HOLIDAY MIRACLE: Prospect Park Back On Track To Revive AMC and OLTL

[Steve]

Clint on AMC? Clint was Viki's ex on OLTL, Cliff Warner was Nina's husband on AMC. I don't think they'd be as huge a draw now as they were 30 years ago either, but I'd love to see them at least make guest appearances, maybe to bring back Bobby Warner or their other son.

As huge Jack/Erica fan, I have to agree. I'm tired of their constant makeups and breakups. I'd only want them back if the writers have a new story idea, otherwise Jack should be with Opal imo and Erica needs a new man, but not Mike Roy again or Caleb Cooney! I wish they'd left Mike dead and Caleb was just not a well-thought out character. An Erica/David/Cara triangle would be interesting...

I was watching OLTL pretty regularly in the 1990s and I don't remember any other story Horgan did besides Viki's DID, which I think was mostly attributed to Michael Malone.

I haven't been watching DAYS regularly, but I did tune in a little on SoapNet when MarDar first took over and I liked how they were at least attempting to write a multigenerational show and use the vets. From what I'm reading in this thread, I'm more optimistic than most other posters about her, especially knowing that Agnes Nixon will be working closely with her. I can't wait to find out who her co-writer will be (hoping for either Lorraine Broderick or Richard Culliton)!

[John]

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Soap-Stars-All-My-Children-One-Life-to-Live-1059071.aspx

Soap stars react to AMC & OLTL revivals

[KMan101]

I feel like TV Guide just wasted an article. LOL.

TFP.

It was nice to hear more from Irizarry and Morgan.

[EricMontreal22]

I don't know Racina's work--though as mentioned there was that joint audio article with them--so clearly they get on.

It seems like his work may be more campy and over the top than Horgan--more like 80s OLTL, so maybe they're a good fit. Horgen had a clear vision for the show--from her solo audio interview--and also seems well aware of what worked and didn't (for those who haven't listened--while wiki says she was at OLTL in the late 80s, she basically says she was brought in under Gottlieb as part of the writing staff when Malone started because Gottlieb felt he needed someone on his team with traditional soap knowled--a reason Josh Griffith soon became co-HW. She also says that Gottlieb personally then picked her to take over as EP, and she admits that when Griffith left on his own, she became a defacto co-HW in his place with Malone as well as remaining EP, and that in hindsight she thinks that was a conflict of interest which is why the show started to suffer pretty quickly. Anyway, I'm thrilled with the choices...

A bit more concerned about AMC now, but we'll see. It sounds like Broderick is in no rush to break her contract on DAYS, but...

[Vee]

Thom Racina, I think, will match some of what RC used to do, in terms of Ron's attempts at old fashioned adventure stories - except Racina is the king of that. He has so much of the glory days of soaps under his belt, and I think if his type of work can meld with Horgan, who came up under Gottlieb's regime of storytelling, there's nothing they can't do. Assuming, of course, this isn't a cheap money grab or bargain basement production being masterminded by incompetents.

[EricMontreal22]

Completely agree--it sounds like he might be able to do well to keep some of the style and element of RCs show, which if balanced out, is fine by me.

(You mean he has 80s GH glory days under his belt right, not OLTL? Or was he there too?)

[Khan]

Why not? It isn't as if JC can come back now and tweet how he was lying and how she had to fake all those orgasms to keep from falling asleep.

[Vee]

Yeah, I edited it. I meant his work at GH and DAYS, where he did L&L, the Ice Princess, Bo and Hope, Patch and Kayla and on and on.

Really, Khan? Really?

[Khan]

Oh, you know she would! And Robin Strasser would tweet back, saying, "Girlfriend, please, Reinholt and I STILL laugh about what Rauch said about yo' basic ass!"

[Vee]

I'm just going to let this flu shot knock me out.

[Khan]

[EricMontreal22]

Right--and while I've always prefered the more socially relevant OLTL, I recognize that that more campy style, which GH had at the time, is also a huge part of the show's legacy--so if they can manage a mix it would be ideal.

[RavenWhitney]

Well, Racina is openly gay and lives in Palm Springs and is older. Carlivati is openly gay, younger and in his 40s...It will be interesting to see Racina's version of Llandview camp. He's more Dynasty meets 80s GH/DOOL.

Horgan, we'll have to wait and see.

Marlene McPherson is very bright and trained under James Reilly. That's why she's in the running. She worked with some very good writers both on Passions and DOOL. She brought back some high quality writers, including Betsy Snyder, Pete T. Rich and Nancy Watts. The last two worked on AMC at some point. I can see some or all of them going with her to AMC. She cannot be judged by DOOL. DOOL makes most writers look lame; it's the budget, the sets, lightening, filming so far in advance and huge interference from Sony and NBC. Let's give her a chance.

[Scotty]

I though that this was pretty interesting. It is what Anges Nixon told the man writing the new OLTL book about how she felt about the show's decision to turn the guy into a sleazebag....

One Life to Live creator Agnes Nixon on her thoughts regarding the decision to make Viki's split personality, Niki, the result of incestuous sexual abuse by Viki's father, Victor Lord:

"I had a very, very difficult father, and I based my Victor Lord on him -- and he didn’t abuse me. [Laughs] He was very unpleasant, and he spent four years of my college life telling me I had no talent as a writer, and that I had to take over his business when I graduated. I just didn’t think the abuse story was a good idea. A father’s domination of a girl child is profound -- I know it personally. I don’t think the sex aspect...well, anyway."

http://www.facebook.com/oltlbook

[Vee]

Susan Bedsow Horgan told a different story on her podcast interview a while back. She said when they went to Agnes for advice and her blessing on the 1995 DID story, she was enthusiastic and very positive about it, agreed to consult, agreed with the abuse angle and did consult on story points at least early on.

I guess Agnes was just cashing the check. But I happen to think they were right to do it. That's where DID comes from.