Report: 'General Hospital' May Shutter If Katie Couric-ABC Deal Goes Through

By AOL TV Editors Posted May 5th 2011 11:30AM

Could Katie Couric's potential new ABC talk show kill 'General Hospital'? That's the latest buzz.

According to TMZ, Couric is close to signing a $20 million deal with ABC. The new deal would entail ABC News and '20/20' specials, fill-in anchoring gigs and a syndicated one-hour talk show. The show would debut September 2012. If that deal happens, ABC is considering giving the hour of programming space 'General Hospital' now occupies back to its affiliates.

'General Hospital' is the third-longest-running soap on the air, and after January 2012, it will be the only soap on ABC. In April, ABC canceled 'One Life to Live' and 'All My Children.' The two soaps will be replaced by lifestyle/talk shows 'The Chew' and 'The Revolution.'

However, audience reaction to the new shows has been mixed, even before the premieres. Should one show fail, Couric's show could just slip into that programming slot.

Once everything is set, Couric would most likely be at the 3PM time slot, vying for the viewers of the departed 'Oprah Winfrey Show.'

Couric's talks with CBS have reportedly fallen apart, with ABC offering her more of a presence across their network. The former 'Today' anchor will be leaving 'CBS Evening News' in June after five years on the job. She'll be replaced by Scott Pelley of '60 Minutes' fame.

The potential $20 million deal is for the first year of the talk show alone, Couric would be additionally compensated for her work on ABC News. Matt Lauer will reportedly not be part of Couric's potential talk show on ABC.

Get More at TV Squad >>

Tags: General Hospital, Katie Couric

Comments

(41)

Thursday 05 May

By travellady

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

There have been a lot of changes in my life. Time to embrace the future:)

By stef

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

GH is already done and over with, unfortunately.

By MARIA

GH has been awful for a long time! I had to stop watching it about 2 years ago after being a fan since 1978. I only miss Luke and he's not on all the time. I'll always love Tony Geary.

By Concerned double standard

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Wouldn't watch it anyway. Enough is enough. Not everyone likes talk shows. She blew the 6 news as it is

By Terry

DID you really think GH would continue after it loses it's 2 lead in shows? The powers that be say the genre is done and will make sure it is. Obviously the people who watch DON'T matter. No matter what shows you put in these time slots will not succeed & not for lack of interest BUT because there are so many channels now. WAKE UP ABC.

By Bonbon

Can't understand why these networks keep wasting their millions on Couric, can't they get it, no one likes her! dummies.

By simpsonsimpmike

She had her fifteen minutes decades ago.

By Debra

If we have to stomach Katie why can't she get the Oprah time slot. I love General Hospital and watch almost all shows at night on abc, but they are going to far, I am almost at the poing of not watching any new shows cause they cancel them faster you can remember the charathers names.

By librettoBarbara@aim.com

Vote down Vote up Report this

Like Katie but love my soaps--will miss them enjoy Katie at night

By joe

Wouldn't watch anything she's on, just don't care for her

By Tami

Who wants another talk show...NOT ME! I love GH

By WizardofOZ

General Hospital is a done deal, its BORING. Elizabeth is a muchkin with a pumkin head, and Kristen storms is as tall as my garden gnome. The ONLY redemable character is charly, Laura Wright. Katie is nothing more than a 65 year old giggly schoolgirl. Nothing on ABC is worth watching.....CABLE BABY!

By sessrs

I will not watch anything on ABC daytime after all of this. I hate these cheap boring talk shows! I will miss my soaps!!

By Dottie

Ditto! GH is the only soap I watch and I don't watch any talk shows, not even Oprah.

By Tangerine Dream

she went overboard trying to be taken seriously as a newswoman. She tried to be Barbara Walters. And now she wants to be Oprah. How about making her a housewife??

By ROB

WHY DO WE NEED ANOTHER TALK SHOW!!!! ENOUGH!! BRING BACK THE 4;30 MOVIE!!!! LOL THATS BETTER THAN TALK!!!!

By Donna

OMG you have got to be kidding me. Another talk show. Stop already. I have stopped watching talk show because they have the same guests on they talk about the same thing. They are boring enough already. Would you high up's leave soaps alone and ABC dont sign Couric. She ruined the nightly news she sucks. I for one would not watch her show if it was the only show on TV. Thank goodness for Cable.

By WizardofOz

When they replaced Lucky with the origianl that was a fatal error.
Jonathan Jackson looks like a 12 year old dressed as a man for holloween. Whoever changed the show should be fired, the problem with soaps is they rotate the same lame writers.
Luke Spencer should of been killed off when he shaved his afro, and Sonny is nothing like he was 10 years ago. Sad.

By rlp

If general hospital is cancelled I will NEVER watch it's replacement! No one can replace Oprah....certainly not Katie Couric.

By Kate51

I personally don't believe we need another talk show. I have always enjoyed GH and watch it daily on Soap Net.

Page 1 of 3