titan1978

Can replace is the issue here- just because they can do it doesn’t mean they are not still being scabs. Or else their WGA contracts would stipulate they could seek a waiver or are covered under strikes differently. It seems like so many people come at this from the perspective that if the soaps stop production then they end and that’s the worst outcome possible. And it would absolutely be awful for the folks working in that industry and ultimately the fans. But they are hiring scab writers to continue the scripts while actual soap writers are striking. They know their industry is dying. But they are still mostly out on strike and don’t go fi-core because as writers they see the bigger picture and recognize the importance of their union. And if anyone were to be replaced right away by AI scripts it would be soap writers. People are not out here calling soap actors scabs- they know the score. But the writers certainly are that are still working on the shows. And these striking WGA/SAg-AFTRA can call them scabs anytime they want.

Doesn’t Greg Meng work for Corday still? Not DAYS, but Corday productions? He worked on the show under the tight production model, and I seem to recall the actors liked him/respected him. Anybody making a television show in 2023 and having it described as a frat house/boys club environment should be long gone. When you add in all the other allegations it’s beyond horrific that he wasn’t terminated when the investigation was concluded. Also everyone that has speculated how little Ken has to do with the show has been proven correct!

I rarely participate in soap discourse on whatever the hell Twitter is now, because it’s often filled with stupidity. I’m thankful that we have this board for soap fans that for the most part think beyond the basic. Reading Lisa Ann Wolter from Abbott Elementary interacting with a GH fan site and other fans about what their contract stipulates is embarrassing for all soap fans. People are making the argument (more than one person I might add), that she doesn’t understand the contract and that FI-CORE (writers)is the same as Netcode (actors). And then they add that if the contract says soap actors have to work then somebody has to write the shows so why is she calling those writers scabs. Jesus people are just so ignorant, and within internet fandom soap fans really think they know stuff they know nothing about. And whoever the hell Alan Sarapa is chiming in with more of the same ridiculous nonsense.

I don’t really agree it’s just part of the job, because soap fans are often delusional. They call the actors by the character’s names to their faces. They rant at actors in very derogatory ways about storylines they have zero control over. I know this is just how it is online. I just don’t think it is how it should be. But at the same time, the daytime writing staffs now are shadows of what they used to be. As much as I love Liz, she has no business attacking Joss looking at her own poor relationship decisions. And she knows it. Liz isn’t Carly, who would totally insert herself into this teenage drama. I actually think it is in character for Liz to show Joss some grace, and for Laura to have empathy for Esme, no matter how awful I find both characters.

What? How odd, this show is a casting nightmare right now.

This show has dropped stories during FV’s tenure when all the major players were not recasts. Many times. It was still early enough they could have rested this with the last recast, and moved Kristina into something else. You know, like Holly’s story being moved a full year due to her health, and not mentioned most of that whole time. Or Spencer’s tampering causing Laura to win the election. Or the Deception Spa. All had many scenes devoted to them then just dropped. There are many more examples, those were just the top of my head.

Thank you for posting that @Vee People forget FV began his career as Paul Rauch’s assistant, and Paul was well known for playing hardball even when soaps were rolling in cash. And he also pushed out people that questioned story or spoke out. He and Frank both had issues with Robin Strasser who is outspoken to say the least. I was kind of surprised we saw Nora on GH, because HBS openly critiqued the network and Frank’s production mode at OLTL. Look at the Genie Francis debacle of a couple years ago- she’s on the show with a contract and a central role because what is left of the soap fandom turned harshly on FV and ABC for trying to force her to go recurring and essentially firing her. And again, she’s one who has said every time she is not going to be on General Hospital unless under contract. She’s not accepting FV’s crumbs. People need to realize that these jobs are often dream jobs, and because of that, the networks and production corporations treat everyone like they can be replaced in a second. Which is a terrible way to work, especially for a creative person. Running everything like a corporation isn’t working for any of us.

Thanks for the clarification!

I know daytime actor contracts do not allow them to strike. But I was wondering if it impacts new hires/non contract roles? Does SAG/AFTRA allow actors to be hired on soaps for background work, recurring, or audition and begin a new contract while the strike is happening? Because shows like GH have their recurring folks in constant story. If I was in this union I would understand honoring the contract. But I would frown upon non-contract actors still appearing.

Thank you! I will remain hopeful that I get to see it in HD sometime before 2025! Or demand the public turn on the actors and writers or else Knots burns.

Anything official you would like to add @Errol? Or any more hints? Please😄

The network people have always gotten this completely wrong! As a kid I loved Alice and Tom Horton on DAYS, Katherine and John Abbot on Y&R, Asa on OLTL, and several older characters on GH. Lee and Gail, Dr Hardy (never much cared for Audrey), Jessie, Ruby, and especially Edward and Lila Q. Some became more like a talk to- but many of them were integral in their own ways, just not always the lead.

GH better do something!

It seems to me like Fran was actually negotiating in good faith, and yet keeping notes of the stupidity they were being presented. That’s why she had that initial statement that everyone reacted to with the letter- and that caused her some grief in public from her union because she wasn’t out right slamming the studios then. Next we have the Brand appearance, also out of context, enduring more public attacks and chagrin. But that speech was a real rallying cry, and even if faked, timed beautifully.

Very sad news, she was incredible on more than one soap. Tina during the Rauch period on OLTL was instrumental to how popular that show was during the 80’s. Evans ran with what they provided in the writing, creating a kind of engine that powered many storylines, and scenes. She was one of those actors that had chemistry with everyone. I always respected her for how outspoken she was about dangerous fans, and her experience with stalking. It was way ahead of it’s time, and truly sad that the network, show, and legal system were not willing or able to offer her more protection.

Maybe Kenny and Ginger would have lasted longer if they had a more loving marriage? A better contrast to the Ewings as newlyweds and the troubles of the Avery and Ewing households, and the family squabbles of the Fairgates. A really passionate, deeply in love pair of younger characters getting to experience all those marriage firsts might have worked out better in the long run. Although I think Kenny would have to be recast for that. To me they just kind of drift along until they are gone.

It is ridiculous that Carly loose everything while Sonny still has it all after all these years and crimes by both of them. And I am all for Carly at rock bottom but only if Laura Wright brings back some kind of edge to the character. I assume nobody has mentioned Bobbie or Jax because of the real world implications. It’s not like we have to see Ingo to have a Jax mention. And Bobbie should not be presented as super wealthy anyway- upper middle class and with a comfortable retirement. If Jackie was alive it would be lovely if she moved in with Bobbie though. The current regime totally gets Felicia. I know the vets bring a lot of affection for each other into scenes themselves, but she’s just the right mix of friend/talk to, busybody, and still ready to go on an adventure. It’s the only character that I would say this regime has reinvigorated compared to the last few years of her previous contract run. I don’t want her serving coffee, I want her in the mix just like she has been for the last year. Also- what an excellent time for one of those Bill Bell twists like Addie on DAYS. Willow survived cancer only to be run down by Selina Wu or Gladys while trying to save Wiley out in the street. Dead on arrival at GH.

I do not disagree. Again, pure fantasy but there would need to be characters leaving. And Finn, his dad, and Austin would all be early exits. It truly is not personal- I have liked both OLTL actors in other roles. But Finn and Austin do not work and they have tried so hard to prop them up.

Off that list, I would only want David and a newly cast early 30’s Tom Hardy Jr. Oh and a bonus of William Moses as Jeff Webber more permanently. Maybe recurring visits from Tom Hardy and Simone just to anchor Tom Jr a little (I’m fine with Matt Ashford and would love Laura Carrington or Stephanie Williams). If we were truly dreaming, Patrick and Robin back too. And Anna having to deal with real issues between David and Robin while all these doctors are vying for control of GH. I would love to see Debbi Morgan playing any role of substance on daytime again, but I don’t think GH has a natural place for Angie and Jesse (I couldn’t break them up again), without the show dipping too far into being another show (like when the OLTL invasion happened). As much as I loved Todd, Blair, Tea, and enjoyed McBain on GH, it was too much. Add in Starr and Cole too for more yuck. I know most of those folks didn’t stay long, but the impact was huge. David has a natural fit here- history with Anna, a doctor, and a history of antagonism which the hospital needs. David and Tracy plotting together just sounds fun.

Happy for all the Jackson fans, but the only person from Pine Valley I want to see is David Hayward. And he can make all kinds of mayhem for the other doctors at GH, while rekindling his relationship with Anna.

Isn’t it supposed to be a rooftop pool? They never have it lit correctly for that vibe. Part of the issue is the contract money is much, much smaller than it was back then. I bet only a handful of GH stars have contracts that while larger than their peers they are still considerably smaller than they were under JFP. I bet Frank’s pets ME and RH make less than they did when they arrived at GH a decade ago. Genie gets months off like Tony used to, although she had them over a barrel publicly so I bet she still has solid $. Also Frank schedules things so tightly that they use sets that make no sense because they are up and the actors are there filming other scenes for the day. People fully dressed at the pool for no reason. Sitting in the hospital with no dialogue explaining why they are at GH. All the way back at OLTL Hillary B Smith talked about Valentini’s penchant for filming multiple episodes at the same time, and how she found it confusing and difficult to perform under. I’m sure it’s even tighter now. Plus they go dark more often than they did back then, not as much as DAYS, but more than they did before Frank.

This is all fantasy for me so why not? Although I can’t quite imagine them working well together. I wonder what someone trained under the lush style of the Bell shows would do with them at SB. The clash of modern storytelling and intelligent characters with lush production.

I think Kay Alden’s early years, before Jack Smith became her co-hw were the best Y&R had been since the early 90’s. But I am a huge Jill and Katherine fan, so making them major players again always works for me. The show had slightly modernized, the pace was quicker, but it was still very much Y&R.

What do we think of the pairing of Malone and Gottlieb at Y&R? That Victor Lord storyline- first the book, revisiting Dorian’s culpability, and then all Viki’s alters really fits the gothic tone Y&R often dipped into. I would think Gottlieb (or was it Bedsow-Horgan that liked the dark orchestral music) would have certainly kept the music cues going, and the lush filming style. I agree that Marland would have possibly worked too. I wish Martha Byrne would just tell her version of events when it comes to working with Goutman. When he first got there with Hogan, they gave her a second character to play! The whole show felt very Lily/Rose focused to me. Then they killed Rose off and it seemed all downhill from there. I cannot imagine Carlivati on any other soap. I think he did great things at both OLTL and GH, but both often went off the rails and felt very shallow. I keep thinking how strong all the generations of characters would have been with Alden at All My Children. Especially creating a younger set of compelling characters, which is part of the DNA of that show since Tara/Erica/Chuck/Phil days.

I think if she had arrived with Wendy it would not have worked. For Labine to work, we needed characters like Anna and Robert to be gone. Luke and Laura were larger than life, but unlike Robert and Anna their foundations were rooted in much more grounded substance, which suits her. The action became grounded. But again, Frank Smith was a blast from the past that worked. That period of time Riche was with Levinson really shaped a tone that Labine could run with. I didn’t enjoy her OLTL run overall, and for some reason I also find her misplaced on AMC. But I could imagine her work on Another World pretty easily.