News

‘The Opportunity Begins’ for Katie Couric Talker

As reported back in June, the Disney/ABC Television Group has hired Katie Couric to host a new daily syndicated talk show that is expected to air on virtually all ABC affiliated stations, including the eight owned and operated stations that have already signed off on the deal. The show currently titled “Katie” will debut in September 2012 during the 3:00 PM ET/2:00 PM PT time slot currently occupied by ABC’s “General Hospital,” which will be forced to relocate to an as yet to be determined timeslot on the network.

Comings & Goings

Julia Barr’s Return Airdate Revealed

Julia Barr will bring Brooke English back to Pine Valley on Friday, September 16, which means, if the soap can take a break from exploring Dr. David Hayward’s (Vincent Irizarry) God complex in-depth, Barr will air in six episodes at the most before “All My Children” airs its series finale on ABC on Friday, September 23.

News

ABC Won’t Give Up General Hospital, While Prospect Park Shops Castless AMC and OLTL

For the past two and a half weeks, I found myself in unfamiliar territory when it came to running the website as I was based out of Los Angeles. Normally, I run things here in New York. What I found unfamiliar, however, was finding out the true stories behind what many soap fans can’t seem to get enough of – the Disney/ABC and Prospect Park connection as it relates to “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” and even “General Hospital.” So what did I learn that I can share with you? Plenty!

News

The ‘Write’ Stuff: Ron Carlvati Leaves Llanview for Port Charles

After fifteen years of working in various positions on the “One Life to Live” writing staff, including serving as the show’s head scribe for the last three years, ABC has announced that Ron Carlivati will be joining “General Hospital” as a script writer. The move will fulfill the remainder of the three-year contract Carlivati signed with the network last September. A similar two-year deal was hammered out at the time with “One Life” Executive Producer Frank Valentini.

News

Fans Protest ABC’s Decision to Cancel ‘All My Children’ and ‘One Life to Live’

On Tuesday, May 17, fans of ABC’s recently canceled “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” protested outside of the Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City as the ABC Television Network presented its 2011-2012 broadcast television schedule to its owned & operated stations, affiliates, advertising partners, and the dozens of press outlets gobbling up everything said during the networks upfront presentation. Joining protesting fans were Colleen Zenk (ex-Barbara Ryan, “As The World Turns”), Mimi Torchin (founding Editor in Chief of Soap Opera Weekly), and “One Life to Live’s” Ilene Kristen (Roxy Balsom). Also making their presence known was the Broadcast Television Union NABET CWA Local 16.

All My Children

Exclusive First Look: ‘It’s a Brand New Day’ at ABC Daytime this Fall When Network Debuts ‘Chew’ and ‘Revolution’

As we all know, four weeks ago Brian Frons, President, Daytime, Disney/ABC Television Group, visited the set of ABC’s “All My Children” to announce the cancellation of the 41-year-old soap live and in person to cast members while also canceling “AMC’s” sister soap “One Life to Live,” whose cast members learned via video feed of the 42-year-old daytime dramas fate. According to Frons, with “The Chew” and “The Revolution” the network will be saving between 30-40% a week on programming costs. It’s easy to see why as Soap Opera Network has your exclusive first look at the new programming that falls under the networks “It’s a Brand New Day” promotional campaign. Materials for the campaign will be sent out to advertisers and press outlets beginning next week as the network presents its 2011-2012 daytime and primetime schedule to Madison Avenue’s elite buyers at the Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center in New York City on Tuesday, May 17. Soap fans are scheduled to protest outside the event from 2:00 – 6:00 PM.