by Dan J Kroll

Posted Tuesday, February 20, 2007 5:27:22 PM

There are changes afoot behind-the-scenes at One Life to Live. Just as fans' outspoken criticism of head writer Dena Higley seems to have subsided comes word that there are more changes in store for the ABC soap's writing staff.

How would you rate the writing on One Life to Live?  The show's been horrible. It really doesn't hold my interest any more.   48%   I think that OLTL has been great. Higley appears to have hit her stride.   29%   It's hit or miss. Some days its good and other days its bad.   11%   The show isn't great, but it is definitely better than it has been.   7%   I'd say that the show is stagnant. It hasn't been good or bad really.   3%   I think that the dialogue is good, but the stories need big improvement.   2%   I'm a vocal critic of Higley, but I have to admit she's gotten better.   1%   Other   0%     Poll Posted: February 19, 2007

Ron Carlivati has been promoted to the position of co-head writer. Carlivati has been with One Life to Live for more than 10 years in various capacities, most recently serving as associate head writer. During Carlivati's tenure with the show he has helped One Life to Live earn Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Writing Team in 2002 and 2006. Carlivati has also been nominated Writers Guild Awards in 2003 and 2005.

This is not the first time that Higley has been given a helping hand in her duties as head writer. In 2005 the veteran team of James Harmon Brown and Barbara Esensten were hired as consultants for One Life to Live. Higley was named head writer of One Life to Live in September 2004.

Brown and Esensten have since moved on to other projects, but ABC replaced the pair with fellow daytime veterans Kay Alden and Jack Smith. Aldeb and Smith will serve as consultants for all three ABC soaps - OLTL, All My Children and General Hospital. Alden and Smith both served as head writers for The Young and the Restless prior to joining ABC.