OLTL spin-off?

[Scotty]

I know there were rumors back last year prior to the Writer's Strike that OLTL may be the second ABC soap to get a primetime SOAPnet spin-off, and that the strike placed those plans on hold.

Then I ran across this today...

Link: http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6579426.html

[Tishy]

Did you all hear that big thud? I just fainted with joy.

As long as RC writes it, I will be happy

[Juliajms]

I hope this happens.

[Khan]

I've got an idea: why not use Moe and Noelle as the launch-pad for a new series centered on the regulars at the Bonjour Cafe? It would be a sort of comedy/soap opera hybrid, like "Cheers"-meets-"Alice".

Another idea: if Michael and Marcie end up with custody of Starr and Cole's baby, the new family could move to a new location - say, Philadelphia - and be the centerpiece of a new show revolving around young, married couples.

[dragonflies]

I wonder who'd be in a spin off?

Most likely Tess, or John

[evermore]

It would be fabulous if they created a spinoff centered around the Vega diner and the show were so successful that Kamar and David had to quit OLTL so they could pour all their effort into that

Otherwise, keep everyone else in place, please. And put Ilene & Kat back on contract

[AddictedToSoaps]

As long as RC is writing it, I don't care what it's about.

[EricMontreal22]

I thought the primetime shows usually ahd diff writers? Did Guza write both Nightshifts?

[RobynIsHere]

Guza did the first Night Shift but they've hired a new writer for Season 2.

[jcar03]

Guza was the writer for the first season of Night Shift but they have a different writer for the second.

One think I worry about is a writer being stretched to thin. A daytime serial is already a huge time commitment then add a primetime show on to that the quality on both shows might go down.

[DavidEvanSmith]

Here's my two best ideas:

LIFE BEYOND LLANVIEW

Regular Cast: Tina, Cain, David Vickers the Dog

Semi-Regular Cast: Sarah, CJ

Financial Angle: Cheap to produce, using little studio time as most scenes shot on location as Tina and Cain travel the country seeking money and power. Small regular cast, minimal need for continuity with OLTL.

Premise: Spin Tina and Cain into their own series, where it follows their adventures and exploits in their efforts to strike it rich. Along the way, they run into people they've wronged in the past who keep foiling their plans in the present (this dethroning by Carlo Hesser being the first in a trend for the hapless duo). Other past enemies who come into play: True love Cord Roberts, Pamela Stuart (Tina convinced Pamela to con Asa into marriage), Con man ex-husband David Vickers, Evangelist ex-wife of Cain's -- Angela Holliday (now running the Tabernacle of Hope), Jill Larson back as Ursula Blackwell, an embittered Kate Sanders played by Marcia Cross (!) working with Jamie Sanders (another Tina arch-enemy), Tonja Walker as Alex Olanov, James DePaiva as Max Holden (friend or foe?), Kassie DePaiva's Blair, Robert S. Woods as Patrick London ("Faux Bo") not-so-dead after all!, perhaps Karen Witter or Krista Tesreau in new supporting roles...

Of course Justis Bolding could hold a supporting role as Sarah keeps getting sucked into her mother's schemes, willingly or unwillingly, and they could cast a hunky young actor as a grown CJ, kicked out of the military because they discovered he was gay. Guest appearances by Erika Slezak, Jerry verDorn, Melissa Archer, Bree Williamson, Robin Strasser.

Future Potential: Could return any of the guest stars to the regular OLTL series, and could establish CJ Roberts to be absorbed into the regular OLTL. CJ could have served in battle with Brody Lovett as well. The series could lead Tina and Cain back to Llanview by the finale, or leave it open-ended to do a second season on location if the show proved popular.

LLANVIEW PD

Regular Cast: Bo, Rex, John, Talia, Antonio, Michael, Marcie, Sophia, Carlo

Financial Angle: Costs kept down because of using the same LPD sets and going on location for crime scenes and investigations. Minimal need for continuity with main OLTL because this would focus on the characters' work lives, and only needs casual mention of the personal issues taking place on OLTL. Spotlights OLTL "stars" like Bo, Rex, John, and Antonio, much like GH: Night Shift spotlighted Robin, Patrick, and Jason.

Premise: In this crime melodrama, Bo resumes his job as Police Commissioner (Ramsey IS dead, after all), and the series follows the exploits of the Llanview Police Department, featuring Antonio, John, and Talia. Carlo Hesser could lead as the main villain that most crimes and criminals will lead back to, culminating in a tense standoff between Carlo and daughter Talia. Other opportunities would be a case that takes Antonio to another city, where he runs into ex-wife Andy Harrison (Max's sister), who is working the case in her current hometown. Charissa Cree Chamorro could return as Sophia Pellegrino, who returned to active duty on the force after recovering from her back injury (that took her off OLTL years ago). Michael McBain can consult on autopsies as Medical Examiner. Maybe Marcie can return to her work as receptionist at the police station. John and Michael are stunned when a nightclub in Atlantic City links their mother Eve McBain (who dated Bo, didn't she?) to murder. We learn Eve had an affair with Carlo Hesser at one point during her marriage and Michael may be a Hesser. (John and Talia would share a brother!) Rex also featured working as a private investigator independent from the LPD, but getting wrapped up in all the same cases, and keeping the Bo/Rex friendship alive.

Guest appearances by Erika Slezak, Catherine Hickland, Hillary B. Smith, Ilene Kristen, Farah Fath, Trevor St. John, Susan Haskell, Wendee Pratt.

Future Potential: Could bring Sophia back to the regular OLTL series, since she was fairly popular. Crime dramas are pretty popular, and it capitalizes and expands on generally popular characters and actors from OLTL. With GH: Night Shift capitalizing on the medical drama feel of ER/Grey's Anatomy/House, this spinoff series would capitalize on the crime drama feel of Law & Order/CSI.

[dragonflies]

I think it might be too much on RC to write OLTL and then a spin-off. I agree about stretching one's self too thin.

[ReddFoxx]

A spinoff involving the Banner or the Sun might work, there isn't a newspaper drama on television right now, so it would be something a little different.

[DavidEvanSmith]

I was thinking about that, but how much drama can come from a newspaper drama? The newspapers are only as dramatic as the town they're writing about, so I didn't think it had much potential. But the upside to it would be a soap focusing on Viki (for The Banner) and Todd (for The Sun).

[EricMontreal22]

When this was first rumoured I thought they were working the PD to be the spin off