All Things About
According to published reports, Thom Racina and Susan Bedsow Horgan have been named Co-Head Writers of Prospect Park’s re-boot of “One Life to Live,” which is slated to hit the company’s The Online Network (TOLN) later this year. While Racina appears to be a newbie when it comes to the town of Llanview and its citizens, Bedsow Horgan is more familiar as she served as an Associate Head Writer and later Executive Producer of the series in the 1990’s.
With Prospect Park now signing agreements with key unions SAG-AFTRA (actors), the DGA (directors), and the WGA (writers), with an expectation to begin filming episodes of “All My Children” as soon as next month, we wondered who you wanted to see act on the soap when it moves to the web. Your choices can include past actors as well as wishful casting (recast and new characters are welcomed). We also wondered who you want to join the writing team now that thousands of writers are at Prospect Park’s disposal courtesy of their agreement with the WGA, as well as who you want to direct episodes of the series. Keep in mind that Agnes Nixon, who created both “AMC” and “One Life to Live,” is currently working as a consultant for Prospect Park, according to Foz McDermott, head of production for TOLN (Prospect Park’s The Online Network). Also note that actors Jordi Vilasuso (Dr. Griffin Castillo), Darnell Williams (Jesse Hubbard), Debbi Morgan (Dr. Angela Hubbard), Vincent Irizarry (Dr. David Hayward) and Lindsay Hartley (Dr. Cara Castillo) are all confirmed as signing on to return to “AMC” when it moves to the web. Alicia Minshew (ex-Kendall Hart) has reported that she’s been approached, while Cameron Mathison (ex-Ryan Lavery) hope’s he can be involved. There’s no word yet on the status of Susan Lucci (ex-Erica Kane), who was the only original cast member from the first season of “AMC” that had remained with the show without interruption from its debut on January 5, 1970 through its final ABC broadcast on September 23, 2011.
Daytime Confidential’s Jamey Giddens reported earlier today that an agreement between Prospect Park and the WGA (Writers Guild of America) had been made regarding online versions of “All My Children” and “One Life to Live.”
Nominees for the 65th Annual DGA Awards were announced earlier this week with “Days of our Lives,” “General Hospital” and “One Life to Live” representing the category of Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Daytime Serials for calendar year 2012. CBS soaps “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The Young and the Restless” were the only daytime dramas without a nomination in the category. “General Hospital” dominated with nominations for directors Larry Carpenter, Scott McKinsey and William Ludel all getting recognition. Jill Mitwell received her ninth directing nomination for the “One Life to Live” episode entitled “Between Heaven and Hell,” which aired during the soaps final week on television. Coincidently, the title of the episode is based on the fact that prior to its 43-year run began in 1968, “One Life to Live” was initially titled “Between Heaven and Hell.” Albert Alarr was nominated for episode #11,895, which was the episode following the aftermath of explosions that found several of Salem’s citizens in life-threatening situations. It was also the episode that found the drama series returning from a 2-week break while NBC broadcast the Summer Olympic games from London.
As he did back in 2011 when news of Prospect Park’s plan to move “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” to the web first hit, actor Jerry verDorn has announced that he will be returning to Llanview once more as Clint Buchanan. The actor made the announcement yesterday evening on his Facebook page:
In a press release issued just a short time ago, Prospect Park has confirmed plans to move forward with “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” online. The company states that Agnes Nixon, who created both series, has been working as a consultant on the project. They confirm that they have signed deals with the DGA and SAG-AFTRA, but nothing in regards to the WGA. Jennifer Pepperman has been hired on as Executive Producer of “OLTL,” Ginger Smith is EP of “AMC.”
Although news of Prospect Park once again being interested in reviving “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” for the web seems to have been universally accepted, many soap fans have remained a little doubtful on the matter to a certain extent. Former “One Life to Live” and “Dirty Soap” star Farah Fath seems to share in that doubtfulness. The actress began a series of tweets just a short time ago that led into discussion of the company and its online plans. Note: The actress admits to have been tweeting while drinking Heineken, so if you find yourself easily offended. Please stop reading now.
Had “All My Children” remained on the air beyond its final September 23, 2011 episode, cast/crew and fans all around the world would have been celebrating the daytime soaps 43rd anniversary today, January 5, as the drama series debuted on this day in 1970.
“All My Children” and “One Life to Live” creator Agnes Nixon has released an official statement on the news of Prospect Park once again moving forward with plans to produce online episodes of the soaps this year. Her message was posted on her official website as well as her official Facebook page. The statement is as follows:
If you love your “Revenge,” you will most likely also enjoy a series of “Deception.” Debuting Monday, January 7 at 10:00 PM ET/9:00 PM CT on NBC, “Deception” tells the story of Vivian Bowers, a wealthy socialite and notorious party girl who appears to have died from a drug overdose. In actuality, it looks like Vivian may have been murdered. Portraying the role of the dead is former “One Life to Live” star Bree Williamson, who can be seen in the first act of the series pilot as an alive Vivian just before her death, while seen subsequently in various flashbacks and imagery.
Just about a month before announcing their decision to postpone plans to launch “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” on the web in early 2012, Prospect Park announced a partnership with Universal Music Group that would bring music, e-commerce and artist participation to new productions of “All My Children” and “One Life to Live.” So now that word broke that Prospect Park is re-rebooting both soaps for the web in 2013, we felt it was a great opportunity to check on the status of this endeavor.
From “Cold Spring” to “Prosecuting Casey Anthony,” former soap stars Marisa Ramirez (“General Hospital”), Sam Page (“All My Children”), Patrick Muldoon (“Days of our Lives,” “Melrose Place”), Aiden Turner (“All My Children”), Elizabeth Rohm (“One Life to Live”), Sean Patrick Flannery (“The Young and the Restless”) and Scott Evans (“One Life to Live”) will grace the Lifetime movie screens this month as the group of actors help tell the networks tradition of stories involving stalkings, affairs and murder.