ABC Cancels Iconic Soaps 'One Life to Life,' 'All My Children'

ABC announced Thursday that they are canceling two of their long-running soap operas, 'One Life to Live' and 'All My Children.'

Generations of viewers have grown up with the two programs, as "One Life to Live" has been on the air for almost 43 years, while 'All My Children' has been airing for 41 years. In axing "All My Children," the network puts Susan Lucci, arguably daytime's most well-known actress, out of work, and silences her iconic character, Erica Kane.

Both Emmy-award winning shows have been noted for tackling social issues; Ryan Phillippe guest-starred in a 1992 homophobia storyline for "One Life to Live," culminating in the reading of names from the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, while "All My Children" featured daytime's first same-sex wedding between two women. The shows have also touched on issues like racial prejudice, gang violence, teen pregnancy, abortion, acquaintance rape, spousal abuse, organ donations and more issues.

Viewers will bid adieu to "All My Children" in September 2011, while "One Life to Live" will go off the air in January of 2012. The network promises to "conclude each series in a manner that respects their legacies and the longstanding hopes of many of their viewers."

The long-running shows will be replaced by new lifestyle shows, "The Chew," which will focus on food, and "The Revolution," which will focus on health and lifestyle transformations.