You're Soaking in it

Actually, Tatum stepped in sometime around Tudor's first exit. I can't remember if she was a stop-gap temp between Tudor and Elizabeth Savage (or if Tudor was sidelined and came back to wrap up). But I do recall for sure that she was definitely before Savage took over as Gwen.

I remember that the auditions for Kendall were actually taking place in late Summer of 2001, many months before the character would make it to screen in January 2002. Assuming it's around the same time, Bailess was probably up for the recast Marah Lewis on GL, replacing Laura Bell Bundy. (She certainly looks the part.) We know of course that role went to Lindsey McKeon, who debuted in November of 2001 - so the timing makes sense.

1988 was an off-year for pretty much all the soaps, as that was the year of the WGA strike. I say "the," because it really felt like the longest, most painful one I can remember! ETA: It was the longest ever writers' strike. I just looked it up. It ran from March through August, which likely negated everything we saw on-screen from mid-Spring until well into the Fall...

That would have been interesting. As Gloria, Teresa Blake was very adept at playing a woman on the edge... I wonder if TPTB felt she had resemblance to Cynthia Watros that actually worked against her, or if they were just trying to cast who they perceived as a bigger name with Coleman. Hey, Gloria started out on AMC as a nurse, just as Annie did on GL, didn't she?

I recall that it was really close... Tatum played the scenes of where Trisha was presumed dead (in actuality, she became amnesiac and coincidentally wandered straight into the arms of her obsessive ex, Jeff Hartman). Tatum physically resembled some kind of cross between CT's Gwenyth and Callan White's Ann. CT came back a couple weeks later, but her stay was very brief... maybe another two weeks before Savage took over. I thought she was a pretty decent recast... a little more colorful in her performances - perhaps a bit "Rula Lenska" drag-queenish at times (I suppose that might only make sense to those who remember Rula Lenska!)... but always fun to watch.

You're right, he did look like he would be on a gay porn.... let alone his name!

It happens... I recall one of the mags, either SOD or DaytimeTV, reporting that Mark Philpot had been cast as OLTL's new Dan Wolek... Of course, he would play Jamie Sanders - and Joshua Cox (more recently of Strong Medicine) would play Dan at this time, 1986.

Robert Hays?! "Surely you can't be serious..."

That's interesting timing... She was on the Shapiro's other night time soap, the short-lived Emerald Point NAS. Pamela Sue Martin had just left Dynasty... Ward's character on EP was very similar in energy to PSM's Fallon - and their voices and mannerisms were also alike at this time. I have to wonder if she was being courted as a recast (to occur sooner than what ultimately happened with Emma Samms a year later). Other than Amanda or the disposable character of Nicole Simpson, there were no other significant female roles to debut that season.

Frantz is a legend in her own mind. If you listen to her talk too much, your ears may start to bleed. No, it was actually written with DePaiva in mind... but he ended up staying with OLTL. They then cast the role with Philip Brown, who never made it to air because of what you mentioned (among other things rumored).

Yeah, they cast Walker solely on his chemistry with Fiona Hutchison... but beyond that, there was just nothing similar to DePaiva. They actually passed on Richard Eden (ex-Brick Wallace, Santa Barbara; of ABC's "RoboCop" primetime series) - who I thought would have been a really good choice.

It was for Ethan, to replace Travis Schuldt.

Thank you, Carl! Now I remember!

Okay, so this started to bug me... I was just thinking, why do I not remember Colm Meaney as Patrick London? I only recall Stephen Meadows (ex-Peter Flint, Santa Barbara) from beginning to end... Not counting Bob Woods as Patrick's return / "Faux Bo," of course. I see IMDB lists him as Patrick London #2, from 1987-88 - and all kinds of soap sites list him as that, too ...So I checked out YouTube, and figured out this was another case of some IMDB user knew the actor appeared on the show and attributed a more major role than they actually had... cue wild spread of misinformation across the internet! ... Colm Meaney appears as "Alf" in these 1988 OLTL closing credits: http://youtu.be/EgKEj3WVx6U

And yet ironically, Clint is now played by Brown's could-of-been TV brother, Jerry verDorn (ex-Ross, GL).

I'll remove that "including Princi" reference (and sincere apologies to Ms. Princi, who I think is wonderful - please pass that on!). I had a friend at that time, during the whole upheaval of Strasser's re-entrance, who worked at OLTL and told me that word was going around that GL had actually contacted her. That was obviously, based on what you're relaying, unfounded rumor... (Maybe wishful thinking, too... because it was my perception, based on his take, that many people there liked her quite a bit.) ETA: I just re-checked the rest of what I posted. With perhaps the exception of the Timmins / Tina thing (that I can't recall for sure), it's all been published, mostly based on content that appeared in SOD / Weekly. So you won't be wasting the salt if you take those with more than just one grain...

AMC's Linda Warner (Cliff's sister). It's on the list in the original post; Melissa Leo got the part.

Peluso talked about it in an interview when she was first cast as Lila. She said she found that she was just enjoying her break, having worked day-to-day on a soap consistently for so many years. I assume that when she was ready to work again, either GL was content with Poser / ready to phase-out the character by then.... or that Peluso was specifically attracted to AW - and wasn't Lila created for her?

For some reason, the work was too overwhelming for him. Philip Brown has been open about some personal problems, as well - though I'm not sure if those directly had anything to do with his GL experience. By the way, that role was created with James DePaiva (ex-Max, OLTL) specifically in mind. Brown's was a definitely name that came up in casting for Clint, but I'm not sure if he ever read or tested. Same situation goes for Lisa Peluso (ex-Ava, Loving; ex-Lila, AW), who was in the early mix for GH's Lois, and as a possible emergency-recast for B&B's Taylor (in 2002 when Hunter Tylo had pulled some sort of Brenda Dickson thing) - considered / contacted, but never tested. Actually, when I think about it, Peluso was a hot commodity at times. When Loving / The City unceremoniously dumped her during that transition, GL reintroduced Amanda Spaulding specifically with Peluso on their radar - and she passed on their offer because she just wanted a break from daytime for a bit. Toby Poser was cast, instead.

It was both times, the first time losing out to the actress that ended up on Port Charles. I completely agree, Carl. I actually am curious to this day how it would have played out had Timmins been Tina, instead of Tesreau. Timmins always had that slinky, sultry, trouble-plagued factor that Tesreau just woefully lacked... not to mention the "girl from the wrong side of the tracks" vibe. Tesreau was purely "spoiled rich girl," - and Tina was supposed to be, at that point, both. There are a few more I recall since my previous post: Joanna Going (ex-Lisa, AW; Dark Shadows the primetime series) tested to replace Ava Haddad as OLTL's Cassie. Holly Gagnier (ex-Ivy, Days) got the part. Melissa Claire Egan (Annie, AMC) in her days as a child actress, audtioned to replace Lacey Chabert (Party of Five; Mean Girls) as Bianca. The show chose Gina Gallagher. Elizabeth Hendrickson (Chloe, Y&R; ex-Maggie, AMC) tested for GL's Michelle when Joie Lenz (One Tree Hill) exited. (Lenz replaced Rebecca Budig two years earlier). Hendrickson lost out to Nancy St. Alban.

Really interesting topic! I have a few more to add... Kimberly Simms (ex-Mindy, GL) tested for Santa Barabara's recast Kelly Capwell (replacing Robin Wright's not-so-successful-successor, Kimberly MacArthur). The role went to Carrington Garland. Ally Walker (Profiler) was set to replace Marcy Walker as Eden on SB when Marcy's contract negotiation broke down. The stalemate was quickly resolved, however, and the role of Andrea Bedford was created for Ally. (Trivia side note: A Martinez - AKA Cruz of Eden-and-Cruz supercouple fame - would years later play Ally's love interest on Profiler... and Ally's Profiler replacement, Jamie Luner, replaced Marcy in the role of Liza Colby on AMC.) Brody Hutzler (GL, Days) audtioned to replace Nathan Fillion as Joey on OLTL. The role went to Don Jeffcoat. Sarah Buxton (Sunset Beach) was being heavily lobbied by then-OLTL Executive Producer Gary Tomlin to revive the role of Tina Lord Roberts. But the network (and arguably viewers) couldn't see Buxton in the role and blocked the idea. Susan Scannel (ex-Gabrielle Dubujak, RH; ex-Nicole Simpson, Dynasty) auditioned for the role of OLTL's Tina during a tense contract re-negotiation with Andrea Evans. Cali Timmins (ex-Maggie Shelby, RH; ex-Paulina Cory, AW) auditioned for OLTL's Tina twice... losing out to eventual Tinas, Karen Witter and Krista Tesreau, respectively. (Tesreau was handed the role without an audition, by then OLTL-EP Susan Bedsow Horgan, whom Tesreau had worked with during her first run as Mindy on GL.) ETA: "Losing out" was at least partially a poor choice of words: Timmins technically didn't lose out to Witter, she just won the role of AW's Paulina before OLTL was ready to actually bring Tina back on-screen... though OLTL evidently didn't jump at offering her the role at that time. It was down to the wire between Nancy Sorel (ex-Monique, Generations) and Lisa Peluso to replace (the late) Roya Megnot as Ava Rescott on Loving. After a number of screen tests, the role was given to Peluso. Kristina Wagner, before playing GH's Felicia, tested for the role of Hillary Wilson (Tad's former wife / Damon's eventual mom) on AMC. The role went to Carmen Thomas. Carmen Thomas tested for the role of Pru Shepherd (Rick Hyde's first love interest, before Ryan) on RH. The role went to Tracy Lin, who lasted less than a year before being written out. Thomas' RH audition led her straight to AMC. In the mid-1980's, Noelle Beck (ex-Trisha, Loving; currently Lily, ATWT) and Yasmine Bleeth (ex-Ryan, RH) each tested for the other's roles at the time they were being introduced. Alice Barret (ex-Frankie, AW) first tested for the role of Siobhann on RH. The role went to Barbara Blackburn. Patricia Mauceri (ex-Carlotta, OLTL) auditioned for AMC's Erica Kane. Robin Strasser (Dorian, OLTL) was in negotiations with GL to replace (the late) Beverlee McKinsey as Alexandra Spaulding. However, Strasser promptly informed her former colleagues at OLTL of this development and offered her availability. Dorian was then being played by Elaine Princi, who was just finishing her third year as Dorian - and in the middle of a contract renewal negotiation. OLTL abruptly withdrew and Princi's contract was not renewed. Strasser was offered her former role back, leaving GL in the dust. GL saw several actresses, but eventually chose Marj Dusay.

I always thought Savage was a bit shorter than Tudor... and no thinner unless we're counting CT's weight gain that occurred after her return to the show. I liked her... I didn't think of her as a pod, though. That said, I wouldn't compare her to Elaine Princi. I really felt Princi was a deeper actress than Strasser. She was far less of an over-the-top, shrieking scenery chewer... I felt Princi's Dorian was more of a threat to her rivals, and was able to convey more internalized pain... her motivations were more palpable. I guess to many, she wasn't as entertaining as Strasser. But I liked that she gave Dorian depth that I had not seen previously. (Think the story of Addie's abuse and Dorian revealing her scars to Blair.) A longer-time viewer once told me that Princi was sort of mix of Nancy Pinkerton's Dorian and Strasser's. So I was totally taken aback when she was fired in favor of Strasser. And when Strasser came back, it was jarring for me and I, for a long time, felt she was a let down... back to scenery chewing, hairbrained scheming... the writing at that time definitely didn't serve her. That wasn't rectified until years later, when Claire Labine took over and introduced a new chapter in the childhood abuse story that Princi had played.

I'm pretty sure it was the other way around. She was in the ABC fold on GH, and tapped to play Loving's Gwyneth when Christine Tudor left. (There was a very brief, temporary replacement in between... just a few episodes.) Savage was in fact several years younger than Tudor, but seemed to be well-suited to play older. I thought she was a good recast... entertaining in the role; sort of elevating the campy side of Gwyn. But she lacked Tudor's emotional depth. After Loving, she got a gig hosting a lifestyle show on Lifetime - sort of new version of "Attitudes," the show Linda Dano had co-hosted. I remember Anthony Herrera (Loving's Dane; ATWT's James Stenbeck) was a guest and I caught his episode. It appeared that he and Savage had remained friends for some period after her Loving exit (replaced by her predecessor).