GH from back then had great actors and characters but so-so stories (sometimes boring), occasionally exciting, but it was at a time when lots of people watched soaps. Most people don’t watch soaps any more. The stories have not improved, only gotten worse, but the people who do watch might watch for different reasons than those of us who watched it back then.
Suzanne, you couldn’t be more wrong! There are plenty of us that have watched the show for decades and are still around and able to still watch TV!
The first commenters were right. They introduced young people like Robin and Jason and Stone and had wonderful story lines, but kept the history intact. You can’t just throw away an Alan Quartermaine and expect the viewing public to be happy about it.
Luke and Laura were legend. She wanted to come back (finally) and they just let her go. Big mistake, in my opinion. Tracy for Laura?? No contest!
I still watch, but I’d love to see Robert and Anna back, at least.
The only reason I started watching GH again was due to Robin Mattison (Heather Webber) came back to the show years ago and when she and Luke had a scene together where she mentioned of spending “that time together” I thought OH MY, THE DAUGHTER FROM HELL is in the wings, I was sadly wrong, as there has been no mention of a past with Heather and Luke. But…
If GH whats views, they need to up the catty quota with the female characters… everyone is getting too nice, since there they are bringing in a young cast, they need a complete BITCH hell bent on whatever and having her visit her mother Heather Webber at the hospital as she is due for release I think would spice things up a bit.
Just my thoughts, as I look at my DVR and the couple of weeks of GH I have not watched and thinking of deleting the series completely.
Robert in Palm Springs California
I completely agree. I have been watching GH for over 20 years. They have an AMAZING group of actors that are highly under used or in stories that are a waste of their talent. I dont even recognize my show anymore. I understand that they need to bring in younger actors, but with the history that GH has, they cant forget their core characters and families. I miss my show. I can barely watch it anymore.
When GH first air the show was centered around the name “General Hospital” story lines included the hospital staff, now it is center around nothing there is no storyline and it is boring for the most part I record it everyday so I can watch the Hospital stuff and fast forward through all the rest. All these new charecters are unintersting.
I hate the way it is now I stopped watching till I got a VCR so I don’t have to watch the boring