Daily TV Serials 4th Anniversary Edition - 1977
Ailing Actresses and The Women Who Wait In The Wings
Quite a few actresses were temporarily out of commision this year and for one reason or another, and substitute performers were brought in on the daily TV sets.
EMILY McLAUGHLIN (Jessie Brewer on General Hospital) was absent the longest. In mid- Novmeber she was rushed to a Los Angeles hosptial in critical condition, suffering from internal bleeding by ulcers. More than a thousand fans donated blood for Emily's emergency operation. Injuries were reported, and she returned to her soap oepra in early January,
During that six-week period, the role of Jessie was played by ANETA CORSAUT, who had never done daytime before, although she had been a regular on the first Andy Griffith nighttime series for six years. Aneta had guest-starred on countless other series' episodes, but had recently developed a career as a photographer.
Aneta donned Emily's nursing cap, primarily becasue of her startling physical resemblance to Emily. "I walked on the set on a day when everyone was praying that Emily would live." remembers Aneta. "Someone screamed, 'Oh my God, It's Emily.' It was quite eeerie, to put it mildly. I also used her dressing room and found it a very spiritual experience. It was difficult for me at first, because I know that everyone on the show practically worshiped Emily."
Shortly after Emily returned on the job and Aneta went back to the darkroom, VALERIE STARRETT(Diana Taylor) was hosptialized for an undisclosed surgical operation, and actress DAVEY DAVIDSON filled in until Valerie returned.
On the East Coast, JUDITH BARCROFT (Anne Martin on All My children) missed a few shows to attend her mother's funeral. And BEVERLY OWENS filled in for Judy. Beverly, you'll remember, portrayed Anne when Judy was previously felled by flu, about a year ago.
"It's fun, but, I always take over the role of Anne when something major is breaking loose in her storyline," laughed Beverly. "This time, Anne was fighting to keep her retarded child, and I cried every day. But I enjoyed it tremendously, because the people are so wonderful. What was most interesting was that ROBIN STASSER was playing Anne's doctor (Christina Karras). You know, I played her doctor on Another World, when she played Rachel Frame. So, we were old friends!"
On The Young and The Restless, LEZLIE DALTON portrayed the role of Laurie Brooks on several occasions while JAIME LYN BAUER was ill. And on One Life to Live, SUSAN MacARTHUR has been playing Jenny Siegel while KATHY GLASS has been undergoing extensive hosptial tests for an undisclosed malady.
How did the replacements score?
In our opinion, Davidson and MacArthur struck out. Corsaut and Dalton were sufficiently adequate. But Barcroft had best be on her guard, because Owen was pretty terrific. Coincidentally, the Y&R producers had been ready for several months to sign Dalton to contract if Bauer decided not to renew hers. Jaime, who had considered such a move, changed her mind at the last mintue, though, and will be on the show for another year. Unless...
Let's pray for better health (and no tragedies) for all the serial stars in the next year!