Got Life?
Often described as the smart person’s soap, One Life to Live has experienced a renaissance of sorts ever since head writer Ron Carlivati took over the reins in 2007.
Smartly written, beautifully produced and fiercely acted, this venerable soap opera – along with The Young and the Restless – is one of cultivated soap fans’ only two choices on the daytime dial.
Below TVGuide.ca lists the top reasons why a viewer with discerning taste needs to tune into ABC’s hidden jewel. What the hell are you waiting for? Don’t anger the heavens and soap Gods — program One Life into your DVR immediately. We guarantee you’ll be hooked in one episode:
14. Truth is stranger than fiction
Just ask Charlie Kaufman. As wacky and sick and twisted as One Life can sometimes be, the earthy soap always balances its silly side (Mendorra, Eterna, Old West, 1968) with a social conscious. Today, there’s a daring teen drug storyline, fallout from the Iraq war, failures in the legal system and a teenage pregnancy; there’s something for everyone on this soap.
13. Plotting characters
What came first: character or plot? Carlivati understands they are equivocally melodious — especially when you listen to, love and understand your rich canvas. Someone alert soap-hacks Bob Guza Jr., Jean Passanante, Jill Lorie Hurst and Dena Higley, ASAP.
12. Beauty & Brains
Thanks to One Life’s brilliant casting director, Julie Madison, the series employs hunks who can also act. Check out the dream-ilicious John Brotherton (Jared), Mark Lawson (Brody), Trevor St. John (Todd), Michael Easton (John), John-Paul Lavoisier (Rex) and Tuc Watkins (David), for starters. And the executive producer and head writer aren’t so bad to look at, either!
11. Legal Eagles
Missing Boston Legal? The Practice? Ally McBeal? Well, former Washington defense attorney Ron Carlivati marries two of his biggest passions: soaps and law, formulating one hell of a case to tune into One Life. Mr. C — you’re guilty as charged.
10. Soap Opera Musical
With superstar musical talents like Mary J. Blige, Timbaland and Snoop Dogg – and a smattering of popular indie bands – One Life is light years away from competing soaps in the musical department. Today, everyone’s following in their shadow, but One Life is the only soap to procure the big names.
9. Cliffhangers
Remember those nail-biting cliffhangers soaps were famous for? Good luck finding them on daytime these days — with the exception of One Life. The best? Marty goading Todd into committing suicide from a hotel rooftop. As predictable as soaps can be, One Life manages to surprise even TVGuide.ca every week – not an easy feat.
8. The Youth Movement
Unlike most soaps, One Life features its talented and realistic teen brood all year round. Considering the talented younger roster that includes the likes of Kristen and Eddie Alderson (Starr and Matthew), Brittany Underwood (Langston), Jason Tam (Markko), Brandon Buddy (Cole), Carmen LoPorto (Jack), Austin Williams (Shane) and Scott Clifton (Schulyer), that’s a good thing.
7. Smart men, smarter women
On this soap, characters actually learn their lessons. And pay for their crimes — well, except if your name is Todd Manning.
6. It won’t hurt your eyes
Unlike GL and ATWT, One Life’s sets and production values are unrivaled. Award-winning set designer Roger Mooney is obviously watching HGTV; his sets are modern, boast dimension and are full of earth tones, which help the backdrops feel lush and beautiful. In an age of budget cuts, One Life is one of the few soaps that still produces new sets each week. And you don’t have to hurt your eyes by dealing with Peapack, NJ on this serial.
5. The Actors’ Studio
While every other soap is taking heat for firing their popular vets, One Life miraculously showcases their superstar talent on the front burner. From Emmy winners Robin Strasser (Dorian), Erika Slezak (Viki), Hillary B. Smith (Nora), Susan Haskell (Marty), Jerry ver Dorn (Clint), A Martinez (Ray) and Robert S. Woods (Bo); to recurring, mature actors, such as Pamela Peyton-Wright (Addie), Patricia Mauceri (Carlotta), Janet Zarish (ex-Lee/Janet), Ilene Kristen (Roxy), Patricia Elliot (Renee), Peter Bartlett (Nigel), Loyita Chapel (ex-Dallas) and John Rue (Moe); this soap doesn’t endorse age discrimination. One Life also employs two out-and-proud actors, Lea DeLaria (Madame Delphina) and Scott Evans (Fish). Even better? This show is actor-proof. Who would have ever thought One Life could successfully recast iconic roles like Dorian Cramer Lord, Viki Lord, Todd Manning, Tina Roberts and Clint Buchanan?
4. History Repeats Itself
While viewers could have gone without a Mendorra-redux, One Life writers love referencing past stories, characters' histories and pop culture jokes. Recently, instead of creating a new under-five role, One Life resurrected Lee Halpern, Dallas, Cain Rogan, Alex Olanov, Max Holden, Carlo Hesser and Andrew Carpenter. Most recently, we loved it when Nora observed how different Blair is now from when she married Asa Buchanan (played by Ameri-Asian actress Mia Korf at the time and not Southerner Kassie DePaiva).
3. LOL! Scenes
Drama is comedy; comedy is drama — One Life gets that. Laugh track not included.
2. Sexy, Madly, Deeply
Couples on this soap actually date and romance each other without marrying, divorcing and baring illegitimate babies in less than six months. Couple like Jared and Natalie, Blair and John, Rex and Gigi, Dorian and David, Charlie and Viki, Clint and Nora or Starr and Cole haven’t been married yet, despite orbiting in one another's existance for years.
1. Tuc Watkins happens here
Historically, One Life has always been an ensemble soap – rarely do superstars dominate this series. The last time One Life gave birth to a superstar was when Roger Howarth broke out as Todd Manning. However, today it’s Tuc Watkins (Desperate Housewives) as David who effortlessly steals the entire show. Namaste, indeed.
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Nelson Branco is a Toronto freelance entertainment journalist, who regularly contributes to Hello! Canada, The National Post, The Los Angeles Times' theenvelope.com, TV Guide USA, tvguide.com, Inside Entertainment, OUT, and fab magazine, along with spearheading the soap coverage for TVGuide.ca's popular daytime TV hub. After graduating from Ryerson University in 1997, he moved from Toronto to New York in 1998 to take on the roles as senior news editor at Soap Opera Update. Branco first freelanced for Soap Opera Weekly as an intern in 1994, and after leaving Soap Update to help create and launch Bauer Publishing's In Touch Weekly in 2003, Branco continued to freelance occasionally for its sister publication, Soaps In Depth. Most recently, he helped create and launch Canada's first celebrity magazine, Weekly Scoop in 2005 as its news and entertainment director. Branco is also a contributor to a new TV show titled Planet Soap to air in Canada and America.
