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."

RELATED:

Jobs will go down drain with cancellation of ABC soaps

'All My Children' getting the ax? Help us dream up how our favorites make their exit

ABC finds man for Tori Spelling and is developing show for Food Network's Danny Boome

--Melissa Maerz

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

Comments

[Linda Passantino]

Hello, I have watched OLTL since the beginning, taking a year or so off when I went to work full time, in the days before VCR's. I can't believe it is being cancelled and replaced by a "makeover" show. There are plenty of makeover shows on TV (maybe not channel 7), and I DOUBT that the OLTL audience will be tuning in. Oprah is going off, why not use her spot? This doesn't make any sense!!!!! Very unhappy!!!!! Linda Passantino, Bay Shore NY

[Beth Miller]

I'm 50 yrs old and have been watching since the beginning...I;ve watched people grow up on these shows... I wont be tuning in to ANOTHER food channel...just what americans need...more ways to eat!!!! I'm shocked and !!

[Michele Anderson]

Another network needs to scoop in and grab AMC and OLTL pronto. All the fans will flock to the other channel and bury the new shows. Just because a show is canceled doesn't mean it's over, right?

[Joanne]

wow... dont we have enough of that lifestyle programs on cable?? why mess with the soaps!! is it possible another network or cable company will take over the production of these soaps!!

guess I will have to go online and look for past years episodes...

[TINA]

i cant believe this going happen, what wrong with everyone. i been watching all my childern and one life to live and general hospatil since i was little sitting on my grandmother lap/ man with everything happening in the world we had ours soap too trun too. me and alots of others live and breath soap poper. everyone i know record them are watch soapnet too catch up on the show, pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. keep ours soap on air all of them. i cant believe this, what about ours vote, are do it count. well good bye abc all show on abc off my list.let us keep some part of what makes ours day inportance,

[Laura]

Brian Frons is an idiot. If I want food shows I can watch the Food Network and there are health and "lifestyle" shows on all 700 channels on cable. AMC and OLTL were the last shows worth watching on ABC. The entire network just lost another viewer. The View appeals to the lowest of the low of our society, I guess that is ABC's target audience.

[Judy Price]

How can you do this? There are too many food shows on now.

I won't watch any of them.

Shame on you people... putting all thjoses people out of work.

[Leonara]

I will be so lost when we lose these shows because my grandmother and mother watched these same shows. I hope that before they end that Kendall will flat iron her hair at least once because her hair style has truly gotten old.

[pegw]

Both would loose their best people and replace them with really weird people and then you have Bianca character go really overboard with her sweetie. It is OK to be that way, I just don't want to watch. I would like to see the character John go to General Hospital but for heavens sake keep the character Natalie away from him. She just does not fit with John. The lady that played Cole's Mother(with the dark hair) is the woman that went best with him.

[Jodie]

Don't cancel One Life To Live. The story line is very good now. Keep it on the air. We have enough cooking/food & health channels on cable already. With all the crazy things going on in the world, why can't we enjoy a show or shows that takes us to another world that's not all killing, crime, police, hospital, scary shows? Even if some of that is included in soaps, we still see lifestyles that are different than real life. Seeing the clothes & hairstyles are fun to! Just because we work and can't watch during the daytime doesn't mean we don't have Tivo or Soapnet! Just watching the news is scary enough and I don't watch it at night because I have nightmares when I do so I end up watching cable old comedy reruns & SoapNet. Not watching the new shows you are going to have! Keep One Life To Live On!

[sherry]

I cant believe they are cancelling AMC & OLTL for another
cooking show. Dont you think we have enough cooking shows?

[Atlanta Roofing]

This makes me sad. I never watched 'One Life to Live' and was never a die hard 'All My Children' fan. I still remember how for many summers every day she made us lunch just before the show and all of us kids would sit and watch it with her while eating. It was an event for us every day. And as kids it gave us a way to tell time during the day. I'm glad both shows had a good, long run.

[janet jones]

JUST WHAT THE MOST OBESE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD NEEDS; ANOTHER FOOD SHOW! THIS IS THE WORST DECISION ABC HAS EVER MADE! SO MANY PEOPLE LOVE THESE SHOWS! ABC IS OBVIOUSLY OUT OF TOUCH WITH THEIR VIEWERS. IF YOU MUST TAKE SOMETHING OFF, PLEASE TAKE OFF "THE BACHELOR." I GUESS ABC IS THRILLED ABOUT THE IDEA OF LOSING ALL OF THEIR VIEWERS TO NBC & CBS BECAUSE THATS WHERE I'LL BE.

[BikAA]

Please do not cancel ANY of the ABC Daytime soaps. You've got to be crazy if you think that will be a better solution! As for me, If you cancel all of them, I will block them (using parental controls) and NEVER watch ABC again.

[gail]

how can you cancel these shows. what is the network thinking. if there are too many working people that can't watch these shows, how do you think they are going to watch lifestyle and food and nutrition shows. I am 70 years old and have survived this long with outsomeone telling me how to live my life or what i should eat. Thanks just had to vent my frustration.

[Doreen]

I am angry. I don't get much time to myself in the run of a day but I always try to sit and watch All My Children, even if I can't get in the whole show. I will not be watching some food show. There is enough of those on t.v if I am interested in that. You are going to loose a lot of faithful viewers ABC hope it is worth it to you!!!!!

[Annette Gilmer]

I have been a fan of All my Children for over 30 years now. Every summer, my Mom, sisters and I would watch All my Children. We looked forward to our 1pm get together in the living room. My favorite (of course) Eric Kane, but I loved Jessie & Angie. Growing up with them (I am now 44 years old) I laughed and cried with them. Then I grew up, had to go to school and work but watched whenever I could. I also had a sister fill me in every day as to what was going on in Pine Valley. Years went by, I was watching a show on soap opera channel and saw a preview about Jesse coming back and that was it. I had to run out a buy a DVR just so I would never miss another episode. My heart hearts to think that my friends at All my children will not be apart of my life any longer. I remeber watching the scene when Agnie was at the train station and was screaming Jesse's name, I was crying like a baby. My husband came in and thought something had happened. Well, it did, for me. I loved them like they are my family and my heart hurt to think that they may never get a chance to be together again. And do I really need to say anything about Eric except that if my son would have been a girl his name would have been Erica. Please! what can we as All my children fans do to keep our All my children family alive & well in Pine Valley? :(

[Patricia Humphrey]

Please don't take these soaps off the air. I will be lost without them.I'll not watch the new ones,as a lot of others won't either. You will lose a lot of viewers.

[Karen Seay]

Get rid of G.H. But at least keep O.L.T.L. It is the only good soap your network has. Please take into concideration all your loyal viewers. Yes all of us old ladies that plan our retirement around what is going on in Llanview. And to be honest when G.H. comes on its time to get busy again . This is a bad move on you part.

[Margaret Needham]

Why cancel " All My Children" for more reality shows. TV is full of them. Do the executives of ABC not listen to their viewers. Like politicians you guys just don't care!