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One Life to Live Daytime Emmy-Winning Head Writer, Michael Malone Dead at 80

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One of the most impactful head writers in the history of soap operas, and certainly for One Life to Live, Michael Malone, has passed away at the age of 80-years-old.  Malone died on August 19th at his home in Clinton, Connecticut.

The news came from former ATWT, AW, OLTL and GH head-scribe, Jean Passanante via her Facebook page, where she shared: “I want to write about my adored, extraordinary friend Michael Malone who died last night. Right now, though, I’m just trying to adjust to the impossible idea of a world without him. ‘And when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars…’”

As fans recall, ABC and One Life to Live made a bold move back in 1991, when they hired Malone, who had never written for a soap before. At that time, he previously was known as an author.

Michael’s storyline were some of the all-time best for the show.  They included: Viki’s (Erika Slezak) DID, which explored the root cause of her disorder, and splintered Viki into multiple personalities more than just Niki Smith, Marty Saybrooke being gang raped and the subsequent trial which won Daytime Emmys for Susan Haskell (Ex-Marty), Roger Howarth (ex-Todd) and Hillary B. Smith (ex-Nora) along with Malone.

Under his tenure, Malone also told the coming out story of a young Billy Douglas played by Ryan Phillippe while integrating the AIDS quilt storyline into the heartfelt drama. The head scribe was a staunch advocate for LGBTQ rights, AIDS awareness, speaking out against the death penalty, Lupus (which Marty Saybrooke was diagnosed with) and more.

Malone was nominated 5 times for a Daytime Emmy for writing in a drama series, and won once in 1994, plus he won a Writers Guild Award for his work on One Life in 1993.

In his soap career, Michael was the head writer of One Life to Live until 1996.  He then went over to NBC’s Another World for a short run as head writer in 1997.  Eventually, he returned to One Life in 2003, but this time incorporating his own writing as a novelist into the show, with a storyline called “The Killing Club”.  The actual book was published back in 2005 and in a twist, to go along with the storyline, the authors were the character of Marcie Walsh (Kathy Brier) and Malone. The novel made the the New York Times Best Seller list.

Michael is survived by his wife, Maureen Quilligan, his sister Sheila Waller, his brother David Malone, his half-sister Kareen Malone, his half-brother Stephen Malone, his nieces and nephews, Lisa, Kelly, Tom, Shannon, Shayna, Addie and Sam; his daughter Maggie, son-in-law Matt; and his 6-year-old granddaughter Maisie.

Share your remembrances of Malone’s brilliant storylines and your condolences for his family via the comment section below.

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Thank you for Todd Manning

Sad news – I truly loved his tenure writing for OLTL.

I am so very sorry to hear this sad news. The exploration of Viki’s DID and the horrible gang rape of Marty Saybrooke and the subsequent trial were riveting stories. The Billy Douglas coming out story was so moving.

Thank you Mr. Malone for being such an important part of the One Life to Live family and sharing your amazing talent with us. Rest in peace sir.

Today’s scribes need to remember well Mr Malone and find inspiration. OLTL was on fire during his tenure. God bless!

Truly an amazing writer. The ABC soaps had some powerful stories in the 1990’s.

One correction to this article- it was Megan Gordon who had lupus, not Marty.

Actually, both Megan and Marty had lupus. Per Wikipedia: “Marty is introduced as the roommate of the ailing Megan Gordon Harrison during her stay at Llanview Hospital. Both Megan and Marty are diagnosed with lupus, but Marty has chosen to ignore the consequences of her hard-partying lifestyle,……..” Marty eventually matured and took care of herself, eventually becoming a physician.

^^^^ “I’m just trying to adjust to the impossible idea of a world without him. ‘And when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars…’” “

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Kim Kardashian, Emma Roberts and Marlene King Land ‘Calabasas’, a Soap in the Vein of the ‘O.C’ and ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, at Netflix

There has been lot of soapy projects coming to life and in the works of late, and now comes word that Kim Kardashian is executive producing a new series in development for Netflix called Calabasas.

After a bidding war last week, it looks like Netflix cemented the development deal from Kim, and her producing partners American Horror Story co-star Emma Roberts (pictured below) and Pretty Little Liars creators Marlene King and Alexandra Milchan.

The concept of Calabasas is based on the book If You Lived Here You’d Be Famous By Now by Via Bleidner.  King set to write the adaptation and will serve as the series showrunner.

Photo: JPI

According to Deadline, Calabasas is said to be in the vein of primetime young teen and young adult soaps the O.C. and Beverly Hills 90210. The story follows “Via, a 16-year-old sheltered Midwestern Catholic school girl whose world is turned upside down when her family moves and she’s forced to transfer to the fast world of Calabasas High where nothing is as it appears and where everyone is trying to be someone else. It’s a place where dreams come true … but not without complications and sometimes unforeseen consequences.”

Photo: Hulu

As fans of the Kardashians know, Kim and her family made the town of Calabasas a household and worldwide name. Kim being attached to this project helped make its sale. This marks her fourth project to sell since the writers and actors strikes concluded at the end of last summer.

So, would you be interested to see a teen soap called ‘Calabasas’ on Netflix from Kim and company? Comment below.

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The Young and the Restless and General Hospital Actress and Writer, Meg Bennett, Passes Away at 75

Meg Bennett, who had played Julia Newman and later became a writer for the top-rated daytime drama, The Young and the Restless has died at the age of 75.  The news comes from her family who shared that she lost her battle to cancer back on April 11th.

Daytime fans remember fondly, Meg’s portrayal of Victor’s (Eric Braeden)first wife. Bennett joined the show in 1980, after her first soap stint for two years in the role of Liza Walton on Search for Tomorrow.

Impressed by her story notes, the late Bill Bell, then head writer of Y&R, had Meg doing double duty acting and writing on the show from 1983-1987. When he decided to write off the character of Julia, he also wanted Meg to stick around as a writer.  Not only did this begin a whole other daytime career for Bennett, but she was not done playing Julia either. Throughout the decades, Julia would still come back to Genoa City for a visit. Most recently, Y&R fans saw Julia in 2018, and again in 2020.

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Bennett also appeared on Santa Barbara and was a writer on that show as well from 1991-1993. She played the role of Megan Richardson. It was next that Meg had her longest writing stint coming to ABC’s General Hospital. Meg wrote for GH from 1993-2011.

In 1995, Bennett won her first Daytime Emmy for writing and her personal life changed after falling in love with nine-time Daytime Emmy winner, former GH head writer, Bob Guza Jr. In addition, GH also utilized Bennett for her acting skill when she was cast as the villainess Allegra Montenegro.  Meg and Bog Guza were officially married in 2004 and purchased a home once owned by Boris Karloff and Gregory Peck.

Photo: JPI

Additionally, Meg wrote for The Bold and the Beautiful 1987-1989 and later served as a executive story consultant to Brad Bell from 2002-2004.  She also wrote for Sunset Beach, Generations and GH: Night Shift throughout her writing career. She went on to win five WGA Awards for GH and Santa Barbara.

Meg is survived by her husband of 19 years, Robert Guza Jr., two stepdaughters, four grandchildren, a brother and a sister.

Share your remembrances and condolences for Meg Bennett via the comment section below.

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Steve Kent Reportedly OUT as Sony Pictures Television VP in Charge of DAYS and Y&R

On Friday, reports surfaced that Steve Kent, Senior Executive Vice President of Programming at Sony Pictures Television, is no longer with the company and overseeing the Sony soap operas, Days of our Lives and The Young and the Restless.

According to Soap Opera Digest, a set side source reported that Kent’s last day was last Friday, April 12th, which was one day after what would have been his final appearance in his Sony VP role at the Days of our Lives 15,000th episode on set celebration.

During that ceremony, Kent gave a brief speech giving kudos to DAYS for its incredible milestone. Days is a co-production of Sony Pictures Television and Corday Productions, while Y&R is produced by Bell Dramatic Serial Company in association with Sony Pictures Television.

Photo: JPI

Kent started his soap opera career as a producer for CBS’ defunct Capitol and then as the supervising producer of NBC’s Santa Barbara from1984 to 1993.

Photo: JPI

At Sony, before his role overseeing the soaps, Kent was Senior Executive Vice President of International Productions for Sony Pictures Television International department.

If reports are true, the question becomes who has taken over his position, and would oversee DAYS and Y&R from the Sony side? Share your thoughts on this developing story via the comment section below.

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