Watched some of the classic AMC episodes on SOAPnet (I'm 2 months behind, in the beginning of May 2007). I loved New Beginning's so much. Was there a story behind why AMC got rid of Erica's talk show? I really think that was a mistake. I know it's been said before but Susan Lucci makes a GREAT talk show host & I could totally see her hosting a real one

From the May 1972 Daytime TV.

Ken Rabat (Paul Martin) was replaced by Bill Mooney, Feb. 11. Michael Shannon (Bill Hofmann) is not expected to return, and has popped up as Jim McCarren on Search for Tomorrow. Tom Rosqui began as Jason Maxwell on Feb. 2.

A few more things about AMC's 25th Anniversary:

From the January 15th, 1995 Los Angeles Times:

Unrepenting addicts of "All My Children" may find it hard to believe that a quarter century has passed since Phil Brent went missing in action in Vietnam. And those fans who followed his return to Pine Valley and felt his pain when he discovered Tara had married another, will relive that pain--with no small amount of nostalgia--on Sunday night.

ABC is airing "The All My Children 25th Anniversary Special," a retrospective of memorable story lines and popular characters that interweaves clips with reminiscences by past and present cast members, as well as fans. It is hosted by longtime devotee Carol Burnett, who has made three appearances on the soap.

Agnes Nixon, creator of "The Kids," stands by a motto that dates to the vaudeville era: "Make them laugh, make them cry, make them wait." Her philosophy has certainly paid off. On Jan. 5, the serial officially marked 25 years of keeping viewers glued to the goings-on in the lives of the Martins, Kanes, Tylers, Chandlers and other residents of Pine Valley, a fictional town in the Northeast. Generally rated second among the 10 daytime soaps, the show is No. 1 among the 18- to 49-year-old female demographic that advertisers so covet, and it counts males as 40% of its audience.

The show's longevity still "amazes" Nixon, who also created ABC's 27-year-old serial "One Life to Live." "I can't believe it--I thought about staying on the air 13 weeks!" she says with a laugh. When she wrote the original story line "bible" for the soap, she also could not envision the impact one particular character would have: the scheming yet vulnerable, much married but always looking for love Erica Kane, played by Susan Lucci.

"I think most writers write what interests them," Nixon says. "Erica afforded me, aside from her own character's foibles, a great plot generator, with (Erica's mother) Mona and (Mona's friend) Nick."

Lucci, who began playing Erica when her alter ego was a 14-year-old high school student, calls her "a character full of wonderful things. I've had a wonderful time playing her, and I'm still doing it because I love her. I really do."

The actress' favorite memories include glamorous modeling sequences, and a 13-page food fight between herself and David Canary as Adam Chandler, which required a day's work. On the other end of the emotions scale, when Frances Heflin, who played Erica's exasperated mother ("Oh, Erica, how could you?" was uttered time and again) died last year, Erica had to deal with Mona's passing.

"It was very gratifying to see how the audience related to that," Lucci says. "Erica came to terms with how much she loved Mona."

Through the years, Pine Valley nurse Ruth Martin (Mary Fickett), and devoted doctor-husband Joe have been the bedrocks of stability in town. "There has to be some core around which other people disintegrate and come together again," Fickett says. "If the place were in chaos all the time, you wouldn't have some place to bounce off of. They've had problems--Ruth was raped, and she had an affair--but viewers want to believe that there is a core."

The fact that even the virtuous Ruth was not immune from life dilemmas underscores Nixon's penchant for dramatizing social concerns. Fickett won her Emmy after her character, whose son was missing in action in Vietnam, delivered an anti-war speech. Other issues dealt with on the soap: abortion, prostitution, alcoholism, AIDS, mistreatment of the elderly, diabetes and blindness, racism and incest.

"I feel we have an obligation to inform," Nixon says, as well as to entertain.

Certainly one fan who knows entertainment when she sees it is "Anniversary Special" host Carol Burnett, who has been addicted to the soap since the mid-1970s. After getting a bit role as a patient in 1976, she returned in 1983 for a two-week stint as Verla Grubbs, long-lost daughter of Langley Wallingford--during which she was surprised by her friend Elizabeth Taylor, in a walk-on role. Burnett reprised Grubbs during the anniversary shows this month.

What does Burnett feel is the key to the show's longevity? "They touch on a lot of serious things and they do it beautifully. It keeps up with the times."

From the December 8th, 1994 Los Angeles Times:

Company's Coming: Expecting visitors? It might not compare with the

reunion Ruth and Joe Martin will have next month. And they don't even

know about it. Nineteen [!] friends and relatives will make a surprise

return to Pine Valley to celebrate the rebuilding of the Martins' home,

which was leveled by a tornado last summer. The 19 are former cast members

of ABC's daytime drama 'All My Children' who will reprise their roles to

mark the serial's 25th anniversary, Jan. 3-6. Ruth and Joe are played

by original cast members Mary Fickett and Ray McDonnell. Also finding

her way to Pine Valley for the anniversary: Carol Burnett.

From America Online news:

Nineteen former cast members will reprise their roles

and come home to Pine Valley, as part of a week of special episodes, to

join the Martins as they celebrate the rebuilding of their home. The

shows will air January 3-6.

Some of the favorites coming back include: Gillian Spencer

(Daisy Cortlandt), Taylor Miller (Nina Cortlandt Warner), William Mooney

(Paul Martin), Charles Frank (Jeff Martin), Michael Brainard (Joey

Martin), Richard Van Vleet (Chuck Tyler), Candice Earley (Donna Beck

Tyler), Lawrence Keith (Nick Davis), Peter White (Lincoln Tyler),

Francesca James (Kelly Cole Tyler), Kathleen Noone (Ellen Dalton), Mark

La Mura (Mark Dalton), Vasili Bogazianos (Benny Sago), Jennifer Bassey

(Marion Colby), Natalie Ross (Enid Nelson), Lisa Wilkinson (Nancy Grant),

Shari Headley (Mimi Reed), Debbi Morgan (Angie Hubbard), and Lee

Chamberlain (Pat Baxter).

In the storyline, these old friends return to surprise Ruth and Joe Martin

(did you know that Mary Fickett and Ray MacDonnell are original cast

members?) in their newly rebuilt home. Remember when the tornado came to

Pine Valley and leveled their house? Well, now these old friends and

family members will gather to share their memories from years gone by.

The show will also use rarely seen historical footage.

I wonder what happened with Debbi Morgan's appearance? It seems like her not appearing in the episode was a last minute thing.

That's great.

Quick question- I have a bunch of AMC stuff that I just converted and even though I'll put everything up that I have (I still haven't gotten everything converted yet so I'm not even sure what all I have), since it takes me a while to get stuff converted, edited, and uploaded, I thought I'd see what people would be the most interested in first and go ahead and get that up and then work on the rest

Right now, I have the following stuff converted and ready to be edited and uploaded: a ton of 1990/1991 stuff with Donna, Chuck, Emily Ann, Dixie and Tad, Billy Clyde and stuff from 1993 with Laurel, Jack, Trevor, Kendall & Anton

I'd be most interested in 1990-1991, first.

I'm most interested in anything Erica, if you have it.

Another vote for 1990-1991 first

I'm also most interested in the earliest stuff you have.

1990-91, please!

Would love to see the 90/91 stuff, love Donna and Chuck.

From Daytime TV, December 1971

Christopher Wines left the role of Jeff Martin on July 30 and was replaced by Charles Frank early in August.