All My Children
AMC's Jordi Vilasuso and Lindsay Hartley – Were the Castillos shoved out of the way?
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
In a new interview out today from TV Guide, the on-screen brother/sister act of All My Children’s Jordi Vilasuso and Lindsay Hartley, (Griffin and Cara Castillo) opened up about the about-face in their storylines once ABC announced that they canceled the 41-year-old ABC Daytime legacy soap opera.
As fans are witnessing now, some very strange changes have been made on the canvas regarding Cara and Griff! First, Cara fell into bed with David Hayward! And somehow Griffin has just disappeared thanks to of all people, Zach Slater, who is acting kind of weird himself!
Here are a few excerpts from the piece about these actors trying to get their footing when they have been thrown curve ball after curve ball!
Lindsay and Jordi speak to how once the cancellation was handed down of there were conversations about what that meant for their characters.
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
Hartley: “Yeah, as you know Cara had gotten involved with [Jake’s brother] Tad. They were going to try and incorporate me having feelings for Tad in a different way than I did for Jake. That was going to be another love triangle, or rather, an obstacle to keep Jake and Cara from being together too soon. The episode where Jake and Cara kissed, they were actually supposed to sleep together, but when the show got canceled the writers turned it into a kiss so it would be easier to make future adjustments. They switched me to Tad altogether when Dixie was coming back. They said to me that Tad and Dixie are the supercouple. I wasn’t aware of David though! I thought that Tad going back to Dixie was the end of my story, and that Cara would just go back to Doctors Without Borders. I don’t think the producers knew at the time either that I was going to have this relationship with David. I figure they would have told me.”
Vilasuso: ” At first, I was weird about it. I had a kind of blasé attitude about it. That was probably a defensive thing. I guess when it really hit me I did get upset about the whole thing because there was nothing I could say or do about it. We had discussions with [executive producer Julie Hanan Carruthers] about what we were going to do to wrap Griffin up, and I think they’ve done what they can do. They have so many people coming back, and they want to fulfill so much of what they believe the fan base really wants … But I think it’s become a little diluted in terms of what the real arc of Cara and Griffin should be.”
Lindsay and Jordi if after seeing the final scripts, do they think longtime fans of the show will be satisfied.
Hartley: “We hope so. That’s what they’ve been trying to accomplish. Hopefully that will be what happens.”
Vilasuso: “I hope so too, but it’s out of our control at the end of the day. I think it’s hard to wrap up 42 years in 40 minutes. Susan Lucci threw a lunch yesterday and she talked about how she did a interview for some Internet radio show and after she agreed to do it, the guy had 500,000 people write in, excited she was going to be on. I think the fans are part of the reason we’re staying alive. I think a great number of them are going to come along.”
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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Sorry but I am not interested in reading or listening to these two whining about what has happen to them. They are newbies and really have no history with AMC. I care more about the people that have been on the show for many years and all the people that work behind the scenes. They are all losing their jobs too. Many of these people moved out to California thinking that the show was going to be saved and they would have a job for many years to come. These two need to get over themselves.
LOL….true and funny. In my opinion, that’s been the problem with AMC…..too much focus on these stupid newbies or people that should be supporting cast members, and not enough time given to the Veterans of the show. I mean, think about the cast members that they have right now…..with the exception of a handful of actors, the majority of the people are newbies or younger actors who should not be anchoring this show.
It was important for them to step aside so that the show could honor the characters the fans have cared about for years. The characters that SHOULD have been anchoring this show all along, not just at the broadcast end. If Frons and Sweeney hadn’t tried to reinvent the wheel with AMC, and hadn’t dumped both veteran performers and legacy characters, there is a good chance the show would still be broadcast. And in that case, these two would still have jobs.
And from what I’ve heard, they’re both going with PP online deal, so what do they have to complain about anyway?
The day Gordi can learn to talk without sounding like he’s ready to burst into tears, maybe that will be the day he starts on the road to being a character like that. Till then, just be quiet.
OMG!!!! I have been thinking that about Gordi for the longest. I’m glad I’m not the only one that noticed that.
For heaven’s sake at least spell his name correcty (Jordi) if you’re going to refer to him! He’s the most gorgeous hunk that’s ever been on that show – some people are bored sick w/the same old annoying actors! My women’s club is nuts over him! What is this hatred thing? Why do you hate this actor? He knows how to convey emotion with his voice instead of coming across stiff and robotic like some of your so-called legacy characters.
oh please, the guy can’t act his way out of a paper bag….and frankly, I don’t care how you spell his name. Bring back Josh Duhamel and kick this guy to the curb!!
Um Lindsay did not move out to LA for AMC shes been on soaps for the past 10+ years, yeah maybe not with AMC but shes been involved with soaps for a while and is a talented actress.
I’m not saying she’s not talented, but I don’t think she should be featured so heavily, especially during the last days of AMC on network television. This is a 41 year old institution and she’s only been a part of AMC for less than a year.
I don’t think Lindsey Hartley has any reason to complain. She’s getting more airtime than anybody including Alicia. Am I the only one thinking that they are trying to make her the star of the show. As for Griffin, I don’t like the character or the actor at all and I am not a Zendall fan.
Ruth
Who cares what you like – in the grand scheme of things it won’t make one whit of difference. Maybe you’re just threatened by a man that attractive.
I am actually appreciative of the interview the two of them gave. I have greatly enjoyed their presence on AMC and was a little concerned about what would become of Griffin with the return of Zach & Cara with that surprise tryst with David. Given the comments, I am in the proud minority happy with the performances both have given, which have been touching, nuanced, and spectacular. I hope that the AMC powers that be keep both on hand for the online transition because Amanda/Jake/Cara is a triangle which would benefit from the Broderick touch, and I suspect there is great potential for strong Griffin centric storytelling, whether the beat is his unrequited love for Kendall or him making his mark on Pine Valley.
Thank you for this posting. Very well said. I too have enjoyed Griffin and Cara Costillo on AMC. I’m missing Griffin not being on this past week. Hopefully they are offered contracts with PP and stay on with AMC to the Internet or Cable. Very sad that one of my favorite Soaps is ending on TV.