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Co-Head Writer Thom Racina Posts Message: "Start Watching One Life To Live Come April"

Courtesy/facebook

Courtesy/facebook

Veteran soap scribe, Thom Racina was recently named the new co-head writer of Prospect Park’s One Life to Live along with Susie Bedsow Horgan!  Racina just took to his facebook page to let his followers, colleagues, and fans know he is in his new digs, the One Life studios in Stamford Connecticut.  He ends his post with a special note telling everyone to watch for One Life to Live come April!  We had heard originally some previous reports that the series would not end up online till May. So it would appear we are just a few months away from seeing the rebirth of the beloved soap.

Here’s what the enthusiastic scribe who will help lead the new Llanview creative direction stated: “Well, I’ve arrived in Llanview, which is now situated in our studios in Stamford, CT, and I couldn’t be happier. Not only are we on groundbreaking territory here with Prospect Park reinventing soaps for the Internet, but I’m looking forward to putting the results of my creative passion into story and the voices of characters once again.

I’m working, as most of you know, with my writing partner, Susie Horgan, with whom I’ve written 3 pilots over the last few years, and this is our dream come true because we met after our daytime careers were pretty much over (the shows were dying)…and now, suddenly, we are the co-head writers and we couldn’t be more thrilled. What a blessing!

Susie has posted several pictures of us “hard at work” sipping martinis–in fact she just handed me one (it’s dinner time after all), so I toast you, friends and fans, and I sincerely hope you will support us and tell your friends and start watching One Life To Live come April.”

So soapers does Thom’s statement give you more good feelings now that the production offices are open. and that Thom says April is the target date to see One Life to Live again?  Let us know your thoughts!

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I am not really interested in watching an online version of these soaps. Most of the actors will not be back with the shows as many have moved on to other projects.

Wow! What a “Debbie Downer!” You must not have been a big fan to begin with or you would be as thrilled as the rest of us just to have our shows back! In fact, many of the original actors have signed back on are also thrilled to be a part of this. Will they be different? Sure, but something is better then nothing! Plus, being online you can watch it anytime or anywhere you want too! I couldn’t be more thrilled or more happy about it because I am a life long fan and I miss the show, the characters and even the actors that play them. Be happy and give it a try. Sort of like when we switched from radio to TV. Just go with it and support our shows.

Thank you Lisa. Well said. For those of us who have missed & mourned this show every single day-well the news couldn’t be better. We’ll take OLTL any way & with anyone we can get. It is OLTL!!!

Right on Lisa!!! I don’t really care what form the shows take, I’m just thrilled that OLTL is coming back. It’s been a staple in my house for so many years and I was devastated when it was cancelled. I’m so glad they are making a return. I’ve been filling my craving by watching the old episodes on Soapnet, early in the morning, but I can’t wait to see what happens in April. This life long fan, will definitely be tuning in, logging on or whatever else I need to do…LOL

That is your opinion and you are welcome to watch online. I watched OLTL on and off for years, but it was not my favorite soap, true. I was more a ATWT fan and GL but I did watch OLTL for years. I started watching when Todd and Blair first met. I don’t think many of the younger stars will come back to OLTL and doubt very much Melissa Archer will return as she has been making quite a few movies lately and seems to have relocated to California. I am not on board for a new Natalie, Jessica, Starr, Todd and John.

I take it back I was wrong, I see Melissa Archer is coming back to OLTL.

I don’t know what Deb means here, since we’re getting back
Prospect Park announcmnet stated, “It has closed the following deals with cast members and production executives, with more deals expected to close in the coming weeks, for The Online Network’s production of All My Children.” Now take a look at the official cast as of today!

One Life to Live Cast List:

Photo Credit: Wire Image

Erika Slezak as Victoria Lord Buchanan
Robin Strasser as Dorian Lord
Tuc Watkins as David Vickers
Robert S. Woods as Bo Buchanan
Kassie DePaiva as Blair Cramer
Jerry verDorn as Clint Buchanan
Florencia Lozano as Tea Delgado
Melissa Archer as Natalie Buchanan Banks
Hillary B. Smith as Nora Buchanan
Kelley Missal as Danielle Manning
Josh Kelly as Cutter Wentworth
Andrew Trischitta as Jack Manning
Sean Ringgold as Shaun Evans
Shenaz Treasury Rama Patel
Nick Choksi as Vimal Patel

That’s a HUGE portion of the original cast. And we’re getting some character recasts.
Some people can’t bear it if there aren’t clouds in the sky. Nothing brings more joy to some than being unhappy and spreading it around.

OLTL has always been a superior, well-written and crafted soap. It’s no surprise so many past cast members are coming back. I was a huge fan of AMC, but it had been falling off the creative cliff for a long time. Not OLTL! I can’t wait for its return. AMC… not so much.

well yea i agree its better then nothing and yea it will for sure be different but i do look forward to seeing how it takes shape.. i am just really looking forward to the oltl more so then the AMC .. truth be told i dont know if i will be able to get into watching them on the computer… also it has been such a long time will there still be as much interest in them OOOOOOO i do hope it gets them plenty of new fans and i hope alot of the old ones are able to come back . but I think they will need to do some BIG BIG BIG promoting and stuff like that they will need to get the actors out there on talk shows and fan events and stuff like that so it gets the word out there….

Deb lots of the original characters are coming back, Bo, Nora, Vicki, Clint, Natalie and more. I can’t wait for the first show!!

Actually, if you have a Wi Fi TV with an Internet connection you will be able to watch it on your TV!!! Its just like watching regular TV! It’s the wave of the future folks! You have to keep up with the times or you will be stuck listening to 8 tracks!

I just hope it’s on T.V. in some form. I know more people who would watch it On Demand than on the internet. We don’t all have the internet at home!

It just gets better and better and better.

Can’t wait. Just hope they don’t take John, Starr, and Todd.

They can’t make the actors go to the show they are all under contract with ABC and not PP.

actually the 3 of them were were kinda if you wanna calll it on loan from prospect park with the understanding that if they got it and going they would have to go back.. and there is an agreement i think that at some point they will get back to gh

I am thrilled with the show coming back! There has been such a huge void without it.

That’s two months away at least, more or less. Happy happy joy joy! Good news.

I wsh the new writers would bring Tina(Andrea Evans)back to OLTL

Would love to see the Kyle/Oliver story back. It was daring, bold, and sweet (after all the hubbub it was shown to help the ratings, not hurt them.)

Another hopeful sign! I look forward to finding out exactly how this will play out, and look forward to seeing it all come to fruition in April !!!!

When will AMC go online?

I can’t wait to see OLTL written by other writers!

I’ve read on a couple of sources that PP will be going for a younger demographic when OLTL starts online. Many of us longtime fans are concerned that this means the cast will consist of many youngsters and newbies. Yes, they have hired some much-loved vets, but we’re afraid that this is to lure us in to start, and then back-burner them. PP needs to remember that it’s mostly the fans who have watched this show for decades who worked the hardest to have it return. We want to see all generations of characters interacting, both online and back on a tv network!

I agree with Mary. It’s great to see something happening with the show.

The vast majority of hires have been the vets so I don’ think that’s much of a worry.

BUT I do want to see “next generation” too, just as we did when the show as broadcast on ABC.

Exactly! Who wants to watch a show full of over 60-somethings? That’s been the problem with the soaps and why they couldn’t generate a younger audience every year. They’ve got to build younger-aimed storylines to lure in younger viewers. They’re the ones watching shows on computers, phones and ipads anyway.

Thrilled beyond belief!!!!!!!!

Aside from me being worried about the intentions and plans for AMC + OLTL– which seem to be centered around tying up any stories with the vets, and wheeling in the youngsters to be front and center–I’m still not looking forward to these upcoming revivals until a cable deal is announced. I’m tired of taking the heat for advocating for them to come to cable, but I must continue doing so. Various predicaments will hinder the ability of much of the audience to watch online.

There are other soaps on the Internet, so what is ‘ground breaking’ about this? That they used to be on network TV?

You’re right, and most of them are pretty good.
But what is groundbreaking is the revival of two shows that between them span almost 100 years, and have reached audiences far and wide in those years.

Reviving a network show that was considered dead and gone, dumped by networks that said that the days of soaps were over IS groundbreaking.

And even more than that, it’s heartening to think that these longterm shows are surviving once again, even after their previous network homes dumped them. And, how much their revival owes to overwhelming fan support that never gave up.

I can’t wait for this to happen. I will watch it whatever it’s on. I just hope there are lots more old favorites coming back!

My hope is that a cable station will see the viability of this show and pick it up or we can continue to see OLTL characters pop up in Port Charles and maybe intertwine stories….either way its good news. Lets hope all those fans crying about the cancellation “log on” and watch. THATS the only way we will ever hope to see this show on TV again!

I wish Prospect Park the best of luck with this, but sorry-

Until/unless I actually see these soaps airing on the internet in a non-diminished way with actual evidence that this could last long-term, I remain highly skeptical about this. Personally, I just don’t see these so-called reboots getting off the ground without some kind of TV deal in place to share costs. They almost certainly cannot get by on only online advertising to generate enough viewers and ad revenue to offset the costs. The economics involved just does not make sense.

You know the expression- Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

On top of that, these shows will not appeal to the younger demos advertisers covet.

lol that is true…. I am was thinking the same thing.. how are they paying the actors if they are not charging us or there are no commercials. my thinking will be we hae options… pay to watch it with out commercials or watch them with the commercials… but who knows yea i feel the same i will have to waite and see what it brings but i will be viewing with an open mind at first but yea i am wondering how the quality will be as well

Oh Yeah…You bet I’ll be watching! So excited!

Will we be able to see the online episodes for free or is it by paid-subscription only?

Just as I jumped on GH with the arrival of Cartini if only to help support the genre, I will try my hand at online soaps with OLTL. My mom was a diehard AMC fan but is not sold on the online format. I truly hope that if there is sufficient interest, maybe these shows can get picked up by cable some how. Surely Lifetime has openings in its schedule.

I am looking forward to watching OLTL again. I hope it will be good, I would like David vickers back. He is aways good. good luck

It has been reported that Tuc Watkins IS coming back as David Vickers!!

THRILLED BEYOND WORDS! CAN’T WAIT CAN’T WAIT CAN’T WAIT!!!

Hope you will not forget to stay with the “history/core that made the show like the Lords, Cramers and Buchanans. Also hope you guys will solve the cliff hanger and bring Trevor St John back.

Not a One Life to Live fan, so I won’t be watching the web version. But I wish them (and AMC) the best of luck. And please, for the love of all that is unholy, take Todd, Starr, the vampire, and Ron C. with you.

It All sounds Great!! Can’t wait to see OLTL Live again!!
Oh how I have missed my Fave Soap!!

Well i will start by saying how excited i am about the whole thing and i am looking forward to the relaunch.. I hope it was all worth it and that it all goes the way they plan. I am just wanting to know if i am going to have to pay to see it when they come back.. BECAUSE that i wont do no matter how much i love and miss OLTL.. I know I will give it a shot and watch with an open mind hoping for the Best for all involved and may

PLEASE BRING TREVOR ST JOHN/VICTOR.

For sure! Since Roger is stuck on GH, bring Trevor back in his place.
I know Trevor was the one who wanted to leave the show before, but maybe he’s changed his mind.

This is what is making my 2013!!!! Thank u to everyone involved for working so hard and making this happen. From the bottom I my heart, thank u!

Im happy. That one life to live is coming back, but not happy to be watching it online. I like tv better. Sorry wont be watching!!!!

News

Robin Strasser Meets Kristen Alderson’s Baby Kiera in a One Life to Live Reunion

For years, Robin Strasser (ex-Dorian) and Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) have been the best of friends and the best of co-stars. On One Life to Live, Kristen was only six-years-old when she began her journey as Todd and Blair’s daughter and met the iconic Strasser.

Now in 2024, Kristen is a new mom to her baby girl, Kiera. Strasser, who lives in New York, along with her best friend, John, traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, just a few days ago to visit the Alderson family and spend the day with Kiera.

Taking to her Instagram a very happy Kristen shared, “Look at who came to visit today! Robin & her bestie John! Robin and I got all misty eyed when she met Kiera today!”

Photo: JPI

In a very touching part of her post, Alderson expressed, “Robin is such a special person in my life, it means so much to me that we’re as close as we are. She’s just the best❤️ A great day of laughs & a great brunch spread😍”

Robin added, “I’ve been smiling since I met her. I’m a big softie for babies, but what a doll Kiera is!” The Daytime Emmy-winning star, also shared, “I’m so grateful for my ongoing friendship with Kris and Kathy. Amazing women and loyal friends!”

What do you think about Kristen and Robin’s enduring friendship and recalling their time on One Life to Live? Comment below.

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General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Writer Shannon Peace Let Go, and Shares on Sprina: “One of My Only Regrets is to Not Have the Opportunity to Develop That ‘Ship’ Further”

As General Hospital’s new head writing team of Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahy gets off the ground and running, there are still changes a foot on the writing team.

Now comes word via breakdown writer Shannon Peace that she is no longer on contract with the long-running ABC soap heading into its 61st season. Peace shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram, thanking the fans, and the show for the opportunity and the importance of diversity in the writers room.

Peace began, “After almost 3 years on staff and 106 episodes penned, I am no longer on contract with General Hospital. Writing for this country’s longest running television serial drama has been an education of epic proportions; I will forever be grateful that I earned my WGA card on a daytime fixture that holds memories for so many.” (Peace pictured below with GH EP Frank Valentini and script writer, Charlotte Gibson from about ten months ago).

Photo: SPeaceIG

Shannon added “Even more importantly, as the sole Black breakdown writer (and only POC in the writers room) during my tenure, I pushed for vital interactions and discussions that prioritized inclusion, visibility, and representation”

The writer pointed to the example of vital interaction when in story, “Stella and Portia’s frank July 2022 conversation about the role race played in Esme’s framing of Trina is just one example of the impact I’m gratified to have had.”

Acknowledging former GH co-head writers was also part of Peace’s farewell expressing, “Appreciation to my former bosses, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor – not only taking a chance on me, but for valuing my opinion and championing my voice.”

Courtesy/ABC

Many GH fans know that Peace was key to the development of the love story between Trina Robinson and Spencer Cassadine as played by Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez. Shannon gave a special shout-out to ‘Sprina’ fans, “I also want to thank fans who were supportive of my work, especially the recognition of my love for ‘Sprina’. One of my only regrets is not having to develop that ‘ship’ further.”

She concludes her statement with,”In the aftermath of a historic writer’s strike that shed new light on the troubling ways writers are regarded in daytime, my sincere hope is that General Hospital recommits to valuing staff writer efforts and input, with a more intentional focus on diverse viewpoints — and thrives for another 60 years.”

Accompanying her post, Shannon added, “Thank you all for the love and support these last few years. I hope GH fans get all they hope for and more!”

So, what do you think about GH not renewing Shannon’s contract? Will there be more continued changes afoot? What do you think is the future of ‘Sprina’ anyway at this point as viewers wait to see if Nicholas Chavez officially returns to the show?  Comment below.

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