OLTL: Evangeline Spoiler

[dragonflies]

You see this is the way I see it. There's Phil Carey who wants to work, but yet they insult him by offering him recurring, and then there's two actors who have been on the show what, 3 years?

Personally I'd take them letting Phil Carey have anything he wants. It was bad enough Dan and Heather were the fallout from Michael Easton's contract demands. Who would be the fallout from TSJ and REG's demands?

[rem13]

Here is the TVGuide interview:

http://community.tvguide.com/blog/TVGuide-...-Dish/800001211

Exclusive Q&A: Renée Elise Goldsberry Leaves One Life to Live

Don't you just hate when great news is followed by bad news? Last month, the fabulous Renée Elise Goldsberry was Daytime Emmy nominated once again for outstanding supporting actress. A short while later, word got out that her One Life to Live contract won't be renewed. Lady lawyer Evangeline Williamson will soon leave the Llanview canvas by slipping into a coma! Sound familiar? Well, Goldsberry granted her first, exclusive exit interview to TVGuide.com via e-mail. Here's what she has to say....

TVGuide.com: Congrats on the Daytime Emmy nomination. Were you surprised?Renée Elise Goldsberry: Thank you for asking about the nomination. The second nomination! In a row! That announcement made me happier than you can imagine. I literally did the happy dance for about an hour when I found out.

TVGuide.com: How is it to be up against such formidable competition in your category, including daytime icon Genie Francis?

Goldsberry: To me, the nomination is about being recognized by your peers. I don't spend any time thinking about beating out any other nominee. I feel more connected to them than competitive. We've been honored together in an amazing way.

TVGuide.com: Which OLTL material have you submitted for Emmy consideration?

Goldsberry: I submitted Evangeline's lowest and happiest moments — the episode when she lost love (finding out that John was dead), and the episode when she found new love (the evening Christian and Evangeline agree to make love for the first time). I am very proud of both of these episodes. I think they are just beautiful.

TVGuide.com: What do want to say about leaving OLTL?

Goldsberry: Yes, my contract expired on April 1. I have finished taping. I don't know when my last air date is, but I did work until the contract expired. And since we have not been able to come to terms on a new contract, Evangeline will go into a coma. And out of all that has been reported about this negotiation, that is the extent of what is true.

TVGuide.com: I've read a lot out there about why the contract negotiations fell through. Some suggest you want too much money, while others say OLTL denied you outs to do other projects. What's your response?

Goldsberry: It is hurtful when I hear of people reporting so erroneously about the negotiation. But I don't believe in discussing the details of contract negotiations publicly, even to prove them wrong, so I won't comment about that any further. I will say, however, that though we are at an impasse, there is no bad blood between ABC and me.

TVGuide.com: How interesting that Vangie will be comatose. Vangie's pal, Nora, also went into a coma when Hillary B. Smith's contract was up back in '05....

Goldsberry: Yes, Nora and Evangeline have a lot in common. They are both defense attorneys turned prosecutors. They were both blind. And Nora also suffered a coma that took her off of the canvas for quite some time. Hillary has often jokingly said that Evangeline is a big copycat. It seems she's right again.

TVGuide.com: How do you feel about leaving Llanview in this way?

Goldsberry: It is difficult to let a character that is so much a part of me just fall asleep. I'm sure it is difficult for all parties. It's been an awesome four years. I celebrate every day I had playing Evangeline. We created this groundbreaking character. And by "we" I mean everyone involved with her — the network, the writers, producers, directors, co-stars, and the fans. The opportunities she ran away with in Llanview and all of the opportunities that I've had at ABC are nothing short of miraculous. I believe they were truly divinely orchestrated. That's why I am confident that if it is meant to be, I will play Evangeline again — and if not, I will do something else that is also important, and the show that I have loved since I was a child will continue to be as wonderful as it has always been. I believe — even in the darkest hour — things really do work out for the best.

TVGuide.com: So what's next for you, Renée? Film work? A real, honest-to-goodness vacation?Goldsberry: In the short term, my husband [attorney Alexis Johnson] gets a housewife for the first time in our marriage. (I wish I could say that dinner is always ready when he gets home, but it's only been a week. I'm not that good at this yet.) Long term, the sky is the limit. It's hard to say exactly what is next because God is surprising, and He always thinks bigger than I do. But what I ask for is peace about whatever comes. And I get a fresh dose everyday.

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[Lskreet]

I'll admit I'm sad to see Renee go. She's the main reason I watch OLTL and it's a shame there aren't any more African-American female actress on Daytime TV. Victoria Rowell, Tamara Tunie, Renee Jones and now Renee Goldsberry. As a black woman it saddens me that there isn't any kind of representation and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Yes there are the actresses on Passions, but that show is awful and it will be gone later this year.

I honestly don't think Renee asked for the moon and stars and so what if she did? She's created buzz for the show, her lines have sold out every year at SSW, she's been nominated for an Emmy two years in a row, TPTB use her any chance they can for publicity. I wish Renee the best.

[Ridge]

IA. It also sucks that she's getting negative press from it. Whatever the show decided to do with Phil Carey is the show's doing, it has nothing to do with Renee or her work. Renne has done right by the show, she is talented and it says a lot that the show gave her an opportunity and she was able to go with it. I heard that she wanted outs to do other projects and that is where the dilemma came.

I will say that this is a dumb move on OLTL overall. It makes you questions where their priorities are. They are losing both Phil Carey and Renee. Ideally, like everyone is saying, there is no question to where their loyalty should be, but obviously the show has none since both of them are being shafted. And considering all the hoopla Michael Easton (and for that matter Melissa Archer) recieved around their time, it goes to show further that the show has gotten its priorities all wrong. I hate the John and Natalie show. I hate the John show. Michael may have his fans but they are not what is carrying this show and that is what these people need to realize.

[rem13]

Agreed. People are down on Renee because she has only been on the show for 3-4 years. What does that matter????

Let's get real here. Who works for a living and if given the opportunity to improve upon your salary,perks and/or work conditions would not do so. Or would a person say "Well, I have only worked for this company for 3 years. Let me not ask for anything. I, will take whatever they give me..." PA-LEASE, that is not how business is done. A contractual work situation calls for negotiations. It call for people asking for things that may or may not be included in the current contract.

So I say good for Renee for asking for whatever she wanted. Because if you ask not, you get not! And if this door remains close to her, then I am sure that another one will open.

[Lskreet]

Yes and let's not forget the veterans that have been on the show for awhile. You don't think when their contracts where up and were at the height of their popularity they didn't ask for the moon and stars? If I were REG I'd ask for whatever I could get. She's hot right now and this is the best time for her to strike. If the the sticking point is outs then I would like to think something could be worked out. If they were able to make things work when she was in Two Gentleman and The Color Purple I don't see why they can't make it work again.

Until then I'm sure REG will be fine and you're right if this door remains closed then I'm sure another will open. I think it says a lot that Van will be in a coma. They could have killed her and then it would have been much harder to bring her back.

[Q Steph]

I wonder if the show would have acquesied to her demands if she were a white actress.

[tina m]

Sad! Will def. miss her.

[Angela]

I think her best chance of having had her demands met was is if she was a [white] man.

[Lskreet]

I say if she was a man period. They seem to want to give the men all their wants and needs (ME) but when it comes to the women (REG, MA, RS, HBS, CH) it's like pulling teeth. I bet TSJ will re-sign and get almost all that he wants. I know Todd is more important to the canvas than Evangeline, but that doesn't mean REG can't ask for and get at least some of what she wants.

[Brandeis]

Amen.

But I'll never understand the idea of watching a whole show just for one couple or one character. A show like OLTL has a rich history and to boil it down to one charaxcter is insulting to those of us who have watched it, albeit of and on, long before Evangeline ever esisted. Granted, it is your right to do as you please and express your opinion as you see fit, but for those of us who have watched OLTL on and off for years, Evangeline is a new character. A sad loss, but not a great one.

[Brandeis]

Oh. And the white man who consumed the budget? That would be Michael Easton back in November.

[juniorz1]

I kinda get what you're saying but I have to respectfully disagree. He's not acting at all like Todd would in any given situation and I credit both TSJ and Higley as being the problem. Higley is writing toward TSJ's strengths or her interpretations of them. In any event, rather than writing for "Todd", she's writing for "Trevor St. John as Todd" which is all wrong IMO.

AMEN. Maybe now we can start seeing some characters I actually give a damn about on OLTL.

[Lskreet]

LOL and I don't think he's worth it.

[Angela]

We'll never know, will we? LOL. I think if the man had/had a strong ethnic background (hispanic, african-american - i.e. not European), they'd do him the same way they'd do a woman. But, yes contract negotiation "respect" for women definitely is not at the top of ABCD's list of priorities.