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Llanview in the Afternoon: An Oral History of One Life to Live Now Available! A Must-Read for Long Time Fans!

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/JeffGiles

If you have watched One Life to LiveĀ  over any, or all, of its over four decades of existence, and want to get a glimpse of what it was like throughout all the different casting, writing, and producing regime changes, and read some never- before- known moments that happened on the set, and behind-the-scenes of one of the most iconic soaps of all-time, then you should order your copy of the just released paperback book or kindle version ofĀ  Llanview in the Afternoon: An Oral History of One Life to Live by Jeff Giles!

According to the official book description, “During its more than four decades in the ABC daytime lineup, One Life to Live told countless stories, from sensational adventures to thoughtful social commentary. But the tales that went untold — the experiences of the writers, producers, cast and crew behind the scenes — are just as fascinating as any kidnapping, baby switch, or courtroom confession.

Today, network soaps are struggling for survival against cheaper-to-produce talk shows and reality series, but their cultural impact resonates more strongly than ever — and a tribute to the work that goes into producing them is long overdue.Ā Ā  To that end, Llanview in the Afternoon: An Oral History of One Life to Live focuses on some of the most unique aspects of working on a five-day-a-week television series — from the actors, who had to deal with the daytime stigma and the psychology of living so intimately with their characters for extended periods of time, to the crew, who produced scripts and episodes at a blistering pace while working with a dwindling pool of network resources.

Featuring interviews with more than 50 One Life to Live veterans, including: Erika Slezak, Robin Strasser, Robert S. Woods, Hilary B. Smith, Ilene Kristen, Kassie DePaiva, Michael Storm, Judith Light, and Nathan Fillion — plus many more Llanview in the Afternoon: An Oral History of One Life to Live offers readers a one-of-a-kind perspective on one of television’s longest-running shows.”

In addition to those mentioned above, check out these blasts from the pasts who all participated in interviews in which portions of those are contained within the framework of the book including:Ā  Steve Fletcher, Margaret Klenck, Brynn Thayer, Anthony Call, Ellen Holly, Joe Lando, Roy Thinnes, Jack Betts, Roscoe Born, former OLTL producer, Linda Gottlieb and head writer,Ā  Michael Malone, and OLTL creator, Agnes Nixon!

In an exclusive excerpt, Erika Slezak talks about her former leading man, Clint Ritchie’s (Ex-Clint) problem with alcohol which at times apparently disrupted the set,Ā  “When he was drunk, he was just appalling. In 40 years, I stopped scenes maybe four times, and one of them was with him.Ā  Clint was supposed to pick up a chair and move it during the scene, and he ended up throwing it — and it hit me. Not hard, but it hit me. And I said, ‘Okay, that’s it! Stop. I cannot do this, and I will not do it anymore.’Ā  My husband happened to be at the studio — God knows why he was there, but he was downstairs, and he came up, standing offstage, ready to fight for my honor. [Laughs] Clint said, ‘What? I said, ‘You threw the chair, you hit me with it, this isn’t what the scene’s about –‘ Clint didn’t say a word. They didn’t stop the cameras, because they thought I was acting! They’d never seen me get angry before. Finally they cut, and there was a terrible silence.”

So are you interested to get your copy of Llanview in the Afternoon:Ā  An Oral History of One Life to Live! Let us know!

 

 

 

 

 

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At this price I will buy..

Llanview in the Afternoon: An Oral History of One Life to Live
Amazon Price.

Kindle Edition $4.90 .. 565 KB

Paperback $11.99 .. 381 pages

E-version, definitely interested in!

I think I also would like to purchase the book. Erika’s story above is refreshing. The audience always get these glowing stories from the publicity office about how everyone always get along and are like family. Families fight and there are some members who are not always liked. I think it would be good for the public to know all the blood,sweat and tears that has gone into making one of the best drama to ever be on television.

Will be buying the paperback version…

Looking forward to getting my hands on this and devouring it!

Definitely!

Defintely getting this! Most interested in the Gordon Russell-Doris Quinlan/Joseph Stuart years when OLTL was a true ensemble piece. Love the days of the Woleks, Craigs, Siegels, Vernons, Carla & Ed, and Pat Kendall. What amazes me is during this period, the show endured through countless recasts in a relatively short period (Anna, Tony, Vinnie, Wanda, Karen, Will, Dorian, Becky Lee, Richard, Brad & Jenny). Wasn’t much interested in the horrid Rauch years and beyond (never cared much for the Buchanans, Viki as the main heroine, or shrill Tina).

So great to hear those characters names again , thank you. The story had so much heart and soul in it then. It took me 20 years to get with the Buchanans. God bless!

Sounds like a good read. Is the later history covered? I only started watching the show in like 2001.

I will absolutely buy this treasure. I have watched OLTL since day one and have loved all the twists and turns and all the amazing characters and actors I’ve watched throughout the years.

Just bought it. Didn’t care what it cost……………. I love One Life to Live.

Just ordered the book! Hope you are enjoying it.

By the way, thanks Michael, for bringing it to our attention.

So there maybe footage of this lying around somewhere?

Definitely buying it. Best soap opera ever. No other soap opera has more heart and soul.

Prior to ABC canceling OLTL, it had higher ratings than General Hospital. Considering the failures of Katie and the Revolution, ABC should strongly consider buying back the rights for OLTL from Prospect Park. Prospect Park could use the money to invest in AMC.

ABC should relaunch OLTL on its network. It should relocate OLTL to LA near the GH set. It should also have Frank be its executive producer and have Ron hire writers for the show and supervise them. This would allow cross over opportunities between the soaps and allow other OLTL actors who are now working for Beacon Hill to also work on OLTL.

It’s time ABC rectified it’s horrible decision of canceling OLTL and made it up to the fans. With Frank, Ron and cross over opportunities, OLTL would be able to attract quality actors. Ratings would soar and perhaps, we would be able to watch the best romance ever (JOLIE) continue.

OLTL fans, never say never. Let your voices be heard and perhaps ABC will finally make it all right again.

Here Here ! 100 % agreement !

ABC will never relaunch AMC or OLTL never.
You could sell your soul to them and it still would not happen.
ABC has 1 blockbuster daytime soap GH and that is all they need for their daytime block.

((and they still are making millions off of AMC and OLTL – all they have to do is take it to the bank))

starting to wonder who the “wet blanket” is… the people who want them back or the people who don’t.

not looking to sell my soul for either, thou.

Gentry………….. Where have you been? LOL!!!!! ABC/Disney still owns the rights to AMC and OLTL. That’s the problem. They own both of them, won’t sell them, so no one else who has the capability to do so can put them back on television the way they used to be. We have been making our voices heard and making their lives miserable since April of 2011 when they announced that they were cancelled!!! If you’re on Facebook, why don’t you check out Soap Fans United and some of the other “soap warrior” pages to see what we’ve done. I, for one, hate ABC/Disney and have begun boycotting most of what they air – especially on prime time. And I will continue to do so until they release my soaps!

Anybody know what the books cover picture would represent??
To me it’s a ”huh?”

That’s Philadelphia’s City Hall.

I downloaded it on my kindle the other night have not read it yet sounds good I miss OLTL I think ABC just wanted Ron and Frank for GH So that meant the down fall of OLTL. the plot thickens

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Alum Colin Cassidy to Appear in Ryan Murphy’s ‘The Shards’

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Ryan Murphyā€˜s anticipated new series The Shards, based on Bret Easton Ellisā€˜ prep school thriller novel, will premiere August 5 on FX and Hulu, as well as Disney+ and a very familiar face is set to appear within the series, when General Hospital alum, Colin Cassidy (ex-Aiden Webber, formerly known as Aiden Spencer) took to his Instagram to reveal the exciting news.

Colin shared, “I’m super excited to share that I will be appearing in Ryan Murphy’s The Shards premiering August 5th on FX, Hulu and Disney+!Ā  I will appear in episode 5 as Rohmer, a fun lovin’ party animal with a secret! I had a blast working on this project and I can’t wait for you all to see it!”

Cassidy played the role of Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and Lucky Spencer’s (Jonathan Jackson) son on the ABC soap opera on and off from 2024-2025.

Colin Cassidy, Jonathan Jackson

Courtesy/ABC

The character was written off the canvas to explain Lucky’s sudden decision to travel abroad and leave Port Charles in June of 2025, Aiden went with his dad to get to know him better. During his run on GH, one of Colin’s most memorable scenes occurred when Aiden came out to Lucky after his father had been away for over a decade.

WHAT IS ‘THE SHARDS’ ALL ABOUT?

As for the The Shards, it’sĀ a dark coming-of-age tale with semi-autobiographical facets for Ellis. Set in Los Angeles in 1981, the story follows a 17-year-old version of Ellis during his final year at the elite Buckley prep school. Upending the character’s world is the arrival of a mysterious new student, Robert Mallory, whose unsettling presence coincides with the activities of a serial killer known as The Trawler.

According to the official loglines: “Igby Rigney stars as Bret, an aspiring writer and keenly observant teenager whose reality begins to unravel with the arrival of a mysterious and magnetic new student, Robert Mallory (Homer Gere, the son of motion picture star, Richard Gere), Transferring in just before his senior year, Robert’s appearance coincides with the growing terror of The Trawler, a serial killer targeting teenagers across the city.

Alongside Bret is his elite social circle, which includes Susan Reynolds (Kaia Gerber), Debbie Schaffer (Hayes Warner) and Thom Wright (Graham Campbell), a glamorous and deeply entangled group drawn into a life of wealth, beauty, parties and excess.Ā The promise of their youth is contrasted with the dark and cynical world of the adults surrounding them: Terry Schaffer (Wes Bentley), Liz Schaffer (Evan Rachel Wood) and Steven Reinhardt (Jordan Roth).

You can check out the 2nd official trailer for The Shards below,

So, are you looking forward to seeing Colin Cassidy in The Shards? Do you hope that General Hospital brings Aiden back to the canvas with or without his father, Lucky? Let us know via the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Writes Maxie Jones and Her Family Off The Show

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Kirsten Storms

The answer to what General Hospital fans have been speculating about for months has come to a conclusion, for now.

On the Thursday, July 23 episode of the ABC daytime drama series it was revealed in story that Maxie Jones (Kirsten Storms), along with her man, Spinelli (Bradford Anderson) and her three children, Georgie (Lily Fisher), Bailey (Miley and Riley Plonski) and James (Gary James Fuller) are headed to Australia to live after Spinelli received a job offer he couldn’t refuse.

However, the message of the status of Maxie and her clan, came from none other than Cody (Josh Kelly) during a conversation where he explained that they were all packing up to head to the land down under the following night and they were just “itching to get out of Port Charles.” In addition, Maxie has divested her shares of Deception Cosmetics and sold them to Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson).

Kirsten Storms

Photo: ABC

IS THERE A FUTURE FOR MAXIE TO RETURN?

All of this paves the way for the series to deal with the longer absence of Kirsten Storms who is back in Tennessee and not having her figure into any immediate storyline.

While the family uprooting themselves to Australia certainly doesn’t look like any return in the near future would be likely, the series can always decide down the line and take their time of what to do with Maxie, if Kirsten Storms, should never return to the role or they would decide to recast, if needed.

This does complete Maxie’s story for now. It was back in February of 2026, that Maxie came out of her coma and was reunited with her family and saw her believed-to-be husband, Nathan West (Ryan Paevey) back from the dead, who later proved to be Cassius Faison. Storms comeback lasted about a month and by March she was no longer on the series.

It was back last month in June that Storms took to Instagram to share that “As for what is in my future, where GH is concerned…. Given what’s been going on, I can’t say I will feel comfortable heading back to Los Angeles and returning to work.”

All of this stems from her reported break-ins to her apartment, the hacking of her devices all occurring in Tennessee, coupled by the restraining order served to her by her ex-husband Brandon Barash (ex-Johnny, GH and ex-Stefan/Jake, Days).

So, how do you feel about General Hospital writing out Maxie Jones with a sudden move to Australia, taking Spinelli and the kids all seemingly off the canvas? Do you like the way this leaves a door open for Maxie to visit or return to Port Charles one day?

Do you think the series should honor the work Kirsten Storms did in the role and not recast, or should they recast down the line? Let us know via the comment section.

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News

SiriusXM Set to Launch ‘WWE Radio’ as Official Audio Home of WWE With Live Coverage of PLEs; While Retaining Flagship Show ‘Busted Open’ and More

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It’s a dawn of a new day this time in the satellite radio space as SiriusXM and WWE have announced the launch of WWE Radio, the new official audio home of WWE.

The new ventures starts this coming Monday, July 27, ahead of the summer’s premiere live event, SummerSlam from Minneapolis Minnesota on August 1 and 2, where WWE Radio’s first live event broadcast of the two-night event will take place.

WWE Radio takes over SiriusXM channel 156, which previously was the Pro Wrestling Nation channel with its flagship show, Busted OpenĀ hosted by Dave LaGreca and Bully Ray.

Photo: WWE

The announce team will be lead by play-by-play announcer Vic Joseph will be joined by WWE Hall of Famer Booker T, as they call the action in and around the ring to SiriusXM listeners.

WWE Radio will broadcast several live shows directly from Minneapolis in the days leading up to SummerSlam. Dave LaGreca, Bully Ray, Mark Henry, Tommy Dreamer, Sam Roberts and Peter Rosenberg will host from the Minneapolis Convention Center and will analyze upcoming storylines, interview WWE personalities and Superstars, and speak with fans in Minneapolis and across the country.

LIVE AUDIO BROADCASTS OF WWE BIGGEST EVENTS OF THE YEAR

Now, WWE Radio will become the ultimate audio destination for the WWE Universe as it brings together SiriusXM’s popular daily programming, with live audio broadcasts of the biggest WWE events including WrestleMania, the aforementioned SummerSlam, Royal Rumble and Survivor Series,Ā and premier podcast content from some of the biggest superstars in the WWE.

In addition to these live event broadcasts, the channel will feature select audio simulcasts of WWE’s weekly flagship television programming which could include: Monday Night Raw, NXT, or Friday Night SmackDown, giving fans a way to follow the action from anywhere.

ā€œWe’re excited to bring the WWE Universe closer to all of the in-ring action at WWE’s biggest events on SiriusXM, beginning with wall-to-wall coverage of SummerSlam in Minnesota,ā€ says WWE Hall of Famer Booker T.

SEVERAL PRO WRESTLING NATION SHOWS CONTINUING WITH WWE RADIO

In addition to the live event coverage, WWE Radio will be home to the popular daily wrestling programming that SiriusXM has delivered wrestling fans for years. The programming lineup is anchored by SiriusXM’s longtime flagship wrestling show the aforementioned, Busted Open every day from 9 a.m. to noon ET.

Other shows continuing on to WWE Radio that have been announced include: Notsam Wrestling Live, hosted by Sam Roberts, Cheap Heat Live with Peter Rosenberg, The Hart Beat with NatalyaĀ  and Off the Ropes, which features a cast of current and former wrestlers including Raj Dhesi, Mark Henry and Tommy Dreamer. The nighttime show, Busted Open After Dark will continue to air five nights a week to give fans a place to call in and react after nightly wrestling events.

ā€œThe WWE Universe is always looking for new ways to engage with WWE, and our partnership with SiriusXM will deliver exclusive access, original programming and live event coverage that brings fans closer to the action wherever they are,ā€ says Alex Varga, Executive Vice President, WWE.

WWE SUPERSTAR PODCASTS

Several popular WWE podcasts produced in partnership with Fanatics will also be a part of the WWE Radio schedule, with episodes airing every day at 4 p.m. ET. These will include: What Do You Want to Talk About? hosted by Cody Rhodes, Six Feet Under with The Undertaker, What’s Your Story? with Steph McMahon, WWE Now, Raw Recap hosted by Sam Roberts and Megan Morant.

ā€œWe are thrilled to team up with WWE to launch the most comprehensive wrestling audio platform in the industry,ā€ says Jared Fox, SVP, Sports Programming, Content Marketing & Partnerships for SiriusXM. ā€œBy bringing together SiriusXM’s live pro wrestling programming with WWE’s world-class events, we are delivering an unmatched, 24/7 home for the WWE Universe, giving fans a way to tune in to every match and stay connected with every storyline, from anywhere they want to listen.ā€

WWE Radio will be available to SiriusXM listeners nationwide in their cars (SiriusXM channel 156) and on the SiriusXM app.

So, what do you think of WWE Radio taking over Pro Wrestling Nation Channel 156? Are you interested in a 24/7 WWE channel? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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