All My Children
All My Children's EP Ginger Smith On: New Head Writers, Five Year Story Time-Jump & Michael E. Knight!
Courtesy/TOLN
On last night’s broadcast of the TOLN Soaps Live with Michael Fairman, on the Blog Talk Radio network, the executive producer of All My Children, Ginger Smith was the very special guest for a lively chat and interview about all things Pine Valley in front of the camera and behind the scenes including: why the decision was made to fast forward the story five years into the future from the ABC finale of the series, if Michael E. Knight might truly make a return to the series as Tad Martin, and what Ginger could reveal about the new scripts from the new writing regime, and what is to come when AMC return to film brand new episodes next month after their summer hiatus.
Later in the show, Ginger also took calls from fans of the series asking questions ranging from a possible return of Susan Lucci, to if Brooke and Adam will get married now that Dimitri seems to be taking a liking to Brooke, what the plans are for the destructive character of Colby played by Brooke Newton, and much more! Here are a few quotes from Ginger on some major subjects of interest!
GINGER on the decision to time jump the reboot of AMC five years ahead: “I knew in my head, I would definitely time jump that kid because then you would have the opportunity then to progress the young kids. Not that I don’t love young children, but in order to tell contemporary story, which All My Children has always done generationally, I thought if I got them to the teenage years, what I would do then? It was going to be a challenge no matter what, but I knew it would be difficult to do a direct pick-up from the end of the ABC Network final episode of the series. I thought it’s just easier in to do the time jump and it opens it up and gives us an opportunity to tell different stories and go in different direction. However, I was also concerned that for the core audience, we were still knotted to those stories. There is nothing worse than taking a journey and then they cut off the story, and we don’t acknowledge it anymore, and than I feel cheated as a viewer. So it was really important not to exclude anybody, or make them feel cheated, but progress the story and the show forward in a contemporary way.”
GINGER on what fans can expect from the new writing regime and the new episodes that will go into production: “I love the new writing regime, but first a big ‘thank you’ to Marlene McPherson and Elizabeth Snyder for jumping on this train as it was full steam ahead. They jumped off and gave us a great starting point, and now I have Lisa Connor and Chip Hayes who are head writers. What we decided to do when we come back from hiatus is … and we will have a lot of scripts done is … we will be doing a little bit more of a cliffhanger, while keeping the mystery, keeping the humor, and keeping the romance alive, and also giving the audience some surprises with actors and characters that may be returning to the scene! That was really important to us. We have an opportunity with this shooting schedule that we have to bring some actors in and out and, and that will be our intention as we continue our production schedule, and as we start back up in August. By next week, it will start to get crazy as we gear up!”
GINGER on the possibility that Michael E. Knight will return as the beloved Tad Martin to the series anytime soon: “I will say this about Michael Knight. He is one of my truest best friends, and he has been my lifeline, even when I started this job. There would be days I would call him late at night and go, ‘Oh my God!’ I adore him. Sometimes the timing isn’t necessarily right when you start another project … you have a commitment, you have family commitments, job commitments. Am I saying he is coming back? I am saying he knows that the door is always open. You know what? I think there is a good possibility of that, and you know what I say? If we start talking about the character a lot on the screen, that is what the fans have to start paying attention too!”
To listen to the broadcast to hear what Ginger had to say about the above and more, check out the TOLN Soaps Live with Michael Fairman player below! Let us know what you think about Ginger’s comments about upcoming story and the writing change? Do you think it will improve the show? Who do you think Ginger may be bringing back to Pine Valley? Are you hoping that Michael E. Knight will be far behind? Do you think it was a good idea now that you have seen many episodes of the reboot of the series, to time jump the series five years forward? Comments below!
Michael, it was a great interview and Ginger comes across like the right person for the job! She’s enthusiastic and knowledgeable and yet she listens to the fans, probably more than ABC did. I got the impression we’ll see more of Eden Riegel and Alicia Minshew soon, which would thrill me. I also loved what she had to say about Zach and Kendall because there is more story to be told there and anything that’s new and fresh that AMC’s writers can come up with for them is okay with me. It all sounds very promising. Thanks for an informative & fun interview.
Loved it! MEK will be back I truly Believe he will be back! As far as Characters and Actors coming back! Boy that could be quite the list! I hope one of them is Ryan WITHOUT Greenlee, Jackson, Kendall, Krystal…..Great Interview and can’t wait to see what the new writers have in store!!!
Looking forward to what the new writers will bring to the table! It’s exciting and I’m loving the show. I still miss Greenlee, Ryan, Tad and others, but hopefully many of them will come for a visit.
who the hell cares about ginger smith. the show is horrible now. amc has to bring back cameron mathison susan lucci liza and greenlee. if they dont amc will be cancelled again. the new jr sucks. they should recast jr again. amc needs to bring back kendall full time. bring back the characters will love. then i will be watching amc again. if not the show will fail. also michael knight needs to come back. i know he is busy with other projects.
Then you didn’t even bother to listen to the interview, did you? Ginger has been in contact with everyone you mentioned-it’s just that the timing isn’t right right now for various reasons. I’ve said this from the beginning, people need to get ABC’s AMC out of their heads
I totally disagree with you, respectfully, Gino. Kendal (Alicia Minschew) is on another online soap as the star, Erica (Susan Lucci) has 2 TV projects, Ryan Matheson has a million projects. I think JR is fine, the old JR is on another soap. I think we are doing qutie well without the people you mention. I love the new AMC. Would I love to have “Tad” back- more than anything. But he is not willing to come back now. The show is exciting, vibrant, and the writers are respecting the audience. and history. There are a few history gaffs but hopefully those will be cleared up.
lol true Troy, especially like it’s last five years! ugh! Zarf and Erica’s “un-aborted” baby? Sigh.
I, for one, care about Ginger Smith! I think this NEW All My Children (as well as OLTL) is great and doing a wonderful job. And as with any recast – they need time. Instead of complaining, you could be grateful these shows are back AT ALL.
I really hope Kendall is one of the characters that will be back as a regular. I would be happy to have Tad back as well. I like that she said they will be going in fresh new directions and hope that refers to a creative , romantic story for Zach and Kendall. I’m excited about the new writers and hopefully a change of course with some of the storylines–particularly Zach’s .
I agree, Tad should be back on there for sure. And Kendall for good also, need Zach and Kendall in each other’s orbits again!
I really do hope MEK will be back as Tad. Dixie is lost without him. Someone needs to save her from Billy Clyde:) Love the new format and hoping to see Erica and Jackson at least come for a visit .
since Erica (La Lucci) is busy, I wish they’d just bring Jackson back for now. Walt Willey says he has not been asked. What’s up with that? I was not happy to hear that, but maybe they can’t afford more stars right now. They should talk to him, though.
Very disappointed that Canada cannot watch AMC. We got hooked on a few episodes and now nothing. Not fair. Lots of viewers in Canada
From what I understand, both AMC and OLTL are available in Canada on ITunes
The show needs a little work, some might say A LOT of work – the writing is flat, the sets are limited – every scene is either Jane’s Coffee Shop or Chandler Mansion. No park scenes, no lake scenes, no street scenes, just Jane’s Coffee Shop.
So, on a positive upbeat note, I hope the new writing team can add some zest to these rather Zipless scenes – and of course, it would be great if Michael E. Knight could reprise his role as Tad Martin. Susan Lucci as the iconic Erica Kane would be a welcomed addition. I don’t know if it will happen but it would be nice to see these characters return.
I thought is was a great interview. I am hoping that they do bring Alicia back. Would lov
to see her and Thorsten bring their magic back to the show. Would love to see them in
a story line with lots of adventure and romance.
Michael, it took a couple of sittings to get through the interview, but I truly appreciated Ginger’s positive attitude. AMC is in good hands
If I can only have a little part of Kendall, Ryan, Greenlee, Krystal, Jackson, and Tad- I would be in heaven. A little is better than none. What would be ground-breaking good production is if Leo came back for Greenlee. It would be a dream come true of epic proportions! One can only wish!!!
Cecile, not to worry. You have missed absolutely nothing. This show sucks. If you want good writers, get the ones who worked on TV. Altho the convoluted Erica kidnap/stolen identity story, currently on Soapnet, has to be the absolute dumbest story I have seen in my entire life. We are to believe that someone who is not Erica can just step in her shoes and become her. When will the writers give the viewers credit for a modicum of intelligence? Never, I guess. But back to the re-boot, this is absolute torture. Said I wouldn’t watch but caved out of curiosity. Rob has potential, he’s a sexy little guy. And, of course, Vince is always a master at what he does and he’s great to look at. Love Jill, Debi and Darnell. That’s pretty much it. But they are all really wasting their great talent(s) on this piece of crap. Even Thor has been downgraded as an actor. He is embarrassing to watch on this and I adored him on TV. If they don’t do something drastic, like clear out most of the new cast, this is surely doomed. Bring back the triangle, Kendall, Zach and Grif. At least they will spice things up a bit. Get Opal a gal pal (but not Lucci, please). I still stand by what I originally said. This thing is not going to fly. The whole look of the thing is really one big eyesore. So Canada, you are missing nothing.
I hope you have stopped watching.
Jas, AMC is definitely not trash or crap. It has definitely returned as if it never left. Ginger wouldn’t have it any other way and Agnes is behind this all so I find your comment to be way off. The look and feel is still there so I don’t know why anyone would bash this beloved series and the actors. It is plain disrespectful. Ginger knows what she is doing and I think anyone who wants their ABC AMC back needs to really let it go. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but there’s a line that gets crossed anytime one is not happy with what they see. What is more outrageous is that even with how successful the reboot is, there are viewers who are never satisfied and wreak havoc any chance they get. I always say any true fan will support the show and love it unconditionally. Give it a real chance and have respect with commenting if you don’t like what you see. Michael thank you so much for all that you do, the five year gap is genius and I agree AMC is in great hands with Ginger.
I ended up going to bed instead of staying up for the interview. If I had called in, I would’ve asked about the possibility of Ross Chandler returning now that the Cortlandt/Chandler feud has been revived (what is Robert Newman doing these days?). As a viewer of AMC since the summer of 1980, I was quite impressed with Ginger Smith. I’ve been loving the reboot anyway, but hearing how much she loves the show and her favorite story line being Cliff & Nina just made me appreciate her even more!
My response to the highly intelligent Ricky Ortega is: 5 year gap. Let’s see, JR or AJ or whatever his name was was about 7 when the series got cancelled. Let’s see. How about a math lesson. 7 plus 5 equals ??? Genius you say. Well, clearly genius you are not. 7 plus 5 = 12. So AJ is 12. And clearly a brilliant student to already be in high school, huh? I’m being disrespectful? No, I’m just expressing my opinion which, when last I heard, living free in America (barely anymore) I am free to express. I have done so. Don’t need vigilante Ortega on my case for that. Secondly, of course Agnes is on board with this. $$$. Get it. And she’s very, very old. Perhaps not of the soundest mind. Again, $$$. As for ABC AMC, I don’t give a rat’s fanny about the networks. Hardly ever watch anything on them. Just the news to get the weather forecast. But the look and feel of AMC was so wonderful when they were on ABC. This is so unbearable to watch. Watching on the internet sucks – big time. That’s my opinion. I am entitled to it as you are to yours. But may I suggest you invest in some back to school time instead of focusing so heavily on AMC. Sounds like you need some refresher courses and perhaps need to also get a life.
Ginger has been doing amazing with the handling of All My Children. She’s really holding true to the origins of the show and making it a much more contemporary, but attractive series. Since the relaunch, I have not been able to miss a single beat of the series. The casting has [for the most part] been brilliant. And I hope that when the show returns to production next month we’ll see even more veteran faces and veteran characters. That would be awesome! But I have zero complaints about the series thus far!
As per the new writing regime, Marlene and Elizabeth were stellar as head writers of the series. And I have faith in Lisa and Chip to continue on with the great writers both previous scribes have done.
You don’t have to torture yourself by watching.lol
The new shows are GREAT!!!!
Since soaps always rapidly age kids,it’s suprising that AJ and Miranda aren’t in their mid twenties after the time jump.
The show was pretty aweful on abc the last few years until they were cancelled(then it got much better).
All My Children
‘All My Children’ Movie Writers for Lifetime Revealed: Ron Carlivati, Jamey Giddens and Leo Richardson
This week began and as reported with a spotlight article on Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos and how their production entity, Milojo, has been teeing up the All My Children reboot with Lifetime.
The L.A. Times featured the married couple, co-hosts of Live with Kelly and Mark, and former All My Children cast members (where they met and fell in love) about their plans to bring two All My Children movies to Lifetime and how they are working with the Agnes Nixon estate to make it come to fruition,
On Wednesday, it was revealed by Daytime Confidential, that All My Children reboot producer, Andrew Stearn handpicked none other than Ron Carlivati (ex-head writer, One Life to Live, General Hospital and Days of our Lives) and Jamey Giddens (who is the new co-head writer of The Young and the Restless, following his tenures on the writing teams of Beyond the Gates and Days of Our Lives), as the two scribes who will bring the first of two of Kelly and Mark’s All My Children movies to the page.
Photo: IMDb
RON CARLIVATI AND JAMEY GIDDENS CONFIRM THEIR BOARDING THE ALL MY CHILDREN MOVIE PROJECT
The second installment is said to be written by primetime writer Leo Richardson whose credits include: Star, Katy Keene and more recently the Penn Badgley (ex-Phillip Chancellor IV, The Young and the Restless) starring series, You.
Richardson also wrote for three years on the U.K.’s long-running soap, EastEnders. All My Children revival fans will recall Richardson’s name was attached as the writer for the first incarnation of the All My Children movies, entitled, Pine Valley.
Ron Carlivati took to X and confirmed he is indeed boarding the All My Children movie project. Carlivati shared, “So excited to share this news! Thanks to Andrew Stearn, Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos, Albert Bianchini and the Agnes Nixon estate for entrusting Jamey Giddens and me with the first of two planned All My Children movies for Lifetime! Stay tuned!”
Photo: Jeremy Smith/imageSPACE
Jamey Giddens confirmed DC’s announcement by taking to his account on X and expressing, “I’ve been booked and busy in 2026. Thanks to Andrew Stearn, the Agnes Nixon estate, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos for entrusting Ron Carlivati, and me with the first of two planned All My Children movies for Lifetime!”
Some fans seemed to question how Giddens could be writing for the first All My Children movie at Lifetime, when he is the new co-head writer at The Young and the Restless with Dan O’Connor. Jamey answered that head on via X and explained, “We turned in our All My Children script months ago. My sole focus as of this past Monday, is Genoa City, Wisconsin! #YR”
ERICA KANE, MARIA SANTOS AND HAYLEY AND MATEO SANTOS TO APPEAR IN THE ALL MY CHILDREN MOVIE REVIVAL?
In the planned stories, Susan Lucci’s Erica Kane and Eva LaRue’s Maria Santos will be two characters whose lives we will get to see for the first time since the series was canceled by ABC back in 2011 after 41 years on the air. As well, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos confirmed they will make brief appearances on-screen; one could assume as Hayley and Mateo Santos.
“It’d be wonderful to give the fans something that they’ve been yearning for so many years,” shared Mark Consuelos to the LA Times. “All My Children gave me my family. I met my wife there. It gave me my start in the business. It gave us so much. It would be a dream to be able to give back.”
So, what do you think of Ron Carlivati and Jamey Giddens getting nod to write the All My Children movie #1 script and Leo Richardson #2? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
All My Children
‘All My Children’ Revival Updates: Lifetime EVP Speaks on Why Proposed Movies are Great Fit, Mark Consuelos Wants To ‘Give Back’ to Fans
The All My Children revival via movies at Lifetime is still in the works from former series stars and marrieds, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, through their production company, Milojo.
The co-hosts of Live with Kelly and Mark were featured this week in a Los Angeles Times article which detailed their efforts to bring some of the citizens of Pine Valley back to your screens.
As previously reported, and reaffirmed by the L.A. Times, the All My Children movies will be set in the present day and focus on what beloved characters such as Erica Kane (Susan Lucci) and Maria Santos Gray (Eva LaRue) are doing now. In addition, Kelly Ripa confirmed that she and Mark Consuelos will also appear on screen briefly most likely appearing in their signature soap roles as Hayley and Mateo Santos.
Photo: ABC
ALL MY CHILDREN MOVIES BRING NOSTALGIA THAT CAN BE MADE TO FEEL NEW AGAIN
Elaine Frontain Bryant, executive vice president and head of programming for A&E, Lifetime, and Lifetime Movie Network said of the All My Children reboot, “Lifetime is always interested in shows that kind of tap into a powerful nostalgia that can be made fresh for today’s audience. There’s a whole generation of women that have missed these stories and these characters.”
As for working with Kelly and Mark on the Lifetime movie versions of the soap, “They’re exactly the kind of partners you want at a brand,” expressed Bryant. “They’re trusted voices because every day they’re talking to their audience, which, a lot of times, is our audience. They bring a real credibility and have an authentic point of view. You meet Kelly and Mark and kind of what you see is what you get, and I think they bring that same authenticity to their development standards.”
Albert Bianchini, executive producer for Milojo, says he knows All My Children is so wildly popular with the fans of daytime. That was punctuated when seeing it in person, and how the energy was off the charts back in January of 2025 when Kelly participated along with Susan Lucci, former head writer, Lorraine Broderick and casting director, Judy Blye Wilson in a conversation with Andy Cohen at the 92nd Street Y in New York City.
© Steven Bergman/AFF-USA.COM Credit: AFF/Alamy Live News
“I’ve never seen a crowd like that in my life. People were lined up around the block, recalled the Bianchini. “Everyone wanted to know, ‘When is (All My Children) coming back? We want more.’ We got to see that in real life and Kelly got to feel it in real life, and it made so much sense. I just know that the minute it gets out in the world, people will want more and more and more. There’s just a love there.”
Kelly Ripa added that they are, “working closely with Bob and Sarah Nixon, who are also serving as producers.” She recalled, “She (Agnes Nixon) was so far ahead of her time. She covered topics that weren’t being covered. It was extraordinary the audiences that the show drew, and she served them real stories that were affecting Americans across the country but weren’t necessarily being represented anywhere.”
“It’d be wonderful to give the fans something that they’ve been yearning for so many years,” shared Mark Consuelos. “All My Children gave me my family. I met my wife there. It gave me my start in the business. It gave us so much. It would be a dream to be able to give back.”
THE CANCELLATION AND STOPS AND STARTS OF ALL MY CHILDREN REBOOTS
All My Children aired on ABC from 1970 to 2011. It got a second chance at life when Prospect Park resurrected the show and brought it to The OnLine Network and Hulu for one season in 2013.
Recently, the series made a return through the estate of Agnes Nixon and is streaming internationally on BEONDTV and through their partnership with PlutoTV Canada with episodes starting in 1995. Fans hope original episodes will some day soon be available in the U.S. as well, but that could prove more difficult since ABC owns the rights to the episodes stateside.
Now 13 years later, while there is no word yet on a definitive production start date to the two movies at Lifetime, all the people involved seemed determined to make it come to life.
So, what do you think of the executive vice-president of Lifetime and LMN being enthusiastic about Kelly and Mark’s All My Children movie revivals? Are you wanting to see this come to fruition? Kelly and Mark seem to have made this a very high priority. Do you hope that by 2027 we might be able to get this to the finish the line and into production? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Starting on May 1, All My Children fans in Canada will be able to see classic episodes of the beloved former ABC soap opera when they stream on Pluto TV Canada.
Pluto TV picked-up the All My Children Channel that the Nixon family has created in partnership with BEONDTV +. The show which aired for 41 years on ABC and ended on the network in 2011, had so many memorable storylines and characters; the least of which is the enduring run of Erica Kane played by soap icon, Susan Lucci.
As previously reported, starting with episodes from the year 1995, which was the 25th anniversary of the soap. Pluto TV Canada viewers will be able to catch 8 episodes on repeat per day. With the success of the venture, the Nixons are hopeful that they will bring viewers many more years of the show to come.
Photo: ABC
Sarah Nixon, producer, shared with Michael Fairman TV exclusively, “We are thrilled that Pluto TV has launched All My Children in Canada! Let’s hope the engagement from our incredibly loyal fans across the border will encourage ABC to bring it to the U.S.! We share what Aggie (Agnes Nixon) always felt, that it is the enthusiasm and love from the fans that has kept this legacy beloved and relevant – to this day!”
In addition, 0ne week ago, during Susan Lucci’s visit to Los Angeles promoting her book La Lucci, she was joined by her former Pine Valley castmates, Rebecca Budig (ex-Greenlee, AMC, now Taylor, B&B) and Eva LaRue (ex-Maria, AMC) and the trio posed for a pic. At that time, LaRue shared via Instagram, “NEW All My Children channel streaming classic episodes 24/7 now on Pluto TV Canada! Fingers crossed to watch soon on Pluto US.”
That was also confirmed this week by TV Watercooler’s Jeevan Brar who took to X and expressed, “The All My Children channel begins streaming this Friday, May 1 on Pluto TV Canada.
So, Canadian viewers, excited about Pluto TV’s All My Children channel? United States fans, hopeful from Sarah’s message that perhaps soon, we can see the beloved soap once again as well? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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