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With new scribes at the helm, what's in store for Llanview?

JOSH GRIFFITH AND MICHAEL MALONE RETURN TO ABC DAYTIME'S "ONE LIFE TO LIVE" 
 
Three-time Emmy Award-winning writer Josh Griffith has been named headwriter of the ABC Television Network's Daytime drama "One Life to Live," effective November 4, 2002. Mr. Griffith will once again team with Emmy Award-winner and critically acclaimed novelist Michael Malone, who has been named creative consultant for "One Life to Live," also effective November 4.

"This writing team have distinguished themselves with the caliber and passion of their storytelling," says Brian Frons, president, ABC Daytime. "I am looking for Josh and Michael to tell quality, diverse stories leveraging the strengths that exist on the canvas, many of which were created by this team. I am proud to welcome Josh and Michael back to ABC Daytime and to 'One Life to Live.'"

In 1991 Mr. Malone and Mr. Griffith joined OLTL's writing team as headwriter and co-headwriter, respectively, under the leadership of executive producer Linda Gottlieb. In 1994 the OLTL writing team was awarded the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for the fraternity gang rape storyline which also garnered three wins in the acting categories (Hillary B. Smith, Roger Howarth and Susan Haskell). In 1992 the writing team was awarded the Writers Guild of America Award and, in 1993, won the GLAAD Award for the critically acclaimed homophobia storyline centered around the character of Billy Douglas, played by Ryan Phillippe.

Mr. Griffith served as the associate headwriter for the Daytime drama "Santa Barbara" from February 1988 - June 1991. In both 1989 and 1991, the writing team was awarded the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series. Mr. Griffith joined the writing team of OLTL in July 1991 and served as co-headwriter until July 1995. He then went on to co-create, with Mr. Malone, "Mrs. Wilder's Law," a one-hour pilot for ABC, and "13 Bourbon Street," on which he and Mr. Malone teamed as headwriters. In 1997 Mr. Griffith co-created "Sunset Beach" with Charles Pratt, Jr. and Robert Guza, Jr. After several successful years working for Columbia TriStar International Television, Mr. Griffith completed production on the independent film "Blur" in the summer of 2002, which he wrote and directed. Mr. Griffith will relocate to Manhattan.

"I'm thrilled to be back at 'One Life,' and to be back at ABC, working with such talented and creative people as Brian Frons and Felicia Behr. And I'm ecstatic that Michael Malone, in the midst of so successful a career as a novelist, can join me in 'Llanview,' again," says Mr. Griffith.

Harvard-educated Michael Malone is the author of nine internationally acclaimed novels, including Handling Sin, Uncivil Seasons and Foolscap, as well as a collection of short stories and several works of non-fiction. Praised by critics for his Dickensian storytelling ability, Mr. Malone will embark this November on a tour for his new Christmas novel, The Last Noel. Among his other books is Time's Witness, in which he created a role that inspired OLTL's "Nora," played by Hillary B. Smith. In 1991 Mr. Malone won the New York Emmy Award for a television play. As headwriter for the Daytime drama "Another World," he received a Writers Guild of America Award nomination. Mr. Malone resides in North Carolina with his wife, Maureen Quilligan, Chair of the Duke University English Department.

Mr. Griffith and Mr. Malone have both expressed their delight at the opportunity to collaborate again on "One Life to Live." Mr. Malone's First Lady, the book he wrote after returning to the novel from television, is dedicated to Mr. Griffith. "Josh brings both passion and brilliance to his writing. It's great to be back in 'Llanview' with him, " says Mr. Malone.

Co-headwriter Lorraine Broderick will continue to serve on the OLTL writing team.

Emmy Award-winning "One Life to Live," created by Agnes Nixon, was launched July 15, 1968. Gary Tomlin executive-produces. Th popular drama consistently ranks among the top five in the key demographic of Women 18-49. "One Life to Live" airs MONDAY-FRIDAY (2:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

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