Transformers star Josh Duhamel will pop in to ABC’s All My Children.
The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that the actor, who first got his start on the long-running soap, will reprise his role as conman Leo du Pres in an upcoming episode before the daytime staple ends its run in September.
His episode will air in August.
ABC opted in April to cancel All My Children and One Life To Live, which have been part of its daytime lineup since 1970 and 1968, respectively, to make room for two younger-skewing lifestyle-oriented series: The Chew and The Revolution.
On Monday, ABC announced plans to launch a syndicated afternoon talk show with Katie Couric in the time slot occupied by its third soap opera, General Hospital, starting in September 2012. The network specified that it continues to support GH, and told THR: “The announcement does not mean the inevitable cancellation of General Hospital. Rather, it means that in September 2012, we will program our daytime block with our three strongest shows.”
Fans of AMC and Life protested outside the network’s upfront presentation in May in a demonstration organized by SoapFansUnited.com, encouraging advertisers to “consider carefully whether ABC/Disney’s strategy will increase your company’s revenue or create consumer loyalty toward your products. Your consumers see ABC/Disney’s move to new daytime programming for what it is — glorified infomercials appropriate for late-night basic cable channels, not for a major broadcast network.”
Entertainment Weekly first reported the news.
