News
Soap Opera Digest Names One Life to Live Best Show of 2011!

Courtesy/ABC
In the brand new issue of Soap Opera Digest which includes their highly anticipated Best & Worst in Soaps in 2011, the publication had named the canceled, One Life to Live as the Best Show of 2011! And, if you pick up a copy of the issue at newsstand now you will see that OLTL picked up many “Bests” including Best Story of the year for Tale of the Two Todds! And, Best Social Issue for the Teen Bullying story. OLTL also picked up a nod for Best Special Episode for the hilarious and very memorable Vicker Man Premiere!
The Young and the Restless was picked as the Most Disappointing Show of 2011, while another canceled soap, All My Children was picked as the Most Improved Show of 2011. The Worst Story of the Year honors went to Chloe’s A Prostitute on Days of our Lives.
From Best and Worst Wedding, Best and Worst Recast, Best and Worst Villain, Best and Worst Location, Best and Worst Triangle, there is lots to discuss as the magazine expounds on their choices! Make sure to grab a copy.
All we can say, is kudos to SOD for getting it right giving the Best Show of 2011 to One Life. This is the year that it will most certainly be the critics darling.
General Hospital
Paige Herschell Exits ‘General Hospital’ as Jacinda Bracken

As suspected, Jacinda Bracken got a one way ticket out of Port Charles, thus ending the run of Paige Herschell as the escort-turned-girlfriend of Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson). The story turn took place on the Tuesday, August 11 episode of General Hospital.
After Jacinda drugged Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) by spiking her iced coffee, and Michael finding Willow drugged out in front of their kids, Amelia and Wiley, he knew he had to break things off with her.
Michael gave Jacinda enough money to get out of town and start a new life for herself, because given these recent developments, Willow will use this against him to gain full custody of his children. In their final scenes, Michael and Jacinda said a heartfelt goodbye to one another.

Courtesy/ABC
THE HISTORY OF JACINDA BRACKEN
According to Soap Opera Digest, a GH rep confirmed that today marked Paige Herschell’s final appearance in the role and that her exit was indeed, storyline-dictated. Herschell had originally auditioned for the role of Blaze a few years back. That part went to Jacqueline Grace Lopez.
Later, Herschell was brought in for a short stint beginning in April 2025, as the escort hired by Nina (Cynthia Watros) and Portia (Brook Kerr) to paint Drew (Cameron Mathison) in a bad light. So with Nina and Portia supplying her with ketamine, she drugged Drew. Next, Jacinda was able to get the then congressman to do liquor shots off her body in front of everyone at the Savoy Nightclub. After Drew made a public spectacle of himself, Nina paid Jacinda to leave town and she wound up in Australia.
However, by September of 2025, Jacinda was back in town, where she agreed to pretend to be Michael’s girlfriend for appearances sake and to give him an alibi on the night Drew Cain was shot. The arrangement eventually turned into genuine feelings for one another.
Back in April of 2026, Paige celebrated her one-year anniversary with GH as Jacinda and posted on Instagram,”Holy smokes! It’s been one year since Jacinda was introduced on Genera Hospital. I’m so grateful to this show for the work! Thank you to the amazing fans and the awesome cast and crew! One year! Holy moly! Jacinda- you continue to surprise me.” Fast-forward and now by August, Herschell has wrapped her run.
So, with the news of Jacinda’s departure on GH, are you glad Michael sent her packing. or were you hoping that Michael and Jacinda would wind up a bonafide couple that would go on for quite some time? Let us know via the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Exec Explains How They Fit John Oliver’s Guest Stint into Production When They Tape Almost a Year in Advance

If you caught today’s Tuesday, August 11 episode of Days of Our Lives streaming on Peacock, you caught the debut of John Oliver in his Salem role as the chief water inspector in town named Devlin St. John.
The ‘Last Week Tonight’ host has been on a jaunt through the soaps over the past few months, first on General Hospital, where he played the WSB head named Z, to now the man who has got the goods on EJ DiMera.
In his first of three appearances (the remaining two stream August 12 and 14), Devlin meets up with Paulina Price (Jackée Harry), Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes), Rita Lesley (who takes a liking to Mr. St. Jonn), played by Maggie Carney, and EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel). When Oliver arrives on the scene there is the wig, the quipping dialog, and a few soap stares and such along the way.

Courtesy/Peacock
Days of Our Lives is the only American soap opera in production to tape so far advance, often 10 to 11 months, that it makes it difficult to get out of any storyline that is not clicking with the fans, or if the writers want to change course.
In addition, casting announcement of exciting returns or new characters while initially exciting, finds the viewers having to wait a very long time to see them on their screens. On the flip side, without this production model the soap opera, which will turn 61 in November, wouldn’t remain and that would be a serious blow to the fans, to the soap genre and all that it employs.
DAYS OF OUR LIVES EP KEN CORDAY ON THE PROCESS OF ADDING JOHN OLIVER INTO PREVIOUSLY TAPED EPISODES
When John Oliver made his pronouncement on his late night talk show back in March that he desired to be on a soap opera. DAYS executive producer, Ken Corday was going to make it happen. He explained to Vulture, how they were able weave in Oliver’s request and take him up on it, while making it look seamless into episodes taped so long ago.
Both Corday and co-executive producer and showrunner, Noel Maxam, intially went back and looked at previously taped episodes and story outlines to search for a potential story thread where they could place the character to be played by Oliver.
Corday shared, “We didn’t want to wait until next year for these shows to air, so we lifted (already produced) show and put him in. We basically had to shoehorn him into our schedule because we were so far ahead.” The longtime EP also expressed its challenges stating it, “was somewhat complex. It was basically, ‘We have to do this; let’s get it done.’ And we did. He was too good to pass up.”
THE CREATION OF DEVLIN ST. JOHN
In terms of the scripting and creation of Oliver’s character of Devlin St. John, it was a two-team effort. Corday explained that Oliver’s overall storyline was scripted by DAYS writers, but John Oliver’s team punched up some of the dialog.
“John and his producer had a lot of input in making the words fit the way he talks,” the EP recalled. “He’s (Oliver) very machine-gun in how he speaks, so that took a little work. But in the end, we both got what we wanted.”
In terms of the look of his DAYS character of the Salem chief water inspector, Oliver brought the wig he wears in his scenes to the set, and the DAYS hair and make-up team refined it for the cameras.
You can check out more behind the scenes moments of Oliver’s appearance on Days of Our Lives in the newly released video package from Access Hollywood that dropped last night below.
So, what did you think of John Oliver’s debut as Devlin St. John on today’s Days of Our Lives? Ken Corday sharing how the soap opera was able to shoehorn in Oliver’s scenes in previous shot episodes from months ago? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Last Week Tonight’ Host John Oliver’s Role on ‘Days of Our Lives’ Revealed

After a few months of speculation, it has finally been revealed who John Oliver will be playing when he kicks-off his three episode guest stint on Tuesday, August 11 on Peacock’s Days of Our Lives.
According to a rep for the soap opera, Oliver will be taking on the role of Salem’s Chief Water Inspector who opens an investigation into the local water supply. As previously reported, Oliver will share scenes with EJ (Dan Feuerriegel) and Rita (Maggie Carney), and Mayor Paulina Price (Jackée Harry).
In addition, Soaps.com spoke with Dan Feuerriegel who shared that Oliver’s character name is none other than “Devlin St. John.” Feuerriegel also explained what the late night talk show wanted out of his Days of Our Lives experience noting, “He wanted the whole thing. From my recollection, he wanted a wig. He wanted a ridiculous name, and he wanted to slap or be slapped.” Feuerriegel then coyly admitted, “We did all the things. Everything you would think cliché in a soap, we did. I got slapped. I slapped.”
Jackée Harry previewed her scenes with Oliver to TV Insider, noting, “He is the water commissioner and coming to her with some scheme. He is trying to get one over on the city of Salem and she is not having it. And then he’s onto the next victim.”

Photo: Peacock
JOHN OLIVER’S TOUR OF SOAP DUTY CONCLUDES IN SALEM
After his initial entrance on Tuesday, look for Oliver on the Wednesday, August 12 and Friday, August 14 of the soap streamer. Last month, John Oliver appeared on General Hospital in the role of the head of the WSB named Z for three episodes, as well which was more of a dramatic turn for the late night talk show host.
DAYS and GH both came calling after Oliver put the word out an episode of his HBO series back in March, that he is aiming to be on a soap! John shared, “To all the soap operas out there, let me say this: I’m officially offering myself to you. Write me a role, and I will be on your set so fast, it will make your head spin!”
Days of Our Lives executive producer, Ken Corday previously said in a statement, “When John Oliver said, ‘Call me, soaps, I’m available and willing to travel. I want to be a part of that world,’ our world, we had to heed the call!”
So, looking forward to tuning-in to see John Oliver as Salem’s Chief Water Inspector, Devlin St. John on this week on Days of Our Lives? Let us know via the comment section. But first, in case you missed it, check out this week’s Days of Our Lives promo below with Oliver as Devlin St. John asking to see Mayor Paulina Price in its final moments.
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only agree if victors not dead!
Victor was the best! I can’t stand scarface Todd!
I should get that, I always loved SOD’s best and worst of magazines. And OLTL deserves Best Soap, along with Y&R as Worst Soap. They got those right!
I wonder who had worst wedding.
I totally agree—–OLTL is the BEST soap on TV!!!! ABC is STUPID for cancelling it!!!! They have lost so many viewers !!!! If they don’t want our soaps, SELL THEM!!!
Wouldn’t it be something, if OLTL wins the Emmy for Best Show after itso cancelled.
I hope this happens,so we can laugh right in the faces of ABC
It’s such a shame that they canceled the best soap on tv! I’ve always considered it the best soap and have been a loyal viewer since day one. Why did they have to break our hearts all over again by promising us a re-boot future and then pulling the plug?
and so the best soap is being replaced with a horrid makoever show with the equally horrid Tim Gunn…makes sense huh?
Gonna go out and get this issue. OLTL deserves every best that they got!!! What an amazing year for OLTL!!! Too bad ABC doesn’t realize the jewel that they are throwing away.
Agreed. Let’s all make this the biggest selling issue ever. Perhaps if all the fans purchase a copy, Soap Opera Degist can hand Brian Frons and ABC those numbers too !
sorry, please correct my typo in “degist” to “digest”
thanks
I’m going to buy it also! It’s been years since i’ve bought a SOD also!
OLTL was voted Best Story: Tale of Two Todds, Most Shocking Plot Twist: Gigi/Stacy, Best Triangle: Viki-Charlie & Echo, Best Returns: OLTL Vets, Best Exit: Dorian Lord, Best Social Issue: Bullying, Best Special Episode: Vickerman Premiere, and Best Show….In the worst category OLTL received the following….Worst Secret: Who Killed Eddie Ford, Worst Exit: Marty, & Worst Trend: Dual Roles
The next one was received, but had nothing to do with what OLTL did…it was
Worst News: The Cancellations of AMC & OLTL (Which made Brian Frons the soap fans’ biggest villain – a title that he earned),
I’m thrilled for One Life to Live and I’m hoping that some bright and creative entrepreneur will find a way to save this show. With 2.6 million viewers and cast and crew willing to do whatever it takes to keep the show alive, why can’t someone make this work?!
After the week of Thanksgiving, OLTL is at 2.8. They have over 400,000 viewers from last year. I wish someone would pick it up too.
Not gonna happen. It’s over folks. Move on and devote your energy to save the four soaps left so that they don’t suffer the same fate.
@Heather
The other four soaps are not worth saving. OLTL is the only that should be saved.
i know victor is not dead OLTL & AMC is the best shows on tv and the best dramss they have ABC have a nerve to cancel the best soaps on air what are they tnking
I hope OLTL submits the Todd reveal or the Todd/Blair cabin scenes for Emmy consideration. Hands down, the best episodes of the year.
Hey.. and before we lose our show.. let not forgot how even Janet Jackson gave credit to the show in one of her first hits “What Have You Done For Me Lately” from 1986…
“You ought to be thankful for the little things,
but little things are all you seem to give
You’re always putting off what we can do today
Soap opera says, you’ve got “One Life To Live”
Who’s right, who’s wrong?
What have you done for me lately?”
Maybe we need a OLTL trivia page… so we all can remember and discover how much this show touch everywhere.
Yeah I always thought that was cool that she put that in her song! And let’s not forget Sarah Michelle Geller is a big fan of OLTL instead of AMC while it was still on, that says a lot.
WOW!
You are so right this is the worst story lines I have ever see
I love Roger Howarth, the original, the one and only!!! Victor is alive and I am happy for Tea!! And Danni.
Now I want the Special farewell Issue of the magazine. One Life To Live Tribute!! WHERE, wHERE do I find It?? Thank you for your help!! Long live Vicki!! And the memory of her father, Walter Slezak!! He would be so pleased for and of his beautiful daughter!! Thank you, Vicki, for your life on OLTL!! Love it!!! And you!! Thank you, cast, for the memories. Max…take good care of him, Blair!!