Connect with us

News

OLTL's Erika Slezak on taping Robin Strasser's Goodbye Scenes, "I sobbed like a baby!"

Courtesy/ABC

Courtesy/ABC

The incredible Erika Slezak (Viki) of One Life to Live chatted with Liz Smith in an interview for WowoWow.com (The Women on the Web) where the six-time Daytime Emmy winner discussed the ending of  One Life, what she would like to do next in her career, and taping Viki’s final scenes with Robin Strasser (Dorian).  As many already know, Strasser is having to exit OLTL earlier than had been anticipated due to impending back surgery.

So, just how did Erika and Robin make it through the taping of the final scenes of rivals and some times friends, Viki and Dorian? Well according to Slezak it was not an easy task.  Erika  revealed, “We just did our goodbye scenes and I sobbed like a baby.  I can’t believe I won’t have the joy of that magnificent talent to play against every day.” And neither can the fans of daytime or One Life to Live, for that matter!

When Liz Smith also inquired to Slezak, what is it like to have been playing the same character for 40 years, Erika answered, “You know, nobody has ever asked me that before! I know Viki very well.  She is so familiar to me. The minute I get to the soundstage, I go into Viki mode.  She’s not like me at all, but I love her.  She’s a wonderful, flawed woman, who always makes a huge effort to do and be better, sometimes to the pain of friends and family. To do this sort of work — soap work — requires extreme focus and concentration.”

Click to comment

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

erika slezak is my all time favorite daytime actress – she is such a classy lady!
i think viki & dorian are the infamous dynamic duo of daytime!!

I’m not looking forward to saying goodbye to OLTL at all….I’m sure I will be sobbing like a baby, myself. I have watched for so many years, and these characters are an extension of my family. I can’t believe what these tv executives are doing to their networks and their fans. I will be glued to the television, in support of OLTL, until the very end.

Torrey, i could not agree with you more. You have summed up how I feel and I sure that there are many, many, many more views out there who feel the same way. I have watched since 1979.

This gives me hope that Erika will end up somewhere great and I will still be able to enjoy her work. I’d love for them to create a roll for her on United States of Tara. Seems obvious. Or something completely different…..True Blood.

Sorry, but US of Tara was cancelled.

What a wonderful acting team Erika & Robin make together! 🙂

The great Erika Slezak has played Viki since 1971 . Erika has given the viewers many many great storylines . I wish Erika Slezak the very best in Her Career Move after January 2012 . A very heartfelt thank you from all the ‘One Life To Live’ Viewers .

Robin and Erika are both class acts. I will miss seeing them on my television screen everyday.

Robin and Erika are such beautiful and talented ladies. They will be missed so much by their fans.

A classy lady and we could not give her a tribute at the Emmys! Folks these are the people that made Daytime TV they deserved better.

OLTL was my first soap. I remember when Erika took over the role of Vicky and watched for many years with my mother.

Let us know when Dorian says goodby to Lanview- I’ll tune in.

Can’t understand how I will miss Viki and Dorian who are characters that don’t exist played by women I have never met, but I will–and it really hurts to think about it. Thank you Erika and Robin–love you both.

I am so sad : o ( too see ALL My Children and One Life To Live go off air!! The Drama of daytime Soaps makes me forget all my problems (drama) in my own life. Vicki and Dorian act more like sisters lol Clash and Clan like most sisters do. I will miss the the sisterly love. LOL. PLEASE DONT TAKE AWAY OUR SOAPS. Did you know even the prisoners watch soaps. I have heard that of course….anyways if you can make hardened criminals cry then you have even calmed down the prison for a couple hours. I bet the guards love that.

I have watched vicki since the beginning-I didn’t have a good role model mom-I actually looked up to vicki and how she handled family which I loved. I don’t know I’m losing a best friend I loved everything about the house, vicki, and of course the life-as I agree this is truely one life to live- I love you vicki – thank you with tears in my eyes, thank you everyone on the set glori

I never watch this show before 2011. when my soaps GL and ATWT ended, i stat to watch OLTL. Erica and Dorian became my favor personage in this soap, i will miss them . I wish to see them in the other soaps and together.

Seeing the two greatest actresses in daytime, Robin and Erika, saying their “farewells” was really difficult for many reasons. First, they are to me two very good friends of MINE. I have always appreciated their outstanding acting skills over the years when I would have the opportunity to see OLTL. Second, the wrong show was cancelled. It should have ben GH. When I watched the these two women last week, it hit me how greatly they and the show will be missed. Their history has been dramatic, funnier than hell, touching, vehement — all emotions/all levels. I do wish that the “farewell” could have included much more of the history. The years and years of these two women interacting deserved more than the few minutes given them.

Breaking News

Kim Kardashian, Emma Roberts and Marlene King Land ‘Calabasas’, a Soap in the Vein of the ‘O.C’ and ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, at Netflix

There has been lot of soapy projects coming to life and in the works of late, and now comes word that Kim Kardashian is executive producing a new series in development for Netflix called Calabasas.

After a bidding war last week, it looks like Netflix cemented the development deal from Kim, and her producing partners American Horror Story co-star Emma Roberts (pictured below) and Pretty Little Liars creators Marlene King and Alexandra Milchan.

The concept of Calabasas is based on the book If You Lived Here You’d Be Famous By Now by Via Bleidner.  King set to write the adaptation and will serve as the series showrunner.

Photo: JPI

According to Deadline, Calabasas is said to be in the vein of primetime young teen and young adult soaps the O.C. and Beverly Hills 90210. The story follows “Via, a 16-year-old sheltered Midwestern Catholic school girl whose world is turned upside down when her family moves and she’s forced to transfer to the fast world of Calabasas High where nothing is as it appears and where everyone is trying to be someone else. It’s a place where dreams come true … but not without complications and sometimes unforeseen consequences.”

Photo: Hulu

As fans of the Kardashians know, Kim and her family made the town of Calabasas a household and worldwide name. Kim being attached to this project helped make its sale. This marks her fourth project to sell since the writers and actors strikes concluded at the end of last summer.

So, would you be interested to see a teen soap called ‘Calabasas’ on Netflix from Kim and company? Comment below.

Continue Reading

General Hospital

Ellen Travolta Makes Another Return to General Hospital

If General Hospital’s Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) nuptials are on, you didn’t think Grandma Gloria Cerullo would miss out on the festivities, now did you?

Casting news from Soap Opera Digest reveals that Ellen Travolta is back taping scenes that will air the week of May 13th on the ABC daytime drama series.  When viewers learned that Carmine Cerullo, was also on his way back to Port Charles, now in the face and body of actor George Russo, it only made sense that Grandma Gloria would join Grandpa Cerullo. Look for them both mid-May.

As most people know, Ellen is the older sister to John Travolta. She first make appearances as Gloria back on GH in the mid-90s. Most recently, she returned to the Quartermaine mansion to meet up with daughter, Lois (Rena Sofer) and granddaughter Brook Lynn for Thanksgiving in Port Charles in 2023.  Michael Fairman TV interviewed Rena Sofer and Amanda Setton late last year where they shared what it had been liking working with Ellen, who remains very close to Sofer in real-life.

Photo: JPI

Amanda shared: “We fell in love immediately. What’s crazy is my maternal grandmother was Grandma Gloria. I had her till I was 30 and we were so close. She was really like a second mom to me. So, when I got this script and I’m reading “Grandma Gloria”, it was so bizarre. And then in meeting Ellen, she looks like my grandma – same haircut, same high cheekbones. It really did feel like I had a few days with my grandma. It was very, very special for me. Ellen is sweet, prepared, professional, talented and funny to boot. So, it was one of the best weeks I’ve had at work. I hope she comes back. My fingers are crossed.”

Photo: ABC

Now, we can’t imagine Brook Lynn and Chase’s wedding day to be smooth sailing, in fact, expect just the opposite, but could it be Grandma Gloria who is ultimately the hero or the calming voice of reason for any pre-wedding jitters? Stay tuned.

So, glad to know that Ellen Travolta will be back for Brook Lynn and Chase’s big day? Comment below.

Continue Reading

Days Of Our Lives

Kristian Alfonso Returns to Days of our Lives for Tribute to The Late Bill Hayes

After a few weeks of Days of our Lives fans being upset that Kristian Alfonso (Hope Williams) was not on the first list of initial returns for Doug Williams’ funeral and episodes honoring his portrayer, the late Bill Hayes, comes word that the popular star is back and taping scenes.

Kristian reported to work on the Peacock streaming soap opera on Monday, April 22nd. She shared how important it is for her to be back for this particular return to the show that made her a household name.

“My return is very bittersweet,” Alfonso told TV Insider,  “because it is the end of an era with Bill gone. So to return to Days is very sad. I am appreciative that they came to me to include me in their series of shows honoring Doug and I’m very happy to see everyone, but I’m entering the studio with a heavy heart.”

Photo: JPI

It was back in 1983 that Kristian first debuted as Doug’s daughter, and now 41 years later looking back at it, and her time with Bill Hayes is very emotional for her.

“I remember my first scenes with him/ He was very loving, very welcoming. That he was very talented and an incredible actor and an icon, that all goes without saying, but my personal relationship and my working relationship with Bill, it was home,” expressed Alfonso. “Doing the scenes with Bill, I felt like I was with my dad because there was so much warmth and reality.”

Photo: JPI

Alfonso did express some deep regret, in that she had wanted to work with Bill Hayes during her last appearance on the soap back in 2023, but according to the iconic actress, there was something in the works but it never materialized.  “I’m sad that I did not get the opportunity to do the storyline that Ron (Carlivati, head writer) had planned/ It was great; we returned to Salem to reunite with our families and I would have had father/daughter scenes with Billy. What Ron had written was beautiful and emotional and it was a fantastic story. I was 100 percent for it and the fans would have loved it.”

Photo: JPI

As for if Bo (Peter Reckell) and Hope will be back on-screen together anytime soon, Kristian would only say, “What I will say is don’t give up hope.” Doug’s passing and memorial episodes will stream later this year come late November into December.

So, are you happy to learn that Kristian Alfonso is back taping episodes surrounding Doug’s memorial episodes? Comment below.

Continue Reading

Video Du Jour

Peter Reckell returns for a second visit with Michael Fairman following the wrap-up of his recent run as Bo Brady on Days of our Lives.Leave A Comment

Recent Comments

Power Performance

Eileen Davidson as Ashley

The Young and the Restless

Airdate: 4-12-2024

Popular