Erika Slezak
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Well, not all soap operas. And not even her own soap opera, One Life to Live.

But Erika Slezak did recently explain to SoapCentral.com why she has a problem with how some daytime dramas treat their cast members. Here are highlights from a recent interview the actress gave:

I don't want to criticize the executives because I know where they're coming from. They're worried about money. But at the same time, they do not understand the value of keeping the characters, keeping the loyalty of the viewers. When they get rid of certain older characters, and I'm not talking about myself, I'm talking about on other shows where they have gotten rid of certain older characters…

I'm shocked because these are the people audiences have watched for 30 or 40 years. They're going to be upset. But the executives have to make their decisions and they don't make them from an artistic point of view. They make them from a practical point of view.

...they live and die on these focus groups. And, yes, you can get 25 people in a room to say, 'Yes, I hate this person and that person,' but I don't think that represents the entire viewing audience. It's very skewed because those are people, number one, who want to come and talk. They are willing to come and talk. And they are paid to come and talk. This is not an audience that is completely impartial.

One of the longest tenured stars of daytime television celebrates a birthday today.

Erika Slezak, who is now 62 years young, has played Viki on One Life to Live since 1971. Let's raise a figurative glass to this actress and wish her the happiest of birthdays!

This Wednesday, in light of the upcoming One Life to Live 40th Anniversary, Robert S. Woods and Erika Slezak (pictured) will appear on The View.

The anniversary episodes for this series are set to air on July 21 and 22. Will you be tuning in?

On today's episode of One Life to Live, Viki and Marcie finally run into each other, leading to the fugitive Marcie's most desperate move yet.

"When she walks into the diner, Viki is stunned," Erika Slezak (Viki) said to The New York Daily News. "Marcie is equally stunned to see Viki in a waitress uniform."

Unbeknown to the other, Marcie and Viki have both been working as waitresses at the Bon-Jour Cafe in Texas. Viki went there to find herself, while Marcie has been on the run with little Tommy since losing custody of the boy to Viki's brother, Todd (Trevor St. John), last fall.

"Viki has only two minutes earlier discovered that Marcie was [posing as] Sally Ann and had Tommy there," said Slezak. "Viki says, 'I have to call the police because what you've done is wrong. Todd is looking for his son and the cops are looking for you. Let's do this the right way.'"

What else happens on this One Life to Live episode? Tune in today, or read more about it now!

According to Soap Opera Digest, the Buchanans are in for some serious surprises during Asa's will reading... including an appearance by Asa himself!

After exiting One Life to Live in March, Phil Carey appears in episodes airing on November 9, 12 and 13.

"Asa’s death impacted everybody in a large way," said Erika Slezak (Viki). "I think Phil was a wonderful Asa. He had something about him that was so strong and warm and loving and yet so horrible [laughs]."

To hear more of Slezak's thoughts on Carey's departure, pick up the November 20 issue of Soap Opera Digest.

According to her story line on One Life to Live, Erika Slezak (Viki) is in Paris. How do we know this?

Because the show has made us aware that she’s been off "touring Dorian’s (Robin Strasser) favorite country." Of course, that doesn't mean we know what Viki has actually been up to.

But we do now know when she'll return: fans of this soap opera can look forward to Slezak coming back from her annual vacation on the October 19th episode. Expect a fresh angle to be in store for this veteran actress.

We can't wait.