Capitol (TV series)
"Capitol" debuted on CBS in 1982 in 8th place in the ratings, roughly the same as "Search for Tomorrow" had done. "Capitol" remained in the middle of the ratings pack throughout its five-year run ranking between 7th and 9th, with its best ratings points of 6.4 achieved in the 1983-1984 television season, in which it ranked 8th. In 1985, ratings fell slightly from a 5.8 to a 5.1, prompting some CBS affiliates to drop the show. CBS subsequently canceled the show and replaced it with "The Bold and the Beautiful" on March 23, 1987. However, CBS put "The Bold and the Beautiful" in the 1:30/12:30 timeslot, bumping "As the World Turns" to 2/1. "The Bold and the Beautiful" became both CBS' and America's second-highest rated soap opera, but its ratings never surpassed "Capitol" ratings peak.
Ashley Abbott
Eileen Davidson originated the role of Ashley Abbott in June 1982, until her first exit on December 2, 1988. The role was immediately recast with Brenda Epperson, who portrayed Ashley for seven years from December 5, 1988 before leaving the role on December 21, 1995. Shari Shattuck then assumed the role from March 12, 1996 to February 22, 1999, with Davidson returning on March 19, 1999. Davidson took maternity leave in the summer of 2003. In 2006, news broke that Davidson was to exit the soap opera, and she last aired on January 11, 2007. She then carried the role of Ashley over to the show's sister soap, "The Bold and the Beautiful". She last aired on "The Bold and the Beautiful" on July 4, 2008, before returning to "The Young and the Restless" on September 25, 2008.