AMC: Daytime Confidential confirming production moving to LA

[Carolyn1980]

I don't know whether they are bound by contract to move to L.A., but I think that there are more than a few actors on AMC who ABC would gladly let out of their contracts if they balked at moving from New York, including David Canary, Michael Knight, and even Susan Lucci (although they might try to get her to make some guest appearances).

[Carolyn1980]

From The Hollywood Reporter (not much new, although they say Aisha's talk show is planned for ABC's daytime line-up, should it be picked up:

ABC shuffles soaps

'All My Children' production moving from N.Y. to L.A.

By Nellie Andreeva

Aug 4, 2009, 11:32 PM ET

ABC Daytime on Tuesday said that production of "All My Children" will move from New York to Los Angeles and that "One Life to Live" would move into "All My Children's" former New York space.

"All My Children's" new facility is twice as large as its current one. It includes two stages, allows for more standing sets and for an immediate switch to high-definition TV.

"One Life to Live" also will expand as its new home is 30% larger than its current space.

"All My Children" will relocate in December. It will begin taping episodes in Los Angeles the week of Jan. 4, 2010, and will begin airing in HD in February. The move of "One Life To Live" to its new home will take place soon after "All My Children" relocates.

"The move to Los Angeles enables both 'All My Children' and 'One Life to Live' to dramatically improve the series production models and achieve significant efficiencies while enhancing each show," said Brian Frons, president of the daytime for Disney ABC Television Group. "We had to examine every option on the table to combat the current economic realities, and rising costs of production, and we are doing it in a way that makes each of our shows stronger."

"All My Children" has been on the air for 39 years, "One Life to Life" for 41. "All My Children" airs every workday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., with "One Life to Live" following from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Once a staple of daytime programming, soaps have hit rough times.

Earlier this year, CBS canceled "The Guiding Light" after a 72-year-run, replacing it with a new version of game show "Let's Make a Deal."

ABC too has been exploring other options for its current afternoon block of three daytime dramas, including a pilot for a talk show hosted by Aisha Tyler.

[Southofnowhere]

La Lucci makes most of her income from selling her products so my guess is she'll make the move in order to stay in the pbulic eye and be able to sell more products.

[EricaKane70]

^^^She won't make the move but she'll make the appearances aka recurring. I really don't see her making this move.

[Jonathan]

This is just too crazy. I would love to know what each of the cast members are thinking and feeling right now.

[Carolyn1980]

More random tweets about AMC move:

@ericgarcetti (Eric Garcetti) All My Children coming back to LA! We have been working hard to bring production back & this is great. It will be in CD13-Glassell Park!

@krisalderson (Kristen Alderson) I can't imagine what it's like for everyone at AMC to hear that they have to move to LA in December or they're out of a job. SO SCARY! but I hope it's a positive move for all of them! Everything happens for a reason. I'm glad we aren't moving to LA but moving down the street. even moving down the street, we might lose people in our crew. I really hope we don't or it's going to be SOOO SAD!!

@MicheleValJean (Michele Val Jean) Must say - glad to see ABC thinking outside the cancellation box.

[All My Shadows]

I bet SuLu will just go recurring. That way she's off the show while still being on the show. Something changes, but not really.

Epic fail.

[Scryber96]

I think that was due more to a drop in script quality than any noticeable change in production values.

[Jonathan]

I can see her making this move or at least living bi-coastally. NY will forever be her home but she likes LA too, I'm sure. I don't know what ABC's plans are. Erica Kane and All My Children are so strongly tied together. One existing without the other is just hard to imagine.

This really scares me. I don't want to be watching a different show come January.

Do you think Debbi and Darnell would make the move?

Jamie Luner definitely.

Alicia Minshew?

This is a nightmare. How do you write a show knowing that you may well lose more than half of your characters?

[Kubla Khan]

I think Debbi was living in LA before she came back to AMC.

I think Darnell will move easily.

I think AM will move.

[AddictedToSoaps]

Haven't posted here in a while, but I've kept up with things. I didn't believe this when the rumors about it started, so I'm pretty shocked by this. It certainly will be interesting to see who stays and who goes. I am looking forward to HD though.

[CSF]

wow, after getting through all 11 pages, I have some things I'd like to add.

First, I'm pretty sure that Lucci, DC, MEK, Walt Willy, Ray McD all invested their money wisely over the years and can probably continue to live a very palatial life without having to continue on with AMC when it moves to LA. If they didn't manage their pay checks wisely, then that sucks for them.

Whether or not this is a success for AMC, the fault and blame will be with ABC for the poor choice they made over the years at this iconic show. Even if the entire cast moves to LA and the show is airing in HD, if the writing doesn't improve, then it won't mean sh!t.

Like many other's have said, if these people want to continue to be employed, then they need to make that move. If not, tough luck. If some actor's can't make it, well there is nothing that could be done for them. It is said that this is happening because if ABC did things right, AMC wouldn't be in this state. However, this could turn out to be something good for the show and if it works, who knows, OLTL could make the move to LA as well and be a success.

Nothing lasts for ever.

Lastly, I am one of the many who cannot stand Pratt, and I'm proud to say it!

[Kubla Khan]

Walt Willey's family is based in New Mexico - so, if ABC decides they want to keep him, he'll definitely be on board for the move.

Ray MacDonnell makes one, or two, appearances a month, if we're lucky. He could simply fly out to LA when they need him. And, I know this is huge wishful thinking (and it probably won't happen), but maybe we'll see more Ruth - since Lee Meriwether is based in LA!

[CSF]

This just occurred to me. I'm sure all of their contracts at AMC are with ABC, but wouldn't all of their contracts become null and void with the production changing coasts? Wouldn't their contracts consists of figures that abide by NY state tax laws and as well as other laws regarding working in the state of NY? Making changes to a contract would have to start it all over again. If their contracts state that relocation is likely, then there would be no need to have a meeting on the set tomorrow about the show moving to LA as everyone would have already been under that agreement when they signed with the show. Anyone know about this?

[Kubla Khan]

They had a meeting because this is quite a significant event that would require significant discussion, regardless of what the actors are contractually obligated to do. What were they to do, not have a meeting? Just randomly pass the actors in the hall? "Hey Susan, we're moving to LA, but you're still under contract with us, so see you in the Golden State! Talk later, and by the way, tell Walt and Michael, too! kthanxbye!" ???