General Hospital star Maurice Benard was joined by his co-star Cameron Matthison for his podcast State of Mind. It was there for the first time Benard publicly shared his thoughts on the cancellation of All My Children and One Life to Live.
During the podcast Benard said, “I want to say something. They made a mistake. They know they did. They made a huge mistake cancelling All My Children and One Life to Live. I think it was one of those things where they didn’t know the power of the soap opera audience.” He continued, “That’s why it’s difficult to cancel a soap now. Because I think they learn from that. That’s my opinion.”
Matthison, who starred on All My Children, agreed with Benard’s statements saying, “It’s a big chunk of the audience. We see how General Hospital is doing. Not only on network but also streaming. It’s a bigger entity than just that time slot. The fans and the loyalty they bring. What Frank (Valentini, executive producer) is doing over there to make sure we get new eyeballs on it, yeah, I bet you’re right. I bet you there are people who absolutely regret that decision.” To which Benard responded, “I felt that years ago, that they know they messed up.”
After decades on the air, ABC canceled All My Children and One Life to Live on April 14, 2011.
Benard hosts his podcast State of Mind. This podcast is described as: “Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, bipolar, or depression, or simply want to cultivate a more positive mindset, the STATE OF MIND PODCAST, hosted by 3 Time Emmy Award-Winning Actor, Maurice Benard is a powerful resource to help you explore and improve your mental health and wellness. Join Maurice Benard and his guests, celebrities, actors, musicians, sports legends, influencers, educators, authors, artists, and more, in an intimate and insightful conversation as they share their personal stories and explore the human experience.”
Benard got his professional start in Daytime on fellow ABC soap opera All My Children in the role of Nico Kelly which he portrayed from 1987-1989. Additional credits include: Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter, Nightmare Cinema, and Victoria Gotti: My Father’s Daughter.
State of Mind releases new episodes weekly on YouTube and all podcast platforms.
General Hospital airs weekdays at 2 p.m. EST on ABC and streams daily on Hulu.
