On July 15, 1968, a 30 minute show called One Life To Live aired for the first time on ABC.  39 years later, it has remained one of televisions longest running programs.  It is responsible for many daytime "firsts" including : interracial relationships, medical misdiagnosis, and split personalities. This month, One Life To Live celebrates a milestone, as past and present cast members come together to tape its 10,000th episode.

To gear up for the special episode, writers have thrown a reference to the number 10,000 in every episode airing July 30 to August 10.  The 10,000th episode will air on August 17.  Returning to the show and reprising their memorable roles on the show this month are: James DePaiva (Max Holden), Dan Gauthier (Kevin Buchanan), John Loprieno (Cord Roberts), and Tonja Walker (Alex Olanov).

“It feels great to see the old time actors from my early years,” said James DePaiva in an interview with ABC Soaps In Depth. “This makes it very special for me, and it feels much more like the show I knew early on versus the show when I left.”

The milestone episode of One Life To Live will center on the surprising death of longtime character Asa Buchanan (Phil Carey). Earlier this year, contract talks between Carey and the network broke down. The 28-year veteran of the show was removed from the storyline last April without much explanation to fans. In a recent online poll on SoapCentral.com, fans expressed their outrage that Asa is being kiled off.

Created by Agnes Nixon in 1968, One Life To Live takes place in the fictional town of Llanview. It follows the lives of the Buchanans, the Cramers, the Vegas, and the McBains. The show has received critical acclaim over the years for portraying real social issues affecting our country. In 2002, the show won its first Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series.


- Gina Scarpa, BuddyTV Staff Writer
Source: ABC Soaps In Depth, SoapCentral
(Image courtesy of ABC)