When “One Life to Live” went off the air just over a year ago it was my favorite daily drama and it had been for quite some time. So, while the show’s ratings were rising, it was quite a shock to learn it had been canceled in 2011. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous with the series coming back, but this time without executive producer Frank Valentini and head writer Ron Carlivati.

I can honestly say after viewing the premiere episode at the big launch event in New York City, most of my worries were gone. It instantly felt like we were back in Llanview. Could it be because it never really felt like “OLTL” was gone since it continued on via “General Hospital” in Port Charles? That may have helped some, but in the end it comes down to the writing.

Thom Racina has done a brilliant job bringing the show back to life. The integration from “GH” went seamlessly and “OLTL” feels like it has picked up right where it left off.  The carryover from the stories involving the “One Life” characters on “GH” has integrated into the show perfectly and taking off on their own without any hesitation. Not only have these stories picked right up, but the entire show has instantly come together like it hadn’t been gone at all.

Of course, my favorite moment was the instant return of Trevor St. John as Victor Lord, Jr. While we all expected it would eventually happen, it was a pleasant surprise to see it on the first episode. When Victor was “killed” off the ABC version of “OLTL,” I was disappointed we didn’t get more interaction between Victor and Todd. Any scene Roger Howarth is in as Todd Manning is a favorite of mine. So the fact that we can revisit a Todd and Victor story has huge potential and is something I look forward to.

Victoria Lord (Erika Slezak), Clint Buchanan (Jerry verDorn), Dorian Lord (Robin Strasser), David Vickers Buchanan (Tuc Watkins), Bo Buchanan (Robert S. Woods) and Nora Buchanan (Hillary B. Smith) all gave off the impression that we just left them last week. Meanwhile, I honestly had never seen Corbin Bleu (Jeffrey King) acting in anything before, but I do think he fits in well as a reporter at The Banner.

The new set for Shelter is quite impressive. However, the idea of people of all ages attending the same club at the same time is not.  I know as a teen the last place I would go to hang out would be any place my parents would be. But apparently Shelter is not based on any one particular age group as everyone in the town seemed to be spending their evening there. While the launch party made sense to kick off the show, lets just hope everyone was there to support the opening of the new club and its owner, Blair Cramer (Kassie DePaiva), and nothing more.

Speaking of Shelter, how brilliant was Kelley Missal as Danielle Manning this week? Loved her interaction with Howarth as her character talked to her father, who she hadn’t seen in quite some time. They instantly had chemistry, but that shouldn’t be surprising as Roger can make just about anyone or anything look good in a scene with him. I look forward to more scenes of the two together.

My biggest critique of the show this week was the lack of shock in Victor’s return and people not questioning where he had been. I am willing to let it slide for now because I am hoping that its part of the story planned in the coming weeks. Either that or the town has just been desensitized to people coming back from the dead.

I honestly did not think a show that had went off as my favorite could return in the same capacity. But somehow with a whole new set of writers and a new executive producer (Jennifer Pepperman), they managed to pull off what I feared was impossible. Sometimes it feels good to be wrong.

As exclusively reported by Soap Opera Network in early April, Blair Cramer (Kassie DePaiva) wow’d the Shelter crowd with song on The OnLine Network’s “One Life to Live” on the Thursday, May 30 episode as Llanview experienced a peculiar blackout. As everything seemed to be going wrong, Todd Manning (Roger Howarth) insisted that Blair entertain the crowd until the power was restored.

The song Blair sang was “No Regrets,” DePaiva’s hit single off her 2004 CD of the same name. As sung by Blair, “No Regrets” featured lyrics that were a subtle hint to Todd that Blair’s not over him.

Watch the clip below or watch the full episode at your leisure.

FULL EPISODE

On Sunday, June 16, during “The 40th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards,” Kristen Alderson took home the Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Starr Manning on “General Hospital.”

In 1998, Alderson joined the cast of “One Life to Live” as the feisty daughter of Todd Manning (Roger Howarth) and Blair Cramer (Kassie DePaiva). In 2012, the character nearly fell off a cliff along with Baby Hope and Cole shortly after entering Port Charles as a result of a disastrous situation  involving Anthony Zacchara (Bruce Weitz) and his son Johnny Zacchara (Brandon Barash). In 2013, Alderson ceased portraying Starr after talks between Prospect Park and ABC broke off (Prospect owns the license to the character). She re-joined “GH” in May of this year as Kiki Jerome, the daughter of Robert “Franco” Frank (Roger Howarth) and Ava Jerome (Maura West).

This is Alderson’s first win and first nomination.

It’s a day that almost never came, but thanks to the team at Prospect Park, “One Life to Live” is celebrating its 45th anniversary today, July 15. In honor of the sudser’s big milestone, iconic actresses Erika Slezak (Victoria Lord) and Kassie DePaiva (Blair Cramer) spoke with reporters about their favorite memories, proudest moments and surprisingly awkward first days.

“I was in such a daze,” recalls Slezak of her start on the sudser. “I had never been on television before. I had been in repertory theater for four or five years and had done a lot of classics, [and I] had never actually ever seen a daytime serial, because I was always in rehearsal. And my very first day was the day after I auditioned and was hired. So they gave me no time whatsoever. I ran over and got the script, memorized it, showed up the next morning far too early. There was nobody even there… but I do remember that there were three people who totally carried me through the day, and the first one was Sydney Andrews, who was our stage manager, who couldn’t have been more helpful. And then Lynn Benesch, who played my sister, Meredith, and Ernie Graves, who played my father, Victor Lord. Without them, I would never have made it through the day. I was a nervous wreck.”

But whether or not DePaiva had a more awkward first day is debatable! “I was a recast, so I was trying to keep my southern accent under wraps, and I was working opposite the great Erika Slezak and Roy Thinnes (Alex Crown), and I had to wear a bathing suit!” she says with a laugh. “So I don’t know which was more nerve wracking: having to wear a bathing suit, or… not sound like a country girl and work with Erika Slezak.”

There have been a lot of storylines over the 42 years since Slezak’s first day and the nearly 20 since DePaiva’s, and each actress can pinpoint their exact favorites. “For me, it was the Max gambling storyline,” DePaiva recalls. “It involved Luna (Susan Batten) and Cord (John Loprieno) and Max (James DePaiva) and Blair, and it was all about addiction. I was addicted to Max, and Max was addicted to gambling, and Luna was caught in the middle, and it had a lot of darkness to it, but it really gave an opportunity to tell really heartfelt soap opera, and… it was just beautifully written and powerfully executed. I really enjoyed being a part of that.”

Adds Slezak: “I think one of my all time favorites was the Paris, Texas story, and also when I went to heaven. That was lovely, comfortable. And bringing back all the old characters. There are innumerable favorite stories, but those are the two that stick out right now.”

Of course, just because those were their favorite stories doesn’t mean those were their proudest moments! “Mine was living through the live week and just getting through it!” says DePaiva with a laugh. “It was the climax of a great story, when Blair [had] to confront Todd about his lying about Jack’s birth and death situation. So that was, to me, one of the most thrilling moments on the show.”

As for Slezak, she’s most proud of the fact that ‘OLTL’ is headed into its 45th year. “I have so many things that I’m proud of on the show, but I think just the longevity that the show has achieved is I guess what I’m proudest of. That together, we all created something that lasted on television 43, 44 years, and then we moved to the Internet, and now we’re going back on television [on OWN]. And I think I’m enormously proud of that.”

Speaking of the show debuting on OWN, it’s a perfect way to honor the show’s anniversary. “The launch [on] OWN is kind of a great celebration of our coming back to life,” DePaiva shares, adding that it’s a great way for viewers to take part in the anniversary festivities. “Maybe the fans will tune in to OWN and have a celebration at home while they watch, because we’re actually coming back to television, which is really exciting.”

“[But] we certainly should have a bigger celebration when we all get together back in production,” Slezak adds. “Because we do have a lot to celebrate.”

Two years ago today the final television broadcast of “One Life to Live” aired on ABC. While the show would go on to have an additional forty episodes in 2013 via Prospect Park’s The OnLine Network, this day marks the end of the soap’s 43-year run on the alphabet network.

In honor of the show’s finale anniversary, we take a look back at some of the biggest and best “OLTL” moments – all available to watch online. So if you have a few minutes, come reminisce with us!

“Days of our Lives” may be losing actress, Alison Sweeney (Sami Brady) later this year, but an equally powerhouse actress may be swooping into Salem: Former “One Life to Live” actress Kassie DePaiva (ex-Blair Cramer)!

Rumors started swirling that the Kentucky native was headed to the NBC sudser after she began following the “DAYS” Twitter account, as well as the accounts of  “DAYS” actors Charles Shaughnessy (Shane Donovan) and Shawn Christian (Daniel Jonas).

In addition to her 20-year stint on the ABC version of “OLTL,” DePaiva played Blair on “General Hospital” for a short time in 2012 and again in 2013 during Prospect Park’s online version of “OLTL.”

A rep for “DAYS” had no comment at press time.

After fans began speculating on her possibly joining a soap following a January 8 posting on her website, which said, “Good things are ahead this year and I hope to have more to report very soon,” NBC’s “Days of our Lives” made it official: Soap veteran actress Kassie DePaiva is joining the series in the contract role of Eve Donovan (originated by Charlotte Ross).

“We are excited to welcome Kassie to the ‘DAYS’ family,” said Greg Meng, co-executive producer in a statement released today. “Stay tuned to find out how the return of Eve Donovan shakes things up in Salem!”

Best known for her portrayal of Blair Cramer on “One Life to Live,” DePaiva also played Chelsea Reardon on “Guiding Light.” The actress took the character of Blair to Port Charles in 2012 on “General Hospital.”

DePaiva’s first airdate is expected sometime this summer.

Shortly after word broke that Kassie DePaiva would be taking on the role of Eve Donovan on NBC’s “Days of our Lives” later this summer, originator Charlotte Ross took to Twitter to congratulate the former “One Life to Live” actress on snagging the part and shared some of her own fondest memories of the character. Ross also announced she’ll be appearing in a future episode(s) of ABC’s “Nashville.”

“I had to pass on reprising my FAVE role, Eve Donovan, as I’m currently filming 3 projects (NASHVILLE-abc now) & I know Kassie will be wonderful!” explained Ross, who currently stars in VH1’s “Hit the Floor,” as to why she was unavailable to return to the daytime drama series.

The actress retweeted messages from fans who wished her the best of luck while also sharing a picture of a framed Daytime Emmy award nomination certificate from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series. “#FlashBackFriday My 2nd #Emmy Nom for #EveDonovan. What a FUN 4 years I had on #DOOL… I’ll be back one day… #FBF,” the actress wrote.

On Friday, January 24, NBC’s “Days of our Lives” put rumors to rest when it officially announced that former “One Life to Live” actress Kassie DePaiva (ex-Blair Cramer) would be joining its cast in the contract role of Eve Donovan, a role which was originated by actress Charlotte Ross, who congratulated DePaiva on signing onto “DAYS” on Twitter.

In a full-length message posted on her official website, DePaiva noted that she’s happy to be joining the soap and taking on the role of Eve Donovan in the process. “I’m equally as happy to say hello to Eve Donovan. She seems to have a very rich history in Salem with many family members to surround her. I look forward to discovering the character as well as the town. I wish the gloriously beautiful and talented Charlotte Ross great success as she starts her new adventure on ABC’s ‘Nashville.’ I know she is greatly loved by the ‘DAYS’ audience and I have very big shoes to fill. I promise to do my best to live up to everyone’s expectations,” said the actress.

You can read DePaiva’s message in its entirety below:

Well, I’m sure you have heard the news by now… I am headed to NBC… The wonderful “Days of Our Lives” soap opera!!! This year Days will be celebrating its 50th year on network television and I am thrilled to be a part of it. And now that it is official I can shout it from the mountain tops! I got the call ironically in December on the 20th anniversary of my debut as Blair Cramer on ABC’s “One Life to Live”.

And as sad as it is to say goodbye or put Blair on hold… I’m equally as happy to say hello to Eve Donovan. She seems to have a very rich history in Salem with many family members to surround her. I look forward to discovering the character as well as the town. I wish the gloriously beautiful and talented Charlotte Ross great success as she starts her new adventure on ABC’s “Nashville”. I know she is greatly loved by the Days audience and I have very big shoes to fill. I promise to do my best to live up to everyone’s expectations. So all you “One Life to Live” watchers…it’s time to start watching “Days of Our Lives” now. You will be caught up and ready to really invest in Salem by the time I start airing this summer.

Needless to say… I am a huge soap fan. I love the genre and couldn’t be happier to be back in the mix. Thank you all for all your lovely comments and tweets. I look forward to the coming year with great anticipation. I start working on set very soon and will keep you posted!!!

UPDATE 5:25 PM, ET: An ABC representative has confirmed to Soap Opera Network that Kristen Alderson will be departing “General Hospital” in the near future. No further details were released.

PREVIOUS 5:15 PM, ET: After joining the cast of ABC’s “General Hospital” in the contract role of Starr Manning in 2012, which she originated in 1998 on “One Life to Live” when she was just 6 years old, Daytime Emmy Award winner Kristen Alderson (Kiki Jerome) has decided to leave the daytime drama series.

Word of Aldersdon’s exit from “GH” came to light via a report by Soap Opera Digest, citing setside sources. Alderson’s real-life love, Chad Duell (Michael Corinthos), later confirmed the news on Twitter, where he stated, “[it] was her decision btw” in response to Digest‘s initial reporting.

In January 2012, it was announced that Alderson, along with on screen parents Roger Howarth (Franco; ex-Todd Manning) and Kassie DePaiva (Eve Donovan, “Days of our Lives”; ex-Blair Cramer), would be uprooting her character from Llanview, following the cancellation of “OLTL” by ABC, to Port Charles. Alderson debuted the following month.

In 2013, a lawsuit was filed against ABC surrounding the network’s use of “OLTL” characters on “GH” after the network had previously licensed them to Prospect Park, who at the time was gearing up for the online reboot of “OLTL” and “All My Children.” ABC later opted to bring the actors back to “GH,” but as new characters.

Learning of Alderson’s upcoming exit from “GH,” DePaiva tweeted, “Oh no!!! She can be my long lost daughter #DAYS.”

Reps for the actress and “GH” were unavailable at press time.

A last airdate for Alderson is not known at this time, but Digest notes that she’ll be wrapping her stint very soon.

It’s almost time to say goodbye to another Salem star. Kassie DePaiva, who has played Eve Larson since June 2014, has revealed that her final “Days of our Lives” air date is Tuesday, February 2.

DePaiva posted the news on Twitter, “Enjoy these last few grains of sand in my [hourglass]. My last air date on @nbcdays is 2/2. Time is running out. #DAYS.”

Enjoy these last few grains of sand in my . My last air date on @nbcdays is 2/2. Time is running out. #DAYS

— Kassie DePaiva (@KassieDePaiva) January 18, 2016

DePaiva was front and center on Days upon her arrival as Eve. Her character promptly reignited her longtime feud with Jennifer (Melissa Reeves) and ultimately embarked on a scandalous affair with young JJ (Casey  Moss). However, her storyline began dwindling after her onscreen daughter Paige (True O’Brien) was violently murdered.

The tease of a new romance with Justin (Wally Kurth) never amounted to anything, while the return of Eve’s ex-husband Eduardo (A Martinez) did little to increase DePaiva’s air time.

After a wild ride in Salem, look for Eve to slip out of town unceremoniously.

Days was DePaiva’s fourth soap. The daytime vet first joined the soap world back in 1986, when she was cast as Chelsea Reardon on “Guiding Light.” She went on to portray Blair Daimler Cramer on “One Life to Live” in 1993, remaining with the soap until its cancellation in 2012, and reprised the character on “General Hospital” for a few appearances.

On a special Sunday, February 14 episode of ABC’s “Castle,” former “One Life to Live” actress Kassie DePaiva (ex-Blair Cramer; Eve Donovan, “Days of our Lives”) will reunite with series star Nathan Fillion, who portrayed the role of Joey Buchanan on the daytime soap in the 1990’s, Soap Opera Network has learned.

The episode, titled “Witness for the Prosecution,” follows Castle (Fillion) finally getting his day in court when he takes the stand as a key witness to a murder that took place five months prior. Suddenly, when new information arises, he and Beckett (Stana Katic) race against the clock to prevent what is being dubbed, a “miscarriage of justice.”

DePaiva will portray Joanna Masters, a fan of Castle’s. Tuc Watkins, who played David Vickers on both the soap’s online and broadcast iteration, along with DePaiva, will appear as Roger Masters, the husband of DePaiva’s character.

“A murder mystery happens at our home,” says DePaiva to Soap Opera Network of her character’s involvement in the episode’s plotline. “It was so much fun. What a delightful set to work on,” she added.

In addition to DePaiva and Watkins, look for another “One Life” alum to appear in the episode via Darlene Vogel (ex-Melanie Farrell McIver) who appears as Sadie Beakman.

“Witness for the Prosecution” marks the first time an all-new episode of “Castle” has aired outside of its traditional Monday at 10:00 PM, ET/PT time period. The episode airs Sunday, February 14 at 10:01 PM, ET/PT on ABC.

As we get closer to daytime’s biggest night, taking place on Sunday, May 1, the industry is abuzz today over which actors were submitted for a pre-nomination for the “The 43rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards,” presented by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS). With at least two actors per show for each category (exception being Supporting Actress) several of daytime television’s biggest and brightest stars are looking to vie for the coveted trophy that celebrates their hard work during calendar year 2015.

What follows is a breakdown of each pre-nominated actor in each respective category:

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Pre-Nominees:

– Tracey E. Bregman (Lauren Fenmore, “The Young and the Restless”)
– Eileen Davidson (Ashley Abbott, “The Young and the Restless”)
– Kassie DePaiva (Eve Larson, “Days of our Lives”)
– Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea Newman, “The Young and the Restless”)
– Mary Beth Evans (Kayla Brady, “Days of our Lives”)
– Finola Hughes (Anna Devane, “General Hospital”)
– Kate Mansi (Abigail Deveraux, “Days of our Lives”)
– Gina Tognoni (Phyllis Newman Abbott, “The Young and the Restless”)
– Maura West (Ava Jerome, “General Hospital”)
– Laura Wright (Carly Corinthos, “General Hospital”)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Pre-Nominees:

– Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos, “General Hospital”)
– Eric Braeden (Victor Newman, “The Young and the Restless”)
– Tyler Christopher (Nikolas Cassadine, “General Hospital”)
– Doug Davidson (Paul Williams, “The Young and the Restless”)
– Billy Flynn (Chad DiMera, “Days of our Lives”)
– Anthony Geary (Luke Spencer, “General Hospital”)
– Justin Hartley (Adam Newman, “The Young and the Restless”)
– Thorsten Kaye (Ridge Forrester, “The Bold and the Beautiful”)
– Christian LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin, “The Young and the Restless”)
– Kristoff St. John (Neil Winters, “The Young and the Restless”)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Pre-Nominees:

– Lauralee Bell (Christine Williams, “The Young and the Restless”)
– Molly Burnett (Melanie Jonas, “Days of our Lives”)
– Jessica Collins (Avery Bailey Clark, “The Young and the Restless”)
– Judi Evans (Adrienne Kiriakis, “Days of our Lives”)
– Linsey Godfrey (Caroline Spencer, “The Bold and the Beautiful”)
– Christel Khalil (Lily Winters Ashby, “The Young and the Restless”)
– Peggy McCay (Caroline Brady, “Days of our Lives”)
– Sofia Pernas (Marisa Sierras, “The Young and the Restless”)
– Melissa Reeves (Jennifer Horton, “Days of our Lives”)
– Kelly Sullivan (Sage Warner, “The Young and the Restless”)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Pre-Nominees:

– Sean Blakemore (Shawn Butler, “General Hospital”)
– Darin Brooks (Wyatt Spencer, “The Bold and the Beautiful”)
– Steve Burton (Dylan McAvoy, “The Young and the Restless”)
– Sean Carrigan (Ben “Stitch” Rayburn, “The Young and the Restless”)
– Bryton James (Devon Hamilton, “The Young and the Restless”)
– Wally Kurth (Justin Kiriakis, “Days of our Lives”)
– Greg Rikaart (Kevin Fisher, “The Young and the Restless”)
– Christopher Sean (Paul Narita, “Days of our Lives”)
– Jacob Young (Rick Forrester, “The Bold and the Beautiful”)
– Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri, “General Hospital”)

Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series Pre-Nominees:

– Camila Banus (Gabi Hernandez, “Days of our Lives”)
– Lauren Boles (Ciara Brady, “Days of our Lives”)
– Ashleigh Brewer (Ivy Forrester, “The Bold and the Beautiful”)
– Reign Edwards (Nicole Avant, “The Bold and the Beautiful”)
– Hayley Erin (Kiki Jerome, “General Hospital”)
– Kelli Goss (Courtney Sloan, “The Young and the Restless”)
– Camryn Grimes (Mariah Copeland, “The Young and the Restless”)
– Vivian Jovanni (Ciara Brady, “Days of our Lives”)
– Olivia Keegan (Claire Brady, “Days of our Lives”)
– Hunter King (Summer Newman, “The Young and the Restless”)
– Alyvia Alyn Lind (Faith Newman, “The Young and the Restless”)
– True O’Brien (Paige Larson, “Days of our Lives”)
– Ashlyn Pearce (Aly Forrester, “The Bold and the Beautiful”)
– Brooklyn Rae Silzer (Emma Drake, “General Hospital”)

Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series Pre-Nominees:

– Nicolas Bechtel (Spencer Cassadine, “General Hospital”)
– Bryan Craig (Morgan Corinthos, “General Hospital”)
– Max Ehrich (Fenmore Baldwin, “The Young and the Restless”)
– Rome Flynn (Zende Forrester, “The Bold and the Beautiful”)
– Pierson Fodé (Thomas Forrester, “The Bold and the Beautiful”)
– Connor Kalopsis (Chase Jennings, “Days of our Lives”)
– James Lastovic (Joey Johnson, “Days of our Lives”)
– Jonathan McClendon (Chase Jennings, “Days of our Lives”)
– Terrell Ransom Jr. (Theo Carver, “Days of our Lives”)
– Tequan Richmond (TJ Ashford, “General Hospital”)

Following the pre-nomination announcement, potential nominees will be whittled down to as few as 4 or 5 prospects. Contenders will then advance from the pre-nomination round and enter the Blue Ribbon judging round, which will help determine the final list of nominees and eventual winner in each respective category. The complete list of nominees will officially be announced on Thursday, March 24.

The winner will be announced on Sunday, May 1 during “The 43rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards,” as revealed exclusively from tabulations only known to the accounting firm of Lutz and Carr.