What Is the Most Important Factor To the Successful Relaunch of AMC and OLTL?

The most important factor in the successful relaunch of All My Children and One Life to Live is their loyal fans.  Without them, there would be no relaunch.  It is their devotion to these beloved shows that kept the fires burning.  The fans' vigilance never let these stories die, even when it seemed impossible that they could be resurrected.

There are many elements that will ultimately factor into their continued success but two that stand out.  One is that the shows be available without fee and subscriptions.  While many fans will be happy to pay to see the shows, there are many more who simply cannot afford it and would be left behind by a pay-per-view model.  The other is the availability of the shows on television, either network or cable.  Although the future of the genre is online, on-demand viewing, there is a gap for many fans right now in making that transition.  Re-airing the shows on television, even with a time-delay, would only increase revenue and recapture that segment of the audience, further strengthening their chances of success.

What do you think?

What Story Line Would You Like to See in the AMC and OLTL Relaunches?

All My Children

I would love to see Tad Martin (Michael E Knight) become a lady's man again, Tad the Cad, showing that sexy is not mutually exclusive to young. I would love to see Dixie Cooney Martin (Cady McClain), Dr Cara Castillo (Lindsay Hartley), Crystal Carey (Bobbie Eakes) and Brooke English (Juia Barr) all take a romantic interest in Tad at the same time and allow Tad to go back to his Cad roots just for a little while. Who would I like to see him end up with? May the best ex win!

One Life to Live

I would love to see Tina Lord Roberts (Andrea Evans) come back to Llanview and stir up the kind of trouble only Tina could stir up. I would love to see her with a daughter we never knew about who is just as much a spitfire as Tina to stir the Llanview pot. That would be so delicious as she played off of the young, unsuspecting male Llanview characters.

… and it goes without saying I would LOVE to see Roxy Balsom (Ilene Kristen) champion Fraternity Row's return. I would also love to see Roxy in a serious, yet quirky (could there be any other kind with Roxy?) romantic relationship.

Which Soap Stars Are Critical to a Prospect Park AMC and OLTL Reboot Success?

All My Children

Susan Lucci (Erica Kane) is a MUST have for a successful reboot of AMC.  She is so identified with the soap and the soap with her that her being a part of AMC in the future is very important to me as a fan of the show.  While Walt Willey (Jackson Montgomery) would be great to see in Pine Valley again, I would like to see Erica in a fresh new exciting relationship.

Eden Riegel (Bianca Montgomery) would be a huge addition to the cast, especially in a meaningful, juicy, believable and loving relationship with someone.

Michael E Knight (Tad Martin) is also someone that would definitely raise my interest in the show.  He has always been a personal favorite, even when he was given little to work with.

Vincent Irizarry (Dr David Hayworth) the dastardly villain is someone that would help transition viewers from the old AMC to the new (kudos to Prospect Park for having the foresight to sign Vincent!) and is always a treat to see.  Lindsay Hartley (Dr Cara Castillo) and Jordi Vilasuso (Dr Griffin Castillo), would be great additions.  Their storylines, while relatively new to AMC, had potential for making them beloved long-term residents in Pine Valley, especially the pairing of Tad and Cara.

I would love to see Jill Larsen (Opal Cortland) return and would love to see her in a zany romantic relationship.  It would be a dream-come-true for David Canary (Adam/Stewart Chandler) to return as both Adam and Stewart.

Alicia Minshew (Kendall Hart Slater) and Thorsten Kaye (Zach Slater) would get my vote for the couple I would love to see reunited in Pine Valley again.  They had such chemistry!

It would be great to see Cady McClain (Dixie Martin) and Julia Barr (Brooke English) back in Pine Valley.  Their presence alone would take the show to new heights.

To be able to see all these familiar faces back in  Pine Valley again would be Heaven on Earth!

One Life to Live

Erika Slezak (Vicki Buchanan) is a MUST for a return to Llanview along with Jerry verDorn (Clint Buchanan).  Robin Strasser (Dorian Lord Vickers) needs to come back to her Llanview roots because she is just so delicious along with Tuc Watkins (David Vickers Buchanan) (again Kudos to Prospect Park for the rumored signing of this brilliant actor).

Shenell Edmonds (Destiny Evans) is the glue that holds Llanview together and according to rumors Prospect Park has had the foresight to snag this brilliant actress up for the relaunch.

Robert S Woods (Bo Buchanan) and Hillary B Smith (Nora Buchanan) are part of the meat and potatoes of Llanview.  Roger Howarth (Todd Manning), Florencia Lozano (Tea Delgado) (kudos again to Prospect Park), and Kassia DePaiva (Blair Cramer) are the special sauce that makes the brew delicious.

Tina Lord Roberts (Andrea Evans) would be a dream come true to see her back as a regular in Llanview getting into the kind of trouble only Tina can get into.  It would be great to see John Loprieno (Cord Roberts) back in Llanview doing what he does best - trying to keep up with Tina's escapades.

I watched OLTL back in the day of Tina and Cord and didn't watch again until the announcement of its cancellation so I missed out on some of the story arcs and brilliant performances along the way.  That being said, I would LOVE to see Catherine Hickland (Lindsay Rappaport) reprise her role as Lindsay and have a long-term home in Llanview where we could see her beautiful face regularly and watch her brew up havoc as only Lindsay can.  I also look forward to seeing Josh Kelly (Cutter Wentworth) and learning more about his history in Llanview.

I am sure I missed many characters who would only add more excitement and interest to these two iconic shows.  Who do you want to see back in Pine Valley and Llanview?

Which Cancelled Soap Opera Should Return to Production?

Anyone who knows me knows that of course my answer is All My Children.  I miss Pine Valley and all the characters in it.  However, I think my answer would have to be ALL cancelled soaps should return to production.  Soap operas are a form of entertainment that steps over the traditional boundaries of entertainment and into the realm of social education.  Soap operas educate viewers on social issues.  So many of us have learned social lessons from our stories that we carry into our real lives.  But, if we cannot have all the cancelled soaps returned to us, I would love to see All My Children again.

Which Soap Character Would You Like to See Return from the Dead?

Josh Duhamel as Leo du Pres

Soap:   All My Children

Character:  Leo du Pres

After All My Children's Leo du Pres (played by Josh Duhamel) went over the waterfall, we waited years for him to show back up on the show somehow.  I always thought he would be resurrected.  Now, it would be wonderful if All My Children were resurrected!

Which Soap Opera Couple Should Have Never Divorced?

Susan Lucci and David Canary as Erica Kane and Adam Chandler

Soap:  All My Children

Couple:  Adam and Erica

There have been many couples that have come together and then later divorced in Soapland.  The couple I felt should never have divorced was All My Children's Adam Chandler and Erica Kane.  They may have both had better mates, like Brooke English and Jackson Montgomery, but when Adam and Erica were together it was constant fireworks as they plotted and schemed and then made up with each other.

Where Is/Was the Best Soap Opera Place to Eat?

Erica Kane and Bianca Montgomery at the Valley Inn

Soap Opera: All My Children

Place to Eat:  Valley Inn

There have been many fine dining establishments in the cities of the soap opera world.  For me, the best was All My Children's Valley Inn.  The Valley Inn was an elegant setting with food that always looked... well... good enough to eat!  It was a great place to bump into the who's who of Pine Valley and the location of many a legendary cat fight.