'All My Children': Will ABC Cancel the Long-Running Soap?
by Chris Harnick, posted Mar 21st 2011 1:15PM

A daytime landscape without Erica Kane? Say it ain't so! A source close to 'All My Children' has confirmed to TV Squad the series is in jeopardy.

ABC could make an announcement regarding the fate of 'All My Children' as soon as today or tomorrow. Despite it being a bigger brand, the soap's sagging ratings have put 'AMC' on the chopping block.

If 'AMC' is canceled, ABC could move 'One Life to Live' to California.

In recent weeks 'AMC' has delivered record lows in Nielsen ratings. According to Deadline, the soap came in last in the key demographic of women 18–49. It was seen by 463,000 viewers in that demo, down 34 percent compared to last year. The series also came in last in total viewers, grabbing 2.32 million. 'One Life to Live' had 2.36 million during the week of March 7.

Since its debut 41 years ago, the series has been a launching ground for many stars including Sarah Michelle Gellar and Amanda Seyfried. Recent Oscar-winner Melissa Leo also had a brief stint on the soap.

Viewers will remember Kelly Ripa as Hayley long before she became the co-host of 'Live! With Regis and Kelly.' 'AMC' has also been home to Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of the most familiar faces in TV, for more than 30 years. Lucci is the only original cast member still on the series.

If 'AMC' bites the dust, ABC could follow the lead of CBS and replace the long-running soap with a game or talk show. CBS replaced 'As the World Turns' with 'The Talk' this season, and 'Guiding Light,' previously the longest running drama in TV history, with 'Let's Make a Deal' in 2009.


Stay tuned to TV Squad for more updates 'All My Children.'

Tell us: Will you miss 'AMC' if ABC cancels the series?

I hope not:(

I hate to think that this is true, but I wouldn't doubt it... :(

I hope not myself, especially after the show and its cast spent all that time and money relocating from NYC to LA a couple of years ago. :(

My mother loved All My Children,and so has my dad's late mother,that was her favorite soap.

http://www.tvguide.com/News/ABC-Cancel-Children-1031345.aspx

Breaking: Is ABC Preparing to Cancel All My Children and One Life to Live?

Apr 1, 2011 04:07 PM ET
by Michael Logan


God, I hope I'm wrong about this. In recent weeks, there has been a lot of highly reliable buzz about the possible cancellation of ABC's All My Children. But TV Guide Magazine has learned that the network is not just planning to cancel AMC in the coming days but will very likely cancel One Life to Live, as well. Word is, ABC Daytime chief Brian Frons has a talk show and reality show lined up for fall — both of them much cheaper to produce than soaps — and he needs to clear the schedule. More disturbing, insiders say Frons has been extremely cavalier about all this, showing no signs of sorrow or regret about a drastic decision that will leave General Hospital as the network's only daytime soap. When contacted for comment, ABC Daytime PR chief Jori Petersen told us, "I have no announcement, and these are just rumors that you are hearing. I am sorry to hear that they're escalating but I cannot confirm anything."

BOTH of them???? Hiring Frons was the biggest mistake ABC Daytime ever made - and they put him in charge at SoapNet, too (which will cease after the beginning of 2012). Enough said?

Thank goodness for YouTube and traders who have the classic, vintage soaps for others to enjoy. They care, and the networks obviously don't. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Thats the problem with the entertainment industry (record companies, TV Networks, and movie studios). They are all run by idiots who only care about making money.

If ABC cancels both All My Children and One Life to Live, you might as well go ahead and say goodbye to the remaining four soaps on the air. This will be the official death bell for the daytime drama...

Why don't they just do it now and eliminate the middleman?? :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Thats the problem with the entertainment industry (record companies, TV Networks, and movie studios). They are all run by idiots who only care about making money.

One time during his monologue, Jay Leno had a slip of the tongue and turned "TV network executives" into "TV nitwit executives". I think the latter term is quite accurate!!!

I can't stand reality tv. When are we going to read that it's dying?

I can't stand reality tv. When are we going to read that it's dying?

Not soon enough!! Like you, Sonny, I hate reality TV with the heat of a thousand suns. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

I just read somewhere that the "teen moms" earn either $60,000 a year or $60,0000 an episode. Either way if you had the right show, I take the money and do the show. Sad to say tv isn't what it used to be. I found so little on that I like

Some good news... Apparently, All My Children has been spared as ABC announces new head writer for the soap:

http://daytimeconfidential.zap2it.com/2011/04/02/all-my-children-spared-lorraine-broderick-to-the-helm

Here's something I've been thinking about regarding this issue.

As sorry as I was to see GL and ATWT cancelled, both lasted over 50 years and honestly, you could argue that that is far and away more than a successful run. By that point, it is increasingly difficult to keep coming up with new stories and characters that haven't been seen a dozen times before. By that time it seems like everyone is town has 'paired up' with each other at least once, everyone's died and come back from the dead, fallen in love and had obstacles, the villain's been defeated dozens of times, and everyone's had at least one unknown child show up and create trouble years later. While you can have new characters coming in, if you overemphasize them you run the risk of really changing the show so much that it doesn't even resemble the show it began as (the classic families are diminished, the fictional town itself is radically changed, etc.)

Maybe...just maybe...what needs to happen to save the genre is the introduction of new shows that have high quality writing and acting, not just niche shows that feature models trying to act (which most of the newer shows tend to be and end up failing).

Don't get me wrong. I revere the old shows and really hate to see them go, but...I guess what I'm asking is "Is there a point at which shows really need to die a natural death, beyond which you really can't expect them to work anymore?" As sad as it was to see them go, I don't really think anyone could say that GL and ATWT had "untapped potential." Their potential was tapped, and realized many, many times.

Some good news... Apparently, All My Children has been spared as ABC announces new head writer for the soap:

http://daytimeconfidential.zap2it.com/2011/04/02/all-my-children-spared-lorraine-broderick-to-the-helm

Then we find out less than two weeks later - it was all a smoke screen. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Here's something I've been thinking about regarding this issue.

As sorry as I was to see GL and ATWT cancelled, both lasted over 50 years and honestly, you could argue that that is far and away more than a successful run. By that point, it is increasingly difficult to keep coming up with new stories and characters that haven't been seen a dozen times before. By that time it seems like everyone is town has 'paired up' with each other at least once, everyone's died and come back from the dead, fallen in love and had obstacles, the villain's been defeated dozens of times, and everyone's had at least one unknown child show up and create trouble years later. While you can have new characters coming in, if you overemphasize them you run the risk of really changing the show so much that it doesn't even resemble the show it began as (the classic families are diminished, the fictional town itself is radically changed, etc.)

Maybe...just maybe...what needs to happen to save the genre is the introduction of new shows that have high quality writing and acting, not just niche shows that feature models trying to act (which most of the newer shows tend to be and end up failing).

Don't get me wrong. I revere the old shows and really hate to see them go, but...I guess what I'm asking is "Is there a point at which shows really need to die a natural death, beyond which you really can't expect them to work anymore?" As sad as it was to see them go, I don't really think anyone could say that GL and ATWT had "untapped potential." Their potential was tapped, and realized many, many times.
GL sure got real bad at the end. I had stopped watching it long before it was canceled but every once and awhile I would tune it. I especially didn't like how they filmed the show like a reality show. lol I did watch the final episode and although it was nice to see Josh and Reva together, the rest of the episode was so blaaa. They should have had more former cast members in it.

If you guys check out websites like We Love Soaps and Soap Opera Network - you'd see venom the likes of which you've never seen before spewed at Brian Frons/ABC/Disney (and deservedly so). I've never heard of TWO soaps given cancellation notice on the same day - at least soaps as long-running and legendary as AMC & OLTL. I know that The Doctors and Texas, both on NBC, went off the air the same day (December 31, 1982), but that's all I can think of.

GL sure got real bad at the end. I had stopped watching it long before it was canceled but every once and awhile I would tune it. I especially didn't like how they filmed the show like a reality show. lol I did watch the final episode and although it was nice to see Josh and Reva together, the rest of the episode was so blaaa. They should have had more former cast members in it.



I agree. As disapointed as I was to see GL go, the last two years it was a real disapointment.

I was surprised that it didn't do well under Ellen Wheeler's watch. I mean, here she is, a veteran actress with two Daytime Emmys under her belt who made a seamless transition into directing soaps. So I thought she'd be able to turn things around as Executive Producer. Guess not. :(

As a casual viewer of GL, I always thought they had one foot out the door all the time anyway. I mean if it wasnt the backlash with the reality tv type format, which I thought should have worked, it was the fact they were always in last place ratings wise for years. I think the reality tv set up would have worked if it was GH or Y&R but because GL was in last place plus the fact it aired 2 different times it got cancelled.

If your wondering what I mean by airing at 2 different times, GL aired at 10 am on WCBS which is the NY affilate and it aired 3 pm on WFSB which is the Connecticut affilate.

I was surprised that it didn't do well under Ellen Wheeler's watch. I mean, here she is, a veteran actress with two Daytime Emmys under her belt who made a seamless transition into directing soaps. So I thought she'd be able to turn things around as Executive Producer. Guess not. :(

I have to say I did not know she was at the helm at GL. Shows you how out of the loop I've been.

I stopped following GL after the way they treated poor Michael Zaslow, and never really went back. I'd tune in for a few minutes once in a while just to see if I knew anybody (I usually didn't) but for the most part, that was my Waterloo with the show.

I have to say I did not know she was at the helm at GL. Shows you how out of the loop I've been.

I stopped following GL after the way they treated poor Michael Zaslow, and never really went back. I'd tune in for a few minutes once in a while just to see if I knew anybody (I usually didn't) but for the most part, that was my Waterloo with the show.
Yep, that's when I quit watching. I wonder how many fans GL lost by treating him like that?

As a casual viewer of GL, I always thought they had one foot out the door all the time anyway. I mean if it wasnt the backlash with the reality tv type format, which I thought should have worked, it was the fact they were always in last place ratings wise for years. I think the reality tv set up would have worked if it was GH or Y&R but because GL was in last place plus the fact it aired 2 different times it got cancelled.

If your wondering what I mean by airing at 2 different times, GL aired at 10 am on WCBS which is the NY affilate and it aired 3 pm on WFSB which is the Connecticut affilate.
Yea one of my local affiliates aired it at 10 am too. Usually when a soap moves to the morning, it's days are numbered.

I have to say I did not know she was at the helm at GL. Shows you how out of the loop I've been.

She was EP of GL from 2004 until its end in 2009.

Yep, that's when I quit watching. I wonder how many fans GL lost by treating him like that?

I thought the reason why they fired him was heartless and cruel at that time, and was saddened by his passing in 1998. But Zaz's story took on a deeper and much more personal dimension when my grandfather was diagnosed with the same disease (ALS) in early 2001. Sure, my grandfather was quite a bit older than Zaz, and had been retired for a long time, but it still hit hard. That was probably the stupidest, insensitive moment in the history of P&G's soaps - all of soaps, really. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

I thought the reason why they fired him was heartless and cruel at that time, and was saddened by his passing in 1998. But Zaz's story took on a deeper and much more personal dimension when my grandfather was diagnosed with the same disease (ALS) in early 2001. Sure, my grandfather was quite a bit older than Zaz, and had been retired for a long time, but it still hit hard. That was probably the stupidest, insensitive moment in the history of P&G's soaps - all of soaps, really. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
I remember you mentioning your Grandfather. :( I agree with you about GL. They could have wrote Zaslow's disease into the show and actually made a difference. They could have helped him and educated the public on the disease. Instead they replaced him with some has-been actor who didn't last long and got rid of Roger pretty fast. Then they had the nerve to air a tribute show of him hosted by Maureen Garrett after he died. I remember watching him on Larry King where he talked about his last days over there. He said he had friends over there but they were afraid they'd get fired if they said anything. :mad:

It's still incredible to think that more of the cast/crew etc, didn't do something; a work freeze, a protest, something.

I guess I shouldn't judge but honestly, that was just beyond bad business and bad judgment. That was abject cruelty. I agree, Sonny; how hard would it have been to write his illness into the script? Obviously he would have had to leave at some point but for a while it could have really been a powerful and educational story; the proud and often arrogant villain who must face his own mortality and disability.

It's still galling to me, after all these years.

And it is indeed an insidious and horrible disease. I feel so much for the victims of it (including Toto's Steve Porcaro, apparently). Here's hoping there's a cure SOON!

I never wanted Beverlee Mckinsey to leave GL. I remember how she just left and nobody knew it until after she filmed her final scenes. After what they did to Michael Zaslow, it sort of gives me a different feeling. I found this article she did with TV Guide right after she left GL.

http://iriswheeler.tripod.com/tvguide19920811.html

I remember watching him on Larry King where he talked about his last days over there. He said he had friends over there but they were afraid they'd get fired if they said anything. :mad:

Actually, he did have a friend over at GL who got fired for speaking out about the situation - Fiona Hutchison (Jenna). Her character was killed off in 1998. :mad:

Actually, he did have a friend over at GL who got fired for speaking out about the situation - Fiona Hutchison (Jenna). Her character was killed off in 1998. :mad:


Wow. And this was a direct result of her sticking up for Zaslow?

Sounds like the freaking Mafia over there. Now I'm even MORE glad I gave the show the boot! :mad:

Actually, he did have a friend over at GL who got fired for speaking out about the situation - Fiona Hutchison (Jenna). Her character was killed off in 1998. :mad:
Oh yea, I remember Jenna. I had no idea that was the reason she was killed off. That's just sick.:mad:

That's what I've heard, and considering how heartless the brass at GL AND Procter & Gamble were letting Mr. Zaslow go the way they did - it would not shock me a bit if it were true. Ms. Hutchison did reprise her role briefly a couple of times later as the ghost of Jenna.

That's what I've heard, and considering how heartless the brass at GL AND Procter & Gamble were letting Mr. Zaslow go the way they did - it would not shock me a bit if it were true. Ms. Hutchison did reprise her role briefly a couple of times later as the ghost of Jenna.
I was long gone by then. lol Some of the storylines on GL where pretty far out there by that time.

That's what I've heard, and considering how heartless the brass at GL AND Procter & Gamble were letting Mr. Zaslow go the way they did - it would not shock me a bit if it were true. Ms. Hutchison did reprise her role briefly a couple of times later as the ghost of Jenna.

A ghost huh? Things sure got weird over there after I stopped watching. I could have sworn that for a while Reva was a 'ghost' then it turned out she was really alive (this was before I left), and then wasn't there something about a clone of Reva?? :crazy:

A ghost huh? Things sure got weird over there after I stopped watching. I could have sworn that for a while Reva was a 'ghost' then it turned out she was really alive (this was before I left), and then wasn't there something about a clone of Reva?? :crazy:
Yep, I remember the ghost Reva. They totally botched her return. I think originally they didn't want her back as a regular and later changed their minds. I know the fans wanted her back. I think I stopped watching by the time she was clone. I remember hearing about it though and I think I tuned in a couple times to see if this was really happening. And people wonder why GL lost so many viewers during this time?

Yup!! Kim Zimmer, God bless her and her sense of humor, summed up her run as Reva by saying, "I've been Amish, I've been a clone, I've been a princess, I've been the Slut of Springfield..." The cloning story was done early in 1998 when cloning in general was a big news story. Reva's clone was even named Dolly (as in Dolly the cloned sheep). Kim Zimmer, naturally, played the dual role until the clone rapidly aged and then died.

Yep, I remember the ghost Reva. They totally botched her return. I think originally they didn't want her back as a regular and later changed their minds. I know the fans wanted her back. I think I stopped watching by the time she was clone. I remember hearing about it though and I think I tuned in a couple times to see if this was really happening. And people wonder why GL lost so many viewers during this time?

As with most soaps, I think the de emphasis of the older characters really hurt too. Sure I understand you have to have younger characters to keep things fresh but there needs to be a balance and by the late 90's they started pushing great characters (and the actors that played them) like Holly, Ross, Ed, Maureen, H.B., Billy, Henry, Fletcher, etc. to the side (Roger, unfortunately, was gone by that time). They did emphasize Alan and Alex for a while but usually they were just foils for the young 'uns. I know that sounds like an "old guy" gripe but I always enjoyed the cross generational appeal of soaps, even as a boy. Now, they're just all "Twilight"ed to the point where the older characters basically do cameos where they come on and give sage advice and then, presumably, go back into their time capsules and wait for the next crisis to unfold. :(

As a member of the vaunted 18- to 34-year-old female demographic - I take umbrage at the fact that soaps stopped hiring theater-trained actors and started hiring models instead. I hate how they stopped focusing on families and veteran actors. There's a LOT of mileage in multi-generational stories - unfortunately blockheads like Frons don't get it and/or don't care. Agnes Nixon did and still does - she's smarter than all the brass at ABC combined!!

As with most soaps, I think the de emphasis of the older characters really hurt too. Sure I understand you have to have younger characters to keep things fresh but there needs to be a balance and by the late 90's they started pushing great characters (and the actors that played them) like Holly, Ross, Ed, Maureen, H.B., Billy, Henry, Fletcher, etc. to the side (Roger, unfortunately, was gone by that time). They did emphasize Alan and Alex for a while but usually they were just foils for the young 'uns. I know that sounds like an "old guy" gripe but I always enjoyed the cross generational appeal of soaps, even as a boy. Now, they're just all "Twilight"ed to the point where the older characters basically do cameos where they come on and give sage advice and then, presumably, go back into their time capsules and wait for the next crisis to unfold. :(
GL made so many mistakes over the years. One of the other big ones was killing off Maureen Bauer ( Ellen Parker). After Bert died, Maureen was the voice of reason on that show. I don't think the producers realized how big of a backlash that would have. And some of my favorite scenes involved H.B. and Henry. I know both actors died but they were fazed out even before then.

GL made so many mistakes over the years. One of the other big ones was killing off Maureen Bauer ( Ellen Parker). After Bert died, Maureen was the voice of reason on that show. I don't think the producers realized how big of a backlash that would have. And some of my favorite scenes involved H.B. and Henry. I know both actors died but they were fazed out even before then.


I really, really liked the character of Maureen. She was, as you say, the voice of reason, and kind of the moral compass, too. But she wasn't preachy or boring; she was strong and funny and attractive and just a lovable character.

I agree that killing her off was really stupid. She sparkled with genuineness in every scene she was in. And I loved the odd but somehow plausible friendship that grew between her and Roger.

I remember the actress who played Maureen, Ellen Parker, showed up about a year or so later on an episode of Law & Order. I think the most ironic thing about her firing was that she won an Emmy - after she'd been off the show for several months! :cool: Another Ellen (Dolan, pre-ATWT) had previously played Maureen.

I remember the actress who played Maureen, Ellen Parker, showed up about a year or so later on an episode of Law & Order. I think the most ironic thing about her firing was that she won an Emmy - after she'd been off the show for several months! :cool: Another Ellen (Dolan, pre-ATWT) had previously played Maureen.
I don't usually watch the daytime emmys but I did that year. I loved it. :lol:

I really, really liked the character of Maureen. She was, as you say, the voice of reason, and kind of the moral compass, too. But she wasn't preachy or boring; she was strong and funny and attractive and just a lovable character.

I agree that killing her off was really stupid. She sparkled with genuineness in every scene she was in. And I loved the odd but somehow plausible friendship that grew between her and Roger.
Yea I remember those scenes between her and Roger. She made him human. You know sometimes Roger would make you so mad that you wanted to kill him and other times you just felt sorry for him. That's what a great actor Michael Zasllow was. I remember when he was on in the 1970's but I didn't watch it much back then although my Mom did. I do remember when they killed him off and he went over that ledge. And then 9 years later he was back.

I remember the actress who played Maureen, Ellen Parker, showed up about a year or so later on an episode of Law & Order. I think the most ironic thing about her firing was that she won an Emmy - after she'd been off the show for several months! :cool: Another Ellen (Dolan, pre-ATWT) had previously played Maureen.

I didn't watch the show when Dolan had the role (I believe I watched from about 1989 to 1996 or so), but Parker was very good in it. Isn't Dolan the one who ended up playing Margo on ATWT? She was OK but I always greatly preferred Margaret Colin in that role. :)

Yup, that's her!! Margaret Colin and Hillary B. Smith preceded her in the role of Margo (and Glynnis O'Connor briefly took over while Ms. Dolan was out sick or something).

Yup, that's her!! Margaret Colin and Hillary B. Smith preceded her in the role of Margo (and Glynnis O'Connor briefly took over while Ms. Dolan was out sick or something).

Colin was a spitfire in that role. Strong, vulnerable, hot headed and impulsive, fiercely loyal and easily hurt. Romantic, spirited...I mean who else could have had an ill advised affair with James Stenbeck and stuck up for her renegade father John Dixon? :lol:

Plus, she gained a reel- AND real-life hubby in Justin Deas (then-Tom on ATWT). They are still married to this day and have two sons. :cool: :D

Plus, she gained a reel- AND real-life hubby in Justin Deas (then-Tom on ATWT). They are still married to this day and have two sons. :cool: :D

Yep I liked Deas a lot, too, both as Tom and as Buzz. :)

Never did see "Foley Square" but it must be online somewhere. ;)

He was also good on Ryan's Hope and Santa Barbara. I think he has 6 or 7 Daytime Emmys (the most of any actor).

He was also good on Ryan's Hope and Santa Barbara. I think he has 6 or 7 Daytime Emmys (the most of any actor).

Was he "Keith Timmons" on SB? I only know because my niece used to watch that one. ;)

Yup!!! :cool: