News In Brief

Oh no! ABC says bye to ‘Children,’ ends ‘Life’

Kai Ryssdal Apr 14, 2011

This final note today, in which Susan Lucci loses her job. Yes, it’s true.

Today, ABC canceled two of the three soap operas it still has on the air — “All My Children” and “One Life to Live.”

Lucci made a career of playing Erica Kane on “All My Children.” The cancellations are pretty much all economics. “All My Children” averages about two and a half million viewers a day. Nice, but down 9 percent from last season.

Median age of a typical viewer? And this is the real signal — nearly 57.

I wonder if I’m the only person out there who arranged their class schedule in college to be back in time for the soaps? Let us know, leave a comment.

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