All My Children
Meet All My Children's Francesca James Video! Longtime Favorite Returns In Front Of The Camera!
Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos
Well what can we say about this terrific video from the folks at The Online Network and All My Children! Soap opera actress and daytime drama director and producer extraordinaire, Francesca James is back working on AMC, but not behind-the-scenes as a director or a producer or executive producer, as she has done previously with AMC, and in part with General Hospital, but as one of the new online revival characters named Evelyn Johnson! But is she really “Evelyn Johnson”? That remains a big question!
Daytime and AMC fans remember Francesca for her role as Kitty Shea Tyler, and later as her identical twin Kelly Cole! Francesca also won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 1980 for her work on AMC! In this newly released video which landed first at TV Guide, “Meet Francesca James”, the talented woman is seen coming back to work for the first time in AMC’s new Connecticut studios, and having some very humorous banter in the dressing room hallways with co-star Thorsten Kaye (Zach Slater). In addition, Julia Barr (Brooke) and Vincent Irizarry (David) add their comments on having this true soap legend back in the saddle as one of the series cast members!
And yes, you will hear On-Air On-Soaps Michael Fairman asking Francesca questions and commenting on her return to All My Children during the clips from an interview conducted at the Sleepy Hollow cast photo shoot in New York City a few months back.
So what do you think of Francesca playing a role on-camera on the new All My Children? Who do you think Evelyn Johnson will turn out to be? Related to who? What will be her “drama”? Share your thoughts below!
All My Children
‘All My Children’ Movie Writers for Lifetime Revealed: Ron Carlivati, Jamey Giddens and Leo Richardson
This week began and as reported with a spotlight article on Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos and how their production entity, Milojo, has been teeing up the All My Children reboot with Lifetime.
The L.A. Times featured the married couple, co-hosts of Live with Kelly and Mark, and former All My Children cast members (where they met and fell in love) about their plans to bring two All My Children movies to Lifetime and how they are working with the Agnes Nixon estate to make it come to fruition,
On Wednesday, it was revealed by Daytime Confidential, that All My Children reboot producer, Andrew Stearn handpicked none other than Ron Carlivati (ex-head writer, One Life to Live, General Hospital and Days of our Lives) and Jamey Giddens (who is the new co-head writer of The Young and the Restless, following his tenures on the writing teams of Beyond the Gates and Days of Our Lives), as the two scribes who will bring the first of two of Kelly and Mark’s All My Children movies to the page.
Photo: IMDb
RON CARLIVATI AND JAMEY GIDDENS CONFIRM THEIR BOARDING THE ALL MY CHILDREN MOVIE PROJECT
The second installment is said to be written by primetime writer Leo Richardson whose credits include: Star, Katy Keene and more recently the Penn Badgley (ex-Phillip Chancellor IV, The Young and the Restless) starring series, You.
Richardson also wrote for three years on the U.K.’s long-running soap, EastEnders. All My Children revival fans will recall Richardson’s name was attached as the writer for the first incarnation of the All My Children movies, entitled, Pine Valley.
Ron Carlivati took to X and confirmed he is indeed boarding the All My Children movie project. Carlivati shared, “So excited to share this news! Thanks to Andrew Stearn, Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos, Albert Bianchini and the Agnes Nixon estate for entrusting Jamey Giddens and me with the first of two planned All My Children movies for Lifetime! Stay tuned!”
Photo: Jeremy Smith/imageSPACE
Jamey Giddens confirmed DC’s announcement by taking to his account on X and expressing, “I’ve been booked and busy in 2026. Thanks to Andrew Stearn, the Agnes Nixon estate, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos for entrusting Ron Carlivati, and me with the first of two planned All My Children movies for Lifetime!”
Some fans seemed to question how Giddens could be writing for the first All My Children movie at Lifetime, when he is the new co-head writer at The Young and the Restless with Dan O’Connor. Jamey answered that head on via X and explained, “We turned in our All My Children script months ago. My sole focus as of this past Monday, is Genoa City, Wisconsin! #YR”
ERICA KANE, MARIA SANTOS AND HAYLEY AND MATEO SANTOS TO APPEAR IN THE ALL MY CHILDREN MOVIE REVIVAL?
In the planned stories, Susan Lucci’s Erica Kane and Eva LaRue’s Maria Santos will be two characters whose lives we will get to see for the first time since the series was canceled by ABC back in 2011 after 41 years on the air. As well, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos confirmed they will make brief appearances on-screen; one could assume as Hayley and Mateo Santos.
“It’d be wonderful to give the fans something that they’ve been yearning for so many years,” shared Mark Consuelos to the LA Times. “All My Children gave me my family. I met my wife there. It gave me my start in the business. It gave us so much. It would be a dream to be able to give back.”
So, what do you think of Ron Carlivati and Jamey Giddens getting nod to write the All My Children movie #1 script and Leo Richardson #2? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
All My Children
‘All My Children’ Revival Updates: Lifetime EVP Speaks on Why Proposed Movies are Great Fit, Mark Consuelos Wants To ‘Give Back’ to Fans
The All My Children revival via movies at Lifetime is still in the works from former series stars and marrieds, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, through their production company, Milojo.
The co-hosts of Live with Kelly and Mark were featured this week in a Los Angeles Times article which detailed their efforts to bring some of the citizens of Pine Valley back to your screens.
As previously reported, and reaffirmed by the L.A. Times, the All My Children movies will be set in the present day and focus on what beloved characters such as Erica Kane (Susan Lucci) and Maria Santos Gray (Eva LaRue) are doing now. In addition, Kelly Ripa confirmed that she and Mark Consuelos will also appear on screen briefly most likely appearing in their signature soap roles as Hayley and Mateo Santos.
Photo: ABC
ALL MY CHILDREN MOVIES BRING NOSTALGIA THAT CAN BE MADE TO FEEL NEW AGAIN
Elaine Frontain Bryant, executive vice president and head of programming for A&E, Lifetime, and Lifetime Movie Network said of the All My Children reboot, “Lifetime is always interested in shows that kind of tap into a powerful nostalgia that can be made fresh for today’s audience. There’s a whole generation of women that have missed these stories and these characters.”
As for working with Kelly and Mark on the Lifetime movie versions of the soap, “They’re exactly the kind of partners you want at a brand,” expressed Bryant. “They’re trusted voices because every day they’re talking to their audience, which, a lot of times, is our audience. They bring a real credibility and have an authentic point of view. You meet Kelly and Mark and kind of what you see is what you get, and I think they bring that same authenticity to their development standards.”
Albert Bianchini, executive producer for Milojo, says he knows All My Children is so wildly popular with the fans of daytime. That was punctuated when seeing it in person, and how the energy was off the charts back in January of 2025 when Kelly participated along with Susan Lucci, former head writer, Lorraine Broderick and casting director, Judy Blye Wilson in a conversation with Andy Cohen at the 92nd Street Y in New York City.
© Steven Bergman/AFF-USA.COM Credit: AFF/Alamy Live News
“I’ve never seen a crowd like that in my life. People were lined up around the block, recalled the Bianchini. “Everyone wanted to know, ‘When is (All My Children) coming back? We want more.’ We got to see that in real life and Kelly got to feel it in real life, and it made so much sense. I just know that the minute it gets out in the world, people will want more and more and more. There’s just a love there.”
Kelly Ripa added that they are, “working closely with Bob and Sarah Nixon, who are also serving as producers.” She recalled, “She (Agnes Nixon) was so far ahead of her time. She covered topics that weren’t being covered. It was extraordinary the audiences that the show drew, and she served them real stories that were affecting Americans across the country but weren’t necessarily being represented anywhere.”
“It’d be wonderful to give the fans something that they’ve been yearning for so many years,” shared Mark Consuelos. “All My Children gave me my family. I met my wife there. It gave me my start in the business. It gave us so much. It would be a dream to be able to give back.”
THE CANCELLATION AND STOPS AND STARTS OF ALL MY CHILDREN REBOOTS
All My Children aired on ABC from 1970 to 2011. It got a second chance at life when Prospect Park resurrected the show and brought it to The OnLine Network and Hulu for one season in 2013.
Recently, the series made a return through the estate of Agnes Nixon and is streaming internationally on BEONDTV and through their partnership with PlutoTV Canada with episodes starting in 1995. Fans hope original episodes will some day soon be available in the U.S. as well, but that could prove more difficult since ABC owns the rights to the episodes stateside.
Now 13 years later, while there is no word yet on a definitive production start date to the two movies at Lifetime, all the people involved seemed determined to make it come to life.
So, what do you think of the executive vice-president of Lifetime and LMN being enthusiastic about Kelly and Mark’s All My Children movie revivals? Are you wanting to see this come to fruition? Kelly and Mark seem to have made this a very high priority. Do you hope that by 2027 we might be able to get this to the finish the line and into production? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Starting on May 1, All My Children fans in Canada will be able to see classic episodes of the beloved former ABC soap opera when they stream on Pluto TV Canada.
Pluto TV picked-up the All My Children Channel that the Nixon family has created in partnership with BEONDTV +. The show which aired for 41 years on ABC and ended on the network in 2011, had so many memorable storylines and characters; the least of which is the enduring run of Erica Kane played by soap icon, Susan Lucci.
As previously reported, starting with episodes from the year 1995, which was the 25th anniversary of the soap. Pluto TV Canada viewers will be able to catch 8 episodes on repeat per day. With the success of the venture, the Nixons are hopeful that they will bring viewers many more years of the show to come.
Photo: ABC
Sarah Nixon, producer, shared with Michael Fairman TV exclusively, “We are thrilled that Pluto TV has launched All My Children in Canada! Let’s hope the engagement from our incredibly loyal fans across the border will encourage ABC to bring it to the U.S.! We share what Aggie (Agnes Nixon) always felt, that it is the enthusiasm and love from the fans that has kept this legacy beloved and relevant – to this day!”
In addition, 0ne week ago, during Susan Lucci’s visit to Los Angeles promoting her book La Lucci, she was joined by her former Pine Valley castmates, Rebecca Budig (ex-Greenlee, AMC, now Taylor, B&B) and Eva LaRue (ex-Maria, AMC) and the trio posed for a pic. At that time, LaRue shared via Instagram, “NEW All My Children channel streaming classic episodes 24/7 now on Pluto TV Canada! Fingers crossed to watch soon on Pluto US.”
That was also confirmed this week by TV Watercooler’s Jeevan Brar who took to X and expressed, “The All My Children channel begins streaming this Friday, May 1 on Pluto TV Canada.
So, Canadian viewers, excited about Pluto TV’s All My Children channel? United States fans, hopeful from Sarah’s message that perhaps soon, we can see the beloved soap once again as well? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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Maybe David gets a momma? Or a thought dead wife for Adam?
David had a mama. She was a horrible witch.
She could come back! I actually dont remeber her! I only watched on occasion…i mostly watched OLTL!
I’m almost certain she was killed. She killed his father or caused the father to kill himself. She was a maniac.
horrible… yes. but… grifter”s’-
acted by the indomitable… “Marj Dusay”.
love her… Period.
Guiding Light was all that.
This was a fabulous interview. Thank you! The best thing I’ve seen.
Michael, you are so correct, Ms James is on of the best actresses ever on daytime. I admired her as Marcy W
Michael, you are so correct, Ms James is one of the best actresses ever on daytime. I admired her as Marcy Wade on OLTL before she joined AMC. Her speaking voice is so distinct and wonderful to hear again. I hope her new character is somehow related to Kitty and Kelly.
Michael, this does not have to do with this video, but why is there no way to reach Prospect Park /TOLN.? I found a FB page, but it turns out to be just a fan page. thank you for keeping us posted through all of this, Michael. You are the best. I didn’t discover your page til our shows were originally in Jeopardy but am so glad I did!
I agree…there should be an address to write them…they should listen to viewers feedback!
They should have a presence on Facebook or a “contact us” or something on their website. Heck, if they’d hire me I’d do it from home, if they’d give me info. There is no way to contact them at all. I found a site on Facebook that looks like it is them. Then I read really old posts and it used to be an “anti” Prospect Park site. And once it looked like the shows were coming on, it changed the name, and now it looked like it IS Prospect Park, but it is just a fan page.
You can write to the stars here:
PO Box 110237 (for OLTL); 110236 (for AMC)
Stamford CT 06911
or contact PP via twitter:
@prospectpk or @toln
Love Francesca – But I must confess I do hope it’s revealed that she’s actually Kelly Cole Tyler and that Linc (Peter White) is not far behind.
It would be nice to have some (old) stock of Pine Valley in the form of some Tyler blood (was there any left when AMC went off the air)?
In any case glad she’s back – in front of the camera.
This is wonderful. I remember as Kitty/Kelly years ago when I did watch AMC and I’ve certainly watched episodes she directed on GH. Can’t wait to see her as a new character.
What a fun video! It’s great that Francesca is back on the show again. Yet another reason to be excited for April 29!
Love it!!! I remember her from years ago and she was fabulous!!! She looks great!!! Se’s going to be awesome and love that there are mysteries… will have to watch!!! I stopped watching AMC years ago and yet now that I know she will be back… wow!!! Love it!!!
I alway’s liked her! Nice to see her back!
I am absolutely over the moon!!!
Welcome back Ms James… you have been off camera for way to long and I have missed you big time.
I have watched AMC since day one and Monday cannot come soon enough for me to say the very least.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! All I dreamed of was to retire and be able to watch All MY Children. I retired last July, and I have been waiting for you. Now my wait is over. I will be with you everyday. I have watched this soap from the very first episode b&w 1/2 hr.
See you Monday
Wonderful news! Great actress! Yea!
One of my earliest soap memories was the Linc and Kitty pairing-though I ran into Kelly at some point, I’m sure. At any rate, this will be my first REAL exposure to Francesca-looking forward to it
Love, love,love Francesca James……..great interview
My first memory of her was as Marcy Wade 42 years ago!!
Would love to see Gillian Spencer show up in Llanview claiming to be the real Viki Lord!(she did originate the role from what ive been told) Or is the war of two Todds, and the Natalie/Jessica storyline enough of the twin story? I still think the two Vikis would be fun to watch…especially if they turn out to be faternal twins like Nat and Jess!
It seems incomprehensible that Brooke at least won’t say something about how much she resembles her cousin Linc’s wife. She and Joe Martin are probably the only character’s still on who really knew the Kelly Tyler character. She looks wonderful, and her spirit is as lovely as I recall.
Hey Gracie. Actually, She was on in 2005 at Phoebe’s Funeral and that was 8 Years Ago. She was on in 2008 at Myrtle’s Funeral and that was 5 Years Ago. Maybe She Meant as Her Storyline was that They Moved to Switzerland. Francesca Took Care of Eileen in Real Life. Also, Ginger had It Wrong when she said that Francesca was on from the Beginning. Francesca came on in 1973. I Remember when Hal Short was on there and Somebody said He is A New Character. He was Actually Al Shea and He was her Ex Husband. He wanted Kitty to Smuggle Drugs through The Boutique. Somebody said when there was Kelly that they should have at least Gotten Somebody that Looked Like Kitty. That was Funny because It was the Same Actress.
Hey Kim. NO, I want Erika Slezak to be Viki. Whenever I see Gillian Spencer, I Think of Daisy Cordtlandt. Jody
Hi, Michael Fairman, I just recently viewed your interview and video of Ms James! I am so happy that she is on the show as a new character! She looks fabulous! Do you ever get a chance to run into her? I am sure that a lot of people have missed her performances! She has accomplished greatness in her professional life. What a gift!Thank you, Karen Fredericksen!
I kept racking my brain trying to figure out who Evelyn is!! I googled and it brought me here…..got my answer! Of course, it is Francesca! It had been so long! I loved her then……cannot wait to see where this goes! It feels so great to have the AMC family back in my living room again. Now if I could just get the GL family back too! thank you OWN for doing this……I hope it is not temporary!
As soon as I saw her face, I knew she was Kitty, Link Tyler’s wife! Been watching a long time!
I went to school with Francesca and watched her on the soaps and I must say she is just as beautiful as she was then, and so talented. We all knew she would succeed in anything she tried, Good Luck Francesca, welcome back to the front of the camera
I too, went to school with Ms. James and knew always that she was going to become somebody special in the acting arena. She could act, sing, dance, and she was a brilliant student. She had it all. I don’t watch the soaps but wish Francesca the best in the years ahead I am sure there will be another emmy for her in the near future.