I do think OLTL seems, from all we know, in much better shape at this point--a lot of familiar cast and characters, two much loved writers, one with huge connection to the show, etc, so I get where some of this is coming from. On the other hand, AMC did need some major overhaul character wise, and I'm even willing to give this HW (though I hope we still get the potential co-HW announcement) a chance since her crime seems to have been writing a soap, with someone else who's not here, that is infamous for having huge intereference from its owners, that people found boring. As long as some of the show is recognizable (and if used well Opal, and the Hubbards would do that for me--though I still am holding out for Brooke), and new characters are integrated, I actually welcome them trying the show in a fresher way.

But the endless comments from people after one leaked casting script info, for example, then chiming in "Well OLTL looks great, but this has caused me to decide I will never watch the new AMC", which we all know is never true anyway, just seems hysterical (in all senses of the word) to me.

In regards to SORAsing certain kids--if they do make them older teens, since it sounds like, for example, JR and Bianca will be recast, can't they castthem slightly older too? And wasn't JR (and Jamie) themselves rather quickly SORAsed from about 8 to 14, and then even quicker 17-18? Of course their parents (well at least Adam) seemed older, but I don'tremember it being that much of a shock.

And yeah, I had good things and bad things about both AMC and OLTL's final 3 months or so (though I prefered AMCs, but will grant OLTL had been in more stable shape for longer), but a part of me thinks if the argument is AMC is gonna be nothing like before, and OLTL is so OLTL is gonna be the much better soap--I sorta wish neither of them would be much like before. Recognizable *yes*, but...

ICAM!

AJ and Miranda would both be 9 in real time and the actors who last played them were a year or two older already so aging them to 14 isn't that big of a deal. High school just feels so drastic since the characters were nothing but props previously. It's not like they had mini stories of their own like Emma did with Annie or like Matthew did on OLTL. Maybe Agnes is of the mindset that they better start showing the new generation in case this fails and this is their one chance to do so. She'd want to have the legacy continue in our heads with the new generation.

In any case, I hope they cast actors that are close to age 14 and aren't really 18 year olds masquerading.

Exactly, it's not like they're aging them from 6 to 16! I also hope they cast young teens in the roles since it's always obvious when they hire older kids.

I think they should have Opal raise Jenny. I think that might make an interesting story.

I'd love that. Opal could find herself fighting her instincts as she tries not to make the same mistakes again as a mother.

Oy, reading Twitter gives me a [!@#$%^&*] headache.

I'm glad it's not just me! I have no interest in joining twitter.

Although Dallas didn't actually reboot. It was off the air for over 20 years. It utilized the existing cast it could and then used legacy children. It's now using even more of the previous cast. Had it come back 10 or 20 years ago it would be a different story. And any time I've heard that approach suggested to you in the past you react like somebody tossed acid at you.

These shows have been off the year for less than two years, which is a very different situation, and daytime has always been a different animal than a primetime soap. It can certainly change and revolutionize itself as it has many times before, but that doesn't mean cutting out the core characters or families, anymore than Dallas did. Which is why these shows won't cut them out, either.

They do need to keep the core families, but there's plenty of room to change which characters they focus on. With the 1/2-hour format, both shows will need to trim the casts from where they were when they ended.

The UK has great success with their soaps and huge audiences and they add new families all the time. I know it's a different market, but I do think their soaps are better for it. Now I wouldn't want the same turnaround, but I'd certainly prefer them cut one or two families out and add an entirely new family if they were having trouble getting actors from certain families. I don't think viewers would react poorly to it either.

Personally, I think that's a terrible idea! US soaps are a different animal than UK soaps and always have always been. Imo, the best writers have played out all the beats of a story with the ripple effects on each character, which resonates more with viewers if it's a family we've known for years.

You said a reboot was "re-imagining everything and starting from scratch", which IS correct but that's not what Dallas is, it's a continuation of the show just 20 ears later.

Yep that's how I see it. AMC/OLTL are continuations too, not really reboots. It's a continuing story from where the shows left off on ABC

Wouldn't Dallas be a mix of the two? Bionic Women, Batlestar Gallactica, etc, didn't have direct connections tothe original (Star Trek did more so but I'd call it a genuine sequel). This is all confusing me

Clearly I confused myself too.

I'm completely open to lots of changes. I feel like that needs to happen if they are going to attract new viewers and they need to do that.

Erika finally made an official statement, now I can get excited!!

"I am pleased to officially announce that, pending the final contract, I am joining the revival of One Life to Live which will be produced by Prospect Park and aired on Hulu and iTunes on the internet. We expect to begin production near the middle of March and the air dates are yet to be announced. This will be an exciting and groundbreaking adventure and we hope that you will all join us as we bring back all the characters you loved and possibly some new ones. I will let you all know when a firm air date is announced."

Yay!

First it's a February production date and airing in April, now it's a March production date and airing sometime in the future. This is fun!

Love ES though.

Bill Bell always thought any role could be recastable. I dont think every role but many could be. So im ok with recasts as long a the characters are needed

Even he said he learned not to recast certain roles (Katherine Chancellor).

I thought contract was final. Unless she is in the window between signing contract & it becoming final

Edited January 31, 201312 yr by John

First it's a February production date and airing in April, now it's a March production date and airing sometime in the future. This is fun!

Love ES though.

According to Jill Larson's video AMC begins production end of February. Only one show has to be in production by the end of Feb for the lease to remain in affect. Plus we dont know when in April these soaps premiere could be late April

Edited January 31, 201312 yr by John

If they're doing the taping schedule we thought, sounds like one show is taping for 4-5 weeks and ten the other. Definitely isn't room for each to do six and have OLTL starting in March if AMC starts February 25.

Im wondering if they are doing 3 and then 3. Maybe filming 10 episodes a week? that will give them 30 episodes and 7 weeks ahead

Maybe I'm jumping the gun but I really do think OLTL should start production first, they have less work to do in terms of contract negotiations and looking for recasts

Edited January 31, 201312 yr by alexisfan07

First it's a February production date and airing in April, now it's a March production date and airing sometime in the future. This is fun!

Love ES though.

They said previously that AMC is going to shoot first in Febuary and OLTL is going to shoot sometime afterword.

Again, pre-production, which is under the umbrella of production, which would meet the criteria of the contract, is all that needs to start in February. This can include opening the production office, supplies, setting up offices, still continue to hire support staff and cast, scripts starting to be churned out, so that departments (electrical, lighting, props, set decoration, wardrobe, hair/makeup, special effects, audio, etc) can figure out what they will need. A lot of work has to be done before the first word is spoken by an actor in a set.

pending the final contract

Oh, [!@#$%^&*].

Also, I'd heard they were reporting to work on February 25th. Now it's the middle of March? Or maybe the 25th was for AMC. But another source, KDP, also claimed online that they'd be in the week of the 18th of February.

Edited January 31, 201312 yr by Vee