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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

Beyond the Gates

‘Beyond the Gates’ and Daytime Emmy Nominee Mike Manning to Chat Live on the Michael Fairman Channel

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While Bradley “Smitty: Smith finds himself currently in a whole heap of trouble on Beyond the Gates, his portrayer Mike Manning is getting set for the upcoming 53rd Daytime Emmy Awards where he finds himself nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.

A previous two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Manning will visit You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel for a livestream chat on Wednesday, October 21 beginning at 7pm ET/4pm PT.

This year, Beyond the Gates broke records becoming a 15-time Daytime Emmy nominated seres, a first in Daytime Emmy history for a new show entering the competition for the first time. Manning will discuss being part of the groundbreaking soap.

Smitty

Photo: CBS

MIKE MANNING’S UPCOMING PROJECTS

While Manning has his series regular role on Beyond the Gates he is also involved in a myriad of other projects including: his role opposite Nicolas Cage in the film, Madden and the upcoming Anthony Hopkins starring motion picture, Eyes in the Tree, which Manning is featured and also produced.

LGBTQ+ ADVOCACY

Mike first gained nation attention back on MTV’s The Real World D.C., now almost 17 years ago, when he came out on the reality series, which served as an example of early LGBTQ+ representation, leading to thousands of letters from viewers who felt connected to, or felt represented by his journey. Through his advocacy, Manning has served as a youth ambassador for Boo2Bullying and advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, anti-bullying, and environmental protection.

Daytime fans first met Manning as uber-bad guy Charlie Dale on Days of our Lives (2020-2o22)Ā and later for his Emmy-winning role as Caleb McKinnon on The Bay.

This week on all-new episodes of Beyond the Gates, viewers will see the pick-up after Smitty has been framed for the murder of Dr. Lia Whitmore, after being in possession of incriminating pills linked to her death, that were seemingly planted at his home.Ā 

If you have a question for Mike, but cannot be with us in the live chat, drop it in the comment section below and we just might ask it on the broadcast.

So, how do you think Smitty will get out of the charges against him? Rooting for Mike at the Daytime Emmys? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.

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Mary Elizabeth Winstead Opens About Breaking ‘Passions’ Contract, Claiming the Soap Had a ‘Militant Vibe’

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Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Soap operas aren’t for everyone and you can add motion picture and television star Mary Elizabeth Winstead to the list. It was back in 1999 that a 14-year-0ld Winstead joined the cast of the upstart NBC soap opera in the role of Jessica Bennett.

Now in a new conversation on Off Camera with Sam Jones, Winstead talked about the early years of her career in Hollywood, which was topped off by her decision to get out of her contract with Passions after just a year.

Opening up about her experience on the set of Passions, Winstead shared, she didn’t particularly enjoy it. Having worked on other sets before landing the role of Jessica, Winstead said that compartively,Ā ā€œI kind of knew this wasn’t what everything was like.ā€

Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Photo: NBC

DISGRUNTLED OVER SOAP OPERA’S TOXIC ENVIRONMENT

However, Mary Elizabeth then went on to explain the set of Passions has a real “militant vibe” and “it was friendly and it wasn’t encouraging or warm.” She cites an example of how her mother wasn’t allowed on set and and was forced by the producers to spend her day in Mary Elizabeth’s dressing room.

Winstead added, ā€œThere were times where she (her mother) would kind of try and quietly be there (on set), and they would be like, ā€˜We’ll just pretend we didn’t see you around here.”‘All of this, and her unhappiness, led Winstead to break her contract.

For those who need a Passions refresher course, the character of Jessica Bennett ,who was later played by Jade Harlow and Danica Stewart, was initially a quiet introverted teen. Eventually, Jessica went through a major downward spiral that included substance abuse, being forced into prostitution by Spike Lester (whom she briefly married), a fake death and burial, and rehab!

MARY ELIZABETH WINSTEAD’S CAREER

As for Winstead, she most recently appeared in the Hulu remake of The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, A Gentleman in Moscow, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Smashed (for which she received an Independent Spirit Award nomination), 10 Cloverfield Lane and FX’s Fargo.

Meanwhile on the home front, Winstead is married to motion picture and television star Ewan McGregor. The couple tied the knot in 2022 after meeting on the set of FX’s series Fargo in 2016.

You can check out Mary Elizabeth Winstead talking about her experience on Passions on the Off Camera Show below.

What do you think of Winstead’s feelings on the environment on the set of Passions? If you watch the clip below, do you think host Sam Jones talked down about soap operas as well? Weigh-in via the comment section.

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Beyond the Gates

‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Marquita Goings to Chat Live on the Michael Fairman Channel

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Marquita Goings

After her star turn in recent episodes of Beyond the Gates, soap opera’s latest vixen Hayley Lawson Hamilton played by Marquita Goings has grabbed viewers attention just waiting to see what stunt she’ll pull next!

Now, Marquita Goings will visit the Michael Fairman Channel for a livestream chat on Thursday, October 22 beginning at 7pm ET/4pm PT and you can join us with your questions!

Previously in story, Hayley has racked up some pretty despicable acts and crimes thus far which have included, trying to poison and kill Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) for his life insurance in order to cash in and hightail it out of Fairmont Crest with the moolah.

Photo: CBS

Then, let’s not forget using the recordings she obtained to blackmail everyone with the the secret that Vernon Dupree (Clifton Davis) and Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) have been trying to keep under wraps about the hate crime years ago, which saw Martin kill one man, while another later died, in an effort to save his grandfather.

NEXT WEEK ON BEYOND THE GATES

Now, the week of October 19-23 previews that it appears that Hayley may be pregnant (take a look at the video preview below) with Bill’s child when she gets a little queasy, after she went to see her partner in crime, Randy (Maurice P. Kerry) to get a fresh ID to skip out of town and away from the DMV.

In fact, on the Tuesday, October 20 episode, official BTG spoilers indicate, Vernon assures Dani (Karla Mosley) that he’s got things handled, while Hayley’s ready for her next act, while on the Friday, October 23 episode, Leslie (Trisha Mann-Grant) has devastating words for Hayley and Bill’s got another thing coming.

If you have a question for Marquita but cannot join us for the live broadcast, drop it in the comment section and we just might ask it during the chat.

Now let us know, do you think Hayley will be pregnant? How will she continue to evade any prison time? What has been your favorite scene of Marquita Goings on Beyond the Gates thus far? Comment below.

 

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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