'One Life To Live' Star Erika Slezak Calls Cancellation Bullshit

The end of an era is upon us: ABC's "One Life to Live" signs off on Fri., Jan. 13. The show joins sister soap "All My Children" in canceled TV heaven, but the stars aren't saying goodbye without speaking their mind.

"What really annoyed me about our cancellation was the reason we were given," series star Erika Slezak told TV Guide Magazine. "We were told the daytime audience doesn't want entertainment anymore and that they just want information. Well, that's the biggest load of bull---t. People always want entertainment."

After more than 11,000 episodes, the show is signing off for good. A deal to bring "One Life to Live" and "All My Children" to life online following their ABC cancellation fell through in a highly publicized manner.

"All My Children" ended in September and was replaced by food and living show "The Chew." Healthy lifestyle series "The Revolution" is taking over the "One Life to Live" timeslot on Mon., Jan. 16.

"I've had so many emails from people who are really upset that soaps are being replaced with reality shows," Slezak said. "They don't want to watch food at one o'clock in the afternoon and weight loss at two o'clock. They want to sit down, put their feet up and relax and enjoy for a bit. It's really the death of the genre."

Brian Frons, the head of ABC Daytime who made the decision to cancel the shows, will leave the network after his contract expires in January.

"While my decision to try something new was not arrived at easily, nine years is a long time in television terms," Frons said in a statement. "I'm proud of the performance of ABC Daytime over that time, and of all of the accomplishments that our team achieved along the way. I'm especially pleased by the early results for 'The Chew' and excited for the launch of 'The Revolution,' which will be one more positive step in transforming ABC Daytime for our viewers. I'll miss my colleagues and the wonderful talent that makes our shows, but know they are in very capable hands with Vicki going forward."

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Comments

[LibSocialistSiren]

11:46 AM on 01/31/2012

OMG...if you have Cable TV, there are whole Networks devoted to "Food" and "Diet"...and I don't watch them!!! I WANT MY SOAPS BACK!! I already know how to cook, and if I need a recipie, I just GOOGLE IT!! I swear...ABC execs are IDIOTS!

[Kasha Abner]

11:09 PM on 01/26/2012

I have watched OLTL and AMC since 1970. I think with all the talk shows and so called reality shows, why would ABC think we need more shows with information. Watch the NEWS for information, people do want entertainment. My grandmother used to think AMC was real. We had to tell her we couldn't go there and tell them what was going on. God, I loved my grandma. Its a shame the station didn't want to listen to the people who are fans of the soaps. They are going to lose alot of customers, and ratings for ABC will lower. I have watched almost all the shows on ABC, but now that might change. I have to admit that I do watch the CHEW because I don't get the cooking shows. They could think about putting these soaps on in the evenings, prime time, instead of some of the programs they have now. Get rid of the Bachelor & the Bachelorette, a good soap opera would be more enjoyable. I am appauled that ABC would even think of getting rid of these soaps considering they made mega bucks for them over the years. That's my opinion. K.L. Abner

[Roy E Frazier]

02:10 PM on 01/20/2012

your reality shows suck they mite as well tack all of abc of tv there is nothing to watch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Thea Sheridan]

09:45 PM on 01/19/2012

Sorry ABC/Disney but this isn't a situation where you can force ANYone to watch ANYthing they don't want to. How about REtraining yourselves into being a company where what the PEOPLE want counts more that how fat your wallets are. Walt understood that, and I'll bet you dimes to donuts he's doing cartwheels in his grave right now. Shame on you ABC/Disney. Shame on your greed. Shame on your 'Big Brother' attitude. WE ARE NOT SHEEP. We will NOT jump off the cliff just because you think... THINK we can be trained to do so. -- Thanks to your stupidity I no longer watch ANYthing on ABC other than General Hospital. Not GMA. Not World News now. Not one talk show/Doctor show/game show/nighttime drama.. I won't even watch my local news program. You really blew it ABC/Disney.

[redsoxmama]

04:59 PM on 01/19/2012

I have to agree with Erika that this is BS. I refuse to watch the Chew and do not even know what the Revolution is supposed to be about and will not watch it either. I HATE reality shows they are just annoying. While soaps are phony at times I still love my soaps and will miss One Life to Live dearly as I have been watching for over 30 yrs. Sorry to see the show go and wish the entire cast well in whatever they do next and hope to see them on other shows soon.

[reneeflitter]

01:45 PM on 01/19/2012

I don't know who the people were that said they want more information shows and not entertainment. I will tell you that All My Children and One Life To Live has been a part my life since the early 70's.As foer as I am concerned there is nothing on daytime t.v. any longer. I guess the so called people that wants more information shows are going to take General Hospital also. Well I hope these people are getting all the information they need off the t.v.. I also hope they are putting all that information to work. If they wanted information they could get all the information they need from the internet. And as for as information goes both of these shows had great story lines that was very informative about real life issues that effects every family in one way or another.

[redsoxmama]

05:03 PM on 01/19/2012

I agree with everything you said. They did address real life issues like Aids, cancer, domestic violence, ect. If I want a receipe I go online I don't watch a bunch of annoying people cook. I find the Chew a real crappy show and annoying as Hell. I hope GH lives on, but OLTL was my favorite.

[Collab Oration]

05:44 PM on 01/16/2012

We can get One Life to Live & All My Children back on the air. It's going to take us as fans to do it! These actors came into our hearts and homes everyday. I have an idea for putting both shows back on the air but, I need supporters/fans help. Send me a message on Facebook if you are interested.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002063439706&ref=tn_tnmn#!/OneLifeToLive/posts/10151164878575154?notif_t=feed_comment

[roosevelt57]

03:28 PM on 01/16/2012

it didnt end right

[zak1966]

12:34 PM on 01/16/2012

All the complaining won't bring back AMC and OLTL. However, if you really want to make ABC feel the pain, watch the Spew, I mean Chew, a couple times, and the Devolution, err Revoltinglution, ummm Revolution, and write down the advertisers who run ads during the shows. Then, target the advertisers with emails and letters stating you'll never buy their products again, and then don't. ABC needs to feel the pain in their pocketbook for the pain all the longtime viewers now feel in their hearts.

[mary4122]

01:19 PM on 01/15/2012

I was a sad day for many of daytime viewers we lost a member of our family OLTL. We the fans will never watch THE Chew or Revolutation. ABC/Disney has caused a Revoluation. Just bring back the soaps

[kgraymoo6]

03:40 PM on 01/14/2012

ABC'S Family Channel..ever notice how many shows have the name Liar in it, or how the content of its shows doesn't promote honesty, humility, or integrity. The one show I did like was Secret Lives of the American Teen, that show had some issues, but there was a lot of life's lesson in it as well. Disney has lost it. Family oriented? I think not. Living in the real world. I think not, somewhere the powers to be at Disney have lost themselves in that thing we called "fantasy."

[kgraymoo6]

03:14 PM on 01/14/2012

Does anyone know if an online petition has been started to bring back our favorite soaps, or to at least let the networks know just how angry and disappointed many of us are. It would be very interesting to see how many would sign with name, address, and email address. We wouldn't want the networks to think that there were duplicate entries. I don't know how to start one via a website otherwise, I would. I stopped watching AMC and OLTL the day I heard of the cancellation, I was too upset to watch everyday, knowing that someday in the near future it would be like watching the demise of a friend. Not the exact same, obviously, but heart wrenching just the same. Bring them back and I will rejoice. But in the meantime, ABC and I have parted company.

[chrissymatteson]

12:45 PM on 01/15/2012

Sign both petitions to help save OLTL!!!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-abc-soaps/

http://apps.facebook.com/petitions/8/help-me-save-one-life-to-live-3/

[kgraymoo6]

05:31 PM on 01/15/2012

Both petitions are closed. Only OLTL reached its goal of 1000. The save ABC soaps had a goal of 50,000. Only 5000+ signatures were on it. Had I known these existed mine would have been one of them. The last signature on the OLTL was 09/15/2011. Perhaps because people thought that they were coming back on line. Well now that we know they aren't I suggest that another petition be created to "bring them back" in some way shape or form on some network or another. Send the petition to ALL major networks. If something is not done.....GH and Days are next without a doubt.

[Deehoff]

09:21 PM on 01/15/2012

This one is still open.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bringbackoltl/

[Haunted Doll]

06:35 PM on 01/16/2012

This site is trying to force a donation out of the petition signer before allowing the petition to be signed. There is no option for a $.00 donation. That's not a donation. That's extortion.

[jenniejinx]

12:29 PM on 01/14/2012

the CHEW is a pretty good show

[jenniejinx]

12:28 PM on 01/14/2012

i watched it from day one to the end it really sucks

[jenniejinx]

12:27 PM on 01/14/2012

i think its b.s too revolution not gonna waste my time,it will be cancelled,soon after it starts,to many reality shows,hands down