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OLTL's Robin Strasser Tweets On Beginning to Work with Ron Raines & Her Hotline Message On Production Stop!

Courtesy/TOLN

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!

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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.

Breaking News

51st Daytime Emmys: Tamara Braun, Finola Hughes, Katherine Kelly Lang, Annika Noelle, Michelle Stafford, Cynthia Watros Score Lead Actress Nominations

The nominations were revealed for the 51st annual Daytime Emmys. in the prestigious Lead Actress in a Drama Series category by Entertainment Tonight.

This comes ahead of tomorrow’s full list that is set to be unveiled at 12noon/9am PST on Friday.

In the running for this year’s Outstanding Lead Actress are Tamara Braun (Ava, Days of our Lives), Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke, The Bold and the Beautiful), Annika Noelle (Hope, The Bold and the Beautiful), Finola Hughes (Anna, General Hospital), Cynthia Watros (Nina, General Hospital) and Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, The Young and the Restless).

Photo: Getty

Previous winners in this category include GH’s Finola Hughes, Cynthia Watros and Y&R’s Michelle Stafford.  Days of our Lives nominee had won in the Supporting Actress category twice in her career.

Earlier, the Lead Actor nominees were revealed and you can find them here.

Make sure to be with us Friday night, April 19th for the Michael Fairman Channel’s 10th annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Special beginning at 5 pm PT where we chat live with some of this year’s nominees.

So, what do you think about this year’s Lead Actress nominees? Comment below.

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All My Children

Mark Consuelos Celebrates One-Year Anniversary as Co-Host of ‘Live’ Alongside Kelly Ripa

Today, April 17th marks a full-year since Mark Consuelos (ex-Mateo, All My Children) took over the co-hosting duties of ‘Live” alongside his wife, and longtime co-host, Kelly Ripa (ex-Hayley, All My Children).

Consuelos replaced Ryan Seacrest who are six seasons decided to be back on the west coast full-time. For Consuelos, now having the opportunity to work off of Ripa as co-hosts has been something of adjustment for him, but viewers have been eating it up.

Live with Kelly and Mark has remained the No. 1 entertainment talk show on television over the past year, growing 3% in average total viewers to 2.23M per episode.  It is also the most-watched daytime talk show in the last year in key demos of women 18-49 and women 25-54. All of this, since the real-life marrieds teamed-up.

Photo: ABC

Speaking with Deadline, Kelly Ripa shared why the two are gelling on-screen, “I do think that there is something very possibly relatable about our relationship. We have disagreements like a normal couple, and we’re not afraid to let them unfold on the air and in front of America, and I think people find a lot of themselves in that.”

Mark weighed in how he has progressed as a host, and what he could improve at, sharing, “I’d like to get better at my interviewing skills. I’d like to get better at reading a teleprompter…I think I’m getting better at throwing to commercial. The other day in the middle of the show as we go to commercial, my sign off was ‘See you guys around.’ I mean, the show wasn’t over. The most obvious thing to say would be, ‘We’ll be back right after this.’ But I just said, ‘See you around.’ So we went to commercial and one of the producers (goes) ‘What was that?’ I don’t know… So for the next few sign offs, as a joke, I’d say ‘See you around.’ We got a kick out of it.”

Photo: ABC

Meanwhile, Kelly has given huge props to Mark, “I find Mark utterly compelling, really interesting, super funny, and he’s bold in a way like nobody else. He says what’s on his mind. If he’s thinking it, he says it.  I’ve done this a long time and oftentimes people will adjust their natural personalities to pander to what they think the audience wants to hear, and Mark will tell people what he thinks, and he doesn’t care if it’s not a popular opinion. It gives him an edginess that I think is really missing in the landscape today. Everybody’s so afraid to say anything, and Mark is unafraid to say exactly what he’s thinking.”

In a statement, Debra O’Connell, President News Group and Networks, Disney Entertainment shared, We could not be more thrilled with how Mark has seamlessly joined the show family as permanent co-host. His undeniable charisma and his and Kelly’s natural chemistry are evident as they deliver the laughs and smiles to our viewers each morning. We are incredibly proud of how Live has continued to evolve and that the audience is responding so enthusiastically.”

So, do you think Mark Consuelos is the best co-host his wife Kelly Ripa has ever had on ‘Live’? How would you say he is doing as co-host after one full year on the job? Comment below.

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DAYS Alum Tanner Stine to Appear in ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ Starring Nicholas Chavez

Another face familiar to daytime fans has already boarded Ryan Murphy’s limited series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story which stars General Hospital favorite, Nicholas Chavez (Spencer Cassadine) in the role of Lyle.

Tanner Stine who played Kayla (Mary Beth Evans) and Steve’s (Stephen Nichols) son, Joey Johnson on Days of our Lives will also appear in the series.

In ‘Monsters’, look for Stine to portray the role of Perry Berman, who was Lyle and Erik’s friend and former tennis coach. In the story, Perry found himself at the epicenter of the murder mystery when he had accepted a phone call from Lyle shortly before the brutal murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez.

Photo: JPI

Other previously announced castings included: Cooper Koch (who plays Erik), Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny as parents Jose and Kitty Menendez, Nathan Lane as Dominick Dunne, Ari Graynor as Leslie Abramson, and Leslie Grossman as Judalon Smyth.

Photo: IMDb

In the series, the two wealthy brothers stand trial for shooting their parents in Beverly Hills, amid claims of self-defense after years of abuse, while prosecutors alleged that greed was the motives for the killing. Lyle and Erik Menendez have been behind bars in California for more than three decades for the 1989 killing of their parents.

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story will debut later in 2024 on Netflix.

What do you think about Tanner Stine being part of the all-star cast for ‘Monsters’? Miss Joey on Days of our Lives? Comment below.

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