We all wish for happily ever afters, but we get a kick out of watching love gone wrong. That's where shows like "Deadly Affairs" (10 tonight, Investigation Discovery) come in. Love doesn't just go wrong in these re-enactments, love kills.

So each episode features two real-life stories of love triangles that ended in murder. Actual friends and family discuss the cases along with journalists and law officers. Actors depict the affairs, arguments, deaths.

Hosting it all is "All My Children" icon Susan Lucci. The funny thing is she's playing Erica Kane, vamping it up, talking about her numerous husbands, and narrating each story with cheesy lines. It's like live-action pulp fiction.

It's all pretty routine; in a world where the Drew Peterson case makes national news, the story of the seemingly loving husband who kills his wife to be with his mistress isn't all that special. It's Lucci's presence and arch and campy comments that make the whole thing a little special, and fun, which is sort of sad when you think about the idea of making murder entertaining.
 

Well, "All My Children" is gone (sniff, sniff) and its replacement is debuting Monday in its old timeslot.

"The Chew" is ABC's new food series. They describe it this way: "'The Chew' celebrates and explores life through food with a group of dynamic, engaging, fun, relatable co-hosts who serve up everything food -- from cooking and home entertaining -- to food trends, restaurants, holidays and more -- all aimed at making life better, fuller and more fun."

It airs each weekday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. with hosts Mario Batali, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly, Michael Symon, and Daphne Oz.

Who's watching?

This is incredible. It's "masters thesis" good: An illustrated timeline of the soap opera "All My Children" (click here to open as a 3-page PDF that can be enlarged).

The timeline was put together by Willa Paskin at New York Magazine. Kudos, Willa.

"All My Children" goes off the air today after 41 years on ABC. A version of the soap is supposed to continue online, produced by Prospect Park (they also bought "One Life to Live," which ends on ABC in January). TVLine.com has photos from the finale.

You've likely heard the sad news: ABC has canceled 'All My Children' after 41 years on the air.

We want to help fans get a little closure by hearing how you would end the show. Does a tsunami wipe out Pine Valley? Would you send Erica Kane on a murderous rampage? Or maybe a tricky 'Newhart' type dream explains it all away?

Email us your idea -- a one paragraph synopsis will be fine -- and we'll publish the best entries here on Happiness is a Warm TV. The author of the most entertaining idea will receive a $100 Amazon gift card.

The final episode of the 'All My Children' will air in September, but we want our entries by April 29. We'll announce the winner on May 6.

Remember, send your entry to me (brooke.cain@newsobserver.com) by April 29.

Soap fans are no doubt outraged today. ABC has canceled two legendary daytime dramas, 'All My Children' and 'One Life to Live.'

Rumors have swirled all winter that one of the soaps might be canceled, but I never thought the network would axe both of them.

The final episode of 'All My Children' will air in September and 'One Life to Live' will end January 2012. They are replacing the soaps with new shows: 'The Chew' and 'The Revolution.'

I'm not a regular viewer of "All My Children," but while channel surfing, I've seen J.R. Martinez, who plays Brot Monroe, a war vet turned police officer, who is visibly scarred.

At first, I thought the scars were makeup, but after it became clear there were truly his, I wondered about his back story.

Here's a nice profile from the Los Angeles Times. Sounds like a great guy.

Remember when Erica Kane and her first husband Tom Cudahy went on their honeymoon in St. Croix? Or when Hayley Vaughan (Kelly Ripa) arrived in Pine Valley dressed like a punk rocker with black hair?

Then you must be a fan of "All My Children," and this might excite you. In honor of the show's 40th anniversary, the producers are opening up the photo archives and making them available for purchase starting today. The gallery has about 40 cast images from every year of the series since it premiered in 1970.

There's more: if you just love Erica, Susan Lucci has signed a limited number of photos of her character from her first month playing the role. If you buy one, you'll get a certificate of authenticity. I have to say, looking at the "then" and "now," 40 years have been good to La Lucci!

Go to www.abcdaytimefans.com for sizes and prices.

Wasn't it just yesterday that the death of Stuart was a major plot point on "All My Children?"

Now the drama may spring from the departure of David Canary, the man who played Stuart and his twin, powerful mogul Adam Chandler. (In case you don't know, Adam killed his brother. It's complicated.)

ABC isn't confirming but TV Squad is reporting that Canary is leaving the ABC soap in March. The show's creator, Agnes Nixon, says it's true.

Seems Canary decided not to renew his contract because he doesn't want to live in L.A. where the show moved after years in New York. Word is the show was hoping to lose a few folks in the move to save some money.

All we know is we'll miss him.