News
OLTL 45: Stars Offer Up Their Favorite Storylines! What Was Your Favorite Story Of All-Time?
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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.… Read more »
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… Read more »
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.
News
‘As The Curtain Rises’ – Broadway’s Podcast Soap Opera Featuring Michael Urie
Leave it to the stars of the Great White Way to come up with a clever digital podcast during these trying times we all face amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Enter Broadway’s podcast soap, As the Curtain Rises, which premiered on October 22nd and is posting new episodes.
Photo: JPI
On December 3rd, the latest installment dropped featuring former Ugly Betty star Michael Urie who is featured in the cast in the role of Bobby.
Here is the premise of the show: After the ‘Broadway Disher’ (Lesli Margherita) leaks news of a top secret, in-the-works, new mega musical, the Broadway community goes off-the-charts batty. Top-of-their-game Broadway Producers Cheryl Philips (Lillias White) and Steve Jones (James Monroe Iglehart), arch enemies, pounce. Who will get the rights? Will way-out-of-their-comfort-zone creators Kaye (Ashley Park) and Bobby (Michael Urie) manage to deliver a draft of the show before their marriage implodes? Will Director/Choreographer Zoey Taylor (Ariana DeBose) send the show’s budget into a free fall with her wildly ambitious vision? Will Broadway Diva Emma-Olivia (Sarah Stiles) get a Schmackery’s cookie (with Sprinkles) named in her honor? Will newbie Agent Maxwell Fernsby (George Salazar) step into his new big shoes? And will Science Consultant Andrew Barth Feldman (Andrew Barth Feldman) protect the integrity and authenticity of the in-the-works mega musical, before he needs to leave this top secret show to star in a new Broadway musical?
As The Curtain Rises proudly supports The Actor’s Fund, the Broadway Podcast Network Frontline Initiative, and is a sponsored project of IFP (www.ifp.org).
Check out previous episodes of the podcast here.
You can watch Urie do his thing in the role of Bobby in this teaser released on social media below.
Then let us know, what do you think of the concept of the Broadway spoof on soaps? Comment below.
Watch @michaelurie in a sneak peek of the Broadway-themed soap opera As the Curtain Rises: https://t.co/WcTjk1NrDf pic.twitter.com/moVu1ueom4
— Playbill (@playbill) December 3, 2020
General Hospital
ABC’s Vicki Dummer & William Burton Among Executive Exits In Disney TV Cuts; Both Oversaw Aspects Of General Hospital
In a major reshuffling of the executive infrastructure at Disney/ABC, several lay-offs were handed-down including to longtime ABC executive Vicki Dummer who most recently was Head of Current Series Programming, ABC Entertainment,
In her position, Dummer oversaw the creative aspects from the network level for General Hospital. Vicki had been with the company for over 24 years and was a noted longtime fan of the show in interviews she had given during her tenure.
Courtesy/ABC
Back in September of 2018, William Burton was given the position of SVP and Head Of Daytime, Sports and Syndicated Development/Production for ABC Entertainment. He had been in charge of the the business operations for General Hospital at a network level, while Dummer continued to handle the creative. However today, Burton was also let-go.
The exits come as ABC and Hulu have consolidated original content under Craig Erwich, and 20th Television and Touchstone TV under Karey Burke.
The layoffs are believed to have effected 12 staff members mostly at the executive level.
Deadline broke the news and then updated their story later today.
Just who and what department in the new structuring will take over General Hospital remains to be seen. We will keep you posted once any additional news or announcements are made.
So, what do you think of the exits of Vicki Dummer and William Burton? Comment below.
Guiding Light
GL & ATWT Alum Tom Pelphrey On His Role in ‘Mank’: “I Got To Say Rosebud On-Screen with Gary Oldman, in a David Fincher Film. Pretty Cool.”
‘As The Curtain Rises’ – Broadway’s Podcast Soap Opera Featuring Michael Urie
ABC’s Vicki Dummer & William Burton Among Executive Exits In Disney TV Cuts; Both Oversaw Aspects Of General Hospital
GL & ATWT Alum Tom Pelphrey On His Role in ‘Mank’: “I Got To Say Rosebud On-Screen with Gary Oldman, in a David Fincher Film. Pretty Cool.”
Soap Vet and ‘Selling Sunset’ Star, Chrishell Stause Dating DWTS Pro Keo Motsepe
Emme Rylan On Her Final GH Scenes: “Laying There Emotionless While My Amazing Costars Cried Over My Comatose Body Was One of the Hardest Acting Challenges EVER!”
Brandon Routh Joins Another OLTL Alum, Nathan Fillion, In New Role on ‘The Rookie’
DAYS Cady McClain & Rob Scott Wilson Talk Being Recasts, All My Children Reboot, Future of Cin & Jennifer’s Bitch-Slap
Daytime Emmys To Remain Virtual For Upcoming 2021 Ceremony
TODAY: Y&R Airs Its 12,000th Episode As Melissa Ordway Takes You Behind The Scenes
Falcon Crest’s Abby Dalton Dead at 88
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: A Tortured Thomas Has A Game-Changing Moment
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Port Charles Learns a Bomb Caused the Explosion as Lives are Forever Changed
Emme Rylan On Her Final GH Scenes: “Laying There Emotionless While My Amazing Costars Cried Over My Comatose Body Was One of the Hardest Acting Challenges EVER!”
Peter Reckell’s Music Video Debuts For His New Christmas Song ‘Under the Mistletoe’
Y&R Previews Week-Long Celebration of Their 12,000th Episode
DAYS Cady McClain & Rob Scott Wilson Talk Being Recasts, All My Children Reboot, Future of Cin & Jennifer’s Bitch-Slap
Falcon Crest’s Abby Dalton Dead at 88
Soap Vet and ‘Selling Sunset’ Star, Chrishell Stause Dating DWTS Pro Keo Motsepe
TODAY: Y&R Airs Its 12,000th Episode As Melissa Ordway Takes You Behind The Scenes
ABC’s Vicki Dummer & William Burton Among Executive Exits In Disney TV Cuts; Both Oversaw Aspects Of General Hospital
DAYS Cady McClain & Rob Scott Wilson Talk Being Recasts, All My Children Reboot, Future of Cin & Jennifer’s Bitch-Slap
TODAY: Y&R Airs Its 12,000th Episode As Melissa Ordway Takes You Behind The Scenes
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: A Tortured Thomas Has A Game-Changing Moment
Peter Reckell’s Music Video Debuts For His New Christmas Song ‘Under the Mistletoe’
THIS WEEK On GENERAL HOSPITAL: The Aftermath of the Explosion
Y&R Gets Ready To Celebrate 12,000th Episode
B&B’s Matthew Atkinson Weighs-In On Daytime’s Wildest Storyline, The Hope Mannequin & What’s Really Going On With Thomas
Ryan Phillippe Opens Up About How Parents Shunned Him For Taking On Gay Role On One Life to Live & Part In ‘Cruel Intentions’
Tuc Watkins Talks ‘Boys in the Band’, Falling in Love, and His One Life to Live Co-Stars
This Week on General Hospital: Lives Are On The Line (Watch the Promo)
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PreviewsNovember 29, 2020THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: A Tortured Thomas Has A Game-Changing Moment
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General HospitalNovember 26, 2020GENERAL HOSPITAL: Port Charles Learns a Bomb Caused the Explosion as Lives are Forever Changed
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General HospitalDecember 2, 2020Emme Rylan On Her Final GH Scenes: “Laying There Emotionless While My Amazing Costars Cried Over My Comatose Body Was One of the Hardest Acting Challenges EVER!”
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Days Of Our LivesNovember 27, 2020Peter Reckell’s Music Video Debuts For His New Christmas Song ‘Under the Mistletoe’
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PreviewsNovember 25, 2020Y&R Previews Week-Long Celebration of Their 12,000th Episode
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Days Of Our LivesDecember 1, 2020DAYS Cady McClain & Rob Scott Wilson Talk Being Recasts, All My Children Reboot, Future of Cin & Jennifer’s Bitch-Slap
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Breaking NewsNovember 30, 2020Falcon Crest’s Abby Dalton Dead at 88
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Dancing with the StarsDecember 3, 2020Soap Vet and ‘Selling Sunset’ Star, Chrishell Stause Dating DWTS Pro Keo Motsepe