MEDIA

Passing the baton to a new generation

This week saw the end of one era and the beginning of another; a passing of the baton, so to speak.

After 54 years on TV, with 256 episodes per year, As the World Turns is ending and will have its timeslot filled by an all women’s talk show (a la The View). Britain’s Coronation Street becomes the new longevity champion.

The decline in female daytime home audiences that has been going on for some 2 decades and increasing costs for more elaborate and outdoor scenes have led to its cancellation.

But all is not lost, for another generation is taking up the daily soap opera challenge.

Degrassi, the 4th generation Canadian teen soap - in it’s 10th year -- is now becoming a daily show. Canadian Much Music and U.S. Teen Nick network has commissioned a doubling to 48 episodes for the upcoming season, starting July 19, 2010. Degrassi will broadcast new epiosdes 4 days a week with a Friday catch up marathon.

Will Degrassi succeed in this new format?

Will a new generation get hooked on the long and venerable soap opera marathon?

Will it last for 54 years or will teens soon tire of the need to stay tuned every day to follow the stories.

We will see.

(Toronto Metro, July 19, 2010, p.16; Wikipedia, “Degrassi”)