What Do You Think of Oprah Airing AMC and OLTL Episodes on OWN?

Oprah has certainly changed her tune from the two-minute YouTube video she made two years ago titled, "Why Oprah Can't Save the Soap Operas," (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc23W861mKI).  The video began a backlash Oprah and OWN were ill-prepared.  In a major turnaround, Oprah released a thirty-second video this week titled, "Oprah's Summer Fling with All My Children and One Life to Live on OWN," (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY9e8OYifMs&feature=youtu.be).  In the newest video, Oprah tells the world that she heard soap fans and is going to be airing a limited (40-episode) "fling" this Summer of the newly produced, back-from-the-dead, All My Children and One Life to Live.  

In the video she announces the return with all the gusto of a true soap fan.  But her announcement and gusto leave some soap fans elated and some bitter.  It also leaves open-ended questions about the future of the shows after the "fling" is over.

The forty episodes will be the first forty relaunched episodes produced by The Online Network (TOLN) (http://theonlinenetwork.com) and aired on Hulu (http://www.hulu.com/all-my-children) (http://www.hulu.com/one-life-to-live) and iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/all-my-children/id621724634) (https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/one-life-to-live/id621724081).  The big question on everyone's mind is, what happens after the "fling," is over?  Do viewers just get left hanging without OWN or network access to the continuing content?  ... or do the two shows become part of OWN or another network's regular programming lineup at that point?  Only time and TOLN will tell.

Response in the soap fan community, although generally positive, has been somewhat mixed.  Some have accused Oprah of jumping on the bandwagon after everyone else's hard work to bring the shows back.  Well of course she is - she is a businesswoman.  

For many soap fans it was very disappointing to watch the condescending manner with which Oprah handled the pleas of fans two years ago.  It lead to my writing a CNN iReport, "Oprah Has Her Own," (http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-594848).

However, time has passed and apparently Oprah has seen the light and the financial benefit of testing the soap opera waters of airing All My Children and One Life to Live on a limited basis.  It is a great deal less costly for OWN to license the forty episodes from The Online Network (TOLN) than to produce them.  It is also less costly and risky to air a limited amount of episodes and test the waters versus entering into a long-term commitment with the shows to air in a regularly schedule time slot at this time.

For All My Children, One Life to Live, and soap fans, this can be nothing but good news.  It is an opportunity for the shows to gain widespread viewership on a cable network channel, provide the opportunity for viewers who are not online to get to see and sample the shows (if they get OWN  through their cable service provide and tier of service), provide added revenue for both shows that can be reinvested for future production, and be a measurement of the feasibility of the shows being profitable on a cable network.

The bottom line is if a fan of the shows gets OWN and watches the shows this summer on the OWN channel it can only help strengthen chances that the shows will continue production and fans will be able to continue visiting Pine Valley and Llanview online and hopefully on a network for a long time to come.  The greatest strength of every soap fan is their viewership.

What do you think?

What Did You Think of the First Week of the AMC and OLTL Relaunches?

We Did It!

I am over the moon with joy to see our beloved shows, families, and towns back with us four days a week! I also really enjoyed the recap where it is a chance to see other All My Children (AMC) and One Life to Live (OLTL) related content. Would I like to see the shows for an hour versus half an hour? Of course – if you are a fan you can never get enough of the shows, but I am very happily enjoying the half hour a day we have of them! Are they the same shows that left ABC? No, but they could have just as easily not returned at all or returned completely unrecognizable so I am thrilled for my combined hour a day I get to visit Pine Valley and Llanview.  How about you?

All My Children

Hulu – All My Children - http://www.hulu.com/all-my-children

iTunes – Search TV Shows for All My Children

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/AllMyChildren

Twitter - http://twitter.com/allmychildren

Instagram -http://instagram.com/allmychildren

You can write to AMC actors at:

c/o All My Children

P.O. Box 110236

Stamford, CT 06911

One Life to Live

Hulu – One Life to Live - http://www.hulu.com/one-life-to-live

iTunes – Search TV Shows for One Life to Live

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/OneLifeToLive

Twitter - http://twitter.com/onelifetolive

Instagram - http://instagram.com/onelifetolive

You can write to OLTL actors at:

One Life To Live

P.O. Box 110237

Stamford, CT 06911

Hulu

Hulu - http://www.hulu.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hulu?fref=ts

Twitter - @soapsonhulu

The Online Network

http://www.theonlinenetwork.com/

Twitter - @TOLN

YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/tolnsoaps

What Will It Mean When You Have All My Children and One Life to Live Back In Your Life?

For me, seeing AMC and OLTL again means shear joy. It means a victory where at times it seemed impossible there would be one. It means a miracle.

When I think of actually being able to sit down again day after day and visit Pine Valley, Llanview, and my soap families, it means a time in my day when I can temporarily find peace and completely escape from any worries, concerns, stress or anxiety life has. I can escape to familiar places, familiar faces, and watch stories of Pine Valley and Llanview life unfold, thread, weave, and zig-zag through my favorite families and characters. For me it means going home again no matter where I am.

How about you?

How Does AMC and OLTL Going Back Into Production Today Make You Feel?

There are so many feelings today – joy, happiness, amazement, victory, and a feeling of returning home. Knowing our beloved Pine Valley and Llanview are bustling with activity, stories, and characters once again is heartwarming for millions of fans.

How does the return to production of these two iconic shows make you feel?

If You Could Speak Privately to a Soap Opera Actor, Who Would It Be and What Would You Say?

Susan Lucci (Erica Kane - AMC), Roger Howarth (Todd Manning - OLTL), Finola Hughes (Anna Devane - GH)

All My Children

Susan Lucci (Erica Kane) – I would choose Susan Lucci who for me IS soap opera as AMC's Erica Kane. I would first say thank you for all of the years of incredible entertainment she has given me, my family, and her fans. Then I would ask her what, aside from family and her career, her greatest passion is and what is something she does for herself alone that brings her joy.

One Life to Live/General Hospital

Roger Howarth (Todd Manning) – I would choose Roger Howarth because he has such a wonderful presence and bright spirit.  I would say thank you to Roger for sharing his wonderful talent as an actor with his audience. Then I would ask him three things: 1) What moment stands out for him that brings him the most joy; 2) Where in the world can/does he go where he feels most at peace; and 3) paper or plastic? - just to hear his laughter.

General Hospital

Finola Hughes (Anna Devane) – I choose Finola Hughes because she is so full of grace and lights up a scene every time she is on camera. I would thank her for her impeccable work throughout the years and for being a role model and example of grace and integrity for women. Then I would ask her aside from her career and family, what brings her the most pleasure and why.

Who would you like to speak with and what would you say?

Where Would You Like to See the OLTL/GH Cross-Over Characters?

Roger Howarth - Todd Manning, Kristen Alderson - Starr Manning, Michael Easton - John McBain

Wouldn't the world be a lot simpler without lawyers in it?

If and when One Life To Live (OLTL) was resurrected, it was always going to come down to a legal bailiwick over the cross-over characters and actors (Roger Howarth – Todd Manning, Kristen Alderson – Starr Manning, and Michael Easton – John McBain) that were contracted to General Hospital (GH). If we take a step back and take our emotions out of things for a moment, it would make sense that these actors could not continue their roles at the moment on GH with OLTL preparing to ramp up for relaunch. Prospect Park (PP) would be remiss to their investors if they did not leverage the GH cross-overs to bring people to Llanview. However, beyond that, this does not mean much right now as we do not know what discussions or complications are involved.

It may be that legally, it is as simple as getting this straightened out and all parties to agree to an amicable arrangement. There is nothing that precludes the crossover characters from being based on OLTL but crossing over regularly to GH if details were agreed to by all parties - particularly the actors themselves. It would produce a win-win situation for both shows, bringing cross-over audiences to both, additional revenue for PP, and really no down side for either party as the more popular these characters, the more viewership for both shows. It would also mean more work, money, and exposure for the actors playing these roles if logistics were favorable for them.

It makes sense that PP would want these characters for the OLTL relaunch, especially with the momentum of fan interest they bring because of their exposure on GH. It would also make sense to let them cross back over to GH from time-to-time to reinforce that momentum and bring the GH audience along to Llanview when they are residing there and vice-versa.

In this world where lawyers are involved in every aspect and take home more than plaintiffs, defendents, and those they represent, it will likely take time to work out details. Perhaps as fans, our best course of action is to continue to support these characters, the actors, both shows, and let our voices be heard that we want to be able to see them in both Llanview and Port Charles on a regular basis - a win-win situation for GH, OLTL, PP, and the actors themselves, setting new precedence with a long-term cooperative agreement (if they so desire). It would also be a win-win situation for fans who would get to see these beloved characters twice as much in both Llanview and Port Charles.  There are no laws, certainly none set in stone that say this could not become a reality. 

As with all things soap opera, we will all have to stay tuned!  What do you think?

After Opening Credits What Would You Like to See on the First Relaunched Episodes of AMC and OLTL?

First, after opening credits, I would love to see a message from Agnes Nixon introducing the new era of each show.

There has been much debate on the Internet over whether the shows should pick up where they left off on Disney/ABC, whether they should begin anew, and what story lines should or should not be included in the relaunched shows. For me, I am completely thrilled that soap fans can have these discussions, debates, and banter – Viva AMC! Viva OLTL!

I am so thrilled about these shows coming back that it really doesn't matter to me what story lines they pursue as long as they are thoughtful, well-written, and stay true to Pine Valley, Llanview, and the original citizens in both towns. Of course ultimately the story lines will be very dependent on what actors Prospect Park secures for the relaunches, and some recasting will likely occur. I am hoping that Prospect Park recognizes that some of the characters in Pine Valley and Llanview are sacred and hope they do not try to recast these roles. Just because some actors many not be available or interested in joining these projects initially does not preclude them from being available or having interest as the shows have time to evolve and prove themselves to be the quality programming they once were.

What would you like to see after the open credits air in April?