All My Children
OLTL & AMC creator Agnes Nixon: "I have plenty stories to tell, if there's anyone around with money to help!"
Courtesy/ABC
As the second deaths of One Life to Live and All My Children rocked the soap world today once Prospect Park came forward with their official release that they are suspending efforts to bring these shows online as the first series for their proposed Online Network, The Daily Beast has an interesting feature out titled, Why All My Children and One Life to Live Are Dead? And, they got in touch with OLTL’s and AMC’s creator, Agnes Nixon, who offered her thoughts on still wanting to find a way to continue her shows, if someone would come forward with the moolah.
But, before that what was extremely disheartening is that according to the Daily Beast, “No one from Prospect Park notified Nixon, who is nearly 84 and who learned of the disappointing, but not surprising, development from the media. But Nixon said she doesn’t blame Prospect Park founders, Jeff Kwatinetz and Rich Frank, for calling it quits.”
Nixon said today, “I am sorry they had to give up the intent to put it on and I’m very grateful to Rich and Jeff for their efforts, but I know that no matter what happens, there is still much story to be told in both One Life to Live and All My Children, and in my heart, I believe, it may still be told. And I’d love to be part of the telling. I’m also grateful to [One Life executive producer] Frank Valentini and the cast and crews. But more than anyone to our fans who have been so loyal and who are a part of our big family.”
On Wednesday, Nixon said she has still has plenty of stories to tell—“if there’s anyone around with money to help.” In fact, in the same breath that she spoke about saying goodbye to Pine Valley and Llanview permanently, the queen of daytime TV started spinning a compelling plot focused on the All My Children character played by J. R. Martinez, capitalizing on the actor’s Dancing With the Stars win.
If anyone knows what it takes to transfer a soap opera from an old medium to a new one, it’s Nixon, who helped Guiding Light make the transition from radio to television and was very excited by the prospect of pioneering the age of premium video programming on the Internet. Nixon’s only regret is that All My Children ended with a huge whodunit that will now never be answered. The writers themselves never figured out who J. R. shot at the party because they were waiting to learn which actors would continue with the soap online. Nixon, who prefers more nuanced resolutions, says she would have liked it more if Pine Valley could have lived on in the minds of fans in a different way.
“I would have never written an ‘end’ because life doesn’t end,” she said.
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Agnes, thank you for sharing your brilliant creations.
would LOVE to share ideas with you about how to save this grenre…. grew up wathcing and loving them, worked in TV, produced a soap in college, work in sales and marekting now… who do I contact? Please advise…thanks so much! Happy Thanksgiving!
I was really concerned about Agnes when the news broke down yesterday. I’m glad that she is the taking the news well and is okay with it.
Agnes, know that the fans are still behind you and these shows! We’re not giving up! Keep that faith that’s in your heart and it will happen one way or another! I have so much appreciation for you for creating OLTL, and for hiring the incomparable Erika Slezak for the role of Viki 40 years ago! Happy Thanksgiving!
IT sucks
There’s obviously an audience – a very loyal and devoted audience. We need a creative entrepreneur to take over the project and make it profitable. This much fan loyalty should not be squandered! What other medium has fans for 30-40+ years. There is definitely opportunity there…
I have been watching this OLTL soap for at least the last 25 years..I am totally devistated that it will not air in some kind of medium out there. I sure hope someone can give us a Christmas miracle and help the shows continue. HEY OPRAH come on..help us have more AMC and OLTL..Pleaseeee!!!!
So sorry that fans had a ray of hope – now that is dashed. It’s like being canceled twice.
Agnes is one of the most gracious ladies ever. Thank you Agnes for everything. Fans waited to see that wonderful cliffhanger on AMCs last show. Now we will never know. How unfair is that? Not even a good happy ending to our show. I am still hoping that both AMC and OLTL will be picked up. We haven’t given up yet and I hope Agnes doesn’t either. PP could have at least told her, but evidently, it wasn’t that important to them. She deserved much better!
For me, the AMC finale was okay. I mean, they wrapped up just about all the storylines and had the vast majority of the characters happy. I guess things were a bit unsettled with Jack and Erica, but I’m okay with that because I’ve been done with their on again, off again relationship for a while. As for who JR shot? Why not just imagine that he was too drunk to aim properly and didn’t shoot anyone? After all, we never see anyone get hit, so why does anyone have to have been hit? Then they find JR in hiding… Read more »
G-d Bless you Agnes as we adore you and appreciate you <3
why can’t the soap network do some thing put these shows on a different network that wou ld be great.i love these shows and hate to have them come to an end.
Yeah, Anges, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. AMC and OLTL now you took it off our online prospect park. Now it’s losing. How can you bring OLTL and AMC back so we can see it online at prospectparkonline.com/soaps. I’m hurt and I’m destroyed cause they tried to break the news to us and it’s got to stop taking OLTL and AMC off our website even new people could help you get money.
Hey Agnes. Maybe Tom Bergeron can come to that Marathan that Erica had for Raising Money for Africa and Dancing With The Stars would have that on A Special Dancing With The Stars Marathan for Africa. Brot and Natalia Win the Marathan. Since Brot is the More Interesting Person because he was Injured in Iraq, then He Gets to Hold The Mirror Ball Trophy. During the Marathan, Dancing With The Marathan Shows Cameron Dancing at one Point and Erica Dancing at another Point. However, Greenlee and Jack are not on Camera. Of course, Aidan wasn’t at the Marathan so he… Read more »
Dear Agnes,
Thank so much for all your amazing stories. I have watched All My Children and One Life to Live for so many years that I am so sad for myself and all the wonderful people that don’t have a job any more. Maybe Donald Trump, Warren Buffet, or Oprah can help us. Maybe if they can’t save the world they can save the soaps that mean so much to so many people. Your soap fans love you and wish you the best.
Hate this news, but Agnes, have you thought about putting the stories in book-form? While I certainly miss all of the actors portraying the characters, at least the storylines could continue, if the actual soap cannot (and we can visualize the actors who played those characters as we read the stories).
Lisa, that is a great idea and it has been done before! Dark Shadows a show from the 60’s & 70’s continues in book and audio format now. It was also recently done with Days of Our Lives and previously with Guiding Light and I am going out on the limb here, As the World Turns. I think it would work and the fans would definitely support the books. You are truly a great lady and you gave us many years of great storytelling. God be with you.
Sure is frustrating having “One Life To Live” going dormant when all it needs is someone who wants to reap the rewards of an already profitable show. Plus, I have no doubt Frank Valentini would have “All My Children” under budget and in the black in no time. If no one grabs this fantastic opportunity I hope Agnes Nixon writes a short story or something telling us how she would have ended the series for good.
I don’t understand why Prospect Park didn’t try to partner up with cable networks such as CW, WEtv, AMC, USA, BRAVO or Hallmark Channel? Any one of those networks would be fortunate to have these legendary shows on their network. And they don’t expect to have 5 million viewers to tune in every day….they would be thrilled to have the 2.5 million that ABC snubs their nose at.
Prospect Park tried. But all the cable networks declined. Much the same way they have rejected all the previous cancelled soaps that had knocked on their door for rescue.
Did you read that somewhere? Just interested in how you came across that information….and I’m being serious, not trying to be a jerk. It’s just that Prospect Park has been so hush hush about everything….it all feels like a top secret mission. And I understand that if they don’t know how things are working out, then they can’t report anything, but in my opinion, Prospect Park has done a very poor job in the public relations department. When starting up something so new, as this online media is, you need to keep the public informed on what’s going on. I… Read more »
I agree. I wish PP would take some time to do that. I would be willing to wait a bit for OLTL to come back. Even if they took the rest of the winter and launch in the spring time. I know the cast and crew need to find a job to support themselves and their families. I just wish they wouldnt just give up.
Again, I would even be willing to pay a fee to help support this endeavor. Please PP. Don’t give up. OLTL needs to live on.
Here’s from the Deadline article.
“They also explored selling a potential second window for the two soaps to cable networks but couldn’t land a buyer”
Source: http://www.deadline.com/2011/11/on-the-brink-prospect-park-may-be-forced-to-pull-the-plug-on-oltl-amc/
So much of television is changing and not for the best.. Reality reality talk talk shows i’m so sick of it!
I will miss OLTL more than I can say. I do not watch The Chew, and I won’t watch anything that replaces my OLTL. And I agree – way too many reality and talk shows. ABC lost a lifelong viewer when they made the decision to axe these classics.
I so miss All My Children…..maybe Agnes could keep us up to date on the goings on in Pine Valley and Lanview by writing a few books! I would read them! They published 3 books in the 80’s that covered the 70’s….I would love for Agnes to start her AMC book right where we left off….who did get shot…if anyone!!
If OLTl cannot be revived, I also would like to see Agnes keep us up todate with Lanview by writing books. But of course, I would really rather see the real deal – but a book would be better than nothing!
I have a feeling they will be back though!!! xoxo Love you Agnes Thank you so much.
I don’t accept that it truly ended. I’m still hoping someone will pick it up, or there will be a sequel, a movie or something. I taped the last week of the show because I’m just not ready to give it up. I really miss all of you.
If there is anyone out there listening. I hope that there is someone that will pick up two of my favorite shows ” All My Children” and ” One Life To Live ” It hurt me to my heart to find out that two shows that i grew up watching as a child til now were going to be cancelled. I pray that someone picks these shows up because they were s major impact to the fans. If anyone is listening, please HELP!!!!!!
If you find a sponsor/promoter, I’ll be watching.