Watching iconic All My Children character Dixie Cooney die from eating poisoned pancakes goes down as one of the worst moments in Pine Valley history, and it turns out the horrendous plot twist has an even more unpalatable behind-the-scenes story.
During the second episode of EW's Cast Reunions: All My Children series, portrayer Cady McClain looked back on the moment when her longtime alter ego kicked the bucket after consuming drug-laced flapjacks. She reveals that the infamous 2007 storyline was penned in malice by an AMC writer who had it out for her.
"It was a dig at me by one of the writers that very much wanted to put me in my place," she says in the video, which can be viewed here. "I had stepped out of line, and they wanted to put me back in line, and I was going to eat those pancakes, and I was going to learn my lesson, and I certainly did."
After the video aired, McClain took to social media to further explain the incident and revealed what she did to get such a horrendous punishment.
No one asks me what I did! Lol. I was asking the writer for a scene where Tad and Dixie take their kids aside to make sure they know that their dad (Tad) killing someone was wrong. I thought this would be ok. Turns out it was a bad day for an "ask"! 🤣
— Cady McClain (@CadyMcClain) May 27, 2020
"I was asking the writer for a scene where Tad [Michael E. Knight] and Dixie take their kids aside to make sure they know that their dad killing someone was wrong. I thought this would be ok. Turns out it was a bad day for an 'ask'!" she jokes.
When Soap Central's Dan J Kroll expressed surprise that that was considered "stepping out of line," McClain replied, "Generally, actors are encouraged to NOT talk to the writers. But I thought that since this person knew me for so long... But... I know now that I also got this person on a very bad day and... well the rest is history. Hey at least I didn't have my head chopped off! Lol!"
Generally, actors are encouraged to NOT talk to the writers. But I thought that since this person knew me for so long... But... I know now that I also got this person on a very bad day and... well the rest is history. Hey at least I didn’t have my head chopped off! Lol!
— Cady McClain (@CadyMcClain) May 27, 2020
In EW's video, McClain also says she was given a choice by the soap to announce that her departure was her own choice -- even though it wasn't. Ultimately, the actress seems not to have any hard feelings about her exit. She jokes, "My revenge, I guess, was that I really love pancakes... and they were absolutely delicious, so I enjoyed every bite. I was like, 'This doesn't bother me because I'm gonna eat 'em all!'"
As fans of the show know, McClain returned to AMC after her character's death, both as a ghost and when Dixie was revealed to be alive. She also appeared in the show's revived web series after AMC was canceled by ABC in 2011. The actress credits those returns to the fans.
"The fans were amazing!" she says on Twitter. "I was asked back for a contract in 2011 so I guess the powers that be realized it was a gaff, too. But the FANS of Daytime made some noise! And for that, I'm forever deeply appreciative."
The fans were amazing! I was asked back for a contract in 2011 so I guess the powers that be realized it was a gaff, too. But the FANS of Daytime made some noise! And for that, I'm forever deeply appreciative. ❤️
— Cady McClain (@CadyMcClain) May 28, 2020
The second installment of EW's All My Children reunion also features AMC alums Michael E. Knight (ex-Tad Martin, AMC; Martin Gray, General Hospital), Jennifer Bassey (ex-Marian Colby), Jill Larson (ex-Opal Cortlandt), and Darnell Williams (ex-Jesse Hubbard). In addition to talking about pancake deaths, the actors share their memories of late actor David Canary (ex-Adam Chandler/Stuart Chandler), the origins of the Dixie-Tad coupling, and what life was like on the set of the beloved soap opera.
What do you think about Cady McClain's reveal that Dixie was killed as punishment for the actress "stepping out of line"? How much are you enjoying EW's All My Children reunion special? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
