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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!
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.
News
RATINGS: ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ Catches Fire; Up Over a Half Million Viewers Since Last Year, Inching Closer to ‘The Young and the Restless’ for #1 Slot

The race for the number one show on CBS daytime and overall across all broadcast networks became more intriguing after the latest ratings for the week of June 29-July 3 were released.
According to Soap Opera Network, The Bold and the Beautiful while adding +49,000 total viewers for the week is actually up over +566,000 in comparison to last year at this time. That is over a half million viewers. Additionally, B&B was once clocked in with over 3 million viewers for the week at 3,010,000 tuning in. The week marked its second largest viewership of the current TV season.
In comparison, The Young and the Restless which consistently holds at number #1 came in at 3,217,000 with a net gain of +32,000 and also up + 300,000 from 2025 at this time. This makes 23 weeks in a row that the soap has come in with over 3 million tuning-in.
However, there is now only 200,000 plus lead by Y&R shortening the gap between the two soaps. Additionally, The Bold and the Beautiful once again topped the key demo of women 18-49 besting The Young and the Restless with a 0.22 ratings share of the audience compared to 0.20 share.

Courtesy/CBS
HOPE AND BROOKE’S MOTHER/DAUGHTER SHOWDOWN
On The Bold and the Beautiful, the ratings week featured the fallout of Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) being revealed as the new creative director and lead designer of Logan.
Hope’s decision to keep it a secret from her mother, Brooke Logan Forrester (Katherine Kelly Lang) then showcased major confrontations and showdowns between Brooke and her sister, Katie (Heather Tom), and then Brooke and her daughter, Hope, which ultimately left viewers on the Friday, July 3 cliffhanger with Hope passing out in anguish over betraying her mother.

Photo: JPI
PATTY MAKES HER DEADLY MOVE AGAINST JACK
Over at The Young and the Restless, the week featured the aftermath of Nikki’s (Melody Thomas Scott) surgery to save her eyesight, Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) being stabbed by a vengeful Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk), Kyle (Michael Mealor) rushing to save his mother, Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters), and Billy (Jason Thompson) and Jill (Lauren Koslow filling-in for Jess Walton) trying to settle old grievances.
As for General Hospital, the ABC soap opera came in with just under 2 million viewers adding +27,000 for the week and up +140,000 at this time. Meanwhile, Beyond the Gates had a week of repeats, so it was down to 1,354,000 total viewers but still up +282,000 from last year.
*ratings are derived from Nielsen’s Live+Same Day Big Data+Panel viewing and DVR playback.
So, what do you think of the ratings performance of The Bold and the Beautiful? Was it one of their best week’s in a long time on-screen? Do you think they will soon be able to top The Young and the Restless as number #1 in total viewers, or do you think Y&R will continue to remain the kingpin for some time to come? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Tamara Tunie Shares Bittersweet Moment of Learning She’s a Daytime Emmy Nominee Following the Loss of ATWT’s Scott Bryce

As many are celebrating their nominations for the upcoming 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards on October 30, for some it was a “mixed bag of emotions,” as detailed by first time nominee Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree, Beyond the Gates), who was named as one of the five women in the coveted Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress category.
The Lead Actress nominations were actually announced on Monday on Entertainment Tonight, ahead of the full nomination announcement by NATAS on Tuesday. Sadly, on Sunday night, Tamara’s longtime friend, and former As the World Turns co-stars, Scott Bryce (ex-Craig Montgomery) passed away from cancer at 68-years-old.
Michael Fairman TV first reported the heartbreaking news of Scott’s death, and his beloved son, Jackson took to his Instagram to announce the death of his father, sharing, “What began as stage three esophageal cancer eventually spread and became brain tumors that took his life away from him.”

Photo: JPI
THE LOSS OF ‘AS THE WORLD TURNS’ CO-STAR
Tamara spoke on receiving the recognition from peers while mourning the loss and trying to process the news of Bryce’s death via heartfelt message on her Instagram on Wednesday. Tunie had appeared on As the World Turns as Jessica Griffin from 1986-1995, 1999-2007 and 2009. She crossed paths with Bryce during several of his runs on the show 1982-1987, 1988-89, 1990, 1993-94 and 2007-08.
In her video message, Tunie explained she was at the airport in Atlanta (where Beyond the Gates is taped) and was heading to Pittsburgh for a speaking engagement, but she took a few moments to address these two moments in her life.
Tamara began her video with, “Hey family. I didn’t want to let any more time go by without expressing some of the emotions I had been feeling over the past couple of days. Many of you know that a dear friend of mine passed Sunday night. He was like a brother to me. We were friends for 40 something years and we actually met on the set of As the World Turns, a daytime drama. Monday, a mere 24 hours later, it was announced that I was nominated for an Emmy award for Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama.”
Sharing how the loss of Scott Bryce has deeply-affected her, Tamara added, “So, you can only imagine the rollercoaster of emotions that I have been feeling since Sunday night. I know my daytime soap opera brother is smiling down on me and cheering me on, and I am so grateful for this recognition from my peers. Being nominated for the first time it’s a mixed bag of feelings I have to tell you.”

Photo: CBS
BEYOND THE GATES FAMILY SCORES BIG IN EMMY NOMINATIONS
However, Tamara took some moments to recognize Beyond the Gates Emmy nomination haul, expressing, “I’m looking forward to the next couple of months leading up to the awards as we continue to create great television. I am so proud of the rest of my cast members, not only those who are nominated, but every single person who works on this show and gives a hundred percent of themselves every single time they show up. Our crew, our production staff, the Beyond the Gates family is truly special.”
“To have these 15 nominations is really extraordinary. Thank you family for watching. Thank you for supporting us. Thank you for supporting me,” concluded Tunie.
You can check out Tamara’s emotional video message below.
Now, let us know, are you happy to see Tamara receiving the first Daytime Emmy nomination of her career for her role as Anita on Beyond the Gates? Do you remember when Tamara and Scott Bryce both appeared on As the World Turns? Share your thoughts on Tamara’s heartbreaking words on his passing via the comment section.
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General Hospital
Grady Eldridge Makes His ‘General Hospital’ Debut as Music Executive Simon

There’s another new face in Port Charles, when on today’s Wednesday, July 15 on General Hospital, Grady Eldridge made his debut as Simon, a new music executive, who is scouting talent for his record label.
According to Soap Opera Digest, Eldridge is on recurring status with the ABC soap opera, and in story, Simon is the A&R rep responsible for signing music acts and he enters the scene as Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) sets up a musical showcase for Trina (Tabyana Ali) and Gio (Giovanni Mazza) who accompanies her on guitar. As the showcase kicks off, Simon arrives.
While his GH role marks his first on daytime, Grady can currently be seen in the final season of HBO’s comedy hit, Hacks. He has numerous credits in primetime including: Doctor Odyssey, The Sex Lives of College Girls and appeared as Max in the recently released in Jennifer Lopez’s movie office romance.
Eldridge joins several other newcomers have joined the ABC soap including: Dean Geyer as Dr. Tristan Roberts (who first showed up on Monday’s July 13 episode), and Troy Lennon Appel as mysterious businessman, Hudson who shows up later this month.
In addition, GH fans will get the chance to see Kayden Brenna Tokarski who takes over the role of Scout Cain, and Kelly Kruger (ex-Mackenzie Browning, The Young and the Restless) who is the recast Serena Baldwin, who debuts on July 30.
So, do you hope Simon sticks around Port Charles? Do you think Trina and Gio will become a major recording act, or will trouble be brewing with this new music executive, and Brook Lynn will spell t-r-o-u-b-l-e? Let us know your thoughts and impressions after checking out Grady on today’s GH via the comment section.
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