OLTL & AMC 2.0 - They're Almost Here!

Next month, former ABC Daytime dramas All My Children and One Life to Live will go back into production after being off the air for over a year. They will have a new home, though - the internet.

But let's back up a little bit.

To fully understand where we are today, you'll need to understand where we were nearly two years ago.

April 14, 2011. I had just finished watching OLTL and was now watching General Hospital. It was a little after 3pm. I was also on my computer. I frequently check the news at soapcentral.com, but when I went there on this day, I read some of the most awful entertainment-related news I had ever read. Two of my favorite daytime dramas, AMC and OLTL, had both been canceled. Rumors had been floating that perhaps one of them would be canceled, but both of them? On the same day? It was unreal.

Over the next few months, a large group of soap fans (including myself) banded together to save our soaps. I wrote e-mails to many people during that time, including the head of ABC and the head of NBC (we thought perhaps these shows could find a new home at NBC). I also hand wrote a letter to my favorite actor on OLTL, Jerry verDorn, and he sent a letter back encouraging me not to give up and to keep fighting for OLTL (I've included a picture of the letter he sent me below).

July 7, 2011. I was in West Virginia for my family reunion. I was in the hotel room when I read unbelievable news - ABC had sold the rights of AMC and OLTL to a company called Prospect Park. I had never heard of them at that time. Both shows would be brought back - on the internet. I was shocked and I was thrilled.

Over the next few months, 13 actors from OLTL signed contracts with Prospect Park. Only two actors from AMC signed contracts.

September 23, 2011: AMC finale airs on ABC and ends with multiple cliffhangers.

November 10, 2011. Prospect Parks decides to drop AMC from its plan and just focus on OLTL. I was upset, but my thought at the time was "if I can only have one of them, I want OLTL."

November 23, 2011. Plans to relaunch OLTL are abandoned due to problems with funding. This was an awful day. It felt like "Black Thursday" (April 14, 2011) all over again.

January 13, 2012. OLTL finale airs on ABC and ends with multiple cliffhangers.

December 17, 2012. My younger sister's ninth birthday. Little did I know, I'd be getting a present as well. Revival plans for both shows were back on. At first, I didn't want to get too excited. I didn't want to be disappointed for a third time.

But then things started happening. Fast. Which leads us to today.

As of today:

• Studio space in Stamford, CT has been secured
• Prospect Park has made deals with SAG-AFTRA and DGA
• Five AMC actors and two OLTL actors have signed contracts (with many more in talks)
• New executive producers for both AMC and OLTL have been named
• New head writers for OLTL have been named
• Creator of both shows, Agnes Nixon, will be a consultant

I almost can't believe this is happening, but I am very much looking forward to it. The development of these two enduring dramas into a new medium will be my main focus when blogging and tweeting. It's one thing for a show to start off as a web series, but to be on television for over 40 years and then transition to a web series? That's unheard of until now. I hope to be able to report lots of good news and progress in the coming weeks and months. I can't have another Black Thursday!

-Kari