All My Children
AMC's Michael E. Knight talks Dixie's return, and the past, present & future of soaps!
Courtesy/ABC
All My Children’s Michael E. Knight (Tad Martin) gave a terrific interview to Smashing Interviews Magazine’s, Melissa Parker on his thoughts on the ending of AMC, the return of Cady McClain as Dixie to wrap up their story, and offered his thoughts on what went wrong and what could be done with the soap genre, and some missteps AMC had along the way. Here are a few excerpts:
Knight on the return of Cady McClain as Dixie: “ I was lucky and the positioning was such that Cady could come back and reprise the role of Dixie. I certainly love working with her. She’s been a dear friend for a long time and is a wonderful actress. They’re supposedly bringing her back from the dead (and we’re no stranger to that), but they’re bringing her back to have Tad and Dixie walk off in the proverbial sunset. I think that’s the way they’re looking at it. I always had such wonderful chemistry working with Cady. It will be nice to get a chance to do that. Other than that, I think they’re kind of struggling to give the audience some semblance of closure, bringing down the curtain as it were, but I think they’ll leave it open ended in case the show gets picked up somewhere else.”
Knight on how AMC had changed over the years where they used to give characters a longer development period : “In the old days, 20 years ago, there was a longer period of character development. They would bring characters along very slowly. As we went along there was less and less time for that. I noticed they would bring on major characters very quickly and characters that had only been on the canvas a short period of time would be handed major storylines very quickly. Sometimes the characters worked and sometimes they didn’t. The character would come on, work a lot, and then sort of disappear. Some of the fondest things I remember are some of the character actors I thought were so wonderful; first and foremost being Jill Larson who plays Opal. I have a glowing respect for her. I go back to people like Billy Clyde Tuggle, Phoebe, Myrtle, and Langley. There was sort of a more rounded ensemble. That was when the budgets were bigger and you had room for character actors. As things have become leaner and meaner over the years basically there has been a stripping away of characters that drive story.”
All My Children
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All My Children Alum Ben Jörgensen Reportedly Dead At 51
According to his former All My Children castmate, Brian Gaskill. there is sad news in the soap world today. Ben Jörgensen who played Kevin on All My Children and Chris on As the World Turns passed away on Tuesday at the age of 51, apparently via suicide, although unconfirmed as to his cause of death.
Gaskill, who played Bobby Warner while in Pine Valley shared via his Instagram: “Sad news to report. Ben Jörgensen who played Kevin Sheffield on All My Children has past away at 51 years old. My understanding is it was suicide. I have heard he suffered from Bipolar disorder but as I have not spoke to him in years I do not know all the details. I just want to remember the good times we had on the set of All My Children 24 years ago. He was a good guy and had the courage to play a gay teenager on tv back when it was nowhere near as common to have representation as it is today. He was part of an award winning storyline…but mostly we just had some good times back then…my condolences go out to his friends and family. Please everybody hang in there and reach out for help if you need it. ”
Since the time of Brian’s posting, friends, colleagues and fans have been posting tributes and condolences on the actor’s Facebook page. You can view that here.
In this heartbreaking photo below from Steven Bergman, during his time on As the World Turns, Ben is pictured with the late Nathaniel Marston, as well as Jaime Nicole Dudney and Terri Conn.
Photo: StevenBergman
On All My Children, Ben was part of the important social issue storyline brought into the ABC legacy soap opera by the iconic Agnes Nixon, who was always trying to move the needle forward in daytime, as the character of Kevin was a gay high school student facing bullying, ridicule and discrimination for his sexuality.
Share your thoughts on the passing of Ben via the comment section below.
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Mr. Knight got it right, Pine Valley was a place of great character with great characters, it hasn’t been that place for quite a long time.
can’t wait for tad and dixie to finally reunite
Michael,
I just wanted to say that i have loved your character Tad on AMC since you were just a cad! I hope you will continue with AMC when it goes to PP.
Can not wait for the tad & dixie reunion 🙂
I have come to love many characters and find it unfornuate that abc has used financial bogus to say that they are unable to run these shows. I think it has to do a lot with upper management. But thanks for writing and sharing this article. Your by far one of the greatest humorours characters. Your one of my fams favorites 🙂
I hope now that the show will continue online that both Michael and Cady continue on- such great chemistry!
Much Love to Michael and Cady!!!
I can’t wait Dixie in Reunion. I love AMC…. I love couple Dixie and Tad…..
Ever since you joined AMC I hated when you left and when you came back.. OMG true bliss. You are second only to Susan Lucci on AMC. Loved Tad the Cad. While not so much the Cad these days, the sense of humor is what we need to escape this world. I am not in the best job position of my career, but I will do what it takes to still watch “All My Children”. It is my legacy, not pop culture.
Clearly this interview was done prior to Prospect Park picking up All My Children. Michael was gracious as always. I hope with all my heart he will continue in the role of Tad Martin when AMC moves to Prospect Park. I can’t imagine Pine Valley without him.
Hi Michael,
I have been watching AMC for almost 9 years now and you were the person that got me clued to that TV the moment I turned it on!! You are not only cute (don’t tell my husband) but you are the funniest character on AMC!! I am so happy that AMC has been saved and is going to PP and I truly hope that you will continue as Tad! It just wouldn’t be the same without you 🙂
I meant glued not clued! LOL Oops 🙂
GREAT to see Michael talk so openly! Especially about his hope for someone to pick it up!! I have got to say, the last few days between Jr and Tad going at it with their lines and banter and the whole thing at Oak Haven, I havent laughed so hard in a LONG TIME!!!! THIS is what AMC has needed for a LONG time. Character interaction!!! Great writing again!!!!
I’ve been watching All My Children since the show began. I remember when Ruth found Tad. Oh, the storylines that have developed over the years!! Tad & Dixie, a great love story….right up there with Luke & Laura! Thanks for all your great work. I hope to see more of AMC through Prescott Park…..and hopefully, on TV!
I’ve always had affection for Tad. The storyline that ended with Greg in a wheelchair was wrenching, with Tad anguished over his role in causing hurt to his sister Jenny. And that quirky sense of humor! Hard to believe that kid is now one of the few links to Pine Valley’s past. But here you are… I fervently hope you help usher AMC into this new era ,with a chance to bring our favorite American town back to its character rich splendor!
Tad the Cad is one fun person, even when he was a jerk! I hope he remains when they go to the online version. I would love to see them bring in Billy Clyde Tuggle again! Verla Grubbs with Opal too bad Myrtle is not there along with Phoebe.
We want to add more and more memories to our AMC “albums” that reside in our hearts. These soaps have gotten so many of us thru hard times in our own lives.
Keep the faith soap fans, MEK and all our actors and actresses!
I have loved you, Michael, since you first began your character Tad on AMC. I cried with you when you had such a despicable father, and laughed with you when you were with Liza and her mother, Marion Colby, at the same time. You were a great detective for your friends whenever one was needed – you always solved the case most efficiently I might add. I think the best times were when you were the great lover with oh so many Pine Valley Gals – especially Dixie – who is the love of your life. I hope you and… Read more »
It is my sincerest hope, that PP works out the best possible deal for the actors – even if that means flexibility to pursue other projects. I’d rather share MEK than lose him. 🙂
Please stay on AMC it goes online,you are a very important part of pine valley!!
I am going to miss All My Children. I will not watch ABC daytime television anymore. I am sick and tired of reality television. I am going to cable stations more and more. That is where I can find more dramatic shows, and interesting movies. The networks are getting more and more unwatchable. I hope AMC will get picked up somewhere else.
Thanks for being Tad the cad, Ted and now Tad the man! If you don’t stick with AMC & go to PP with the show, I will be VERY disappointed. Love your sense of humor … I’m sure it’s not all scripted! I have been a fan of the show since 1972 & a fan of yours since day one on the show.
I left a comment on the news feed posting about this interview. I hope he reads it.. He is a wonderful actor with comedic talent that is off the charts. I’ve been watching him since he first started on the show. He has only gotten better with age. Please read the other comment. My respect and love for him is properly expressed there. I will close with saying “Thank you for all your years of devotion and talent for a show I love and have been watching since 1976-1977”. Much love MEK!
I know it hasn’t been easy these past few years but believe me, MEK, we appreciate everything you do on the show. In my mind, you are AMC. It just won’t be the same if you leave. I really hope that tbtb offer you a fair deal and you decide to take it.
Either way, thank you for the countless hours of great television. Much love and respect.
Liz Arnold
I hope to see the legacy of Tad and Dixie’s love affair continue onto Prospect Park with thew same actors. Tad & Dixie forever!
I’ve been watching AMC for over 40 years! I consider this a kind of entertainment “guilty pleasure”. My children watched with me and my daughter (and her husband) became loyal fans. Tad and Dixie are two of our favorite characters with “fun” and entertaining storylines throughout. We were shocked to hear that ABC and Disney decided to “axe” this show–after forty+ years!! Apparently, longevity means NOTHING! More talk shows and reality shows–boring. I will not be watching daytime television after we say good-bye to our Pine Valley “family”.