Erika Slezak on Prospect Park’s dumping of OLTL, Alternate Finale Ending & Brian Frons! | Michael Fairman On-Air On-Soaps | Daytime Soap Interviews, News, Updates and Previews, Video and Audio Interviews

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61 December 6th, 2011 Erika Slezak on Prospect Park’s dumping of OLTL, Alternate Finale Ending & Brian Frons!

Courtesy/ABC

Six-time Daytime Emmy winner and the “face” of One Life to Live, Erika Slezak (Viki) answered many burning questions from her fans in her latest newsletter on her website. Part of the Q&A happened prior to the final tape date of the series and the other part are new questions posed to Erika since Prospect Park decided not to continue in their attempt to move One Life from ABC to its then proposed Online Network.

Below is what Erika had to say about Prospect Park, if there was an opportunity to go back and shoot an alternate ending for the soap, and if there was an alternate version already shot in the can, and her thoughts on Brian Frons. Plus, she addresses Valentini and Carlivati’s move from Llanview to Port Charles.

Erika on Prospect Park’s decision to abandon bringing One Life to Live online: “I had great hopes that this would happen. In the beginning, after they announced that they were licensing the shows, they seemed to have everything in place. They were moving forward, they had money, and they were making deals with the actors, and had wonderful hopes for the show. Unfortunately, as time went by, they were unable to reach speedy agreements with the necessary parties and I believe their financing fell apart and that was the end. No money, no show! I feel that they were overly ambitious, because they really had no sense of what it takes to produce a daytime drama, 5 days a week, fifty two weeks a year. It is far more complicated than producing a night time show, where you are dealing with possibly 13 or 26 episodes.”

Erika on if OLTL filmed an alternate ending to the show finale in case things did not work out with Prospect Park, and if the show had an opportunity to go back into its ABC studio, once the news broke that Prospect Park was no longer going to bring the show online. “No, I don’t think alternate endings were taped, except one, which in this case now, will apply. We are done with ABC – the studio has been emptied, the sets are stored, the lights are gone, the cameras are gone, and the studio is being refurbished for another show – I heard Millionaire, but don’t know if that’s true.”

Erika on if she feels Brian Frons is the one to be completely held accountable for the cancellation of OLTL and AMC: “Regarding Brian Frons, this was not his decision. Ok, he is the head of daytime, but he answers to a lot of people – he answers to Anne Sweeney, and Anne answers to Bob Iger. So, whereas he may have been in favor of it, this was not his decision entirely.”

Erika’s thoughts on Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati moving to General Hospital as their new EP and head writer: “I am absolutely delighted for Frank and Ron and I’m sure that they will do a brilliant job for GH. I spoke with both Frank and Ron this afternoon and told them how very pleased I am for them both and wished them all the best and offered my congratulations.”

So what do you think of what Erika had to say? Let us know!

Tags: Brian Frons, erika slezak, Frank Valentini, One Life To Live, Ron Carlivati, Viki Banks