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
Please, please do NOT remove my soap from the air! I love my friends in Pine Valley and would be lost without them! Help!!!!!
Posted by: Beverly | April 20, 2011 at 10:13 AM
I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU ARE DOING THIS--THE TWO NEW SHOWS ARE
STUPID, I CAN WATCH FOOD SHOWS ON THE FOOD CHANNEL. I HAVE
BEEN WATCHING AMC FOR MANY YEARS AND NOW SAD TO SAY I WILL NOT WATCH ANYTHING ON ABC ANY LONGER.........
Posted by: sandy bohm | April 20, 2011 at 11:38 AM
Boycotting the new shows?yes.One life to live was my favorite show until they killed Marty's baby on the show,to give Natalie a baby.A real man would have consoled the woman that had just lost his child,but not john.They also killed Angie& Jesse's baby.The first African-American babythat was to be born for a very long time Then you turn around and kill Jason&Elizabeth's child.Even with their flaws,we still don't need any more cooking,talk,or exercising to lose weight shows.KEEP ALL MY CHILDREN &ONE LIFE TO LIVE on!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: shantea | April 20, 2011 at 10:36 PM
I am very unhappy about the cancelling of your to main soaps I been wathing since high school I am now 50 and disabled and watch everyday it very dissappointing an other stupid coooking or reality make over there is enough on already. A devoted fan
Posted by: karen mann | April 21, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Brian Frons keeps saying that the new shows are inspired by the view. The view didn't replace 2 very good soaps. So people were willing to watch the view. All you've done is put some fluff shows on. I can watch these same type of shows on food network, the cooking channel and lifestyle. You'll be lucky if these shows make it to season 2. Lets fire Brian Frons for getting rid of All My Children and One Life to Live. Those are the shows we want to watch.
Posted by: Not Happy | April 24, 2011 at 08:12 PM
If channel 7 cancels the soaps I will never watch another program on channel 7 again for as long as I live and I will also tell all my friends and family to do the same and everyone I come into contact with. I also work reatil and see amny people a day so channel 7 watch out! You are making a huge mistake!!!!
Posted by: Kimberly Chappell | April 26, 2011 at 10:07 AM
WHAT!!!! I was so shocked to hear this news!! I LOVE ONE LIFE TO LIVE!!! I record every episode and watch it when I come home. I can promise you I will NOT watch your new shows EVER!!! Please reconsider this disastrous mistake.
Posted by: Michelle Thompson | April 26, 2011 at 08:32 PM
I have been a long time fan. When I was little I use to watch the soaps with the maid and then sometimes I would stay out of school to catch up! I have watched since the late 60's and early 70's. Now that we have soap net I watch at night because I do not enjoy reality tv. I think this is an outrage! I AGREE WITH EVERYONE WRITING! THIS IS SO WRONG ON SO MANY LEVELS I DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN! YOU ARE MAKING A BIG BIG MISTAKE!!! WE HAVE GROWN WITH THE PEOPLE ON THE SOAPS HOW CAN YOU DO THIS IT IS JUST TWO HOURS A DAY! WHAT IS THE HARM TO BRING PLEASURE TO SOME PEOPLE FOR A SMALL PORTION OF THE DAY!!!
Posted by: Loren | April 27, 2011 at 08:27 AM
As a fan of OLTL from the very beginning and watching stars such as Ryan Phillipe and Tommy Lee Jones get their start on this show, all I have to say is PTOOEY to all that made this decision !! Get real people---food and "health" shows are a dime a dozen on cable TV, but these soap operas are our families. Time for a good old fashioned boycott of ABC until they realize the folly of their ways !!
Posted by: poozcat | April 27, 2011 at 07:28 PM
This is horrible. There is no way i will ever watch the two new shows. I have been a fan of All My Children and One Life To Live since I was a little girl. ABC you are making a huge mistake. Your ratings are gonna go down the drain.
Posted by: Telinda | April 28, 2011 at 11:18 PM
Please don't cancel One Life To Live. All My Children sucks and it can go just not One Life. I love watching One Life To Live to escape reality. The show has really gotten good, and the storylines are amazing. ABC is going down. Their has to be a miracle, and another network pick up One Life To Live. I'm sure CBS or Nbc would love to have it. One Life To Live has got to stay.
Posted by: Timothy Burtlow | April 29, 2011 at 09:40 AM
I'm done with ABC if they don't reconsider and bring One Life To Live back.
Posted by: Timothy Burtlow | April 29, 2011 at 09:41 AM
I am sooooo upset that ALL My Children will no longer be! I have watched All My Children since the 9th grade and I am in my 50's now. All My Children is the one thing that I look forward to watching every M-F!! Please please reconsider!!! I will not watch ABC anymore! I feel fusterated that you are taking my All My Children away from me!!!!!!!! Your ABC ratings will suffer! I will miss you--All My Children!!! What will I do without Erica Kane? Please, please, please, someone come to me rescue and sve my show!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Jody Rice | May 01, 2011 at 01:08 PM
You both lost viewer because of the way the ladies would dress and reveil theirselfs. when you have children,it is had to have them sit there with you. Let the viewers use thier inmagetion on some of that stuff. not everone wants to see the women breast sticking out. Alot of people who warched rhe show is saying this and thats why they stop watching them.
Posted by: ann finney | May 01, 2011 at 05:21 PM
Sometime those who think they know don't know what is best for tv, they has it right years ago when they decide to put soap opera on tv doing the day time for the stay at home mom or whoever,day time soap is tradiction and it is alway a mistake when you change tradiction because you alway got those who look forward for what they are uses to, and when you change tradiction yes we move on but not to what you want us to move on to, 9 out of 10 move on to something that have nothing to do will you because we are mad that you took our tradiction away, don't change ABC DAY TIME SOAP its tradiction.
Posted by: antman | May 01, 2011 at 05:22 PM
I am a longtime viewer of ANC andto have to say goodbye just about tears me up.I do nt undrstand why its necessary to pull the plug on our favorite program. I ve watched this show since its first show Go to sch As m in the hospitsl (3) and come home to watch AMC.You have thousands of people who watch AMC. Iam in the hosp (2Yrs) and I could give you a list of old folks who live to see Ericka everyday. Please think again before you cancell ou r FAMILY. thsnk you vicki dickerson
Posted by: Vicki Dickerson | May 02, 2011 at 12:22 AM
y the way, thank u for such wonderful programs. I only pray u wont cancel our FAMILY.
Posted by: Vicki Dickerson | May 02, 2011 at 12:26 AM
By the way we lve everybody on that show andwe hope that if it hsd to lesve thst everything will turn out the way we are hoping iy will. Please bring Zack back and let Erica and avck marry. I have to qoit now, or ll be writting the rest of ur scriptsn. thsnk you icki Dickerspn
Posted by: Vicki Dickerson | May 02, 2011 at 12:36 AM
This is "All Kinds of Wrong". I still can't believe All My Children is going to be canceled! I enjoyed the story line and wish there could be a way to save the show. However, at this point, I'm really very bored with Erica's abduction. Please get on with it. Ridiculous!!!! ABC is WRONG.
AMC Fan
Posted by: Karen | May 02, 2011 at 12:07 PM
ABC is on my list...you know which list. All My Children is my favorite soap. At this time, however, the Erica story line is BORING. The abduction needs to end...now PLEASE??
Posted by: Karen | May 02, 2011 at 12:13 PM