Viewers said goodbye to Llanview Friday when One Life to Live ended after 44 years. Sure enough, the longtime ABC soap's final hour provided plenty of drama.
In the episode's final moments, Vicki and Clint reunited for good after Vicki learned that Clint was the father of Jessica.
In another part of Llanview, Todd and Blair finally came together, only to have their romantic reunion rudely interrupted by John McBain, who was there to arrest Todd for the murder of Victor Lord Jr.
But wait! Victor Lord Jr. was revealed to be very much alive and being held captive by resident villain Allison Perkins.
Today The View paid tribute to the departing soap with a look back at the various trials and tribulations, romances and deceptions of the citizens of Llanview.
One Life to Live will end its 44-year run on Friday, but for some of the show's actors, there is in fact life after Llanview.
Four actors from the canceled soap are set to reprise their roles and join ABC's General Hospital for a unique arc.
Kassie DePaiva, Roger Howarth, Michael Easton and Kristen Alderson will return as their One Life to Live alter-egos when production begins later this month in January.
“We have a very exciting story planned for the citizens of Port Charles, with Sonny Corinthos at the center of it!
I am confident viewers and fans alike will be excited for the arrival of John (Easton), Starr (Alderson), Blair (DePaiva) and Todd (Howarth),” said Frank Valentini, executive producer of General Hospital. “Incorporating characters from ‘One Life to Live’ continue the legacy of the show as we weave them into General Hospital.”
DePaiva has played Blair since December 1993. Horwath returned to play Todd last year, the role he originated from a day-player to a long-term character. Easton joined the cast of OLTL as John in 2003. Since March 1998, Alderson has played Starr.
ONE LIFE Fave To B&B!!
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Digest can confirm that fan favorite Hillary B. Smith (ex-Nora, OLTL) will join the No. 2 show in the brand new role of a sex therapist. The news comes mere hours after ONE LIFE TO LIVE aired its last episode on ABC.
The actress had hinted earlier today that she had a new job in the works: “There will b other projects. I have one at the end of the month. It will be announced shortly..... Not ABC.”
Finale Reaction from around the web!
The Independent Weekly: Last exit to Llanview - Michael Malone looks back at his work on ONE LIFE TO LIVE
“I’ll always say the fiction of Llanview lasted longer than Shakespeare’s Globe. These were very long-lived shows—30 years, 40 years, GUIDING LIGHT was 70 years. That’s a lot of stability in a very fast-moving medium like television. And it taught other parts of television how to make serials.”
“It’s not that (audiences) don’t want story, it’s just that they have so many more ways to get it,” Malone says.
Boston Herald: Epic ‘One life’ draws to close
Despite drastic budget cuts in recent years, ONE LIFE remained creatively vibrant. The finale reportedly ends on cliffhangers that would tease viewers into an online show distributed by Prospect Park. The company backed out, citing costs, and ABC announced earlier this week that four core performers (Roger Howarth, Kassie DePaiva, Michael Easton and Kristen Alderson) will be reprising their roles on ABC’s remaining soap, GENERAL HOSPITAL.
Boston Herald: Erika Sleza refelcts on Viki
“She made her mark in a lot of people’s lives. That’s attested to in so much of the mail I received over the years,” Slezak told the Herald from her home in Vermont. “Viki is an awesome character. She is so many different things, but she’s such a good person. She was just a lot of fun to play. She had a real sense of right and wrong. She is just a really nice lady who got to cut loose with (her alternate personalities).”
Columbus Dispatch: As ‘One Life To Live’ becomes latest soap to die, fans lament decline of daytime TV dramas
“Doing daytime television was a great training ground and a way for actors to survive financially,” said Kevin McClatchy, an actor who appeared on ONE LIFE TO LIVE and two other soaps in the 1990s. Living in Columbus while he works toward a master’s degree from Ohio State University, the Philadelphia native said he laments the demise of soaps.
New York Daily News: Gina Tognoni, Sean Ringgold toast the end of ABC’s ONE LIFE TO LIVE
“We will definitely be with friends and raise our glasses and send it good vibes,” Tognoni says of the 2 p.m. telecast. “I’m sure I’ll get a little misty-eyed.”
Us Magazine: Stars' Soap Opera Beginnings
The beloved soap opera helped launch the careers of many young stars, including Hayden Panettiere, Marcia Cross and Laurence Fishburne.
Washington Post: Slezak offers preview of what might have been
Had the show gone on, Erika Slezak said at THE VIEW taping, Dorian, who’d been appointed to an empty U.S. Senate seat vacated in a sexting scandal, was going to become president.
Washington Post: ONE LIFE TO LIVE ends its 43-year run
In the penultimate episode of ONE LIFE TO LIVE, Viki gives a lovely tribute to FRATERNITY ROW, and to soap operas as a genre, noting, “When a show has been lucky enough to be on the air as long as ‘Fraternity Row’ has been on, these families become an extension of our own.”
Montreal Gazette: End of the world as One Life to Live fans know it
Over the decades, it tackled teen pregnancy, gang rape, interracial marriage, a black woman passing as white, multiple personality disorders, a gay love story – all back when such topics were taboo on TV.
Houston Chronicle: Quiz - Were you a true OLTL fan?
Before the final credits role, test your knowledge of all the lives of Llanview, Pa., with a ONE LIFE TO LIVE trivia quiz.
WHSV: One Life to Live Calling It Quits
WHSV talked to some viewers to see what they thought about the show calling it quits. Watch it below.
NYC's soap bubble bursts!
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When shooting ran late on the Manhattan set of “Guiding Light,” some of its stars’ moods began, counterintuitively, to improve. “We had one actor who had a bar in his dressing room,” explains Kim Zimmer, who played one half of the show’s “supercouple,” Josh and Reva, for more than two decades. Behind closed doors, actor Grant Aleksander would whip up margaritas for his co-stars, complete with fresh-squeezed lime and, if you had time, a salt-rimmed glass.
“We called it Chez Phillippe,” says Zimmer — after Aleksander’s character, Phillip Spaulding. “It was on another floor, tucked in a back hallway. Grant made really good margaritas, and you could put it in a Styrofoam coffee cup and take it back up to the set. Everything gets funny when you’re punch-drunk — or real drunk, on top of that!
“We weren’t fooling anyone,” adds Zimmer. “They all knew we were visiting Chez Phillippe.”
The backstage soap-opera speakeasy is just one of the mass casualties in the death of New York’s daytime drama empire. When ABC’s “One Life To Live” airs its final, inevitably tearful episode on Friday, an era will end for NYC-based TV soaps, which date all the way back to 1950’s “The First Hundred Years,” CBS’s first ongoing serial daytime drama about two couples who were next door neighbors.
Sixty-two years later, following the recent cancellations of its local brethren — “All My Children,” “Guiding Light” and “As the World Turns” —“OLTL” is the last show standing in what used to be one of the city’s most thriving entertainment industries. On 66th Street between Central Park West and the Hudson River, ABC’s “OLTL” and “All My Children” were shot, while CBS’s “Guiding Light” and “As the World Turns” were filmed on 57th Street near the Hudson. (“Another World” was shot in Brooklyn until its cancellation in 1999, and the soap “Loving” taped in Manhattan from 1983-1995.)
New York soaps, which were at the height of their cultural import in the ’70s and ’80s, spawned countless well-known actors. Soaps even got a shout-out from the mayor, recalls Robert Woods, who’s been playing Bo Buchanan on “OLTL” since 1979.
“One year, Rudy Giuliani talked about how valuable these shows were to New York,” recalls Woods, “how proud he was to have them produced here.”
Today, the decline of the soaps is indicative of a larger trend, in which the travails of scripted characters are being replaced by the real-life antics of people too cartoonish to be fictional — the Kardashians, the Snookis, the Charlie Sheens. Daytime dramas have been slashed to make room for “how to” shows — “OTLT” will be replaced by “The Revolution,” a weight-loss show (which will follow, oddly, a cooking show, “The Chew,” which replaced “All My Children” last fall).
Still, none of them can touch the sheer volume of human folly on display in the soaps, played out to the hilt of melodrama five days a week.
“I’ve had babies stolen, I’ve been shot, I’ve shot people, I’ve had about eight marriages and three miscarriages,” says “OLTL” star Kassie DePaiva, who has played heroine Blair Cramer for 17 years. “We had a public execution of my fake husband — stopped at the last minute.”
And, obviously, “I’ve slept with tons of really good-looking men.”
All that sex, murder, betrayal, espousal and hospitalization has been the bread and butter of a tight-knit community of actors, writers, producers and crew who worked tirelessly to churn out escapist fantasies for a devoted audience. “The beauty of soaps,” says DePaiva, “is that it takes a village to make it work, and you get to work with really hardworking people.”
“I feel so lucky to have been part of the daytime community in New York,” says Susan Lucci, who famously played arch-villain Erica Kane on “AMC” for four decades. “We were all collaborating to make the best show possible, five days a week.”
Many actors fondly recall dedicated production crews, the unseen backbone of the operation.
“They were the most gracious people I have ever met in my life,” says Jordan Clarke, who played Billy Lewis on “Guiding Light” from 1982 to 2009. “I got to work with some great old-timers. One cameraman named Johnny Paola was a silver-haired gentleman who always wore a suit and tie. And I remember the first time I walked on set, a prop man named Billy Sharkowski walked over and said, ‘Hey, Clarke. What kind of cigarettes do you smoke?’ Then he had a carton on set at all times.
“Also,” Clarke recalls, “back in the old days there were huge cables attached to the cameras, and they had three guys on each cable. During the commercial [breaks], 30 or 60 seconds, there was this very intricate choreography to move the camera and the cable to the next scene in a way where it didn’t get tangled!”
Lucci remembers the group effort that went into shooting one of her trademark over-the-top scenes. “My co-star David Canary and I once had what amounted to a 13-page food fight in a hotel room,” she says. “It was highly choreographed by the fight coordinator. So not only did David and I stay through our lunch to go over the choreography, but so did the crew. The whole thing had to be done in one take, because it ended with my smushing grapes over David’s head. We ended up shooting it at nine at night, and we got it done in one take. It was so collaborative, and so much fun!”
When they did get to leave the building, the actors still stuck together, and close by, says Hillary B. Smith, who has played Nora Buchanan on “OLTL” since 1992. “We used to go to Santa Fe’s [bar] on 68th Street and hang out there,” she says. “We’d run lines and prepare for the next day.”
And the next day — every day — meant a rigorous routine of memorization, preparation and performance. “7 a.m., script memorized,” says DePaiva. “You do a quick rehearsal with the director from 7 to 9:30 a.m. And then taping. You can be done at noon or nine at night, depending on where your scenes are.”
The atmosphere on set may have been bustling and fast-paced, but rarely was it overly serious.
“There’s not a time that goes by that you won’t hear gales of laughter from the crew, from everyone,” says Woods. A fan of pranks, he says he particularly liked to mess with actor Phil Carey, who played his father. “I would use black thread from wardrobe — you can’t see it on camera — and I’d tie it to a phone. If the phone rang, it would just float up out of its cradle. Or if someone had to pick something up you could pull it away from them when they’d reach for it. Or I’d drop a rubber chicken into the scene.”
Vincent Irizarry, a veteran soap actor who has worked on “GL,” “OLTL” and most recently “AMC” as uber-bad guy Dr. David Hayward, says his habit of working through lunch has been the source of cracking up a set on more than one occasion.
“There was a wedding taking place, a big production, and I was sitting in the front row. I remember Kelly Ripa was up there and they’re saying their vows, and my stomach makes this sound like I was starving! It growled right in the middle of the vows, you could hear it on the boom. They go ‘Cut!’ and Kelly turns around and goes, ‘Oh my god! Are you kidding me?’ ”
As lighthearted as the atmosphere on set tended to be, soaps were on the cutting edge of introducing serious social issues over the years.
“It’s not all evil twins and separated at birth,” says “OLTL” head writer Ron Carlivati. “At the same time as we have evil twins, we also try to tell stories that are relatable to our audience.” For example, he says, the show recently ran a story line about bullying, a topic ripped from the headlines.
Judith Light, who went on to prime-time fame in the ’80s sitcom “Who’s the Boss?” had a star-making turn on “One Life To Live” in 1979 as a housewife moonlighting as a prostitute. In her climactic courtroom scene — which would win her an Emmy — Light’s character broke down on the stand and confessed all. It was a must-watch moment, but even Light was shocked at the sincere outpouring of emotion she got from fans. “I received so many letters from prostitutes who said, ‘I so desperately want to get out of the life, I want to be as brave as you were.’ ”
“Agnes Nixon [creator of ‘AMC’ and ‘OLTL’] was certainly at the forefront of breaking down barriers,” Lucci says. “Gender and race, and every way I can think of. ‘OLTL’ had the first story line around an African-American multigenerational family; it was so well-received. On ‘AMC,’ Erica had the first legal abortion, that was very groundbreaking. They had a gay story line [featuring teen star Ryan Phillippe].”
Carlivati, who’s taken the “OLTL” characters to many odd and improbable places, including heaven, says the secret to a successful story line is knowing the character as well as the fans (who will hold you accountable) do. “As long as you write the characters true to who they are, you can send Viki [Slezak’s longtime character] to Mars,” he says. “As long as she has the appropriate reaction.”
“[The role] was a hell of a lot of fun,” says Slezak, who won six Daytime Emmys over the years. “I loved when Viki cut loose and acted as the host of the [different] personalities.”
New York soaps afforded actors like Slezak and Woods the unusual opportunity to play the same role for decades in what amounted to a reliable, high-profile profession. “It was a sustainable, valuable job for many actors in Manhattan,” says DePaiva. “Some wonderful theater performers would work [on soaps] during the day and moonlight on Broadway at night.”
“The reason it was so wonderful for actors in New York,” says Smith, “was that we were here for theater, which we did for the passion, for our art. And daytime was the closest thing to theater on TV.” Plus, she says, “it was a way to pay the bills. It was a great way to have a steady job in an industry without steady jobs.”
Soap stars have watched the decline of the daytime drama since the ’80s. “I saw a chart showing the revenue, and it looked like a plane diving to the ground,” says Clarke, who is one of the rare actors making the transition to the Internet; he currently stars in the online soap “Venice,” as does Smith.
“I never thought it would happen,” says Woods. “To think that there wouldn’t be soap operas produced in New York! I always thought there would be the serial format on ABC, as long as there was an ABC.”
“It leaves a huge hole in daytime TV and in the days of our fans,” says Slezak. “ABC tells us the audience doesn’t want entertainment anymore; that they only want information. I don’t buy that. I want something that will make me laugh, make me cry.”
Good Morning America's tribute to OLTL!
OLTL Video: Interviews With Many Actors About Their Favorite Moments!
Farewell Interviews with the cast of OLTL!
John-Paul Lavoisier and Farah Fath talk with Michael Fairman about Rex and Gigi’s final storyline and wrapping up their on-screen love story, their memories of their time together at OLTL, and what Llanview has meant to their real life relationship.
Hillary B. Smith and Robert S. Woods talk with Michael Fairman about the legacy of Bo and Nora as one of soaps most iconic couples, their love for the fans, and their sentiments on working together, and saying goodbye to the 43-year old soap.
Kassie DePaiva (Blair) & Kristen Alderson (Starr) discuss playing the popular on-screen mother/daughter duo in the dysfunctional Manning family. In addition, they share their thoughts on working with Trevor St. John (Todd/Victor Jr.), and what the amazing fans of OLTL have meant to them personally and professionally.
Melissa Archer reflects on her time playing Natalie Buchanan and the opportunity to work with Michael Easton (John), Bree Williamson (Jessica), and Erika Slezak (Viki). Plus, Melissa shares her thoughts on the shows (now-shelved) plan to move to the web, and her very special “thank you” to the fans.
Six-time Daytime Emmy winner and the star of the series, Erika Slezak chats with Michael Fairman in a heart-tugging and emotional interview as Erika prepared to say goodbye to her 40 year run as Viki. In addition, Erika explains why she had decided to lend her name to the Prospect Park online project that ultimately fizzled, and what she will miss the most from her time in Llanview.
OLTL Stars Mingle For a Cause!
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Current and former OLTL stars (Barrett Helms, David Gregory and Josh Kelly pictured above) came together at Brother Jimmy’s in New York City for Mingle For a Cause's Farewell Tribute to One Life to Live on January 7.
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Top Five Heroines of 'One Life to Live'!
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This week, soap opera lovers bid a sad farewell to the ABC daytime drama "One Life to Live" after more than four decades on the air. The final peek into the sassy, sultry and sometimes silly lives of Llanview, Pa., residents airs Friday. We pay tribute to five formidable leading ladies who survived marriages, affairs, divorces, comas, serial killers, disasters, heart transplants and multiple personalities -- and looked fabulous doing it all.
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For most fans, OLTL begins and ends with Viki (whether her last name is Lord, Buchanan, Gordon, Riley, Burke, Carpenter, Davidson or Banks). The character originated in 1968 with actress Gillian Spencer, but was recast and seared into our hearts with the lovely Erika Slezak, above, in 1971 as Llanview's calming influence and lone level head -- except, of course, when one of her other personalities takes over.
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A diva's diva, Dorian (Cramer, Lord, Callison, Santi, Vickers, Hayes, Laurence or Buchanan) portrayed for nearly 30 years by Robin Strasser, is Viki's eternal nemesis/best friend. The two often were trapped together, whether in avalanches or messy love triangles. Just this past year, Dorian finally wed her soul mate and the show's comic-relief master, David Vickers Buchanan, and headed off to serve as a U.S. senator.
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Fierce in the courtroom as Llanview's longtime district attorney, Nora Buchanan (Hanen, Gannon or Colson), played by Hillary B. Smith, also has battled prejudices for her interracial marriage, brain tumors and her son's paralysis. Nora and Bo Buchanan are one of fans' favorite super-couples, highlighted by their popular rock 'n' roll-themed wedding in 1995. One of their weddings, that is.
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Llanview's sexy siren Blair Cramer (Daimler, Buchanan, Holden, McBain or Clarke), played by Kassie DePaiva, often is conniving but has a heart of gold. She has tough luck with men and usually ends up with bad-boy Todd Manning and/or the man she thought was Todd, but who turned out to be his twin brother, Victor Lord Jr. ... it's a long story.
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Passionate defense attorney Tea Delgado (sometimes Manning), played by Florencia Lozano, first showed up in the late '90s, made a return briefly in 2002 and has been back since 2008. She's also had a long-standing thing for the various versions of Todd, which didn't sit well with Blair, who famously pushed Tea out a window. However, they later became best buds.
Nathan Fillion Reminisces About One Life to Live!
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Before striking TV gold on Firefly and Castle, Nathan Fillion cut his teeth in the soap opera world. After moving to New York in the nineties, he starred as Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live. After three years — and a Daytime Emmy nomination — the Canadian actor decided to move on and well, the rest is history.
However, Fillion, 40, still has a soft spot for the show, whose final episode airs on Friday.
“I’ve heard daytime [television] be referred to as a stepping stone but I think of daytime as a building block,” he said Wednesday at the People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles.
“I’ve never worked so hard, I’ve never worked so much, I’ve never worked with so many experienced actors who were willing to teach. Who were willing to impart their experience, their wisdom, and the mistakes they made. It was all there for the asking,” he continued.
“I will never forget any of those people. I am here because of them.”
Phylicia Rashad Remembers Her Time on One Life to Live!
The Cosby Show icon and One Life to Live alum Phylicia Rashad stopped by Good Day LA on January 12. During the visit the show played a clip from her time in Llanview and asked her about that period in her life.
Team Of ABC Daytime Show ‘Revolution’ On Potential Backlash From Soap Fans: TCA!
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It’s rare that a new TV show is more notable for what it replaces than for itself, but such is the case with ABC’s The Revolution. The daily inspirational makeover program replaces the long-running One Life To Live, and the soap’s die-hard fans are militantly unhappy. At today’s TCA, the first question to the Revolution panel was about how the show would deal with the backlash and keep the angry fans from switching over to NBC’s daytime drama Days Of Our Lives, which airs against The Revolution.
“We can’t replace that show, but what we offer is something different,” said co-host Ty Pennington, the resident design expert whose long-running reality series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was also recently canceled by ABC. “Extreme Makeover was a show that got canceled too, and that was something that was really, really special to me. It’s about change, and The Revolution is certainly about change.”
Said Revolution executive producer JD Roth after the panel, “I would love to have [One Life To Live stars] on the show. I have so much respect for that part of the history of television — how many shows have been on the air for 40 years? My mom watches it, my mother in law watches it. I love the genre in general.” But, he added: “I make TV shows, I don’t program them. I wanted to make a great TV show, and in the end I hope the shows we make will still inspire people. That’s really the goal.” The Revolution is the second lifestyle program to replace a departing ABC soap. In September, The Chew took over All My Children and has been doing well in the ratings.
SOAPNet Exits Airwaves March 23!
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Disney Channel has confirmed a launch date for its new 24-hour preschool channel. Disney Junior will replace SOAPnet on most cable and satellite systems at midnight on Friday, March 23.
The new cable network, an offshoot of Disney Channel's Disney Junior block, will launch with the new animated series DOC MCSTUFFINS, about a six-year-old girl who nurses her sick toys back to health.
A handful of viewers will still receive SOAPnt after March 22, but only because a few cable and satellite deals with Disney are still being finalized. Once those deals are done, SOAPnet will completely shut down.
SOAPnet, which initially embraced classic soaps like RYAN'S HOPE and ANOTHER WORLD, brought fans KNOTS LANDING and DALLAS reruns, and developed original programming related to the genre, changed direction in the last few years. The network began airing old movies unrelated to soaps, dropped its original programming and daytime classic reruns leaving fans to wonder what might have been if the appreciation for the soap remained. There was even talk of taking the "SOAP" out of the name.
Disney Junior is looking to target the 2-to-7 year-old audience.
Tanya Boyd Brings Celeste Home to Salem on DAYS!
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Now this is starting to shape into the show of old! Soap Opera Digest is reporting Tanya Boyd is reprising the role of Lexie's (Renee Jones) psychic mama Celeste Perrault on Days of Our Lives. Could this mean danger is on it's way to Salem?
Kirsten Storms Returns to General Hospital!
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It appears the prayers of General Hospital fans have been answered. After much speculation, Soap Opera Digest is reporting that Kirsten Storms is returning to Port Charles as Maxie. Reportedly, she will begin taping at the end of January and will appear onscreen in late February.
DAYS Stars Shine at NBCUniversal Press Tour All-Star Party!
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Days of our Lives stars Kristian Alfonso (pictured above), Alison Sweeney, Galen Gering and Lisa Rinna appeared at the NBCUniversal Press Tour All-Star party on January 6, in Pasadena, California.
The event also featured soap alums Tia Carrere, Mark Valley and Matt Bomer. Carrere will appear in the upcoming season of Celebrity Apprentice. Valley stars in NBC’s legal drama Harry’s Law opposite of Kathy Bates, while Bomer leads USA’s White Collar.
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ABC on General Hospital's fate: 'We'll see'!
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Four actors from the canceled soap are set to reprise their roles and join ABC's General Hospital for a unique arc.
Kassie DePaiva, Roger Howarth, Michael Easton and Kristen Alderson will return as their One Life to Live alter-egos when production begins later this month in January.
“We have a very exciting story planned for the citizens of Port Charles, with Sonny Corinthos at the center of it!
I am confident viewers and fans alike will be excited for the arrival of John (Easton), Starr (Alderson), Blair (DePaiva) and Todd (Howarth),” said Frank Valentini, executive producer of General Hospital. “Incorporating characters from ‘One Life to Live’ continue the legacy of the show as we weave them into General Hospital.”
DePaiva has played Blair since December 1993. Horwath returned to play Todd last year, the role he originated from a day-player to a long-term character. Easton joined the cast of OLTL as John in 2003. Since March 1998, Alderson has played Starr.
Digest can confirm that fan favorite Hillary B. Smith (ex-Nora, OLTL) will join the No. 2 show in the brand new role of a sex therapist. The news comes mere hours after ONE LIFE TO LIVE aired its last episode on ABC.
The actress had hinted earlier today that she had a new job in the works: “There will b other projects. I have one at the end of the month. It will be announced shortly..... Not ABC.”
The Independent Weekly: Last exit to Llanview - Michael Malone looks back at his work on ONE LIFE TO LIVE
“I’ll always say the fiction of Llanview lasted longer than Shakespeare’s Globe. These were very long-lived shows—30 years, 40 years, GUIDING LIGHT was 70 years. That’s a lot of stability in a very fast-moving medium like television. And it taught other parts of television how to make serials.”
“It’s not that (audiences) don’t want story, it’s just that they have so many more ways to get it,” Malone says.
Boston Herald: Epic ‘One life’ draws to close
Despite drastic budget cuts in recent years, ONE LIFE remained creatively vibrant. The finale reportedly ends on cliffhangers that would tease viewers into an online show distributed by Prospect Park. The company backed out, citing costs, and ABC announced earlier this week that four core performers (Roger Howarth, Kassie DePaiva, Michael Easton and Kristen Alderson) will be reprising their roles on ABC’s remaining soap, GENERAL HOSPITAL.
Boston Herald: Erika Sleza refelcts on Viki
“She made her mark in a lot of people’s lives. That’s attested to in so much of the mail I received over the years,” Slezak told the Herald from her home in Vermont. “Viki is an awesome character. She is so many different things, but she’s such a good person. She was just a lot of fun to play. She had a real sense of right and wrong. She is just a really nice lady who got to cut loose with (her alternate personalities).”
Columbus Dispatch: As ‘One Life To Live’ becomes latest soap to die, fans lament decline of daytime TV dramas
“Doing daytime television was a great training ground and a way for actors to survive financially,” said Kevin McClatchy, an actor who appeared on ONE LIFE TO LIVE and two other soaps in the 1990s. Living in Columbus while he works toward a master’s degree from Ohio State University, the Philadelphia native said he laments the demise of soaps.
New York Daily News: Gina Tognoni, Sean Ringgold toast the end of ABC’s ONE LIFE TO LIVE
“We will definitely be with friends and raise our glasses and send it good vibes,” Tognoni says of the 2 p.m. telecast. “I’m sure I’ll get a little misty-eyed.”
Us Magazine: Stars' Soap Opera Beginnings
The beloved soap opera helped launch the careers of many young stars, including Hayden Panettiere, Marcia Cross and Laurence Fishburne.
Washington Post: Slezak offers preview of what might have been
Had the show gone on, Erika Slezak said at THE VIEW taping, Dorian, who’d been appointed to an empty U.S. Senate seat vacated in a sexting scandal, was going to become president.
Washington Post: ONE LIFE TO LIVE ends its 43-year run
In the penultimate episode of ONE LIFE TO LIVE, Viki gives a lovely tribute to FRATERNITY ROW, and to soap operas as a genre, noting, “When a show has been lucky enough to be on the air as long as ‘Fraternity Row’ has been on, these families become an extension of our own.”
Montreal Gazette: End of the world as One Life to Live fans know it
Over the decades, it tackled teen pregnancy, gang rape, interracial marriage, a black woman passing as white, multiple personality disorders, a gay love story – all back when such topics were taboo on TV.
Houston Chronicle: Quiz - Were you a true OLTL fan?
Before the final credits role, test your knowledge of all the lives of Llanview, Pa., with a ONE LIFE TO LIVE trivia quiz.
WHSV: One Life to Live Calling It Quits
WHSV talked to some viewers to see what they thought about the show calling it quits. Watch it below.
When shooting ran late on the Manhattan set of “Guiding Light,” some of its stars’ moods began, counterintuitively, to improve. “We had one actor who had a bar in his dressing room,” explains Kim Zimmer, who played one half of the show’s “supercouple,” Josh and Reva, for more than two decades. Behind closed doors, actor Grant Aleksander would whip up margaritas for his co-stars, complete with fresh-squeezed lime and, if you had time, a salt-rimmed glass.
“We called it Chez Phillippe,” says Zimmer — after Aleksander’s character, Phillip Spaulding. “It was on another floor, tucked in a back hallway. Grant made really good margaritas, and you could put it in a Styrofoam coffee cup and take it back up to the set. Everything gets funny when you’re punch-drunk — or real drunk, on top of that!
“We weren’t fooling anyone,” adds Zimmer. “They all knew we were visiting Chez Phillippe.”
The backstage soap-opera speakeasy is just one of the mass casualties in the death of New York’s daytime drama empire. When ABC’s “One Life To Live” airs its final, inevitably tearful episode on Friday, an era will end for NYC-based TV soaps, which date all the way back to 1950’s “The First Hundred Years,” CBS’s first ongoing serial daytime drama about two couples who were next door neighbors.
Sixty-two years later, following the recent cancellations of its local brethren — “All My Children,” “Guiding Light” and “As the World Turns” —“OLTL” is the last show standing in what used to be one of the city’s most thriving entertainment industries. On 66th Street between Central Park West and the Hudson River, ABC’s “OLTL” and “All My Children” were shot, while CBS’s “Guiding Light” and “As the World Turns” were filmed on 57th Street near the Hudson. (“Another World” was shot in Brooklyn until its cancellation in 1999, and the soap “Loving” taped in Manhattan from 1983-1995.)
New York soaps, which were at the height of their cultural import in the ’70s and ’80s, spawned countless well-known actors. Soaps even got a shout-out from the mayor, recalls Robert Woods, who’s been playing Bo Buchanan on “OLTL” since 1979.
“One year, Rudy Giuliani talked about how valuable these shows were to New York,” recalls Woods, “how proud he was to have them produced here.”
Today, the decline of the soaps is indicative of a larger trend, in which the travails of scripted characters are being replaced by the real-life antics of people too cartoonish to be fictional — the Kardashians, the Snookis, the Charlie Sheens. Daytime dramas have been slashed to make room for “how to” shows — “OTLT” will be replaced by “The Revolution,” a weight-loss show (which will follow, oddly, a cooking show, “The Chew,” which replaced “All My Children” last fall).
Still, none of them can touch the sheer volume of human folly on display in the soaps, played out to the hilt of melodrama five days a week.
“I’ve had babies stolen, I’ve been shot, I’ve shot people, I’ve had about eight marriages and three miscarriages,” says “OLTL” star Kassie DePaiva, who has played heroine Blair Cramer for 17 years. “We had a public execution of my fake husband — stopped at the last minute.”
And, obviously, “I’ve slept with tons of really good-looking men.”
All that sex, murder, betrayal, espousal and hospitalization has been the bread and butter of a tight-knit community of actors, writers, producers and crew who worked tirelessly to churn out escapist fantasies for a devoted audience. “The beauty of soaps,” says DePaiva, “is that it takes a village to make it work, and you get to work with really hardworking people.”
“I feel so lucky to have been part of the daytime community in New York,” says Susan Lucci, who famously played arch-villain Erica Kane on “AMC” for four decades. “We were all collaborating to make the best show possible, five days a week.”
Many actors fondly recall dedicated production crews, the unseen backbone of the operation.
“They were the most gracious people I have ever met in my life,” says Jordan Clarke, who played Billy Lewis on “Guiding Light” from 1982 to 2009. “I got to work with some great old-timers. One cameraman named Johnny Paola was a silver-haired gentleman who always wore a suit and tie. And I remember the first time I walked on set, a prop man named Billy Sharkowski walked over and said, ‘Hey, Clarke. What kind of cigarettes do you smoke?’ Then he had a carton on set at all times.
“Also,” Clarke recalls, “back in the old days there were huge cables attached to the cameras, and they had three guys on each cable. During the commercial [breaks], 30 or 60 seconds, there was this very intricate choreography to move the camera and the cable to the next scene in a way where it didn’t get tangled!”
Lucci remembers the group effort that went into shooting one of her trademark over-the-top scenes. “My co-star David Canary and I once had what amounted to a 13-page food fight in a hotel room,” she says. “It was highly choreographed by the fight coordinator. So not only did David and I stay through our lunch to go over the choreography, but so did the crew. The whole thing had to be done in one take, because it ended with my smushing grapes over David’s head. We ended up shooting it at nine at night, and we got it done in one take. It was so collaborative, and so much fun!”
When they did get to leave the building, the actors still stuck together, and close by, says Hillary B. Smith, who has played Nora Buchanan on “OLTL” since 1992. “We used to go to Santa Fe’s [bar] on 68th Street and hang out there,” she says. “We’d run lines and prepare for the next day.”
And the next day — every day — meant a rigorous routine of memorization, preparation and performance. “7 a.m., script memorized,” says DePaiva. “You do a quick rehearsal with the director from 7 to 9:30 a.m. And then taping. You can be done at noon or nine at night, depending on where your scenes are.”
The atmosphere on set may have been bustling and fast-paced, but rarely was it overly serious.
“There’s not a time that goes by that you won’t hear gales of laughter from the crew, from everyone,” says Woods. A fan of pranks, he says he particularly liked to mess with actor Phil Carey, who played his father. “I would use black thread from wardrobe — you can’t see it on camera — and I’d tie it to a phone. If the phone rang, it would just float up out of its cradle. Or if someone had to pick something up you could pull it away from them when they’d reach for it. Or I’d drop a rubber chicken into the scene.”
Vincent Irizarry, a veteran soap actor who has worked on “GL,” “OLTL” and most recently “AMC” as uber-bad guy Dr. David Hayward, says his habit of working through lunch has been the source of cracking up a set on more than one occasion.
“There was a wedding taking place, a big production, and I was sitting in the front row. I remember Kelly Ripa was up there and they’re saying their vows, and my stomach makes this sound like I was starving! It growled right in the middle of the vows, you could hear it on the boom. They go ‘Cut!’ and Kelly turns around and goes, ‘Oh my god! Are you kidding me?’ ”
As lighthearted as the atmosphere on set tended to be, soaps were on the cutting edge of introducing serious social issues over the years.
“It’s not all evil twins and separated at birth,” says “OLTL” head writer Ron Carlivati. “At the same time as we have evil twins, we also try to tell stories that are relatable to our audience.” For example, he says, the show recently ran a story line about bullying, a topic ripped from the headlines.
Judith Light, who went on to prime-time fame in the ’80s sitcom “Who’s the Boss?” had a star-making turn on “One Life To Live” in 1979 as a housewife moonlighting as a prostitute. In her climactic courtroom scene — which would win her an Emmy — Light’s character broke down on the stand and confessed all. It was a must-watch moment, but even Light was shocked at the sincere outpouring of emotion she got from fans. “I received so many letters from prostitutes who said, ‘I so desperately want to get out of the life, I want to be as brave as you were.’ ”
“Agnes Nixon [creator of ‘AMC’ and ‘OLTL’] was certainly at the forefront of breaking down barriers,” Lucci says. “Gender and race, and every way I can think of. ‘OLTL’ had the first story line around an African-American multigenerational family; it was so well-received. On ‘AMC,’ Erica had the first legal abortion, that was very groundbreaking. They had a gay story line [featuring teen star Ryan Phillippe].”
Carlivati, who’s taken the “OLTL” characters to many odd and improbable places, including heaven, says the secret to a successful story line is knowing the character as well as the fans (who will hold you accountable) do. “As long as you write the characters true to who they are, you can send Viki [Slezak’s longtime character] to Mars,” he says. “As long as she has the appropriate reaction.”
“[The role] was a hell of a lot of fun,” says Slezak, who won six Daytime Emmys over the years. “I loved when Viki cut loose and acted as the host of the [different] personalities.”
New York soaps afforded actors like Slezak and Woods the unusual opportunity to play the same role for decades in what amounted to a reliable, high-profile profession. “It was a sustainable, valuable job for many actors in Manhattan,” says DePaiva. “Some wonderful theater performers would work [on soaps] during the day and moonlight on Broadway at night.”
“The reason it was so wonderful for actors in New York,” says Smith, “was that we were here for theater, which we did for the passion, for our art. And daytime was the closest thing to theater on TV.” Plus, she says, “it was a way to pay the bills. It was a great way to have a steady job in an industry without steady jobs.”
Soap stars have watched the decline of the daytime drama since the ’80s. “I saw a chart showing the revenue, and it looked like a plane diving to the ground,” says Clarke, who is one of the rare actors making the transition to the Internet; he currently stars in the online soap “Venice,” as does Smith.
“I never thought it would happen,” says Woods. “To think that there wouldn’t be soap operas produced in New York! I always thought there would be the serial format on ABC, as long as there was an ABC.”
“It leaves a huge hole in daytime TV and in the days of our fans,” says Slezak. “ABC tells us the audience doesn’t want entertainment anymore; that they only want information. I don’t buy that. I want something that will make me laugh, make me cry.”
John-Paul Lavoisier and Farah Fath talk with Michael Fairman about Rex and Gigi’s final storyline and wrapping up their on-screen love story, their memories of their time together at OLTL, and what Llanview has meant to their real life relationship.
Hillary B. Smith and Robert S. Woods talk with Michael Fairman about the legacy of Bo and Nora as one of soaps most iconic couples, their love for the fans, and their sentiments on working together, and saying goodbye to the 43-year old soap.
Kassie DePaiva (Blair) & Kristen Alderson (Starr) discuss playing the popular on-screen mother/daughter duo in the dysfunctional Manning family. In addition, they share their thoughts on working with Trevor St. John (Todd/Victor Jr.), and what the amazing fans of OLTL have meant to them personally and professionally.
Melissa Archer reflects on her time playing Natalie Buchanan and the opportunity to work with Michael Easton (John), Bree Williamson (Jessica), and Erika Slezak (Viki). Plus, Melissa shares her thoughts on the shows (now-shelved) plan to move to the web, and her very special “thank you” to the fans.
Six-time Daytime Emmy winner and the star of the series, Erika Slezak chats with Michael Fairman in a heart-tugging and emotional interview as Erika prepared to say goodbye to her 40 year run as Viki. In addition, Erika explains why she had decided to lend her name to the Prospect Park online project that ultimately fizzled, and what she will miss the most from her time in Llanview.
Current and former OLTL stars (Barrett Helms, David Gregory and Josh Kelly pictured above) came together at Brother Jimmy’s in New York City for Mingle For a Cause's Farewell Tribute to One Life to Live on January 7.
This week, soap opera lovers bid a sad farewell to the ABC daytime drama "One Life to Live" after more than four decades on the air. The final peek into the sassy, sultry and sometimes silly lives of Llanview, Pa., residents airs Friday. We pay tribute to five formidable leading ladies who survived marriages, affairs, divorces, comas, serial killers, disasters, heart transplants and multiple personalities -- and looked fabulous doing it all.
For most fans, OLTL begins and ends with Viki (whether her last name is Lord, Buchanan, Gordon, Riley, Burke, Carpenter, Davidson or Banks). The character originated in 1968 with actress Gillian Spencer, but was recast and seared into our hearts with the lovely Erika Slezak, above, in 1971 as Llanview's calming influence and lone level head -- except, of course, when one of her other personalities takes over.
A diva's diva, Dorian (Cramer, Lord, Callison, Santi, Vickers, Hayes, Laurence or Buchanan) portrayed for nearly 30 years by Robin Strasser, is Viki's eternal nemesis/best friend. The two often were trapped together, whether in avalanches or messy love triangles. Just this past year, Dorian finally wed her soul mate and the show's comic-relief master, David Vickers Buchanan, and headed off to serve as a U.S. senator.
Fierce in the courtroom as Llanview's longtime district attorney, Nora Buchanan (Hanen, Gannon or Colson), played by Hillary B. Smith, also has battled prejudices for her interracial marriage, brain tumors and her son's paralysis. Nora and Bo Buchanan are one of fans' favorite super-couples, highlighted by their popular rock 'n' roll-themed wedding in 1995. One of their weddings, that is.
Llanview's sexy siren Blair Cramer (Daimler, Buchanan, Holden, McBain or Clarke), played by Kassie DePaiva, often is conniving but has a heart of gold. She has tough luck with men and usually ends up with bad-boy Todd Manning and/or the man she thought was Todd, but who turned out to be his twin brother, Victor Lord Jr. ... it's a long story.
Passionate defense attorney Tea Delgado (sometimes Manning), played by Florencia Lozano, first showed up in the late '90s, made a return briefly in 2002 and has been back since 2008. She's also had a long-standing thing for the various versions of Todd, which didn't sit well with Blair, who famously pushed Tea out a window. However, they later became best buds.
Before striking TV gold on Firefly and Castle, Nathan Fillion cut his teeth in the soap opera world. After moving to New York in the nineties, he starred as Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live. After three years — and a Daytime Emmy nomination — the Canadian actor decided to move on and well, the rest is history.
However, Fillion, 40, still has a soft spot for the show, whose final episode airs on Friday.
“I’ve heard daytime [television] be referred to as a stepping stone but I think of daytime as a building block,” he said Wednesday at the People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles.
“I’ve never worked so hard, I’ve never worked so much, I’ve never worked with so many experienced actors who were willing to teach. Who were willing to impart their experience, their wisdom, and the mistakes they made. It was all there for the asking,” he continued.
“I will never forget any of those people. I am here because of them.”
The Cosby Show icon and One Life to Live alum Phylicia Rashad stopped by Good Day LA on January 12. During the visit the show played a clip from her time in Llanview and asked her about that period in her life.
It’s rare that a new TV show is more notable for what it replaces than for itself, but such is the case with ABC’s The Revolution. The daily inspirational makeover program replaces the long-running One Life To Live, and the soap’s die-hard fans are militantly unhappy. At today’s TCA, the first question to the Revolution panel was about how the show would deal with the backlash and keep the angry fans from switching over to NBC’s daytime drama Days Of Our Lives, which airs against The Revolution.
“We can’t replace that show, but what we offer is something different,” said co-host Ty Pennington, the resident design expert whose long-running reality series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was also recently canceled by ABC. “Extreme Makeover was a show that got canceled too, and that was something that was really, really special to me. It’s about change, and The Revolution is certainly about change.”
Said Revolution executive producer JD Roth after the panel, “I would love to have [One Life To Live stars] on the show. I have so much respect for that part of the history of television — how many shows have been on the air for 40 years? My mom watches it, my mother in law watches it. I love the genre in general.” But, he added: “I make TV shows, I don’t program them. I wanted to make a great TV show, and in the end I hope the shows we make will still inspire people. That’s really the goal.” The Revolution is the second lifestyle program to replace a departing ABC soap. In September, The Chew took over All My Children and has been doing well in the ratings.
Disney Channel has confirmed a launch date for its new 24-hour preschool channel. Disney Junior will replace SOAPnet on most cable and satellite systems at midnight on Friday, March 23.
The new cable network, an offshoot of Disney Channel's Disney Junior block, will launch with the new animated series DOC MCSTUFFINS, about a six-year-old girl who nurses her sick toys back to health.
A handful of viewers will still receive SOAPnt after March 22, but only because a few cable and satellite deals with Disney are still being finalized. Once those deals are done, SOAPnet will completely shut down.
SOAPnet, which initially embraced classic soaps like RYAN'S HOPE and ANOTHER WORLD, brought fans KNOTS LANDING and DALLAS reruns, and developed original programming related to the genre, changed direction in the last few years. The network began airing old movies unrelated to soaps, dropped its original programming and daytime classic reruns leaving fans to wonder what might have been if the appreciation for the soap remained. There was even talk of taking the "SOAP" out of the name.
Disney Junior is looking to target the 2-to-7 year-old audience.
Now this is starting to shape into the show of old! Soap Opera Digest is reporting Tanya Boyd is reprising the role of Lexie's (Renee Jones) psychic mama Celeste Perrault on Days of Our Lives. Could this mean danger is on it's way to Salem?
It appears the prayers of General Hospital fans have been answered. After much speculation, Soap Opera Digest is reporting that Kirsten Storms is returning to Port Charles as Maxie. Reportedly, she will begin taping at the end of January and will appear onscreen in late February.
Days of our Lives stars Kristian Alfonso (pictured above), Alison Sweeney, Galen Gering and Lisa Rinna appeared at the NBCUniversal Press Tour All-Star party on January 6, in Pasadena, California.
The event also featured soap alums Tia Carrere, Mark Valley and Matt Bomer. Carrere will appear in the upcoming season of Celebrity Apprentice. Valley stars in NBC’s legal drama Harry’s Law opposite of Kathy Bates, while Bomer leads USA’s White Collar.
With "All My Children" now a thing of the past and "One Life to Live" ending its run on Friday, "General Hospital" remains the only soap opera on ABC's daytime line-up.
And though the network has not directly alluded to canceling the series, it's also running out of room. New series "The Chew" and "The Revolution" are already on the line-up, and in fall, Katie Couric joins the network with her own talk show — presumably in "General Hospital's" time slot.
"We'll see," ABC Entertainment Group president Paul Lee told reporters at the Television Critics Association winter press tour.
He wouldn't comment on where Couric would land on the schedule, but he did say that its make it or break it for the network's lone surviving soap.
"I’m a fan of 'General Hospital' but we haven’t made a decision," said Lee, "and we don’t really have a time frame on it."
"General Hospital," now in its 49th season, recently had a power change, behind the scenes.
"One Life to Live" alums Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati joined the show, serving as executive producer and head writer, respectively. They replace "General Hospital's" Jill Farren Phelps and Garin Wolf.
Corbin Bernsen RIPS Young and Restless: "Don't Get Much Respect Around There"!
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Father Todd will be coming home to Genoa City in February, but it could be the last time. Jeanne Cooper's (Kay) real-life son Corbin Bernsen revealed on Facebook that he will be reprising his The Young and the Restless gig for three episodes, however he goes on to rip the show on how he was treated!
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Model Couple: Chad & Gabi!
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Are they the next Days of Our Lives supercouple...or a disaster waiting to happen? This week, gorgeous young Salemites Chad and Gabi - played by Casey Deidrick and Camila Banus - are picked to be the new faces of Countess Wilhelmina Cosmetics and their steamy ad campaign will make them a global sensation. But Gabi wants more. Lots more.
"She's attracted to Chad and sees this modeling thing as a way to be near him," says Banus, whose character just fled a bad romance with a closeted gay guy. Chad who has secretly taken up with Melanie (Molly Burnett) is "oblivious to Gabi's feelings," notes Deidrick. "But there's definite chemistry in their photo shoots." Expect a Chad-Gabi-Melanie triangle to explode this spring. "Gabi will get very manipulative," hints Deidrick, adding with a laugh, "To be honest, I think she'll go a little psycho."
If so, Banus is ready . Prior to Days, she played One Life to Live's Lola Montez, an acid-dropping teen murderess who was notorious for poking holes in condoms on prom night. "I think Gabi's been a nice girl long enough," Banus says. "And I know how to be bad!"
First Look At Jai Rodriguez On “Days Of Our Lives”!
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Joining the cast for January 12′s episode is Emmy-award winning, Jai Rodriguez. He will play the role of Matteo, an old friend of Sonny who together, present healthy gay role models for Will and help to make him comfortable in his own skin. In this episode, Will talks with Sonny’s mom and dad, Justin & Adrienne, who say they love Sonny unconditionally and wouldn’t change a thing about him, which affects Will.
Will connects with Matteo over music, but catches himself and awkwardly leaves. Sonny tells Matteo that Will “just isn’t there yet.” Will’s coming out process will take place in episodes airing in late Feb and March, and is a progression. Sonny acts more as a confidante and mentor to Will rather than a love interest for the time being, and is very supportive in both giving advice and also not pressuring him.
Emma Samms Checks Back Into General Hospital!
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TV Line is reporting British vamp Emma Samms is returning to General Hospital. According to the site, Samms' alter ego Holly Sutton, pops back into Port Charles to lend a hand to her son Ethan (Nathan Parsons) and those crazy Spencers taking down Helena (Constance Towers).
This news comes on the heels of Samms' former onscreen partners Tristan Rogers and Finola Hughes returning to GH. Samms' airdate is slated for late Feb.
Funny Gal Phyllis Diller Gets "Bold and Beautiful" Again!
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She's back! According to TV Guide Magazine's Michael Logan , Phyllis Diller is returning to The Bold and The Beautiful as dizzy makup artist Gladys Pope. Reportedly, Diller's storyline is being kept hush-hush by the show, but expect Gladys–who was Sally Spectra's BFF–to be a key part of a romantic event that ties in with B&B's 25th anniversary.
The legendary comedian pops up onscreen in March for two episodes.
PREVIEWS FOR NEXT WEEK!
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Monday January 16:
Will channels EJ during a confrontation with Sami.
A physical fight emerges between Jenn and Nicole over the campaign.
Daniel finds unexpected support in Jack.
Abe gives Hope and Bo a new assignment.
Bo and Hope uncover Alice's unexpected "partner."
Tuesday January 17:
Melanie's torn between starting a relationship with Chad and repairing the one with Abby.
Abby turns to Marlena for advice.
Sami searches for new models of CW. Sami chooses Gabi and Chad as the new faces of Countess Wilhelmina.
Basic Black changes business models under Brady.
Wednesday January 18:
Sami feels like a third wheel with Rafe and Carrie.
Carrie and Rafe's bond becomes more apparent to all parties.
Election complications and unlikely partnerships cause Lexi to lash out at EJ and Marlena to confront Sami.
Nicole begins to "stick her nose in where it doesn't belong." Nicole begins to suspect Will's being blackmailed by EJ.
Thursday January 19:
Daniel decides to leave Salem.
Will comes clean with Marlena about his true intentions with EJ.
Abby becomes further enthralled by an oblivious Austin.
Nicole lures Will into a trap.
Friday January 20:
Madison drops a major bombshell.
Melanie and Chad turn to each other as they deal with father issues.
A shocking revelation is made with regards to Madison.
Kate, Stefano and Madison make separate propositions with decidedly different results.
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1/16 Patrick has some straight up questions for Robin.
After an intense verbal sparring match with Johnny, Sonny is found by Shawn.
Lulu and Ethan clash; she has no idea what's going through Ethan's head.
Maxie has a proposition for Matt.
1/17 Robin and Patrick discuss her health and the new drug protocol.
Ewen focuses his attention upon Liz, much to Matt's displeasure.
Carly and Johnny make plans.
Tracy grows more upset by recent events.
Kate second-guesses her relationship with Sonny.
Shawn meets a new face in Port Charles.
1/18 A jealous and displeased Maxie confronts Liz.
1/19 Johnny comes across something truly shocking;
Johnny sees Michael with a gun.
Tracy is faced with a critical decision.
1/20 While Sonny is paying Johnny a visit,
someone steps into his shoes by taking on a father-figure role with Michael.
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Monday, January 16
Bill lets Justin in on his plan;
Rick's hidden intentions cause concern for Ridge.
Tuesday, January 17
Pam manipulates Nick to get what she wants;
Amber and Rick engage in a kiss.
Wednesday, January 18
Rick wants Brooke to keep quiet about his connection to Amber;
Pam and Nick appear on 'Let's Make a Deal.'
Thursday, January 19
Katie's determination to find the truth worries Bill;
Nick tries to make amends with Donna.
Friday, January 20
Katie has heated words for Bill;
Beverly gives Hope some much needed advice.
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Spoilers Week of Jan. 16
Adam makes a play for power but is he falling into Victor’s trap?
Sharon is torn between Adam & Victor
Angelina confesses the truth about her deception to Kevin.
Chelsea manipulates Billy & Victoria. But what is her true agenda?
Nikki must come to terms with her disturbing memories
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
me right now
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And though the network has not directly alluded to canceling the series, it's also running out of room. New series "The Chew" and "The Revolution" are already on the line-up, and in fall, Katie Couric joins the network with her own talk show — presumably in "General Hospital's" time slot.
"We'll see," ABC Entertainment Group president Paul Lee told reporters at the Television Critics Association winter press tour.
He wouldn't comment on where Couric would land on the schedule, but he did say that its make it or break it for the network's lone surviving soap.
"I’m a fan of 'General Hospital' but we haven’t made a decision," said Lee, "and we don’t really have a time frame on it."
"General Hospital," now in its 49th season, recently had a power change, behind the scenes.
"One Life to Live" alums Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati joined the show, serving as executive producer and head writer, respectively. They replace "General Hospital's" Jill Farren Phelps and Garin Wolf.
Father Todd will be coming home to Genoa City in February, but it could be the last time. Jeanne Cooper's (Kay) real-life son Corbin Bernsen revealed on Facebook that he will be reprising his The Young and the Restless gig for three episodes, however he goes on to rip the show on how he was treated!
Are they the next Days of Our Lives supercouple...or a disaster waiting to happen? This week, gorgeous young Salemites Chad and Gabi - played by Casey Deidrick and Camila Banus - are picked to be the new faces of Countess Wilhelmina Cosmetics and their steamy ad campaign will make them a global sensation. But Gabi wants more. Lots more.
"She's attracted to Chad and sees this modeling thing as a way to be near him," says Banus, whose character just fled a bad romance with a closeted gay guy. Chad who has secretly taken up with Melanie (Molly Burnett) is "oblivious to Gabi's feelings," notes Deidrick. "But there's definite chemistry in their photo shoots." Expect a Chad-Gabi-Melanie triangle to explode this spring. "Gabi will get very manipulative," hints Deidrick, adding with a laugh, "To be honest, I think she'll go a little psycho."
If so, Banus is ready . Prior to Days, she played One Life to Live's Lola Montez, an acid-dropping teen murderess who was notorious for poking holes in condoms on prom night. "I think Gabi's been a nice girl long enough," Banus says. "And I know how to be bad!"
Joining the cast for January 12′s episode is Emmy-award winning, Jai Rodriguez. He will play the role of Matteo, an old friend of Sonny who together, present healthy gay role models for Will and help to make him comfortable in his own skin. In this episode, Will talks with Sonny’s mom and dad, Justin & Adrienne, who say they love Sonny unconditionally and wouldn’t change a thing about him, which affects Will.
Will connects with Matteo over music, but catches himself and awkwardly leaves. Sonny tells Matteo that Will “just isn’t there yet.” Will’s coming out process will take place in episodes airing in late Feb and March, and is a progression. Sonny acts more as a confidante and mentor to Will rather than a love interest for the time being, and is very supportive in both giving advice and also not pressuring him.
TV Line is reporting British vamp Emma Samms is returning to General Hospital. According to the site, Samms' alter ego Holly Sutton, pops back into Port Charles to lend a hand to her son Ethan (Nathan Parsons) and those crazy Spencers taking down Helena (Constance Towers).
This news comes on the heels of Samms' former onscreen partners Tristan Rogers and Finola Hughes returning to GH. Samms' airdate is slated for late Feb.
She's back! According to TV Guide Magazine's Michael Logan , Phyllis Diller is returning to The Bold and The Beautiful as dizzy makup artist Gladys Pope. Reportedly, Diller's storyline is being kept hush-hush by the show, but expect Gladys–who was Sally Spectra's BFF–to be a key part of a romantic event that ties in with B&B's 25th anniversary.
The legendary comedian pops up onscreen in March for two episodes.
Monday January 16:
Will channels EJ during a confrontation with Sami.
A physical fight emerges between Jenn and Nicole over the campaign.
Daniel finds unexpected support in Jack.
Abe gives Hope and Bo a new assignment.
Bo and Hope uncover Alice's unexpected "partner."
Tuesday January 17:
Melanie's torn between starting a relationship with Chad and repairing the one with Abby.
Abby turns to Marlena for advice.
Sami searches for new models of CW. Sami chooses Gabi and Chad as the new faces of Countess Wilhelmina.
Basic Black changes business models under Brady.
Wednesday January 18:
Sami feels like a third wheel with Rafe and Carrie.
Carrie and Rafe's bond becomes more apparent to all parties.
Election complications and unlikely partnerships cause Lexi to lash out at EJ and Marlena to confront Sami.
Nicole begins to "stick her nose in where it doesn't belong." Nicole begins to suspect Will's being blackmailed by EJ.
Thursday January 19:
Daniel decides to leave Salem.
Will comes clean with Marlena about his true intentions with EJ.
Abby becomes further enthralled by an oblivious Austin.
Nicole lures Will into a trap.
Friday January 20:
Madison drops a major bombshell.
Melanie and Chad turn to each other as they deal with father issues.
A shocking revelation is made with regards to Madison.
Kate, Stefano and Madison make separate propositions with decidedly different results.
1/16 Patrick has some straight up questions for Robin.
After an intense verbal sparring match with Johnny, Sonny is found by Shawn.
Lulu and Ethan clash; she has no idea what's going through Ethan's head.
Maxie has a proposition for Matt.
1/17 Robin and Patrick discuss her health and the new drug protocol.
Ewen focuses his attention upon Liz, much to Matt's displeasure.
Carly and Johnny make plans.
Tracy grows more upset by recent events.
Kate second-guesses her relationship with Sonny.
Shawn meets a new face in Port Charles.
1/18 A jealous and displeased Maxie confronts Liz.
1/19 Johnny comes across something truly shocking;
Johnny sees Michael with a gun.
Tracy is faced with a critical decision.
1/20 While Sonny is paying Johnny a visit,
someone steps into his shoes by taking on a father-figure role with Michael.
Monday, January 16
Bill lets Justin in on his plan;
Rick's hidden intentions cause concern for Ridge.
Tuesday, January 17
Pam manipulates Nick to get what she wants;
Amber and Rick engage in a kiss.
Wednesday, January 18
Rick wants Brooke to keep quiet about his connection to Amber;
Pam and Nick appear on 'Let's Make a Deal.'
Thursday, January 19
Katie's determination to find the truth worries Bill;
Nick tries to make amends with Donna.
Friday, January 20
Katie has heated words for Bill;
Beverly gives Hope some much needed advice.
Spoilers Week of Jan. 16
Adam makes a play for power but is he falling into Victor’s trap?
Sharon is torn between Adam & Victor
Angelina confesses the truth about her deception to Kevin.
Chelsea manipulates Billy & Victoria. But what is her true agenda?
Nikki must come to terms with her disturbing memories
