I posted this in OLTL as well because it goes to the heart of how ABC treats its talent.
Check out this site -- Felicia has been recast -- ABC refused to give Kristina Wagner a contract and she walked.
http://groups.msn.com/GeneralHospitalHappe...Two/ghnews.msnw
The actors (at least the non-minority characters) are usually taken care of but the actresses, especially those over 40 are treated basically like crap.
For those of you who havent watched GH for many years, GH is about to revisit a story that goes to the core of GH's history -- BJ's heart. The BJ's heart story line was one of the most famous storylines in the history of the show - it went on for months, had major ramifications for almost every character on the canvas, and won the show numerous awards. Two long term characters, Bobbie and Tony Jones, lost their young daughter in a sudden way. Three other long term characters, Felicia, step-father Mac and bio father (and Tony's brother) Frisco were facing the impending death of their young daughter to heart failure. The daughter, Maxie, had been played for years by the same young actress (Robyn Richards) so the audience was really attached to her. Eventually, Tony and Bobbie made the decision to donate BJ's heart to Maxie and Maxie ultimately lived. The last scene before the donation was Tony with his head lying on the chest of his brain dead daughter listening to her heart beat one last time. For years after, we watched Tony and Bobbie mourn BJ and even commemorate the date of her death and we watched young Maxie struggle with the idea that her beloved cousin had to die so that she could live.
Now GH is preparing a storyline where Maxie starts to have medical problems with BJ's heart. But they are telling the story with a recast Maxie (they JUST dumped the original actress), a recast Felicia (they had the original Felicia on recurring but refused to give her a contract), no Frisco (Jack Wagner is now at CBS where they treat their talent with RESPECT), and no Tony, who was was basically let go years ago. Why TPTB at ABC are going to tell the story this way, with actors no one cares about it, is beyond me.
Yes, recasts are a necessary evil but to throw all these new faces in a major story right away when the ORIGINAL ACTRESSES ARE AVAILABLE is beyond me.
And dont get me started with how they lost Vanessa Marcil -- she said she was willing to stay with the show but didnt want to work so many hours. They had her on 5 days a week and when her six month contract was up she walked.
Then there's Genie Francis who they treated like dirt and she walked.
With the cancellation of Port Charles, Lynn Herring (Lucy) is available but they havent brought her back -- another example of bias against actresses over 40.
They treated Anna Lee (Lila) shamefully -- they promised that she would always have a contract with GH and they dropped her to recurring months before her eventual death. Her son basically begged ABC to give her a contract as the show gave her motivation to live and she had been on for decades, but ABC didnt give a shit.
Her on screen husband, John Ingle (Edward) was given the similiar shaft so he is now on NBC and we got to watch Lila's memorial service with a recast Edward who is young enough to have been Lila's son instead of her husband.
And finally there is tamara braun. We now have a horribly recast Carly because again they treated their talent like property. Tamara was reportedly offered a big raise, but she walked over issues of respect. More power to her -- we will see her again on our screens. The producers said events are more important that characters and that thinking is what is ruining the show (and the other ABC shows as well.)
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