All My Children
On-Air On-Soaps names Best Soap Moments of 2011!
Courtesy/ABC
As we head towards New Year’s, On-Air On-Soaps looks back at this most tumultuous year in soaps with our annual year-end wrap-up celebrating the Best Moments of 2011. We honor those stand out moments and performances that were at the head of the pack.
This year-end review is presented to you with our top 25 photo gallery countdown which pays tribute to the moments and performances that made us cheer, weep, or perhaps, throw things at the TV, and in our opinion, showed soap opera at its best.
Now while we all agree to disagree, or in many cases disagree, from our vantage point in a pretty emotional year in front of the camera and behind the scenes, this is where our critical eye took us.
We hope you enjoy, and of course, welcome your thoughts on the Best Moments of 2011!
NOTE: To view the final eleven moments in the photo gallery, make sure to click on the “Next Group” button to the right of + symbol, or you can sit back and relax and just watch the slideshow presentation of our Best Soap Moments of the past year.
Best Moments of 2011 Photo Gallery Countdown
[slidepress gallery=’best-moments-of-2011′]
Courtesy: ABC, CBS and NBC.
Alan Dysert, who played Sean Cudahy on ABC’s All My Children has died. He was 75-years-old. The news of his passing came from his wife Michele who shared via a Facebook post that Dysert died back on October 23.
“My heart is broken as I share that my beloved husband, Alan, passed away on October 23, 2026. While I am struggling to imagine life without him, I am forever grateful to have experienced what so many people spend their lives searching for — the love of a lifetime,” Michele expressed.
While a cause of death was not made public at this time, Michele admitted that Alan, “faced more than his share of health challenges over the years, yet he continued to approach life with determination, humor, and gratitude.”
Photo: ABC
Dysert wrote about his battle with a rare, aggressive and incurable cancer in his 2023 autobiography, Lights, Camera, Cancer! He spoke of having undergone four major cancer-related surgeries, and many rounds of chemotherapy and CT scans.
SEAN CUDAHY WAS ‘BAD GUY’ PERSONFIED
On All My Children, Dysert played Sean Cudahy, the con man villain to his brother, good guy, Tom Cudahy played by Richard Shoberg. Dysert played the role between 1980 and 1990 returning for multiple story arcs, which included being revealed to be the murderer of Sybil Thorne. He was also involved in several affairs including with the impressionable Devon McFadden (Tricia Pursley).
THE LIVES HE TOUCHED
Alan’s longtime agent Melinda Eisnagule told PEOPLE his death is a “loss to our community and to the acting community at large. He touched so many lives and made the industry and the world a better place every day with his positive energy and kindness.”
Dysert leaves behind his wife, Michele and his two sons Cody and Cooper and will be remembered by those who knew him for a career that spanned the theatre, film, TV and performance coaching, and of course being a part of the legacy of All My Children.
Share your remembrances and condolences on the passing of Alan Dysert, All My Children’s Sean Cudahy, via the comment section below.
All My Children
Mark Consuelos Celebrates Kelly Ripa’s 56th Birthday on ‘Live,’ But Remember When Wendy Williams Outed the Couple as Married Before Anyone at ‘All My Children’ Knew?
On the Friday, October 2 episode of Live with Kelly and Mark, the morning talk show marked the 56th birthday of Kelly Ripa (ex-Hayley Vaughan Santos, All My Children).
During the opening segment, Mark Consuelos (ex-Mateo Santos, All My Children) humorously comparing his wife to both Gandhi and Groucho Marx, reflecting on both her comedic ability and peaceful ways.
Later, they went on to discuss the origins of her name and the most popular picks to name babies back in the year she was born, 1970. They were Kimberly, Lisa, and Jennifer for girls and Michael, David, and James for the boys.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Ripa recalled that she learned she was almost named Kim. However, their neighbors at the time had two daughters Kelly and Kim, which is what her parents wanted to call them, but they settled on Kelly and and her younger sister, Linda.
At the conclusion of the episode, Mark rolled out a huge cake for his wife. It was, “Happy birthday from all of us here at Live and at home.” Next, he cut the cake, and Ripa grabbed his face and gave him a “thank you” kiss.
Photo: JPI
KELLY AND MARK TRIED TO KEEP THEIR VEGAS WEDDING ON THE DOWN LOW
All of this brings back memories of how Kelly and Mark’s Las Vegas wedding ceremony went public in 1996 while the two were still on All My Children playing Mateo Santos and Hayley Vaughan. In essence, they were outed by then radio host Wendy Williams! They discussed it on the talk show back in 2024.
In fact, the duo hid their marriage from their All My Children castmates for months, until they found out Williams got wind of the nuptials and spread the intel on the airwaves.
The two recalled their secret wedding on a 2024 episode of Live! “We’d eloped. It’d been a few months at that point. We’d been married for three months, nobody at All My Children knew we were even dating, much less married to each other. We’re brushing our teeth and we’ve got Wendy Williams’ radio show on. We’re listening, and she’s like, ‘I’ve got celebrity dish!”
EYEWITNESS
Next Ripa continued, “The celebrities,’ I guess they had a broad use of the term back then, was the fact that ‘two soap stars from All My Children, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos eloped in Las Vegas.’ There was this eyewitness that worked in the Clark County courthouse that said we eloped, and the news broke, and we had to tell everybody we were married.”
Live With Kelly and Mark airs weekdays in syndication. Check your local listings for times in your area.
Share your birthday wishes for Kelly in the comment section, and let us know your thoughts on how Wendy Williams broadcast the news, unbeknownst to the All My Children newlyweds, that they tied the knot in Vegas? Check out Mark and the ‘Live’ studio audience singing ‘happy birthday’ to Kelly in the post below.
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All My Children
‘All My Children’ Movie Writers for Lifetime Revealed: Ron Carlivati, Jamey Giddens and Leo Richardson
This week began and as reported with a spotlight article on Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos and how their production entity, Milojo, has been teeing up the All My Children reboot with Lifetime.
The L.A. Times featured the married couple, co-hosts of Live with Kelly and Mark, and former All My Children cast members (where they met and fell in love) about their plans to bring two All My Children movies to Lifetime and how they are working with the Agnes Nixon estate to make it come to fruition,
On Wednesday, it was revealed by Daytime Confidential, that All My Children reboot producer, Andrew Stearn handpicked none other than Ron Carlivati (ex-head writer, One Life to Live, General Hospital and Days of our Lives) and Jamey Giddens (who is the new co-head writer of The Young and the Restless, following his tenures on the writing teams of Beyond the Gates and Days of Our Lives), as the two scribes who will bring the first of two of Kelly and Mark’s All My Children movies to the page.
Photo: IMDb
RON CARLIVATI AND JAMEY GIDDENS CONFIRM THEIR BOARDING THE ALL MY CHILDREN MOVIE PROJECT
The second installment is said to be written by primetime writer Leo Richardson whose credits include: Star, Katy Keene and more recently the Penn Badgley (ex-Phillip Chancellor IV, The Young and the Restless) starring series, You.
Richardson also wrote for three years on the U.K.’s long-running soap, EastEnders. All My Children revival fans will recall Richardson’s name was attached as the writer for the first incarnation of the All My Children movies, entitled, Pine Valley.
Ron Carlivati took to X and confirmed he is indeed boarding the All My Children movie project. Carlivati shared, “So excited to share this news! Thanks to Andrew Stearn, Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos, Albert Bianchini and the Agnes Nixon estate for entrusting Jamey Giddens and me with the first of two planned All My Children movies for Lifetime! Stay tuned!”
Photo: Jeremy Smith/imageSPACE
Jamey Giddens confirmed DC’s announcement by taking to his account on X and expressing, “I’ve been booked and busy in 2026. Thanks to Andrew Stearn, the Agnes Nixon estate, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos for entrusting Ron Carlivati, and me with the first of two planned All My Children movies for Lifetime!”
Some fans seemed to question how Giddens could be writing for the first All My Children movie at Lifetime, when he is the new co-head writer at The Young and the Restless with Dan O’Connor. Jamey answered that head on via X and explained, “We turned in our All My Children script months ago. My sole focus as of this past Monday, is Genoa City, Wisconsin! #YR”
ERICA KANE, MARIA SANTOS AND HAYLEY AND MATEO SANTOS TO APPEAR IN THE ALL MY CHILDREN MOVIE REVIVAL?
In the planned stories, Susan Lucci’s Erica Kane and Eva LaRue’s Maria Santos will be two characters whose lives we will get to see for the first time since the series was canceled by ABC back in 2011 after 41 years on the air. As well, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos confirmed they will make brief appearances on-screen; one could assume as Hayley and Mateo Santos.
“It’d be wonderful to give the fans something that they’ve been yearning for so many years,” shared Mark Consuelos to the LA Times. “All My Children gave me my family. I met my wife there. It gave me my start in the business. It gave us so much. It would be a dream to be able to give back.”
So, what do you think of Ron Carlivati and Jamey Giddens getting nod to write the All My Children movie #1 script and Leo Richardson #2? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
‘General Hospital’s’ Cynthia Watros Honors Former ‘Titus’ Co-Star Stacy Keach Following His Passing
‘Beyond the Gates’ Emmy Winner Ambyr Michelle Wants to Compete on ‘Dancing with the Stars’: ‘Pick Me’ (Exclusive)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie Kicks Bill to the Curb … for Now
RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Inches Closer to ‘General Hospital’ in Total Viewers
B&B’s Sydney Bullock Weighs In on Future of Dylan and Will: ‘I Think She Can Hold on to Him for Awhile’ (Exclusive)
Y&R’s New Head Writers Share Vision for Genoa City: Contemporary Homage to Bill Bell, Mixing Heightened Escapism and Grounded Reality
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Preview: Episodes From New Co-Head Writers, Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor, Begin to Air
‘General Hospital’ Casts Ayla Bullington as the New Avery Jerome-Corinthos
‘Days of our Lives’ Kyle Pryor Debuts as Dominic Marino and Says of Alleged TV Mom, “Deidre Hall is the Absolute OG, Amazing” (Exclusive)
‘Days of our Lives’ Celebrates 61st Anniversary: EP Ken Corday Teases New Character’s Arrival in Spring 2027
‘General Hospital’s’ Cynthia Watros Honors Former ‘Titus’ Co-Star Stacy Keach Following His Passing
‘Beyond the Gates’ Emmy Winner Ambyr Michelle Wants to Compete on ‘Dancing with the Stars’: ‘Pick Me’ (Exclusive)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie Kicks Bill to the Curb … for Now
B&B’s Sydney Bullock Weighs In on Future of Dylan and Will: ‘I Think She Can Hold on to Him for Awhile’ (Exclusive)
‘Days of our Lives’ Veteran James Reynolds Reveals Parkinson’s Diagnosis
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There are some interesting choices here from OLTL. I definitely agree with David Canary and Florencia Lozano, but some of the rest? Best? Sure?
Oh my Gosh I love this page I’m gonna miss OLTL Michael can u believe it that the show OLTLl ends 2 days after our Birthdays . I hope for my Birthday Blair and Todd Manning end up together with their kids it will be my ultimate birthday wish come true Hope one day I can meet Roger howarth and Kassie and tell him I love him and her on the show
Michael, I enjoyed your picks for best moments. There are no better stars than Jonathan Jackson and Erica Slezak. You have done another review of the best of the soaps this year. I go along with your selection. But, at the same time while watching the photos, I am very sad that we may not see many of these actors again. Very sad….
thnx Michael, always great to see Crystal Chappell on the BEST list…this time for Days and Venice, doesn’t get much better! 2012 will most def be another year of more soap triumphs and tragedies…still holding out to see Crystal back on my Daytime screen, primetime would work as well… Happy New Year! ☮♡☺xo♥♀♀✩ツ♫
The return of Zach Slater should be on this lilst.
OLTL was the best show on this year and will be in 2012 (albeit briefly). Don’t tell that to the Emmys, which typically fails to recognize shows for their consistency throughout the year but rather based on selected episodes (and yes, OLTL often misfires on just what among its embarrassment of riches to pick in thar regard).
Fascinating but not surprising in the least how Y&R and B&B are conspicuously MIA in the mix.
How OLTL can get passed over for a WGA nom is beyond me. Even more mind boggling is the insipidly written Y&R’s nod. OLTL’s is the best ensemble writing team of this century – and not just in daytime. But as I think Colleen Zenk said this year, who needs fool’s gold when you already have the real thing in a loyal fan base.
I couldn’t agree with you more. ONE LIFE is the soap that SHOULD be showered with Emmy gold… but I’m not holding my breath for their last eligible year. There’s a CBS-loving conspiracy out there. I even WATCHED “Bold & Beautiful” for a time this year when AMC was gone… I don’t get its appeal.
No CBS……………………
Michael – with all due to respect I think that Alison Sweeney should have been mentioned in your comment regarding the grief sex scenes delivered by James Scott. That was a team effort, and both actors deserve merit for such stellar performances.
I totally agree with you.
Days was bad this year except with the Johnny missing story and the ultimate twist and ‘tour de force’ with the Ej/Sami grieving sex scenes and finally the Will coming out story (well if these writers continue with it, otherwise their stories are awfully boring). But yeah Ali Sweeney who is always overlooked was great and powerful in these scenes, it was a team work with James Scott and her scenes before with all her family when she freaked and waited for news of his missing boy were also great and riveting.
Despite all the backlash abuse she can be subjected this gal is a great actress and finally she deserves an emmy nom, like James Scott deserves it (well he already was nominated TWICE in scenes sharing with her these last years). These actors bring out the best in each others acting wise, it is for Sweeney to be notice.
Otherwise your choices are quite good Michael, OLTL was the best soap this last year, for sure and the team up Howarth/St John was brilliant.
Unfortunately I have to agree with you Days had a really bad year, and it was the nov sweeps that really were the highlight of the year in my honest opinion. Ali did such an amazing job on those scenes, and the way she portrayed Sami when Johnny went missing, it was the first time in over a year I actually cried for Sami!! She really moved me, and her scenes with James well what can I say it still leaves me speechless they were just phenomenal. Both actors are worthy of an emmy nom in my opinion.
JJ always kills a scene….amazing.
The reason why you don’t see CBS on the list, is because it was not a good year for them… The only thing that I can think of as a Best is Niki’s return to Genoa City. I’m not a big CBS soap fan, but I will admit, I was happy to see her return…and her battle with alcohol is a blast to watch.
Nicki drunk….. again! She’s y & r… camp classic… her mascara smudged and running down her face… bemoaning again victor this victor that… just take a drink without hesitation… drink for everyone…
Very telling that nothing from Y&R made this list. That show really is slumming these days.
Well, this list is pretty unbelievable in their complete omission of CBS; only the two highest rated, most loved and watched shows in daytime in the U.S. and abroad. Y&R also took home the most recent Emmy for Writing in a Drama Series! No offense to anyone, but the omission was glaring and a real WTF moment.
I quite agree, Michael Muhney is quite awesome and charismatic in his Adam role and right now MTS as a Nikki drunk is golden..and yep stories are quite outrageous but finally make good tv, hey ratings went up these last weeks..
Again, I completely agree! Especially the top 2 picks… thanks for showcasing the ABC shows. Also, you hit the nail on the head with your analysis of the Daytime Emmys – Laura’s win WAS the only reason to watch. One question, what the heck is “Venice”? That didn’t make sense.
Shane’s suicide attempt on the roof from OLTL should have been much higher. I cried all day after seeing that. Then i watched it again. Farah Fath graduated to the big leagues with that episode. Austin Williams is a real talent. We will see hin in movies soon.