LYNDA HIRSCH ON SOAPS -- GOSSIP by Lynda Hirsch on Creators.com

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LYNDA HIRSCH ON SOAPS -- GOSSIP

"All My Children" celebrates its 40th anniversary Jan. 5. Pine Valley, the setting of "AMC," is named "The Most Congenial Town in America." We always knew it. Over the years, any stranger could find a place to live for free between the Martin House, Tad's house and Myrtle's Boarding House. I think at Myrtle's, you did pay rent. To honor her hometown, Hayley (Kelly Ripa), who has a national talk show, and Mateo (Marc Consuelos) appear in two special episodes airing Jan. 4-5. As for Ripa and Consuelos, yes, they are married in real life. Yes, Ripa co-hosts "Regis and Kelly." Hayley's show is called "Wave."

"It is always great to come home," says Ripa.

"AMC's" creator, Agnes Nixon, has a lot to say about her long-lived show:

"As soon as a few of its colorful residents invaded my imagination over forty years ago, Pine Valley became my second home and family. A very large and loving family, beginning with the devoted writers and talented actors who bring the characters to life. Then production, from the executive producer and her staff, to studio crews, whose technical skills work the magic of television.

And all this done day, after day, after day. Finally, but most importantly are the millions of viewers down the decades whose loyalty to ALL MY CHILDREN and its quixotic characters has kept us on the air for 40 years. To this family, I am forever grateful," Nixon said in a press release.

Ripa and Consuelos will be joined by Eva La Rue (Maria) and Julia Barr (Brooke) — perhaps we will learn where Brooke has been all this time. I doubt it. Also on hand will be Laurence Lau (Greg), Taylor Miller (Nina), James Mitchell (Palmer), Leven Rambin (Lily) and Eden Riegel (Bianca).

The timing of the two special episodes also marks a new beginning for "AMC," as Jan. 4 is the show's first day of production in Los Angeles.

The state-of-the-art studio will allow the show to move into the future, broadcasting in high-definition with more expansive studio space and sets, which will enable creative growth and storytelling. The show's first HD broadcast is anticipated sometime in February. "One Life to Live" moves into "AMC's" former studio in February.

To make this move, lots of crewmembers lost their jobs. While many "AMC" actors were asked or agreed to make the move, many have not. For now, Susan Lucci (Erica) and Vincent Irizarry (David) will fly back and forth. Thorsten Kaye (Zach) declined to make the move — thus the story line in which Zach and Kendall (Alicia Minshew) take a time out from Pine Valley. No official word on whether Minshew will return after her maternity leave. The actress recently gave birth to a daughter and took a quick break from her leave to film exit scenes with Kaye.

Chuck Pratt Jr., who head wrote the show, was let go last month. While Lorraine Broderick is taking over for now, the show is still looking for a new head writer. "AMC" needs someone at its helm who understands the show and its characters. "AMC" has always been a character-based show, not an event-based show. The way each character responded to a crisis is what made the show such a marvelous program. Pratt liked the big event. Nothing wrong with that if one stays true to the characters. That was the problem.

With the re-teaming of Liza and Tad about to start, it appears that "AMC" is getting back to basics. Imagine how Adam will take Tad now being officially involved with two of his children. Of course, life with Liza will not be a day at the beach for Tad. So there will be drama galore. If only the new writer could undo the "Stuart is dead" story. While the payoff of Adam having done the deed was an interesting twist, the payoff can never be more important than the event.

For now, we will not overshadow the big event, which is the special "AMC" episodes and the move.

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.