News
OLTL Says Farewell to its ABC Studios – Exclusive Photos from last tape day via EW.com!
Courtesy/ABC
This just becomes even more real, when you see these newly posted exclusive photos at EW.com from today’s final tape day of One Life to Live at its ABC Studios in New York! In the emotional images featuring Erika Slezak (Viki) Jerry verDorn (Clint), Melissa Archer (Natalie) and the series longtime executive producer, Frank Valentini, the tears were flowing and hugs were all around.
Here is an excerpt of the publications and online platforms first hand report from the set:
“A day filled with tears, laughter, and hugs erupted into applause when the last scene of One Life to Live finished taping in its ABC studio Friday. Today saw scenes moving along at the famously whiplash-like speed common for daytime soaps, but with increasing fanfare and emotion. Then the studio quietly began to fill up in the late afternoon as Erika Slezak (Viki Buchanan) and Jerry vern Dorn (Clint Buchanan, right) started to shoot that last scene (which is not the last one that will be seen on the show’s finale in January) in Viki’s Llanfair living room.
Ever the pro, Slezak was determined not to break down and cry as the time approached, but even as she blinked back the tears, she had hugs for everyone who wanted one, such as Melissa Archer, who played her daughter Natalie and who went straight in for this embrace as soon as the scene was wrapped. “Why bother say goodbye?” said Slezak, who sees this as just closing a chapter. “We will see each other again, someplace, somehow, somewhere.”
“You were all a part of something so extraordinary,” said exec producer Frank Valentini to the cast and crew gathered around when the applause died down after that final scene. He’s also signed on for the online show. “I count us all so lucky and so blessed to be a part of this.”
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
Many things are coming up roses for Jonathan Bennett! On the heels of the news that he is set to debut this month in the role of Joe Fitzpatrick on General Hospital, who is rumored to be a new love interest for Lucas Jones (Van Hansis), comes the news that Bennett’s reality series, Finding Mr. Christmas has received 3 nomination for the Critics Choice Real TV Awards.
Bennett’s Hallmark Channel series finds itself in tough competition alongside fellow nominees: RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV), Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix), Survivor 50 (CBS), Top Chef (Bravo) and The Traitors (Peacock). In addition, Jonathan himself is nominated for Best Show Host and the series participants as the Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series.
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) revealed the nominees for the eighth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards on Thursday, which recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Winners will be announced online at CriticsChoice.com on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET.
Photo: Hallmark
Taking to his Instagram to celebrate the nominations, GH’s Bennett, enthused, “3 Critic Choice Nominations! I’m so proud of the FINDING MR CHRISTMAS and to be in the company of all the legends in all these categories is so surreal! Congrats to Hallmark Channel and to our nominated cast and nominated show and everyone who made this magical show possible. This is crazy! This gives FMC 6 Critics Choice nominations in 2 years. Not bad for a little show on Hallmark Channel. What are your thoughts on our show?” Jumping first into the comment thread was one of his new GH co-stars, Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) who expressed, “Yeah buddy!!!🔥🔥”
In the series, Bennett, the host and co-creator spends eight weeks guiding 10 aspiring actors through a series of “festive face-offs” and acting challenges alongside actors like soap opera notables, Hunter King (ex-Summer, Y&R) and Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS). Along the way, they develop their skills and a bond with one another. The show, which is available on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Plus, highlights LGBTQ+ representation with openly gay contestants vying to be the next Hallmark star.
It should be noted that Traitors received the most Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations with 6 nods, followed by Dancing with the Stars with 4.
Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans having started his career as JR Chandler on All My Children in 2000-2001, before landing the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout performance.
You can check out the full list of Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations here.
So, excited for Jonathan Bennett’s General Hospital debut this month? Have you ever watched Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark? Let us know via the comment section below.
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General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Kelly Thiebaud on Britt and Cassius Sibling Drama, But Who Will Ultimately Blow His Cover?
On the April 30 episode of General Hospital, Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) had some choice words and warning for her brother Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) who has been masquerading as his twin, the very dead, Nathan West.
As the story has unfolded, viewers learned that Britt knew all along that when “Nathan” showed up in Port Charles seemingly resurrected with a missing 7 years of his life unexplained, that Cassius was taking his place.
Now in developments on today’s GH, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) is figuring out that this guy pretending to be Nathan is someone else, and Cassius learns from Britt, that Joss is not just a ditzy sorority girl as he claimed, but a WSB agent! The moment stuns Cassius. Are the walls about to close in on him and his charade?
Courtesy/ABC
Daytime Emmy winner, Kelly Thiebaud spoke to Soap Opera Digest, about the story point and getting the opportunity this time back at GH to work with Ryan Paevey, when she hadn’t had the chance to before.
BROTHERLY LOVE?
Thiebaud expressed on sharing scenes with Ryan Paevey, “It’s just been so wonderful to have him back and to actually work with him! When he first came onto the show (as Nathan at the end of 2013) I was kind of heading out — it was right towards the end of my contract, so we didn’t actually work together a ton. It’s been really refreshing and so much fun to really spend time together and get to know each other and work together. I think we have really great on-camera chemistry and banter with each other. I really enjoy working with him.”
With the stakes at an all-time, Thiebaud explained how she views her on-screen alter-ego’s involvement with her more hot-to-temper sibling and why Britt revealed the truth about Josslyn to him. “People finding out about Cassius would expose what she’s involved in and what she agreed to do,” explains Kelly “And now Josslyn is digging around, and she’s connected to Carly (Laura Wright) to Jason (Steve Burton) and that whole dynamic! It’s messy!”
BRITT’S MURKY FUTURE
Britt has currently also reached her breaking point with Jason being carted away by the WSB, Rocco (Finn Carr), the child she gave birth to, shooting Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) to protect her and Jason, Marco (Adrian Anchondo) being killed after trying to help her, and Cullum holding over her head getting her Huntington’s disease medication to control her symptoms, while blackmailing her into finishing the research on her father, Cesar Faison’s, final project. Thiebaud summed it up best for Britt right now, sharing, “It’s been a really tough time for her.”
So, who do you think will be the person to blow Cassius’ cover? Will it be Britt herself? Josslyn? Liesl? Brennan? Nina? Lulu? Rocco, Maxie, Cullum or someone else? Let us know your pick in the comment section.
Breaking News
Jacob Martinez is ‘Days of Our Lives’ New Javi Hernandez Replacing Al Calderon in the Role
Finally! The casting has been revealed as to just who would be Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Days of our Lives, Javi Hernandez. On Friday, April 30, the long-running soap opera revealed Jacob Martinez is taking on the part and he will first be seen this coming June 30th and then on all-new episodes streaming on Peacock.
As previously reported, the popular Calderon exited the soap opera last year to join the cast of the NBC primetime medical drama, Brilliant Minds as nurse Nico Silva, who in May will air the remainder of their second season. The series has been on the bubble for renewal by the network. His last episodes as Javi will also air this May on DAYS.
Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming, Martinez has been secretly ensconced in all the drama in Salem for quite some time. When viewers see the new Javi in story, we should learn what will happen in Javi’s relationship with Leo Stark played by Emmy winner, Greg Rikaart, plus his continued relationship with his relatives in the Hernandez clan. Currently, when Javi returned to Salem after taking care of his ailing father, and after the bust-up of his marriage to Leo thanks to Dimitri (Peter Porte), he claimed he had moved on with someone else while he was away from Salem.
Photo: JPI
Like Calderon before him, Martinez is a multi-talented actor and singer. Jacob’s resume is impressive having appeared in the musical In Pieces: The Musical at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and he was hand-picked by Joey Contreras to play the role of Grey. Other credits include: the short film, Memory Swim and the play Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage.
Martinez hails from Norfolk, Nebraska and appeared when he was very young at the Johnny Carson Theatre, and as DAYS fans know, Jacob is now working at the Days of our Lives studios, right where the “Tonight Show” is filled. In addition, Jacob Martinez is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).
Taking to his Instagram on Thursday, April 30 once the news of his casting was revealed, Martinez, expressed, “Way too many people to thank in one post, so I’ll just say THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to each and every person who continues to pour into me and encourage me to chase my dreams. I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am. I already feel beyond blessed, supported, and loved. See you all in Salem ⏳”
Jacob Martinez appeared on Friday on the Days of our Lives Instagram account announcing his casting. You can check it out below. Deadline was the first to report the casting switch.
So, excited to learn who is the new Javi Hernandez? Please welcome Jacob Martinez to the role and be on the lookout for his debut on June 30. Comment below.
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THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Has Dylan’s Mystery Caller/Stalker Been Revealed to Be an Alive Luna Nozawa?
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Nick Confesses His Drug Problem to Victor; Joshua Morrow, Mark Grossman, Eric Braeden Bring the Newman Bond
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Michael Reveals His Plan to Set Up Chase and Willow to Have an Affair
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This should not be happening. Thanks OLTL for years of memories and entertainment.
I agree, ABC/Frons/Sweeney are just idiots in charge. Iditotic to cancel their #1 soap that has gained hundreds of thousand viewers over last year!
So sad to see those pictures. Imagine being there.
This is truly, awfully upsetting to me!
Yet another BAD move on the part of ABC Daytime. I will never watch the Chew, nor will I watch the lame show that is going to replace the wonderful OLTL. Those shows will NEVER make it, even though the powers that be will do all they can to prove all of us wrong and keep the these shows (that belong on cable) on the air. On a much nicer note, I want to thank all of the wonderful cast and crew of OLTL for many, many years of wonderful television, as I too have been watching since day one. I wish all of you much success in your future endeavors, and hope that you all join Prospect Park online, as I will definitely be watching!!!! Good Luck to Prospect Park in bringing OLTL to fruition online, and I hope you can do the same with AMC at some point. I hope ABC is not foolish enough to nix GH for Katie Couric, but IMO, by the time she gets on the air, one or both of the other shows replacing AMC and OLTL will have already bombed, and GH can just take one of their spots.
Very sad about hearing of the last tape day. I read Michael’s previous post about the actor’s twitter and facebook remarks before I went to bed last night and I was so upset I could not fall asleep. I kept thinking about all of the wonderful actors, characters and storylines that have been on OLTL since I began watching over 40 years ago. I am 54 now and it is heartbreaking to think that a TV show I got involved with when I was about 13 is now being thrown aside. It is like losing an old friend.
Long live “One Life To Live”!
MY HEART IS BREAKING AND TEARS E GOING DOWN MY EYES RIGHT NOW !!!! IVE BEEN WATCHING FOR 41 YEARS AND SPENT MANY MANY FUN DAYS AT THE OLTL STUDIO MEETING ALL OF THEM INCLUDING THIS PAST SUMMER. THIS IS TERRIBLE !!!!!!!!
I can’t believe OLTL has finished taping. It does not seem real. Thank you OLTL for 25 years of intrigue and suspense. I hope you will be able to continue online. The daytime community is losing the best daytime drama on the air. Its a sad, sad day.
I read that the ABC people were at the OLTL farewell party. Can’t believe those a**holes did that. I can’t wait til karma bites them in the ass, and that ABC daytime will not have any passion or controversy anymore and no one will care about it like The Talk and that game show that took over Guiding Light’s spot on CBS.
With OLTL now gone, ABC has lost its last vestige of class. Not that class matters to the likes of Frons and Co. – but it matters to us, the viewers that ABC has no respect for. I wonder if they’ll finally be surprised to find out that the daytime viewers they evidently both take for granted, and despise, are deserting them and their network in large numbers, never to return.
We have loyalty, and we’ll take that loyalty to PP if they come through with OLTL. And the AMC folks will do the same, if AMC is resurrected. (I’m in both camps.)
But a lot of us are DONE with ABC and Disney. They can rot for all I care.
why is oltl gone and not gh.im not dishing gh.but can you tell me why is it all newyork taped soaps being cancelled.gl,atwt,amc i know they moved to la .but that was a scam of some sort. maybe thinging ratings would pass oltl.but oltl beat amc and gh in the ratings. it may be cheaper to do the chew but know won is watching.so no one in there right mined would want to put there product as a comercial in that time slot.
Up until early 2011, General Hospital had higher ratings than One Life to Live. It’s only after the cancellation annoucement in April that One Life to Live (and eventually All My Children as well) started to beat General Hospital in the ratings. Of course some problems within General Hospital itself (eg: bad writting, poor storylines, etc) contributed in General Hospital being surpassed by the two other ABC soaps.
So to answer your question: “Why One Life to Live was cancelled instead General Hospital?”. The answer is simple: General Hospital had higher ratings than the two other soaps at the time of the cancellation notice.
Ratings are not the reason that GH was selected to remain on the air over the other two that were canceled.
Michael – just asking – then what was the reason that GH remained on and the others were cancelled? Time slot?
Frons said he kept General Hospital because its was the highest rated soap. And if you look at the Nielsen ratings, it’s true that GH was indeed the highest rated ABC soap at the time. Things would change the next couple of weeks after,
Michael, if you knows something that the rest of us don’t, please let us know. Otherwise, it’s your word against the word of Brian Frons.
I give GH less than a year and the ABC soap hackers will have it cancelled too. I say boycott all advertising products for the replacement shows. More than one way to skin a soap hacker.
Sad day indeed. There have been too many since GL shut down in 2009. I loved OLTL and was a rabid fan during the days of the Craigs and Woleks. The Karen/Marco pairing was so strong, their plots so riveting. I loved Dorian Cramer as she rose from doctor (remember the Mark Toland murder?) to society grande dame. And Viki! From her torment between loves Steve and Joe at The Banner. The arrival of the Buchanans! I could do without all the multiple “lost children” and the silliness of Eterna, and the heavy reliance of multiple personalities, but more than most soaps, OLTL has remained true. Maybe thie Prospect Park thing will allow another life to live after all.
This SOOOOOO SUCKS!!! Wth has ABC loosing all my fav soaps???
This should not be happening Oltl by far was ABC best soap it should have been the last one standing at least Oltl cares about there audience GH doesn’t and I for one don’t understand why its still on and Oltl is gone. Thank you Oltl for your suspense and intrigue that you gave to the viewers daytime is loosing one of the best daytime dramas on the air. Daytime will never be the same ever again.
Because at the time of the cancellation, General Hospital had higher rating than One Life to Live (although this is no longer the case today).