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Face Off and Ex-Passions, McKenzie Westmore speaks out on the decline of daytime soaps!

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Photo Credit: Getty Images

One of On-Air On-Soaps favorite people in the business, McKenzie Westmore, chatted with Zap2it.com about the success of the Syfy channel’s Wednesday night special-effects-makeup competition Face Off.  The series hosted by Westmore has just been renewed for another season!  During her interview, the most emotionally charged moments occurred when Westmore discussed the decline of the daytime soap genre, since her time at Passions as the lead of the show, Sheridan Crane Lopez-Fitzgerald, and how heartbreaking it is for the fans to see the downfall of the once almighty form of afternoon entertainment.

McKenzie stated on the downward spiral of the soap world: “We started to see the decline, even on Passions, as budgets started to get cut and things dissipated. It started toward the end of when we were going off the air, and to see it as it continued was heartbreaking to me.  I even bounced over to All My Children for a little bit, when it was still based in New York. I went over and did about six months there, and it was so sad to me to see them just go down in flames. I started on a soap opera at 20 years old with a three-year contract, then over the course of time, it became nine years total. It was a blessing for me.”

Westmore added, “There are so many fans who love the genre, and they’re not getting the payoff they deserve. I wish there was a way to revive some of these shows, though I know the Internet isn’t the way. Passions was ahead of its time in some ways. There are times when I watch True Blood and it’s Passions, but with the cable backing so they can go a little farther.”

What do you think about McKenzie’s comments about fans not getting the payoff they deserve? Do you think Passions in some ways was ahead of its time? Post your thoughts!

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Mackenzie has hit the nail on the head. The fans are not getting what they want. Great interview Michael!

She is so correct.

didnt watch passions ,but I agree with everything she said ,and dont understand the reason the networks think the soaps are dead,in the daytime ,but they will thrive in prime time ,I dont watch that many shows in the evening,right now I have 3 that I watch,will watch american horror story in the fall and yes I will watch dallas this summer,I am looking forward to see jr ,bobby, sue ellen ,why abc canceled all my children and one life to live is a mystery to me and I know there are alot of different reasons behind there decision which in the long run will hurt abc ,abc use to be a class network and now with all there reality, talk and food shows. I want to get away from all of that not watch a few idiots tell me how to live my life ,and these idiots that are hosting the chew and the revolution cant and wont replace the cast of one life to live and all my children .

I loved Passions. The only thing I didn’t like about it was that storylines were often unresolved. I also think at the end of its run the storylines were sometimes just too icky for my taste. But it was a really fun show most of its run. It was so fun I read a really good book based on a “prequal” story of the main characters and enjoyed that very much too.

Mackenzie and the rest of the cast rocked. We also enjoy Face-Off, especially my 11-year-old son. Good thing SyFy isn’t owned by ABC/D 🙂

I agree Passions was ahead of its time and the same could be said for “Port Charles.” Personally, I’m not interested in vampires and all that, but a lot of people are.

Glad that “Face Off” has been renewed for a second season. Started watching it this season and I really enjoy it. Mckenzie does a great job as host.

So agree.The audience is there for television.CBS is having success with Y&R and abc was with there soaps to but chose to pissed off fans and dump them.Now aBC is ina ratings trouble.Faithful fans keep a network going.When you turn your back on them you loose millions.

Passions was ahead of its time. It’s the only soap to do a gay storyline about “down low” men and actually show very racy sex scenes that even shocked me! Passions is definitely missed!

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.

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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.

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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 BluesThe JeffersonsThe Paper ChaseThe West WingStar 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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