On February 12, 1973, CBS daytime soap opera WHERE THE HEART IS was canceled in favor of a new show, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS. Six weeks later, WTHI would air its final show and Y&R would premiere. WTHI had a Nielsen rating of 6.8 at the time, or around five million viewers (that would make it No. 1 today). The show supposedly didn't have the type of audience (in terms of age and income) that sponsors preferred.
The article below from Daytime TV magazine takes a look at some of the cast including James Mitchell, Joseph Mascolo, Diana Van Der Vlis, and many more.
Read the three page article below.
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To expand on the age and income level comment: While strange to hear this today, CBS didn't like how young the viewers were and thought "Where the Heart Is" was attracting a cult-like audience.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they should resurrect it and try it out on The CW ...lol!
During my late high school/early college years as a Chicago teenager, I remember the cancellations of both WTHI & LIAMST on WBBM-TV/Channel 2, the local CBS-owned station that broadcast both of these soaps. I still miss both of these shows today all these years later!
ReplyDeleteI have a warm spot in my heart for WTHI. I really don't think it was given a fair shake by CBS. It had the makings of becoming a classic.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see, by the above comments, that I am not the only one who misses this show.
I watched "Where the Heart Is" and "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" on WBBM in Chicago. I can't believe both shows went off the air 40 years ago today.
ReplyDeleteFor everyone what watched WTHI and LIAMST, did you start watching Y&R the next week? And did you like it right away?
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember how the show started each day? RE: Y&R had sketches of the characters on the show.
ReplyDelete