ABC/Ron TomLike so many soap opera characters, guess who's back from the dead?
After dumping them in favor of cheaper "informational" programming, ABC has licensed the rights to All My Children and One Life to Live to production company Prospect Park, which is planning to keep your favorite soap stars tangled up and doublecrossed indefinitely after their multidecade network runs come to an end.
So, where will fans be able to keep up with the deliciously melodramatic residents of Pine Valley and Llanview?
Online, of course!
Prospect Park has signed a multiyear, multiplatform deal that will ideally deliver the soaps to fans via online episodes and emerging platforms like Internet-enabled TV sets. More details—like a premiere date!—will be available as production gets under way.
There's no word yet on whether iconic soap stars like Susan Lucci and Erika Slezak are willing to take their talents to an even smaller screen, but...why not?!
"We believe that by continuing to produce the shows in their current hour format and with the same quality, viewers will follow the show to our new, online network," said Prospect Park heads Rich Frank and Jeff Kwatinetz.
Added Daytime Emmy winner Agnes Nixon, who created both soaps: "I'm just so happy that ABC found a home where the legacies of All My Children and One Life to Live'can continue. I'm excited for their future with Prospect Park."
"Together, we are a big family that keeps going, and I'm looking forward to working alongside these wonderful people as we ensure that the shows will continue with all the love and excitement we've always had. I also am so happy for our loyal fans, whom we love so much, and who have been so supportive over the last 40 plus years."
ABC airs All My Children's final episode on Sept. 23, while One Life to Live is scheduled to sign off in January.