News
Former OLTL and Dark Shadows Writer Sam Hall Has Died: Co-Wrote Karen's Courtroom Confession Classic On One Life!
Courtesy/YouTube
Over the weekend, news that legendary soap scribe Sam Hall had passed away at the age of 93 on Friday September 26th, began to circulate in a very quiet way via his son Matthew’s personal blog!
Hall was responsible at coming in to ABC’s Dark Shadows at a critical juncture in 1967 and giving the Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) storyline a much needed lift where many say he saved the show at that point from cancellation!
Hall was married to actress Grayson Hall, who eventually would find her way to Dark Shadows as s Dr. Julia Hoffman, an eccentric blood specialist who would discover that Barnabas was a vampire! Grayson died in 1985 at the age of 62. Sam was with Dark Shadows until 1971. “I’ll never escape Dark Shadows,” he said in a June 2005 interview. “Never, never!”
Later, Hall joined former Dark Shadows scribe Gordon Russell over at One Life to Live in 1978 and remained a head writer there until 1984. Gordon and Sam wrote one of One Life to Live’s most memorable story; Viki Lord’s (Erika Slezak) 1979 trial for the murder of Marco Dane (Gerald Anthony). During the trial, housewife Karen Wolek (played by Judith Light) revealed, in a heartbreaking emotional meltdown, that she was working for Marco as a prostitute. The episode earned Sam and Gordon a Daytime Emmy nomination, and Judith Light won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress. The duo also created the Buchanan family which remained prominent for decades after Hall left One Life to Live.
Courtesy/ABC
In January 2014, Sam Hall filed a lawsuit against ABC in New York state court claiming he had not been paid the weekly royalties he was owed for the showing of Prospect Park’s online reboot of One Life to Live via iTunes, Hulu and other services. According to the complaint, ABC made a deal in 1984 with Wildercliff, Ltd. for Hall’s writing services. The agreement was said to have entitled Hall to a weekly royalty “as long as the One Life to Live series is broadcast.”
Hall went on to also write for General Hospital, Santa Barbara and even started his career in the soaps with The Brighter Day!
So share your thoughts on the passing of Sam Hall below …. and on his contributions to One Life to Live and Dark Shadows!
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Dark Shadows had many flaws in its storylines and unexplained character departures(later explained in tv guide by Sam Hall after shows cancelation) but DS which remains my favorite soap ever was still fun, very entertaining, escapism five days a week!!!
Still watching “Karen’s” Judith Light confession, brings me back to that courtroom in Llanview, Pa……..GREAT WRITING AND GREAT ACTRESS!!! “RIP” SAM HALL!!
Dark Shadows was so good and I had no idea he wrote that scene for Judith light who rocks!! She is the only reason to watch the Dallas reboot!
RIP Mr. Hall
R.I.P. ANOTHER REAL WRITER LOST THANKS FOR THE GREAT STORIES !!
Dark shadows was before my time..
but!
I broke my leg and a friend gave me the link to Dark Shadows, full series, I was bored from being down..So, I watched and I could not stop watching!!
I had to watch 6 episodes or more a day..!!
Sam Hall thanks for the best entertainment I could have ever hoped for while housebound, Dark Shadows is truly unforgettable..
You were a phenomenal writer!! Dark shadows will never fade away..
That was good stuff on OLTL! Well done, Mr. Hall.
Thank you Mr. Hall for your contributions to our beloved OLTL. Watching Karen’s courtroom confession gives me chills even today. RIP.
Thanks for some great stories and memories, Mr. Hall! Rest in peace.
R.I.P Mr.Hall …Legendary!!
Dark Shadows was before my mind, but I remember my mom raving about that courtroom scene and Judith Light for years after it aired. I was a kid when I first saw it and pulled it up not long ago to re-watch it on youtube. It was every bit as great as I remember it. Really, that kind of drama and the build-up to it is really defines what a soap should be. Seems that scene really propelled Judith Light’s career & changed her life. Wouldn’t you love to have THAT on your resume? I wish there were still writers like Sam Hall.
My condolences to the family of Sam Hall. OLTL was my favorite soap opera. He was a great writer and did it with perfection. RIP Mr. Hall.
How lovely to recognize the man who wrote Karen Wolek’s/Ms. Light’s quintessential scene. It may have revealed a sensational topic, but stood for the lack of self-esteem and even self-loathing that so many of us may have had at the time, as did Karen. That’s why our hearts were broken, and we rooted for her, as we secretly rooted for ourselves. We were a nation of evolvement when it came to self-love and Mr. Hall’s writing may have tapped into our collective pain and hopeful evolution. God bless.
The OLTL courtroom scene with Judith Light (as Karen Wolek) is daytime television at its best! I’ve watched the scenes on YouTube (as they were before my time) and they are riveting!
Wow – two great pieces of television art. Thanks for the opportunity to remember.
RIP.
My condolences to the Hall family & friends. Mr. Hall provided the very best in daytime drama entertainment. Dark Shadows and One Life to Live are my all time favorites soaps. I have many fond memories of watching these shows with my mom & sisters. I started watching when I was pre-K and still remember my sister peeling my fingers away from covering my eyes as Barnabas Collins creeped from the shadows. Ah, sisters. Gotta lov’em.
R.I.P. Sam Hall & thanks for the memories!
How great is it that he was such a big part of two wonderful projects! No matter how old I get, those are two of my favorite shows and those courtroom scenes with Karen are permanently etched in my memories. I always think of that storyline whenever I see Judith Light!
All My Children
Soap Vet and All My Children Alum John Callahan Dead At 66
Absolutely heartbreaking news this Saturday afternoon. John Callahan, best known to soap fans for his role as Edmund Grey on All My Children has passed away after suffering a massive stroke. The stroke happened on Friday, March 27th when paramedics responded to a call at his home in Palm Desert, California. He was 66-years-old.
According to reports, Callahan was rushed to Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, CA, where he was put on life support. John’s daughter Kaya, and his former wife, and AMC co-star Eva LaRue (Ex-Maria) rushed to the hospital to be by his side from Los Angeles. John died Saturday morning.
Photo: JPI
In a statement, Eva La Rue shared: “We are extremely saddened and distraught over the loss of John. He was my great friend, co-parent and amazing father to Kaya. The absence of his bigger than life, gregarious personality will leave a hole in our hearts forever. Words cannot express the shock and devastation we are feeling at this time. The Yankees just lost one of their greatest fans.”
John played Edmund on All My Children from 1992-2005. He also appeared throughout his soap career on: Santa Barbara, Days of our Lives, General Hospital, The Bay and primetime’s Falcon Crest and Desperate Housewives; in addition to many more television appearances.
Michael Fairman TV will continue to follow this breaking story as remembrances are shared by John’s former co-stars throughout the day and night.
Below is LaRue’s touching tribute to John via Instagram:
Please share your condolences with Kaya and Eva and the Callahan family below, and let us know your thoughts on this heartbreaking loss on the death of John Callahan via the comment section.
News
Y&R’s Elizabeth Hendrickson Gives Birth To Baby Girl
We are so happy to hear the news and to report that The Young and the Restless’ Elizabeth Hendrickson (Chloe) is a mom! The actress and her husband Rob Meder are the proud parents to their daughter named Josephine James.
Josephine weighed-in at 6lb., 11 oz. and measured 20 inches long. The joyous moment for Liz and Rob didn’t come without some hiccups, especially for Liz entering the UCLA Santa Monica hospital amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
PEOPLE had the exclusive pics and statement from Hendrickson who expressed: “We are thrilled to introduce our little Josephine James Meder to the world – she’s perfect in every way,”
Earlier week on her Instagram. Liz revealed: “We’ve decided to induce labor with everything moving so rapidly. We felt it was safest to get her here safely before Rob wasn’t allowed in the delivery room like they’re doing in San Fran and NY.” However, she later added, “20 mins before we walked into the hospital the midwives were notified that after delivery only the mother is allowed with the baby postpartum. Rob has to leave. We are heartbroken but we also feel like I’m in incredible hands. My midwife Didi is a dream and my nurse Andra is so awesome!” she wrote. “I know i will be well supported by everyone in the maternity ward.“
Share your congrats and well-wishes below for Liz and Rob and their new family member, daughter Josephine!
Days Of Our Lives
DAYS’ Christie Clark Shares Coronavirus Health Update
Days of our Lives fans love her as as Carrie Brady, and are often very happy when they find out Christie Clark is back for a visit taping episodes of the NBC soap opera. But that’s not what’s happening right now. Right now, we need Christie to get all her strength back.
Clark shared via her Instagram today a health update on her battle with the coronavirus that hit both her and her husband while they have been living in the United Kingdom.
Christie expressed: “Oh my goodness, just starting to feel ok on this end. My husband Tom and I have had coronavirus fairly bad. Not as bad as some, no hospital needed. Hope your all well! I’m sure at this stage you all know of someone with it? When you get it, you can’t call the grandparents for help, cause they will get sick. We know about 10 people in our little circle that have had it. Like clockwork, Day 7,8,&9 were tricky and haven’t been able to taste food for a while. So excited to be in the land of the living again & start exercising…soon. Thanks for all the love. Stay safe!”
Send your well-wishes to Christie and Tom as they are on currently getting stronger and recovering from the virus via the comment section below.
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