News
OLTL's Robin Strasser Tweets On Beginning to Work with Ron Raines & Her Hotline Message On Production Stop!
Courtesy/TOLN
The one and only Robin Strasser (Dorian) is one of the true soap opera activists in our minds! Once again she proved that she fights the fight along with the fans of One Life to Live and All My Children, and stands by the quality and tenacity of the work done by Prospect Park to resurrect both shows under difficult circumstances, the latest being the labor dispute that has shut down production earlier than expected for One Life which was scheduled to go on hiatus in mid June, but ended their production schedule this week. All hope that this labor situation will be worked out, and the shows will return to production as scheduled in August.
In a recent series of tweets, Robin expressed how wonderful it was to begin to work with her new co-star, former Guiding Light favorite Ron Raines, who just started shooting One Life before production halted, tweeting, “BRILLIANT #RonRaines #GuidingLight fame was game to play #OLTL Had 4 scenes w/him Thurs-Cancelled! Hope only postponed:) That’d be a LOSS!” Strasser also stated, #RonRaines Man of Mystery new character on new #OLTL I hope we return to TELL THAT STORY:) Meanwhile, “stay tuned” has taken new meaning!”
In terms of the fight to keep the shows revival going, the fan favorite and Daytime Emmy winner tweeted, “USA 2013-FANS long standing battle against cancellation of iconic FAVES #OLTL & #AMC bring about RESURRECTION #ProspectPark brings’em ONLINE.”
And in addition Strasser took to her Robin’s hotline and stated the following as related by Soap Opera Digest: “I got the news that the show was not going to tape today, Thursday (June 6) because of a union dispute, (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) the small local (chapter) in Connecticut,” she says. “I listened to some really smart people during the day who were saying, ‘Well, there’s going to be a problem when we come back from the hiatus.’ Now, I was already in a state of deep concern and I’ve been tweeting about feeling off-center but trying to keep it obliquely upbeat. Not untruthful, but just, ‘Okay, this seems a little odd, two weeks ago we were told we would close down production on June 15 and then not resume until September 8.’ Now, if it is to fine-tune and make the already existing shows that Prospect Park has made of One Life to Live and All My Children and make them better and better and better, well that’s wonderful and I really look forward to that possibility…. I want to take every opportunity I can to thank the people who’ve been involved in making the revived One Life to Live episodes. When you watch them on Hulu and iTunes and they’re edited together, they look like movies. They look like these groovy regeneration of the concept of the multi-generational storytelling…. Prospect Park spent a fortune and enormous energy making those shows. So anger placed at them is misplaced. Absolutely misplaced, alright? Those two wonderful men (Rich Frank and Jeff Kwatinetz) have a set up where they can produce shows, entertainment and create jobs and let’s all say ‘Thank you’. I’m gonna and that’s my recommendation.” You can listen to Robin’s full report and thoughts by calling her hotline at 212-414-5300.
So what do you think about Robin’s series of tweets? Her hotline report? The latest in the saga to keep One Life alive? Share your thoughts!
Is Ron Raines playing Mel Hayes, back from the grave?
That would be good…especially if she’s still married to him!
That would be cool.
Unlikely. He’s supposedly Jeffrey’s mysterious benefactor.
If you read that, she did not tape with Ron Raines. It was cancelled because of the cancellation of taping and she HOPES that it will still happen. So do I, but the hits just seem to keep coming. How much more can these productions take?
It’s not unlikely. Mel was an ace reporter, so why couldn’t it be him. Someone tried to kill him so it would make since that he stayed away from Dorian to protect her. And I would think that Jefferey’s benefactor would definitely have been a reporter at one time.
I really do hope One Life to Live and All My Children come back snag free and their second lives online continue. I was always a General Hospital fan since a child and I watched both OLTL and AMC sporadically over the years and although I personally haven’t followed them online, I do know it matters to many others who have so I hope success for all those fan watching and people working on the shows. I will say Jeff Kwatinetz’s track record sucks and it would surprise me a lot if he was able to make a long term success of anything!!
Staying positive and looking forward to seeing Strasser and Raines, the Man of Mystery. I agree with her thoughts that above all else Prospect Park brought our soaps back to us. I hope they work this out with the union because I see the Internet as the future for other continuing daytime dramas.
I thought her hotline message was very alarming. She sounded rattled and confused and very unsettled. I hope she gets the news that this is S.O.P. for many NYC-region IATSE locals and that they are merely trying to strongarm and bully PP in order to set the stage (no pun intended) for future negotiations. This is just what they do. I don’t hate unions, but I have worked with this particular union for many decades and depending on the business agent in office at the time, many of these guys like to make trouble to newer businesses in order to make it look to their members that they are doing something. I seriously, seriously doubt that when so much money on the line, PP would actively violate the terms of a union agreement that I am sure was difficult to obtain and upon which rides a long-term relationship, potentially a decades-long relationship. I am sure it IS possible that an episode or two went over budget inadvertently, with the idea that others would come in under budget and it would be a wash. That may be a violation of the letter of the/a labor agreement, but since it is the dollars in the aggregate that any normal contract would be more concerned with, I really think it would be lunacy for a labor union to halt production to get its members a few thousand dollars, again, in the aggregate. The entire situation stinks of union gamesmanship and I would be SHOCKED if it was anything more than that.
Positive, I stand behind TOLN,AMC, OLTL and Hulu Plus.
Love her! Hoping all can be worked out for the shows as I am excited about the prospect-which I hope comes to fruition–of a new man to play with Dorian and no triangle with Viki, please! Soon, I hope, for Dorian, it will be, “David who?”
Prospect Park has been thorough hell and back to bring the soaps to us..
They will not stop now, no way ..
they have the will so there is a way ..
i love robin strasser. but one life to live and all my children will be cancelled soon. i hate to say this. the reboots to both shows are horrible. poor dorian strasser she is desperate for work. she should join general hospital once one life to live gets cancelled. erika slezak needs to retire. poor woman the storylines are dreadful. agnes nixon should retire too. she is old and senile now. never liked agnes nixon anyway. she is a snob and i heard that from many sources.
You don’t have one shread of proof, but that won’t stop you from spreading rumors and lies.
Thank you Ms Strasser! Your sage wisdom never disappoints!
Negative much, Lorenzo? OLTL and AMC are better than what we are getting from GH of late.
I’ll second that. GH is a train wreck.
Disagree…loving GH and OLTL never even came close to the original.
Ill THIRD THAT GH is a TOTAL TRAIN wreck lately!!!
I agree. GH is terrible. I especially don’t like how the OLTL actors are recast as different characters. Roger Howarth as Franco, come on.
I don’t think GH is horrible in the least.They had no choice but to be re-casted or not be on GH at all. I don’t like too much either but it is what it is. At least we get to see RH on GH.
I have no complaints about GH! And as Rebecca said OLTL isn’t close to the original. It’s different now , not the way I rememeber it all those hears I watched it on the t.v.
Have to admit as a fan of OLTL from day one I have not been enthralled by the storylines. I was hopeful once the change in head writers was announced, however.
I have read that it was AMC that went over budget and caused the issue with the union. Not being an insider to this type of information I have to wonder why both shows would have to cease production unless they are produced under the same umbrella, same crew or crossover crews.
I hope that they can weather this newest storm because if it brings the end of both shows I cannot see a second resurrection happening.
(Also, being very suspicious by nature I can’t help but wonder if somehow ABC/Disney didn’t have a hand in this dispute somehow. I know, I know …. tin foil hat time…lol)
same crew
all my children and one life to live. what a big mess. lets be realistic here. the shows are terrible. i tried getting into one life to live. sorry what a big disapointment. the reboots are awful. im sticking to days of our lives. days is on fire now. ratings are up and good storylines. please just cancel the reboots. rumors are they are cancelled soon. do it now. end the misery please. agnes nixon is getting old and senile. she needs to retire and just go away. agnes is like jill pharren phelps fake whiny and teachers pet. agnes just likes her favroites like susan lucci. susan dont bother coming back to all my children. the show is almost cancelled anyway. enjoy what you have now.devious maids and other projects. maybe in the future susan can come to another daytime soap.
You’re not getting any younger and your rant also borders on senility.
I hope the shows do continue, but I will say the shows aren’t the same. I’ve been a fan of OLTL for many years and I was very disappointed in the lack of reaction when Victor returned. He only taped 10 episodes, what was the point in bringing him back? He was the main reason we wanted the show back because it ended with such a big cliffhanger. OLTL was better on ABC, and for some reason, I do believe they have something to do with this labor dispute. Maybe they want the shows back because they realize they made a BIG mistake cancelling the shows. There’s been too many negative articles regarding the behind the scenes drama, which doesn’t make the fans feel confident about it’s future. I do hope these issues are resolved and the quality of the show improves. Would like to see more episodes air per week, and a possibility of returning to TV and back to its 60 minute format.
I agree the stories and everything about OLTL was better when it was on the T.V.
I recorded episodes from OLTL in 2006 (When they realized it was John in the hospital be w/his face all bandaged up)…I kept the soap digest book from that same year & I have others. I hope this latest set back gets resolved…Maybe a possibilty of being on a cable channel or on line as long as I can see my soaps!
I am in support of OLTO/AMC and PP and will be as long as they exist. The problem I have with PP is they under estimate their audience. I was very upset with the first story about the reason theshows being reduced to two days. It was insulting and I don’t think they realized the power of the fans. I know we would have stepped up without the lame story, people are watching at different times! I do believe the storylines on OLTO are way too slow. Never watched AMC until the online show, but I find that I am really liking it. It has a nice pace and the storylines are interesting. I feel if they scale back the cussing, sex scenes, boarding porn, and smoking weed (or that was the impression) and added a bit more substance. We can support with love we have for the show instead of just watching in hopes that we keep it alive until it gets better! Roger can’t do it alone!
It was not Bull about the reasons for the 2 day shows. Do you know how many ppl are just now finding out about the shows! They are almost 8 weeks behind and AMC is 5 years ahead and some are BRAND NEW fans that need time to catch up on everything!
Roger can’t do it alone? WOW that takes Some kind of Nerve! Yes MR LACKLUSTER is the only one on the show! OH YEA that’s right RH fans always think he is be all end all I forgot! SMFH!
I think oltl is done very well but two days a week is not enough…it amounts to about 35 minutes a week.It’s not very satisfying.There’s no momentum from week to week.I hope things change back to 4 days a week.The picture quality is beautiful and the acting is still great!
The stories aren’t heart-warming anymore on oltl like they use to be!
Which I enjoyed so much for years watching oltl on the t.v. (the heart-warming stories I mean)…..Maybe it will change and get back to these kind of stories which in my opinion made OLTL so special!
I just read that Katie Couric’s rotten show could be cancelled & she’s going to CNN! ABC ruined a perfect afternoon lineup & now all the new garbage is going off! They should admit their mistake & reset everything like it was before but they never will! They’re getting what they deserve- bad ratings & no viewers!
I’ve heard that Barbara Walters is lobbying hard for Katie Couric to take over her position at The View, so that would keep her at ABC.
Was watching ABC’s Live Well Network and they ran commercials for both AMC and OLTL, showing clippets of characters from each show and voice over saying how they are on HULU. So now ABC is advertising these soaps when they threw them to the curb. ABC should take off Couric and put AMC & OLTL in that hour slot. I will take them at 30 minutes each to make that hour of time on air. As it is I now watch the CBS soaps and then at 2pm watch GH, and as soon as GH is over I turn channel to something else or turn off TV altogether, but do not watch Katie.
I agree! They could’ve made each show 30 minutes and kept them on! I still don’t think GH is safe! They hate soaps at ABC!
I just can’t get the same feel for One Life to Live on the internet. Hoping it will make it back to television. Miss this show. Have tried to watch General Hospital but never liked it as much as One Life to Live. It doesn’t keep my attention and I flip back and forth to The Talk. Think the Katie Couric show is terrible, just one more talk show with the same guests everyone has.
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
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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
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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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