News
OLTL's Robin Strasser Tweets On Beginning to Work with Ron Raines & Her Hotline Message On Production Stop!
Courtesy/TOLN
The one and only Robin Strasser (Dorian) is one of the true soap opera activists in our minds! Once again she proved that she fights the fight along with the fans of One Life to Live and All My Children, and stands by the quality and tenacity of the work done by Prospect Park to resurrect both shows under difficult circumstances, the latest being the labor dispute that has shut down production earlier than expected for One Life which was scheduled to go on hiatus in mid June, but ended their production schedule this week. All hope that this labor situation will be worked out, and the shows will return to production as scheduled in August.
In a recent series of tweets, Robin expressed how wonderful it was to begin to work with her new co-star, former Guiding Light favorite Ron Raines, who just started shooting One Life before production halted, tweeting, “BRILLIANT #RonRaines #GuidingLight fame was game to play #OLTL Had 4 scenes w/him Thurs-Cancelled! Hope only postponed:) That’d be a LOSS!” Strasser also stated, #RonRaines Man of Mystery new character on new #OLTL I hope we return to TELL THAT STORY:) Meanwhile, “stay tuned” has taken new meaning!”
In terms of the fight to keep the shows revival going, the fan favorite and Daytime Emmy winner tweeted, “USA 2013-FANS long standing battle against cancellation of iconic FAVES #OLTL & #AMC bring about RESURRECTION #ProspectPark brings’em ONLINE.”
And in addition Strasser took to her Robin’s hotline and stated the following as related by Soap Opera Digest: “I got the news that the show was not going to tape today, Thursday (June 6) because of a union dispute, (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) the small local (chapter) in Connecticut,” she says. “I listened to some really smart people during the day who were saying, ‘Well, there’s going to be a problem when we come back from the hiatus.’ Now, I was already in a state of deep concern and I’ve been tweeting about feeling off-center but trying to keep it obliquely upbeat. Not untruthful, but just, ‘Okay, this seems a little odd, two weeks ago we were told we would close down production on June 15 and then not resume until September 8.’ Now, if it is to fine-tune and make the already existing shows that Prospect Park has made of One Life to Live and All My Children and make them better and better and better, well that’s wonderful and I really look forward to that possibility…. I want to take every opportunity I can to thank the people who’ve been involved in making the revived One Life to Live episodes. When you watch them on Hulu and iTunes and they’re edited together, they look like movies. They look like these groovy regeneration of the concept of the multi-generational storytelling…. Prospect Park spent a fortune and enormous energy making those shows. So anger placed at them is misplaced. Absolutely misplaced, alright? Those two wonderful men (Rich Frank and Jeff Kwatinetz) have a set up where they can produce shows, entertainment and create jobs and let’s all say ‘Thank you’. I’m gonna and that’s my recommendation.” You can listen to Robin’s full report and thoughts by calling her hotline at 212-414-5300.
So what do you think about Robin’s series of tweets? Her hotline report? The latest in the saga to keep One Life alive? Share your thoughts!
Is Ron Raines playing Mel Hayes, back from the grave?
That would be good…especially if she’s still married to him!
That would be cool.
Unlikely. He’s supposedly Jeffrey’s mysterious benefactor.
If you read that, she did not tape with Ron Raines. It was cancelled because of the cancellation of taping and she HOPES that it will still happen. So do I, but the hits just seem to keep coming. How much more can these productions take?
It’s not unlikely. Mel was an ace reporter, so why couldn’t it be him. Someone tried to kill him so it would make since that he stayed away from Dorian to protect her. And I would think that Jefferey’s benefactor would definitely have been a reporter at one time.
I really do hope One Life to Live and All My Children come back snag free and their second lives online continue. I was always a General Hospital fan since a child and I watched both OLTL and AMC sporadically over the years and although I personally haven’t followed them online, I do know it matters to many others who have so I hope success for all those fan watching and people working on the shows. I will say Jeff Kwatinetz’s track record sucks and it would surprise me a lot if he was able to make a long term success of anything!!
Staying positive and looking forward to seeing Strasser and Raines, the Man of Mystery. I agree with her thoughts that above all else Prospect Park brought our soaps back to us. I hope they work this out with the union because I see the Internet as the future for other continuing daytime dramas.
I thought her hotline message was very alarming. She sounded rattled and confused and very unsettled. I hope she gets the news that this is S.O.P. for many NYC-region IATSE locals and that they are merely trying to strongarm and bully PP in order to set the stage (no pun intended) for future negotiations. This is just what they do. I don’t hate unions, but I have worked with this particular union for many decades and depending on the business agent in office at the time, many of these guys like to make trouble to newer businesses in order to make it look to their members that they are doing something. I seriously, seriously doubt that when so much money on the line, PP would actively violate the terms of a union agreement that I am sure was difficult to obtain and upon which rides a long-term relationship, potentially a decades-long relationship. I am sure it IS possible that an episode or two went over budget inadvertently, with the idea that others would come in under budget and it would be a wash. That may be a violation of the letter of the/a labor agreement, but since it is the dollars in the aggregate that any normal contract would be more concerned with, I really think it would be lunacy for a labor union to halt production to get its members a few thousand dollars, again, in the aggregate. The entire situation stinks of union gamesmanship and I would be SHOCKED if it was anything more than that.
Positive, I stand behind TOLN,AMC, OLTL and Hulu Plus.
Love her! Hoping all can be worked out for the shows as I am excited about the prospect-which I hope comes to fruition–of a new man to play with Dorian and no triangle with Viki, please! Soon, I hope, for Dorian, it will be, “David who?”
Prospect Park has been thorough hell and back to bring the soaps to us..
They will not stop now, no way ..
they have the will so there is a way ..
i love robin strasser. but one life to live and all my children will be cancelled soon. i hate to say this. the reboots to both shows are horrible. poor dorian strasser she is desperate for work. she should join general hospital once one life to live gets cancelled. erika slezak needs to retire. poor woman the storylines are dreadful. agnes nixon should retire too. she is old and senile now. never liked agnes nixon anyway. she is a snob and i heard that from many sources.
You don’t have one shread of proof, but that won’t stop you from spreading rumors and lies.
Thank you Ms Strasser! Your sage wisdom never disappoints!
Negative much, Lorenzo? OLTL and AMC are better than what we are getting from GH of late.
I’ll second that. GH is a train wreck.
Disagree…loving GH and OLTL never even came close to the original.
Ill THIRD THAT GH is a TOTAL TRAIN wreck lately!!!
I agree. GH is terrible. I especially don’t like how the OLTL actors are recast as different characters. Roger Howarth as Franco, come on.
I don’t think GH is horrible in the least.They had no choice but to be re-casted or not be on GH at all. I don’t like too much either but it is what it is. At least we get to see RH on GH.
I have no complaints about GH! And as Rebecca said OLTL isn’t close to the original. It’s different now , not the way I rememeber it all those hears I watched it on the t.v.
Have to admit as a fan of OLTL from day one I have not been enthralled by the storylines. I was hopeful once the change in head writers was announced, however.
I have read that it was AMC that went over budget and caused the issue with the union. Not being an insider to this type of information I have to wonder why both shows would have to cease production unless they are produced under the same umbrella, same crew or crossover crews.
I hope that they can weather this newest storm because if it brings the end of both shows I cannot see a second resurrection happening.
(Also, being very suspicious by nature I can’t help but wonder if somehow ABC/Disney didn’t have a hand in this dispute somehow. I know, I know …. tin foil hat time…lol)
same crew
all my children and one life to live. what a big mess. lets be realistic here. the shows are terrible. i tried getting into one life to live. sorry what a big disapointment. the reboots are awful. im sticking to days of our lives. days is on fire now. ratings are up and good storylines. please just cancel the reboots. rumors are they are cancelled soon. do it now. end the misery please. agnes nixon is getting old and senile. she needs to retire and just go away. agnes is like jill pharren phelps fake whiny and teachers pet. agnes just likes her favroites like susan lucci. susan dont bother coming back to all my children. the show is almost cancelled anyway. enjoy what you have now.devious maids and other projects. maybe in the future susan can come to another daytime soap.
You’re not getting any younger and your rant also borders on senility.
I hope the shows do continue, but I will say the shows aren’t the same. I’ve been a fan of OLTL for many years and I was very disappointed in the lack of reaction when Victor returned. He only taped 10 episodes, what was the point in bringing him back? He was the main reason we wanted the show back because it ended with such a big cliffhanger. OLTL was better on ABC, and for some reason, I do believe they have something to do with this labor dispute. Maybe they want the shows back because they realize they made a BIG mistake cancelling the shows. There’s been too many negative articles regarding the behind the scenes drama, which doesn’t make the fans feel confident about it’s future. I do hope these issues are resolved and the quality of the show improves. Would like to see more episodes air per week, and a possibility of returning to TV and back to its 60 minute format.
I agree the stories and everything about OLTL was better when it was on the T.V.
I recorded episodes from OLTL in 2006 (When they realized it was John in the hospital be w/his face all bandaged up)…I kept the soap digest book from that same year & I have others. I hope this latest set back gets resolved…Maybe a possibilty of being on a cable channel or on line as long as I can see my soaps!
I am in support of OLTO/AMC and PP and will be as long as they exist. The problem I have with PP is they under estimate their audience. I was very upset with the first story about the reason theshows being reduced to two days. It was insulting and I don’t think they realized the power of the fans. I know we would have stepped up without the lame story, people are watching at different times! I do believe the storylines on OLTO are way too slow. Never watched AMC until the online show, but I find that I am really liking it. It has a nice pace and the storylines are interesting. I feel if they scale back the cussing, sex scenes, boarding porn, and smoking weed (or that was the impression) and added a bit more substance. We can support with love we have for the show instead of just watching in hopes that we keep it alive until it gets better! Roger can’t do it alone!
It was not Bull about the reasons for the 2 day shows. Do you know how many ppl are just now finding out about the shows! They are almost 8 weeks behind and AMC is 5 years ahead and some are BRAND NEW fans that need time to catch up on everything!
Roger can’t do it alone? WOW that takes Some kind of Nerve! Yes MR LACKLUSTER is the only one on the show! OH YEA that’s right RH fans always think he is be all end all I forgot! SMFH!
I think oltl is done very well but two days a week is not enough…it amounts to about 35 minutes a week.It’s not very satisfying.There’s no momentum from week to week.I hope things change back to 4 days a week.The picture quality is beautiful and the acting is still great!
The stories aren’t heart-warming anymore on oltl like they use to be!
Which I enjoyed so much for years watching oltl on the t.v. (the heart-warming stories I mean)…..Maybe it will change and get back to these kind of stories which in my opinion made OLTL so special!
I just read that Katie Couric’s rotten show could be cancelled & she’s going to CNN! ABC ruined a perfect afternoon lineup & now all the new garbage is going off! They should admit their mistake & reset everything like it was before but they never will! They’re getting what they deserve- bad ratings & no viewers!
I’ve heard that Barbara Walters is lobbying hard for Katie Couric to take over her position at The View, so that would keep her at ABC.
Was watching ABC’s Live Well Network and they ran commercials for both AMC and OLTL, showing clippets of characters from each show and voice over saying how they are on HULU. So now ABC is advertising these soaps when they threw them to the curb. ABC should take off Couric and put AMC & OLTL in that hour slot. I will take them at 30 minutes each to make that hour of time on air. As it is I now watch the CBS soaps and then at 2pm watch GH, and as soon as GH is over I turn channel to something else or turn off TV altogether, but do not watch Katie.
I agree! They could’ve made each show 30 minutes and kept them on! I still don’t think GH is safe! They hate soaps at ABC!
I just can’t get the same feel for One Life to Live on the internet. Hoping it will make it back to television. Miss this show. Have tried to watch General Hospital but never liked it as much as One Life to Live. It doesn’t keep my attention and I flip back and forth to The Talk. Think the Katie Couric show is terrible, just one more talk show with the same guests everyone has.
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.
View this post on Instagram
Deidre Hall to Guest Star on Season 3 of Comedy Series ‘Hacks’
Lane Davies Joins the Cast of General Hospital Setting up a ‘Santa Barbara’ Reunion with Nancy Lee Grahn
Christopher Cousins Makes His Y&R Debut: What Were Your First Impressions of Alan Laurent?
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
Jon Lindstrom and Cady McClain Announce They Have Ended Their Marriage
GH’s Laura Wright Previews How Carly Gets Clued-In to Sonny’s Behavior: “All the Questions That Anybody Would Have, We Hit on Them”
DAYS OF OUR LIVES Preview: EJ is on the Warpath After Finding Out Sloan’s Baby Is Not Hers!
Serena Scott Thomas to Days of our Lives, But What Role Will She Play?
Lane Davies Joins the Cast of General Hospital Setting up a ‘Santa Barbara’ Reunion with Nancy Lee Grahn
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Deacon and Finn Make a Shocking Discovery and Find Sheila
GH’s Laura Wright Previews How Carly Gets Clued-In to Sonny’s Behavior: “All the Questions That Anybody Would Have, We Hit on Them”
(INTERVIEW) Y&R’s Eric Braeden Chats on His First Lead Actor Daytime Emmy Nomination in 20 Years, Why He Entered the Race After Voting Reform, and His Enduring Legacy as Victor Newman
DAYS OF OUR LIVES Preview: EJ is on the Warpath After Finding Out Sloan’s Baby Is Not Hers!
(INTERVIEW) B&B’s Scott Clifton Chats On His Lead Actor Emmy-Nominated Scenes, Reluctance to Submit for Several Years, and the Honor to be Named with His Co-Stars
-
As The World TurnsApril 27, 2024Jon Lindstrom and Cady McClain Announce They Have Ended Their Marriage
-
General HospitalApril 29, 2024GH’s Laura Wright Previews How Carly Gets Clued-In to Sonny’s Behavior: “All the Questions That Anybody Would Have, We Hit on Them”
-
General HospitalApril 22, 2024Ellen Travolta Makes Another Return to General Hospital
-
Breaking NewsApril 25, 2024REPORT: Nicholas Chavez Not Returning to General Hospital
-
Days Of Our LivesApril 28, 2024DAYS OF OUR LIVES Preview: EJ is on the Warpath After Finding Out Sloan’s Baby Is Not Hers!
-
Days Of Our LivesApril 27, 2024Serena Scott Thomas to Days of our Lives, But What Role Will She Play?