ABC has announced that two of its three soap operas -- All My Children and One Life to Live -- will go off the air in the coming months. General Hospital will be left as the network's only remaining soap.
"While we are excited about our new shows and the shift in our business, I can't help but recognize how bittersweet the change is," Brian Frons said in a statement. "We are taking this bold step to expand our business because viewers are looking for different types of programming these days. They are telling us there is room for informative, authentic and fun shows that are relatable, offer a wide variety of opinions and focus on ‘real life' takeaways."
"All My Children and One Life to Live are iconic pieces of television that have made an indelible mark on our culture's history," Frons continued. "Each of the shows has touched millions and millions of viewers and informed the social consciousness. It has been a privilege to work with the extraordinary teams who brought the residents of Pine Valley and Llanview to life each day, and we thank the cast, crew, producers and most especially the fans for their commitment to the shows through their history."
Together, All My Children and One Life to Live combine for 84 years of broadcast history. All My Children will air its final episode on September 23. One Life to Live will conclude its run in January 2012.
Both soaps will be replaced with talk shows. The first is called The Chew, which will have a food-themed focus. The second is a show tentatively called The Revolution.
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