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ABC Exec Vicki Dummer Interview: The Plans For GH and Addressing The Fans Concerns!

Courtesy/ABC

At this past Friday night’s ABC Summer Press Tour TCA Cocktail Party, On-Air On-Soaps had the opportunity to chat with Vicki Dummer, ABC executive vice president of Times Square Studios, Current Series & Specials, who is now the successor to Brian Frons overseeing all of ABC Daytime’s re-jiggered line-up!

As many know, Vicki was brought in when Brian Frons stepped down from his position last December over much controversy from cancelling All My Children and One Life to Live and replacing these beloved shows with The Chew and The Revolution.  Once Frons was out, Vicki Dummer was part of the massive restructuring of the higher-ups at ABC.

We asked Dummer point blank, what are her plans for General Hospital? How is she working with the show to keep it on the air?  And, we address what has been of concern to many soap fans of late: Is Good Afternoon America going to get a permanent slot in the ABC Daytime line-up? What if any future could One Life to Live and All My Children have with ABC once they retain the rights to the shows back from Prospect Park?

Ultimately, what we came away with is that Dummer is getting behind GH for the foreseeable future, and as you have read from many of the GH casts tweets and posts, they feel like ABC is firmly behind them at this juncture.   So here now is our interview with Vicki!

Everyone is like, “Who is this woman?”  People in the industry of course knew of you, but the daytime fans did not.  And they are thinking, “What is she going to do our shows?  Should we be afraid of another cancellation of the lone remaining ABC soap, General Hospital?”  I assume that was one of the reasons you had to make sure that everybody knew that you are 100% behind GH!

Courtesy/ABC

VICKI:  Here is the thing: I have been a big fan of the soaps, and especially General Hospital since I was a kid.  I watched GH when I was in college.  I scheduled my college classes around Luke and Laura, like everybody.  I drifted away from it, but I got my parents into it.  So my parents watch GH every single day.  So I have a very personal focus group for General Hospital.   I am asked a tremendous amount of questions about GH and where the stories are going, and it matters to them.  I know there is a tremendous fan base out there that loves these soaps and loves these characters and wants to see the stories continue.  I am going to do whatever I can to help that continue.  That is part of having the cast of GH at the ABC Summer TCA Press Tour and honoring the upcoming 5oth Anniversary, and having them here at the party.  These folks work so hard day, day in and day out, and do such great work.  It is about honoring their work and these tremendous actors!

The cast and crew so thrilled you gave them the recent on set party for their Daytime Emmy victories.  It showed that the network noticed!  You are from a very different background than soaps, creating lifestyle and makeover shows such as the hit Extreme Makeover brand.  Do you think in hindsight, if it had been you in this position at the time, would you have made the call to keep One Life to Live and All My Children on the air?

VICKI: You know, I can’t really look back.  I know there were a lot of factors that went into that decision … a lot of business factors, and a lot of looking where we were as a business.  You have to look at that and weigh that.  I know there are so many fans that are disappointed and loved those characters and stories.  I know they are really heartbroken that they are not on anymore, and I feel that.  I hear from soap opera fans that they want to see those characters, and see how their lives are progressing out their in the world. But I can’t look back on that.  My predecessor made those decisions for a variety of factors.

But knowing the audience is outraged, rabid, and wants to see Pine Valley and Llanview again … are you exploring any options such as a special, a mini-series, or something to in part satisfy them in some way?

VICKI:  There have been a lot of conversations about if there is something we could do and we are exploring that. When the Prospect Park deal was blowing up, I know the fans were so looking forward to those shows being online and the actors were too, of course.  I know it was a huge disappointment, and it was a huge disappointment for us too.  We were looking at that as that would be the continuation of the characters.

But don’t the rights soon revert back to ABC?

VICKI:  They do.  Basically it is a year after.  So soon they will be back in our hands and then we have to figure out what we are going to do.

Both of OLTL’s replacements; The Revolution and Good Afternoon America neither clicked!  If you had come in at that point and were putting something on instead of One Life, what would you have put in their time slot?

VICKI:   I did not put on The Revolution or The Chew, that was my predecessor, but I do think that The Chew is a terrific show.  It is firing on all cylinders.   I don’t know if you saw this moment at the party where Carla Hall saw Maurice Benard, and she nearly lost her mind, which was fantastic.  Carla is a big fan of the soaps as are a number of people on The Chew.  As is Katie Couric, and a lot of people.  Good Afternoon America seemed to be a stop-gap for us when we cancelled The Revolution, and when General Hospital moves to its new time slot.  It’s really going to be about The Chew, GH, and Katie for us. I am excited about that line-up.

People are still concerned that Good Afternoon America is going to be on the air forever, and replace GH!

VICKI:   It was on for a nine week trial and we have been really, really clear. We are with General Hospital.  General Hospital is moving to 2PM in most time zones and that is the show in that time period.  I know fans are nervous, and they have seen one soap after the other be canceled.  There are no guarantees in this world, but we have the GH cast here, we are focused on the 50th Anniversary in April of 2013, and we just want to celebrate the show and look forward to what’s next.

Recently, we have seen more on-air promos for GH running more in the day part. We have not seen that appropriately in daytime, sufficient promotions for the support of the soaps.  Was that a decision you made coming into your new position?

Courtesy/ABC

VICKI:  When I came on we restructured a lot of departments. We restructured our PR and Marketing Departments, and ABC Daytime and Primetime are all in one group now. The good news is our head of marketing, Marla Provencio used to cut all the on-air promos for the daytime soaps.  Marla has an affinity and is a fan of soap.  And as you heard from ABC Entertainment President, Paul Lee at the panel, he started in a Brazilian soap opera and as he said, he worked in the U.K. and unfortunately it happened to be on the show that was voted the worst soap opera ever in the history of the world!  (Laughs) He also comes from the U.K. where Eastenders and Coronation Street, and all of those shows, have such a legacy.  We are supportive of this genre. We want to see it continue and succeed.  So we want to put what we can behind it, and make sure people know about the time change, and make sure we are working with the creatives and Frank Valentini, and making sure that fans who have left the show come back, and re-strengthen that number.  If we do all that, we have a great, great case for keeping GH on the air.

Are you overseeing the creative with Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati at GH? Are you hands-on with each of the shows in the daytime line-up now?

VICKI:  I have a point executive on GH named Agnes Chu.  That is her only job to look at the storylines and characters.   But what had been great is; I have had phone calls with Frank and our head writer, Ron Carlivati to find out where they are going with storylines, and to find out if we are all on board with the direction things are going.  That we have big events, such as we are looking at the September time period change to do one, and maybe that is a good opportunity to pick up new viewers. Also, what we can be doing using some of the stories, as well as using some of the cast of characters from the past, which you are seeing now with Heather Webber.   So we have a lot of people that have come back to the canvas, and we want to sort of pick up the lapsed viewer to get that rating up.  And also, if people don’t know anything about General Hospital they can check in and they can be engaged in the stories and sort of become new viewers.  Hasn’t Frank Valentini been doing a great job?!

Yes he has!  I have known Frank for a very long time, and he and others know that One Life to Live was my favorite soap.  I championed that show and now I am trying to champion General Hospital.  The One Life to Live viewers were so gut-wrenched and felt so kicked to the curb because their show was doing so well, and in no way deserved to be axed.

VICKI:  I know, I know, and it is heartbreaking.  I get tons of email. although some of them are very mean to me.  Please just tell them, “Stop being so mean!”

Don’t we all have those pull your hair out days at our jobs?

VICKI:  Yes, but I am blessed.  I get to watch television for a living and who doesn’t love that?

How far ahead are you planning story for GH?

VICKI:  They have notions that are further along, but they are looking at September and October stories now. And of course, further than that and thinking where they are going with characters, and are their new character to introduce.  And, what should we do with storylines. I pitched some storylines that I would like to see!

Ah, but the question is, “Did you pitch some storylines that your Mom and Dad would want to see?” (Laughs)

VICKI:  You know what?  It’s funny; I always preface it by what my Mom and Dad would do, because they are my little focus group.  They are literally like, “When is Maxie coming back? “

Do they have a favorite character on GH?

courtesy/ABC

VICKI:  I don’t know if they have a favorite, but what always amuses me is my mother and my father both watch together.  My mother would watch it, and my dad would just be there.  Now, he says to my mom, “So are we going to watch General Hospital?”  He looks forward to it just as much as she does.  I loved on the panel yesterday when the cast was talking about running into cops and hookers and all these people, you would think are not fans of GH, but are!  You get hooked on the characters and their lives, and you become curious as to what is going to happen to them next.  I think that is a wonderful respite in the middle of people’s afternoons.

I have not felt the moral so good at GH … in such a long, long time!

VICKI: Because they did not feel a part of it!

Right! Can you imagine all these years not feeling a part of it?  And acting their butts off, and all that goes into it, and all the fans and seemingly feeling no one at the network is caring about their show!

VICKI:  It is also having them be an after-thought!  I get it.  And how hard these guys work to deliver the material!  How much material they go through in a day is really, really tough.  A friend of mine was a daytime soap actor on Days of our Lives many years ago.  I would say, “How do you memorize all that material?” And to internalize it and then to act it, I think it’s actually pretty amazing what they do.

So soapers, after reading Vicki Dummer’s comments to some very important questions and concerns, what do you think?  Do you feel any better about the future of General Hospital in her hands? Let us know!

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She sounds like her head is in the right place. Nice to see her so enthusiastic about the show. Of course, I’m always wary of what execs will do with soaps, but I have no problems with anything this one has done so far.

Anyone who consults with/listens to her parents must be interested in doing the right thing!

I don’t think ABC would be doing the things they’re doing to promote GH if their intentions weren’t in the right place. I’ve been very critical of CarTini in the past, but in the last few weeks, everything seems to be turning around and the story lines are becoming more view-worthy. I find very little to FF through anymore.

My biggest complaint is that a lot of what CarTini are writing now is a re-hash of OLTL stories, but I guess after 50+ years of soaps there is bound to be much re-telling of stories. It’s up to the writers to make them more current and compelling.

All in all, things are finally looking up.

Sounds like they heard our screams and boycotts. Also sounds like the Frons’ “kill the ABC soap genre” phase is over. Probably because of our screams and boycotts!! I’m optimistic that GH is forever and I pray I’m right!!!

I agree with you Greta, it sounds like she is pushing for the show, but also letting us know they want the audience to build and that is going to be the key.

I do think it will be on at least till April when it celebrates it 50th! That seems like something they are planning.

Okay Vicki Dummer, I won’t be mean to you for now ;-D But I do believe Mr. Lee already needs to go be with Frons. From the 2 interviews I have read with him, he is NOT a soap fan. Please don’t keep him.

Here are my feelings on GH (and OLTL) – I believe you are making a huge mistake in moving the time slot of GH. Please leave it where it has been for a long time.

As I was reading your interview, it was very easy to read between the lines. I don’t believe you are committed to GH, I believe you will ax it with the excuse of ‘bad ratings’…which will be, in part, because of the move. Another reason is people don’t trust ABC anymore. They allowed Frons to betray us and he didn’t listen to the fans. Paul Lee seems to have that same attitude.

I have NEVER watched the chew, I never will. I will not watch Rikki Lake, I will NEVER watch Katie Couric. I will record GH so I can watch The Talk on CBS. We have also given up all abc primetime shows. My husband would have watched GCB and/or Body of Proof but you canceled them. So, no more abc except GH. And naming a new primetime show 666, might as well cancel it now, to many Christians will boycott that one, I suspect loudly.

Now, here is my hope, someone smartens up (hoping it is YOU) and brings back OLTL at the very least, put it back in it’s own time slot. If you won’t bring it back, then *give* it back to Agnes to do with as she pleases. Maybe she can find homes for her soaps, then you can let her have GH as well and make the fans happy and not have canceling it hanging over your head. (I’m still really ticked off at the daytime emmy’s for how OLTL was basically ignored. It was more about AMC, which I had quit watching 20 years ago.)

You have a nice face, it makes me truly want to believe everything you said, but there were to many hints throughout the interview. Prove me wrong, please and bring back OLTL. Until that happens, I have blocked all other abc stations along with all disney stations. They won’t be on in our home until abc makes it right.

Good luck with your job, I hope you are a magician and can pull OLTL out of your hat. They cancled them for *business* reasons, looking like busines is not so good and fans will continue to boycott. I also boycott the sponsors of the other shows you have put on. I’m stubborn and have no plans to change until you bring back OLTL and get more of a LONG TERM commitment to GH.

I agree with you that time with tell if she can be trusted.

Unfortunately, SHE will not bring back our mutal favorite OLTL. It was a bad decision then and still is now, and everyone knows it.

I believe OLTL did not get the recognition we wanted them to receive because they were on the air in 2012, meaning they will be apart of next year’s Emmy show. The focus was on AMC because they will not. Being a soap fan for the better part of my life, having watched all three ABC soaps for many years, I will not be upset about the recognition AMC received. It was not my fav soap as that has always been GH, but they deserved their moment to shine and next year will be all about OLTL.

Right on, Jody, The Chew is a huge loser of a show. There’s nothing less appealing than watching a group of out of shape non-personalities sit around and eat and talk about food. Good grief, I could go sit in a fast food restaurant and get that experience without having to use household electricity and turn on a TV. OLTL – ABC does need to admit they made a huge mistake and bring the show back. I’ve been boycotting their tired network ever since they dropped my favorite soap. The sad thing is, as they keep losing viewership due to the small-minded and lack of shows with heart in their lineup, they will keep looking for more ways to cut costs. Thus, more “reality?” shows, more cheap-to-produce shows like “The Chew” will be what ABC sees as the solution. Sadly, that means shows lacking quality, the quality our soaps had.

I agree with everything you said Jody. I will never watch the replacement shoes myself. I love the people but I can’t watch. As for Katie. I never liked her and I won’t watch her!!!! Many people won’t. We had a lot to do with the success of the network, we bought the products now we don’t.

DEAR MS DUMMER I’M WRITING THIS BECAUSE I’M A SOAP FAN OF AMC AND OLTL I HAVE BEEN FOR MANY YEARS I USE TO WATCH AMC WITH MY MOTHER WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL AND WATCHED OLTL AS I GOT OLDER I’M GOING TO SPEAK TO YOU WOMAN TO WOMAN CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION HAVE YOU LOOKED AT ANY SOAPS IN YOUR LIFE TIME IF YOU HAVE YOU AS A WOMAN CAN UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT BASICALLY I’M TALKING ABOUT A FAMILY THAT IS WHAT AMC AND OLTL IS TO THE DAYTIME OF AMERICA CAN YOU PLEASE BRING OUR FAMILY BACK HOME WHERE THEY BELONG THANK YOU FOR YOUR TOME AND YOUR TROUBLE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE A SAFE HAPPY HOLIDAY

DEAR MS DUMMER I’M SORRY TO BOTHER YOU I KNOW YOU ARE A BUSY WOMAN I’M WRITING BECAUSE THE DAYTIME FAMILY OF AMERICA REALLY WANT OUR FAMILY BACK AMC AND OLTL NOW IF YOU AND THE DISNEY/ABC EXECUTIVES CAN FIND IT WITH IN YOUR HEARTS TO BRING OUR FAMILY BACK HOME WHERE THEY BELONG IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOU TIME AND YOUR TROUBLE AND YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE A SAFE HOLIDAY

With RC writing he is destroying so many characters and I don’t watch GH. Many other fans feel that way and unless something changes there then GH won’t be able to be saved with viewers tuning out cuz they don’t like the writing of the show. I do believe that ABC wants out of soaps cuz production is expensive, talk shows and reality shows are cheap and easy.

There are always going to be people out there that are never happy with anything, but the vast majority of the comments I read, and even people in my own family that watch GH, have been talking about how good it’s been lately.

I’m curious, what characters do you think are being ruined?

all of the gh ones. if you are a gh fan you would know. they may as well call it llianview hospital. sorry that oltl got canceled but lets remember its gh and dont forget OUR history.

Besides the OLTL characters. I don’t watch so I can’t say specifics but RC only knows how to destroy not build he did on OLTL and the little I watched when the OLTL characters joined and the characters were different from the way I remember em.

Thank You Michael for a great interview! I can on say that I think Frank and Ron are doing an awesome job with GH….I hadn’t watched GH in years but due to the OLTL crossovers I started watching again as did many other OLTL fans. I believe that between the OLTL fans and the OLTL writers that is what saved GH from being axed…So basically the GH fans should be grateful for a great writing team that is saving our show. We need to continue to support GH!

I agree with you Dan, General hospital is so much better now, I haven’t felt this good about it in years, several years, I love that we don’t have to watch all that mob stuff anymore, It’s the gangsters that took away all the viewers and brought the ratings down where it was almost cancelled, the one life to live fans helped to save general hospital by refusing to watch the revolution and now Gaa, general hospital will be moving to One life to lives 2 O’clock hour, I think the negative fans who hate the crossovers should be thanking their lucky stars that we helped to save gh, I have watched all the abc soaps since day one and I love where general hospital is going now, it’s watchable.

Gh has been much better..Glad there is no longer those mob gangster stories. They turn me off…We need more Love in the afternoon …….GH has definetely improved….Liking it better now….OLTL crossovers are helping a lot with GH.. People that don’t like this well you can’t please everyone..And I am a HAPPY CAMPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To mke it complete we need OLTL & GH back to back AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gina… I am very curious where your information is coming from, and how you can feel that Ron C. is destroying characters when you openly admit you don’t watch the show.

I watched OLTL for over 30 years, and yes, Todd Manning seems a bit softer, we have to remember that this “Todd Manning” was held hostage for over 7 years by his mother, so perhaps its more a character growing, rather than being destroyed by the writer.

I agree with Brian………………………

If you are not watching the show, I really don’t see how your opinion matters at all and wonder at your purpose of even posting here. I am a OLTL transplant to GH and quite frankly, it sucked when I started watching. It is pretty awesome these days. Maybe if you pulled your head out of the past and gave it a look, you might have a different perspective. Just saying…

I don’t think RC are destroying the characters..Give me some examples of that…This is for comments on 7/29 at9:06 pm…..

I actually feel like the writing has improved the characters. I feel like the previous writers spent years ruining them and we are finally getting them back. I know a lot of viewers that stopped watching, but have recently come back. Keep up the good work.

I am a LONG time viewer of both GH and OLTL. Gina and Karen, I respectfully disagree. First, the characters from OLTL that are currently on GH are NOT acting different from when they were on OLTL. (Can’t speak to how you ‘remember’ them Gina) RC did a fantastic job and he did not destroy anything. The ratings when they went off the air were through the roof! And Karen, we all have an adjustment when a new character is introduced – whether they were a character on another show or not. Not one GH character has been ‘hurt’ by RC or the OLTL characters.

I agree with you CTwildheart…………………………I couldn’t have said it better myself..

I am not directly responding to any one person here, but GH characters have been changed. They are not true to the character in other words. For example, Jason and Sam. Jason and Sam are not the people they are being written as now. Jason would’ve NEVER not supported Sam in the pregnancy and Sam would’ve never turned to anyone else over Jason. Elizabeth use to care more about her children and now they make her out to be a man chasing slut. That is not her. Others like Spinelli and Luke have changed for the good, but their changes have been gradual and not so completely out of character. Spinelli needed to get a backbone and stand up to Maxie even though they belong together. The thing about Luke is that he has always been unpredictable so we expect anything from him, but changing characters like Jason, Sam, and Elizabeth that have always had specific qualities is not a good thing to viewers. About the only thing I am not enjoying about GH is the Jason and Sam storyline, but the rest has been awesome. Just don’t destroy couples that you know are strong together. There are some couples, Luke and Tracy is one example, that you know will always have problems, but there are some that you know will fight for their marriages, like Jason and Sam, Patrick and Robin, Dante and Lulu. These characters have “established” personalities that they would not change so drastically.

Missy I believe the ‘changes’ in Jason and Sam you cite were done slowly and are situational. The fact that they are both agonizing over their recent choices alludes to their discomfort. Elizabeth was a swearing, smoking, boy-chasing teen when she first came to Port Charles…after suffering a serious loss, many people act in ways that are unlikely. Some revert to old ways. Just pointing out that Liz wasn’t always this holier than thou mother people seem to think she is.
TPTB will never keep a couple happy for too long – they don’t believe you can tell good story without some kind of discord.

I think that the combination of gh and one live to live actors has given new life to gh andit is revolutionary to combine soaps like this !!!!! It is all fantastic and anyone that does not watch the show or does not agree with the characters on gh is missing history in the making!!!!!

If folks expect things to remain the same; especially the storylines and characters, GH should have been cancelled but it was saved and to my chagrin at the expense of OLTL. So, fans have complained about the mob storylines or this character or the other has changed. Of course it did because it had too.

Did you think Jason and Sam were going to stay together forever without being broken up? I thought all the twists and turns are interesting and unlike others, I prefer Sam with McBain. They were hot on Port Charles. Can’t wait until Halloween and the writer put them in vampire constumes! If no one sees it, Carly will pair with Todd. How that eventually happens sans Johnny, let me know! Elizabeth was fired and we got her back so we can give constructive criticism but don’t complain; prior to Frank and Ron, she was gravitating to Patrick — that was too predicitablle. The girl’s MOM, Alexis, needs love in the afternoon. I have enjoyed Heather, Michael and Star’s budding relationship, TJ and Molly’s puppy love, and Kate’s progeny is getting a new interesting twist in his storyline with Christina — I still don’t like her. New Kate does better as Connie.

The downside is I don’t like the rehash of OLTL storylines. This DSomethingD is better but so TIRED of it. The babyswitch is watchable due to Heatherantics and Toddmachinations! And the electroshock therapy reminds me of OLTL’s darkside!

I agree with CT wildheart……

Characters like Jason Sonny and Carly “mob element” is what almost tanked GH. I know I stopped watching GH when I saw basiclly three people and no hospital. Elizabeth to me has always been a weak character. Jason and Sam when I would watch GH put me to sleep. JMO The actors that play Sonny and Jason have as much enegy as a sleepin dog and overexposed. Although seeing Sonny alot less has soften to me…a little. Lol Jason needs to exit withs a quickness cause the Liason/Jasam wars have grown stale. The rest have stayed true to character. FV is doing a great job bring back vets that made this soap golden. RC writng of RH/Todd is too soft and a little out of character for him. It keeps him as a one demensional and have not seen that classic Todd that you see when he interacts with the likes of Vicki/Ericka S

I have to disagree here. GH has always been my fav of the three ABC soaps all of which I watched for over 30 years. The writing on GH is so much better recently. There was a period at the end of last year/beginning of this year where I did more FF than viewing. That is not the case now. Characters evolve just people do in real life and I think the introduction of OLTL characters has been great. I have always loved it when the shows did crossovers. I miss OLTL and AMC dearly (thankfully, for right now anyway, I can watch old epi’s on SoapNet). But turning my back on GH will not bring them back, it will only enure another soap cancellation. This is a view that I would have taken no matter which soap remained, because I loved them all. IMO FV and RC are doing an awesome job just as they did on OLTL.

Love the interview..I have been watching almost since day one, when mom would watch it..I even watched The Edge of Night when I was little..but GH is my daily staple and I am so pleased that we still have her..GH is my extended family..lol Michael, thank you for all you do.
I hope GH continues as long as there is time…*seriously! lol

Maybe a little. But I feel like ABC is just FINALLY learning to be causcious in their statements to the soap fans. Not sure but that tje only reason.GH is still afloat is that they cant come up with a good idea to replace it

I appreciate what she is doing to hold on to GH, but I still want my OLTL back!!

I still want OLTL back also..

I would love to have OLTL back too. It is my favorite soap of all time.

I would love to OLTL back. I watched OLTL and GH for so many years I can’t remember not watching them. I am glad to see the OLTL actors on GH. I hope ABC makes the right decission and bring OLTL back so I can get back to watching ABC again. I watch GH and Castle — nothing else on ABC.

I want One life to live back to.

Me too! OLTL FOREVER!

I soooo agree I want OLTL back!

i love it ,seems like she gona do all she can to keep GH on the air ….she got my vote…

You asked TOUGH questions Michael! Even the phrasing you chose was, to steal a phrase she used, firing on all cylinders! Kudos to you! She answered with the typical head honcho “everything’s a peach….love, flowers and candy rainbows” answers but you were on top of it all.

You are a great voice for us fans Michael! You say what we want to say and ask what we want to ask. Thank you!

I agree! Michael, you asked all the difficult and important questions, and we thank you for that. I just can’t bring myself to believe much of anything these execs say anymore. I got the feeling that , yes, they are behind GH right now, but maybe for only another year. Ms. Dummer gave the usual vague answers, talking about boosting ratings and deciding what to do with AMC and OLTL when the rights to them revert back to ABC. She spoke a couple of times about not looking back, and that says to me that AMC and OLTL are never coming back, and that GH is on borrowed time. I fervently hope I’m wrong; GH has never been so good as it is now,! As a fan of all three ABC soaps since the beginning, nothing would make me happier than for GH to continue on for years and for something to be done about resurrecting the other two soaps. I just don’t trust anything that comes from ABC/D and I will continue to boycott their network, except for GH, forever if that’s what it comes down to.

Let me say this interview has definitely given me hope for GH. I love that Vicki is a fan! One thing I wish you had asked is trying to keep soapnet. It seems with all the support now for GH that trying to get soapnet back would be great.

Thank you so much for this interview, Michael! You have gone to the heart of the matter interviewing Ms Dummer and it is so appreciated! Ms Dummer has no track record with fans but if she is sincere in her support of GH, perhaps when rights to AMC and OLTL are returned she may see the value in allowing those stories to pick up and continue in some capacity somewhere. Thank you Ms Dummer for being the first executive I have heard give GH and its actors the respect they deserve! I know it raised my respect for Ms Dummer.

I’ll take this interview with a grain of salt. This woman’s past experience is all about reality TV shows. I think she’s just trying to save face by putting all the blame on Brian Frons.

And even if she’s indeed in support of GH, what good does it make if Sweeney and the rest of Dummer’s bosses all want GH gone? I’m not necessarily saying that Mrs.Dummer is lying. But ABC has lied to us before. So I prefer to stay on my guard.

Realistically speaking, I don’t believe that AMC and OLTL will ever come back as TV shows. But I’ll be somewhat satisfied if Dummer can at least give us some sort of a reunion movie so that AMC and OLTL get the proper endings that they were supposed to get before Prospect Park came and screwed things around. Of course, I want ABC to keep GH and never cancel it. ABC has taken two soaps away from us, the least they can do is at least leave us GH.

I agree Heather… I feel Ms. Dummer’s answers are a bunch of fluff…

While I am no fan of Frons, people seem to forget (or perhaps they don’t know) he only did what his bosses told him to do! Ms. Dummer could be GH’s biggest fan, but that’s not going to keep it safe when her bosses make the decision to ax it!

I don’t trust ABC… at all… but, time will tell…

I totally agree Heather. I miss AMC and OLTL, if there would be a reunion movie I will be there with bells on. It is still amazing to me that with such a strong following these shows were axed. I pray that we will have GH forever!

I don’t trust anyone from ABC/D.

Right on.

Agree 100%

Well I hope Vicki’s Mom and Dad love JaSam and want the Morgan family reunited! It’s way overdue now for Sam and Jason to hold their son! Loyal GH fans have been waiting for 8 long years, just to see it ripped out!!! This needs fixing now. Thank you Vicki and thank you Mom and Dad if you’re reading 😉

Sandra, I totally agree with you. I love Jason & Sam and understand that the writers don’t believe in “happy ever after”, however, this couple has been through so much more than any other couple on GH. The very least they can do for the fans is give them their baby back. It’s going on 3 months, this baby swap storyline is dragging.

I do not agree with RC that love and romance equals sleazy cheating scenes. Here’s an idea, try having a few married couples on GH that were true to each other, Dante/Lulu, Jason/Sam. (I was going to add in other couples, but realized there aren’t any other married couples left on GH).

I agree with the idea of bringing in some OLTL actors, to bring in their fans, however, they should not be getting more air time than GH veteran actors.

When the fans of the show tell the writers they don’t recognize the characters or that the characters are doing things that they would not normally do, the writers need to listen. Hopefully, Ms. Dummer is listening and will prove to the fans that we can trust ABC executives again.

Michael, as always, another great interview.

I do feel better about GH. I am happy for GH. Maybe now I understand about OLTL or at least more. They get rights back, so PP has the rights now. So I will wait & see but I will still fight for OLTL.

So will I fight for OLTL!!!!!!!!! It’s worth fighting for……..Give us back VIKI (Erika Slezak) the heart & soul of OLTL!!!!!!!!!!! That would make it complete…Feel a little bit better about GH.. But a big piece of the pie is stll missing for me (OLTL)!!!!!!!!

I’m not agreeing with you but I do understand the need for the OLTL cast to be back with us. I wish that could be, but unless they are willing to allow the OLTL back on the air this dream may not come to pass. I’m a fan of GH and will always be a fan of OLTL. I want John McBain and Natalie to be together on GH. We have been cheated out of a reunion with this couple, this has dragged on for months. The DNA results that were false, the almost marriage, the cheating and lies, the list can go on and on. The writer’s never gave us the ending we wanted for this couple, the correct closure and the one they have written is unbelieving and lets just say dumb, so I do understand. That’s the best they could write for this beloved couple. You just want something of our beloved OLTL to hold on to and I feel the same. We have some of it with GH but its not the same, but what else can you do. Just appreciate and hope it gets better, if not hey remember we the fans determine how long a program stays on the air, don’t watch and the ratings will drop for sure. But know that if you do and others follow like we did with the Chew, then we lose another wonderful soap and we dont really want that either. Hopefully the writer’s will listen to us this time. Keep OLTL alive, if only in your heart and mind, and let GH continue in it’s improving the quality of the cast and soap. Don’t forget OLTL!!!

If us OLTL fans will never get the show back, i agree, please bring Vicki, David and Dorian, and Natalie to GH. With Star having had her tragedies it is only right that Aunt Dorian comes to help her–very easy to write her in. And if Dorian comes on, of course so does her husband David. Can you imagine David and Dorian on GH? Dorian could have all the cat fights with the other divas in the storyline of GH< the other matriarchs. David with—well, any other character is gold.
Natalies comes on in true red head fashion, "What the h… are you doing with my man, bit……!" She can create some tension with John and Sam (who really does not belong with him). Natalie can get a job on the police force their and has come to get her man back. Do you really think Natalie wouldn't fight for John, come on, writers.
So there is how the writers can easily bring on Natalie, Dorian, David. Vicki comes because she is concerned also about Star and also, because she is loyal, concerned about Todd.
Let's do it Ron and Frank.
As a GH fan I am really trying to like the show, but it lacks those vibrant characters, those full of life characters like David, Dorian, Natalie.

I also am very excited about the fall lineup………on ANY network except ABC. I will not be pacified by a few OLTL characters crossing over to GH. ABC does not exist for me anymore period. I have tried to get into GH, just not happening. The OLTL characters might look the same, but they are different. Todd, for instance, when would he EVER allow Heather to blackmail him??? Sorry, but I am finished with ABC including GH.

Don’t give up so easily….Todd has a few tricks up his sleeve !!!!!! Todd is very unpredictable character…………………………….

I don’t trust anyone at ABC…they are notorious liars, so I’ll wait for their actions before I believe they support the soaps. BUT, I for one am happy to see the OLTLers on GH. I think it makes GH more fresh and dynamic and it’s great to see even a few One Lifers every day. I actually think their characterizations are more on the mark than they were by the end of OLTL to be honest. BTW, Todd let Gabrielle blackmail him during the first DBL, so I think it is completely in line with his character and even a nod to history for him to be blackmailed by Heather.

Still don’t trust her…Don’t send me any emails please…thanks

I am glad and grateful that the genre of daytime soaps is currently not being taken away from ABC but as a very longtime fan of ABC shows, I am at a loss on how they’re treating us OLTL fans. They kill Hope! And Cole! They make me wait until the very end of the show for John and Natalie to get back together and now they throw in that John’s father, who was the most upstanding guy John has ever knoww, couldn’t keep his pants on and had an affair? Now John is fooling around with Sam? I have decided to end my reign of being the most devoted GH fan in my group of friends because I can no longer take the bittersweet happiness I felt at the end of OLTL being dashed and trampled on.ni am glad that GH is continuing for those who can stick with it. I no longer can’t. Maybe when they return to their senses and stop bashing us OLTL fans, then I might return.

Oops… new phone and not yet used to the keyboard. Message comes through though I think. Thanks for the opportunity to vent.

I heard a rumor that Hope may still be alive. (Car seat ejected out the window as it rolled?) I am Hopeful! lol

That would be great – I could love to see Blair and Todd being grandparents I would like to see Victor come back and interact with (RH) Todd. We know Victor is alive so there is hope

Don’t give up so easy, where is the OLTL fight? Its us fans who made it so that the Chew rating went down. ABC needs us and the shows that they do have on are not that good I must say. I don’t know if this Ms. Drummer is telling the truth or she’s just shoving #### but it doesn’t matter. We want to keep OLTL alive and only the fans can do that and the fight must continue with your voice. Your words have power don’t think they don’t and ABC needs you even if they don’t say it or think it. GH and can only get better with us the OLTL viewer along with the GH viewers to stand together. Some of our cast is on GH and thats great and others may follow I pray, but some is better than none. Lets see if she is telling the truth, or just talking loud and saying nothing. I would like OLTL back on the air like you, or even some of the other cast on GH. They can even create another soap title if they like with the OLTL cast members I would love that as well. But don’t give up! This is just the beginning and we the fans of OLTL and some of GH need you.

Correction I meant the rating went down for the show The Revolution and it will go down for The Chew as well give it some time. They will regret taking OLTL off the air.

Yes, yes, and yes. I agree with you.

Great interview, Michael! Thank you for doing it, and for asking the tough questions.

I like what Ms. Drummer had to say about GH, and it all sounds nice on paper. But actions speak louder than words, and we’ll see what the future holds. I’m cautiously optimistic, and very thrilled that GH will be around to celebrate its 50th Anniversary. I think the fact that they thought enough of GH to include it on their network press tour is a great sign.

Been watching ABC soaps since The Edge Of Night started. Watched ok over 50 yrs. My parents filled me in before vcr. Need really need stories in my life. Will quit all tv if my Sonny & GH are no more. Thank you I pray more than 50 yrs General Hospital will be on. God bless.

WELL I WANT TO KNOW IF WE WILL SEE TEA AND VICTOR (TREVOR ST JOHN ) HAPPY.THATS WHY I WATCH GH

This has cheered me up somewhat. I miss OLTL so much, lost interest in AMC years ago. I would like One Life to Live to live again in some form.

Me too Melanie. I’m sure This woman is better than Frons but in the great tradition of TV execs, they say so much while saying so little.

I feel the same way about everything you said…We are on the same page…I lost interest in amc at one point..But never lost interest in OLTL !!!!!!!!!!!!! Ms Drummer I am not to sure about yet..I hope she meant everything she said about GH…I am not to sure about her comments about OLTL & getting the rights back…OLTL last episode for me left a lot of loose strings…I didn’t like it..Leaves you wanting MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A lot of unresolved stories….

I miss OLTL too and not so much AMC it was ok, but I was more interested in the characters on OLTL. I hope it will live in some form, whether another soap or cast on GH. Something is better than nothing. It’s true OLTL left alot of loose ends and no closures. Writer’s seem as if they just didn’t know what to write or just didnt care. Just like a lost body at sea, no closure. So many fans loved this soap they need to fix this.

Is like she said the decision to take AMC and OLTL off the air was done by Brian Frons. That’s why he not there in ABC any more. I think she trying to do the best job she can. So i think we should give her a chance and see what happens. OLTL was my favorite and i miss the show. But is been to long. If they was going to put in on the air, it would had been on by now.

As she stated in her interview, Prospect Park still has the rights to OLTL so right now they couldn’t put it back on if they wanted to. I appreciate what she said but I am certainly not going to believe it until I see it. ABC has shown so much disrespect to us viewers and even though she had nothing to do with it, it is going to be up to her to make things right. Is she really willing to or not? I cannot see how people can watch the Chew for any length of time day in and day out. If it has so much energy and is so good, then why did Mr. Lee has the journalists to push it? Reality shows don’t last 43 or more years and keep the support of the viewers like soaps and dramas do. A good business doesn’t just think of the short-term savings but what would work the best in the long run. As far as the viewers being mean to her, I say, fix the problem and it will stop happening. She is there to fix what Frons messed up and until she does, the viewers aren’t and shouldn’t stop voicing their disappointment in ABC. All I watch on ABC is GH and my local news and until ABC decides to respect us viewers, that is the way it will stay. No Chew and no Katie for me at all!!

ABC can’t touch the show till January when the rights go back to them (from Prospect Park), but to be honest unless they can help get the ratings of GH up they are only giving it till thier 50th anniversary, so as much as I love OLTL I don’t expect to see it on network tv again….Maybe a legitimate internet company will pick it up…and actually, the problem with PP was the funding..As deep as ABC’s pockets are why didn’t they help this young company get the financing?

I believe the model PP comitted to of 5 episodes per week, 52 weeks per year IS the financial problem.TPTB need to come up with fewer episodes to support theses beloved shows. JMO

Call me a cynic, but I don’t believe anything that comes from an exec at ABC. They destroyed daytime television by cancelling two excellent soaps. To hear her say that the Chew was a good replacement really makes me wonder. I have my fingers crossed for GH’s future. I know I’ll be watching.

I’m going to keep my rose colored glasses on for awhile. Michael thanks for asking the tough questions and after hearing the responses I think GH will be on for awhile longer. We all just need to keep watching. I’ve watched GH for 40 some odd years. Characters come and go. Some you wish wouldn’t some you were glad they left. In the old days we didn’t have the instant access to everyone’s life, so we never really knew why they left. We didn’t have spoiler alerts either, it was truly just wait and see what happens. I think we need to do that now.

I don’t trust anyone at ABC/D. My favorite always was and will continue to be OLTL. I don’t think that Vicki had anything to do with the cancelations but Anne Sweeney and Robert Iger are still there. So I don’t think GH is safe. If they can find something that clicks during OLTL’S TIMESLOT, GH will be gone. All I know is my tv isn’t tuned to ABC anymore.

I don’t trust her either. Several times a day I go to abc Contact, and I have been leaving comments about the destruction of their daytime programming ever day, I have also complained to them that they need to be vocal about what they are going to do with general Hospital because we the fans have a right to know, are they or aren’t they cancelling General Hospital? Maybe this is another way to shut us up, It’s not going to work, Not for me, I will continue to boycott abc till they bring back One life to live, In the mean time I don’t believe a word that woman says, she is just another mouthpiece that works for a greedy network That doesn’t care about the soap fans, Just because they are keeping GENERAL HOSPITAL doesn’t mean I will tune into the chew or any other garbage show they try to throw at us.

Nothing she says assures me the show will continue *beyond* April 2013.

I agree, they did all these grea tpromos and things with GL and OLTL and acted as if they were going to go on forever, and canceled them both in a heartbeat. I hope GH goes on forever, but I wouldn’t bet the ranch on it. I bet too much on other ones to survive as the powers that be acted then as if they would, and we know what happened.

Ultimately Vickki Dummer will have to answer to Anne Sweeney who is the Disney/ABC executive that originally “gave the order” that all three soaps be canceled. I want to believe Ms. Dummer has GH’s best interest (along with the wonderful cast and crew) at heart. I also would guess that Anne Sweeney and Robert Iger at the top of the tree can give the order whenever they choose to simply end the show and not lose a nights sleep over the jobs lost or the fans’ heartbreak. It sickens me that even with a repreive, good ratings and revenues up, GH will still have a sword hanging over it, waiting to fall. I wouldn’t blame Ms. Dummer. Should the order come, tthe suits above her will get the angry e-mails from myself and others who will have been betrayed once again. I pray it doesn’t happen. But I’ll keep my e-mail at the ready to fire off if it does.

Well said !

I am behind Ms Drummer, but I too am skeptical of decisions Anne Sweeney might make.
As for GH, I always look forward to all the characters , and especially enjoy Lulu- Julie Marie Berman does an amazing job. Want to see Independent Lulu Spencer for a long time. After all, she is Luke and Laura’s daughter.

I thought The Chew was suppose to have been in syndication and Frons decided to ax two soaps for that nonsense and the Revolution.

Great interview, Michael! You asked the questions that I wanted answers to. Ms. Drummer sounds positive — I still take things said by ABCD with a grain of salt because I cannot help but not trust them — but at the same time, I did like her answers. In any case, I’m going to watch and enjoy my GH while it’s on the air – and I am enjoying it a lot right now.

She still sounds like a talking head. She said all the appropriate things, very rehearsed. She still failed to mention a commitment after the 50th anniversary! That still appears to be D-Day, Let’s hope the ratings warrant GH being saved long term.

Great article Micheal..She let’s the people that she hired do the work.

I hope she’s being honest and will support GH, but I still miss OLTL terribly! I really wish that they will recognize the opportunity to make TV history and bring back OLTL!! Imagine what the press would be for such a ground-breaking decision?!

Yes, I feel some better, but lets just say “For the moment.” What I was wondering; Would ABC consider in putting AMC and OLTL on a 30 min program like the soaps used to have?
It would take less money to keep going and I think definately satisfy the viewer. 30 min is better then nothing.OLTL was high in the ratings I don’t understand why they cancelled it as it was doing great and then replace it with , lets just say bad decisions!
I am 100% for 30 min soaps of AMC and OLTL at least it would give us back some happiness.

Thanks Debbie

I get the feeling that the 50th Anniversary is going to be the swan song for GH…it just feels that way after reading this interview. And I have to disagree with the comment that the chew is firing on all pistons…whenever i’ve seen it -which is only for a second if i’m changing the channel- it is so painful to watch, the cast is obnoxious, and the whole thing just reeks like garbage. I hope this Vicki Dummer can finally turn abc daytime around, but I have a feeling without AMC and OLTL, they are doomed!

I agree totally. I think ABC/D is waiting until GH has their 50th and then it will be gone. Sounds like something Sweeney and Iger would do. They care absolutely nothing about lost jobs and totally devastated fans. I will never forgive them for killing our soaps. That’s why none of my tvs are tuned to ABC or Disney.

Great questions.

As-for Dummer, I’m on the fence. While I truly want to buy-into her seemingly earnest, sincere replies, I’m wary of all network execs, especially those working with soaps. I’m surprised Dummer didn’t tell us ABC/D is already planning for GH’s centennial in 2063.

As a longtime CBS viewer, I can tell you we went through the exact same dog-and-pony show with the CBS Daytime VP’s, including Barbara Bloom, Lucy Johnson and Michael Brockman. And lest we forget the many Procter & Gamble suits. They always talked out of two-sides of their mouths, assuring us Guiding Light and As The World Turns were viable and safe. Where are those soaps now?

The networks must coach these execs to walk-the-walk and talk-the-talk, and no deviation is permitted. The ultimate decision to cancel a soap is done at a much-higher corporate level. Dummer and Valentini are merely soliders, marching to the parade music.

I really didn’t want this post sound so negative, and as I re-read it, I’m saying UGH! Singing Kumbaya here; ABC/D loves GH and its fans, and we’ll have our show for at least another 50 years!!~~~

Don’t like what she said about the Spew, but I hope that if she can show that GH can stay on the air, then maybe she can go a little further by getting rid of the Spew, as well as GAA, and get AMC and OLTL back on the air.

I take everything with a grain of salt with a wait and see attitude. Meanwhile I enjoy each and every epi of GH. I was also a big OTL fan and I think everyone is working hard at melding in the OLTL characters. I will just never understand how a true GH fan can abandon it b/c they are not getting their way on some s/ls at the very moment they want it. Gosh..watch and have some patience. Support GH.

sorry, ABC has proven that they lie and will say anything to make the soap viewers back off of the save the soaps campaign.. I don’t believe a word that she says. ABC/Disney have made it very clear that they don’t want soap operas in the daytime lineup anymore and it sadly won’t be too long before General Hospital sees the axe…hopefully way after their big anniversary. Personally , we are on major overkill with the talk shows etc and the right decision would be to bring back the soaps. Nice try ABC, but not buying your latest lies

What a great interview. I have to say the BEST one I have ever read from the execs. She did not speak like others who put soaps at the bottom of the food chain, and I thank her for that. Also thank you Michael for bringing us such a great interview. Hopefully this interview will generate some nice emails and fans will give her a chance before crucifying her. I for one am willing to give her a chance, while continuing to show support for the entire genre.

Thank you Michael for this interview w/Vicki. I think she’s a lovely person doing her job. I wish someone could give us fans assurance that the show will go on beyond April 2013. I watched GH back in the Luke & Laura glory days, and now I’m back. Had never watched a day of Sonny or Jason Morgan, and now I’m loving it more than ever. Of course having Todd Manning kicking butt is a good reason! I hope to hear soon that GH will continue beyond April 2013, I think more people would tune back in and invest if they knew the show wasn’t going to be yanked away.

So far, I like her. She knows what went wrong under Frons and I don’t think she wants to make the same mistakes.

Thanks, Michael! The people above her are the ones that ultimately made the decision about AMC and OLTL so she really has no say in the end. I was a huge fan of OLTL. I lost interest in GH years ago. It really makes me sad that It was the number one soap was still cancelled for a show that did terrible in focus groups no less. I do not trust ABC and I don’t watch the network. I could be wrong but I think OLTL showed higher numbers the last year than GH is doing now. I don’t wish GH to be cancelled but I have little faith in ABC or any of their executives.

It *sounds* good. She certainly is saying all the right things. It’s what is unspoken that worries me. “We are supportive of this genre. We want to see it continue and succeed [FOR NOW]. ” (Brackets mine.) It hangs in the air throughout every interview with TPTB at ABC. I’ve seen them do a 180 before when we’ve let our guard down. Thanks for the interview and asking all the hard questions but I’ll believe it when I see it. FOR NOW, as far as I’m concerned, the boycott is still ON!!

Continue the boycott, don’t stop until ABC/Disney recognize us and they will

If it is all true, then yes, I feel better,,,,, but we have been duped before,,,,,,,,she sounds sincere,,,, I am sure that the actors and the fans are in better spririts knowing that at least the network is taking notice,,,,,FINALLY

The demise of AMC was engineered by tptb in their deliberate hiring of writers who helped get other shows canceled. That’s my real belief. That’s why OLTL was so good-Frons wasn’t micromanaging it. Well, no matter. What’s done is done. I hope Ms. Dummer is sincere, and that GH will be around for a while. I really do. I’ll support GH as long as it’s on, and be glad that some of my wonderful friends from other shows are there-John McBain, Starr and her dad. Now the wonderful Robin Mattson and Fiona Hughes! Fabulous. But I’m not going to deny that I am suspicious. So, we’ll see. And I’m sorry Ms. Dummer is getting the ugly emails that should be reserved for Frons and SweeneyTodd. The anger runs deep.

The people have no say at all, I wonder if ABC makes up their own numbers for the soaps and put what they want and just tell us the ratings are down ,just so they add the shows they want ,try to force us to watch what they want ,it is their network. not me I will only watch GH and then turn the TV off.

We can always hope, but we’ve been badly burned, so it’s pretty impossible to trust. Ya know?

All I hears was Blah Blah Blah.Lets give gh at least a 50th aniversary but nothing pass that.Lets ignore the statement that Anne sweeney did say she wanted daytime scripted shows gone.Was it not predicted that Frons would be let go to take the blame.Can blame Frons for bringing dowm AMC’s ratings but Agnes came back and it was going up in ratings again.Since there is a ae discremination on network ratings does she wanna talk about her parents are even counted in ratings?She brags about the chew but doesn’rt mention they gave a thief ajob who skimmed hos workers of 5.35 millions dollars in tip.He should not even have a right to be on Tv.He needs to bathe to.That greasy hair is gross.This is what they took soaps off for?Fithy dirty thief.

She did not answer any questions about putting AMC or OLTL back on the air or selling the rights back. And if everyone at ABC are such big soap fans were was their outrage when they were cancelled. Really Ms. Drummer you do not sound sincere you sound like a politician.

A big vapid nothing. I will not be satisfied without One Life to Live back on the air. still no abc in my home.

Does not matter what these execs say I am never watching ABC daytime ever again. They had no consideration for us so why should be believe their BS.

All My Children

Carol Burnett Talks About Being a Superfan of ‘All My Children’ on ‘Live with Kelly and Mark’

In a heartfelt reunion, of sorts, the one and only Carol Burnett appeared on Monday March 25th episode of Live with Kelly and Mark.

Burnett had first met Kelly Ripa (Hayley) and Mark Consuelos (ex-Mateo) back when they all appeared on All My Children together. Carol played Verla Grubbs first in 1983 and then again in the 90’s.

Host Kelly Ripa (ex-Hayley, AMC) noted to Burnett that “we go back a long time”. She also described Burnett’s character of Verla Grubbs, “extraordinary in every way.”

Carol’s love for All My Children is well-documented, hence legendary soap creator, Agnes Nixon, created the role of Verla for Burnett.

Photo: ABC

Speaking on how her passion for All My Children began, Carol told Kelly and Mark, “It started with my kids. They would watch at noon. I said, ‘What are you guys doing?’ I sat down and I started to watch and I got hooked!”

When Carol’s family decided to travel through Europe during one summer, the comedic legend recalled thinking, “How am I going to last if I don’t know what’s going on in Pine Valley?” She revealed she had a friend, “who sent me a telegram to the (different hotels) on Fridays to bring me up to date.”

Photo: ABC

In a hilarious moment from the segment, Carol recalled receiving a late night telegram while in Lake Cuomo when there was a knock at her hotel room door from the hotel manager who was shaking.

Carol related what it said, “Erica is still in a coma. Mark slipped again and ran away from rehab.” As Kelly and Mark broke into laughter, Burnett continued, “Chuck has learned that Donna is carrying his baby, who was once a hooker.”

Check out Carol explaining how she became an AMC Superfan below.

Now, let us know, did you enjoy Carol as Verla Grubbs? What show do you consider yourself a Superfan of? Tell us in the comment section.

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All My Children

Malachy McCourt, ‘Ryan’s Hope’ and ‘All My Children’ Actor, Dead at 92

If you watched Ryan’s Hope through its 14-year-run, you know that Kevin the bartender became a beloved “member’ of the Ryan clan on the defunct ABC daytime drama series. The character of Kevin MacGuiness became so loved by the fans because of the actor who portrayed him, Malachy McCourt.

Sadly, according to his wife Diana McCourt to The New York Times, Malachy passed away on Monday from a heart condition and battling cancer. The actor was 92-years-old.

Playing Kevin on Ryan’s Hope was not much of a stretch for McCourt, because in his lifetime, he was the owner of 1950s Irish pub Malachy’s on Third Avenue in Manhattan. Known as one of the city’s great story-tellers, patrons from longshoremen to the actor Richard Harris would stop in and talk all things Irish with . On Ryan’s Hope, Kevin was best friends to “Ryan’s Bar” owner, Johnny Ryan (Bernie Barrow) and he tried to keep Delia (Ilene Kristen) on the straight and narrow.

Photo: ABC

In his soap opera career, McCourt also was widely-known for his role of Father Clarence McCourt on All My Children especially come Christmastime. Was Clarence, actually St. Nick? That was always the proverbial question. McCourt also appeared on the New York soaps: One Life To Live, Search For Tomorrow and Another World. Other roles included: Devil’s Own, Brewster’s Millions, The Molly Maguires, and Starman, to name 

Later in 2006, Malachy ran for governor of the state of New York as a Green Party candidate. He tackled social issues of the time including being an advocate for gay and lesbian groups to march in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Photo: ABC

McCourt’s childhood was recounted within his brother Frank McCourt’s Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir Angela’s Ashes, which detailed their mother’s attempt to raise the four of their surviving seven children in poverty in Limerick, Ireland. Later, Malachy wrote his own memoirs: 1998’s Monk Swimming, and 2000’s Singing My Him Song.

Malachy is survived by his aforementioned wife, Diana, daughter Siobhan McCourt; sons Malachy Jr., Conor and Cormac; stepdaughter Nina Galin; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Share you remembrances and condolences for Malachy McCourt via the comment section, but first check out this scene from a 1983 episode of “Ryan’s Hope” featuring the late actor with Ilene Kristen.

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All My Children

‘Live with Kelly and Mark’s’ Annual ‘After the Oscars’ Show Brings Backstage Interviews, Fashion Review and Red Carpet Arrivals from Movie’s Biggest Night

Monday morning, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos took to the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood for the talk show’s annual Oscar post show.

However, this time it would be Consuelos’ first time as the co-host of ‘Live’ for an Oscars episode. Mark took over the gig from Ryan Seacrest to team with his wife back in April of 2023 and since then the show has seen a ratings spike hitting several all-time highs.

The After the Oscars show opened with a tribute to the movies were the former All My Children stars took on iconic roles from: Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct to Barbie and Ken in Barbie, to the Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller role’s in the romantic comedy Something About Mary and more.

Courtesy/DisneyABC

During After the Oscars, Kelly and Mark were shown in clips backstage as the first stop for the newly-anointed Academy Award winners including: Finneas and Billie Eilish and Da’Vine Joy Randolph. The Bachelor host, Jesse Palmer was the talk show’s guest correspondent who spoke to the nominees, and celebrities as they were entering the Dolby Theatre on Sunday night.

Singer Andy Grammar took to the stage and performed on Live’s  After the Oscars show as well, and Project Runaway’s Elaine Welteroth shared her thoughts on the night’s Oscar fashion.

You can watch the full ‘Live with Kelly and Mark After the Oscars’ show below, plus the full movie parody below that. Now let us know, what do you think of Kelly and Mark’s first post-Oscar show together on ‘Live’? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

 

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