News
Kristen Alderson Recalls One Life To Live On Its 48th Anniversary!

Courtesy/ABC
Friday, July 15th 2016 would have been the 48th anniversary of One Life to Live had it continued on ABC. The series created by the iconic Agnes Nixon first debuted on the network on this date in 1968. It was canceled after 43 years on the air and aired its final episode on January 13th, 2012.
The series which featured such fantastic talent synonymous with daytime including the legendary Erika Slezak (Ex-Viki) and Robin Strasser (Ex-Dorian), brought so much joy to so many viewers following the struggles, joys, romance, and heartache of the people of Llanview. One actress, who fans literally watched grow up before their eyes, Kristen Alderson (Ex-Starr Manning), took to her Instagram account to acknowledge what One Life has meant to her and so many others.
Kristen shared: “HAPPY 48th ANNIVERSARY to One Life to Live! The show that gave me the most wonderful experiences (15 years worth) that I could have ever imagine. The fact that this was an actual poster for the show at one point, has to be one of the craziest things eve I miss ALL of the characters just as much as you guys do. We had a very special show/cast/&crew. I was lucky to be a part of it.”
So, what do you think of the sentiments shared by Kristen on this the the date OLTL first aired some 48 years ago? Are you still missing One Life every day? Are you still holding out hope that it will return in some form down the line? Share your thoughts in the comment secton below, but first watch our final interview with Kassie DePaiva (Blair) and Kristen as we said goodbye to Llanview during their final tape days below.
I miss OLTL everyday!!!! I would love for it to come back!!!!!
Yes!!!
It would have to be better than the online series.
The online version was great! Too many people were too critical, right from the start… Throwing stones instead of giving it a chance to grow. Now we have the delightful, entertaining… NOTHING!
I agree Megan. Awful is an understatement!
Luther, the online version bore no resemblance to ABC’s OLTL. Except for a few familiar faces there was nothing that felt like the show we lost. It was horrendous. With that said, I’ll add, in my opinion. You of course are entitled to yours. Me? I’d rather have nothing, as you say, than taint the memory of a show I watched for many years that is filed away in my tv culture history…
I miss them all very much!
Will the lawsuit with Prospect Park ever be settled?
I’d like to know that too Jay. We haven’t heard anything about it in a long time. Have both sides just stopped pursuing resolution?
I miss you also, Kristen!
ABC made a huge mistake in taking OLTL off the air. Come on ABC – bring it back!!!
I miss it all the time and I miss AMC too! It broke my heart when they dumped it.
That’s a very sweet note from Kristen Alderson. It was such a joy watching her and Starr Manning grow up before our eyes.
I grieve everyday for all the wonderful characters of One Life to Live. I fell in love with them on July 15, 1968 and never stopped watching and loving such an amazing show. It’s awful not being able to make my daily visit to Llanview, PA.
I hope that everyone associated with One Life to Live, cast and crew, from all those years of wonderful entertainment knows how much you mean to us fans. A most sincere thank you to everyone. You are NOT forgotten. We want you back NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I could not of said it better! OLTL was by far the most amazing soap ever!
AMEN ABC MADE A CATASTROPHIC MISTAKE CANCELLING MY BELOVED OLTL & THEY(ABC) NEEDS TO BRING IT & CORRECT THE CATASTROPHIC MISTAKE WHEN THEY CANCELLED IT!!!!!!! I MISS MY JOLIE (JOHN&NATALIE),MICHAEL&MELISSA (ME&MA)SOOOOO MUCH!!!!! AND I ABSOLUTELY AM WANTING MELISSA TO COME TO GH ASAP!!!!! SHE WOULD BE FANTASTIC AS SARAH,MELISSA THE LADY DOC,DAPHNE, OR CERTAINLY FINN’S WIFE IF IT TURNS OUT SHE ISN’T GONE. EITHER.WAY SHE NEEDS TO BE RE-UNITED WITH MICHAEL(EASTON) ASAP!!!!!
On Life to Live was the Best soap on the air when ABC decided to cancel it. The stories were great and the actors were awesome! I still miss it every day.
Agree Debbie..OLTL was hitting it from from all cylinders, was ABC top rated soap and 3rd overall when cancelled, but Daytime boss at the time, had a soft spot for GH and pressures from the network, that soaps where not making money, so he pick his favorite.
AMC, sorry to say, deserve to be axed..The show was a rating disaster and was actually so bad for several years before its cancelation, but I miss it so much bad or good!!
Glad GH is still going and I support it, by watching it everyday but there is always this deep rooted resentment in me that OLTL should be on and not GH! Thanks Brian Fons!
Agreed Omar ! You have said it so very well. I too, will be a fan of OLTL all over again if ABC can ever green light it. With all the shows that “haven’t” worked to replace it, I still hold on and hope to read, someday, “that Michael Fairman is announcing the ABC return of One Life To Live”
and in that moment….everything will seem “ok” again. Nothing can touch the social awareness this show brought to their audience. Bravo OLTL !
I miss it! It was my favorite soap! I miss all the characters and stories!!!!
What a great, great show. AMC was my favorite but OLTL was a very close second and frankly, was by far the best soap on ABC in its last decade, bar none. And it had the best cast, too. It should still be on, if there was any justice.
Not a day goes by that I don’t think of it.
I miss it everyday…I grew up watching oltl
Kassie DePaiva: it’s cause and affect…. she makes things happen, about OLTL
when posts read…. “She can read a phone book” PLUS
she’s dreamy shes real shes on shes tickled shes it shes bang…shot – in the heart
DAYS remissed and hit big a let down so far… with Kassie… how dare they
how dare they Ken Corday you are the real person who dissed the audience
it hurts
you will be known forever your calibure to honor parents
this lady is golden
how dare you
bring DAYS alive
Eve is ON
Agree Patrick!!!
Please bring Kassie’s delicious portrayal of Eve back!!
One of DOOL biggest errors recently was letting a legend like her go, just because!
The writers and EP of the show are just destroying this show and sending it straight to cancelation.
Ken Corday, HELP!! If you are ok with what is going, then you sir must leave this show too!
Kassie’s Blair on OLTL was so much fun, hellacious and mesmerizing!!
DITTO!!!
Still miss OLTL. It was the best soap ever. One of the worst decisions ABC ever made.
I never missed a show from the first day…Watched on line too
…miss them and AMC terribly… Only thing I watch on ABC is General Hospital….
I still have the last two weeks on my DVR but can’t watch because I don’t want to see the commercials for the new crap the put on in place of OLTL. Stupid ABC. Hate you still!
Oh, yeah! The characters were like family, I miss them all!
Never liked the show .
I miss OLTL. I wish it could be brought back.
I started watching soaps in high school and this was “the” show that was mine. I can remember running home from the bus to watch. Eventually watching also AMC and GH. I miss OLTL and all the greats. Starr Manning was always a favorite. The storylines captivating and real. I think I will go listen to the intro for old times sake.
So so sad……………….. And angry! We will never forgive the rats at ABC/Disney……….
I miss OLTL. I tried to watch the online reboot, and it was not the same. I love watching Roger as Franco, and “John McBain” (sorry, I forget his real name) as Dr.Finn on General Hospital
Maybe they can do an annual mini series; more cost effective and a way to keep the show alive on a continual basis. Actors can do other projects, show will be shorter than a primetime show…maybe four part series every year or every six months…I’ve got to think they thought of alternatives like this but who knows? There’s still such a built-in audience…
Miss it too too much! Started watching when I was just a kid in the mid-70s and am lucky enough to have 2007 through the web series on DVD. I watch 3-7 episodes a week and have a blast–although sometimes I get really choked up when I recall the series is no longer airing. Bless Kristen for remembering her roots. I’ll always appreciate her for her contribution to OLTL!
You could make a serious sum of $$ duplicating & selling those DVDs, and I’d be first in line!
Loved that show. Miss it!
I have pretty much been soapless since the demise of OLTL. Miss it everyday. Look for the ghosts of Llanview past occasionally by watching GH or Days, but there just isn’t the chemistry or connection. Llanview felt like a real place and people. Family. A home.
Best soap ever!!!! I miss it everyday.
It’s still really sad the best soap on ABC was canceled, years later still no update on the whole Prospect Park/ ABC situation? To quote Erika Sleezak the cancellation was “bullshit” it would be great if the rights to the show would be cleared up and a new version could be made. We all know a certain ex executive at ABC is responsible for this mess.
I wish OLTL was still on. Miss it very much. Can’t ABC see that nothing have survived in their time slot. Yes I hope somewhere down the line that OLTL will be back. We need families on TV. With this crazy world we live in.
I am currently watching old episodes of OLTL and have totally fallen in love with the show. The writing, directing, acting, costuming, and all aspects needed to put together a top show were there. It should never have been cancelled. I have watched a lot of soaps and this is just the best out there.
I miss One Life To Live everyday!!! I haven’t watched any soaps since and I guess I never will again.. With life with ABC/Disney dreams don’t always come true
It is hard to know if the move was profitable or not. We can only hope the latter, and those responsible at ABC have lost their jobs. Unfortunately, it does not change what happened, nor bring any closer the hope of reviving one or both. I’m sure many would settle for 30 minutes of a hybrid if the PP issue is settled.
ONE LIFE TO LIVE was a favorite of mine since the days of Karen Wolek and was amazing under Frank and Ron. I still can’t believe ABC opted to cancel it and keep that mess GH. One of the best things about OLTL was that it wasn’t afraid to take chances with its storytelling — Eterna, Clint’s time travel to the old west, Tina going over the Iguazu Falls, Viki in heaven — unlike GH and its endless obsession with the mob and violence.
It was just absolutely criminal what ABC did to BOTH AMC and OLTL. Prospect Park wasn’t blameless in the whole thing either-but at least they gave an effort. If there’s any way possible, both these shows need to return to network TV. Michael, according to what you know, is there even a shot left?
What a terrific picture. Brings back some really fond memories. But then thinking about OLTL makes it even more difficult to watch the mess that’s left of TV soaps. Down to watching just 2 now, and even that becomes more & more difficult every week.
I still think about and miss “One Life to Live” . I watched the show from the time I was 9 until it’s final online episode. I still have video (mostly VHS) of the show that I watch from time to time. If it is (once again) revived I hope to be around to see it.
Any chance that we could really get OLTL back on the air? Come on ABC – sell the property to someone who cares.
I Love Oltl..how can they say their rating weren’t good? I don’t believe it..I started watching in 1975..on and off. .Amc I got bored with the David Hayward storyline..in 2008 is when I watched Oltl nightly. I looked forward to it. When Abc cancelled it I was devastated! ! I even met a girl from Toronto..I’m in Western Ny..to get the taped Vhs episodes of Oltl from 2002 ..she gave me a box full of 30 plus tapes.she has more..still watch PLEASE BRING BACK OLTL
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Shares He Was ‘Happy to Hear’ of The Triangle Storyline Developing Between Dante/Elizabeth/Ric

General Hospital’s Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri) opened up about the burgeoning love triangle forming between his Port Charles alter-go, Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) after recently aired scenes, plus his hopes for the future of a Dante and Liz pairing, during his appearance on the Sunday, April 23 edition of the That’s Awesome podcast with Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli).
On last week’s episodes of GH, Ric has made the decision that he wanted to propose to his ex-wife, only when he showed up at Elizabeth’s front door, he misread the scenario he walked in with Liz tending to Dante’s injured leg from the softball game. From there, the legal eagle’s jealous streak is reemerging which may cause him to act out and do something unforgivable, or will he take the high road? Stay tuned.
Speaking with Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson about where Elizabeth stands in the annals of the long-running soap, Zamprogna said, “She’s up there with Steve and Maurice (Maurice Benard) as one of the most legacy-filled people on the show.”

Courtesy/ABC
HOW DANTE AND ELIZABETH CAME ABOUT
Dominic jokes it’s a far cry for where Dante and Elizabeth previously, recalling, “We had some scenes together years ago and we were both laughing. Becky’s like, ‘Well, I guess we’re not going be paired up anytime soon.’ I remember we laughed immediately after they yelled ‘cut,”‘and said to each other, ‘Well, so much for that!'”
Fast-forward to early 2025 and as Zamprogna remembered it, “Elizabeth Korte (co-head writer, GH) came up to me at the General Hospital Christmas party, and I think it was a year and a half ago and she said, ‘We’re going to have you in scenes with Elizabeth,’ My internal monologue is going, ‘I’m not with Lulu (Alexa Havins) anymore and Sam’s (Kelly Monaco) gone, so maybe they want to see if this works.’ I didn’t want to get scenes with Becky and try to find the chemistry. I just wanted to play whatever honestly was written and came across for both of us and hope it was what people liked, and I don’t know if it is … or not.”
Knowing how beloved Elizabeth is to the GH faithfuls, Zamprogna added, “She got a big fan base with Ric … and a big fan base with with Jason … and you know, you’re going to piss somebody off. But, didn’t Ric drug Elizabeth and put Carly in a panic room?”

Photo: ABC
DANTE AND ELIZABETH PAIRING COULD STIR UP STORY FOR OTHERS IN PORT CHARLES
In closing, Dominic felt that the wide-reaching tentacles of a Dante and Elizabeth relationship is something he is 100% down for. “The triangle thing; I was happy to hear it was with Ric and her, because I felt it’s important to have her the top of it as opposed to Dante, Lulu and Elizabeth.”
Zamprogna added, “When you get into relationships on a soap, things seem to fizzle out a little bit, The buildup is what’s the fun part, and the getting to know each other, and the people who are affected by this coming together. When with this case it’s going to affect: Ric, Sonny, Lulu. There’s so much more story here. To me, it’s going to be a fun story to play.”
You can check out Dominic’s visit to That’s Awesome with Steve and Bradford below.
Now weigh-in: Are you rooting for Dante and Liz, or Dante and Ric at this juncture of the story, or neither guy for Elizabeth? Let us know your thoughts and picks via the comment section.
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Mike Manning Lands Role in Indie Horror Feature ‘Deify’

While Smitty tries to hold the fort down in his marriage to congressman Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) and their two teenaged children, Samantha (Najah Jackson) and Tyrell (Jaden Lucas Miller) on Beyond the Gates, Emmy-winner Mike Manning has also landed another feature film role.
According to Deadline, Manning has joined the cast of Deify with 6 other new cast members for the indie psychological horror film starring Neal McDonough and Skeet Ulrich, which was previously announced last week.
Joining Manning as the latest cast addition are: Dennis Haysbert, Ashley Greene, Casey Harnett, Kirk Avecdo, Anji White, anf Nicholas Chimera who’s directing the pic also has a part in the film.
WHAT’S THE STORY OF DEIFY?
Taking to his Instagram with the news of his casting, Manning shared, “A movie about a cult? What could possibly go wrong? Come for the enlightenment. Stay because they won’t let you leave. DEIFY is coming…”
The movie is currently shooting in Chicago and in story, “a cult leader is put on trial after causing his devoted followers to be burned alive. The film is inspired in part by events surrounding the 1993 Waco, Texas, standoff between members of the Branch Davidians church and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, one of the largest civilian firefights ever recorded on American soil.”
MIKE MANNING IS A DAYTIME EMMY NOMINEE
In addition, the multi-talented Manning is a producer on the feature. Previously, Mike was nominated last month in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. He previously won an Emmy for his role on The Bay and for being a producer on the digital drama.
Mike’s previous credits include the role of Charlie Dale on Days of Our Lives and the Manny on This Is Us, plus various primetime and screen credits.
So intrigued to find what role Mike will play in the upcoming horror/cult film, Deify? Enjoying him as Smitty on Beyond the Gates? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
General Hospital
GH and OLTL Alum Patrick J. Gibbons Reveals the Story Behind Writing Trina’s Song on ‘General Hospital’ (Exclusive)

At the conclusion of today’s August 21 episode of General Hospital, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) sings a lullaby to baby Dez, that went into a montage to close out the episode as her father Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) reports to Pentonville and winds up in his jail cell.
However, in a fun fact, the song entitled, “A Lonely Heart To Give” was actually written by none other than former One Life to Live and General Hospital actor, Patrick J. Gibbons.
Daytime fans first met Gibbons as Sam Manning on One Life to Live. At the time, when he started on the soap, he was just 5-years-old. Gibbons played the part from 2010-2013 on ABC and Prospect Park’s editions of the show. Fast-forward to 2018, Gibbons shows up on General Hospital as Wyatt Hoover, the scout who seemed always be injured, but in the thick of the drama. Patrick had appeared on GH multiple times as Wyatt including: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023.

Photo: ABC
FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER’S DEATH CAME THE INSPIRATION FOR HIS SONG
Now in 2026, General Hospital fans are getting to learn about another side of Gibbons’ talent as a songwriter and guitar player after “A Lonely Heart to Give” debuted today! Michael Fairman TV caught up with Patrick, who is now a senior at Penn State entering his final year as a finance major, to get the back-story of how his song wound up on GH!
Gibbons explained he wrote the song in honor of his grandmother who passed away a few years ago with whom he was, very, very close with. “Randomly, my grandmother had a downfall and passed away during the second semester of my sophomore year. I was in my dorm a lot and I was just playing with my guitar. And at the time, I was really into finger-style playing. I wrote the lyric and music to it (with a little help from my guitar teacher Lou), and my mom showed the rough demo to Frank Valentini (EP, General Hospital). He’s like an uncle to me. Frank loved it so much he said, “Finish that up. I want to hear the whole thing, and I want it on the show.”
MAKING MUSIC FOR GENERAL HOSPITAL
Gibbons and his parents took the next steps! “So now, all we needed was a female voice, because I thought that would fit the song well,” Patrick shared. “At the golf club we go to my parents were at a dinner. They liked the singer that was performing and spoke to her about the song, and she says she would like to bring it to her ‘boss’ who ended up being Eric Bazilian of the Hooters fame!” (Bazilian also wrote the smash hit song “One of Us” for Joan Osborne).
Next, “We went in the studio and recorded it and the song came together and it was beautiful. We loved it. They loved it at General Hospital and now they’re putting it the show and they are coming in with a piano, instead of a guitar. Paul Glass, the GH musical director, has been keeping us updated over the last six months of how it was coming along, and when it would air, and how GH put their own arrangement to it. I can’t wait to see and hear what they did with it.”

Photo: JPI
PATRICK’S ONE LIFE TO LIVE FAMILY
Everyone knows that the One Life to Live extended family share a very tight bond, and Patrick said he does stay in touch with a few of his former One Life to Live co-stars, especially those from the Manning family! “I stayed in touch with Kassie DePaiva (ex-Blair) and sent her little videos here and there. She was like my second mom for five years. We keep in contact with Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) over X the most, and she can’t believe how big I’ve gotten. Like, none of them can! (laughs). I also loved working with Roger Howarth (ex-Todd) and Trevor St. John (ex-Todd and Victor Jr.), and to me since I was so young, they were just my friends, ‘Roger and Trevor,’ not Todd Manning or Victor Jr.”
It was a trip to California and a visit to Port Charles that ultimately led to Gibbons second soap role of Wyatt Hoover. Patrick explains, “In 2016, Frank Valentini invited us out to Los Angeles to visit the set of General Hospital. I think he heard me say, ‘This is so much fun. I miss being on the set.’ He goes, ‘You should come out. I’ll bring you on the show. We can make you a character.'”
A few years later, Patrick’s dream became a reality! “Then, by the summer of 2018, I was playing Wyatt, the scout, and shared scenes with Wes Ramsey (Peter August), and the best was when I shared a scene with Roger Howarth and Michael Easton (ex-John, OLTL and ex-Silas, Finn et al, GH), it was like chemistry from the old days.”

Photo: PGibbons
IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS
As to his future aspirations, it’s a career in the finance game that has piqued Gibbons’ real-life interest. But never say never to a return to acting. Patrick explained, “I’ve always enjoyed numbers. And on top of that, one of the biggest parts of finance is being personable and outgoing.”
He continued, “That’s one of the greatest skills I developed growing up. I really love the markets. I’m super interested. I’m never going to close the door to acting. I’m always open to that because I just love it so much. It’s such a great art.”
Take note! If there are any investment bankers or private equity folks among the GH faithful looking for a young analyst next year, Patrick’s DMs are open. You can find him on X at @PatrickJGibbons.”
So, what did you think of the song sung by Trina on today’s GH that was written by Patrick J. Gibbons? Did you enjoy Patrick’s performances as One Life’s Sam and GH’s Wyatt? Would you like to see him back on GH at some point? Let us know via the comment section.
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