Can you really blame some of the folk either wanting to leave ATWT to do other things; especially when their characters are constantly being marginalized or basically given storylines that wind up becoming big bombs?

Granted Scott Bryce didn't leave on his own accord, but the feeling is still the same; he was hyped to return; they gave him a zinger of a storyline that boxed the character of Craig in and now he's gone; same with Cady. Now you have Martha possibly leaving....I have nothing but love for this woman; excellent actress that has been boxed in by the storylines that they toss at her....If this is true, I wish her nothing but the utmost best because she deserves it.

I honestly think half of the fans don't care as long as Maura West stays put.

And no doubt, the other half is more concerned about Nuke's kiss count.

And this kind of myopia you're both describing is why that show is a piece of [!@#$%^&*] these days.

Edited February 27, 200817 yr by Vee

ATWT appears to be a sinking ship. Fan favorites are put in horrible stories, actors are fired to make room for less talented newbies. i swear ATWT must have an ABC executive over there. They're seriously channeling ABC right now.

Martha shouldn't accept the nonsense ATWT is giving her. Hell, I think all the big stars should band together and demand changes creatively at that show.

True, but you gotta sympathize with ATWT for having the most pregnancies in a decade ever, and usually 3 or 4 at once!

Nah, not really.

The "pay or play" clause in Tom Eplin's contract is what forced P&G to bring him over to ATWT after AW went off the air. Supposedly, Eplin's AW contract stipulated he got paid whether or not AW got cancelled. The only reason he ended up at ATWT was because P&G was contractually bound to pay him. Being money-tight Midwesterners, they made him work instead of just sitting at home.

That's what I have wondered about too. With no certainly of the future for the show, it wouldn't shock me to learn it is something like that. I doubt however the show would want to set that kind of precedent and then have others ask for the same thing.

I do think her leaving would be a big loss for the show and hope they can work it out.

Edited February 27, 200817 yr by WorldTurner

If Martha decides to leave, just make Lily leave town. Recasting her would be such a bad idea!!!

Since it's not abou pay, they should just give Martha what she wants. How bad could her demands be?

I wonder if Martha wants something like Tony Geary gets, something like where she can take so many vacations a year and it's in her contract???

It is official:

http://community.tvguide.com/blog/TVGuide-...-News/800054969

Martha Byrne Exits As the World Turns

Martha Byrne by Robert Voets/CBSThis totally sucks. Procter & Gamble has confirmed that two-time Emmy winner Martha Byrne will soon exit As the World Turns. Other websites are reporting that the fan fave — who plays Lily Snyder — nixed an insulting offer to re-sign her contract. Not so, claims the soap’s executive producer Chris Goutman. “We made Martha an incredibly generous offer in hopes that she would remain a valuable member of the ATWT cast,” Goutman says in a statement. “Unfortunately, Martha has decided to leave despite our best efforts to keep her.”

Those close to the situation swear that’s no baloney. “When Goutman says ‘generous,’ he means it — the offer was generous by anyone’s standards,” insists one longtime staffer. “I don’t know what else the show could have done for Martha.”

The actress, who is still taping episodes, will be off the air by April. Word is, a recast is likely. —Michael Logan

TV Guide Soap News Alert

It's been confirmed through the TV Guide website that ATWT's Lily played by Martha Byrne will be leaving the show this spring.

Edited February 29, 200817 yr by Rocket Man

I'm so devestated. I will not watch a recast and have officially given up on this show. What else is there for me to watch?

I don't think I can watch someone else as Lily as soon as Martha's gone as well.

ATWT is a sinking ship creatively. Kudos to Martha for standing up for the integrity of the character she plays and the creative state of the show in general.

Goutman needs to go...

I think I'll give the show another chance when both Goutman and Passanante are gone, which will probably be NEVER.

Just WOW, I can't see a recast going over well, and Lily and Holden without Martha, won't work either......

Bye Martha

I love Martha.

Recasting Lily is such a bad idea. Don't do it Goutman!!!

I wonder what the divine Elizabeth Hubbard will have to say about this. She left ATWT for similar reasons before, and the last time, it helped get former EP Felicia Minei Behr fired (though was a decent EP, her stuff on AMC was golden, she just didn't mesh well with certain aspects of ATWT). I can only hope Martha leaving can have the same effect on Goutman....

Grayson, Cady, Scott, Martha, how many more will the show have to lose or Goutman fire before he's fired?