News
REMEMBRANCES: One Life to Live Aired Its Final ABC Episode One Year Ago Today!
Courtesy/ABC
We will never forget the date of January 13th, 2012 as many of our soapers in the viewing audience, and On-Air On-Soaps, gathered around our television sets during the afternoon to do the impossible – to say goodbye to the beloved town of Llanview!
On this date a year ago we had to say farewell to: the characters we loved so much, the performances by the great talent of the series, and the stories of the legendary soap. Through the creative genius of head writer Ron Carlivati and the executive leadership of Frank Valentini, the duo and their teams, delivered to fans a whopping cliffhanger with Victor Jr. very much alive, the hope for happy endings for Viki and Clint, John and Natalie and baby Liam, and much more.
That evening following the final episode, On-Air On-Soaps hosted a One Life to Live Farewell special on the Blog Talk Radio Network that we will never forget. Listening to the heartbreak of callers from around the U.S, and talking to our special guests: John-Paul Lavoisier (Rex), Melissa Archer (Natalie) and Kristen Alderson (Starr), really brought home how a terrible decision by ABC emotionally impacted not only the fans, but the cast as they shared their sentiments with each other during this special online broadcast.
Photo Credit: MF SOAPS Inc.
And as we tried to put in perspective through our final blog on our final set visit to One Life’s New York studios, and through our final emotional video interviews with the cast, nothing could fill the hole in our hearts that for the last year has still remained as it has for many fans.
A year later, Prospect Park is set to resurrect Llanview giving hope to millions that some of the stellar cast will return and the stories will pick up where they left off, or perhaps they will fast forward ahead, that remains to be seen. But with all systems go, it will be interesting to see just how far the new One Life can go! Can it be a success online and eventually move back to TV?
For now, share you remembrances today on watching the final ABC episode of One Life and help us honor the show that we all know should never have been canceled in the first place!
Days Of Our Lives
Deidre Hall to Guest Star on Season 3 of Comedy Series ‘Hacks’
Days of our Lives star Deidre Hall (Marlena) is set to play a version of herself on third season of Hacks. Look for Hall this month in an episode titled “The Deborah Vance Christmas Spectacular,” to air on May 23 on Max.
Not only will Hall appear in the episode, but so too, will Back to the Future and Taxi star, Christopher Lloyd.
According to EW.com, Deidre will play “a fictional version of herself, who just so happens to be the mom of Paul W. Downs’ Jimmy.”
Photo: JPI
Hacks co-creator and Downs’ wife, Lucia Aniello shared on Hall’s casting, “It made sense to us that Jimmy’s late father, a big-time manager, would have been married to an actress. When the idea for Deidre Hall came up, it just felt right.”
As for Lloyd, he will portray, reclusive writer Larry Arbuckle, who is to have had a rather famous grandfather. In the episode, Hall and Lloyd’s character intersect, which leads to onscreen sparks.
Photo: AP
“We had written some things that were flirty, but the chemistry was palpable,” says co-creator and series star, Downs shared. Hacks stars Jean Smart as comedy legend Deborah Vance.
Photo: Max
Season 3 of Hacks debuts on Thursday night May 2nd on Max 9 pm ET/6 pm PT.
So, will you be watching Deidre Hall guest starring on Hacks? Comment below.
General Hospital
Lane Davies Joins the Cast of General Hospital Setting up a ‘Santa Barbara’ Reunion with Nancy Lee Grahn
Some very intriguing casting news out of General Hospital. The ABC daytime drama has cast former Santa Barbara favorite, Lane Davies (ex-Mason Capwell), in the role of Fergus Byrne, an attorney who crosses paths with Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn).
According to TV Insider, Davies will make debut the week of May 22nd. As soap fans know, together with the aforementioned Grahn, they created the Santa Barbara supercouple of Mason and Julia Wainwright. Davies portrayed Mason Capwell family from 1984 through 1989.
Interestingly enough, this isn’t the first time in Port Charles for Lane. From 2002-2004 he played Dr. Cameron Lewis and also shared on-screen story with Grahn. At that time Davies, played Xander Smith’s father.
Photo: NBC
GH fans are wondering about the last name of Davies new character, “Bryne”. If you recall, Alexis got herself involved with therapist Dr. Neil Bryne, who died when Harmony broke into Alexis‘ house and killed Neil by injecting him with opioids.
Photo:
Taking to her Instagram, Grahn shared her excitement at the upcoming on-screen reunion with Davies, “It never gets old. We do 😂…. but it doesn’t 😍. Lookin’ forward to another romp.”
So, what do you think about Lane Davies returning to GH to play an attorney in Alexis’ orbit? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
News
One Life to Live Alum Jonathan Groff Receives 2024 Tony Award Nomination for Leading Actor in a Musical
Nominations were announced on Tuesday for the 77th annual Tony Awards by previous winners, Renée Elise Goldsberry (ex-Evangeline Williamson, One Life to Live) and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.
When the dust settled it was Stereophonic (which is loosely based on the story of Fleetwood Mac) and Hell’s Kitchen (Alicia Keys musical) that both scored 13 Tony nominations to lead the pack.
However, Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along made quite the comeback and is nominated for several awards including Best Revival of a Musical and for one of its stars, Jonathan Groff (ex-Henry Mackler, One Life to Live).
Courtesy/Playbill
Groff is nominated for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical and will go up against Brody Grant — The Outsiders, Dorian Harewood —The Notebook, Brian d’Arcy James — Days of Wine and Roses and Eddie Redmayne — Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.
In addition to his previous Tony nod for his role in Hamilton, Jonathan was nominated for a Lead Actor in a Musical for his role as Melchior Gabor in the original production of Spring Awakening.
Jonathan co-stars in the revival of Merrily We Roll Along “Harry Potter” star Daniel Radcliffe and previous Tony winner Lindsay Mendez.
Back in 2019, Groff visited Live with Kelly and Ryan and discussed his debut on One Life while working at night on Broadway in Spring Awakening.
He shared on his experience on the soap, “I do remember my first day because I was doing Spring Awakening on Broadway at the time, and One Life to Live was my first time ever being on TV. So I got this offer, and I was like, ‘Yes, I would love to be in a soap opera,’ and we finished Spring Awakening at 11:00 p.m. and I woke up the next morning at 4:0 a.m. to walk uptown to go to do One Life to Live, and I called my agent and left a message, and I said ‘You have to get me out of this, I can’t wake up at 4 o’clock in the morning!'” You can watch the clip below.
The 77th annual Tony Awards will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on Sunday, June 16, with Tony and Oscar winner Ariana DeBose returning to host for the third time.
So, rooting for Jonathan to take home his long-awaited Tony Award after several decades in the theater? Do you remember him as part of teen scene on OLTL? Comment below.
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Deidre Hall to Guest Star on Season 3 of Comedy Series ‘Hacks’
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The Bold and the Beautiful Celebrates 12 Daytime Emmy Nominations (Photos)
One Life to Live Alum Jonathan Groff Receives 2024 Tony Award Nomination for Leading Actor in a Musical
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A whole year….I was in Florida on vacation waiting to go on a cruise (as I am now),watching the last 4 episodes and then the finale.
Bittersweet it was.
I am genuinely looking forward to the online reboot – who will sign,who will decline,what it means for the actors who are now playing OLTL characters on GH.
Long live One Life to Live! Best. Show. Ever.
Ditto!
DITTO!!!!
Dtto to that!!!!!!!!!!1
I remember watching that Final OLTL like it was yesterday….so sad…I could NOT believe that come Monday my beloved soap which I had watched since the 70’s would not be airing….I felt such a large Void…one I Still Feel….
I am hoping that this PP project is a GO and that OLTL Will Return and with many of my favorite actors and characters! Wish Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati could do Both GH and OLTL!
I recorded the last few episodes epecially the last one.I even have the episode when
everyone thought John McBain was dead. And have old soap magazines from 2006.. Loving Llanview!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never thought I could miss a soap opera so much! OLTL is pretty SPECIAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks to the wonderful cast and writers!! HURRAY Llanview!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday January 13 1978 was the last 45 Minute long episode of OLTL (and GH) Monday January 16 was the first hour long show.
My mom and I first watched OLTL when it was only a half hour. And never stopped
watchin!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sad to think it has been a year already. Would hope they can get TSJ back to resolve the ending or will GH do that? What about the story continuation mentioned on GH… will that be where the new writers start or will they change direction and start off from the last episide of OLTL?
To move forward you have to accept Change! How do you change perfection and can you ever get back that momentum OLTL had? ..and alittle of it still lives on GH. I’d hate to recast any major characters, but how do you ask those actors/actresses that moved to the West Coast to hunt for employment to move back to the East coast to do an online show that is untried?! I miss OLTL and will be looking forward to it’s revival!! Must have my Jolie back and Jessica and the rest of the Buchanans! Good Luck PP.
One year ago today, the last of OLTL..
I was in shock that it had really happened, OLTL had ended .
OLTL was gone from my life I was a bit dazed and sad ..
This is nothing short of a miracle….. OLTL Fans are fierce, fastidious, and
i’m glad i don’t have to read any more about how much you miss Llanview.
Congratulations.
I’m awaiting Pine Valley!
WE ARE GOING BACK TO LLANVIEW , HURRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I watched the final two episodes a couple weeks ago and cried like a baby throughout them! OLTL was a part of my life for nearly 35 years. Hopefully this past year was just a long, horrible break, and there’s 35+++ years more of life in Llandview ahead of us.
anyone know why the announcements for who’s signing with prospect park for oltl reboot’s actors are slow in coming–there’s a 1/2 dozen amc actors already announced
I still have yet to watch the last two weeks of OLTL. They are on my DVR, and I vowed not to watch them until OLTL was back. I really hope to be watching those soon, (I will as soon as PP taping begins) I couldn’t watch them until I was sure that this would really happen, just too sad. I am so excited! Now I can watch with anticipation, and tears of happiness that Llanview lives on.
Dear Michael-
Thank you for remembering such a dark day for television and for generations of viewers. I was lucky enough to be in the audience of “The View” the day before on January 12th. It began a day of mourning that in some ways has not ended. Like you, I am a man in his 50s who grew up with OLTL being woven into his childhood memories. Your mention of it was a great suprise! Here’s to you!
Looking Forward-
Patrick
I was so sad one year ago today. Even my husband (NOT a soap watcher) said it’s sad that the fans were “dissed”. I miss the show so much! The only saving grace is that ABC is eating some serious crow over this cancellation. All the money spent trying to promote the replacements with lackluster ratings makes me laugh!
I’m glad it’s coming back, but it’s not the same watching a show on the computer.
I can not wait..to watch the rebirth of amc! Thank you prospect park for helping us dedicated fans bring our show and family back into our homes!