All My Children has officially named David Kreizman and Donna Swajeski as its new co-head writers.
"David and Donna are the perfect team to bring new ideas to All My Children while remaining true to its core by telling stories with a focus on the integrity of the show's history, its characters and families on the canvas," said Brian Frons, President, Daytime, Disney ABC-Television Group.
Swajeski has previous experience at All My Children. She began her career in daytime as a program executive, working closely with AMC creator and then-head writer Agnes Nixon. She was involved in creating some of the original stories for Jesse and Angie Hubbard. In 1988, Swajeski left to take over head writing duties at Another World. She remained with the show through 1992. In 1997, Swajeski joined the writing team at Guiding Light, eventually being named co-head writer in 2004.
"Working with Agnes Nixon was a highlight of my career. My first job in soaps was as Director of Daytime at ABC. I was assigned to, among other soaps, AMC. I remember sitting next to Agnes in meetings and marveling at how she always went right to the heart of scenes. How she brilliantly crafted the dreamers, the strivers, the connivers, the heroes -- so that we loved every one of them," Swajeski said. "At times, Pine Valley was more real to me than Manhattan. I was lucky to learn how to tell story at the feet of a true Master".
Kreizman began his daytime career at Guiding Light in 1995. He started off working in the production office as an intern, but quickly moved his way up the ladder. In 1997, Kreizman joined the show's writing team. Seven years later, he was named head writer. He served in that capacity until September 2009, when Guiding Light was canceled. Since that time, he has been co-head writer of As the World Turns.
Both Kreizman and Swajeski have been lauded for their writing. Together, Kreizman and Swajeski were part of Guiding Light's 2007 Emmy-winning writing team. Both have also earned awards from the Writers Guild of America. Fans, however, have already expressed their concern about the just-named co-head writers. In addition to being in charge of crafting stories at when Guiding Light ended after an amazing 72-year run, Kreizman was also penning stories for As the World Turns when CBS announced that show's cancellation.
All My Children has been without a head writer since November, when the show released Charles Pratt, Jr. Shortly thereafter, veteran writer, and a former AMC head writer herself, Lorraine Broderick was appointed as interim head writer to help guide the show through its transition to a new head writing team.
