Given Ms. Nixon's involvement in the more creative aspects of television, I am especially dismayed by her remarks insofar as they reveal qualities all too commonly found among network officials—defensiveness and a lack of critical perspective. Despite her vigorous defense of Amy's peace activities on "All My Children," the show's attempt at social activism in this area was, at best, superficial. One also wonders why—given Ms. Nixon's and ABC's presumed commitment to presenting the peace issue—another actress wasn't found to replace Rosemary Prinz. Replacements for departing actors and actresses are a common practice on soaps….

The … point I made concerning the stigma attached to abortion on the soaps still tends to hold true. On "As The World Turns," Lisa is a scheming, tormented, unhappy woman. As befits her character, on May 11 a doctor on the show initially diagnosed her illness as a "butchered abortion." The...