One Life to Live
(Monday to Friday 2:00 p.m., ET/1:00 p.m., PT)
Emmy Award-Winning “One Live to Live” debuted on The ABC Television Network July 15, 1968 as a half hour show. Thirty-five years later, the Agnes Nixon-created soap opera remains one of television’s longest running programs. The show dominates its time period (2:00–3:00 pm E.T.) and consistently ranks in the top five daytime programs among women 18-49.
OLTL has been lauded for its groundbreaking exploration of social issues, diverse canvas, award-winning performances and innovative storylines. Along with the history-making week of live shows in May 2002, OLTL is responsible for many “firsts” in Daytime television, including stories of interracial romance and split personalities, as well as overcoming illiteracy, medical misdiagnosis, racial prejudice, lupus and gang violence. The show received mass critical acclaim for its 1992 homophobia storyline, which captured national headlines when it introduced the character of a gay teen (played by then unknown Ryan Phillippe) and culminated with the emotional display of the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. In 1994 the show received equally high praise, and garnered four Daytime Emmy Awards -- including one for Best Writing -- for its riveting fraternity gang rape storyline. OLTL won four Emmys again in 2000, including awards for costume design and music direction, and in 2001 OLTL was the recipient of two Emmy awards. In 2002, the show won its first ever Daytime Emmy Award in the Outstanding Drama Series category and was honored with one award in 2003. In 2000, OLTL received the first CDC Sentinel for Health Award for the story of Viki’s (Erika Slezak) breast cancer.
The rich history of OLTL continues to thrive with the Lord legacy, the powerful Buchanans and intriguing families such as the Cramers, Vegas and McBains. With new faces and longtime favorites, OLTL delivers the excitement of new friends and relationships and the comfort of binding family ties.
One Life to Live airs MONDAY – FRIDAY (2:00 – 3:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. Frank Valentini is the executive producer. Dena Higley is headwriter.