This article originally appeared in the January 13, 1997 issue of Newsday. It
is accompanied by a photo of Maxine Levinson (ex-executive producer
of OLTL).
One Life Hoping for a Second One
by Connie Passalacqua
With the quality of many classic soaps (CBS' "As the World Turns, " "Guiding Light, " ABC's "One Life to Live ")
eroding last year because of exceptionally poor writing, angry longtime soap fans want to know when they are getting "their "
shows back.
First to answer is Maxine Levinson, executive producer of "One Life to Live " since mid-October. Levinson, a highly
respected executive at ABC Daytime for 17 years, left her position as the senior vice president of daytime programing to take
over the helm of "OLTL. "
"Will the show come back? I'd say yes; I certainly wouldn't be here if I was saying no. Keep your eyes on your TV set, " says
Levinson. Since last March, when Emmy-winning head writer Michael Malone left, "OLTL's " traditional emotionally rich
drama has degenerated into a series of superficial, gimmicky plots, drama containing little emotional connection or character
subtext.
But last month, Levinson obtained the services of head writer Claire Labine, most recently the double Emmy Award-winning
head writer at "General Hospital. " Labine, who will start next month, specializes in intelligent, character-driven drama, the kind
that routinely wins Daytime Emmys for performers and shows. As a network executive, Levinson worked with Labine when
she was at "GH. " (Labine also co-created and co-wrote the now-canceled ABC soap "Ryan's Hope. ")
"Knowing that Claire and her son co-head writer Matt are at the helm of this writing team means that I have some of best
writers in the business, " says Levinson. "From there everything falls into place. What I believe, the big changes here will be
richer, deeper stories, stories that make you laugh, stories that make you cry, stories that make you want to be in Llanview.'
Which is an answer not specific enough to satisfy viewers who have to wait until at least March, when Labine's stories start
airing. Levinson promises "our first big story' will be for the show's two leading characters, Viki Buchanan (Erica Slezak) and
Dorian Lord (Robin Strasser). Both actresses had been underutilized last year.
Levinson says there's also a major story planned for the recently underutilized Bo and Nora Buchanan (Bob Woods and Hillary
B. Smith). The once-promising romantic heartthrob character of Patrick Thornhart (Thorsten Kaye) should also receive a
boost from Labine's writing. "I have a woman on staff who wrote Ryan's Hope,' " Levinson says. "If she can't write to the soul
of an Irish poet, then who can? " She also says recently returned audience favorite Roger Howarth (snide antihero Todd
Manning) has signed a new contract. It extends into the fall.
But how could the show have killed off one of its most popular villains last year (Carlo, played by Thom Christopher)? How
could a major network let an entire soap be so abysmally written for a full year? Levinson won't answer questions about
"OLTL's " problems prior to her becoming executive producer. "What happened yesterday is over. I can't do anything about
what has already happened. Let's look forward to see what we can do. "
