Unofficial primer to the New All My Children on Prospect Park

There's been a lot of buzz in the news the last several weeks about All My Children and One Life To Live - two soap operas canceled by ABC brought back to life by the new Online Production company Prospect Park.   Reviving All My Children and One Life To Live would not have happened without the tenacity of the fans who had dedicated a chunk of their week days every week of the year to watch their favorite soaps, - many of these fans had watched for decades.

The new shows premiered on April 29th in an online only format in the U.S. After the premier, I've read a couple of reviews panning the show for not making it easier for a new viewer to jump in and watch.   I can totally understand that sentiment, and it probably could have and should have been done.  The new producers are experimenting with an entirely new format of half hour shows (that's been done before) but telling stories at a faster pace than traditional soaps.  I think starting the series with an introduction to the show would have been counterproductive to the faster pace that the new show is striving to achieve.  They had a lot of loose ends to tie up from the cliff-hangar ending that ended the show's 41 year network run on ABC.

I promise it gets easier to follow if you stick with the show.  When I started watching one summer, my mother made me promise to wait until the commercials to ask questions.  Usually by the commercial, I had figured out what I was going to ask.  Stick with the show and you will start understanding the intricacies of the relationships of the residents of Pine Valley.  Keep in mind that soaps, in their effort to tell infinite stories, sometimes need to take liberties such as aging children in order to make them more viable elements in the stories. This explains the age discrepancy for Dixie (Cady McClain) and her son JR (Ryan Bittle).

Here's a quick (unofficial) primer of the current residents of Pine Valley: 

The All My Children Book

From the very beginning, All My Children has featured a hand opening the familiar book.  To me it's symbolic of Agnes Nixon - the show's creator, inviting her close friends (all of us fans) over for story time. A weekday tradition we've been indulging in since January 5, 1970 when All My Children premiered.

Pine Valley was a sleepy little town in anywhere USA in its early years.  In the 80's it was established that Pine Valley is in Pennsylvania.  If my memory serves me correctly, Center city separates Pine Valley from Llanview (where Agnes Nixon's One Life To Live is set).

Eventually Pine Valley was internationally recognized for its high caliber of talent and business in Erica Kane (Susan Lucci), supermodel, turned business woman and founder of cosmetic company, Enchantment. Palmer Cortlandt founder of Cortlandt Electronics as well as Adam Chandler's Chandler Enterprises.

Erica Kane (Susan Lucci)

The Erica Kane, supermodel, business woman, mother. Erica has been on the show since day one.  Many woman saw Erica as a sort of role model.  If Erica can get through her difficulties, then surely I can get through mine.
When the show went off network TV, Susan Lucci found herself busy with many offers including Devious Maids, and Deadly Affairs.  Her fanbase is hopeful that Susan Lucci will soon return to the role that won her an Emmy.  Pine Valley is not the same without it's brightest jewel.



Opal Cortlandt (Jill Larson)

Always noticeable, Opal Cortlandt is a strong woman who finds herself alone in the huge mansion she dreamed of during her leaner youth.  Her beloved Palmer Cordlandt, founder of Cortlandt electronics and father of their (unexpected) son Peter Cortlandt passed away several years back. (RIP James Mitchell) 

Tad Martin, (Michael E. Knight), 

the birth son she put up for adoption to protect from the abusive father Billy Clyde Tuggle, is not in town anymore.  Opal finds herself reaching out to her youngest son Pete. (A true fan favorite, Michael E. Knight is not yet a cast member, but I personally feel confident he will be)

Adam Chandler (David Canary): 

 

A highly successful business man, often seen as a villain, fiercely competitive with (now deceased) Palmer Cortlandt.  Both men grew up in Pigeon Hollow, West Virginia and had a rivalry extending back to their youth.

Years ago, Adam was desperate to have a male heir to his business empire. He had an affair with innocent Dixie Cooney who was a recent transplant from Pigeon Hollow at the time. Dixie  got pregnant and gave birth to Adam Chandler Junior - known as JR.  Adam intended to get rid of Dixie by having her committed and then raising his son with the love of his life, his wife Brooke.  Dixie's true love, Tad Martin stepped in and saved her from Adam's plot.  Over time, in the interest of their son, Dixie and Adam called a truce.  Brooke eventually forgave Dixie as well.

Adam has a twin brother, Stuart (also played by David Canary) who has a heart of gold.  Stuart usually has the ability to bring out the best in his brother Adam.  [You can usually tell Stuart from Adam because one of Stuart's collars is tucked into his sweater.]


Brooke English (Julia Barr):

Brooke has often been unlucky in love, but found true love in the one man with the strength to handle such an independent woman, Adam Chandler.

Brooke once had an affair with Tad Martin while Tad was married to Dixie Cooney, and Brooke and Tad had a son together. 

Brooke has always had a rivalry with Erica Kane, which has led to some fan favorite scenes between Julia Barr and Susan Lucci throughout the years.

 Dixie Cooney Martin (Cady McClain) and her son, (YES son) JR Chandler (Ryan Bittle)

Dixie Conney was completely innocent when she came to town.  She was seduced by powerful, wealthy, worldy, Adam Chandler in his scheme to father a male heir.  Their son JR (short for Junior - his name being Adam Chandler Junior) had a difficult time of adjusting to life's challenges.  At the end of the show's run on the old crappy network, JR had lost the woman he loved, lost custody of his son, and lost his business.  Insane with sadness (brilliantly played by previous actor Jacob Young), JR shot a gun into a crowded engagement party for Brooke and Adam.  The series ended with the cliff hangar - who did JR Shoot? (A nod to the famous Dallas cliff hangar "Who shot JR") [*** Spoiler in next paragraph***]

On Thursday, May 5th, 2013 after a 2 year wait, fans found out that JR shot Marissa Tasker, JR's former wife, and current love of Bianca Montgomery. Fans also found out that JR has been in a coma since  Dr. David Hayward shot him moments after he killed Marissa, who was David's daughter.

AJ Chandler (Eric Nelsen) is short for Adam Junior III.  The son of JR Chandler and Babe Carey.  As a result of a baby switching, AJ Chandler was a short time resident of Llanview known as Asa "Ace" Buchanan II (One Life To Live) while Miranda was being raised as JR and Babe's baby. (And poor Bianca refused to believe that her child had died) AJ and Miranda share a lifelong bond as well as the same birthday.

Miranda Montgomery (Denyse Tontz) is the granddaughter of the famous Erica Kane.  Starting with Erica's mother Mona, the Kane women have proven themselves to be empowered women who will not be kept down.  Erica made a name for herself with nothing but sheer determination and will power. When Erica sets her mind to something, nothing will get in her way.

Bianca Montgomery (Eden Riegel)

Erica had a daughter with one of her many husbands, Travis Montgomery.  The birth of her daughter Bianca was the only thing that seemed to refocus the self absorbed Erica into realizing that the earth does not revolve around her.  Suddenly it revolved around her beautiful daughter Bianca. Erica mellowed while raising Bianca - good thing too.  Bianca confessed to Erica that she is a lesbian.  Erica remained a loyal, loving mother to her daughter.

 Kendall (Alicia Minshew)

Erica has another daughter, Kendall (Alicia Minshew) who was the product of rape when Erica was a barely a teen. Kendell had been put up for adoption, and the self absorbed (or traumatized - or both) Erica went back to life as normal when she returned to Pine Valley - forgetting all about her first daughter until Kendall showed up in Pine Valley (played by Sarah Michelle Geller at the time)
Bianca too was raped, resulting in baby Miranda.  For a period of time Bianca struggled with whether or not she could love this constant memory of the violence perpetrated upon her. In the end, Bianca was able to deal with the painful remnants of the rape and lovingly raise her daughter Miranda.

Dr. David Hayward (Vincent Irizarry) is one of the longest lasting villains Pine Valley has ever seen.  To the world renown brilliant doctor the end justifies the means.  The evil doctor has long been an antagonist to the residents of Pine Valley.

Dr. Cara (Carolyn) Castillo (Lindsay Hartley) once an undocumented resident, Cara married Tad in an effort to remain in the country.  When Dixie returned to town, Tad divorced Cara to be with his true love.  Cara began a relationship with Dr. David shortly afterwards.

A fan favorite since the early 80's Jessie (Darnell Williams) and Angie (Debbie Morgan) Hubbard. Angie was a goodie two-shoes, and Jessie had a rough childhood on the streets before moving to Pine Valley to stay with his uncle Frank and Nancy Hubbard. Eventually they pushed aside their differences and admitted their feelings for each other.  Even death has not been able to keep these two apart.

Cassandra Foster (Sal Stowers) and Jane McIntyre (Heather Roop):
The character of Cassandra originated on the now defunct Agnes Nixon soap The City (originally called Loving). I'm light on the details for these two lovely additions but stay tuned to find out more.

Celia Fitzgerald (Jordan Lane Price) Celia is a newcomer to Pine Valley.  She is 18 yet is reliant on the patron who has funded her upbringing.  She's tired of living a sheltered life and is ready to experience life as an adult.

Pete Cortlandt (Robert Scott Wilson) was a surprise to his parents.  His mother Opal had believed herself to be passed menopause, and his father had believed to have been left sterile following a polo accident. Pete was born on Christmas eve and shortly afterwards, a DNA test proved that Pete was indeed Palmer's son. Eventually Pete was sent away to boarding school when he proved to be too much for his nannies, among them Kendall.  Pete once worked with Adam Chandler in an attempt to sabotage the company Fusion with Adam's ultimate goal being to seize control. Pete resided in Switzerland, then attended Stanford University until he dropped out to establish his own smartphone app company.

Crime fighter Lea Marquez (Paula Garces)
seems to be paired with Zach Slater (Thorsten Kaye).  Zach was with Kendall when the series finished its run on network TV, and it's since been revealed that Kendall took the kids and left Zach in an effort to protect the children from the unsavory element intertwined in Zach's casino's.

Dr. Joe Martin (Ray McDonnell) is the sole remaining original cast member.  Dr. Joe and his wife Ruth have provided normalcy and stability to Pine Valley since its beginnings.  They represent a wholesome down to earth, good natured middle-class family who have always been a mainstay in Pine Valley.

Evelyn Johnson (Francesca James) is a newcomer to Pine Valley.  She seems to want to protect Celia from something involving Celia's patron.  Interestingly enough, Francesca James has been involved with All My Children since its earliest days as well.  In the 70's she played a character Kitty who was killed off.  The audience outcry led the show to bring on Kitty's long lost twin sister Kelly.  For years, Francesca has helped to shape Pine Valley from behind the camera as well. 

Give the show a chance and join in the tradition that has bridged generations of Americans.