New All My Children Head Writers Speak!
In January, David Kreizman and Donna Swajeski were named new co-head writers of All My Children. The pair - who were co-head writers on Guiding Light (earning them a 2007 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Writing) - recently sat down with us to give us their thoughts on Pine Valley, and what stories we can expect to see in the comings months.
SOAPnet.com: How is it going so far?
David Kreizman: "So far it's going great. We've really been thrown into the mix. We've had lots of meetings with everyone in every department and luckily we've had relationships with some other people on the team, so there is a comfort level."
Donna Swajeski: "How can you not be happy taking over a show like this? It has such a great history, and we love that. We were fans before we were writers."
David: "We've spent a good amount of time with Agnes [Nixon] and that's been really helpful and exciting."
Why did you want to write for this show?
Donna: "We were fans of the show, and we do love to work together. This came up and it was the perfect blend for us because we love tradition. We love family and all that warm stuff, and yet, we are contemporary writers, so it's kind of good to have that blend of the old and the new. That's what we love about this show. It has a good blend. It has great roots and tradition, and yet it can be funny and hip."
David: "And I've never worked at ABC before, and that's something that I've always wanted to do. I had great experiences with Proctor & Gamble and CBS, but there is just something different in that ABC owns its own shows and can promote them in a different way."
Donna: "And I started here at ABC years ago, so it's like coming home."
Donna, Didn't you work for All My Children?
Donna: "I worked at ABC as an executive just right out of college. The first shows I [worked on] were actually All My Children and Loving. I mean, can you imagine being thrown in with the master storyteller, Agnes Nixon? I got to learn a lot from her, and many things that she told me would happen in life came true. I always remember her words. She was a great person to begin my career with."
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Comments (131)
JAke & Amanda are NTO tehonly couple thats been through hell. Frankei & Randi lost a child, he was almost killed at war, she was nearly raped and both were tormented by Madison for weeks. Frankei & Randi AND Huubard fans deserve to ee them in some happy times and gettign a 2nd chance at parenthood. AMC please dont piss me off. I love watching the show but if Frankie & Randi are tortured some more and they are denied another child I WILL BE PISSED!
Its bad enough we had to endure Jesse havig a child on the run but then we were denied watching the all Hubbards enjoy Frandis pregeancy and welcome a new baby with all the family love & togetherness the Hubbards excel at.
Some of the ideas expressed here are very good. I like the fact that the writers will be exploring AMC history, going back to the roots of what made this show so successful in the past. There's the upcoming tribute to Palmer Cortlandt and the return, if only briefly, of Nina and Daisy. Yay to that! And the future storyline centering around the Hubbards sounds great...the more we see of Angie & Jesse, the better. I like the plan to put JR front center as the new Head of the Chandler Family, especially if goody-goody Marissa starts to show more of a backbone. (Or even a dark side. She IS David's daughter, after all! Blood will out.) And I love any storyline featuring my all-time favorite character, Tad Martin. As for Erica, she seems to have been revitalized by Jack's return to Pine Valley. Any scene with Susan Lucci & Walt Willey is pure magic, and I'm glad to see that the new writers appreciate the chemistry there.
However, I'm a little disconcerted by the statement that "Greenlee and Ryan are hugely popular." Since when? I don't know ANYONE who has ever enjoyed this pairing. Ryan is an abusive jerk, and while under his influence Greenlee turned into a Stepford Wife. That was NOT pleasant to watch. If you check any online AMC site, you'll see how much and how universally the fans HATE Ryan & Greenlee as a couple. If you took an informal poll today, I'd be willing to bet that about 90% of the viewers would give Rylee the thumbs down. I myself would MUCH prefer her to stay married to David! Indefinitely. I can only assume that Brian Frons, who is dead from the neck up, has been pushing to reunite this benighted couple. Frons has a history of not listening to public opinion or anyone else, for that matter. He just blindly follows his own instincts, which tend to be off base most of the time---and HE loves Rylee. For several years now he has been ramming Rylee down our throats----one of the reasons why AMC has been down in the ratings---and I only hope that the new writers "catch a clue" sometime soon and start to listen to what the viewers want.
Liza does not need to be redefined. She needs to be recast!
Sure would like to know who told the new HW that Ryan/Greenlee were popular? Not in my book they weren't. Ryan, I always liked. Greenlee, not so much. She always want what she can't have. David, I don't think he knows what he wants. VI is such a great actor, I wished David wasn't a doctor. I wished he had his own business empire, like Adam Chandler. With David Canary leaving, the show is going to need another Adam like character. David Haywood would be perfect for that role. I just don't see JR in that role. His name may be Adam Chander the second, but I don't see him in that role. He's not his father's son. JR is too nice to be ruthless.
The entire Hubbard family should definitely be front and center. Sorry, but the whole Tad the Cad thing doesn't work for a middle aged man. It was fine in the 80's but not today. It's fine for him to date, since he is a single man. But he does have a grown son and two little girls, so he shouldn't be running after young women his son's age.
Don't know how much AMC will improved, since daytime continues to recycle the same writers from one soap to another. Maybe it's time for them to get some fresh writers and some fresh ideas.
I left this show when JErica was trashed. I came back a month ago and apparelty these new idiots are going to make make tune OUT again. Well, your loss is DOOL's gain. Good work again AMC. Make us TUNE OUT instead of wanting to tune back in.
I like the idea of romance with Jake and Amanda.
I'd also like some wonderful romance with Frankie and Randi too. They are beautiful, loving and Oh-So-Sexy.
The idea of Jesse & Angie in a front burner storyline is music to my eyes. I hope it also includes more of the Hubbard family in scenes together.
We've got Emma, Kathy, Jenny, AJ and baby Trevor. It's time Frankie and Randi add to the kiddie crew with a baby of their own.
A hot new man for Erica is long overdue.
Damon and Colby together should make for fascinating drama.
I'm happy for the fans for the Hubbard family. As to my own favorites, yay, at last we are going to see some story for Jake and Amanda!!! When the show so needs a couple that is fresh, funny and so in love, they have been MIA for weeks. Cannot wait to see what's in store for them and the extended Martin family. Bring on JaManda!!!!
I only came back to AMC when I heard Greenlee was with David and I'm loving these two together, so I say let them explore a real romance. If Rylee happens again I'll stop watching again, I can't take another round of Greens going back to her abusive ex. Exactly who is Rylee hugely popluar with? I've never seen anything that supports that statement.
I love the idea of Angie/Jesse getting a FB story.
The whole Chandler/Cortland dynamic sounds good but what Cortland's are left since they got rid of Petey?
I have no faith in any writer who says things like:
"Ryan & Greenlee are hugely popular", "Greenlee is a strong character", ""From what we can tell, the audience is really starting to get a sense of JL/Liza and accept her".
Are you kidding me or just spewing the party line..
First, Rylee are loathed by the masses. Ryan, Greenlee, Rylee are so overexposed, so overused, & their time came & went a long time ago. Ryan is an abuser, Greenlee a baby-napping, baby-maiming, stalker who acts like a 12 year old... That might have been cute when RB first took over the role, but now it's just annoying.
JL/Liza is the worst recast in the history of daytime and she needs to go....Not be redefinded again... They've done that 4 times already.....
Sorry, but hearing all this ish about Greenlee, Rylee, Liza..... makes me want to cry....
You want strong men.... Bring back TK/Zach...... get rid of Ryan Lavery...
Annie is a one-note joke... Her time has come and gone.
How about making the bad guys pay & the victims get justice... Ryan, Greenlee, Annie all commited vile crimes... Instead of ignoring it or making their crimes okay, make them pay....get rid of them..
I see no hope for AMC if they continue down this road.... and it's sad......really sad, but it's still Frons AMC so why am I not surprised....
So far I really like what the writers have plan for most of the characters on the show especially the Martins and Jake & Amanda. I am happy to see they will be feature more and I"m definitely looking forward to seeing more romance for these two. Hopefully the new writers can deliver on what they are talking about.