'All My Children' and 'One Life to Live' Canceled by ABC

By AOL TV Editors Posted Apr 14th 2011 03:15PM

ABC has pulled the plug on its long-running soaps 'All My Children' and 'One Life to Live.'

According to the network, the final episode of 'All My Children' will air this September. 'One Life to Live' will air through January 2012. The network will replace the soaps with two new shows, 'The Chew' and 'The Revolution.'

"'All My Children' and 'One Life to Live' are iconic pieces of television that have made an indelible mark on our culture's history," Brian Frons, president of daytime at Disney ABC/Television Group, said in a statement. "Each of the shows has touched millions and millions of viewers and informed the social consciousness. It has been a privilege to work with the extraordinary teams who brought the residents of Pine Valley and Llanview to life each day, and we thank the cast, crew, producers and most especially the fans for their commitment to the shows through their history."

TV Squad first reported the 'All My Children' cancellation rumors in March. The show has been the home to Susan Lucci and her classic character Erica Kane for more than 30 years.

'General Hospital' will not be affected by ABC's daytime changes.

"We are taking this bold step to expand our business because viewers are looking for different types of programming these days," Fons said. "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."

Since its debut 41 years ago, 'All My Children' has been a launching ground for many stars, including Sarah Michelle Gellar and Amanda Seyfried. Recent Oscar-winner Melissa Leo also had a brief stint on the soap. 'AMC' has also been home to Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of the most familiar faces in TV. Lucci is the only original cast member still on the series.

Viewers will also remember Kelly Ripa as Hayley long before she became the co-host of 'Live! With Regis and Kelly.'

'One Life to Live' debuted as a half-hour show in 1968 before transforming into a full-fledged hour-long soap ten years later. The show broadcast its 10,000th episode in 2007. 'One Life to Live' has its own noted alumni too. Tommy Lee Jones, Dixie Carter, Judith Light, Marcia Cross and Ryan Phillippe all appeared on the soap.

Both shows were created by Agnes Nixon and take place in fictional towns modeled after Philadelphia suburbs.

"More than 40 years ago, Agnes Nixon created both the worlds of 'All My Children' and 'One Life to Live,' worlds that the rest of us have been privileged to live in," Frons said. "Her shows led the way forward, breaking a lot of rules along the way to defy expectations about what soaps can do and the issues they can cover. I am honored to have worked with her."

As for the new shows, Fons said, "[Audiences] 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. A perfect example of this is 'The View,' and that factored into our decision. 'The Chew' and 'The Revolution' are in the same vein and will be great additions to the lineup, with 'The View' serving as an ideal foundation from which to launch these programs. They will also provide enormous opportunity for the creation of ancillary businesses and growth."

Get more at TV Squad.

Tags: all my children, one life to live

Comments

(184)

Thursday 14 April

By moonbabe350

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Wow..............I grew up watching those soaps, I would go home for lunch from school to watch All my Children. As I grew up I watched all the ABC soaps starting with Ryans Hope and ending with General Hospital. All My Children was my favorite. I met Palmer and Donna at a mall in Illinios and had my picture taken with Trevor which I still have. I am in shock. What a shame.

By stu

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now u can eat a hamburger susie! she has as much talent as vanna white. stick to jewlery sweetheart.
The Talk rules!!!!!

By susan

I know. I grew up watching the whole afternoon of those shows starting with Ryans Hope and ending with General Hospital. I remember seeing and getting autographed pictures of Benny Sago and Greg Nelson and Jackson Montgomery years ago at a local mall.I am truly a saddened soap opera fan!!!

By bigD

I grew up watching Love In the Afternoon on ABC Daytime. That was their tag line. It's sad to see them abandon the fans and casts of these shows-- both at the same time. Ridiculous. Why didn't they cancel AMC and let its old viewers move to OLTL? Instead ABC didn't even give viewers a chance to react. And how could they trot out Susan Lucci all last week trying to convince everyone that AMC was in good stead with the network? That's sooooo unprofessional and disrespectful to her I think. I hope Oprah picks up OLTL for her network and puts Susan Lucci on it. I am done watching ABC. BOYCOTT ABC!

Friday 15 April

By bunsbestgirl

ABC lost me and my whole family when they cancelled Flash Forward, and now this! They don't really care about the viewers. We should all just cancel our TV subscriptions and get back to reading.

By Lily

Please say it ain't so there can never be any show to replace either one !!!! I would be so disappointed ! Please ABC change your mind !!!!!

By Kate

If ABC thinks we need another food show and talk show for daytime TV, they are sadly mistaken. If they want to take off my favorite daytime shows, it will be just as easy for me to find another channel to watch EVERY NIGHT, too. ABC has lost a viewer for good. What a ridiculous move to take off these shows and to continue General Hospital.

By vonda

I JUST SAW ON THE NEWS THAT ALL MY CHILDREN AND ONE LIFE TO LIVE ARE BEING CANCELED THAT IS SOOOO SAD, I GREW UP WATCHING THOSE SHOWS THEY WILL BE MISSED.... MY MOTHERS FAVORITE SHOW IS ONE LIVE TO LIFE.... ITS JUST SAD NEWS ALL AROUND...

By Cindi

HUGE mistake! AMC and OLTL are so much better then GH lately! Especially the way they deal with contemporary subjects - as a child counselor, Shane's struggles with bullying has been interesting and I've used it to draw kids into conversation about the subject - the same way I did with Bianca's sexual preference. Guess I can drop SoapNet from my satellite service since I don't like any of the others.

By richie

i think that the show should stay and get rid of the writers nad a few so called actors

By Ruth

Is there any way that a write in campaign could save these shows. I know that prime time has held off on cancelling shows when the viewers were heard. If someone knows how to start a campaign speak up now.

By Lisa Fehn

This is a total disgrace I watch both of these shows who the hell is going to watch these crappy shows you have lined up? ABC I am done with you and will not ever watch your station unless you keep these shows on the air.

By Anna

Now if only NBC would cancel Days Of Our Lives that would be awesome too!!

By joey

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apparently the people "in charge" @ ABC are retarded...just do like Days did a couple years ago...fire all the "BIG" stars that have been on the show too long anyways and just hire fresh new actors to replace them...i mean c'mon now that susan lucci is like 80 years old and trying to play "sexy" she looks like a skeleton with a BAD face lift....

By Sam

Screw you, About Days.....Keep it.....
That & The New & The restless

By MeLu

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About time! Now they need to cancel General Mobsters, I mean General Hospital. ABC ruined both AMC and OLTL over the last decade which caused viewers to walk away. The story lines simply are not fresh and the characters do things they wouldn't have done in the past. Whose fault lies with the decline on the ratings - the writers, directors and the shows' executives. They all should have been fired long ago.

By Sue

Love both shows but you can only take so much Nikki-Vikki, Jessica-Tess and now they are going to have new Todd-old Todd. Fire the writers keep the shows.

By suzy

OMG I'M NOT HAPPY WITH ABC RIGHT NOW. I'VE BEEN WATCHING THESE SOAPS FOR OVER 30 YEARS. I WILL NOT BE WATCHING THE NEW SHOWS THAT WILL REPLACE MY FAVORITE SOAP OPERA'S

By Julie

Say it isn't true! I've been watching soaps for over 30 years! I don't want to watch the View or any more news show! Bad move ABC!!!!

By joanjmak05

I am just beyoond words right now, how in the hell can ABC do this? It's such an outrage, I 've been a fan of the show since they were 1/2 hr. shows. What are they replacing? Reality shows that SUCK or another Talk show. I am just so heart broken over this.
ABC SUCKS BIG TIME.

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