Daytime Television Producer Lin Bolen Dies At Age 76

Influential daytime television producer Lin Bolen has died. She passed away at the age of 76 at a hospital near San Fernando Valley, California. Her good friend, former game show host Jim MacKrell, informed the media of her passing. Lin is credited with bringing the long-form narrative to soap operas by expanding them to the current hour-long format.

Lin Bolen was one of the most celebrated television executives and producers. She was also a trailblazer in the entertainment industry as the first female VP of programming at a network. She began her career in the 1970s and was responsible for commissioning the long-running show Wheel of Fortune. She launched the NBC soap How to Survive a Marriage in 1974 and is credited with extending Another World and Days of Our Lives to an hour from 30 minutes to allow for a more complex plot.

She quickly rose to fame and in 1975, became the VP of Programming at the peacock network. Under her direction, NBC soon became the Number 1 network in the rating war.

In 1976 Lin Bolen left NBC to create her own production company. He mainly focused on creating new game shows, movies of the week and films for networks and studios. Unfortunately, many of her show, including Stumpers! And W.E.B., were canceled and pulled off the air in only a few short weeks. Thankfully, her television movies managed to pull in better ratings. Her most memorable film was The Christmas Coal Mine Miracle, was the highest-rated film for NBC that same year.

Merv Griffin remembered Lin best for her driving force and her determination to always reach the top, despite their well documented but bitter fights. He wrote in his memoir, Merv: Making The Good Life Last, “I developed a grudging respect for her talent and determination. She wanted to put her own stamp on NBC’s daytime lineup, and if that meant throwing out a few babies along with the bathwater, then so be it.”

No details of Lin Bolen’s funeral have been made public. In the meantime, don’t forget to check back with Soap Opera Spy for all the latest news, updates and spoilers on all of your favorite daytime television show right here.

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