Friday, April 15, 2011

Growing Up with All My Children......

I heard a nasty rumor yesterday.  And I didn't believe it.  Until I saw it on the front page of the USA Today as I checked out of the HEB this morning.

ABC canceled All My Children.

what??

seriously??

I have such mixed feelings over this.

Let me explain.

I grew up watching All My Children - no, I really did - my mom (and her mom and her sister) all watched it from the very beginning - so I remember seeing it on tv in the background, overhearing conversations about it with my mom & grandma, and so inevitably, I started watching it along with her as a teenager.

By the time I was 18, I was hooked.  As I  headed to college and did not own a VCR, I had to schedule my classes around All My Children.  Yeah - I really did.  Somehow Organic Chemistry didn't get picked over AMC - go figure.

When I finally could own a tv & vcr, I taped it - sometime taping all 5 days in a row so I could fast forward through it all to get to the parts I really liked to watch.  And when the dvr came along?  I could zip right through my soap in less than 15 mins if I wanted to.
I even went so far as to meet the famous Susan Lucci at a perfume signing at....

don't laugh...


a Walmart!


(y'all, she was the most gracious, sweetest person.....)

I never really questioned why I liked it.  I didn't care about the bogus story lines - I mean who can't live through a bombing, tornado, kidnapping, airplane crash, and bear mauling? All in one year???

Hasn't everyone had their fiancee ride off a cliff on a motorcycle only to appear 2 years later perfectly fine?

Or find out that you have had a long lost twin sister that your alcoholic mother "gave" to another family?
Or had a baby in a cabin in the woods during a flood?  And was switched with another baby that was born that same night in that same cabin?  Confused much??  Nah- it all makes sense when you watch it....

And that I did - throughout all my working years, I always made time for my show.  Even if I only had an hour to catch a whole week's worth, I'd get it in.
Matt would laugh at me, call me ridiculous, but then ask, "so are Erica & Jack back together?"  Uh huh. Ridiculous.

I can't say it was the story lines or amazing acting that drew me in....I think it was more the tradition of watching it....discussing it with my family as it the characters on AMC were our family.....

Ironically, now that I am home with the kids, I have stopped watching it.  It got too complicated, I got too busy, I got too bored...who knows?  I just stopped.

Yet hearing that it has been canceled makes me a little sad....as if part of my childhood traditions is going away with it.

The Great & the Least,
The Rich & the Poor,
The Weak & the Strong,
In Sickness & in Health,
In Joy & in Sorrow,
In Tragedy & Triumph
You are ALL MY CHILDREN......









13 comments:

Vivienne @ the V Spot said...

I heard yesterday. I have not yet talked to "Maria" to get her take on it. You know they just uprooted all of those people from NYC about 2 years ago and moved them out here to LA. pfft. thannnnks.

Sugarplum Creations Blog said...

Yes, it was the tradition. You are exactly right. I actually never watched All My Children. We were a CBS family, so I grew up watching As The World Turns and Guiding Light. And while I have never watched any Soap Operas as an adult, hearing that they are getting canceled, one by one, makes me want to cry. Why? Not because it's a great show, but because of the tradition. And because of what it really means for our country. More working mamas than stay at home mamas, means that these shows that were created for the "housewife", are no longer needed. I'm sad too Becca :(

Natalia said...

My husband is dumbfounded that people aren't making a bigger deal over this. I'll have to show him your post.

Kelli said...

I used to watch AMC all of the time...I still watch on Soapnet from time to time. I was SO surprised when I heard this...I think it's one of the best ones. I think before long they will all be a thing of the past which is so sad to me.

jennykate77 said...

I read that too! Kinda crazy! It is a little sad. I've watched it over the years...especially when I was in college. So, it's weird to think that it won't be on anymore!

ARM said...

So, I happened upon your blog via Tatertots and Jello...so glad I did. I am interested in you flip flop swap, and can't wait to see details on it. Also, I am very very new to this blogging world. Well, off to read more...

Shawn said...

I had no clue, but since I don't watch TV or read the newspaper that should really come as no surprise.

I did watch it when I was in high school, you know when the Hope Brady poof was in style!

I'm sorry, you're saying goodbye to a dear friend.

Shawn said...

Oops, Hope Brady was Days of Our Lives.

Mom said...

I guess I will have to get more involved with all my children since All My Children has been cancelled. I have watched faithfully for as long as I can remember, over 50 years now.

Macey said...

Is General Hospital being cancelled too? I know there's another one.
How come they're cancelling it anyway??
I never really watch soaps, but if one of my favorites, that was on every day (which is SO cool, btw), was cancelled I'd cry.
Mark and Kelly are so pretty. I want to be her.

Myya said...

Ohhh NOOOO that is so sad. That is like a staple from the last couple generations. MY mom always watched Days & then my hubby's mom always watched General Hospital. I have to admit I got hooked on General Hospital for years.

Seriously, Marc & Kelly are so cute!

Alli said...

I scheduled my classes around General Hospital. :)

Connie said...

I never watched AMC....because as you know...I'm a Y&R fan.

I feel for you though...because someday it'll be my soap being cancelled.

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