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One Network is Finally Getting It!

In a cyberworld where broadcast television is getting more diluted by the minute -- as viewers switch their entertainment preferences from pure TV to internet, ipods, iphones, video games, texting, BluRay, etc. -- ABC Daytime is finally taking the plunge into cybercasting with their brand new webisode series "What If." The webisodes premiere on abc.com and soapnet.com on Monday, July 12, 2010.

This is great news for soapdom in general, where soap operas have been dropping by the wayside in leaps and bounds the past few years as broadcast networks would much rather air the cheaper-to-produce game, talk or court show than a soap with a cast of up to 40 contract players and a production crew of up to 100 personnel. The most recent casualty is As the World Turns, which has taped it's last episode after 52 years and will air only into early September of this year.

Could something like the ABC Daytime produced innovative "What If" series be the next generation of soap opera distribution?

For starters, the "What If" series will answer the question, "What would happen if two characters from different soaps ran into each other, what would they say?"

Sounds like fun!

Meanwhile, webisodes staring soap stars are nothing new. The Young and the Restless and All My Children's Eden Reigel has starred in "Imaginary Bitches," online for several years. Young and the Restless' Lauralee Bell, writes, produces, stars in and directs episodes of her web series, "Family Dinner," also starring Cloris Leachman among others and airing on Funny or Die. Martha Byrne, late of As the World Turns, has produced and stars in a web series called "Gotham." Crystall Chappell of Days of our Lives and the now defunct Guiding Light (after a 72-year run) is the force behind "Venice," another web series. "Miss Behave," a teen web series features Days of our Lives Jillian Clare now showing on KoldCast.tv; and currently in production is "The Bay," starring a myriad of past and present soap stars like Nicholas Costa (Santa Barbara), Matthew Borlenghi (All My Children, General Hospital), Mary Beth Evans (Days of our Lives), Stephen Nichols (Days of our Lives, General Hospital), Tristan Rogers (General Hospital, General Hospital Night Shift, McKenzie Westmore (All My Children, Passions) and others.

But Soapdom couldn't be more delighted to see the broadcast network of ABC forging into cyberspace with web series of its own. Through the 10-part installments of "What If," that will also coincidentally air in cut-down-versions on ABC Daytime and SOAPnet's broadcast platform, viewers will see well-known characters from "All My Children," "One Life to Live" and "General Hospital" interact with one another, and will be privy to their conversations. The webisodes will be derivative of the characters and their unique past, but are not related to current storyline.

"One Life to Live's" executive producer, Frank Valentini, is director for the webisode series.

Here's a sneak peek at the first eisodes that are airing beginning next Monday:

Week 1 (July 12th):

• "All My Children's" Erica Kane (Susan Lucci) and "General Hospital's" Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard): When Sonny's plan to use Erica as an alibi goes awry, his claustrophobia gets the best of both of them.

• "All My Children's" Ryan Lavery (Cameron Mathison) and "General Hospital's" Carly Jacks (Laura Wright): Carly gives Ryan a refresher course on how to channel his inner bad boy.

• "One Life To Live's" Todd Manning (Trevor St. John) and "General Hospital's" Damian Spinelli (Bradford Anderson): Spinelli's fear of flying frustrates Todd to no end and unexpectedly changes their flight plan.

Stay tuned to Soapdom as we preview each new webisode the Friday before they air!

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