ABC Daytime and TV Land Join Forces to Create an Unprecedented Cross-Over Event

PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ABC Daytime and TV Land have joined forces to create an unprecedented network event where characters from "All My Children" and "Hot in Cleveland" cross-over to continue a storyline established on last season's "Hot in Cleveland."  The story revolves around Wendie Malick's character, Victoria Chase, and her industry-nemesis, Susan Lucci.  The two-part "Hot in Cleveland" episodes will air on TV Land on February 16th and February 23rd at 10PM ET/PT and the "All My Children" episode will air on ABC at 1PM ET/12PM PT on February 24th.

"All My Children's" Emmy Award®-winners Susan Lucci, Michael E. Knight and Darnell Williams will appear as themselves on "Hot in Cleveland" and Golden Globe®-winner Wendie Malick as her "Hot in Cleveland" character Victoria Chase will appear on "All My Children" as Gertie, a housekeeper who ends up moonlighting as a bartender at Confusion after Erica Kane fires her.

"We are thrilled Victoria Chase will join the cast of 'All My Children' – there are very few actresses who could pull off a dual role performance as BOTH a maid and bartender. We hope she is up to the challenge," teased Julie Carruthers, executive producer, "All My Children."  Brian Frons, president daytime, Disney ABC Television Network joked, "There is only room for one Erica Kane in Pine Valley and Victoria Chase will unfortunately find that out the hard way."  Frons went on to say, "This is a unique opportunity to raise awareness of both shows with similar demos and we expect each other's viewers to follow from one show to the next."

"We're so happy that Victoria Chase will finally get to show 'All My Children' fans why she is a soap superstar," responds Larry W. Jones, president, TV Land.  "We're so excited to partner with 'All My Children' to bring to life this classic TV form when television worlds collide."

"Hot in Cleveland" revolves around three fabulous best friends from Los Angeles – novelist Melanie Moretti (Valerie Bertinelli), eye-brow archer to the stars, Joy Scroggs (Jane Leeves) and former soap star Victoria Chase (Wendie Malick) – who find their lives changed forever when their plane, headed for Paris, makes an unexpected landing.  When the friends discover that life is better for them since they are hot in Cleveland, they decide to stay.  Starting over together, they rent a house that happens to come with a very opinionated caretaker (Betty White).

Filmed in front of a live studio audience, "Hot in Cleveland" is executive produced by Emmy® Award-winner Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner of Hazy Mills Productions and is helmed by Emmy® Award-winning Suzanne Martin ("Frasier," "Ellen") serving as executive producer, show runner and writer.  Lynda Obst also serves as executive producer.

Season one of "Hot in Cleveland" will be available on DVD on January 11th, just in time to relive all ten hilarious episodes from the first season before the second season kicks off.  The two-disc set is loaded with uproarious bonus material including: the original full-length pilot, bloopers, wardrobe featurette, We Love Our Age featurette, a set tour, Victoria's (Malick) full-length Japanese Lady Pants commercial and more.

Entertainment Weekly and TV Land have named Susan Lucci one of the Top 50 Television Icon's of all Time for her portrayal of the legendary Erica Kane, the sexy, sassy, beautiful "woman you love to hate!"  In May 1999, all of America stood and cheered when she won the Emmy Award® for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and in 2005 she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Three-time Emmy Award®-winner Michael E. Knight created the role of Tad Martin on "All My Children" in 1983, when he was better known as "Tad the Cad."  Today, Tad is less of a cad, but ever more a fan favorite and respected actor.  Emmy Award®-winner Darnell Williams made a triumphant return to the show in January 2008, after a 20-year absence, to reprise the fan-favorite role of the presumed deceased Jessie Hubbard.

"All My Children" celebrated its 40th anniversary on January 5th, 2010. The program has successfully maintained its popularity and continues to be one of daytime's most compelling dramas. "All My Children" took home the 1998 Emmy Award for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series, the third time the show received this top honor, having also garnered the award in 1994 and 1992.  In 2004 the show also received its third consecutive Emmy Award for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series Writing, its third Writers Guild Award and its fourth GLAAD Media Award in March 2007.

Created by Agnes Nixon, "All My Children" premiered on the ABC Television Network on January 5, 1970, as a half-hour show; seven years later it expanded to an hour.  Julie Hanan Carruthers is executive producer with David Kreizman and Donna Swajeski as co-head writers.  "All My Children" is produced in Los Angeles and airs MONDAY-FRIDAY (1:00-2:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

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