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.

On Monday’s episode of ABC’s Strahan & Sara, the show welcomed several stars of the beloved All My Children for a reunion, of sorts. Joining hosts Michael Strahan and Sara Haines were Susan Lucci (Erica), Walt Willey (Jack), Cady McClain (Dixie), Jacob Young (JR) and Jill Larson (Opal).

While it was wonderful to see the stars from Pine Valley again, it was also a painful reminder that this network, ABC, canceled the show, and had put in its place – The Chew, and now Strahan & Sara – since canning the series.   In fact, as you will see on the clips below, many of the crew who work on this talk show were once the crew for All My Children.

During the segment, Susan Lucci was tested to see if she remembered all of Erica Kane’s wedded names.  Later, Walt Willey and Susan re-created the final scene of the ABC version of All My Children between Erica and Jack, where Jack walks out on her.  However, this time, they have Jack changing his mind and coming back to Erica and sealing their relationship with a kiss – a moment of closure that never happened (since the show moved to online via Prospect Park).

In addition, Cady McClain and Jacob Young re-created the infamous Dixie “dying from eating poison pancakes” scene, as JR watches his mother die, only this time she lives.

It’s always great to see these veteran performers, but Strahan & Sara is trying to capture the soap viewers to put eyeballs on their show by bringing in talent from the show that sadly and wrongly went off the air.

Watch the clips below from the All My Children reunion below.  Then, let us know what you thought of it via the comment section below.

This week at the annual ABC TCA (Television Critics Association) Winter Press Tour, the network introduced members of the media to some of the new shows that will be rolled out in the coming months on both ABC and Freeform.  Many notables, who started on the soaps, are in the casts of some of the more exciting new offerings.

In addition, several soap graduates, who are currently appearing on the network in major primetime series were also in attendance promoting the ABC line-up of programming.

Look no further than the photo gallery below to see: Bryan Craig, Denye Tonzts, Eric Winter, Sam Page, Eva Longoria, Jason George, Rome Flynn, and a host of others as they step out and pose for some photos.

So, are you excited to see GH alums, Bryan Craig (ex-Morgan), in his new role as Javi on Grand Hotel? Hayley Erin (Ex-Kiki) in her new role on Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists?  Check out the gallery, and let us know via the comment section.

The EP of the upcoming "Grand Hotel" and former Y&R star, the one and only, Eva Longoria.

GH fans are excited to see the former Morgan Corinthos in his new role on "Grand Hotel".

She was killed-off as Kiki on GH, but she is all set to star in Freeform's "PPL: The Perfectionists".

You loving Gabriel Maddox on HTGWM? Yup, that's because it's Rome Flynn, the former Zende of B&B.

DAYS original Rex Brady, now on "The Rookie", Eric Winter!

Ex-GH's Bryan Craig and former AMC reboot star, Denyse Tontz (Ex-Miranda) play brother & sister on "Grand Hotel".

Lincoln Younes will play the on-screen love interest of ex-AMC's Denyse Tontz on "Grand Hotel".

"The Bold Type's" Sam Page, was once a resident of Pine Valley on All My Children.

Conrad Ricamora takes to the press line representing, "How To Get Away with Murder".

Former soap alum, Jason George has certainly made a name for himself in many a primetime TV role.

Can this season's 'The Bachelor" be any soapier? Colton Underwood's drama to find true love has certainly been ... entertaining?