Liberty City

Good to see Zach Roerig doing well.

36?! Don't you mean 72. 🤪

Knowing how Davidson can be in other roles, I'd wager it's the writing that made her that way.

This is what Garland told Soap Opera Digest in 2020 regarding her exit: ❝ Well, I did my first contract and I renegotiated for a second contract and then the Dobsons [Bridget and Jerome, the show's creators] came back to the show after a period of time not being involved with the show for all kinds of legal reasons, and when they came back, they really wanted to restructure the show and what I learned was that they wanted Kelly to be a little older, a little more mature. Kelly [who was ultimately recast with Eileen Davidson, now Y&R's Ashley] ended up having a relationship with Cruz and that was part of that, and me as Kelly, I guess, they didn't see that. ❞ In 2011 she had this to say with a Santa Barbara fan blog: ❝ In 1991 the producers decided to replace you with an older actress (Eileen Davidson). They thought so to attract the Davidson’s audience. It was a dramatic mistake. Eileen Davidson, although a great actress, had nothing to do with Kelly. In addition, the fans loved you a lot. Can you tell who announced the replacement to you and how the audience reacted? I actually had a dream the producer called and told me I was leaving. That next day it happened. They pulled me out of my scenes and I only had one day to say goodbye to everyone. I was heartbroken! A true fan is very curious about all the background. it is true that this adds nothing, but this is fun. Can you Tell us now something more spicy: a few secrets on SB? There was some antipathy between the actors? some tension? I'll tell you this.. There was as much going on behind the scenes as there was going on in front of the camera! ❞

They really should have, but I feel like, for the most part, Santa Barbara was not a soap on the radar of the others in daytime. And I don't understand why, because they had some awesomely talented actors in their repertoire. I would assume it's either Ann Hamilton or Barbara Crampton who she was not chosen for; Crampton is good at what she does, but Mindy was not the role for her, especially following the brilliant work that Kimberley Simms provided in the role. They both absolutely did what they needed to do. Absolutely. Garland's Kelly is just more my speed and for my liking. The "long-suffering princess" is something I'm not in love with as a character trait, and they harped it on for the longest of long times, and I am sure had Kimberly McArthur stayed in the role, they would have continued that, along with a "wounded dove" type of persona, which would've been worse.

More than half-way through the revival, and wow... things are interesting, to say the least. Definitely do not think we needed 18 episodes, though.

I don't know; I've seen [some] actors more active via social than others. So I don't know how true that may/may not be.

The Dobsons made quite a few mistakes during their time on this soap: Ava Lazar, Dane Witherspoon, and then Garland. Davidson is a fire talent; she wasn't the issue. The role was. She was not right for Kelly, and Garland had everything right in that role. I know people love Robin Wright, but I've honestly never been that pulled in by her performances⏤both on Santa Barbara and in her film/television projects. I know she was likely seen as the "Laura" of the soap, but it just did not work for me. I've always maintained that Wright's Kelly and Witherspoon's Joe should have been the soap's OTP and super couple, but we saw what happened when they recast Joe. Garland made her imprint known in the role of Kelly. I agree; I loved seeing them both attend. I know Garland did The Bay some time ago, and she was just as natural there as she was during her Santa Barbara days, and I wish daytime had kept their eye on her.

So disappointing; I wonder what they could have done if on together at the same time. Davidson also followed who I perceive as the best Kelly: Carrington Garland.

Yes, Lester did get ripped off in terms of storyline. I also find it interesting Santa Barbara hired both of the Abbott siblings (Lester/Eileen Davidson) to portray two of the Capwell siblings. On paper, both should have been longterm investments.

Some posts from Robinson on the set of Beyond the Gates at Assembly Studios, dating back to February 28:

I'm happy to be the first you've come across! Love me some Lester as Mason.

I think he's just re-tweeting [some] reactions, because he's also re-tweeting those that ask if he chose to leave, as well.

Don't ask me why, but I feel like since Mansi took over the role, Trey has really become a non-subject; she might have mentioned him once, in passing, to Alison (a.k.a. Blaze). Ainsworth is warmer and more sympathetic as an actress; I couldn't have seen Mansi in the Dud of Day storyline at all; she's too much in the role for it to have worked with anyone but Mansi.

I liked this recast when it happened in 2012; I was not a fan of Lexi Ainsworth's original stint (2009–2011), so when Lindsey Morgan came in headstrong with a brand-new attitude (despite not loving the idea of the Mob Princess), I welcomed it. It was a nice change. However, since experiencing Ainsworth's second stint (2015–2023) and then re-watching some of Morgan's work, it was a huge downgrade in casting. For me, Morgan & Kate Mansi go hand-in-hand; however, I still believe Mansi is more tailormade for a character like Kristina than Morgan ever was. It's evident that both Mansi & Morgan's Kristina are written alike: headstrong and almost bullheaded, while Ainsworth (especially during her second stint) is more free-spirited. I'd love for more of the free-spirit Kristina to be put into the writing for Mansi, especially if they are not going to make her the head of the Corinthos organisation, like we first suspected during the final few months of Ainsworth's second tenure. We need non-familiar connectors, like Sasha (pre-Scorpio retcon) but she's been worn out. Honestly, she still should have been Nina's daughter (not retconned twins Nelle/Tree). I don't see her being cut, especially with her Scorpio-retconned family ties.

I don't see them ditching the character of Ted. I genuinely do not, especially if Keith D. Robinson was signed to contract; they easily could have just kept on as a heavy recurring, but it is clear there is intent on keeping the role around, at least at this point in time. Could things change? Sure. And that's fine. I, on the otherhand, do not. Lane Davies exited the role of Mason on July 21, 1989, while Terry Lester (the superior recast) debuted on September 29, 1989. According to Soap Opera Digest, it was suggested that TPTB missed the deadline date to renew Lester's contract, and when they did, he used that as his reasoning for quitting. He last appeared on November 1, 1990. Plus, it was suggested (via the same article) that he was unhappy with his storyline at the time. What's even more interesting is that it was suggested (and not denied) that Davies would return to the role, which would have been the best possible option, especially at this point in time. It's interesting they transitioned from Lester to Gordon Thompson (a downgrade) in two different ways, and one of them Jill Farren Phelps mistakenly thought was how they went from Davies to Lester. Technically it was four CC Capwells within the first six months (plus, the unaired Lloyd Bochner); an uncredited actor was in the role following Charles Bateman's exit from December 13, 1985, to January 7, 1986. Please, no. We're finally rid of him [again] in daytime. He doesn't need a third try at it.

Again, we don't know why this recast took place, but it's very obvious he isn't needed to finish out the current storyline; it's a different ballpark on American soaps in comparison to international ones. It just is. It's much more commonplace to recast in American soaps, which admittedly, is likely part of why the genre gets its poor reputation. But we don't know if the actor chose to leave (whether in advance or not) or if it was a production decision at the conclusion of a 13-week contract cycle. All we know is that a casting switch has taken place, which we'll see on screens come the month of May (due to the soap's taping schedule). Again, international soaps are more likely to rest a character over American soaps. Again, it's a different beast entirely. It always has been and it always will be, unfortunately. Underwood sucks; Missal was good based on the horridness of OLTL 2.0 that I endured (and I did not watch OLTL 1.0 as I did not like that soap at all), but she'd be wrong for the role of Ashley, which I don't see requiring a recast at all.

No. Major downgrades. MAJOR!

That's two different mediums of production; the American daytime soap genre is vastly different from the Australian/British genre of production, so to compare the two is an unfair one because they'll never be the same. And there have been times where there's been a gap of air between one recast to another, and vice versa.

Only one I'd stand seeing is Lexi Ainsworth, but she's living her best life in London, England, so.

That's what you call a consumate professional; that's what I admire about him. He didn't allow what happened, either by his choice or the choice of TPTB, to stop him from supporting the serial.

Molly's, and it'd be four if we counted Haley Pullos. 😉

I agree but the writing is not only not there, but I also don't feel like Kate Mansi is making the right choices in her acting.