In the fall of 2011, ABC canceled “All My Children” after 41 years, citing declining ratings brought on by changing television habits. Beginning Monday, fans can tune in to a repurposed version. Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network plans to air both “All My Children” and “One Life to Live,” another daytime drama that transitioned to online after low ratings forced it from the air.
The new shows will air for 10 weeks beginning at noon Monday in 30-minute segments. See www.oprah.com/own/ for a detailed schedule.
“These shows have proven to be very popular with a significant, loyal fan base,” OWN President Erik Logan said in a recent statement.
“All My Children” viewers can look for Atlanta resident Heather Roop in the new “All My Children.” She plays Jane McIntyre, owner of a coffee shop called Jane’s Addiction.
“I think it’ll be a great way to get an audience introduced to the new show and then be able to transition back to online,” Roop said in an interview this week. “‘All My Children’ has history. It’s been on for so many years. We’re all thrilled.”
She grew up watching legacy soap operas with her mom, and says the genre has changed with the times. Gone are the days when outbreaks of amnesia and mysterious evil twins popped up conveniently to propel storylines.
“As you turn on all the soaps, they’re all addressing issues that are pertinent right now,” she said. “It’s always evolving. Right now our main storyline is about sex trafficking. It’s real. It’s something you want to have a dialogue about it.”
The Brookwood High School graduate is living in Atlanta again after spending some time in Los Angeles, but unfortunately was filming in Connecticut when Susan Lucci, the longtime “All My Children” leading lady, was in town. The actress known for her enduring stint as Erica Kane was in Atlanta filming a role for Lifetime’s “Devious Maids.” She does not appear in the new version of “All My Children.”
Still, how neat that the two “All My Children” actresses sort of crossed paths.
“Isn’t that awesome?” Roop said. Maybe they’ll meet in the future. Roop plans to stay in Georgia, where film projects continue rolling into town.
“The film community is why I’m back here,” she said. “So much work is coming here. I was living in L.A. but I happened to be in Atlanta and I went to a casting. We were all talking with each other in the hall. It was a very warm, friendly feel. I thought, I would love to be a part of this community where we’re all rooting for each other. Being back in Georgia, I feel more myself.”
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