Soap Operas 'One Life to Live' and 'All My Children' to Continue Online?

When ABC cancelled two of their longest-running soap operas--"One Life to Live" and "All My Children"--the outrage from the soap opera fans was loud and clear. But despite that backlash, ABC didn't have much of a choice: the landscape of daytime television is changing, and viewers are more interested in talk shows than soaps. So it seemed that those two shows were going the way of the dodo.

But there might be hope for them yet: The Washington Post reports that "One Life to Live" and "All My Children" might return to viewers in a new form as a pair of web series.

Thus far, webisodes have mostly only been used in two ways: as a way for low-budget, independent series to get viewers, and as supplemental viewing to network shows like "30 Rock," which produces webisodes in addition to their TV episodes. For a show to start on TV and then switch to the web, especially a show that has been running for more than 40 years, would be unprecedented.

There are still a few hurdles to jump before this becomes a reality. First of all, if the original cast and crew were to continue working on the web series they would have to take a sizable pay cut. Whether they are willing to trade good pay for a consistent paycheck remains to be seen. Also, the question of who will fund the venture has to be answered as Prospect Park's Web division has yet to be finalized.

But if successful, this could be a huge jump for Internet entertainment. If it proves successful enough, we could start seeing shows with fan support going to the Web instead of being cancelled entirely. Plus, even if the TV actors and writers aren't able to take the pay cuts, this sort of content could provide opportunities for younger actors and writers to get steady work.

If the web show idea is a no-go, we've got five other great ideas for how the networks can save the soaps.