News
Will OLTL Decide to Rejigger Their Network Television Finale?

Courtesy/ABC
Now that the official decision was handed down by Prospect Park that One Life to Live will not be migrating online in January or at all through the media and entertainment company, what does that mean for the finale of the 43-year-old soap?
One Life’s head writer, Ron Carlivati and his writing team have certainly been put on a non-stop bad rollercoaster ride. First, ABC canceled the soap forcing them to map out and write stories to wrap up the show by this January. Then, comes the news that Prospect Park intends on bringing the show to its new Online Network. And so, they ask that the series to create a cliffhanger and not tie up certain loose-ends to bring viewers to its new platform.
Now according to Variety, OLTL may go back and revise the ending based on the finality of the situation! “Producers for OLTL, which is scheduled to end its run in January 2012, may be left with some creative rejiggering to do now that its second life online isn’t happening. Sources indicated that the series was to end on a cliffhanger in order to whet appetites for its continuation online; now those narrative strands will likely be wrapped up on ABC instead.”
On-Air On-Soaps certainly hopes they would have the opportunity to do so, either by re-editing some scenes, hoping perhaps they filmed some contingency endings just in case this fallout did happen, or quickly get back in to their ABC studios, next week, before the December 9th date given to the actors by ABC to clean out their dressing rooms (which may not even be feasible). This of course all depends if the One Life powers-that-be are unsatisfied with how they currently have wrapped-up the show, knowing One Life will not live on at this juncture.
Whatever the case, Prospect Park’s plans, that felt apart, have now left longtime viewers with an unsatisfactory ending for All My Children and many hope will not be the case for One Life to Live, due to the scrapped online venture. However, all reports, and what we can tell you, is that in the weeks to come One Life is going to deliver to you amazing stories right till the end.
News
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Heather Tom on Working with TV Son Crew Morrow: ‘I’ve Always Wanted to Play an Overprotective, Overbearing Mother’ (Exclusive)

In an ironic twist of fate, and only in the soaps, The Bold and the Beautiful’s Heather Tom’s (Katie Logan) on-screen son is played by Crew Morrow (Will Spencer), the now 21-year-old son of her former TV brother on The Young and the Restless, Joshua Morrow (Nick Newman).
For those who have followed the six-time Daytime Emmy-winning actress’ career, Tom began on Y&R back in 1990 as Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) and Victor’s (Eric Braeden) daughter Victoria Newman. She played the role until 2003. Four years later, she joined the cast of The Bold and the Beautiful and has been there ever since.
Next month, at the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards, Heather might add two gold statuettes to her collection with nominations for Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series (which would be her record-breaking 7th for an actress), and one for being a part of B&B’s writing team.

Photo: JPI
WHICH MORROW IS IN THE ROOM?
In a new livestream conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel, Heather recalled her reaction to seeing Crew Morrow on set when he started on B&B over two years ago, and pointed out the uncanny similarities between her TV son and her former TV brother.
“I just can’t even tell you how genetics is weird,” explained Tom. “Because it’s like they are the same person; the cadence and his voice and the way he laughs. When Crew was on the shows for the first couple of months, it would take me out of the scene. I would be like, ‘Oh, my God! It’s Joshua.’ It’s crazy. It’s so wonderful to have him. I love having him there. We’re so lucky to have Crew. I think he’s a wonderful addition to the Spencer family. I love that Bill (Don Diamont) and Katie’s son is on the canvas in a real way.”
In recent weeks, fans of The Bold and the Beautiful have seen a different side of Katie in regards to her son, Will. She simply does not approve, and does not trust Melissa Dylan (Sydney Bullock) as far as she can throw her. That puts a wrinkle in the mother/son relationship.

Photo: JPI
HEATHER TOM IS THRILLED THE CHARACTER OF WILL SPENCER IS ALL GROWN-UP
“Honestly, I’ve been waiting for this story since Will was born,” exclaimed Heather “To be like the overprotective, overbearing mother, momma bear, I love it!”
As for Katie’s attitude. which many feel may need an “attitude adjustment,” Tom has it all figured out on just how she is tackling her scenes! “I have all kinds of justifications for it,” reveals the multi-talented star.

Photo: JPI
KATIE SEES ALL SORTS OF RED FLAGS WITH DYLAN
“So. it’s not just Katie being the b-word,” proclaims Tom. “It’s that Will, her son, whom she loves and supports so much, has been constantly saying about Electra (Laneya Grace), ‘This is the love of my life. She’s broken my heart. I love her. All I want to do is get her back.'”
“So I think Katie could be like, ‘Okay, well, Electra’s a little flighty, but my son loves her, so I’m going to try to support that relationship,” explains Heather. “In addition, Will has never told his mother, ‘I love Dylan,’ at all. I think Katie is thinking of telling Will, ‘You should run, not walk, from this girl who seems somewhat obsessed!’ I don’t know where they’re going with the Electra/Will/Dylan triangle, but I think Katie’s very focused on Dylan for a multitude of reasons.”
So, do you like seeing Heather Tom as Katie going into overprotective momma bear-mode, now that the series has a major young triangle between Electra/Will/Dylan? What do you think about the fact that Heather has been a long-running scene partner with father/son across two different soaps in Joshua Morrow and Crew Morrow? Let us know in the comment section, and in case you missed it, check out our full conversation with Heather below.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Finola Hughes Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’

There was never any doubt that in watching the riveting and emotional scenes on General Hospital which featured Finola Hughes as a PTSD-driven and mentally tortured Anna Devane, that when the climatic moments in Anna’s story aired, that we would not be singing the praises of Hughes. Once again, Finola showcased why she is one of the soap opera genres greatest assets and actresses.
In the key scenes, Anna has had a complete breakdown as she has lured and cornered Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) on Mount Emerson, and even thought through how she would kill her and cover it up, all thanks to hearing the voice and seeing a dead man, Peter August (Wes Ramsey). It’s visions of Peter that keeps egging Anna on to pull the trigger on Britt while in her delusional state.
Before Britt realizes that Anna trapped her in meeting her in Mount Emerson, she is very confused as to why she was all the way out in the boondocks to talk about what happened to her brother, Cassius Faison. However, Britt soon learned that what Anna was about to do is personal, and not professional, as she pulls the gun on her.

Courtesy/ABC
ANNA FIRES HER GUN IN GAME-CHANGING MOMENT
When Jason (Steve Burton) shows up to save the say, he tries to talk Anna off the ledge, begging her to not shoot Britt and make one of the greatest mistakes of his life. When Jason figured out Anna felt she needed to kill anyone related to Cesar Faison, he made her think twice, because that would mean, she also would need to end the lives of two of Maxie’s children, James and Bailey Lu.
Anna can’t stop seeing hallucinations of Peter pushing her to shoot Britt. Suddenly and completely overcome, Anna fires bullets straight in the direction of where she sees Peter as she declares this all must end tonight.
After the shots are fired, Anna realized what she had done and just sobbed and shook. It was a devastating and heartbreaking moment for longtime General Hospital fans to see the beloved Anna Devane, super spy, so lost. Anna explained to Jason, after he was able to disarm her, how she was being pushed to kill Britt by her visions of Peter.
EMMY-WORTHY SCENES FOR 2027
In another hankie-inducing moment, Anna just grabs Jason and breaks down in his arms. If these weren’t Emmy-worthy scenes, we don’t know what is, and it must be remembered by Hughes, General Hospital, and hopefully the voting body of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) when Emmy submissions and voting get underway in 2027 for the 54th annual Daytime Emmys.
From everything we noted above, to the sheer brilliance of her work, Michael Fairman TV names Finola Hughes, this week’s Power Performance of the Week.
Now let us know, do you agree with our pick of Finola? Were you moved to tears during the gut-wrenching scenes? Should Finola include these scenes in an Emmy submission in 2027, should she decide to compete for Lead Actress gold? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
General Hospital
RATINGS: ‘General Hospital’ Shows Most Gains in Total Viewers Week-Over-Week and Up in Key Demo

The ratings are out for the week of August 24-28 for your favorite broadcast television soaps, and it was ABC’s General Hospital which added the most total viewers and planted itself firmly in third place in its battle with Beyond the Gates in the key demos of women 18-49 and 25-54.
According to Soap Opera Network, all daytime dramas were up year-over-year, and General Hospital was joined by The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful with gains in their total audience viewership, while Beyond the Gates was only slightly off pace for the ratings week.
Let’s take a look at what had viewers tuning-in, starting with General Hospital, who added +79,000 viewers. While still under the 2 million viewers mark (which they can hopefully return in the coming weeks) their overall tally was an average of 1, 935,000 tuning-in, while still up year-to-year +136,000.
GENERAL HOSPITAL
In addition, GH while actually down from the previous week in the 18-49 ratings share, they still out performed Beyond the Gates for third place. However, GH was firmly in third place for the 25-54 ratings share.
The stories that were featured for the week included: Anna’s (Finola Hughes) PTSD and struggle with painful memories tied to Cesar Faison, and her concocting a plan to get rid of Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) recording Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) threatening her, and later running into a severe threat from Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) regarding Kai (Jens Austin Astrup) and Drew’s (Cameron Mathison) shooting, and Drew enlisting Ava (Maura West) to gain leverage over Jack, which resulted in Ava drugging him, while Drew went snooping for the evidence Brennan had against him.

Photo: JPI
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
Y&R remained in the top spot amongst all the soaps once again with 3,062,000 tuning in, and up +35,000 for the week, while year-to-year still showing strong gains at +231,000 viewers. However, while Y&R remained #1 for the 25-54 ratings share, it fell to #2 in the 18-49 ratings share behind The Bold and the Beautiful.
In story for the week, Nick’s (Joshua Morrow) sobriety in rehab was a focus, as was Victoria (Amelia Heinle) and Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) hitting the Jabot office couch and having sex for the first time, and Lily (Christel Khalil) and Billy (Jason Thompson) battling over control and ownership of Chancellor Industries.

Photo: JPI
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
B&B is continuing to be inch closer to Y&R for the top spot, separated by a little more than 300,000 viewers. For the ratings week, the series posted a total audience of 2,719,000 adding +31,000 eyeballs overall, and like Y&R, is up year-to-year in its performance.
The CBS soap now , now in its 40th season is +217,000 from the same time last year. In the key demos, The Bold and the Beautiful was in the top spot for the women 18-49 ratings share and number two for women 25-54.
In story, the major threat to Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and Finn (Tanner Novlan) and Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor) and Daphne’s (Murielle Hilaire) marriages continued as Steffy and Carter swore they would not tell their spouses that the two had a drunken hook-up. But as viewers know now, Steffy is pregnant!

Photo: CBS
BEYOND THE GATES
Beyond the Gates tallied an average of 1,611,000 total viewers for the week, up +72.000 year-over-year and down slightly in tune-in for the week losing just -36,000 viewers. The CBS soap came in fourth place in the key demos for the week behind General Hospital, with whom they are often trading places for the third spot.
In story, after Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) was released from the hospital, Hayley (Marquita Goings) stuck to her plan, doubling down on poisoning him and even getting caught in a major lie or meeting with Randy (Maurice P. Kerry), as Vernon (Clifton Davis) may be on to her machinations.
The ratings report is generated from Nielsen (Live+Same Day Big Data + Panel) for the week of August 24-28, 2026
So, what did you think of the performance of General Hospital for the ratings period? Which daytime drama has you most likely to tune-in each day? Which has you tuning-out? Let us know what’s working, or not working for you in story, via the comment section below.
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This is very sad news indeed… but have lots of faith in Ron and the cast to give its loyal viewers the ending we need…
but after that, sorry ABC, I will not invest my time in your programming… You have had my interest in V, another bad ending, Dirty Sexy Money, and Detriot 1-8-7, all of which ended with out closure. Plus, I have no interest in any reality programming.
Also, hope all the New Yorkers boycott you too, after unemploying so many people there.
So now EVERY soap SHOULD go..
Until it effects other’s, its always hunky dory.
they will , only a matter of time..
Late November of 2007 the light went out a GREAT show on CTV Programing.
***** INSTANT STAR*****.
The show was to have its 5th Season and like evil some wicked exes, VIACOME cancelled a desent ending for fans.
Now this Park online thing, come on….you gave people hope.
I’m sad they killed off Matthew yesterday, why? And he didn’t even mention Destiny at all, who’s carrying his child! hopefully he can come back somehow and reconnect with Destiny, Bo, Nora and also with Shane, the cousin he regrets he didn’t stand up for earlier! And hopefully the woman Farrah is playing right now is really Gigi and Clint has Stacy’s heart- wanna see Rex, Gigi and Shane together in the end, with a big Rex and Gigi wedding the fans want! Clint could reconnect with Kim, esp. because he has her best friend’s heart. Charlie and Vicki could get back together. And of course Nat and John get back together. Also please let Victor Jr. still be alive somehow to be with Tea and their new child and Danielle and spar some more with his brother Todd!
I too was very disappointed Matthew didn’t mention Destiny and the baby in his narration, but understood that the whole episode was all about the Buchanans. It just isn’t fair that all these months of waiting for Matthew to come back that this had to happen. What a waste of story line and talent!
One hopes that the writers had a “plan B” in case PP fell through, but we won’t know unless we keep watching! 🙂
Matthew doesn’t know she’s pregnant. She told him when he was still in a coma. But I agree he should have said something about never getting old or being a father.
yeah i was so outraged when they did that but i saw yesterday and matthew came back and they did have destiny and her family and i was very happy with that big time…i am so outraged right now that one live to life is gone and the hopes of PP of taking it online and now they are not i mean i dont think that it is right for them to just take these soaps off the air they need to put them all soaps on dvds and series and seasons them up in sections and the sweeps as well and/or just put them on another network that is just made for soaps and continue on with them life what is wrong with all that they are putting crapy shows on to replace soaps…i am not watching these are they crazy…! abc is done…! their ratings are going to plummet because of what they did to the these actors and to u and the family that they just destroyed with no regard if these actors can get jobs considering that they have families and the economy sucks…great job abc…executives bravo…proud of urselves hu?
That’s good news. No one wants another ending a la All My Children.
As for All My Children, ABC can eventually air a reunion show to give fans the genuine ending they deserved.
I hope they would ask Robin Strasser back if they are going to tape some more. The finale needs Dorian!
I hope they don’t change anything with the ending because I hope that it still gets picked up. I mean this show is #3 in the ratings with almost 3 million viewers. Some CW primetime shows don’t even get that.
With this new information, I’m hoping & praying that ABC’s IIC can resolve & wrap-up OLTL properly & give us long-time viewers satisfying endings! 🙂
Once OLTL is off the air, ABC will lose me as a viewer. I do hope that the fans will not be cheated and that the show will have a satisfying ending for those of us who are still watching.
Thank you to everyone at OLTL! You will be missed.
And this fan prays her favorite couple get the happy ending they deserve. Thank you Roger Howarth and Kassie dePaiva. Your talent and chemistry are the reason Todd and Blair have such a huge following.
Loved the last paragraph! I want them to get their HEA so bad.
I do hope that my favorite couple Todd and Blair get the happy ending they deserve. After 18 years of tortured love if ANY COUPLE on TV deserve happiness its these two. I agree if it was not for the Hugh talent and chemistry of Roger Howarth and Kassie Depavia we would not have been held captivated all these years. They and we the legions of Todd and Blair fans deserve a happy ending for them.
The finale is not satisfying without Robin Strasser. It is a slap in the face to end the show without her.
The way OLTL’s editors slice and chop, I wouldn’t trust them to make it worse than it already will be.
TREVOR ST JOHN HAS TO BE THERE ,
I agree with you Meg. Trevor gave this show so many years before they kicked him out. He should be the real Todd, but if not then Victor should be there with Tea and Dani till the end. I miss Trevor so much that I stopped looking long before he exited the show, because of the treatment that he received from TBTB, and no support from his castmates.
After January 13, 2012, ABC has lost me as a viewer.
You guys dont really believe matthew is really dead, do you?
Why even re-write the ending for ABC? Why even give this network the satisfaction of giving them any more of your blood, sweat and tears? Of course, I’m speaking of the writers and the actors…I want this show to have a cliffhanger because I will never give up on OLTL being picked up by SOMEBODY! I know there has to be another network who recognizes the value and quality of this show and that fans will migrate to where ever they go. SO LET’S NOT GIVE UP! Let’s fight the good fight to keep this show going, and most of all, BOYCOTT ABC! They’re the ones who did all this damage, so we fans have to send them a message that we will not watch their network.
Totally agreed! I still believe this gem of a show will be picked up by someone. It is too good to end now. It is firing on all cylinders. I hope some cable network is listening.
I am so heartbroken over the loss of OLTL that I don’t think re-editing the ending even matters. That there has been no interest by any network for a show of this quality and viewer loyalty is astounding and says volumes about the current state of network television. Maximizing revenue is all that matters.
Networks are happy to broadcast pig slop like The Chew because there are enough viewers who will watch. The Chew recently had as many viewers as AMC. Maybe if the The Chew had failed with less than a million viewers there would have been a chance for OLTL, but Frons’s gamble paid off. Now, ABC executives know they made the right decision, and they can’t wait for The Revolution to replace OLTL.
Until a sufficient number of viewers develop the discipline and taste to reject cheap, reality programming other networks have no incentive to offer more expensive, quality entertainment like OLTL.
I seen that both soap will not return on line too bad if only u can save one one life to live it is my favor will you say it will happen and then u changed it. sell it why disappoint viewer try it.
If you are going to boycott anyone, boycott Disney (who owns ABC) & ABC, not just ABC. Also, fill out your soap coupons at https://www.sudz.tv/ and mail them in. They are important now more than ever. We need to show soap fans have the numbers and that there is a demand for soaps.
I THINK MATT IS HAVING A NEAR DEATH AND THAT IS HOW THEY ARE BRINGING DEAD PPL IN. AS LONG AS THEY BRING VICTOR BACK ALIVE AND SEND TODD TO BE MITCHS CELLMATE IN STATESVILLE I;D BE KINDA HAPPY
I just don’t get it. One Life is actually well written and well acted. In fact, the writing is SO good, it really is a throwback to the classic days of great soaps. Ron C (headwriter) has developed plot after plot that keeps me taping and watching each episode. I had no intention on watching One Life on a regular basis; however, when I heard that is was being cancelled, I was curious enough to view a few episodes. I’m a life long Days fan, and had no intention of adding another soap to my viewing schedule. I was surprised to see how ell proudced this show is. It’s really, really good- and I cannot believe that the idiots that run ABC don’t see this. I hope Brain Fronz loses his job. I hate that one idiot can ruin, and ulitmately end an entire genre that has been successful for over 70 years.
Nice of you to take the time and be open-minded enough to notice. It’s a shame a few million other people couldn’t be more like you. I don’t get it either. A primetime show offers a couple of dozen episodes–one per week, repeated in the summers–while soaps offer a new episode everyday all year round. Primetime pays some actors one million dollars per episode for multiple retakes to shoot a half-hour show. OLTL produces five shows every week without retakes.
The quality and talent associated with soaps is significantly underrated and unappreciated. Articles about the demise of OLTL in The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal are inevitably followed by condescending comments about soaps in general by people who obviously never watched them. I think the consistent entertainment value of OLTL is remarkable compared to any show. But for people like Brian Frons in network television, maximizing revenue trumps quality entertainment.
I think OLTL should be produced by PBS, assuming enough public contributions could support it. Public television is what the public wants to see but networks refuse to produce.
I wish all soap fans- past and present would unite and stage a major protest against ABC. It doesn’t matter if you watched soaps years ago, or still watch them today. Network executives have no sense of creativity, and no ability to judge talent. I’t’s all about saving money. You’re right, David- One Life has INCREDIBLE talent. Soaps in general have traditionally been underrated- by the people that never watch them! People who love the genre have known for years that it takes a certain type of talent and ability to produce, direct, and act in a new sixty minute drama five days a week.
Anyway- I wish that everyone who cares about quality programming would stage a major demonstration at the ABC studios in New York- in protest of the cancellation One Life to Live, All My Children, Guiding Light, etc; in protest of Brian Fronz and his systematic obliviation of an entire genre (just wait- GH is next, I’m certain ); in protest of the end of soaps as we know them; and last but not least, in protest of useless, cheaply produced, unimaginitive, uncreative programming like the Chew (barf) and the Revolution (double barf).
We could call it Occupy Daytime or Occupy Llandview! It may not accomplish anything at the end of the day, but it’s important that network executives- like that assohole Brain Frons- understand that they will never, ever recoup their daytime ratings by replacing a beloved genre with cooking show. Pretty soon daytime programming will be as relevant as AM radio. And we can all thank Brian Frons and his “innovative” ideas for that.
Seriously, soap fans need to unite before they derail what is left of a very talented industry.
Btw- it’s cool to see another guy soap fan.
I really wish the guys at PP had chosen to focus on OLTL only. The logistics involved are obviously insane but had they chosen to focus on the one show it may have worked out. I agree OLTL is a throwback to the days when I was a kid and would watch GL and ATWT after school. Its a shame to see this great show shot down in its prime.
I guarantee you Rob that PP had NEVER seriously considered taking on One Life to Live. They had no money, no contracts, and NO advertisement in place. The New York Times had a feature article about the head of PP about a month ago, revealing that had been involved in questionable business tactics in the past, and had been trying to revive his career ammonst alleged personal and business conflicts. I am certain that all of the “smoke and mirrors” that soap fans have been subjected to has been a complete ruse to distract them from expressing their anger regarding the idiotic Frons and ABC’s poor “buisnesss” descions.
Btw- it’s great to see another male soap fan. Who knew? I’d say it’s almost a “revolution”- but I really hate that name nowadays. (The only recourse One Life and All My Children fans have is to BOYCOT The Chew and The Revolution. I also suggest a huge fan rally in protest of ABC and the impending cancellation of One Life. Shame on Frons!)
My grandfather and father brought OLTL and GH into our home when I was small. Grandfather was retired and dad was biding time after the family business closed. They’d do construction projects during early morning and through the day and come home in the midafternoon. On went the TV. Those shows were part of my growing up and I love the genre. A lot of men do. Shame the powers that be do not realize the joy they are taking from everyone.
OLTL did film some alternate endings. for OLTL’s end. Not an extensive amount – it’s not going to be perfectly closed – but they definitely have a version with more finishes/less cliffhangers that they will use.
greg andrew thanks
NBC has the lowest ratings of the three major networks – why didn’t they pick up the canceled soaps ?
NBC and CBS will never pick up any of the ABC soaps. Don’t forget that both had good soaps, and cancelled them. It’s a sad reality of the television industry today. No one will pick up a cancelled soap, not a network and not a cable channel. NBC will cancel Days in the next five years, and both Y&R and BB will most likely not last the decade. No one will introduce a new soap or revive an old one. We have to accept reality. As soap fans we are dead.
I just wish The CAST & CREW the very best in their Careers & THE HAPPIEST OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON lol !