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OLTL's Robin Strasser – her hotline jammed…issues comments on cancellation!

By Michael Fairman

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Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

The incomparable Robin Strasser (Dorian) sent out late last evening an email to many constituents in the industry on her thoughts on the cancellation of her, and our, beloved One Life to Live. Her Robin’s Hotline has been jammed for days, if you tried to call and hear her emotional message on the subject, and the phone line had to be disconnected by the phone company, so they could serve 99 other customers as there was just so much traffic! Strasser says it will be up and running soon.  She informs,  “There is MUCH to regret in ABC’s decision to cancel All My Children AND One Life to Live. My fan/friends are calling in to hear what I think.”

Here are some excerpts below of what Strasser sent out in lieu of the hotline and as a adjunct piece:

Strasser: “I  am INCAPABLE of GRIEVING and LYING at the same time….and ya know as many things as I need to change about myself–that is NOT one of them. I’m part of team headed by Frank Valentini, the best Executive Producer EVER in this genre…and in a 43 year career, I worked with a lot of them! He pledges (with the positive affirmative intelligence that is his personal brand) that we will bring the show to a close with the BEST ending possible!Great! I am SO ON-board!!!!  And yet…I ask myself … why do I feel over-come with a mad-ass recklessness that compels me to tell the truth? (albeit the truth as I see it in this moment Surely you can’t send out a press release calling the two soon to be cancelled shows “Iconic” and then toss them out?… is it me? but I cannot make sense of this concept or how it works for any one?

I’m perched on that slippery slope of being judgmental…but too saddened to lie, I confess: my jury is in! This seems a cavalier and misconceived idea…excuse me, but possibly celebrating the loss of SO MANY jobs with the spin-maker use of the word “EVOLVING” is inappropriate?

I’ve got a healthy addiction to Classic Movies…here’s my current fave flashback montage: Peter Finch shouting out the window and getting others to join in: “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it any more” note: he died soon after after giving that performance… Amazing Susan Hayworth with her awesome sparky retort to her jailers in I Want to Live: “What are you goin’ to do? Kill me?” and just for some release of tension add Bette Davis nervously trying to light her own cigarette in Dark Victory: “I’m told I have a sense of humor”

It is NOT all about me…but as a human being, as one who has been BLESSED to be able to earn her living ALL her life doing work she LOVES…I just have to acknowledge that the pain is palpable. From my viewpoint: All the revisionist corporate spinning can NOT diminish or squelch the VALUE, the PASSIONATE LOYALTY, and the LOVE our audiences have for these shows.

A suggestion? In your way, be creative, and come up with ways to be as positive as you can muster but– I implore you: put “thought into action”… be pro-active.  If MY little Hotline can be CRASHED BY THE VOLUME OF CALLERS—-what MIGHT happen if the energies of our fans went in other effective directions? I’m just asking.

I THANK YOU…OUR ENTIRE CAST/CREW/PRODUCTION AND DESIGN TEAMS THANK YOU…AND THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF THOSE AFFECTED BY THIS IMPENDING LOSS: THANK YOU…THANK YOU…THANK YOU!!!!!!! (yes, you are right…paraphrased shamelessly from James Cagney’s Oscar winning Yankee Doodle Dandy)

BIG SHOUT OUT:  Please…may I count on applause from MY fan/friends for  Michael Logan of TV Guide and his sagacious and courageous EARLY report that AMC and OLTL were going to be cancelled?  People give truth tellers a hard time…and I’m suggesting that his accurate prediction deserves some appropriate HONOR. It is because of that “leak” that the plan could not be hidden nor the reveal delayed…Six hundred of us about to lose our jobs, appreciate the advance notice in order to intelligently come up with Plan B.

LOVE, LIGHT, AND HOPE! Robin”

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THANKYOU ROBIN ,I DID TRY TO HEAR YOUR MESSAGE BUT WASN’T ABLE TOO. I AM REALLY SAD AND ANGRY, I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST ,

This is sad all these people will lose their job and us fans will lose two beloved shows. Looks like abc is following cbs in their programming i will not watch abc daytime after these shows go off the air and i’m sure alot of other people will follow suit. I wish all the best to all those talented people and hope they can find steady work again.

As we put our thoughts into action don’t forget the advertisers. Any company that airs commericals during daytime programming should be addressed also.

Wow, Robin! You are a class act and a true lady. I can’t imagine a life without you on my television screen every day. Dorian is one of the greatest, most complex characters I’ve every seen on TV. I am devastated by this loss more than I have ever been, when it comes to network decisions and cancellations. Having said that, thank you for reminding us of the human toll these reckless, arrogant cancellations will cost. I am tired of greedy executives in this country making decisions that hurt other Americans while they fill their own wallets. Often times, and as a businessman I have seen it, executives in this country don’t have the smarts or know-how to run a dollar store, much less a major corporation or television network. Like Peter Finch, I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore. Whatever I can do to help, I will do. I e-mail the dud duo of Frons and Sweeney about every day. I’ve called the ABC hotline (which I have read has been shut down). I will watch One Life to Live until the end. If these individuals of limited know-how still go through with their serial killing plot, I vow this for the rest of my life: ABC, Disney, ESPN, and all of their networks, products, theme parks, etc., will go dark for me for the rest of my life. I am only one person; but in my heart, my mind, my physical being, Frons and Sweeney and their reality/lifestyle/dumb TV network will be cancelled. Until then, I will fight for One Life to Live and All My Children. You are truly the best! XO

Love you, Robin. We fans will not stand by quietly, I assure you! We will fight!

Give Em Hell Robin. Your fans love you for your talent and your spunk.

I will call ABC, write letters and do whatever I need to do to save AMC and OLTL. What ABC did to us is wrong. The MILLIONS of SOAP FANS will save our shows if we ALL come TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robin truly is classy and ABC is most certainly NOT. You will never find a viewer as loyal as a soap fan. ABC is crazy if they think we will ever support these new shows.

DEAR ROBIN…,I SENT THIS TO BRIAN FRONS ON ABC.ATTENTION BRAIN FRONS!!!!WHY CAN’T YOU, INSTEAD OF SHOWING DISNEY CARTOONS 24 HRS A DAY(WHAT KID IS UP AT 2AM?) ON SOAPNET LEAVE THE SOAPS ON SOAPNET.THIS WAY THE SUITS ARE HAPPY AND THE VIEWER’S ARE HAPPY OR IS THAT NOT MAKING YOU ENOUGH MONEY?? TAKE A LOOK AT FACEBOOK READ THE COMMENTS ON AMC AND OLTL.SEE HOW MANY VIEWER’S ARE MAD AS HELL.PLEASE TAKE A LOOK DO WE THE VIEWER’S MEAN ANYTHING AT ALL TO YOU OR ABC??

Oh, how I will miss you Miss Stasser! We must put our grieving into action and tell ABC how we support OLTL and AMC now!

Someone ought to tell the “suits” in charge there are real people out here and we have minds and voices and we won’t just keep turning on the tube for any cheap trash they choose to throw at us. I already know how to cook, thank you! I am fully capable of searching and finding any “lifestyle” advice I require, on my own in my own way and time. And I’m actuallly capable of living quite comfortably without Disney, ABC or their advertisers products!

We will fight to the end for our soaps!!!! There are several sites on facebook with address and phone numbers.. We are boycotting abc, and all disney products. we are watching our soaps . Big mistake abc we do not want a new cooking show with a rude chef. we do not need to be told how to be healthly.. those shows will not last 6 months. pay attention abc we also will boycott your advertisers they are answering our letters. Soap lovers write letters send soap and call abc.. we must be heard.

NY/LA PROTEST DATE… ABC-DISNEY TV BOYCOTT INFO RELEASED…. Go to:

https://community-2.webtv.net/dw_m/saveoltl/index.html

for more information.

Thanks Michael for sharing the love… thanks Robin for being you!

I cried when I heard this news. I am so attached to One Life to Live, I can’t wait for Monday for it to come back on for the week….I hope and pray they save the show!

I hope the facebook movement works, I can not imagine life without my soaps! You’re wonderful! Stay strong! I think of all of the people that will lose their jobs and all the future employment of under 5’s, dayplayers, new roles, etc. too. But, truth be told, I think of myself without the escape from stress everyday, after work, watching my favorite families. 🙁
I have been a loyal fan since “Dark Shadows” was on. They are not being loyal in return.

If OLTL is not saved, just consider the Soap Opera officially dead. GH and DOOL will go next, undoubtedly. Then YR and BB will be the last to go – likely at the same time. Brian Frons will have single-handedly eradicated an American institution – for reasons NOT GOOD ENOUGH. How foolish? How sad? And as Robin Strasser describes his genius maneuver: “…a cavalier and utterly irresponsible decision.” SAVE OLTL !

If this happens I will never enjoy TV as I have again. I already don’t want to watch knowing such greedy people are behind it’s cancellation. These shows have been in my life for 40 years It will be impossible to just say oh-well and except it, I won’t allow it. Moving on will mean alot less TV viewing especially if It’s going to shove down my throat how to be healthier. I can’t even describe how physically snd emotionally sick I feel.

I’m still appalled by ABC’s decision!!!! Me and thousands of other viewers look forward to seeing you each day…you make us laugh, lol. My husband never misses an episode. He gets right in there with you all like he’s a part of your family, lol. I’ve been watching OLTL , AMC and GH since the first day they aired. My soap family is like real members of my family. I do think ABC should listen to the viewers and give us what we like…..after all, we pay to watch TV now and our voices should be heard and acknowledged!!!! Ratings will go down and that’s a fact. Love you all and praying for a positive solution to this horrible decision.

I have already switched from GMA to the Today show and Early show. I will only be watching AMC, OLTL & GH during the day and my only primetime show will be DWTS.
How can they cut the shows that have led to so many stars for their network? Would Tuc Watkins have been cast in Desperate Housewives if not for OLTL? Would Josh Duhmael have been cast in primetime if not for AMC? How about Judith Light from OLTL or Kelly Ripa from AMC? Finally, would Castle or DWTS be the hits they are without loyal soap fans tuning in to watch Nathan Fillion (OLTL) or Kelly Monaco in the first season, Cameron Mathison, Susan Lucci & Aiden Turner in other seasons?
What about all of the soap themed weekends and events at Disneyland and Disneyworld? I feel used and discarded by ABC executives and I’ll bet you do as well. How much history will never happen if this valuable slice of life is exterminated? Would Genie Francis have been cast in the miniseries “North & South” if not for her GH popularity? Then, she never would have met husband Jonathon Frakes. Rebecca Herbst & her husband met on GH. Kelly Ripa & Mark Consuelos met on AMC. There was a love connection on OLTL between the actor playing Max Holden and actress playing Blair Cramer (I cannot think of their names now-old age kicking in). That union and ensuing beautiful child lead to a cochlear implant story on AMC! I could go on and on because I have loved these shows, stories and characters for 43 and 41 years. Let us help you in any way we can. The fans stand with you!!!!!

I’ve been a fan of yours since Another World(another bad choice by the other network). Your thoughts were great. Let’s hope we can save OLTL and AMC. The women in my family have been watching their ‘stories’ for over 50 years.

30 something years of watching OLTL, its not right to cancel this show. I am very sad.

I been a fan of One Life To Live since I been a kid.I remember sitting down with my mom & grandmother and just relaxing and enjoying this show.I even missed some school just to see what was going to happen on the next epsoide.I hoping and praying that all the loyal fans can save One Life To Live

To Robin Strasser, I first started watching you as a child on Another World and later in college started watching you on OLTL. You are a wonderful actress, as are the entire cast of the show. I kknow that I, along with many others, are fighting this terrible decision as hard as we can. I don’t know if we will be successful, but we will not stop fighting for this show we have loved for so long. I pray the powers that be would reconsider. They will be quite disappointed with the ratings of their “new” shows. We don’t need anymore reality/cooking/lifestyle shows. The airwaves are flooded with them. Thank you for all your amazing and heartfelt work all these years. To the entire cast and crew, I tip my hat to you all.

Class act as always Robin. If Brian Frons was trying to get famous quick he was quite successful. Before the cancellations I had no idea who he was. Now every time I see his face I am repulsed. He will go down in history in my book as the one of the top idiots in TV history.

Sad about the Soaps being canceled?
Want to do something about it?
Join us at http://www.fanssavesoaps.com
When we all work together, we can save the Soaps.
https://www.fanssavesoaps.com/
http://www.fanssavesoaps.com

I am equally angered and sadden to loose my OLTL family

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Shares He Was ‘Happy to Hear’ of The Triangle Storyline Developing Between Dante/Elizabeth/Ric

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Dominic Zamprogna

General Hospital’s Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri) opened up about the burgeoning love triangle forming between his Port Charles alter-go, Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) after recently aired scenes, plus his hopes for the future of a Dante and Liz pairing, during his appearance on the Sunday, April 23 edition of the That’s Awesome podcast with Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli).

On last week’s episodes of GH, Ric has made the decision that he wanted to propose to his ex-wife, only when he showed up at Elizabeth’s front door, he misread the scenario he walked in with Liz tending to Dante’s injured leg from the softball game. From there, the legal eagle’s jealous streak is reemerging which may cause him to act out and do something unforgivable, or will he take the high road? Stay tuned.

Speaking with Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson about where Elizabeth stands in the annals of the long-running soap, Zamprogna said, “She’s up there with Steve and Maurice (Maurice Benard) as one of the most legacy-filled people on the show.”

Courtesy/ABC

HOW DANTE AND ELIZABETH CAME ABOUT

Dominic jokes it’s a far cry for where Dante and Elizabeth previously, recalling, “We had some scenes together years ago and we were both laughing. Becky’s like, ‘Well, I guess we’re not going be paired up anytime soon.’ I remember we laughed immediately after they yelled ‘cut,”‘and said to each other, ‘Well, so much for that!'”

Fast-forward to early 2025 and as Zamprogna remembered it, “Elizabeth Korte (co-head writer, GH) came up to me at the General Hospital Christmas party, and I think it was a year and a half ago and she said, ‘We’re going to have you in scenes with Elizabeth,’ My internal monologue is going, ‘I’m not with Lulu (Alexa Havins) anymore and Sam’s (Kelly Monaco) gone, so maybe they want to see if this works.’ I didn’t want to get scenes with Becky and try to find the chemistry. I just wanted to play whatever honestly was written and came across for both of us and hope it was what people liked, and I don’t know if it is … or not.”

Knowing how beloved Elizabeth is to the GH faithfuls, Zamprogna added, “She got a big fan base with Ric … and a big fan base with with Jason … and you know, you’re going to piss somebody off. But, didn’t Ric drug Elizabeth and put Carly in a panic room?”

Dom and Liz

Photo: ABC

DANTE AND ELIZABETH PAIRING COULD STIR UP STORY FOR OTHERS IN PORT CHARLES

In closing, Dominic felt that the wide-reaching tentacles of a Dante and Elizabeth relationship is something he is 100% down for. “The triangle thing; I was happy to hear it was with Ric and her, because I felt it’s important to have her the top of it as opposed to Dante, Lulu and Elizabeth.”

Zamprogna added, “When you get into relationships on a soap, things seem to fizzle out a little bit, The buildup is what’s the fun part, and the getting to know each other, and the people who are affected by this coming together. When with this case it’s going to affect: Ric, Sonny, Lulu. There’s so much more story here. To me, it’s going to be a fun story to play.”

You can check out Dominic’s visit to That’s Awesome with Steve and Bradford below.

Now weigh-in: Are you rooting for Dante and Liz, or Dante and Ric at this juncture of the story, or neither guy  for Elizabeth? Let us know your thoughts and picks via the comment section.

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Beyond the Gates

‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Mike Manning Lands Role in Indie Horror Feature ‘Deify’

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Mike Manning

While Smitty tries to hold the fort down in his marriage to congressman Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon)  and their two teenaged children, Samantha (Najah Jackson) and Tyrell (Jaden Lucas Miller) on Beyond the Gates, Emmy-winner Mike Manning has also landed another feature film role.

According to Deadline, Manning has joined the cast of Deify with 6 other new cast members for the indie psychological horror film starring Neal McDonough and Skeet Ulrich, which was previously announced last week.

Joining Manning as the latest cast addition are: Dennis Haysbert, Ashley Greene,  Casey Harnett, Kirk Avecdo, Anji White, anf Nicholas Chimera who’s directing the pic also has a part in the film.

WHAT’S THE STORY OF DEIFY?

Taking to his Instagram with the news of his casting, Manning shared, “A movie about a cult? What could possibly go wrong? Come for the enlightenment. Stay because they won’t let you leave. DEIFY is coming…”

The movie is currently shooting in Chicago and in story, “a cult leader is put on trial after causing his devoted followers to be burned alive. The film is inspired in part by events surrounding the 1993 Waco, Texas, standoff between members of the Branch Davidians church and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, one of the largest civilian firefights ever recorded on American soil.”

MIKE MANNING IS A DAYTIME EMMY NOMINEE

In addition, the multi-talented Manning is a producer on the feature. Previously, Mike was nominated last month in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. He previously won an Emmy for his role on The Bay and for being a producer on the digital drama.

Mike’s previous credits include the role of Charlie Dale on Days of Our Lives and the Manny on This Is Us, plus various primetime and screen credits.

So intrigued to find what role Mike will play in the upcoming horror/cult film, Deify? Enjoying him as Smitty on Beyond the Gates? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GH and OLTL Alum Patrick J. Gibbons Reveals the Story Behind Writing Trina’s Song on ‘General Hospital’ (Exclusive)

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Patrick J. Gibbons

At the conclusion of today’s August 21 episode of General Hospital, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) sings a lullaby to baby Dez, that went into a montage to close out the episode as her father Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) reports to Pentonville and winds up in his jail cell.

However, in a fun fact, the song entitled, “A Lonely Heart To Give” was actually written by none other than former One Life to Live and General Hospital actor, Patrick J. Gibbons.

Daytime fans first met Gibbons as Sam Manning on One Life to Live. At the time, when he started on the soap, he was just 5-years-old. Gibbons played the part from 2010-2013 on ABC and Prospect Park’s editions of the show. Fast-forward to 2018, Gibbons shows up on General Hospital as Wyatt Hoover, the scout who seemed always be injured, but in the thick of the drama. Patrick had appeared on GH multiple times as Wyatt including: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023.

Photo: ABC

FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER’S DEATH CAME THE INSPIRATION FOR HIS SONG

Now in 2026, General Hospital fans are getting to learn about another side of Gibbons’ talent as a songwriter and guitar player after “A Lonely Heart to Give” debuted today! Michael Fairman TV caught up with Patrick, who is now a senior at Penn State entering his final year as a finance major, to get the back-story of how his song wound up on GH!

Gibbons explained he wrote the song in honor of his grandmother who passed away a few years ago with whom he was, very, very close with. “Randomly, my grandmother had a downfall and passed away during the second semester of my sophomore year. I was in my dorm a lot and I was just playing with my guitar. And at the time, I was really into finger-style playing. I wrote the lyric and music to it (with a little help from my guitar teacher Lou), and my mom showed the rough demo to Frank Valentini (EP, General Hospital). He’s like an uncle to me. Frank loved it so much he said, “Finish that up. I want to hear the whole thing, and I want it on the show.”

MAKING MUSIC FOR GENERAL HOSPITAL

Gibbons and his parents took the next steps! “So now, all we needed was a female voice, because I thought that would fit the song well,” Patrick shared. “At the golf club we go to my parents were at a dinner. They liked the singer that was performing and spoke to her about the song, and she says she would like to bring it to her ‘boss’ who ended up being Eric Bazilian of the Hooters fame!” (Bazilian also wrote the smash hit song “One of Us” for Joan Osborne).

Next, “We went in the studio and recorded it and the song came together and it was beautiful. We loved it. They loved it at General Hospital and now they’re putting it the show and they are coming in with a piano, instead of a guitar. Paul Glass, the GH musical director, has been keeping us updated over the last six months of how it was coming along, and when it would air, and how GH put their own arrangement to it. I can’t wait to see and hear what they did with it.”

Photo: JPI

PATRICK’S ONE LIFE TO LIVE FAMILY

Everyone knows that the One Life to Live extended family share a very tight bond, and Patrick said he does stay in touch with a few of his former One Life to Live co-stars, especially those from the Manning family! “I stayed in touch with Kassie DePaiva (ex-Blair) and sent her little videos here and there. She was like my second mom for five years. We keep in contact with Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) over X the most, and she can’t believe how big I’ve gotten. Like, none of them can! (laughs). I also loved working with Roger Howarth (ex-Todd) and Trevor St. John (ex-Todd and Victor Jr.), and to me since I was so young, they were just my friends, ‘Roger and Trevor,’ not Todd Manning or Victor Jr.”

It was a trip to California and a visit to Port Charles that ultimately led to Gibbons second soap role of Wyatt Hoover. Patrick explains, “In 2016, Frank Valentini invited us out to Los Angeles to visit the set of General Hospital. I think he heard me say, ‘This is so much fun. I miss being on the set.’ He goes, ‘You should come out. I’ll bring you on the show. We can make you a character.'”

A few years later, Patrick’s dream became a reality! “Then, by the summer of 2018, I was playing Wyatt, the scout, and shared scenes with Wes Ramsey (Peter August), and the best was when I shared a scene with Roger Howarth and Michael Easton (ex-John, OLTL and ex-Silas, Finn et al, GH), it was like chemistry from the old days.”

Photo: PGibbons

IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS

As to his future aspirations, it’s a career in the finance game that has piqued Gibbons’ real-life interest. But never say never to a return to acting. Patrick explained, “I’ve always enjoyed numbers. And on top of that, one of the biggest parts of finance is being personable and outgoing.”

He continued, “That’s one of the greatest skills I developed growing up. I really love the markets. I’m super interested. I’m never going to close the door to acting. I’m always open to that because I just love it so much. It’s such a great art.”

Take note! If there are any investment bankers or private equity folks among the GH faithful looking for a young analyst next year, Patrick’s DMs are open. You can find him on X at @PatrickJGibbons.

So, what did you think of the song sung by Trina on today’s GH that was written by Patrick J. Gibbons? Did you enjoy Patrick’s performances as One Life’s Sam and GH’s Wyatt? Would you like to see him back on GH at some point? Let us know via the comment section.

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