All My Children
BREAKING NEWS: Prospect Park Has Revived Its Plan To Bring OLTL & AMC Online!
Could this be the biggest Christmas gift from Santa for soap fans ever? Or, could it turn out to be a lump of soapy coal?
There is huge news this afternoon out of Deadline.com who is reporting that Prospect Park, the entity that has the rights to One Life to Live and All My Children is reviving their efforts to bring the canceled soaps online in 2013! According to Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva, “I hear the company behind USA hit Royal Pains has inked deals with SAG-AFTRA and DGA for the soaps’ production, eyed to begin in the first quarter of 2013. I hear there are preliminary discussions with actors from All My Children and One Life To Live to rejoin the revived shows. Prospect Park refused comment.”
The back-story as soapers know is: Rich Frank & Jeff Kwatinetz’s Prospect Park made a licensing deal with ABC in July 2011 to keep OLTL and AMC alive for online distribution on their Online Network, which was slated to launch in the first quarter of 2012. But after difficult negotiations with the guilds, the company last November pulled the plug on its plans, despite securing a slew of OLTL and AMC actors to reprise their roles. While the online venture was formally dead, apparently Frank and Kwatinetz never lost hope, and had been quietly working since the summer on putting their plan back together and had been talking with the guilds, resulting in agreements with SAG-AFTRA and DGA. (The status of talks with WGA is unclear.)
So soapers, what do you think? Will Prospect Park finally be able to bring Llanview and Pine Valley online? Are you cautiously optimistic with this news? Or, do you think the said Prospect Park plans will evaporate like before? There just seems to be many hurdles still to cross here, folks. It also seems the timing of this news is interesting, which would lead one to believe that Prospect Park is hoping to extend it’s rights for the two soaps past the end of their original reported deal which was believed to be set to expire at the end of January 2o13. Weigh-in!
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OMG! Please do not get our hopes up, if this is not true! If it is, what a great Christmas present for soap fans! We all miss AMC and OLTL so terribly…..
I feel the same
I think its bull..AGAIN..they needed cash last time and couldnt get it. Where is it now? I’d LOVE to see both shows back and my heart jumpped when I saw this article. But I will not fall for it again. sadly….this makes me sad.. 🙁
I don’t believe it for one minute! They are a bunch of liars & I don’t trust them! They’re up to something! It’s been too long. Many of the actors have moved on. They blew it!
Let’s think positive and believe! Prospect Park dealt with having let many down before. I doubt they’d revive efforts without a serious plan and financial backing. We believe in AMC and OLTL, let’s be positive and show support for these efforts!
ILL BELIEVE THIS WHEN I SEE IT!!!!!
OMG how wonderful the thought of having the characters come alive again on OLTL..Keeping good vibes for this one!!
It’ll be great to have AMC, and OLTL back on the air again. Since ABC still owns the rights to these shows, and they’re always be part of the Disney family, to help promote it by celebrating the returning the shows. Here’s the best way, have all the ABC soaps stars from AMC, OLTL, and GH, along with the Disney Channel stars to do the platypus walk dance. Plus have the ABC Daytime stars appear on any of the Disney shows like Shake It Up, ANT Farm, Good Luck Charlie, Austin & Ally, Dog With A Blog, Kickin’ It, Lab Rats, Crash & Bernstein, and Mr. Young.
Agreed!
I would rather see them back on my tv screen! Ditch The Chew and Katie and put them back where they belong!
Damn straight
God who know… this is best Christmas presents ever!!!! YAY!!!
I agree in Tv only. My mom lives OLTL and does not have a computer so she won’t be able to watch it. I like taping it so please in TV
Again, agreed!
I’m not getting my hopes up… It was devastating enough the first time. Plus, so many of our favorite soap stars are on other shows now. An awful lot of people would probably be missing after all this time.
I agree Christina – it would not be the same if they recast alot of the cast. I have mixed emotions.
Agreed. They waited a long time, and I just don’t see how it would work at this late date…if some of the actors have signed contracts with another show, we won’t get those characters back, and recasting is not an option (for me anyway).
I’d love to see OLTL again, with the characters I wanna see again… but not getting my hopes up.
Ditto. Hope this is the real deal. I still miss OLTL and my friends in Llanview:-)
Not going to happen. There is no way they can afford to do this online (where are they going to get the revenue to mount these productions?) and have the same quality soap. Not to mention that they no longer have a studio to record these shows and the sets/costumes etc were already sold off – everything would have to be purchased/build from scratch. I would have been more optimistic if they were going to cable with this and cutting it back to 2 or 3 times a week rather than every day. If they somehow are able to pull this off, these shows will be a shell of their former selves.
I don’t believe anything from Prospect Park–and they wouldn’t have the money to make them quality shows–ABC just wants the rights to the shows tied up so Agnes Nixon can’t get them and bring them back on another network
That sounds about right, MikeT. I’m not getting my hopes up, when it has anything to do with Prospect Park. They simply don’t have the money to pull this off.
It’s not IMpossible. They would need to downsize like the web series that Crystal Chappel helms. Depending on where they filmed – if it were California, I bet they could get some of the New Yorkers to fly in and out as needed (like Hilary B. Smith does for Venice: The Series) because I do not see the heavy hitters like Erica Slezak moving to Los Angeles.
The question is, if the part of the funding consisted of viewers PAYING to watch, would [you]? This is the question that separates the men from the boys. I bet there are a bunch out there that want something for nothing. Face it, no one is ever going to be 100% happy unless it is back on ABC, in its old timeslot, with all the actors.
If this actually happens, I just want to see the whiners stop whining and be happy for once. And in case anyone takes offense, this is not directed at any person in particular – just those that whine all the time and are never happy.
Exactly Kelly.
It’s a beautiful thought, but the reality is they’d lose money, and no way would they go into it knowing they’d start and finish at a loss.
I don’t understand why they don’t try to put AMC or OLTL on a cable channel….why not go for Bravo, USA, TNT, etc.? I just don’t believe that the internet would be a good idea….I mean, if it’s on Netflix or HULU it could possibly work. But like so many have said, if the majority of the cast isn’t there, it won’t be the same. So many have moved on…not to mention, what would happen to the cast members that are now currently on contract at GH? And who would write and executive produce the show, now that Ron & Frank are tied up with GH in Los Angeles? There are just tons of questions spinning around in my head. And to answer the post before, I would without a doubt pay to see OLTL….Lord knows I pay for HBO & Showtime, and hardly find anything to watch on there, so I wouldn’t have a problem shelling out a few bucks for my all time favorite soap…OLTL.
Torrey –
“And to answer the post before, I would without a doubt pay to see OLTL….”
That is the answer I wanted to hear. You sound like a good, understanding person and your posts are intelligent.
I understand that noone should have to pay for their soaps because they were free all those years, but times have changed and IF this would be the only way to bring them back (i.e., pay-per-view), I am glad to hear some would not hesitate. I am always reminded of back when I very briefly USED to use Facebook (never again), there were these petitions the users had so they would never have to pay to use Facebook. It just shows how greedy people are – getting something for nothing. I would like nothing more than to turn back the clock to simpler times and a little less technology, but I can’t. 🙂
I hope some form of it can be worked out. They don’t have to have 5 days a weeks to make me happy. Any days even one a week would be cool. Would be nice if they could get the rights to the repeat episodes too and play them.
They are showing repeats on soap net. For OLTL &. AMC.
And I for one, have been watching them on DVR. I came late to the AMC and OLTL game after my cbs soaps went off air. and I grew to LOVE THEM SO MUCH. then they were taken off. So now I watch 2008-2009s. And catching up to what I started watching in what 2010? I LOVE IT. I’ll be sad when I get caught up though, and have to stop watching again… will be like losing them all over again. OLTL one of the best soaps ever out there. And this from a Life long CBS GAL! 🙂
Not all of us can get SoapNet as Comcast Cable took the station off of its cable system last April.
I know, but I can’t get Soapnet. Would like it to go back to where the first episodes that still exist and go from there. I think around 1978 is when they stopped taping over them.
I didn’t know that Comcast dropped SoapNet. What a bummer! I have Verizon FIOS. Currently, they are showing 3 episodes a day and the year is 2009. Between OLTL and AMC, that’s 6 hrs. each day to watch. I do a lot of fast forwarding and sometimes skip the slow-going episodes. I will miss it once it goes off again.
okay lucy/prospect park, is that another football for me to kick??? seriously though, this could be promising, i really hope it all works out. there’s so many faces from AMC I truly miss seeing on a regular basis.
Not going to get excited until something is concrete and set in stone that this WILL happen this time. ABC is still smarting from their collosal mistake hopefully they will bring them back to the TV screen! The Chew is hardly a ratings bonaza and Katie is struggling to find viewers. However, if they do make it work, I will be oh so happy!
i agree 100% abc is still trying to woo bak viewers for they know they screwed up
big time. do not watch the chew or katie never have and never will
the only show i watch on abc is General Hospital and because i am huge maurice
benard fan, they let steve burton walk of course he was ready to leave and
now they keep shoving these losers in the hospital to try to make us happy
i say get rid of all the newbies in the hospital poor jason thompson has to endure
that crap daily, they need to bring robin back and jason asap
cannot stand aj or that silly storyline with him in it, boring i just fast forward
or leave the room
and duke can go as well just my opinion
I remember when Jason Thompson was a NEWBIE. All great characters have to start somewhere.
And why no love for Duke? 🙂 I think Ian Buchanan deserves a chance considering he has been playing Faison pretending to be Duke. I would like to see the real Duke as it has only been two days.
I don’t know if this will work.
not sure OLTL would be anything remotely familiar; the writers have gone to GH…the characters Star, John, Todd…the occasional visits by Blair and Tea, possibly Tomas/Alcazar…are all there too. I’m kinda liking them there! Other OLTL actors have moved to California…so don’t know if enough of the original cast would be left to hold my interest anymore….
It would be wonderful, but indeed, so many hurdles. How many actors are even still available? I will sit by quietly and watch for news over the coming months……..
Well, great news but still a lot of unanswered questions. Namely, do they have no financial backers and what actors are they able to get?
Oh my God, this would be fantastic, let’s all hope for the best!
That’d be nice if they can make it happen. I’d watch.
This is a ploy by ABC (in cahoots with Prospect Park) to tie up the rights to the shows–it’s all a bunch of pooh–don’t believe them !!
Michael – What is your source for the rights reverting back? The only source I can find is one vague statement by Vicki Dummer. What if there is no such clause? On another note, Prospect Park has been quietly working on this for months now. Perhaps they have finally figured out the magic formula (Read: funding) to do so. Soapers can only pray for a holiday miracle which would be an official Prospect Park announcement with F-A-C-T-S! Michael thank you for spreading the word so this is out their for discussion and debate!
Very good points Flo! What a birthday present, eh?
But are we (in general – as an audience) really ever privy to this kind of information?
Doubtful – so we can speculate and we can hope! I plan on doing both!!
Oh and ditto to Michael – thanks for putting the information out there it is always nice to get a reason to hope and speculate!
I’ll be happy to see if something really develops, but after last time, I won’t even hope until we see more.
I’m doubtful, though. In a recent interview with Kassie de Pavia, she spoke as if Llanview was really gone for good, referencing the sale of the sets, etc. Would she have spoken with no hope if there was an inkling of revival – and wouldn’t she have heard through the grapevine if there was anything in the works?
We’ll see.
These online soaps seem to produce so few episodes, shorter segments, and because of budgets, do so with lower production values.
If ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE are to return, I want them as they were. I would settle for a half hour version (as they were once upon a time and a la THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) but cheapening the properties just to have them back won;t make me entirely happy.
But then again, as I opened,… we’ll see…
I would love to see OLTL come back! I’m only 21, and I first started watching when Natalie was locked in the basement. I didn’t know anything about the story line until I just kept watching the episodes. …& the younger cast drew me to liking the show more 🙂 & I was mad when it went off the air. …There’s so many more episodes they could make.
I’ll believe it when it actually happens.
I sure hope this is true and that it comes to fruition so we (me and the mouse in my pocket) can come to this forum and not read post after post about how OLTL characters need to be added to GH. Hopefully this means GH can be GH and the AMC and OLTL fans can get their shows back in some capacity. (I just hope that IF you get your shows back “in some capacity” that you are grateful and leave it at that.)
Please don’t get me wrong, I feel for all of you who miss these shows. I watched them too. But life goes on, new things come along. If this is indeed happening then I am extremely happy for you all and happy for the genre to continue.
I have to agree Christine, OLTL fans have been a tad bit greedy. I lost GL/ATWT/AMC and I don’t go around demanding things from the existing soaps to bring back series and characters to invade other series that they once never had involvement with.
I’m just hoping if AMC gets the revival that Lorraine Broderick is let go from DAYS to return to AMC, or is let to do both series.
i was a huge oltl fan, and while to an extent i agree some fans tend to be greedy and have just expected at least a handful of characters from oltl, or amc on gh, the majority of us arent like that; we appreciate the fact that at least a few characters are on gh; as for people demanding things, i have gone a round or two with gh fans, who are downright rude, cruel, and obnoxious, DEMANDING the powers that be at gh, get RID of the oltl characters, threatening to stop watching if they dont; if they dont bring back other gh characters, insulted oltl actors on a personal level saying they cant act, they think they’re ugly, etc etc…so yeh, some of the oltl might be a little greedy, but i can honestly say thats a very small portion of oltl fans, as compared to many gh fans ive come across, who are adamant about not sharing ‘port charles’ with oltl characters. and can you guys honestly say if gh was the one cancelled and oltl stayed on, that you wouldnt want frank and ron to bring over THOSE characters to llanview? i dont think any gh fans could say that…i would have had absolutely no prob if oltl was saved, and gh fans wanted jason, sam, or sonny to come on; i would have welcomed it; i think mixing characters from different shows is a great idea, regardless of which show it is; alot of us dont DEMAND anything, some just hope, and request, that some oltl people are on. so no one should really pass judgement on ALL oltl fans, when we’re not all greedy like that. just like alot of gh fans CAN be obnoxious and downright mean; all we hope for is that you guys are willing to share screen time with our characters, until there is another option.
I can only say, for me, that I wouldn’t have wanted GH alumni on OLTL. It wouldn’t have made sense for me. And OLTL people still don’t make quite sense for me. McBain isn’t fitting in well anymore, and Starr is only working because of Michael. The only one who is semi-working is Todd because he’s made more connections than the other characters so he’s slowly moved onto the GH platform. And I didn’t say all fans demanded, I’m just saying a lot of fans demanded things on here. I can pin-point posts and people who made such demands, as well.
And I never, for one, attacked OLTL actors. Their characters, possibly, but never the actors.
I am a die hard fan of OLTL…and I can honestly say that I don’t want my OLTL characters on GH. I have never been a fan of GH…too much Soprano’s wanna be stuff going on there for me. Spend way too much time focusing on the mob boss, and not enough story for the other characters. I have joked many times that they need to rename the show, “The Corinthos Family Drama.” LOL I personally, have gone on a strict “No-Watch” of GH because of the comments that so many GH fans have posted. I don’t think the integration of a few OLTL characters was a bad idea, but you would have thought it was the end of the world for so many GH Fans. In my own opinion, OLTL was a much better show, and if we get it back, I want all of my OLTL characters back in LLanview, and I hope that Ron or whoever ends up writing for the show, can repair the damage that they have done to the LLanview characters….I.E. fix this mess with John McBain, Bring Cole & Hope back (was so pissed that they killed off Starr’s family, just to make room for Michael & Starr), & somehow repair the damage of the horrible mess they made of killing off Tea’s baby…
I’m not getting hopes up, we have already been screwed over once by Prospect, last I read ABC wanted to buy them back.. If this were to be real must be recent, I was at the Martin event on the 8th and none of the actors brought it up.
I agree, I don’t want to get my hopes up
But I’ll stay positive and see what happens. Won’t get them up like last year that’s for sure!
it’s enough going through the programs I DVR without going online to watch.
You can only jerk people around so many times…
I’m going to reserve my belief, till it’s real. at this point in time… seeing daytime actors employed is my wish…
my first real dissapointment with cancellations, was As The World Turns, then Another World, then Guiding Light… so, i’ll celebrate AMC when and if…
even if it was 1/2 hour shows…
Trusted them once. Won’t do it again. They need to put their money where their mouth is. If I were an OLTL actor, I wouldn’t sign ANYTHING without a TON of monetary guarantees.
I’d love to see AMC and OLTL on again, on-line if at all possible. I’m a New Yorker, so the glass is 1/2 empty for me. The glimmer of hope is that it’s associated w/”Royal Pains”, which I’ve heard about but never have seen. So who knows? But I’ll believe it when I see it. So they plan to put it online, not on USA channel like “Royal Pains”? I’ll tune in wherever.
Mixed emotions…..soap fans have been through so much loss, I’m holding my opinion for now.
I will celebrate when it happens! 🙂
It will never work.
I am not getting my hopes up either…I rather they put them on a cable station on the T.V. I say IF this happens , who will write & produce these soaps. Especially OLTL writer & producer are on GH now. How could they possibily swing this? IF they go on line, will we have to pay to watch them both or will it be free? That’s what I would like to know..Again I am not getting my hopes up again only for them to be shot down again….Yes would like to see my AMC & OLTL which I miss SO MUCH! Seeing is believing.. When it is a done deal they I will get my hopes up!
I’ll believe it when I see it and I am doubting it will happen as much as I want it to be plausible, I’m just happy that now that I switched to FIOS I get Soapnet back! So atleast I can watch the reruns 🙂
Last week there was a report that PP wanted an extension of the rights to AMC & OLTL but ABC said no they want them back. Besides several main OLTL characters have contracts with GH. What about Frank and Ron? Do you think they would leave GH in the lurch? AMC & OLTL should be put back on ABC at 1p and 2P with GH at 3p!
I agree! Well if ABC wants AMC &Oltl back. Like you said they should put them back in their old time slots. I don’t want to get my hopes up again…When its a done deal w/PP then I will get excited about the whole thing.
It’s to late.
I wish this were true but I just can’t belive it, I find the timing of it all a little too conincidental, with the so called rights schedualed to revert back in a little less than a month and the decision of GH to be coming before April? sounds like another ABC smoke screen to me…..besides as a Jolie fan and a RH fan how would this work? RC/FV are on GH with contracts and so is RH, KA and ME, The destruction this characters took going to GH would be hard to reverse. Jolie was totally destroyed makes me sick, but I can’t see ME leaving GH to go back where does that leave some of the leads from OLTL? If I thought we could have most of our actors and characters back I’d be over joyed but I just don’t see that happening it has taken them too long and they have moved on.
While I would love for All My Children to return, I do feel like it’s far too late to pick up where it left off. It would be too much of kicking a dead horse to try and revive it. But I want to see my characters again!
I really dont think they would work online. I wish a network would pick them up.Does not have to be one of the big 3, could be USA or something similar.
I am really really hope that they bring these shows back!!!!!!! I have been heartbroken ever since they where taken off the air.
I’m not getting my hopes up. So many of the actors have moved on. I don’t think they can pull it off anymore.
Yes. I’m happy with the fact that All My Children could return online. Susan Lucci might be busy with Devious Maids on Lifetime, but do you think that series will really make it beyond 13 episodes?
I hope Susan Lucci will want to return as “Erica”. They still have that cliffhanger to finish.
Now my concern is, will we have to pay in order to see it online?
Why would the ABC Network want to buy All My Children and One Life to Live back. They have already kicked everyone in the stomach. Would ABC be willing to put the serials back on the air after saying it is too expensive.
Bold and the Beautiful has been successful in the 30 minute format. Would All My Children and One Life to Live be less expensive and easier to produce if they came back in a 30 minute format?
I am hoping this really happens that would be fantastic but, we can’t celebrate yet. It would have been nice if they brought it back on TV but, if they want to bring it on the internet that’s fine with us. Thank you Michael for letting us know what’s going on and I know you will let us know when it happens waiting to hear from you very soon about this . Have a great holiday .
I dare it to be true!!!!
I will never forget the rollercoaster of our soaps being cancelled then thinking PP was there to save the day and the fallout from that. It all felt very sketchy how it went down. If they bring back OLTL, I will watch it because I miss so many of the characters even though my favorite Todd Manning is on GH. I will still watch GH also. I just can’t even get my hopes up though because fool me once shame on you…fool me twice shame on me. I would rather see OLTL in the hands of someone who values and cherishes it and would fight harder for the show and the fans because OLTL was one special show.
It remains to be seen
No matter what happens; I hope Chris Goutman is never asked to be EP of any show and Jean Passanante is never chosen as the HW for any show. If they are appointed, that show is sure to bite the dust faster than water turns to vapor.
Well I have mixed emotions because I would LOVE to see OLTL and AMC come back but I also read that actors from OLTL like Melissa Archer who played Natalie was still under contract with PP and it was almost over and that once it was over, she would be available to go to GH as Natalie. I’d hate for them to tie her up again for another year, and then NOT do the show, but tie her and other actors up for more time preventing them from going to other shows, including GH.
I would LOVE to believe this, but I won’t until they are back on the screen. I would also hope that they’d shut their pie-holes until they have the financing in place and agreements made with the unions and stars. They let us down so badly the first time that a second time would have people looking for revenge. Don’t toy with my soapy heart like that. :0)
Too late for AMC, OLTL is living on with GH. The only one missing is Viki. If she can guest on GH every once awhile. with Dorian I am happy.
All My Children
TODAY: ‘Tainted Dreams’ Begins To Stream Episodes On PopStar! TV Platform
Beginning today on Monday, September 23rd, the series Tainted Dreams, which shows you the behind-the-scenes antics of a fictional hit TV soap opera, will stream its first two seasons for free on the on the Popstar! TV platforms.
To view: you can download the Popstar! TV’s mobile app or visit www.popstaronline.com to watch Tainted Dreams or for more info visit https://www.tainteddreams.com/#home-section.
For those who need a refresher: Tainted Dreams follows the cast and crew behind the scenes of a hit TV soap opera called “Painted Dreams”, and of course, it’s filled with lots of twists and turns
In addition, there is a bonus episode on Popstar! TV that gives some background on how all the characters came to be a part of “Painted Dreams”.
Courtesy: NYCBrandEnt
Sonia Blangiardo, the executive producer and creator of Tainted Dreams shared in a statement: “We are thrilled that there is more life for the show and that the new exposure will attract new viewers for the series. We’re excited to be in great company with the other shows the platform will be streaming and couldn’t be happier to be working with Craig and Jim Romanovich who has always been a loyal soap supporter.”
Tainted Dreams features a cast that includes: All My Children veterans Alicia Minshew, Walt Willey, Michael Lowry, Bobbie Eakes, Terri Ivens and the late Larkin Malloy, General Hospital’s Natalia Livingston, As the World Turns‘ Colleen Zenk, Austin Peck, Marnie Schulenburg and Kelley Menighan, Guiding Light’s Grant Aleksander, One Life to Live’s Ilene Kristen, Tonja Walker, Nathan Purdee and James DePaiva, Big Brother’s Jessie Godderz, The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Dina Manzo, and more.
So, will you be checking out Tainted Dreams on its new platform? Comment below,
All My Children
Cameron Mathison Reveals Cancer Diagnosis and Shares Heartfelt Message
One of our the best guys we know, Cameron Mathison (co-host, Home & Family and Ex-Ryan Lavery, All My Children), revealed over the last 24 hours that he has been diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma – kidney cancer, but treatment for him will be underway and the prognosis is good.
Cameron first shared the news on Monday’s Home & Family in a special announcement enlightening viewers on his health condition (watch video below) and later took to his Instagram and social media to share more details. Of note: Mathison’s healthy lifestyle has indeed helped, and shown, that his cancer has not spread.
In addition, Mathison wrote: “About a month ago, I had an MRI for some gut issues I’ve been having, and during that MRI they fd a tumor on my right kidney. It’s consistent with Renal Cell Carcinoma … or kidney cancer. The good news is that it hasn’t spread to any other organs🙏🏼 They say my healthy lifestyle and diet has no doubt helped keep it from growing and spreading to other areas, as doctors think it’s been growing in me for minimum 10 years🙏🏼. I am extremely lucky that we found it early.” He thanked his doctor and his family, saying, “[wife] Vanessa, [kids] Lucas and Leila have been absolutely amazing with their love and support… as have my mom, dad, brother, and everyone at Home and Family, Hallmark, and ET❤️ My surgery is scheduled on September 12th, I was hoping to receive positive thoughts, prayers, or whatever you feel comfortable with, on 9/12 (my surgery is at 1pm PST) 🙏🏼.” He concluded, “Feeling very grateful and optimistic!”
Send positive vibes Cameron’s way as he goes through his medical procedure this week, share your comments below.
All My Children
8 Years To The Day Of All My Children & One Life to Live Being Canceled; Still Considered By Many Worst Move For Daytime
It’s hard to believe that 8 years ago today on April 14th, 2011, the soap world, its fans, and the cast members, learned of the heartbreaking news that ABC, in one swift move, decimated its daytime line-up when they announced the cancellations of long running series, All My Children (which would end at its 41st year), and One Life to Live (which would ends its run in its 43rd year).
At the time, ABC announced it would move to more lifestyle/entertainment series to replace these dramas. In its place came The Chew and The Revolution, neither show is still on the air today. Executives at that time pointed to research saying that times are changing and that their decision was “guided by extensive research into what today’s daytime viewers want,” and blame, in part, “the changing viewing patterns of the audience” for the axing of AMC and OLTL
Then ABC Daytime President, Brian Frons had joked to Deadline about the big announcement that he: “Pre-entered the witness protection program prior to today’s events.” He added that “The demise of the two venerable soaps was actually a year in the making. A year ago, we started to look at our projections where the ratings for the soaps would go. When those projections came in pretty discouraging, the network began to aggressively develop replacement shows, 15 of them. Four of the 15 were picked up to pilot: The Chew and The Revolution and two others, a talk show and a dating show. Originally, the idea was to cancel only one daytime drama. The way the ratings developed and the pilots turned out, the ratings developed negatively and pilots developed positively, so we decided to make a bigger shift.” Of note is that when it went off the air, One Life to Live was in third place among its competitors in the ratings.
The press release that came with the cancellations stated: “To honor the core, passionate audience and their rich history both shows will conclude in a manner that respects their legacies and the longstanding hopes of many of their viewers.”
Following the cancellations daytime reeled. The mainstream was sure it meant the endings of the soaps, period. However, four shows illustrated that is not true at all. For Days of our Lives, General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless all remain, and still whether they are up or down in their numbers/ratings, they remain relevant and important to the enduring daytime viewing audience.
Sadly, as with any shows, the end of ABC’s AMC and OLTL meant loss of jobs for so many working in front of the camera and behind the scenes. One Life was the last soap opera in production in New York at the time. AMC was already being shot in LA to cut costs to save it.
Still in 2019, if you venture on to social media, especially Twitter, you see fans constantly missing its stars and the towns of Llanview and Pine Valley, wanting this wrong rectified. Although Prospect Park tried to revive the show with their online versions, eventually after legal battles that went on for a few years, ABC now retains the right to these properties,
The good news is that many favorites from AMC and OLTL have found success and been hired on other soap operas, bringing their followings with them, whether it be on-screen, or in the writing, producing, directing or crew departments.
So, do you think the loss of AMC and OLTL consolidated daytime and made the remaining shows stronger so they would not be touched or canceled? Do you think ABC should try to mount a resurrected AMC and OLTL or an amalgamation of the two? Do you remember where you were when you learned the two soaps were cancelled? Was this the worst misstep of all-time for daytime? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.
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General HospitalOctober 12, 2019General Hospital’s Cynthia Watros Delivers The ‘Power Performance of the Week’
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General HospitalOctober 13, 2019GH’s Maurice Benard Launches ‘State of Mind’ Website
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InterviewsOctober 16, 2019B&B’s Matthew Atkinson Talks On Thomas’ Vendetta With Brooke & Playing The Manipulative Bad Boy Of The Forrester Clan
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General HospitalOctober 10, 2019James Patrick Stuart Finally Gets His Photo In The Hallways at General Hospital: Watch What Happens!
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General HospitalOctober 10, 2019GH’s Genie Francis Talks Laura Then and Now on ‘A Spoonful Of Paolo’
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