All My Children
TV Guide on Why ABC lost Hope for Its Soaps!
Courtesy/ABC
Today TV Guide has an analysis and commentary on why ABC lost hope for its soaps and decided to pull the plug on One Life to Live and All My Children. And the cost analysis of putting on a daytime soap per week as opposed to the new reality shows, The Chew and The Revolution. Here are the key ‘takeaways’ from the news item below!
“Greater choice and audience fragmentation have meant lower ratings for all programs. The daytime soaps built their cost structure during a time when the networks had little competition. The ratings have reached a point where even after cutbacks, ABC was on a path to lose money on All My Children and One Life to Live if they stayed on the air next year. The cost of producing each ABC soap ran from $750,000 to $1 million a week.
The new shows that will replace them will each be $575,000 a week or less. There’s The Chew, a food-centric lifestyle show hosted by chefs Mario Batali, Michael Symon, Top Chef‘s Carla Hall and nutrition expert Daphne Oz, and The Revolution (working title), a health and lifestyle show with Tim Gunn. And unlike soaps, the episodes can be repeated.
CBS is already seeing higher profits for its new daytime chatfest The Talk, even though the ratings are slightly below those of As the World Turns, the soap it replaced. When CBS recently gave multiyear renewals to The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, it was at significantly lower license fees. Many viewers will miss the soaps, just as some miss the variety show, the big-budget miniseries and other TV fare of a bygone era. It’s the price viewers pay for living in a multi-channel world, where they can watch what the want when they want.”
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.
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie Kicks Bill to the Curb … for Now
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THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie Kicks Bill to the Curb … for Now
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News3 days agoY&R’s New Head Writers Share Vision for Genoa City: Contemporary Homage to Bill Bell, Mixing Heightened Escapism and Grounded Reality
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Previews4 days agoTHE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Preview: Episodes From New Co-Head Writers, Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor, Begin to Air
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General Hospital3 days ago‘General Hospital’ Casts Ayla Bullington as the New Avery Jerome-Corinthos
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Days Of Our Lives4 days ago‘Days of our Lives’ Celebrates 61st Anniversary: EP Ken Corday Teases New Character’s Arrival in Spring 2027
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Days Of Our Lives7 days ago‘Days of our Lives’ Kyle Pryor Debuts as Dominic Marino and Says of Alleged TV Mom, “Deidre Hall is the Absolute OG, Amazing” (Exclusive)
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All I know is when AMC and OLTL goes off the air my TV will turned to NBC Days of Our Lives and CBS Young and The Restless. I have no interest in watching these replacements.
When AMC goes off, I will be watching Y&TR to see many of my GH faves who have or are on their way their. In fact, I have begun recording it already. I already only have ABC on during the hours that all three soaps air. I used to watch Dr. Oz and Oprah right after, but not since this decision was made.
Before and after, I tune to another channel.
EVERYONE should boycott ALL ABC programming EXCEPT for the three soaps!
We should all boycott abc Ireally looked forward to watching these shows I will chage to another channel so all other programs on after them will also loose their ratings Ill have to see what channel 5 has to offer!!!! Thumbs down abc
The ABC soaps downturn was due to Brian Frons. They could still be viable under the right leadership.
Absolutely!
I hope Brian Frons Chokes on the Chew.
HA! I like that!
That was beautiful.
This is what america really need another food show isnt america to fat now!!!!Down with abc
Michael, why do you bother directing us to yet another ABC apologist? Why give them the press?
Here’s another take on the TV Guide story that is worth reading:
https://daytimeconfidential.zap2it.com/2011/04/25/cheap-crap-abc-daytimes-replacement-shows-to-cost-under-575000
Quoting from the above link: “As for The Revolution, that show is having to be completely retooled, because it sucked donkey balls, according to my sources. Instead of telling Frank Valentini, “Look man, I need you get the budget under $600,000 a week. I know it will be tough, but it is what it is,” ABC is going to tear apart a show that is turning out stellar episodes and is Number 3 among women 18-49, for a show that wasn’t good enough for the fall? I’m sad about AMC’s fate, but what’s being done to One Life to Live is flat out criminal.
Let’s reflect again on the many, many failed reality/talk projects Brian Frons and Co.attempted to get off the ground at SOAPnet. . . .
I don’t care how many ways they try to spin it, I’ll never be convinced it makes good business sense to allow Brian Frons to oversee the transition of ABC Daytime away from soaps to programming women are allegedly clamoring for more of. This is the man who was surprised by Kathy Brier’s success on One Life to Live because she doesn’t look like a Playboy Bunny. Guess what, neither do most American women. Now Frons wants to micromanage a weight loss reality show? Really?
We’re talking about the guy who put amazing talents like Jackie Zeman, Leslie Charleson, Catherine Hickland and countless other veteran actresses out to pasture fo no other reason than they got older. I have a question for Frons: If actresses’ freshness expires at the age of 50, what about executives? What’s good for the goose oughta be good for the micromanager. I’d say Frons is well past his sell by date.”
I agreee totally!!!!!!!!!!@
While obesity is a major health problem in the U.S. and Canada, why would we want another tv show on FOOD. There are some of us out here that prefer to watch other shows. You waste our time on Reality shows which are getting more trashy per new show. Not everyone out here watches these types of tv shows either. I am in my mid- 50’s and I am not “old”. I have watched soaps forever. Several different ones in fact. I have watched AMC since forever. It has been the one steady soap that has been on forever. I watch soaps for entertainment purposes, to get away from the real world. Not to be brought down by people fighting, arguing and thinking they are better than the rest. I do not need to watch someone else’s personal life.
I cant begin to think I want be able to see my soaps. what a sorry decisionI’M 62 you will put a gap in a lot of peoples lives
I will NOT WATCH The Talk as it replaced my much loved soap As The World Turns and I will make sure NOT to watch these new shows either. Too bad we can’t get more people to tune out these low budget, low entertainment shows. TV is going to crap!
I agree abc is turning into crap!!!!!!
abc please reconsider saving our soaps or your rating in general will fall the so willyou losse big time with this horrible sorry disgusting stupid decision
The only daytime program that I watch on ANY network is All My Children, which I dvr daily. Boo hiss ABC, Disney, and the pathetic Brian Frons. CHEW on your respective derrieres.
I have Dish Network – over 100 channels but what do I watch during the day – All My Children and One Life to Live. Your brought garbage in (Brian Frons) and he is putting garbage out. To Brian Frons: when the cast of AMC took a pay cut – did you? I bet not. ABC/Disney, you had better look at the moron you have running the show. You are losing millions of viewers. I will never watch another ABC program – EVER. I am more than happy to give my viewership to NBC or CBS. At least they don’t have idiots at the helm.
With Cheaper substitutions…more money will be put in Fron’s pocket. ABC and Disney are cancelled ..Sorry Johnny Depp!
their stupid they don’t care about their ratings they already know they stink both programs are flushed down the toilet where these turds with feet walked up from the sewer. They won’t sell the rights to our soaps cause they know both shows will not be accepted and their not I don’t watch either of them and I never will. I have tuned in elsewhere to watch soaps in the daytime. We won’t quit abc we won’t quit that alone makes us the winners and your right your all the biggest losers!
I have not watched ABC sincw the cancellation of AMC and OLTL. I do not even watch disney channels or anything that is ABC related. I got to watching CBS and now I leave my TV on that Channel during the day. I read more with the noise in the background of the TV. The soaps were a release from the strains of everyday life. My viewership used to be with ABC but now their programming is not worth watching.