This JHC lady is a B!TCH.

The sure-to-be-controversial decision was made in part to ratchet up the dramatic impact of the show's ongoing serial killer plot. "By the killer getting to somone so pivotal and with so much history, it heightens the stakes for the entire story," says Executive Producer Julie Hanan Carruthers. "It shows that [potential victims] are not just going to be [potrayed by] somebody whose contract is up at the opportune time or is moving to L.A. for the pilot season."

Not that the show's bottom line didn't factor in. "I would totally be denying it if I said we aren't doing some of this story to make a smaller cast," Carruthers admits. "Obviously, we have to do that; we could have just done it. In this case, we had all the elements converging to say, 'Anthing can happen, not only what you expect - and by the way, all the other people you care about are taken into a whole other arena because of this event.' It gives us great momentum moving forward for those left behind."

Is Carruthers afraid fans will raise their fists in anger? "You know what? I'm sure they will because this is a beloved character. But do I have any trepidation that it might be the wrong decision? Absolutely not," she says. "From a story point of view and a business standpoint, I absolutely think it's the right thing for the show - the right decision at the right time with the right character."

"The trepidation is only on a personal level because you don't like to be the one responsible for people no longer being part of this place when they've been here so long," she continues. "I happen to be very fond of Cady and have a great relationship with her and think she's a spectacular actress. But to me, Cady's always going to be a part of ALL MY CHILDREN - and the character of Dixie lasts as long as the show is on the air."

The exec promises that Dixie's send-off will honor her history with Tad and her quest for their missing daughter. "She's in a very good place with everyone and there are lovely surprises with baby Kate," Carruthers says. "The tune-in has amazing payoff, and then we have to look forward to Tad ultimately finding out who Kathy [really] is. The future is filled with a whole other level of not only grief, but life."

After Julia Barr's exit (yes I saw it), I don't hold much hope. AMC seems to be plagued with many dark characters right now.

Julie Hanan Caruthers is a total B I T C H. This hack needs to be fired pronto. She killed PORT CHARLES by killing off fan faves Eve & Karen and other stupid idiotic decisions, now she's doing the same to AMC. It was very likely her decision (at least 50% IMHO) to axe Vincent Irizarry(David) & Julia Barr(Brooke) as well. I think AMC needs to fire Caruthers pronto, and hire a former exec producer or a new talented one and also beg Cady McClain, Vincent Irizarry & Julia Barr for forgiveness and give each of them a raise and new contracts and axe actors/characters that a majority of the audience are sick of, or just are pitiful------Bobbie Eakes(Krystal), Colin Egglesfield(Josh), Melissa Claire Egan(Annie), Lucy Merrriam(Emma), Jeff Branson(Jonathan), Charles Parnell(Derek), Jeffrey Carlson(Zarf/Zoe/whoever), Alexa Havins(Babe), Aiden Turner(Aidan) and Alexa Havins(Babe)------all of these could pay for Cady, Julia & Vincent whom I'd guarantee most fans would rather have on the show than any of those I mention for firing.

Edited January 24, 200719 yr by Mulder

I can't believe she'd only sign a one year contract either, especially as much as ABC hyped her return. Something is very fish about all of this.

I never questioned the one year contract thing before when many were...but you've made me wonder.

I just don't see how Cady can be 100% innocent, this reeks of punishment. And I suppose it could be just that Dixie's return was an over all flop, but I just don't get that vibe. This is almost personal, it seems like.

Wasn't Cady supposed to have an interview with SOD this week explaining her dismissal? Did I miss it?

I just don't see how Cady can be 100% innocent, this reeks of punishment. And I suppose it could be just that Dixie's return was an over all flop, but I just don't get that vibe. This is almost personal, it seems like.

Yeah I don't think she's completely 100% blameless in this. Sorry if this makes anyone mad, but I can't shake the feeling she asked to be paired with TK again, and that probably didn't sit well with the execs. I don't believe she was all that big on Tad and Dixie part whatever, never did since she returned.

I also wonder if they blame her for Dixie's return being a big floppy mess? That was all McTrash.

Well, I'm not going to go as far as to bring TK or anyone else into the mix, but it's rang to me that AMC wanted something for Dixie/Kate/Tad and Cady balked. It sure seems like there was supoosed to be negoatations. Why all this talk of negoations if she signed more then a one year contract? That doesn't make sense to me. It could be anything, IMO, that would make Cady balk against what they wanted. Maybe they were going to kill Kate or something? I don't know. But something happened before the Emma reveal IMO. Becaue Emma was Kate. There is NO doubt in my mind. That child was cast to play Kate Martin not Emma Lavery. Obvisouly there's pieces of this puzzle we don't know yet.

Edited January 25, 200719 yr by Kylie

I agree, Emma was supposed to be Kate, and something behind the scenes must have happened to change that.

From what I have read on other boards, Cady supposedly signed a three year contract. And there was supposed to be an eighteen month story arc leading up to reuniting Tad/Dixie. I do think that Emma was originally supposed to be Kate and I wish they would have stuck with that storyline. Emma being Ryan's daughter sucks. My understanding is that she didn't push to work with TK either. I am not sure if Cady's interview will clear up very much though. She has to be careful what she says if she wants to continue working in the soap industry.

I blame the Frons/Carruthers/McTavish for her firing.

Yea those are dumb reasons to get rid of her but I figured it had to do with the budget....heighten the suspense of serial killer storyline? It would be just as suspenseful if they killed off anybody if you ask me....why not have the serial killer get Sean, Colby, Sydney, Ryan, and Jonathan? That should free up enough money to afford Cady McClain

Agree that both Julie Hanan Carruthers and Megan McTavish need to go....I say get Francesca James in as executive producer and Kay Alden as head writer