If you’re a pop culture fan, you were fixated on “Doctor Who” this past weekend as David Tennant regenerated and then exited this long-running BBC science fiction program.
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While I myself have enjoyed Tennant’s take on the good Doctor, David’s four-series-stint on “Doctor Who” is nothing compared to the four decades that Susan Lucci has been playing Erica Kane on ABC’s “All My Children.”
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane. Photo by Donna Svennevik. Copyright 2010 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved
It’s hard to believe, but today is the actual 40th anniversary of the debut of this long-running soap. “All My Children” (AMC) first premiered on ABC back on January 10, 1970. And in honor of this milestone, ABC Daytime has produced two extra-special episodes. The last of which airs today on the Alphabet Network between 1 – 2 p.m. ET / PT.
Kelly Ripa as Hayley Vaughan Santos and Mark Consuelos Mateo Santos. Photo by Heidi Gutman Copyright 2010 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved
The conceit of these specials is that Pine Valley (i.e. a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia, PA that serves as “All My Children” ‘s primary setting ) has been named “The Most Congenial Town in America.” This prestigious award gives Hayley Vaughan Santos (Kelly Ripa of “Live with Regis & Kelly” fame) and her husband Mateo (Mark Consuelos) an excuse to return to their old home town to produce and host a documentary which will air on Hayley’s television show, “The Wave.” So – during yesterday & today’s episode – Hayley has wandered all over town, interviewing friends and family members as well as other longtime Pine Valley residents.
(L to R) Kelly Ripa as Hayley, David Canary as Adam Chandler and Melissa Claire Egan as Annie McDermott. Photo by Steve Fenn. Copyright 2010 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved
And the scripts for these two extra-special “All My Children” episodes do a nice job of subtly acknowledging this important milestone in the show’s history. Take – for example – this piece of dialogue from yesterday’s show, where Adam is paying tribute to this long-running soap as well as his new wife, Annie.
“Annie is the embodiment of what it means to be Pine Valley. If you want happiness, you want love, you want a better life… Well, you’re in the right place. And that spirit is what’s driven this town all this time. It’s that spirit that makes this a very special place to live.”
(L to R) Lucy Merriam, Melissa Clair Egan, Jill Larson, Susan Lucci, Adam Mayfield, Mark Consuelos, David Canary and Kelly Ripa during a rehearsal for “All My Children” ‘s 40th anniversary episodes. Photo by Steve Fenn. Copyright 2010 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved
AMC has gone through many changes over the years with some of the biggest coming within the past few months. What with the recent retirement of Ray McDonnell, who played Dr. Joe Martin – the longtime patriarch of Pine Valley – for 39 years …
(L to R) Ray McDonnell and “All My Children” creator Agnes Nixon. Photo by Lorenzo Bevilaqua. Copyright 2010 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved
… as well as the network’s decision to relocate production of this long-running soap to the West Coast. Truth be told, yesterday was the first day of shooting for the cast of “All My Children” in their new digs. A state-of-the-art studio that features two soundstages as well as HD production equipment. Which (ABC Daytime executives hope) will usher in a brand-new era of
expansive storytelling on this Emmy Award-winning soap.
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Yeah, “All My Children” has come a long way from its very first broadcast back on January 10, 1970. ‘s first day of production. Here’s hoping that the cast & crew – once they settle into their brand-new production facility in LA — have many years ahead of charting the comings & goings of the residents of Pine Valley:
The Great and the Least, The Rich and the Poor, The Weak and the Strong, In Joy and Sorrow, In Tragedy and Triumph,
You are ALL MY CHILDREN
(L to R) Walt Willey, Agnes Nixon, Michael E. Knight, Ray MacDonnell, Susan Lucci, Lee Meriwether, Jill Larson, Vincent Irizarry, Cameron Mathison, Rebecca Budig, Lucy Merriam, Brittany Allen and Jenna Dimartini at a recent “All My Children” cast party. Photo by Lorenzo Bevilaqua. Copyright 2010 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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