Even though “All My Children” has been off the air for more than a decade (ABC iteration) actress Susan Lucci (ex-Erica Kane) remains synonymous with the series, and despite a primetime spinoff being put in development by ABC nearly a year ago, it looks like should the network opt to move forward with the project, entitled “Pine Valley,” Lucci plans to be right there for the ride.
In a recent interview for the podcast “Behind The Velvet Rope,” Lucci explained to host David Yontef that she expects to be part of the new series should it get the green light from the network.
“They tell me, yes. And I told them, ‘Yes, I’m interested,’” Lucci said in response to Yontef asking if she’d be part of the project if asked.
In talking about “Pine Valley,” Lucci shared, “It’s very, very cleverly done and it takes into account the characters who the audience loves and puts some new characters in there that keeps it very fresh, so, I’m excited to see if that really goes.”
Back in February, the producer’s draft of the pilot script was submitted to the network. However, there’s been virtually no updates on the status of the project which is being spearheaded by former “AMC” co-stars and real-life power couple Kelly Ripa (ex-Hayley Vaughan Santos; “Live with Kelly and Ryan”) and Mark Consuelos (ex-Mateo Santos), who will serve as executive producers alongside Andrew Stearn and Robert Nixon, son of the late Agnes Nixon, creator of “AMC” and “One Life to Live.”
Created by Stearn and based on a script by Leo Richardson (“EastEnders,” “Katy Keene,” “Star”), the potential series would follow a young journalist with a secret agenda who comes to Pine Valley to expose the dark and murderous history of the town only to become entangled in a feud between the Kane and Santos families as viewers explore all the secrets that come with the Kane and Santos family names.
Richardson, who will also serve as an executive producer, said in a July tweet, “I wrote the script, true to what I pitched and sold to ABC, and we are waiting now.” He added, “I am incredibly proud of what we have cooked up and we will keep you posted. Fingers crossed for us please.”
In its final week airing on ABC (September 19-23, 2011), “All My Children” averaged nearly three million viewers, its then most-watched week since August 2007. The show’s final episode on September 23, 2011 attracted an average audience of 3.475 million viewers, its then-largest since the show’s May 11, 2007 episode. Should “Pine Valley” move forward to series and eventually air and retain numbers in this range it would be in line with what most primetime shows currently average on the big three networks.
Watch Lucci’s full interview with Yontef below, and find out who she would cast to play her in a biopic about her life. TL;DR: Singers Ariana Grande or Camila Cabello would be her top choices.
