Courtesy/TOLN

The most popular duo of all-time on One Life to Live ( except probably Viki and Dorian) are clearly Bo and Nora played brilliantly by Daytime Emmy winners, Hillary B. Smith and Robert S. Woods! 

On-Air On-Soaps caught up with the duo last week during a press junket to ask three burning questions we wanted to know … how did the twosome feel when they heard the news of the early hiatus that was imposed by the labor union, which may have meant the end for the series, but in the end turned out A. O.K?  How do they feel about how their characters have been written for? And, why do they think One Life get no love ever at the Daytime Emmys when they had two amazing submissions, their finale on ABC?

Here now is what they had to say below. We think you will be touched by what Hillary had to say to the crew at One Life and more!  Fans are thrilled that in August, Bob and Hillary will be back at One Life shooting new episodes as life in Llanview continues, thanks to the resolution of the dispute and Prospect Park’s efforts.

When you heard about the labor dispute between the Union and Prospect Park and received the news that the production of One Life to Live had to suspend a week earlier than anticipated … what were you thoughts? Did you think it could be even feasible that One Life would get shut down a second time within its life span, the first being its cancellation by ABC?  Or, did you think it would all work itself out in the end?

Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

HILLARY:  I started laughing.  I really did.  I started laughing. I looked at Woodsy and was giggling.

ROBERT:  We were actually working and we had to go back and shoot scenes, and my phone rang and there was an email, really a brief statement.  I leaned out the door and said to people, “Did anyone else just get an email?” And then when we were on the set it was like, “What do we do now?”  Hillary, you were not ready to see it go? You did not believe it would happen, did you?

HILLARY:  Well, I spoke. You heard what I said to the crew. I wanted to go on record, because I wasn’t sure how this was going to play out and there were a lot of dynamics that went on the weeks prior before both sides started talking. And, I had seen the guys walk out the door of the studio. And I went, “Oh, I don’t think that’s good.”  I was with our costume designer, Susan Gammie getting a fitting and then Robert Gorrie (Matthew) came in and showed me the email.  There was a part of me that went, “This just can’t happen again. It just can’t!” And then there was another part of me that went, “It could.”    When we did our then last scene, and we had to be out by 11am, and we finished at 10:15.  I got up and spoke and said on behalf of everyone in the scene, “It has been an honor and privilege to be part of this reboot,” and I truly believe that. It has been an honor and a privilege to be part of this reboot to see Jeff Kwatinetz and Rich Frank, and Jennifer Pepperman and Ginger Smith, pour all of their heart and soul into this, and the staff and the crew.  I said, “We are a family.  It’s been wonderful to come to be with our family again. And, for those of you who weren’t a part of it before, you are now. We are family and this is what coming to work means.”   I just wanted everyone to know that, and I wasn’t sure if that was my “goodbye”, but I wanted them to know how touched I was by this whole experience, and being part of it.

ROBERT:  So now when we get back, Hillary you can say, “See, what I told you guys?”

Recently, there were new head writers appointed for One Life to Live, whose work fans will not see until the show resumes production later in summer.  How do you feel about how your characters were written for thus far?

ROBERT:  Jennifer Pepperman is still there, and she is not going to let anyone get to off track!  I have been happy thus far on how they have written the Bo and Nora relationship. I haven’t had any real grievances with things I have bee asked to do, or the way it was written.  I think they have written pretty well.  I am always concerned more about the police department which feels like it has saloon doors, where anybody can just walk in and out! (Laughs) That stuff does not apply! Try walking down to the 20th precinct in New York City.

HILLARY:  I have been ecstatic the way they have been writing Nora. I feel light as a bird and unfettered, and not carrying any major heartache around. So this is nothing but sheer joy.

Two weekends ago, One Life to Live was nominated for its final time in its ABC version for Outstanding Drama Series for the last two episodes of its historic run at the 40th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards.  The last episode featured those heartfelt moments between Bo and Nora, and Bo and his son, Matthew.  The episodes were brilliant, and yet, once again, One Life left the Emmys with no cigar, or shall we say no gold!  Why do you think this show can’t ever catch a break for the big award of the night?

HILLARY:  Politics are huge when it comes to Emmys.  I don’t think One Life to Live had any political support when it comes to winning an Emmy.  As a matter of fact, if it had won Outstanding Drama Series that would have been a kind of … ahem… awkward moment for ABC.   I love the fact that Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati were nominated for two shows.   I thought that was great.    I am sorry that they didn’t win.  I don’t quite understand how the voting system works anymore.  All I know is, it was a win for our fans.

ROBERT:   I did not know the Emmys were even on a few Sunday nights ago until I got a text from Eddie Alderson (Ex-Matthew), telling me that Kristen Alderson (Ex-Starr, OLTL and GH, now Kiki, GH) had won! That is great! And I got a great picture of Eddie who looked like a movie star there!  He had a tuxedo on, but he was wearing it the way you are supposed to wear a tux, with a tie! He looked great.  I was texting him back as I was watching the NBA finals, so I never caught the Emmy telecast.  I was trying to find a replay of it, but I guess I was too late.

So One Life fans, what do you think about Hillary’s speech to her cast mates and crew? Could you imagine having to say goodbye to One Life for a second time?  How do you feel Bo and Nora have been written for thus far?  What do you think about One Life’s loss at the Emmys  … political as Hillary feels?  Share your comments below!