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'Oh My God!' was the reaction to the many fans that came out to the "Loving Llanview" event in Merrillville, IN to see their favorite stars from One Life To Live and be able to get up close and personal. It was like a Sunday afternoon chat fest that was real intimate and the feeling was like hanging around old friends.

When Kassie DePavia (Blair) came out it was like... 'I can't believe she is here.'. Joining her were fellow cast-mates, Trevor St. John (Victor), Tuc Watkins (David), Melissa Archer (Natalie), Hillary B. Smith (Nora), and John Paul- Lavoisier ( Rex).

The moment was bittersweet, as the cast got together to reminisce about their days on One life to Live and stroll down memory lane.

Michael Gold, President of Celebrity Events Group and organizer of the event said, "This may be the last chance of this event. I hope I'm wrong, but with the show no longer on the air, it is hard to establish an audience to come." he said. "When the show was on, I saw thousands of fans coming, but as times goes by, it has dwindled. It is like anything else."

DePavia kept repeating to the fans "This is about you. This event is for you. We are here for you." The actors answered questions that the fans want the answers to. Even at times talking about their personal life.

Vocal is one word to describe the actors' sentiments about the cancellation of the show. Telling the audience that they can say anything they want, unanimously saying, they no longer work for ABC. The actors expressed how they found out in a cold manner of the cancellation. "I remember when 'All My Children' moved to Los Angeles, we moved into their old studio, and all the hoopla was just about promoting AMC. I believe we saw the writing on the wall," DePavia said.

Hillary B. Smith said that ABC made the biggest mistake ever. "I can only say these so-called higher ups really pulled a blunder, but there is nothing we can do."

Though the actors reminisced, they also told the crowd that sadly One Life To Live is dead. "I can tell you now...the show will never be back on ABC," Watkins said. "Even if the show were to resurface somewhere, I know it would never be the same. We just have to accept this."

Lavoisier believes the down fall of the show came because it was too plot driven. No writing for the character. "I know we are a talented group, but everything was about the plot. It's like we just came in and did it."

Trevor St. John got a round of applause for taking over the role of Todd in the beginning of the storyline. (Roger Howarth played the role for years). Myra Johnson of Schaumburg, Il., told him that when he came on, she despised him. "I must tell you...and I'm glad in person I get this chance, but you were super." St. John thanked his fans.

During the "Stump the Star" segment, Melissa Archer crashed. She did not remember a certain role, but jokingly said, "I only remember the clothes I wore."

The actors today are living the actor's life. Going on auditions and hoping to land something. DePavia's character (Blair) is on General Hospital short-term, but she doesn't see the role going anywhere. "I'm there, but I think it's a rating thing. I really don't see a future. I am on the lookout for new and exciting ventures."

The actors were all in agreement that if another soap comes up, they would jump to it. "Oh absolutely. It's a job that you call a job. I loved it,"Smith said.

Smith also has been playing a short term role on Bold and Beautiful, as Stacy Burton, a psychiatrist specializing in sex therapy. Did she enjoy it? "Hell Yes! I'd be a janitor if it meant work."

One Life To live still has a following of devoted fans. Ken Adams, a retired man from Indiana is a Kassie DiPavia groupie. "Oh you bet. I love her. She is so talented. I follow her where she goes. I'm there for her. I have to tell you, this is a very special lady, not only as an actress, but as a person."

Soapdom put the question to the fans asking, how they feel about the loss of the show? All are in agreement saying that their day and life is not the same, and they terribly miss the show and their beloved characters that were like family.

Brooke Batson, of Highland, IN, said "I believe it (Llanview) was just a place you go to hang out everyday."

David Landers, traveled from Ohio to the event said, "I did my school schedule to this show. Now I'm a lawyer and guess what? I still worked around this show. It is a travesty. I hope the people that pulled the plug know the travesty they did to the ABC fans. As a result...I will not even watch my local ABC news. I switched to the bird (NBC)."

The event ended with a photo signing and picture session with the stars. And the fans left with a memory they will always cherish. As John Paul- Lavoisier said, "It just was a wonderful day."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                        All photos (c) Soapdom, Inc./Carol Kozlowski

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