Why has Grey's Anatomy succeeded where 80s soaps failed?

[Gatsbyesque]

Thank you, both.

I'm talking mostly creative. But I didn't know the ratings had held up so well. I'm one of the people who stopped watching Grey's and I assumed everyone did, too, when the creator came out with two more shows that seem to get far more attention. It does better than the other two shows. gasp So they're given platform because of Grey's, and not the other way round.

My bad!

 

[Soapwriter12]

and Grey's is getting another spin off next year.

 

[bmasters9]

Ironically I had the reverse experience: I tried to watch a few episodes of ER and found it too boring.

Tell me about it! I got the first-season DVD release of ER a time back (the repackaged 7-disc single-sided version), and found it incredibly unwatchable as well.

 

[Rove]

The primetime soaps needed distant/surprise relatives showing up to add some spice and relief from that tired old formula.

Dallas did this by having Jamie Ewing (Jenilee Harrison) sashay up the Southfork drive, while the extended Ewing family were enjoying a brief time of happiness beside the pool. Introducing a new character (out of the blue) can have a surprising effect on already established characters. It can twist the story and family dynamics. And while I did like the idea of another Ewing was added to the mix the casting of Jenilee was a disaster in my opinion. Introducing long lost relatives can work but only if the casting is spot on. My only problem with introducing a new character or family into a soap is suddenly the focus is shifted from our regular characters to the newbies. It's like the writers need to force those characters onto the viewers to quickly establish a rapport, but this often comes across as jarring.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Dallas did this by having Jamie Ewing (Jenilee Harrison) sashay up the Southfork drive, while the extended Ewing family were enjoying a brief time of happiness beside the pool. Introducing a new character (out of the blue) can have a surprising effect on already established characters. It can twist the story and family dynamics. And while I did like the idea of another Ewing was added to the mix the casting of Jenilee was a disaster in my opinion. Introducing long lost relatives can work but only if the casting is spot on. My only problem with introducing a new character or family into a soap is suddenly the focus is shifted from our regular characters to the newbies. It's like the writers need to force those characters onto the viewers to quickly establish a rapport, but this often comes across as jarring.

Oh, boy, you reeeeeeeally mention Jenilee a lot. You must really hate her!

 

[Rove]

Oh, boy, you reeeeeeeally mention Jenilee a lot. You must really hate her!

I'm more than happy to own my disdain for Jenilee. But it's just my personal opinion. Wrong choice of actress, that's all.

 

[tommie]

Dallas did this by having Jamie Ewing (Jenilee Harrison) sashay up the Southfork drive, while the extended Ewing family were enjoying a brief time of happiness beside the pool. Introducing a new character (out of the blue) can have a surprising effect on already established characters. It can twist the story and family dynamics. And while I did like the idea of another Ewing was added to the mix the casting of Jenilee was a disaster in my opinion. Introducing long lost relatives can work but only if the casting is spot on. My only problem with introducing a new character or family into a soap is suddenly the focus is shifted from our regular characters to the newbies. It's like the writers need to force those characters onto the viewers to quickly establish a rapport, but this often comes across as jarring.

It can work maybe once, maybe twice... but beyond that is entering daytime soap territory. At one point you'd just have the original characters go "Oh, another one? Anyone for vodka shots" (Sue Ellen: "Me!!!!")

 

[Rove]

It can work maybe once, maybe twice... but beyond that is entering daytime soap territory. At one point you'd just have the original characters go "Oh, another one? Anyone for vodka shots" (Sue Ellen: "Me!!!!")

Introducing a long lost brother, sister, son or daughter is stale nowadays. Anytime a series tries this old chestnut is when I pull the plug. Lazy writing in my opinion, as if this scenario hasn't been done a million times. As another poster (Snarky?) rightfully pointed out. When Dallas introduced James Beaumont so late in the series the shock value was not there. Introducing another child of JR's early in the series could have worked a treat, as it would have unbalanced the Ewing household.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Introducing a long lost brother, sister, son or daughter is stale nowadays. Anytime a series tries this old chestnut is when I pull the plug. Lazy writing in my opinion, as if this scenario hasn't been done a million times. As another poster (Snarky?) rightfully pointed out. When Dallas introduced James Beaumont so late in the series the shock value was not there. Introducing another child of JR's early in the series could have worked a treat, as it would have unbalanced the Ewing household.

Complicated by the fact the Sasha Mitchell just didn't fit the show.

 

[tommie]

Complicated by the fact the Sasha Mitchell just didn't fit the show.

More complicated by the fact that he just can't act.

Wurkin out brah

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Is that him now??

 

[Rove]

More complicated by the fact that he just can't act.

As I said in another thread. I'll say no mean things regarding Sasha since I discovered how huge the guy is. He was wonderful on Step By Step. His abilities in acting fitted the character of Cody brilliantly.

 

[tommie]

Is that him now??

Yah bruh... wanna cum at me?

 

[Monzo]

Five years later the thread is still as topical as it was then, but now it could become critical for Grey's Anatomy, since Ellen Pompeo will appear in only 8 episodes next season. When Joan Collins and Jane Wyman stopped appearing consistently on Dynasty and Falcon Crest, both series were canceled, but I think Grey's Anatomy will still go on.

Ellen Pompeo To Reduce ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ On-Screen Presence In Season 19 As She Takes On Hulu Series Role

EXCLUSIVE: In the Season 18 finale of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, Ellen Pompeo‘s Meredith made a decision not to move to Minnesota. While Meredith is staying at Grey Sloan Memorial as an interim Chief of Surgery, we will see less of her next season. Pompeo will appear in eight episodes of the upcoming...

deadline.com

 

[tommie]

Five years later the thread is still as topical as it was then, but now it could become critical for Grey's Anatomy, since Ellen Pompeo will appear in only 8 episodes next season. When Joan Collins and Jane Wyman stopped appearing consistently on Dynasty and Falcon Crest, both series were canceled, but I think Grey's Anatomy will still go on.

Ellen Pompeo To Reduce ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ On-Screen Presence In Season 19 As She Takes On Hulu Series Role

EXCLUSIVE: In the Season 18 finale of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, Ellen Pompeo‘s Meredith made a decision not to move to Minnesota. While Meredith is staying at Grey Sloan Memorial as an interim Chief of Surgery, we will see less of her next season. Pompeo will appear in eight episodes of the upcoming...

deadline.com

Well, the show's title is a reference to the main character (Meredith Grey), so it'd be a bit odd to continue without her. They're considering a spin-off and re-brand as an alternative though.

 

[Monzo]

This thread about Grey's Anatomy is nine years old now, and even back then it looked like the medical soap was on its last legs, it's still around. Last season GH had six million viewers in total (Live TV, DVR, and streaming), and that still seems to be enough for a renewal, but budget cuts are inevitable. This time, these two actors were affected:

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Shocker: Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver to Exit Series After Season 22 Finale

Longtime 'Grey's Anatomy' cast members Kim Raver and Kevin McKidd — who play Teddy and Owen — will leave the show after the Season 22 finale.

variety.com

I expected Kim Raver to be let go eventually at some point, but Kevin McKidd's firing is a surprise. I thought he was the third cast member, alongside the two original cast members left, who was practically guaranteed a spot on the show. Firing Owen Hunt feels to me like if Cliff Barnes or Greg Sumner had been let go. Anyway, I often think that what I've seen with Grey's Anatomy in recent years is what Dallas and especially Knots Landing would have been like if they'd run for 20 seasons: a constant stream of new faces that nobody cares about, who then get written out after two or three seasons when they become too expensive, and then they hire new cheap actors, and in between, a veteran gets fired so the show can go on. What I still like about Grey's Anatomy is that you see the whole journey, instead of a cancellation, and then suddenly the show is brought back ten years later, the kids are grown up and now medical students themselves.