News
OLTL's Robin Strasser – her hotline jammed…issues comments on cancellation!
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”
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’
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Sophia Seemingly Plans to End Her Life, But Not Before Setting Fire to Johnny’s Apartment With Him Trapped Inside
WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus Talks Humble Beginnings, Test and Albert, WrestleMania 22 with Mickie James, Current Women’s Roster (Exclusive)
DAYS Stephen Nichols Remembers Drake Hogestyn as the ‘Most Vital, Enthusiastic, Committed Man I Ever Knew’ Ahead of the PanCan PurpleStride Walk
DAYS Stephen Nichols and Co-Stars Walk in Honor of Drake Hogestyn at PanCan PurpleStride LA, ‘I Felt Him With Us’
Brandon Barash Granted Restraining Order Against ‘General Hospital’s’ Kirsten Storms
‘Days of Our Lives’ Rob Scott Wilson Talks ‘Turning Heel’ as Necktie Killer, Ben Weston
Paige Herschell Marks One-Year as ‘General Hospital’s’ Jacinda Bracken
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
WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus Talks Humble Beginnings, Test and Albert, WrestleMania 22 with Mickie James, Current Women’s Roster (Exclusive)
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Michael Reveals His Plan to Set Up Chase and Willow to Have an Affair
Judith Light Talks Her Role in ‘The Terror: The Devil In Silver’ Dropping on AMC+ with Co-Star ‘Downton Abbey’ Alum, Dan Stevens
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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