All My Children
AMC's Debbi Morgan Interview: As Angie is at a crossroad in her life, Emmy winner wraps up life in Pine Valley & heads to Genoa City!
Courtesy/ABC
It has been a remarkable 29-year run for Debbi Morgan as Dr Angie Hubbard on All My Children. And in two weeks time we, the audience, will not only have to say our farewell to Dr. Angie permanently, but goodbye to the network television run of the series featuring Angie and her friends and loved ones in Pine Valley.
A few months back, Debbi decided to get a new lease on her soap life and signed a contract with The Young and the Restless. While details of her new role are shrouded in secrecy, she will first hit the air in her latest incarnation on October 7th. But for now, over at AMC, Dr. Angie is trying to get her eyesight back, dealing with the cover-up by her husband Jesse, and loss of her baby girl, and handing back the little one she believed to be her own to Maya, the birth mom! And who else could play all this and hit it out of the park time and time again, but Daytime Emmy winner, Morgan?
On-Air On-Soaps recently caught up with Debbi at the final All My Children press junket to get her thoughts on the ending of the 41-year-old soap, Angie’s plight, her new digs, and turning off the lights in P.V.! Here’s our “quickie” chat with Debbbi M.!
How did everyone feel over at All My Children, when you told them you were (in a way) jumping ship to head to the number one soap, The Young and the Restless?
DEBBI: Julie Hanan Carruthers our executive producer; just gave a brunch the other weekend for AMC creator, Agnes Nixon, and Agnes said, “I can’t believe it. How long is your contract for over there?” And I said, “Well, I signed a two year contract over at Y&R Agnes.” And she said, “I’ll be dead by then.” I said, “Please, Agnes. Don’t say that!” And so her daughter to lighten the moment said, “Mom, whatever you have to write for her, you better write for her now.”
Are you now ready to put down Dr. Angie’s stethoscope and put it away, and move on to Genoa City?
DEBBI: I am. As much as Angie has meant to me, as an actress I am definitely ready for another challenge. I will say this; she won’t have any traces of Angie… that is much as I can say about her.
Courtesy/ABC
On AMC, poor Angie has suffered so for months! Total Blindness, losing her child, a baby-switch! I mean, if they are going to throw an actress everything but the kitchen sink and make it work, they probably went, “Let’s give it to Morgan! She can handle it!” (Laughs) But that being said, how was navigating through the constant blindness, the pregnancy, the emotions of her situation on a daily basis?
DEBBI: You know what? I am so exhausted with it! I had no idea it would last this long. Well, I got sick last year which is part of the reason since I was gone for three months, and that I think stretched it out some more. But the thing I think that has been the most difficult is that when you act, the eyes are the windows to the world. You express so much with your eyes, and not being able to utilize that has just been torture for me. I went, “Guys! I am so ready for this to be over!” But yet with that being said, it had been some great story to play in combination with losing her child, Ellie and giving up her chance to see so she can have this child, and then in the end she still winds up losing this child anyway. So it had been a great story.
Having made Dr. Angie Hubbard such a identifiable staple of the fabric of Pine Valley and All My Children, what are you feeling as the show is about to air its final few weeks of episodes?
Courtesy/ABC
DEBBI: I feel like everybody, there is sadness, and coupled with the sadness is a huge disappointment. We were told we were being taken off the air because of low ratings. And for me, I don’t know anybody, who knows anybody, who knows anybody with a Nielsen Box. We know there are so many loyal fans who watch this show who are just not accounted for. I just can’t believe with all the technology advances that they are making, that we have not come up with a better way to do a ratings system, then the Nielsen Ratings. So it’s a huge disappointment for me to see how terribly saddened our fans are. And it’s like telling them, that they don’t matter! That has bothered me more than anything.
As this part of your soap career comes to end and you look back body at your body of work as Angie, and all the storylines and the enormously popularity of the Jesse and Angie love story, what is your takeaway from it?
DEBBI: I have said this many times, because of this character, I have probably logged more hours than any other African American television performer. And being a woman of color, great parts like this don’t come along, and for that, this role has meant so much to me. To have a job, and to be someplace where I was happy to be, and to get to play so many different things has been unbelievable. It’s like when you do a primetime series it’s usually seeing a character at their career, but in this job in daytime you get to see her characters home life, her career, and the trials and tribulations with her children. There have been so many different avenues I have gotten to go with this Angie and that is what has meant a lot to me.
Courtesy/ABC
So even though you will not be staying with AMC with its projected move to the web early next year, and having been one of the genres most powerhouse performers, what do you think about the future of soaps on the Internet and on daytime television?
DEBBI: I think the All My Children move to the web with Prospect Park is going to happen and there will be this huge transition overall in our business to web series. It happened with radio went series migrated to television, and eventually they will start creating more new soaps for the web. And as far as daytime television soap operas, I definitely feel The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful will be the last two standing.
All My Children
Billy Miller Memorial Scholarship Endowment Created at His Alma Mater to Help Others ‘Realize Their Dreams’
Two months since three-time Daytime Emmy-winning actor, Billy Miller passed away, the beloved All My Children (ex-Richie), General Hospital (ex-Jason/Drew) and The Young and the Restless (ex-Billy) star, will now have a permanent scholarship endowment in his honor at the University of Texas at Austin which was Miller’s alma mater.
Through the scholarship, it will be able to help radio/television and film undergraduate students with financial need. Billy’s family and friends have established this permanent scholarship in his memory, naming it the William Jon Miller II “Billy Miller” Memorial Scholarship. They hope the endowment will be a legacy to his life and love of acting.
Before becoming soap-famous, Billy graduated from the the university’s department of Radio-Television-Film (RTF) at the Moody College of Communication. On its official website, they shared the news of this special memorial scholarship and how Miller died at the age of 43 after surrendering his life to bipolar depression, which he struggled with his whole life.
Photo: JPI
Megan Hubbell, Billy’s sister, expressed, “We want something positive to be held in his name in perpetuity through the University he loved. He would be honored to know that even in death, he can help someone else realize their dreams.”
She added how she hoped her immensely talented brother will be remembered: “I hope BJ (as Billy was known by to his friends and family) is remembered for the kind-hearted, silly, funny, goofy, generous, beautiful soul that he was His megawatt smile, deep belly laugh and gorgeous mug were gifts on screen, but his true self was a bright light that will be carried with us forever.”
Photo: JPI
According to Miller’s family, Billy had his picks of schools and UT was his first choice. When he first came to the university, Billy started in the zoology program before switching to radio-television-film, where he felt he belonged. Miller was one of just 20 students at the time accepted into the department’s prestigious production-sequence program.
“BJ was extremely proud to be a Texas Longhorn and always remembered his time there fondly,” Hubbell said. “The time he spent at UT allowed him the space to explore who he wanted to be and what he wanted to accomplish.”
Photo: JPI
In honoring her brother’s work and strength to persevere in the often heartbreaking world of entertainment, Megan related: “I always admired the guts it took to go after a dream in Hollywood that so many people tried to discourage. He heard, ‘You’ll never make it’ more times than I care to count, but he used those comments as fuel and said, ‘Watch me.’”
Miller’s roles went far beyond those on daytime soap operas, as throughout his career he played major parts in primetime’s Suits, Ray Donovan and Castle to name but a few.
Photo: JPI
In his death, Billy’s family is encouraging people to take stock of their own mental health. “BJ would want anyone struggling with intrusive thoughts to seek professional help,” Hubbell said. “Do not suffer in silence or try to muscle through on your own. Mental health is vitally important and shouldn’t be spoken about in silos behind closed doors but rather in open forums with open arms. Shame has no place in the discussion to seek help.”
To donate to the William John Miller II “Billy Miller” Memorial Scholarship click here.
Share your thoughts on Billy’s family and friends, along with his alma mater, setting up this memorial scholarship endowment to help other talented young people in financial need get a shot at realizing their dreams via the comment section below.
All My Children
‘Live with Kelly and Mark’ Scores Touchdown in Ratings with Taylor Swift-Inspired ‘Halloween: The Eras Show’ Delivering Largest Audience In Over A Year
More great numbers for Live with Kelly and Mark. The talk shows Live’s Halloween: The Eras Show scored an impressive 2.9M total viewers on October 31, making it the most-watched Halloween episode in four years, according to the Nielsen ratings.
The episode also delivered some of the highest ratings in seven months for the morning show, particularly among women 18-49 and 25-54. Live’s Halloween: The Eras Show also pulled in a 1.92 household rating, as well as a 0.47 among women in the key 18 to 49 demo and a 0.69 among women 25 to 54. Those are up over the last two years of Halloween episodes and since Consuelos first started in the co-host chair back in April.
According to Deadline, Live’s Halloween: The Eras Show, also pulled in the largest audience numbers for a single episode in more than a year and half.
Photo: Disney/ABC
As is tradition with “Live’s Halloween” episodes, they are always filled with costume and pop culture moments and special guest surprises. Ripa and Consuelos were right in step with the biggest social media love story at the moment; that of Swift and her burgeoning romance with Kansas City Chiefs Tight End, Travis Kelce.
During Halloween week which started on Monday, October 30, Live was up up 11% versus the week prior in total viewers, and averaged 2.6 million viewers throughout the week. Year-over-year, the talk show was up that week by 15% in terms of total viewers. It looks like the former All My Children’s alum on-screen chemistry is just as palpable as it off-screen; as the two marrieds are making quite a successful run together on morning television.
Photo: Disney/ABC
So, what do you think of the impressive numbers for the Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos on ‘Live’? Did you enjoy their recent Halloween episode? Share your comments below.
All My Children
‘All My Children’ Star Peter White Dead at 86
Peter White, best known to soap fans as All My Children’s Linc Tyler, passed away this week at the age of 86. The cause of death was revealed to be melanoma.
The late actor’s former AMC co-star Kathleen Noone (ex-Ellen Shepherd Dalton) confirmed the news to multiple outlets sharing that White died in his home in Los Angeles of melanoma on Wednesday, November 1st. His death was first reported by Soap Hub.
White’s first soap opera role was actually on The Secret Storm in 1965-66. Then in 1971, he joined CBS’ Love Is a Many Splendored Thing, where he took on the role of Dr. Sanford Hiller. However, he became soap-famous for his role as Linc on All My Children which he began in 1976 and it would be a role he would play on and off till 2005.
Photo: ABC
In story, Linc was in love with Kitty Cole and later her sister Kelly (both played by Francesca James), despite his mother Phoebe’s constant interference and disapproval.
Peter later appeared in numerous primetime shows including: The Colbys, Knots Landing, Dallas, Sisters, Hill Street Blues, The Jeffersons, The Paper Chase, The West Wing, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Sisters, and more. His film roles included: Dave, Flubber, Armageddon, Thirteen Days and First Daughter.
Photo: BroadwayWorld
However, White jumpstarted his entire acting career in 1968 with the starring role as Alan McCarthy in Matt Crowley’s original Off-Broadway production of The Boys in the Band. Later, the drama was made into a landmark 1970 film, White and his original co-stars were all featured in it.
Share your condolences and remembrances of All My Children’s Peter White via the comment section below. But first, check out this clip when Linc was trying to help Kelly after the murder of Eddie Dorrance.
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This is a very nice interview. I along with everyone else who is a fan of AMC hate to see Debbie leave. We have wanted her back for so many years. Finally get what we want and this happens. What she says about the rating system is true. There are thousands of fans out there who are not being counted. Had they been, ratings would have been much higher. However, I do NOT believe this was the reason for cancellation. The viewers were there, it is just the much less expensive shows they want today, and that would be reality shows. So I give my favorite spot on ABC to The Chew (unhappily) and await AMC online for which I will be as faithful as I was when it was on ABC. However, ABC is off my TV forever as of 9/23 after AMC is finished.
Personally I wish she would stay with AMC my gosh we don’t need anymore new faces at Y&R!!! We have Genie Francis, Tristan Rogers, Maura West, before she was fired the list goes on and on but MAB & Sony cannot afford MTS who we have loved for 32 years on Y&R. It is like musical chairs and personally I don’t give a dam how good an actress they are stay off of Y&R!!! Sick of it ! Bill Bell would never have done this!
Yeah i’ll be done with ABC for good when OLTL goes off in January.
I know exactly how you feel…I refuse to watch any of those new shows.
Dear soap opera goddesses out there,
Please let Miss Debbi have a long-running visible character to play on Y&R when she begins airing in October. Thanks! 🙂
I think she’s gonna be Devon’s mother.
I thought Devon’s mama was Yolanda? That was an entire s/l for a good while that invovled the Winters crew.
In regard to Ms. Morgan who I think is one of the best actresses around, signed a deal with Y&R before anyone was even aware of any dealings with PP. At the end of the day this is business and she has been nothing but loyal to ABC (playing Angie Hubbard for years in and outside of Pine Valley and as Ellen on Port Charles), I think we can say ABC has NOT been the same to their employees or fans. If I knew my company was shutting down, there is no way I would sit by idling hoping they would change their minds. I would be on the grind trying to find other employment and that is what she did. So best wishes to her and I will follow her right over to Y&R and hope that they treat her well for the 2 yrs she has signed on for.
what a trader, she could of waited a while, but as far as her comment on Y&R AND BB being the last two soap standing, i think she is wrong. and if they are, thats sad, cause their really nothing special about these two soaps…
Aria,very unrealistic for you to say Ms Morgan should wait,good things dont always come to those who wait. If you lost a job and another great company offered you, a just as good or better job, would you wait on, well we may hire you back later ,the venue will be smaller,the money may be less ?As of this writing, no one for AMC has been hired by Prospect Park and yet 4 people from OLTL have been.Her bills are not going to wait,life is not going to wait.AMC’s future seems to be questionable,she made the right move for her(as did Jacob “JR Chandler”Young going to the Bold and Beautiful)I,which is what a smart person does. Good luck Ms Morgan in your new role and thanks for the great work especially at AMC.
debbie morgan is not a traitor – debbie signed with y&r way before prospect park even got involved with saving amc
I couldn’t have said it any better, Ethel.
Nice article! And congratulations on your new gig Ms. Morgan!!
Unless the networks get behind their soaps, I am afraid Ms. Morgan is right about Y&R & BB being the only soaps left. ABC is just waiting to dump GH and DOOL is a year by year thing. I truly miss the old days of soaps, when it was about good storytelling, characters and actors who could act.
You got that right, Lew. Tell me, what’s so great about GH? I think ABC favors them over AMC and OLTL.
I just now caught the part Y&R & B&B the last 2 standing so let’s run over there and ruin those two. Tell me does anyone care if she is coming to Y&R? MAB bring back MTS &VR and stop this now or are you trying to destroy your father-in-laws legacy?
The demos fro Y and R are equal to other shows in 18-34. Y and R fans are older, eventually their lead will be slim to none as they are not generating younger fans. The CBS shows are currently the strongest in total viewers, and B+B makes tons of money internationally. Y and R was able to keep their loyal viewers by not having such drastic turnover in producers and writers. The ABC shows changed direction wildly every time something wasn’t working. Fans got frustrated as their shows became unrecognizable. NBC had the same problem. From that perspective I also believe CBS will have the final 2 shows on. Days is giving itself a huge push right now…..and I hope they benefit from AMC’s cancellation. They would be smart to pick up an Alicia Minshew or Rebecca Budig.
While I am saddened that my soaps are going off of tv and hope they will be a huge success on the web or cable stations I knew it would be a matter of time before they did this. I wonder why the tv execs cannot come up with something new besides being copycats of the other stations. Remember the westerns,comedies, and variety shows? When they put the soaps on the web stations I will not watch ABC, CBS, or NBC except for local news. TV is becoming a wasteland.
It saddens me so to see AMC leave the airways. I’ve been a devoted fan for 41 years and I feel like I’m loosing a member of my family. I’m hoping Prospect Park can work a miracle and bring back to life a good part of the cast of AMC. For those who are moving on, I wll miss you dearly.