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Longtime fans of “All My Children’s” Rebecca Budig would love to see her return as Jackson Montgomery’s (Walt Willey) firecracker daughter, Greenlee Smythe. But will the busy actress make a return appearance to Pine Valley as the character she originated back in 1999?

Earlier today, a fan asked the beloved beauty via Twitter if she’s been approached for the reboot of the classic show. Her response: “Yes and no. Not for the next round of shooting.”

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JPI

“All My Children” makes its online debut this spring, and Prospect Park is pulling out all the stops to make sure it’s a success. Several actors have already tweeted that the new writing for the show is outstanding, and fans were happy to hear that some of their favorites — Eden Riegel (Bianca Montgomery), Alicia Minshew (Kendall Hart Slater) and Cady McClain (Dixie Cooney) — were headed back to the show. But could Josh Duhamel (Leo DuPres) be another familiar face headed back to Pine Valley this spring?

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Photo Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Frank Valentini (Executive Producer, “General Hospital“) is promising that the Monday, August 27 episode of the drama series is “not to be missed” as the series has “been keeping a huge surprise under wraps.” The producer tweeted the message to his 12,000 followers earlier today.

From what we know about Monday’s episode Anna (Finola Hughes) learns the identify of a mystery patient, Jerry makes his demands clear to the people of Port Charles. Joe Jr. promises to protect Tracy and John questions Alexis about what she can remember about the night she was injected.

In possibly related news, Vanessa Marcil (ex-Brenda Barrett) just tweeted a picture to her followers that said “Got Brenda?” Also, “All My Children‘s” Rebecca Budig (ex-Greenlee Smythe) was the first one to respond to Valentini’s above mentioned tweet. The actress said “I’ll be watching!”

The things that make you go hmmm…

“General Hospital” moves to a new time period beginning Monday, September 10 (2:00 PM ET/1:00 PM PT/CT). The network promises to thrill audiences in the days leading up to the timeslot switch with lives hanging in the balance and shocking revelations hitting Port Charles. Who survives and who thrives? You’ll just have to tune in to find out!

Yolanda Perez/ABC

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — On Monday afternoon, Vincent Irizarry received word of Jamey Giddens‘ (of Daytime Confidential) rather strong implication on Twitter that [Irizarry's] inability to reach an agreement with production company Prospect Park along with Agnes Nixon and Lorraine Broderick‘s “story projections” were a major reason Prospect Park decided to reportedly halt early production efforts to move “All My Children” to the internet. The none too pleased Daytime Emmy Award winner responded to the claim on Facebook on Monday evening.

Irizarry was provided with an unexpected birthday surprise on Saturday, November 12 when Giddens revealed that his sources had spilled that “Prospect Park’s inability to make a deal [with] Irizarry is a factor in #AMC reboot stalling. Stories were to heavily involve David… [From a branding pt., Susan Lucci was their biggest casting factor, from story it was Irizzary].” When questioned on how that deduction was possible when neither an Executive Producer or Head Writer has been hired for the soap, as opposed to sister soap “One Life to Live,” which has signed talent to the aforementioned positions for their 2.0 incarnation as well as thirteen actors, Giddens added “Agnes and Lorraine worked on story projections for the show.”

On Monday evening, along with requesting the source of the claim that was stated to him in reduced form, Irizarry responded on his official fan page on Facebook  and emphatically stated that “the part re: me and Lorraine is absolute rubbish. We are certainly not the reason [Prospect Park] has put the show on hold.” (Update: 11/16/11) This evening on Twitter, Vincent neither confirmed or denied the accuracy of Giddens sources but did state he felt Giddens comments were “terribly misquoted” to him by the original poster on his Facebook page. The posters original comment stated to Irizarry that it had been “reported that that the show was put on hold…because broderick and vincent cant decide if they want to sign.”

It had been revealed as far back as October 6 that Irizarry had finally been contacted by Prospect Park to join “AMC” as it prepared to go online. This discussion had not led to a signing before the reported stall in early production; similar to the results of reported discussions with major “AMC” names including Lucci (ex-Erica Kane), Michael E. Knight (ex-Tad Martin), Rebecca Budig (ex-Greenlee Smythe), Alicia Minshew (ex-Kendall Hart) and Jacob Young (ex-JR Chandler). From the performers they reached out to, Prospect Park has only been able to secure Cameron Mathison (Ryan Lavery), Lindsay Hartley (Cara Castillo) and Darnell Williams (Jesse Hubbard).

Irizarry, who just turned a handsome 52-years old, has enjoyed a long and successful daytime carrer which began on CBS’s Guiding Light in 1984 as anti-hero Brandon “Lujack” Luvanoczeck. He played the popular role until 1986. In 1987, the actor joined the cast of Santa Barbara for a two year run as Dr. Scott Clark. Irizarry returned to the soap that put him on the map in 1991 as Nick McHenry Spaulding. He remained on the soap for five more years. Irizarry landed the role of Dr. David Hayward in November 1997 and remained an integral part of the ABC soap through to the end outside of a two year break between his two stints in Pine Valley where he landed on CBS’ “The Young and the Restless.”

Disney/ABC Television Group

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — There has been much discussed about “All My Children” 2.0 following a report by Soaps in Depth in which the magazine reported on its website that “All My Children,” as conceived by the minds behind the scenes at Prospect Park, has been placed on hold. This of course is after months of rumors and speculation stating that the company had planned to launch the show just days following its September 23 ABC finale and again in January 2012 following the network finale of sister soap “One Life to Live,” which in addition to “AMC” was licensed to Prospect Park for its Online Network (TOLN) in a deal brokered with the Disney/ABC Television Group back in July of this year. But is this really news to the fans or were we all just hoping something else was going on behind the scenes that would suddenly pace the show on the same trek as “OLTL?”

When the deal with Prospect Park was announced many speculated that one of the reasons “One Life to Live” was allowed to continue on post ABC was due in large part to its association with “All My Children,” both in cancellation and its creator Agnes Nixon. After weeks of silence following the big press release touting the renewed life for both series, which were canceled by ABC in April, “One Life to Live” signed deals with four actors in early September to continue on while “All My Children” only signed two. By the end of September “One Life” would not only sign five additional stars, but would also sign an executive producer and a head writer. Frank Valentini, who will continue as the soaps EP once production wraps at the end of this coming week, will also take on duties as VP, Serial Dramas, Prospect Park. In this new role Valentini will be responsible for all aspects of “One Life to Live” and “All My Children,” along with any other serialized dramatic programming Prospect Park puts into production. His duties will include signing off on the hiring of actors, writers, producers, etc along with setting the budgetary tone for each serialized program under Prospect Park.

Disney/ABC Television Group

By the end of October, “One Life to Live” had signed a total of 13 actors in addition to their EP and HW, while “All My Children” signed Darnell Williams (ex-Jesse Hubbard) to round out the current “AMC” 2.0 cast that includes Cameron Mathison (ex-Ryan Lavery) and Lindsay Hartley (ex-Cara Castillo). Williams’ signing was confirmed to Soap Opera Network by a Prospect Park representative, although other publications have yet to confirm the news through proper channels and used a tweet by Hartley as the basis for their initial reporting.  “All My Children” remains without a head writer or executive producer. Last week, Soap Opera Network reported via several sources that ABC had agreed to allow Prospect Park continued usage of “One Life’s” current studio space, which just so happened to be “AMC’s” studio prior to the soaps move to LA in 2010. “All My Children” was said to continue filming at its Andrita studio in LA under Prospect Park, but after nearly three months since production ceased for the ABC run it’s anyone’s guess as to what has since happened to the sets, wardrobe, props, etc.

Prospect Park

With the signing of no more than three actors, no executive producer, and no head writer, there was absolutely no way “All My Children” could continue online or in any other form as planned. Meanwhile, Prospect Park continues to state that their new Online Network (TOLN) is launching in January 2012, and the company has signed a licensing deal with Universal Music Group in which contemporary music would be available in episodes of both soaps and available for purchase online after the end of each episode. Although there are reports that the company is in need of $65 million on hand to get their efforts off the ground and an additional $80 million per year to fund both series each year, the funding necessary doesn’t seem to be stalling preparations for an online version of “One Life to Live” nor does the fact that there is no deal between the required unions such as the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), the Writers Guild of America (WGA), the Directors Guild of America (DGA) or the Producers Guild of America (PGA), among others.

The issues currently plaguing “AMC” rests on the former cast and crew and their ability to now find jobs anywhere in Hollywood now that they are all living their lives comfortably in the Bear state and free from the clutches of ABC. Michael E. Knight (ex-Tad Martin) received an offer from Prospect Park, but turned it down because he wanted a break. Alicia Minshew (ex-Kendall Hart) and Rebecca Budig (Greenlee Smythe) were sure to be in demand by the company, but alas both wish to only return if they were able to remain on recurring status. Series star and soap opera legend, Susan Lucci (ex-Erica Kane), turned down the company’s offer for the same salary she received while working on the ABC version of the soap. Jacob Young (ex-JR Chandler), who returned on screen at “The Bold and the Beautiful” just before “AMC” aired its final episode in September, admitted that he only signed a short-term deal with “B&B” and wants Prospect Park to be more forthcoming with information. “Let’s see what these Prospect Park guys can bring to the table,” he said on Tuesday, October 25 at New York’s Town Hall for the first of several “A Tribute to Pine Valley” sessions with fans. Once Prospect Park gets its ducks in a row, including signing deals with the necessary unions and apparently finding the funding necessary, “All My Children” 2.0 is now said to be geared for a March 2012 launch, while “OLTL” remains on track to launch in January 2012.

The Final Cast Shot of the Cast of "All My Children" (Photo: ABC)

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — “All My Children,” aired its series finale on Friday, September 23, 2011 with its largest weekly audience in over four years (since week of August 20, 2007), its largest single day episode in more than 4 1/2 years (since the May 11, 2007 episode) and tied its highest weekly household rating in four years (since week of September 24, 2007). The canceled ABC soap managed to place second in households for the first time in 16 years (since week of July 10, 1995) and placed second in viewers for the first time in nearly seven years (since week of December 6, 2004).

With an average of nearly 3 million viewers watching the final hours of their favorite Pine Valley citizens before the soap faded to black in a shocking cliffhanger ending, “AMC” pulled off a feat that not many soaps have been able to do, which was go out with a bang. According to Nielsen Media Research data, “All My Children” averaged 3.5 million viewers (3.475 in actuals) for its last episode which was its largest audience since its Friday, May 11, 2007 episode, where it also averaged 3.5 million viewers. In that episode Greenlee (Rebecca Budig Sabine Singh) interrupted Ryan (Cameron Mathison) and Annie’s (Melissa Claire Egan) wedding reception, while Krystal (Bobbie Eakes) took her new-born baby girl Jenny home for the first time and Colby tried to make amends with her father, while JR mourned the death of Dixie (Cady McClain) and Di (Kelli Giddish) learned some shocking news about Ava/Lily (Leven Rambin).

The last time “AMC” averaged a 1.1/7 in Women 18-49 was during the week of March 8, 2010, when 728,000 Women 18-49 viewers were tuned in. By comparison only 689,000 Women 18-49 viewers tuned in for the soaps finale week. The last time “All My Children” received a 2.6 household rating was on Thursday, July 26, 2007, which translated into 3.4 million total viewers. Meanwhile, the last time the soap managed a weekly audience of more than 3 million viewers was the week of August 20, 2007 when the soap averaged 3,020,000 viewers, which at the time was a loss of 120,000 viewers compared to the same week in 2006. The last time “All My Children” averaged a 2.3 in households for a given week was the week of September 24, 2007, the start of the 2007-2008 television season, in which 2.8 million viewers tuned in.

Sixteen years have gone by since we saw numbers like these, but it was also the last time “AMC” was the second most watched daytime soap. During the week of July 10, 1995, “All My Children” ranked second (only beyond “The Young and the Restless“) with a 5.7/18 household rating/share point. The last time the soap was second in total viewers, however, was during the week of December 6, 2004, when the soap averaged 3.9 million viewers and a 2.2/14 in Women 18-49. The week of January 17, 2005 was the last time “AMC” placed second in Women 18-49 viewers when it had a 2.2/12 rating/share and 1.4 million Women 18-49 viewers. During that week the soap averaged 3.9 million total eyeballs. Interestingly enough, “All My Children” took the #1 spot in Women 18-49 and Women 18-49 viewers during the February 2005 Sweeps period. Afterward, the soap never managed to place higher than 3rd in either category until the week of September 19-23, 2011, when it aired its last five episodes out of the more than 10,700 recorded.

What follows is a breakdown of “All My Children’s” final weekly ratings performance since its debut on January 5, 1970:

• Up 36% over its year-ago performance in Men 18+ viewers (596,000 vs 437,000)
• Up 35% over its year-ago performance in Households (2.3/7 vs 1.7/6)
• Up 34% over its year-ago performance in Women 50+ viewers (1,576,000 vs 1,179,000)
• Up 32% over its year-ago performance in Total Viewers (2,990,000 vs 2,270,000)
• Up 29% over its year-ago performance in Women 18+ viewers (2,265,000 vs 1,755,000)
• Up 13% 25% over its year-ago performance in Women 25-54 rating (1.5/9 vs 1.2/9)
• Up 25% over its year-ago performance in Men 18+ rating (0.5/4 vs 0.4/4)
• Up 24% over its year-ago performance in Adults 18-49 viewers (929,000 vs 752,000)
• Up 22% over its year-ago performance in Women 18-49 rating (1.1/7 vs 0.9/7)
• Up 20% over its year-ago performance in Women 25-54 viewers (919,000 vs 767,000)
• Up 20% over its year-ago performance in Women 18-49 viewers (689,000 vs 576,000)
• Up 20% over its year-ago performance in Women 18-34 rating (0.6/4 vs 0.5/4)
• Up 20% over its year-ago performance in Women 18-34 viewers (217,000 vs 181,000)
• “All My Children” increased in audience by 717,000 viewers from its Monday, September 19 episode (2,758,000) to its last episode on Friday, September 23 (3,475,000).
• “All My Children” was daytime’s most watched program in the key sales demographics of Women 18-34 (268,000), Women 18-49 (824,000) and Women 25-54 (1,049,000) on Friday, September 23, the day it aired its series finale.
• “All My Children” had its biggest week to week gain in total viewers since the week of December 27, 2004, when it gained 521,000 viewers. During the week of September 19, 2011, “AMC” gained 499,000 viewers.

Although ABC canceled “All My Children” along with “One Life to Live” on Thursday, April 14, both soaps were given a renewed sense of life when production company Prospect Park announced on Thursday, July 7 that they would resume production of both soaps as they transition to a new online television network, which was just named earlier this week as The Online Network or TOLN. Soap Opera Network wishes the cast and crew of “All My Children” the best of luck as they transition to the web beginning in January 2012.

ABC

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — This week has been full of well deserved tributes, accolades and goodbyes to a 41-year old television institution, “All My Children.” Lost in the avalanche of interviews with the actors who have contributed their talents to the popular soap opera may have been several of the shows most popular actors sharing if they have been asked to follow it to the internet and if they’re willing to. The production company that has licensed their soap opera, Prospect Park, has recently stepped up talks with “AMC’s” cast members locking in deals with Cameron Mathison (Ryan) and Lindsay Hartley (Cara). Where do “AMC’s” other popular stars, including their biggest star Susan Lucci (Erica), stand on moving to the net? Continue reading to find out.

Fans may have felt a renewed sense of doom when Deadline.com turned up with a scathing report about Lucci and Prospect Park failing to come to terms due to the superstar trying to “gouge” the production company thus endangering the daytime drama’s future. Coincidentally, that report came out in the days following the paperback release of her memoir, “All My Life.” The book contains a new chapter where the respected actress reveals her not so positive true feelings about ABC Daytime’s top brass. This Friday, the stunning 64-year old actress talked to NPR about her career and her future with “AMC.” Lucci revealed that she is still in negotiations with Prospect Park and is currently “waiting for a response” to terms she has put on the table. The popular actress shares that she’d love to continue with the soap that she help put on the map. She asserts that “[her] heart is there with Agnes Nixon, Erica Kane, [the] viewership, [the] fans.”

Michael E. Knight, on the other hand, appears to be settling in for a long break from Pine Valley. Earlier this week, he revealed to Michael Fairman that the men behind Prospect Park reached out to him “hard and fast” early on in the game with a respectful and generous offer for a long-term contract. Knight turned that offer down. The Daytime Emmy Award winner reveals he certainly feels a responsibility to the soap opera he joined in 1982 and to its loyal fans, so he has told Prospect Park executives, Rich Frank and Jeff Kwatinetz, he’d be willing to “go forward on a recurring basis, or short-term, or whatever.” The exhausted actor feels the character of Tad Martin has been put in a corner in terms of storyline and appears to be, respectfully, enjoying having a choice in term of his future after years of dealing with a demanding and demeaning ABC Daytime brass. Knight does not rule out a contract return to the soap at some point in the future.

Frustrated with the writing for her once spitfire character, Greenlee Smythe, Rebecca Budig initially appeared to be ready to jump ship before Prospect Park even imagined extending an offer. This week she revealed to TV Line that she has met with Prospect Park and they’re “still talking.”

As previously reported, one of Budig’s best friends and her former co-star, Alicia Minshew found herself in a similar situation to both Knight and Budig; ready to move on and only willing to remain with the show within a limited capacity. After beginning talks with Prospect Park, though, the actress appears to feel more positive about ultimately being able to work something out.

Prospect Park is currently doing its best to get “AMC” back to viewers through the internet with new content by January 2012.  The production company still has to iron out deals with the actor’s union, AFTRA, and work out tentative deals with enough actors to get “AMC” and “One Life to Live‘s” ships sailing.