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OLTL 45: Stars Offer Up Their Favorite Storylines! What Was Your Favorite Story Of All-Time?

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/ABC

Courtesy/ABC

Today is the 45th anniversary of One Life to Live, which premiered on July 15, 1968 originally on ABC.  In 2013, the show continues to be groundbreaking, and to fight back against all odds.

After it was canceled in 2011, and aired its last episode in January 2012, Prospect Park remounted, relaunched, and revitalized the show, bringing it online to Hulu and now to cable television on OWN, with the first episodes beginning to air this week.

To mark the big 45th, TV Guide talked with series stars: Erika Slezak, Kassie DePaiva, Jerry verDorn, Tuc Watkins and Melissa Archer to get their picks for the Best Moments in the history of the show.  Here are a few of their choices:

Viki Goes to Heaven (1987, 2008, 2012): Victoria Lord (Slezak) has been to heaven and back no less than three times on One Life to Live. During her first out-of-body experience, she ascends during brain surgery and meets up with deceased friends and loved ones, including her ex-husband Joe Riley. “I love the heaven story line,” says Slezak. “It was so different and so unusual.” In 2008, show creator Agnes Nixonappears during Viki’s celestial visit as “The Creator.” And Viki’s late daughter, Megan (Jessica Tuck) escorts Viki to the pearly gates one final time in 2012 before the show stopped airing on ABC.

Kelly Kills Blair’s Baby (1997): “I love the drama,” DePaiva says of her 20-year (and counting) run as Blair on One Life to Live. “I’ve had so many great stories. Blair’s just been front-burner for so many things.” In one of the juicier plot lines in the late ’90s, Blair and her cousin Kelly (Gina Tognoni) clash after Blair discovers that Kelly was the one behind the wheel of a car that crashed into her, killing her unborn baby — who was also a match to donate much-needed bone marrow to Blair’s other daughter, Starr.

David Finds Out He’s Bo’s Son (2009): After originally thinking Bo Buchanan (Robert S. Woods) was his brother, David Vickers discovers that Bo is actually his father, having had a one-night stand with his mother years prior. The two eventually form a close bond. Watkins says he appreciated the opportunity the story line afforded him to work with Woods. “We have a lot of laughs,” he says. “It was nice for two actors who had been on the same show for a long time who had one kind of relationship, which was acrimonious — because he was basically a good guy and I was a bad guy, and I was always trying to get away with stuff, and he was always trying to prevent me from getting away with stuff. And then all of a sudden, we found out we’re father and son, so it completely changes the dynamic between us. It’s really been fun to play that second part.”

Viki vs. Dorian (ongoing): From the show’s early episodes, the central story line pitted Viki against her stepmother, Dorian — and their frequent clashes have carried on right up to the present. Over 40 years of affairs, blackmail and betrayals, the two might be considered the original frenemies. Their latest dustup? Dorian, now a senator, is involved in a CIA cover-up scandal, which was brought to light by none other than The Banner, Viki’s newspaper. “Everything Dorian does, as evil and horrible as it is, she does because she believes it is the right thing to do,” Says Slezak.  Adds Watkins: “I think in a nutshell One Life to Live is good versus evil. And it all stems from Viki versus Dorian. And I believe that there is no One Life to Live without Viki versus Dorian.”

So now we throw it to you our beloved fans of One Life to Live, today being anniversary day? What is your favorite storyline or moments in the history of the iconic series? Share your thoughts below!

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When I think of OLTL, Tina and Gabrielle spring to mind. Andrea Evans and Fiona Hutchison practically INVENTED the term frenemie, especially in terms of daytime drama. They were delightful!

I remember that Tina had just recently gone over the waterfall when I first started watching. I was probably about 11 years old. I thought that being an adult was going to be sooooo exciting.

I loved those two together–and was so disgusted with OLTL’s writers when they killed off Gabrielle and dashed any hope of Tina and Gabrielle interacting again. Unless Tina goes to Heaven, of course, and the odds of that can’t be too great.

I loved that Gabrielle basically “willed” Max into falling in love with her. He fought her love for him tooth and nail, but he eventually gave in! Then they sent her to prison and years later she showed up married to Asa. I did NOT like that very much!

The Eddie Ford story. John Wesley Shipp should have won a third Emmy for the role. This storyline got me back into OLTL after the unnecessary axing of AS THE WORLD TURNS, (Ironically, JWS won his first Emmy for ATWT).

My very favorite story was the Voice of the Night which led to the Marcy and Al/Michael storyline.

My favorite was the love affair between Viki and Clint. I started watching in the mid 1980s when Viki was Niki and Clint’s love helped to cure her. Then she was accused of murdering her psychiatrist so Viki and Clint went on the run with their sons. I have been watching ever since then. The only storyline that I hated was when Viki fell in love with Sloan and broke up her marriage. I hope that Viki and Clint get back together again soon.

I watched the show in the 80’s and I don’t remember Viki & Clint and the boys going on the run?

I like the love stories – 1. John & Natalie 2. Tina & Cord 3. Bo & Becky Lee.

I loved Becky Lee. I loved the 80’s storylines.

Favorite story line: Fraternity Row. The Daisy Awards show was a great spoof of the Daytime Emmys. Viki’s alters (all of them) is a close second.

Least favorite story line: Mitch Laurence returns and wants to use Natalie’s (or was it Jessica’s) heart to save Victor. Come on, Dorian had gone to jail for killing Victor, and it turns out he’s alive and needs his granddaughter’s heart to live?

I hate any Mitch Lawrence story line. Totally agree.

I love Mitch Laurence storylines BUT bringing back Victor from the dead was really dumb! And the Fraternity Row stuff was very clever! It was meta before meta became fashionable.

The 1888 Storyline, where Clint went back in time and met Viki’s grandmother, and Blaize and Buck Buchanan. Greatness!

My favorite was when Todd “died”in Ireland but came back from the dead. He proclaimed HIs love to Blair, but she was in love with Patrick. She told him and broke his heart. Plus he got shot in Ireland. Patrick’s enemies mistook him for Patrick. The shooting and taking his Blair. This set up all the love/hate feelings between them. And meeting Starr,his little girl,the only person who loved him unconditionally

My favorite by far was VIki/Niki being integrated several times and when baby Jessica was stolen by Mitch/Allison. Wonder story that seemed to go on forever – thats what great soaps do!

Runner up – Karen Wolek as prostitute – kudos to Judith Light for making us sympathetic to her character.

Best moment ever – Karen on the witness stand.

There are so many. I recall being enthralled in Dorian and Mark Toland (played by Tommy Lee Jones) connving together back to the 1970s when I was a schoolkid. And things only reached a high point with Karen Wolek (Judith Light) and that classic courtroom testimony scene. Add in Marco Dane and host of others and well… classic soap opera! I really enjoyed many characters in Llanview and their stories… Jenny Wolek wrestling with her commitment as a Catholic nun. The working class Vinnie and Wanda. Ed and Carla Hall. The Cramer women! Tina Clayton Lord! VIKI and DORIAN!!!!! I loved the pioneering gay storyline with Ryan Phillippe. And the Todd/Marty rape storyline. Something went awry for me in the last 20 years on ABC… too many questionable parentage turns in the Buchanan line, the off-the-wall humor, and well, such odd stories as Eterna and for me, too much Victor/Todd machinations.Overall, the actors rise above any weak stories. OLTL is a gem!

How to pick just one…..

Going way back in time….Cathy Craig’s drug addiction story. Because they grounded it in reality and showed her attending counseling & meetings. None of this, okay I am sober/ no longer addicted in 2 episodes stuff. Part of what I felt they fell down on currently with the Dani story.

Of course, The Karen Wolek prostitution story. Powerfully executed.

When Niki Smith was first introduced because it was fresh & original.

Dorien’s affair with Mark Toland and them covering up his medical error, blaming it on Larry Wolek to keep their affair secret.

The jail house music scenarios. Campy and showed off the actors various talents.

Barbara Garrick’s appearances as Allison and the reveal of the Jessica/Natalie switch.

Just a few……

So many to pick from but my top 5 would have to be…

1) Karen Wolek’s double life as a housewife hooker.

2) Tina revealed to be Viki’s sister resulting in the re-emergence of Niki Smith.

3) Anything featuring Mitch Laurence.

4) Jack bullying Shane resulting in the “death” of Gigi.

5) The Todd/Victor Jr reveal.

too many to choose from. Been a fan since I was 6 years old. Will never forget the Clara/Carla storyline or when Vicki discovered she had alternate personalities (DID). Those stores really intrigued me as a very young girl and I’ve loved OLTL ever since. Congratulations OLTL on 45 magnificent years of entertainment. Thank you!

I remember the show being really great in 2002, that’s also when they had the live week and that was amazing also!

My favorite stories always include Viki. Been watch Viki & Clint”s love story on youtube just fabulous. Love the DID story. Sexiest story for Viki was with Ben. All I can say is HOT!! I hated Sloan. Now I want Viki & Clint together & they have split them again. The heaven stories were wonderful as was the Eternal & 1988. Erika Slezak is Queen Bee of OLTL. Thank you Agnes for 45 yrs.

I liked Blair and John’s stories when they were together. I also liked Blair and Tomas Delgado’s stories. And I thought Blair and Tomas were good together.

Those stories with Viki, Viki, or Viki are the best! I love have loved watching Erika Slezak portray Viki ever since I was like 5 years old. My favorite stories with her have stories with her children – Kevin, Joey & Jessica, and then Megan and Natalie. I love watching stories with Viki and Dorian or Viki and Tina, and I thoroughly enjoyed the breast cancer story. I couldn’t get enough of Ben and Blondie and I now want to see Viki and Clint find their way back to each other. JVD is fabulous as Clint and I look forward to many, many more years!! Happy Anniversary OLTL!

My favorite is Vikis mysterious car accident that left her in a coma, and the suprise return of Larry Woleck who is at Vikis bedside confessing he always loved her. Then after Larry leaves, we see Vikis fingers on her right hand move briefly. Some speculate Dorian tampered with Vikis car brakes but there are hints that members of that tatooed organization involving Arturo may be responsible in an act of revenge against Victors family. But the best suprise is when Clint returns to Llanview and finds a mysterious woman in the house who claims to be the real Victoria Lord and played by Gillian Spenser who originated the role when Oltl first aired on ABC. But who is she really and is she connected to Arturo and the tatooed organization? Kidding…none of this is currently happening on the reboot…my real favorite storyline was everthing that was going on the shows final two years when on ABC…

Jeez, you should write for the show! I don’t watch the reboot but I know there’s something about tattoos so you really had me going. Did they ever actually write Larry Woleck out of the show or did he just disappear into the OR one day never to reappear?

Happy 45 anniversary one life to live. I’ve been watching for over 25 years and it was always my favorite soap. I’d say my favorite years were from 1986 to 1994. From Vicki trip to heaven, to Tina going over the waterfall in Argentina, to the Wild West story, eterna, fraternity row, Marty’s rape, classic cat fights with long hair twirling, to aids/gay coming out story, Alex trying to drown Cassie , the list goes on. Just so happy oltl is back n hopefully around for another 45 years . If not ,more.

There have been so many. Larry & Meredith love story as well as Vicki and Joe. Karen as a hooker and Marco as her pimp. Just to name few. Happy 45th Anniversary OLTL!!

Happy 45 Anniversary to my favorite soap opera ever. I have been watching OLTL for thirty years. My favorites have always been Vicki and Clint, Cord and Tina, Bo and Didi, Bo and Nora, Max and Blair, Kelly and Joey, Jessica and Christian and JOLIE, JOLIE and JOLIE!!!!

Prospect Park please find a way to bring back Michael Easton to play John McBain. Dr. Silas Clay is a mediocre character that won’t last on GH. We need JOLIE!

Couldn’t agree with you more! JOLIE!

Congratulations OLTL on 45 years of wonderful story telling. I was there for the first episode and I am still watching today.

There have been so many terrific story lines. I remember Carla and Jim Craig. That was a very daring story line for the time. I still miss the Wolek family, Anna, Vinnie and Larry, the Siegel family. Larry and Meredith’s love story was wonderful. No one can every forget Karen Wolek and Marco Dane. I loved Dorian and Herb and Cassie coming to town. (He was the only man who could really control her such as it is. Mel did a great job too.) Jenny and David Renaldi were terrific together.

Viki’s DID story when we met Tommy, Princess, Jean Randolph, Tori and the most terrifying personality Victor was amazing. There are not enough superlatives for Erika Slezak. I really loved when they explored Dorian’s family history and we met her crazy mother Sonya. Robin Strasser was fantastic portraying all the hidden layers of Dorian. One of my all time favorite scenes was when Tina went over the Iguazu Falls. Too bad for Cord that she didn’t stay there. But at the of the network run, they worked things out. Another favorite was when Jessica got in Natalie’s face and called her a “selfish, lying whore.”

I could go on and on but I’m taking up too much space. I absolutely love OLTL. Once again, thank you to everyone who brought my people back to me. I look forward to another 45 years of wonderful entertainment.

Happy 45th anniversary OLTL and here’s to more!!!

I’m into couples on soaps. My favs were Max & Gabrielle, Megan & Jake, Jessica & Nash and Natalie and John.

I agree with you Emily. My favorite couple of these four was Megan and Jake, but I like the other three couples too.

High 5 Penni:) I’m so glad OLTL is back on the air now. I know it’s for a limited time, but still never thought I’d see the day:)

My favorite storyline was the love story of Megan Gordon (Jessica Tuck) and Jake Harrison (Joe Lando). It was a sad end to their story but entertaining through it all. Especially during the Badderly fiasco. Would have loved to have seen Jake return briefly before OLTL went off ABC to update what he had been doing. and how he has survived all these years without Megan.

Just one storyline out of so many I loved was the Ben/Vicki love story. Hated, hated when they killed him off.

Eterna…no one mentioned Eterna. I loved it. Also when Tina was marrying Max and said Cord’s name instead of Max’s. I pretty much liked anything about Cord and Tina. Max and Luna were also a nice couple. So many storylines in 45 years and so many wonderful characters. It would be so good to see Kevin, Joey and Jessica too. I love Vicki with Clint, Nora with Bo, Dorian with Herb (but David is funny), Asa and Rene, Tia and Victor Jr and of course Blair and Todd (Roger Howarth). Long live One Life to Live.

I LOVED ETERNA TOO! One person above (JP) did mention it along with a few other storylines, but most people seemed to have hated it. I actually loved when the soaps did the sci-fi stuff-OLTL with Eterna and GH with Cassadine Island are two of my favorite daytime storylines of all time. And yet, ironically, I hate sci-fi stuff except for the original Star Wars trilogy.

There have been many great storylines over the years, but if I had to pick my favorite it would be Marty and Patrick (the poet). There was a romance that touched my heart and so did the fantastic actors who played those parts. Thorsten Kaye and Susan Haskell were a great combo and it is nice to see that they are together in real life.
However, let me say that I think every actor on the show has brought something special to the show through the years, and that is why I have loved this show for 45 years. What a Prospect Park has done with the show since they started is simply fabulous! I am hoping to see my favorite show for many more years to come.

My favorite storyline it’s Megan (Jessica Tuck) and Jake (Joe Lando). Such a great and sad love story, but funny too. Jessica and Joe were perfect in their acting, and had a great chemistry. Love them.

My favorite story line?….the triumphant return of OLTL and AMC! Thank you Prospect Park! 🙂

Eterna was my favorite storyline. Favorite couple was Gabrielle & Max because she really made him fall in love with her, which was amazing to me as a teenager. Favorite character is Vicki because of her grace and class, but Tina in her heyday and David Vickers in the last couple of years were really great for comic relief, as was Roxy.

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‘One Life to Live’ Alum Tuc Watkins Joins Cast of Brett Goldstein’s Prime Video Series ‘Escorted’

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Tuc Watkins (ex-David Vickers, One Life to Live) continues to be booking role after role, and now comes word that the Llanview soap alum has joined the cast of Escorted, the upcoming comedy series from and starring Ted Lasso and Shrinking star, Brett Goldstein.

According to Deadline, Tuc has signed on for the production of the series, where he will play the role of Neil, who looks like a cowboy. However, here’s the catch! Neil is a trainer at a high-end gym and a male escort to wealthy woman on the side. Shades of Llanview’s David Vickers, for sure!

In the premise of Escorted, a divorced Manhattan dad, played by Goldstein, accidentally becomes a male escort in a romantic comedy about sexual dynamics, keeping secrets, and whether real intimacy can ever be bought.

Brett Goldstein

Photo: JPI

Prime Video ordered the eight-episode, half-hour single-camera romantic comedy from Brett Goldstein last November. Goldstein will star, executive, produce, write, and co-showrun. In a statement, Brett expressed, “I’m so excited to bring a wholesome show about condoms, co-parenting, and cosplay to Amazon.”

As for Watkins, he is currently recurring on Hulu’s Paradise and appeared in the second season of ABC’s Shifting Gears. His other TV credits include: HBO Max’s The Other Two, Showtime’s Black Monday, and series regular roles on ABC’s Desperate Housewives, Showtime’s Beggars and Choosers, and more.

In addition, Tuc has a recurring role in Shemar Moore’s upcoming S.W.A.T. Exiles for Starz which premieres on September 25. Watkins numerous film credits include: The Mummy, The Good Shepherd and Retake. Watkins recently wrapped the indie feature, Cowboy, and in 2025 starred in the feature Exile Interviews.

So, what do you think of Tuc’s new role as a male escort to wealthy woman in Escorted? Looking forward to seeing him S.W.A.T. Exiles? Let us know via the comment section below.

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Y&R’s Victoria and Kyle’s Love Affair to Kick-Off; Amelia Heinle Says EP Sally McDonald Shared Why; ‘You’ve Got Chemistry’ with Michael Mealor

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Victoria and Kyle

A day many fans of The Young and the Restless have been dreading, and others are down for, is here. Beginning with the Thursday, August 27 episode of The Young and the Restless, Kyle (Michael Mealor) and Victoria (Amelia Heinle) will have sex taking their growing attraction to each other to another level.

But why is Y&R heading down the path of an older woman/younger man, Newman/Abbott, former love interest of Victoria’s daughter Claire (Hayley Erin) and all the complications with longtime waring families? Because to the series, it will generate story to come.

Two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Amelia Heinle revealed to TV Insider, how she found out what she suspected that the powers-that-be were setting up a romance between Victoria and Kyle.

Photo: JPI

“At one point a while back, I noticed Kyle was always coming to talk to Victoria or we’d run into each other and I told Michael, ‘I don’t think they would ever put us together, but this is kind of funny because it feels like they’re trying to test our chemistry, which would be really, really odd,” recalled Heinle. ”

“But that memory passed quickly. And then I walked off set one day after finishing a scene with Michael and I got called up to our executive producer, Sally McDonald’s, office and she said, ‘We’re giving you a romance with him.’ And I’m like, ‘Who?’ And she said, ‘Him,’ and she pointed at the monitor because Michael was still on set. I was like, ‘Oh, OK. Are you sure?’ And she was like, ‘Uh-huh. Yup. You’ve got chemistry.’”

Once she learned the news, Heinle talks with Michael Mealor to make sure he was OK with the romantic story turn. “I walked up to him one day on set when I found out and said, ‘Do you know about this yet?’. Hw was like, ‘Yeah,’ and then I said, ‘So, are you OK?’ And he said, ‘Are you OK?’ And I said, ‘I’m good. I think we could make something out of this,’ and he said, ‘I do, too. I plan on leaning into it all.’ So, we were in agreement. Michael and I have always gotten along. We’ve always liked each other.”

Kyle and Victoria

Amelia Heinle, Michael Mealor
“The Young and the Restless” Set
CBS television City
Los Angeles
05/22/26
© Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
310-657-9661
Episode # 13419
U.S. Airdate 07/15/26

The storyline was started by now former Y&R head writer Josh Griffith. So now that Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor are in place as the new co-head writers of the top-rated soap, things could change dramatically or go full steam ahead.

Heinle offered up, “It’s not going to be boring, that’s for sure. I feel like right now with the new writers coming in, it’s a work in progress. I feel like we’re seeing how it goes. They’re fully committed to it, but nothing is set in stone in terms of the story yet.”

So, where do you stand? Do you want to see Kyle and Victoria rip the clothes off of each other, have sex and have a torrid affair? Do you think it’s wrong for Victoria to be sleeping with her daughter’s former boyfriend? What side of the fence do you land on with this pairing? Let us know via the comment section below.

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Dolly Parton Remembered: Y&R Alum Alyvia Alyn Lind Shares Heartfelt Tribute to the Legendary Singer and Songwriter

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Alyvia Alyn Lind and Dolly Parton

The world is in mourning on Tuesday, August 25 with the news of the passing of iconic and beloved country western singer/songwriter/actress Dolly Parton. The 11-time Grammy winner crafted and performed memorable hits such as “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You,” 9 to 5″, and “Here You Come Again, ” to name but a few.

Parton died in Nashville today. She was 80-years-old. Not only was Dolly an iconic name in the world of music, she was also an actor, producer, playwright, theme park founder (Dollywood), and a noted philanthropist.

One of the people lucky enough to know and experience the life of Dolly through a different lens was Alyvia Alyn Lind, the one time Faith Newman of The Young and the Restless. Lind played the role of Nick (Joshua Morrow) and Sharon’s (Sharon Case) daughter on and off from 2011-2021.

Alyvia Alyn Lind and Dolly Parton

Photo: HallmarkChannel

ALVIA ALYN LIND PLAYED A YOUNG DOLLY

However, it was Lind, who portrayed a young Dolly in the television movie adaption of Parton’s song and book “A Coat of Many Colors” in 2015, and its sequel in 2016 Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love.

Parton and Lind shared a close bond following the project, famously performing a touching, emotional duet of Parton’s song “Angel Hill” together on Hallmark’s Home & Family.

Taking to her Instagram just a short time ago, Alyvia paid tribute to the one and only Parton, expressing, “I am truly at a loss for words. There are some people who come into your life and leave a mark that can never be erased. Dolly was one of those people.  will forever be grateful that I had the privilege of knowing her, learning from her, and carrying a piece of her with me through such an important and formative part of my childhood. Getting to play Dolly changed my life, but getting to know her changed my heart. Memories, lessons, laughter, and a light that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”

Alyvia added, “The world will never be the same without her, but that light will live on in all of us who were lucky enough to experience it. Thank you for believing in me, for teaching me, for letting me be a small part of your story, and for being such a meaningful part of mine. Rest peacefully, Dolly. You will be missed more than words can ever say. Thank you for everything. ❤️

FAMILY ANNOUNCES THE DEATH OF DOLLY PARTON

Parton also starred alongside Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman in the smash 1980 film 9 to 5, and later roles in films including: The Best Little Whorehouse in TexasRhinestoneSteel MagnoliasStraight Talk, and Joyful Noise.

Parton’s death was announced via her official Instagram post by her nephew, Bryan Seaver on behalf of the Parton family. He shared the news in a video statement. You can see that below.

Share your remembrances of the one and only Dolly Parton via the comment section below, and if you remember watching a young Alyvia Alyn Lind portray Dolly Parton in two TV movies. 

 

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