As The World Turns Discussion Group -- At what point would you not accept a recast?

As The World Turns Discussion Group

Topic: At what point would you not accept a recast?

Topic Posted by: Midwest Meredith
Date Posted: Fri May 9 21:23:06 2008
Additional Comments:

I am rather surprised at how so many seem to be embracing the NuLily. I won't even comment about NB because to me this topic is not about how great the recast actually is but, more about where would you draw the line? I really thought there would be more of an uproar about MB's exit... it seems the majority (at least on here) don't really care that MB left. If that is how you feel that is fine.. I am not even saying you are wrong to feel that way although, for me personally, I really feel it was a big injustice to MB. Soaps do recast characters all the time.. it is common practice but, at what point would a recast become unacceptable to you? How about Lucinda.. would you accept anyone else playing Lucinda? How about Carly.. would you accept another actress playing Carly? How about Kim or Bob? For me it is more about how MB left.... IMO it seems like she was forced out because she wouldn't accept the terms TPTB were offering. If Martha had just left for greener pastures I wouldn't have a big issue with a recast. I think MB probably never thought she would be so easily replaced so, she probably assumed she had some negotiating room. It just seems like TPTB were playing hardball with her, and didn't really care if she signed again, or not. The fact the viewers are opening their arms to NB tells TPTB that they were right... everyone is replaceable.. even the big stars. Ofcourse, I am only speculating here... and these are merely my personal feelings about it all. I just know I would never, ever accept a recast of Carly or Lucinda, and I really hope the same fate won't befall either of them at some point.

Posted by: blue fairy
Date posted: Sun May 11 10:07:27 2008
Message:
Well what really surprised me is a while back someone asked 'who is the heroine of the show- like Erika Sleazak is to OLTL'? A lot of people said Martha Byrne (others thought Maura) Anyway- I would not think Erika Sleazak would ever be recast now (maybe I'm wrong) but if that's what MB is the ATWT I would definitely expect more of an uproar. This may sound horrible but I think one of the most important reasons they didn't try harder to keep her is that she hasn't slimmed down more after her last baby. I bet as soon as she's back to looking wonderfully svelt- she'll be back. I think that's the real problem with Genie Francis getting her old job back too!

Replies: (list all replies)

Both ES & MB were recasts themselves! People constantly talk about wanting 'the original' Victoria back on Y&R, they are talking about Heather Tom, but she wasn't the original. She was a recast. There have been a lot of great recasts over the yrs of soaps. There have been those that haven't worked out, but usually not because the actor wasn't good, or didn't have potential. But I can think of a few of those two--where you find yourself saying w/every episode 'WHY him?'. FauxPaul (ie: WoodenPaul) several yrs ago was one such example. There have also been characters that grew & showed more depth to their character w/each recast. In a lot of those situations, I couldn't say that I only could see one person playing the character. Each actress/actor brought something new to the role for that time in the character's life that the previous performers didn't. That has been true of Carly (GH) & Victoria/Marley (AW). There have also been roles that were simply not recastable--which is very rare. Roger (GL) was one such role. A good actor was hired to replace MZ, but the audience didn't accept him. eom

Posted by: Rosebud1
Date posted: Sat May 10 14:56:27 2008
Message:
I disagree that there isn't a lot of disappointment in the way that MB was treated. But many of us have seen successful recasts before & know that recasting is just part of soaps. Personally, I don't think that MB had much of a choice & it is obvious in this situation, as w/many others over the yrs, that they had no intension of keeping MB on. Lots of vets have been put in the same position, not just on P&G soaps, but all soaps! TPTB (Corp) make some insulting 'offer' & then spin it all to blame the actor for 'deciding to leave'. Some choice! Take a cut in pay & guaranteed episodes (sometimes getting their cycles reduced--for example vets who have a 26 or 52 week cycle being reduced to a 13 week cycle) & they are supposed to be grateful!! P&G has also attempted, on at least one occasion, probably more, to re-negotiate a contract in midstream w/a vet.

A lot of longtime fans have been begging & pleading for TPTB to do more w/veteran characters, be more consistant & to do less rewriting of history, to no avail. We've been writing, calling, participating in organized efforts to be heard, w/little or no results, certainly nothing close to accomodating the fans' desires!

Posted by: maggimae
Date posted: Sat May 10 13:47:41 2008
Message:
I pretty much agree with Miss Marple. Watching ATWT is a habit with me and I will watch it as long as it is no the air and I am on this earth. I would be very sad to see anyone play Lisa besides Eileen Fulton. I know there was a time when someone else played her, but I don't think I was watching then.

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I think it was a temporary sub. when Eileen Fulton was having some health issues. In those instances it is only fair to cut the replacement a little slack; as there was probably not a lot of time to prepare./MissM.

AS a matter of fact Eileen Fulton was replaced for a year by Betsy Von Furstenberger when Eileen left to do a night time soap called *Our Private World*

Eileen was replaced by von Furstenberg, but it wasn't because she was doing Our Private World. Fulton was still playing Lisa, and it aired in 1965. Fulton left the show again in the early '80's after a contract dispute. She was gone for a year, and arrived back in Oakdale to find her husband, Whit McColl, dead. One of her stepsons was played by a very young Christian Le Blanc. The other was Mark Pinter, who ended up marrying Colleen Zenk (Barbara). gallyn

EF was also temporarily replaced when she had emergency surgery in the last several yrs. eom

I always thought it must have had something to do with the actor that played Whit McColl. She left soon after he was cast and the minute he was dead, Eileen was back playing Lisa.

Posted by: soapfan
Date posted: Sat May 10 5:32:59 2008
Message:

I love the way NB played Lily last week. This has nothing to do with MB. It sucks they way that TPTB treated her but NB and how she portrays Lily has nothing to do with MB and the situation that caused her to leave. NB is an excellent recast because I really liked her interpretation of the character of Lily. This has nothing to do with Martha Bryne.

BTW, I guess with this recast Lily can wear colors now and not just brown!

Posted by: gallyn
Date posted: Sat May 10 1:52:14 2008
Message:

I would probably never accept a recast of Carly or Jack. Or the vets unless it was due to health reasons.

As for Martha, yeah, the circumstances suck. But I already accepted a recast of Lily with Heather Rattray, and I was also fine with Lily just being out of town for huge stretches of time. I know people gravitate to her as the long-suffering heroine, but honestly, when Lily got backburnered for Rose, I kind of shelved my feelings about her anyway.

Posted by: dolphina
Date posted: Sat May 10 0:53:35 2008
Message:

I guess they realized no one would ever accept a recast John Dixon. Personally, I've never accepted Ellen Dolan as Margo. What's it been..... 20 years? Grayson was never Dusty to me either - he played someone else completely. Also, I'll never accept Roger Howarth as Paul Ryan. I can adjust to most recasts, though, if the actors are halfway likeable and an effort is made to maintain some of the characteristics of the previous portrayal.

I would draw the line at Bob, Kim and Nancy. Probably Barbara too. There have been many Toms, but Scott has been in the role for so long now, I would have trouble with a recast. Luncinda and Emma would be borderline. Their replacements would have to be exceptional. The jury in my head is still out on Lily, and I think I would try to give just about anyone else a fair chance.

Posted by: Miss Marple
Date posted: Sat May 10 0:35:55 2008
Message:

ATWT has been on the air for many years and there have been uncountable recasts. Makes little difference to me as far as watching the show goes. I'll watch as long as it's on the air, it's a habit and part of my life. I also think that there are only a very few long-time vets that shouldn't or couldn't be recast. Nancy, Bob, Kim, Lisa, John James, Hal obviously, and really that's about it for me. If a Lucinda character is needed and EH is not around, then recast. Same for Emma. They're veterans, but they haven't been around as long as the ones I mentioned. Susan's has, but she could be recast although I would rather that she not be.

As for the Michael Zazlow situation on GL. I thought that the actor was treated abominably and his so-called memorial was a disgrace. But I didn't stop watching then (although tempted); and I enjoyed the actor Dennis Parado(sp?) who temporarily replaced him. The fans were so indignant that they fired the actor and wrote out the character. Too bad really. I stopped watching GL when it became "The Reva Show." Incidentally I saw DP on Broadway in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" when John Cleese was on summer sabatical. He was quite good and I enjoyed his performance very much.

Posted by: fee
Date posted: Fri May 9 21:34:59 2008
Message:

I would have to see the recast to see if I could accept them. I couldn't accept that GL fired MZ and I quit watching. Then I couldn't accept when they fired EP, and I quit watching. It just depends. But as far as accepting or not accepting, do you mean quit watching if you dont accept? Cuz there's not much else you can do!

I remember many people on this board who voiced their unhappiness with the decision to release MB. But they didn't quit watching over it. Whether I would accept a recast or not depends on the actor they put in there. I don't accept nuMike. He's awful! I can't tolerate him. I despise his wooden self! But I'm not going to quit watching. It just depends on a lot of things.

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fee, I totally understand. There's some iconic characters that can only be played by the original actor. Can you imagine another Emma? Lucinda? I never liked Jeffrey Meek as Craig. I'd gotten used to Hunt after awhile, but Scott Bryce was by far the best to me. But I never stopped watching. Same with Susan Flannery. When/if Stephanie ever leaves B&B, she should just die or move away....NEVER be re-cast....JMHO. NOLA

I don't necessarily mean stop watching the show altogether... I mean more like raising a stink about it. Would a recast cross a line so, that you would voice your opinion loudly and often until there was a change? If enough people were really upset with MB leaving I think that would make a difference but, if the response is positive... they would feel no incentive to rectify it. I have to admit that if MW was recast because of a contract dispute I would probably lose interest in ATWT. eom

P&G isn't going to feel a need to rectify anything. To them WE (the fans) are the problem, not them or their decision makers. We've been begging them to bring back vets they let go & they have yet to respond positively to it. I'm sure they think they did a really great thing bringing back Scott Bryce. Yes, but their follow through was horrible! Letting him go so soon was SO wrong. eom