Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Prospect Park, ALL MY CHILDREN & ONE LIFE TO LIVE: Five Things Every Soap Fan Should Know about Daytime's New Powerhouse

Although they're new--and let's face it, before the ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE acquisitions, few had ever heard of them--Prospect Park is positioned to be a major force in television. That can only be a good thing for the future of daytime soap operas. Here's five points to keep in mind as PP's plan unfolds in the months to come:

1. With Twentieth Century Fox and Scott Free, they produced the 2010 Action film "Unstoppable." Starring Rosario Dawson, Chris Pine, and Denzel Washington, the film grossed $169 million worldwide and was nominated for an Academy Award (Best Achievement in Sound Editing).
2. In May, they made ABC executive Josh Barry a partner. According to the Hollywood Reporter, "Recently, he was senior vp, head of drama development and current programming at ABC Studios. Barry developed DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES and GREY'S ANATOMY during his tenure and worked on shows like ALIAS and LOST. BODY OF PROOF was the latest pilot that he played a pivotal role on."
3. They're involved with EDEN and SNATCHED on TNT, ROYAL PAINS and BIG IN JAPAN on USA, and WILFRED on FX.
4. The firm's executive partner has a background in talent management, and he does, on paper at least, seem like quite the "Ari Gold" (Jeremy Piven's character on ENTOURAGE). He was even engaged to Brittany Murphy (Clueless). Jeff Kwatinetz has mostly moved on from music management--and his old company, which was actually named "The Firm." But it appears Prospect Park still manages Ice Cube ("Boyz in the Hood") and Aly and Amanda Michalka (HELLCATS).
5. Even though it's only two years old, Prospect Park has been able to attract top TV talent. It's growth has been sensational. The executive team has a reputation for being hungry and innovative, and has over a century of combined industry experience. With the whole entertainment universe watching them, they are amply motivated to do whatever it takes not just to keep AMC and OLTL alive, but to help them prosper once again.

RELATED:
- OPINION: Thoughts on the ALL MY CHILDREN Television Finale ("This is not the ending I wanted")
- NEWS ROUNDUP SPECIAL: Stories From Across The World About ALL MY CHILDREN & The State of Soaps (Viewer parties everywhere!)
- AMC Finale Survey: Let us know what you thought!
- Good-bye Erica Kane: We Love Soaps' Roger Newcomb on Canada's CTV
- The End Of ALL MY CHILDREN: Bobby Martin's Revenge?
- Former ALL MY CHILDREN Star Kim Delaney Escorted Off Stage After Disoriented Speech
- "All My Children" and "Erica Kane"Trending On Twitter
- Classic ALL MY CHILDREN articles
- THE COMPLETE LIST: 25 Biggest Blunders In Daytime Soap Opera History

17 comments:

  1. I AM THRILLED THAT PROSPECT PARK HAS ACQUIRED THE SOAPS AND THAT THEY HEARD OUR CRIES!! I AM 1000% BEHIND THEM AND I AM MORE THAN WILLING TO DO ANYTHING I CAN TO ASSIST THEM IN BRINGING THE SOAPS EITHER ON-LINE OR TO A CABLE CHANNEL... THE SOAPS WILL HAVE MORE LEEWAY THAN EVER BEFORE. IF YOU THINK THEY WERE HOT BEFORE, THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH HOTTER IT CAN GET ON-LINE OR ON CABLE... COOL!!
    I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND ABC'S LOSS WILL BE PROSPECT PARKS GAIN!! THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN! I KNOW YOU ARE WORKING HARD WITH THE UNIONS AND I KNOW YOU WILL TELL US SOMETHIHG AS YOU KNOW.
    THANK YOU!!
    ROBIN Z.

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  2. PP sounds like a spin off of ABC.

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  3. Prospect Park IS apparently affiliated with Disney; it's run by former execs from there or something. So it's still anybody's guess how this will all play out. I sure hope they just leave the storytelling to the writers/directors/producers and leave out all the incessant meddling, a la Frons!

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  4. This looks very encouraging! I'm very excited to see how all this unfolds and I wish PP all the best in doing so. I'm sure they can pull it off. I hope the cast remains with AMC. Some sound interested. Keep your fingers cross everyone!

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  5. Kudo's continue for Prospect Park. We the soap world are expecting great things from you and we are going to contine to lobby to keep our soaps free on the internet as well as GET US ON A CABLE CHANNEL for those who do not have internet or a computer, or access to one or simply cannot afford one. We must do all we can to PRESERVE THE WORLD OF SOAP OPERAS. This is coming from a 60 year old soap fan who also remembers the soaps; LOVE OF LIFE, EDGE OF NIGHT, FROM THESE ROOTS, DARK SHADOWS and MORE. KEEP WORKING HARD TO GET AMC, OLTL, GH going strong on both internet and on cable. WE WILL STAND BEHIND YOU IN THIS ENDEAVOUR.

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  6. Thank you PP! Please just make it easy for us to watch if we don't have those fancy gadgets. :-)

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  8. WEll aren't these Frons old cronys making money milking the cash cow?


    I mean Prospect Park is no more than a spin off of ABC without just coming right out and saying it...there were rumors Sweeney/Iger wanted to sell ABC also re: PP endless cash flow according to Steve Burton they have "deep pockets"


    They are getting that "media funding" from the government... which helps

    this is all the same ole' good old boys network" making a buck in a new way.

    Nothing new or earthshattering I wouldnt be surprised if Frons isn't heavily involved with this

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  9. THANK YOU PP I HAVE WATCHED ROYAL PAINS SINCE DAY ONE,I RENTED UNSTOP PALE TWICE AND NOW WATCH WILFRED.SO YOU MAKE IT I'LL BE THERE TO WATCH.I AM A VERY LOYAL TO YOU FOR SAVING OUR SOAPS.THANK YOU AGAIN!

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  10. Thank you, thank you, thank you for having the foresight to pick up AMC & OLTL. I too am a Royal Pains watcher & I hope you will find a station to air these soaps on. I have a computer & can adapt but my mother is 88 years old & does not own or know how to work a computer, however she will subscribe to what ever station you put these shows on that she can access with her Direct TV remote. I am soooo happy. Thank you again. I predict a quick demise of AMC's replacement, The Chew! Phoey

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  11. buckeye says:
    can prospect park still have a spot on soap net where amc & oltl has been. Or have a directv or cable channel for the ones who have watched for years still can, and don't have or know how to use a computer?
    my mom and I have watched them for years and she don't have or know how to use a computer. I am 76 yrs old and she is in her 90's

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  12. Please have a cable or satilite
    channel and be fair so everyone can continue to watch our soaps.
    Tv is NOT dead.
    These young wippersnappers might think so but it is not....lol

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  13. Thank you! Thank you! I am glad you are keeping the soaps going! They have been here forever through All of My Children (oldest being 27) and before when I was a child and my mom used to watch the soaps! Many of us grew up with the soaps....I hope to see them on cable channels real soon! Thanks again!

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  14. I had my husband reconfigure the computer so I can get Prospect Park. I will watch All My Children and support their sponsors. I will not forget how much the 41 year AMC fans owe this new venture.

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  15. Thank you so very much for taking on AMC & OLTL! I am 34 years old & have been watching these soaps with my mother since I can remember watching tv. Best of luck PP & thank-you once again! Do us die-hard soap fans proud!

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  16. thank you PP for bringing back AMC & OLTL, I live in Canada and i cant get on sites to watch anything in the states so how would us Canadians watch our soaps..

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