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REMEMBRANCES: One Life to Live Aired Its Final ABC Episode One Year Ago Today!

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/ABC

Courtesy/ABC

We will never forget the date of January 13th, 2012 as many of our soapers in the viewing audience, and On-Air On-Soaps, gathered around our television sets during the afternoon to do the impossible – to say goodbye to the beloved town of Llanview!

On this date a year ago we had to say farewell to:  the characters we loved so much, the performances by the great talent of the series,  and the stories of the legendary soap.  Through the creative genius of head writer Ron Carlivati and the executive leadership of Frank Valentini, the duo and their teams, delivered to fans a whopping cliffhanger with Victor Jr. very much alive, the hope for happy endings for Viki and Clint, John and Natalie and baby Liam, and much more.

That evening following the final episode, On-Air On-Soaps hosted a One Life to Live Farewell special on the Blog Talk Radio Network that we will never forget.  Listening to the heartbreak of callers from around the U.S, and talking to our special guests: John-Paul Lavoisier (Rex), Melissa Archer (Natalie) and Kristen Alderson (Starr), really brought home how a terrible decision by ABC emotionally impacted not only the fans, but the cast as they shared their sentiments with each other during this special online broadcast.

Photo Credit: MF SOAPS Inc.

And as we tried to put in perspective through our final blog on our final set visit to One Life’s New York studios, and through our final emotional video interviews with the cast, nothing could fill the hole in our hearts that for the last year has still remained as it has for many fans.

A year later, Prospect Park is set to resurrect Llanview giving hope to millions that some of the stellar cast will return and the stories will pick up where they left off, or perhaps they will fast forward ahead, that remains to be seen.  But with all systems go, it will be interesting to see just how far the new One Life can go! Can it be a success online and eventually move back to TV?

For now, share you remembrances today on watching the final ABC episode of One Life and help us honor the show that we all know should never have been canceled in the first place!

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A whole year….I was in Florida on vacation waiting to go on a cruise (as I am now),watching the last 4 episodes and then the finale.
Bittersweet it was.
I am genuinely looking forward to the online reboot – who will sign,who will decline,what it means for the actors who are now playing OLTL characters on GH.

Long live One Life to Live! Best. Show. Ever.

Ditto!

DITTO!!!!

Dtto to that!!!!!!!!!!1

I remember watching that Final OLTL like it was yesterday….so sad…I could NOT believe that come Monday my beloved soap which I had watched since the 70’s would not be airing….I felt such a large Void…one I Still Feel….
I am hoping that this PP project is a GO and that OLTL Will Return and with many of my favorite actors and characters! Wish Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati could do Both GH and OLTL!

I recorded the last few episodes epecially the last one.I even have the episode when
everyone thought John McBain was dead. And have old soap magazines from 2006.. Loving Llanview!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never thought I could miss a soap opera so much! OLTL is pretty SPECIAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks to the wonderful cast and writers!! HURRAY Llanview!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday January 13 1978 was the last 45 Minute long episode of OLTL (and GH) Monday January 16 was the first hour long show.

My mom and I first watched OLTL when it was only a half hour. And never stopped
watchin!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sad to think it has been a year already. Would hope they can get TSJ back to resolve the ending or will GH do that? What about the story continuation mentioned on GH… will that be where the new writers start or will they change direction and start off from the last episide of OLTL?

To move forward you have to accept Change! How do you change perfection and can you ever get back that momentum OLTL had? ..and alittle of it still lives on GH. I’d hate to recast any major characters, but how do you ask those actors/actresses that moved to the West Coast to hunt for employment to move back to the East coast to do an online show that is untried?! I miss OLTL and will be looking forward to it’s revival!! Must have my Jolie back and Jessica and the rest of the Buchanans! Good Luck PP.

One year ago today, the last of OLTL..
I was in shock that it had really happened, OLTL had ended .
OLTL was gone from my life I was a bit dazed and sad ..

This is nothing short of a miracle….. OLTL Fans are fierce, fastidious, and
i’m glad i don’t have to read any more about how much you miss Llanview.

Congratulations.

I’m awaiting Pine Valley!

WE ARE GOING BACK TO LLANVIEW , HURRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I watched the final two episodes a couple weeks ago and cried like a baby throughout them! OLTL was a part of my life for nearly 35 years. Hopefully this past year was just a long, horrible break, and there’s 35+++ years more of life in Llandview ahead of us.

anyone know why the announcements for who’s signing with prospect park for oltl reboot’s actors are slow in coming–there’s a 1/2 dozen amc actors already announced

I still have yet to watch the last two weeks of OLTL. They are on my DVR, and I vowed not to watch them until OLTL was back. I really hope to be watching those soon, (I will as soon as PP taping begins) I couldn’t watch them until I was sure that this would really happen, just too sad. I am so excited! Now I can watch with anticipation, and tears of happiness that Llanview lives on.

Dear Michael-

Thank you for remembering such a dark day for television and for generations of viewers. I was lucky enough to be in the audience of “The View” the day before on January 12th. It began a day of mourning that in some ways has not ended. Like you, I am a man in his 50s who grew up with OLTL being woven into his childhood memories. Your mention of it was a great suprise! Here’s to you!

Looking Forward-

Patrick

I was so sad one year ago today. Even my husband (NOT a soap watcher) said it’s sad that the fans were “dissed”. I miss the show so much! The only saving grace is that ABC is eating some serious crow over this cancellation. All the money spent trying to promote the replacements with lackluster ratings makes me laugh!

I’m glad it’s coming back, but it’s not the same watching a show on the computer.

I can not wait..to watch the rebirth of amc! Thank you prospect park for helping us dedicated fans bring our show and family back into our homes!

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Shares He Was ‘Happy to Hear’ of The Triangle Storyline Developing Between Dante/Elizabeth/Ric

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Dominic Zamprogna

General Hospital’s Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri) opened up about the burgeoning love triangle forming between his Port Charles alter-go, Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) after recently aired scenes, plus his hopes for the future of a Dante and Liz pairing, during his appearance on the Sunday, April 23 edition of the That’s Awesome podcast with Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli).

On last week’s episodes of GH, Ric has made the decision that he wanted to propose to his ex-wife, only when he showed up at Elizabeth’s front door, he misread the scenario he walked in with Liz tending to Dante’s injured leg from the softball game. From there, the legal eagle’s jealous streak is reemerging which may cause him to act out and do something unforgivable, or will he take the high road? Stay tuned.

Speaking with Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson about where Elizabeth stands in the annals of the long-running soap, Zamprogna said, “She’s up there with Steve and Maurice (Maurice Benard) as one of the most legacy-filled people on the show.”

Courtesy/ABC

HOW DANTE AND ELIZABETH CAME ABOUT

Dominic jokes it’s a far cry for where Dante and Elizabeth previously, recalling, “We had some scenes together years ago and we were both laughing. Becky’s like, ‘Well, I guess we’re not going be paired up anytime soon.’ I remember we laughed immediately after they yelled ‘cut,”‘and said to each other, ‘Well, so much for that!'”

Fast-forward to early 2025 and as Zamprogna remembered it, “Elizabeth Korte (co-head writer, GH) came up to me at the General Hospital Christmas party, and I think it was a year and a half ago and she said, ‘We’re going to have you in scenes with Elizabeth,’ My internal monologue is going, ‘I’m not with Lulu (Alexa Havins) anymore and Sam’s (Kelly Monaco) gone, so maybe they want to see if this works.’ I didn’t want to get scenes with Becky and try to find the chemistry. I just wanted to play whatever honestly was written and came across for both of us and hope it was what people liked, and I don’t know if it is … or not.”

Knowing how beloved Elizabeth is to the GH faithfuls, Zamprogna added, “She got a big fan base with Ric … and a big fan base with with Jason … and you know, you’re going to piss somebody off. But, didn’t Ric drug Elizabeth and put Carly in a panic room?”

Dom and Liz

Photo: ABC

DANTE AND ELIZABETH PAIRING COULD STIR UP STORY FOR OTHERS IN PORT CHARLES

In closing, Dominic felt that the wide-reaching tentacles of a Dante and Elizabeth relationship is something he is 100% down for. “The triangle thing; I was happy to hear it was with Ric and her, because I felt it’s important to have her the top of it as opposed to Dante, Lulu and Elizabeth.”

Zamprogna added, “When you get into relationships on a soap, things seem to fizzle out a little bit, The buildup is what’s the fun part, and the getting to know each other, and the people who are affected by this coming together. When with this case it’s going to affect: Ric, Sonny, Lulu. There’s so much more story here. To me, it’s going to be a fun story to play.”

You can check out Dominic’s visit to That’s Awesome with Steve and Bradford below.

Now weigh-in: Are you rooting for Dante and Liz, or Dante and Ric at this juncture of the story, or neither guy  for Elizabeth? Let us know your thoughts and picks via the comment section.

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Beyond the Gates

‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Mike Manning Lands Role in Indie Horror Feature ‘Deify’

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Mike Manning

While Smitty tries to hold the fort down in his marriage to congressman Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon)  and their two teenaged children, Samantha (Najah Jackson) and Tyrell (Jaden Lucas Miller) on Beyond the Gates, Emmy-winner Mike Manning has also landed another feature film role.

According to Deadline, Manning has joined the cast of Deify with 6 other new cast members for the indie psychological horror film starring Neal McDonough and Skeet Ulrich, which was previously announced last week.

Joining Manning as the latest cast addition are: Dennis Haysbert, Ashley Greene,  Casey Harnett, Kirk Avecdo, Anji White, anf Nicholas Chimera who’s directing the pic also has a part in the film.

WHAT’S THE STORY OF DEIFY?

Taking to his Instagram with the news of his casting, Manning shared, “A movie about a cult? What could possibly go wrong? Come for the enlightenment. Stay because they won’t let you leave. DEIFY is coming…”

The movie is currently shooting in Chicago and in story, “a cult leader is put on trial after causing his devoted followers to be burned alive. The film is inspired in part by events surrounding the 1993 Waco, Texas, standoff between members of the Branch Davidians church and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, one of the largest civilian firefights ever recorded on American soil.”

MIKE MANNING IS A DAYTIME EMMY NOMINEE

In addition, the multi-talented Manning is a producer on the feature. Previously, Mike was nominated last month in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. He previously won an Emmy for his role on The Bay and for being a producer on the digital drama.

Mike’s previous credits include the role of Charlie Dale on Days of Our Lives and the Manny on This Is Us, plus various primetime and screen credits.

So intrigued to find what role Mike will play in the upcoming horror/cult film, Deify? Enjoying him as Smitty on Beyond the Gates? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GH and OLTL Alum Patrick J. Gibbons Reveals the Story Behind Writing Trina’s Song on ‘General Hospital’ (Exclusive)

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Patrick J. Gibbons

At the conclusion of today’s August 21 episode of General Hospital, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) sings a lullaby to baby Dez, that went into a montage to close out the episode as her father Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) reports to Pentonville and winds up in his jail cell.

However, in a fun fact, the song entitled, “A Lonely Heart To Give” was actually written by none other than former One Life to Live and General Hospital actor, Patrick J. Gibbons.

Daytime fans first met Gibbons as Sam Manning on One Life to Live. At the time, when he started on the soap, he was just 5-years-old. Gibbons played the part from 2010-2013 on ABC and Prospect Park’s editions of the show. Fast-forward to 2018, Gibbons shows up on General Hospital as Wyatt Hoover, the scout who seemed always be injured, but in the thick of the drama. Patrick had appeared on GH multiple times as Wyatt including: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023.

Photo: ABC

FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER’S DEATH CAME THE INSPIRATION FOR HIS SONG

Now in 2026, General Hospital fans are getting to learn about another side of Gibbons’ talent as a songwriter and guitar player after “A Lonely Heart to Give” debuted today! Michael Fairman TV caught up with Patrick, who is now a senior at Penn State entering his final year as a finance major, to get the back-story of how his song wound up on GH!

Gibbons explained he wrote the song in honor of his grandmother who passed away a few years ago with whom he was, very, very close with. “Randomly, my grandmother had a downfall and passed away during the second semester of my sophomore year. I was in my dorm a lot and I was just playing with my guitar. And at the time, I was really into finger-style playing. I wrote the lyric and music to it (with a little help from my guitar teacher Lou), and my mom showed the rough demo to Frank Valentini (EP, General Hospital). He’s like an uncle to me. Frank loved it so much he said, “Finish that up. I want to hear the whole thing, and I want it on the show.”

MAKING MUSIC FOR GENERAL HOSPITAL

Gibbons and his parents took the next steps! “So now, all we needed was a female voice, because I thought that would fit the song well,” Patrick shared. “At the golf club we go to my parents were at a dinner. They liked the singer that was performing and spoke to her about the song, and she says she would like to bring it to her ‘boss’ who ended up being Eric Bazilian of the Hooters fame!” (Bazilian also wrote the smash hit song “One of Us” for Joan Osborne).

Next, “We went in the studio and recorded it and the song came together and it was beautiful. We loved it. They loved it at General Hospital and now they’re putting it the show and they are coming in with a piano, instead of a guitar. Paul Glass, the GH musical director, has been keeping us updated over the last six months of how it was coming along, and when it would air, and how GH put their own arrangement to it. I can’t wait to see and hear what they did with it.”

Photo: JPI

PATRICK’S ONE LIFE TO LIVE FAMILY

Everyone knows that the One Life to Live extended family share a very tight bond, and Patrick said he does stay in touch with a few of his former One Life to Live co-stars, especially those from the Manning family! “I stayed in touch with Kassie DePaiva (ex-Blair) and sent her little videos here and there. She was like my second mom for five years. We keep in contact with Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) over X the most, and she can’t believe how big I’ve gotten. Like, none of them can! (laughs). I also loved working with Roger Howarth (ex-Todd) and Trevor St. John (ex-Todd and Victor Jr.), and to me since I was so young, they were just my friends, ‘Roger and Trevor,’ not Todd Manning or Victor Jr.”

It was a trip to California and a visit to Port Charles that ultimately led to Gibbons second soap role of Wyatt Hoover. Patrick explains, “In 2016, Frank Valentini invited us out to Los Angeles to visit the set of General Hospital. I think he heard me say, ‘This is so much fun. I miss being on the set.’ He goes, ‘You should come out. I’ll bring you on the show. We can make you a character.'”

A few years later, Patrick’s dream became a reality! “Then, by the summer of 2018, I was playing Wyatt, the scout, and shared scenes with Wes Ramsey (Peter August), and the best was when I shared a scene with Roger Howarth and Michael Easton (ex-John, OLTL and ex-Silas, Finn et al, GH), it was like chemistry from the old days.”

Photo: PGibbons

IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS

As to his future aspirations, it’s a career in the finance game that has piqued Gibbons’ real-life interest. But never say never to a return to acting. Patrick explained, “I’ve always enjoyed numbers. And on top of that, one of the biggest parts of finance is being personable and outgoing.”

He continued, “That’s one of the greatest skills I developed growing up. I really love the markets. I’m super interested. I’m never going to close the door to acting. I’m always open to that because I just love it so much. It’s such a great art.”

Take note! If there are any investment bankers or private equity folks among the GH faithful looking for a young analyst next year, Patrick’s DMs are open. You can find him on X at @PatrickJGibbons.

So, what did you think of the song sung by Trina on today’s GH that was written by Patrick J. Gibbons? Did you enjoy Patrick’s performances as One Life’s Sam and GH’s Wyatt? Would you like to see him back on GH at some point? Let us know via the comment section.

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