ABC cancels 'All My Children' and 'One Life to Live'

 
Two classic ABC soap operas will soon meet their demise: "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" will air their final episodes in September 2011 and January 2012, respectively, leaving only "General Hospital" to survive them. No word yet on whether they'll rise from the dead, like "One Life to Live"'s Elijah Clarke, after being snuffed out.

Since it premiered in 1970, "All My Children" has received more than 30 Emmy Awards and made history by airing daytime TV's first same-sex kiss between two women as well as its first lesbian wedding and the first coming-out story for a transgender character.

The Emmy Award-winning "One Live to Live" has been on the air since 1968 and was among the first in daytime television to cover interracial romance, gang violence and teen pregnancy. The show made national headlines when it introduced a gay teen character (played by Ryan Phillippe) and was later honored by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

In place of the two soaps will be two new series, "The Chew," a food show co-hosted by Mario Batali set to premiere in September 2011, and "The Revolution" (working title), a makeover show hosted by Tim Gunn that focuses on "health and lifestyle transformations" that will make its debut in January 2012.

"While we are excited about our new shows and the shift in our business, I can't help but recognize how bittersweet the change is," said Brian Frons, president of daytime for Disney ABC/Television Group, in a statement.

Noting that the two new series were inspired by the success of "The View," Frons said, "We are taking this bold step to expand our business because viewers are looking for different types of programming these days. They are telling us there is room for informative, authentic and fun shows that are relatable, offer a wide variety of opinions and focus on 'real life' takeaways."

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--Melissa Maerz

Photo: Susan Lucci, left, and Alicia Minshew appear in an episode of "All My Children." Credit: Virginia Sherwood / ABC

Comments

[megann ritter]

i think that abc should have let the people decide rather or not to take them off the air! because we are the ones watching them and supporting them. what will abc do if these new shows are not a succcess? i believe that any networks should take a vote from the people before just cancelling shows !!

[Tabitha]

I have been watching these shows for many years! It saddens me to think that they will be replaced with boring shows. I really think ABC is making a mistake! Can't speak for everyone, but since your giving up on the show's that I love, I will STOP watching the network the day of the cancellations!

[Betty-Jo]

I will miss "One Life To Live" and have NO intention on watching the replacement show. I fee it is a HUGE mistake on the part of ABC:(

[Anna]

MY FAMILY AND I HAVE WATHCHED FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND ARE
TRULY SADDENED FOR US AND ALL OF ALL MY CHILDREN AND ONE
LIFE TO LIVE ACTORS/ACTRESSES AND STAFF. WE WILL NOT BE
WATHCHING THE NEW SHOWS THAT WILL REPLACE OUR FAVORITE
SOAPS. ABC YOU ARE A DISAPPOINTMENT!

[Shrea Kellums]

This is the most unnecessary thing to do. You always cancel great shows in the evening and now daytime TV. I guess I will get more done at home because I wont have the TV on. There will not be anything worth watching. I have watch ABC soaps for 30 something years. I am so disappointed in ABC again. It is becoming a habit with you ABC shame on you... KEEP OLTL AND AMC ON THE AIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ANNA]

I WAS A LITTLE GIRL WHEN MY FAMILY HAD AMC AND OLTL
ON EVERY SINGLE DAY. HOW COULD I NOT GET HOOKED AND
WATCH. I WAS BORN 1964 AND ITS BEEN APART OF MY LIFE.
I WILL NOT BE WATCHING THE NEW SHOWS AND AM VERY DISA-
PPOINTED WITH ABC.

[sandra coffman]

i dont think they should i luv the shows that wrong keep them on..

[solay]

Dont take it of the air. Please dont, its been on for so long wyh change now ? Put the new shows on at a different time or change the time the stories come on. please just dont take them off the air I watch them every day :"(

Please please please, DONT TAKE THEM AWAY FROM ME!!!

[Lisa Reynolds]

I am appalled!!!! I am a HUGE fan of OLTL and cannot believe the news!!!! I will remain a loyal GH fan but promise to boycott all other shows that ABC aires.

[angela curran]

BIG BIG MISTAKE! I too will not watch what they replace AMC or ONE LIFE TO LIVE WITH!!! who wants anthor food show? I have watched since my daughter was born 20years! Now my teenage girls watch! I have a BSN and am a working mother and still watch! Have you not heard of DVR??? I remember my grandmother used to Beta/VHS record every episode! THIS IS LIKE ONE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS DYING! get rid of Brian Frons! The only Chew I'll be watching is everyone "chew" on your butt Brian!

[Heather]

WHAT ARE YOU KINDING I HAVE BENN WATCHING THIS PROGRAMS WITH MY MOM SICE I WAS A LILLTE GIRL , GLUDING LIGHT NOW ALL MY CHILDREN WHATS NEXT GENERAL HOSIPTAL AND YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS WHEN DOES IT STOP!!!!! WHO WANTS THE SAME THING ON EVERY CHANNEL ANYWAYS RALY GUYS, LEAVE ARE PROGRAMS ALONE...

[Cindy]

I agree the story line for OLTL is at its best. Just what we need another makeover and food program. I will not be watching these shows I have had enough makeover and food channels. I rarely watch the ones on now.

[Karen Robison]

I have been in such a bad mood every since the annoucement!
Every day now I watch AMC and OLTL, I cry just because I am going to miss all the characters that I have grown up with. I just don't know what I will do during my lunch hour after Sept. I diffinently will not be watching another make-over show or a cooking show! I hope another network will take both these shows then my dilema will be over! These shows are icons to ABC, I just can't believe they would do this. BAD, BAD, ABC!

[Amy Replogle]

I have been watching All My Children for ages and love the show. It is hard to believe that this show and One Life o Live would be selected for cancellation since there are many other less worthy shows on daytime that are continuing, Maury, for one, is just trash about trash and is shown, not once, but twice a day where I am a viewer. I also think there are wayyyyyyyyyy too many court shows. And as for the new shows, who cares about another chef show or reality show. Not me. I for one will discontinue viewing ABC since it will no longer have anything I care to watch.

[Robert-Anthony Ruiz]

MY QUESTION IS...IS AMC REALLY GOING TO END OR WILL THEY HAVE WEB EPISODES OR WILL THEY CONTINUE ON SOAPNET?

[April Monroe]

I am a 38 yr old woman who grew up with All My children & One Life To Live. When i don't get to watch them I will tape them. I haven't missed one episode. I think they shouldn't cancel the shows.

[DAWN BARTEL]

i don't want to mario on as chef, get enough of him on the iron chef. who needs another food show?? realize these 2 soaps have become boring, but food show, come on. and why a show about transformation of looks and food, people don't care about that stuff anymore.

can't understand you people sticking us with more boring and disinteresting shows.

[Debbie Hill]

This is not right you just cant stop, i have been watching All My Childen sent i was a in high school.This is unaccetable.

[Teri Matuszak Griffith]

All my Children & One life to live is apart of my life ......40 yrs. It's been great to cry over there problems .....I would hope to see all the stars on Gen. Hosp. <3 I guess SOAP Ch. is the out for me ! & YOU ABC....... 12:00 - 1:00 is my shows . <3 you can always change your mind !!!! <3 All my Children & One life to live made YOU ABC ......... <3

[jenivieve]

http://abcnetworksucks.com/

go to it!