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News that “The Young and the Restless’” Jeanne Cooper (Katherine Chancellor) passed away this morning has rocked the entertainment community, and the beloved actress’ colleagues have responded with an outpour of memories, loving words and final farewells via Twitter. Soap Opera Network has rounded up all of the sentiments written so far, which include kind words from her “Y&R” co-stars and beyond.
When “One Life to Live” went off the air just over a year ago it was my favorite daily drama and it had been for quite some time. So, while the show’s ratings were rising, it was quite a shock to learn it had been canceled in 2011. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous with the series coming back, but this time without executive producer Frank Valentini and head writer Ron Carlivati.
As evidenced by the first episode of “One Life to Live,” life in Llanview has continued long after the soap ended its ABC run in January 2012. No, we don’t mean that the soap has jumped ahead five years as sister soap “All My Children” has done in order to progress its storylines, we mean characters didn’t just walk upstairs to the attic and kept silent and still while the millions of fans mourned their reported last breaths. Scheduled to re-launch on Monday, April 29 via Hulu, Hulu Plus and iTunes, the soap is about to take things higher with the opening of Blair’s new night club, Shelter, as the backdrop to getting things moving once more.
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Before landing “Castle,” Nathan Fillion did a lot of whacky stuff as “One Life to Live’s” Joey Buchanan (including losing his characters virginity to Robin Strasser’s Dorian Lord!), but his latest gig just may take the cake: According to Entertainment Weekly, he’ll be voicing an animated character in Pixar’s “Monsters University,” a prequel to the popular “Monsters, Inc.”!
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Hot on the heels of the news that “Jersey Shore’s” Jenni “JWOWW” Farley, Jessie Malakouti of Jessie and the Toy Boys, and the popular Aussie DJ sisters Nervo were all making stops in TOLN‘s reboot of “One Life to Live,” fans can look for yet another familiar voice to drop by for a visit.
Bethany Watson, co-host of the New York City-based syndicated radio program “Elvis Duran and the Morning Show,” announced earlier this week that she too would be appearing in an upcoming episode of “OLTL.”
When “One Life to Live” returns next month, things won’t exactly be going well for at least one longtime Llanview resident. According to “OLTL” Co-Head Writer Thom Racina, technology and tough economic times may have finally caught up with the town’s matriarch Victoria Lord (Erika Slezak) and her family’s newspaper The Banner.
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David M. Russell/TOLN
With just over one month to go until “One Life to Live” makes its online debut, more storyline details and behind-the-scenes pictures are slowly beginning to emerge. However, it isn’t only the regular cast and crew that are spilling secrets and posting photos. Several of the show’s dayplayers and extras have also started talking about their recent set-side experiences.
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When the official “One Life to Live” cast photo shoot was unveiled last month Robin Strasser was one of two contract cast members (Hillary B. Smith being the other) not in attendance at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club with the rest of her c0-stars. However, it was pneumonia and not a snub from her new bosses that kept “One Life’s” grand dame from getting her close-up.
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Last week, Soap Opera Network featured a CENTER STAGE interview with “One Life to Live’s” legendary veteran, Erika Slezak (Victoria Lord). She opened up about the future of “OLTL,” working with the fresh, young faces on the show, and what it’s been like to have show creator Agnes Nixon back at the helm. And this week, we’re revealing how she feels about Robin Strasser (Dorian Lord), what it’s like working with Roger Howarth (Todd Manning) versus working with Trevor St. John (Victor Lord), and who she’d like to see return to Llanview!
People Magazine
With six Outstanding Lead Actress Daytime Emmy Awards under her belt — or rather, on her shelf — “One Life to Live’s” Erika Slezak (Victoria Lord) is one woman to be respected. So when she says TOLN’s version of the iconic show she’s been a part of for more than 40 years is going to be stellar, you’d damn well better believe her!
“I think we’re in great shape. I really do,” the actress reveals. “I have ultimate faith in [co-headwriter] Susan Horgan. She emailed me a few weeks ago, and she said, ‘You’re going to love this. This is so exciting.” I had lunch with her right after she took the job, and we talked for like three hours just about where the show was when it ended, and she already had so many crazy, wonderful ideas, and I thought, ‘This is going to be great.’”