The cancellation of All My Children and One Life to Live has rocked the daytime community. Though rumors of the shows' uncertain futures had been batted about for some time, that didn't make the official announcement that both shows would be coming to an end any less painful.

"It saddens me that All My Children is canceled," Susan Lucci (Erica Kane) informed her followers. "I've loved playing Erica Kane and working with Agnes Nixon and the incredible people at AMC. To my loyal fans, thank you for the outpouring of spirit and support. Your kind words mean so very much to me..."

"Please tell all our fans how deeply sorry I am to be losing this wonderful show that has so much heart and so much life," Erika Slezak (Victoria Banks) said via her official fan club. "I will miss my work, my friends, my OLTL family so very much. This is not only a loss to television, but the entire entertainment industry and to the many hard working people of New York who have been the heart and soul of One Life to Live."

"Words can not express how heart broken I am about ABC's decision to cancel the beloved AMC and OLTL. I still am numbed by the announcement even though rumors have been swirling around for months. I think OLTL is better and stronger than ever... and I'm so sorry to see it go," Kassie DePaiva (Blair Cramer, OLTL) told fans on her Facebook page. "As sad as I am, I know our devoted fans must really be devastated. I will miss being Blair... I will miss pretending in Llanview... but most of all I'll miss those wonderful fans and friends I've made over the past 25 years during my time on Daytime TV. Thank you fans for your tireless support and love. We all are better because we had One Live to Live.

"[You are] an amazing group of people," Hillary B. Smith (Nora Hanen, OLTL) wrote. "Love u all so much! We still have so much to be grateful for."

"To all the wonderful AMC and OLTL fans: thank you so very much for your support over the years. We will always be grateful," noted Bobbie Eakes (Krystal Carey, AMC)

"Of course we are all very devastated about the news, but are very grateful we have time to process it," Kristen Alderson (Starr Manning, OLTL)

"Six more months of really good show! This has been the best group of people that I've ever worked with. I am blessed to have been part of AMC," Jordi Vilasuso (Griffin Castillo, AMC) wrote. "Thank you for all the love!!! There's a lot more great stories to come so tell the world to watch All My Children on ABC!

"Rumors are true. AMC and One Life are cancelled," Chrishell Stause (Amanda Dillon, AMC) sighed. "Your support is overwhelming and appreciated! Ill keep you updated on other projects as they happen & still try to amuse you on Twitter."

"Feelings about this are bittersweet. AMC and its legacy ends but we were all blessed to be a part of true television history," Denise Vasi (Randi Hubbard) said.

"It's a sad day in Pine Valley," Stephanie Gatschet (Madison North, AMC) wrote. "We're all still trying to absorb the news... Thank you all for your support! #AMC has the best fans ever. xo"

"With today's news I've had an incredible outpouring of support, and heard & read the voices of 1000s supporting OLTL & AMC's artistic journey. Although the news comes as a mighty surprise to me, it's not myself I'm thinking about but rather the rest of the cast, crew & their families," AMC's Ricky Paull Goldin noted. "I am not angry. I'm only grateful and will miss my AMC family when we go our separate ways in August. I love you all dearly. Ricky."

Comments have not been confined to just the actors and actresses directly impacted by ABC's decision. Stars of other soaps have stepped up to voice their support for their industry colleagues.

"Saddened and shocked by the news of #AMC's cancellation. It's the end of an era," Eden Riegel (Heather Stevens, Y&R) said of the soap where she got her daytime start as Bianca Montgomery. "I love you, AMC."

"It's a shame how it went down with AMC and OLTL. I'm very sad because I have a lot of friends on both shows," Maurice Benard (GH's Sonny Corinthos; ex-Nico Kelly, AMC) told his followers.

"Bummer of a day for ABC Soaps. Sending love and light for all those affected by the decision," General Hospital's Brianna Brown (Lisa Niles) commented.

"Cheers to AMC and OLTL for entertaining us for [more than 40 years], 5 days a week [with] ass kicking soap," added Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis, GH). "We appreciate you and salute you."

"Sad to find out about AMC and One Life," Ingo Rademacher (Jasper Jacks, GH) weighed in. "My thoughts go to all the actors and crew on our sister shows. Very sad."

"I am grateful for my job every single day," Greg Rikaart (Kevin Fisher, Y&R). "Especially today. Wishing the talented casts and crews of AMC and OLTL the best... and seething a bit over the success of shows like the Jersey Shore."

Other comments, though less polished, were equally profound.

"My opinion of OLTL and AMC being canceled is... ABC farted then panicked when a little poop came out," Tyler Christopher (Nikolas Cassadine, GH) offered.

For actors who appeared on As the World Turns, Guiding Light, and Passions, the cancellations were painful reminders of a genre that has seen way too many shows end in recent years.

I AM ENRAGED (SO USING CAPS)," Tina Sloan (Lillian Raines) vented on Twitter. "They are destroying a heritage of generations of watches. Hate this. So, so upset. GL all over again."

Former daytime stars have also expressed their grief, outrage, and support.

"This is like losing a member of your family," Kelly Ripa, who got her start as AMC's Hayley Vaughan, told RadarOnline.com. ""All My Children was more than a job -- it was my family. It was there that I met my husband; it was there when my first two children were born; it was there where I met many of my life-long friends."

"A moment of silence for a disappearing genre," Castle star and one of OLTL's former Joey Buchanans posted on Twitter. "OLTL and AMC, we'll miss your hard work and talent."

"My heart is with you on this awful black Thursday. Shame shame shame," soap vet Catherine Hickland told her fans. "Because every show Brian Frons touches, dies, does that make him a serial killer?"

Grief was not confined to daytime stars. Academy Award winner Marlee Matlin came out of the proverbial closet as an All My Children fan when she shared memories of meeting some of the show's stars.

"Who imagined that the Welcome to Pine Valley sign would ever come down? All My Children axed. Goodbye, Erica Kane. You were GREAT," Matlin posted on Twitter. "I remember how excited I was to meet Ruth Warwick, aka Phoebe Tyler and Susan Lucci, THE Erica Kane. Wonderful AMC memories."

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.

Post a Comment Share on Facebook Tweet this Submit Feedback