Veteran ABC executives Vicki Dummer and William Burton exit Walt Disney Television following layoffs; duo oversaw creative/business ops for “General Hospital.”
From re-runs of soap classics “Dallas,” “Dynasty,” “Another World,” “Port Charles,” and “Falcon Crest,” to the launches of original series “SoapCenter,” “Soap Talk” and “General Hospital: Night Shift,” SOAPnet was defined as the “new way to watch soaps” for much of its near 14-year run. With just 2 days left before SOAPnet is no more, we thought it would be a great opportunity to look back at the inaugural year of a network that gave diehard soap fans their own platform to shout with glee through the death of a network that outlived its purpose.
Lisa Hackner has been named Executive Vice President, Daytime and Syndicated Programming, ABC Entertainment Group, it was announced today by Paul Lee, President, ABC Entertainment Group, with whom she will report. Hackner will be responsible for first-run development and production.
According to We Love Soaps, there are rumors floating around that Brian Scott Frons, former President, Daytime, Disney/ABC Television Group, may be secretly working with Prospect Park as it gets ready to re-launch “All My Children” and “One Life to Live,” ironically, two soaps he himself cancelled two years prior.
As the old saying goes, a happy employee is a productive employee. And that must be a mantra Prospect Park believes in. According to the actors who have signed on to the serial dramas, “All My Children” and “One Life to Live,” the production company — headed by Jeff Kwatinetz and Richard Frank — has batted a thousand when it comes to being respectfully in charge. And the end result, as the performers preview, is pure magic.
As part of the growing changes at ABC Daytime, the Disney/ABC Television Group has announced Mirian Arias as its new Vice President, Daytime Communications. Arias replaces Jori Peterson, who headed up the division for a number of years in the role of Vice President, Publicity, ABC Daytime and SOAPnet. Although Peterson has left ABC Daytime and SOAPnet, she remains part of the Disney/ABC Television Group as the acting head of the ABC Family Communications team.
October 8, 2011 marks the tenth anniversary of Soap Opera Network, an online magazine celebrating the world of soaps past, present and future.
Never one to mince words when it comes to voicing her opinions on the behind-the-scenes antics of both Llanview and ABC, “One Life to Live” leading lady Erika Slezak (Viki) speaks out against her soon-to-be-ex boss Brian Frons and notes her optimism at the soap’s future with Prospect Park.
As Soap Opera Network reported late last week, Susan Lucci has added a scathing new chapter to “All My Life” scheduled to be included in the paperback release of her memoir on September 13. In the new epilogue, the actress who is known for being too well-mannered uncharacteristically blasts ABC Daytime Chief Brian Frons for what she feels is his mismanagement of ABC Daytime and his general arrogance. Following a weekend of book leaks, ABC released what could only be construed as a biting statement about Lucci’s book addition and conduct. On Tuesday – coincidentally or not – after getting information from an unnamed source, a Deadline.com article held back few jabs after revealing the actress turned down the offer to continue with “All My Children” online.
Susan Lucci’s memoir “All My Life,” a New York Times Bestseller, hit book stores on March 29, 2011. On September 13, 2011, the paperback edition of the book will be released with a new chapter where the actress, who is regarded as one of the biggest names on daytime television, tells fans what she really thinks about a multitude of events surrounding the ABC Daytime cancellation of “All My Children.”
