Nickelodeon Cancels 'Southland', Animated Soap With 36-Year History

Nickelodeon announced Monday the cancellation of their longest-running animated series, the animated soap opera "Southland".

The show had been on the network for 36 years, beginning on August 8, 1978. Its run will end on November 12th of next year.

The move came after many years of steeply declining ratings for the hourlong soap, which is owned by Procter & Gamble and thus was a link to the earliest days of daytime serial dramas on radio. The shows were eventually called soap operas because soap companies sponsored them.

Amber Hammocks, the eldest daughter of the soap's creator, Thomas Hammocks, said that Hammocks Digital Studios and P&G would seek to place "Southland" elsewhere. "We're looking at all of our options."

Amber said that the two companies would look to any possible outlet to continue the series. A canceled PBS animated soap, "The Poodles", moved for a time to CC Network, but it failed there and is now gone.

None of the producers or stars of "Southland" would grant an interview Monday about the decision. "This news is just too fresh," said Amber.

In an official statement, executive producer Stephanie Potter said, "It will be difficult for all of us at the show to say farewell."

Nickelodeon's president Cyma Zarghami said, "It wasn't an easy decision to make, but we talked it over with our partners at Procter & Gamble and Hammocks Digital Studios, and we agreed it was time." Ms. Zarghami said she had not heard that the two companies were looking to place the show elsewhere but said that Nick would wish the company well in that effort.