Interview With NIGHT SHIFT Head Writer Sri Rao

1 Nelson Branco at TV Guide Canada has a wonderful new interview with GENERAL HOSPITAL: NIGHT SHIFT head writer, Sri Rao, out today. TV Guide: Do you think the future of daytime will end up as short-term nighttime series on SoapNet? Sri Rao: Honestly, I don’t know if it’s possible to HOOK get a 16-year-old or a 24-year-old to be hooked into a show at 2 in the afternoon anymore. We watched them back in the day because of our families. I think networks are trying to win that losing battle. But if you change the fight or the battle, it may turn in their favour. Let’s go after the older viewers. That may be what we’ve demonstrated on Night Shift. There is a segment of the audience to cater to and really grow. By bringing in Robert and Anna, and refocusing on Patrick and Robin, we hoped to reinvest in our loyal audience. I think by combining history and legacy characters with [postmodern] new characters, we really invigorated the core characters and brought in some new viewers. That could be a partial solution to daytime’s problem. TV Guide: From my couch, it looked like SoapNet/ABC gave you autonomy. Is that true? Because that’s A RARE luxury in this business. Sri Rao: Yeah, they did. And yes, I know that’s not often the case. The network has been amazing. They gave me the flexibility I needed. Also, their notes were really constructive. And I’m not blowing smoke up your a--. To a large extent, if you don’t feel like the network supports you, it shows in the work. My creative process was never hindered at any point.