I thought some would be interested in this. Erika Slezak's latest newsletter is up at her website (erikaslezak.com) and as usual she is candid with both barrels. You may remember this time last year when she blasted Dena Higley and helped get her fired (though she's too modest to admit it). This time, she is commenting on Nathaniel Marston's firing, but also clearing the air about a longtime misunderstanding with Ellen Holly that I know some of us have talked about before. I always felt Erika was interpreted badly in Ellen Holly's brilliant (but very angry, and rightfully so) autobiography, and here she confirms it.

Fan Question: "Dear Erika, as a huge fan who followed your career for over fifteen years on OLTL, it was with great disappointment when I read Ellen Holly's book and was quite dismayed to see an article printed in SOD celebrating the show's 20th anniversary. While praising Paul Rauch, as executive producer, your exact words were, 'We don't have poor people in Llanview...'

ES: Yes, that's bullshit. Ellen was totally wrong with that quote. In fact, I was one of the few people who sort of stood up for her. And that quote is completely out of context. I can't even remember the exact quote.

Interviewer: It was, 'we don't have poor people in Llanview. We don't have any more Black people in Llanview. We have no ethnic people. No, this is now a story of rich people and richer people...'

ES: OK - Yes and it was a criticism of the show, because what they did was to take away everything that made the show real! All of Agnes's (Nixon) kind of mix. And Ellen took it as me saying something positive, like 'isn't it wonderful we have no black people and we have no poor people.' It was NOT meant as a POSITIVE comment, it was a very NEGATIVE comment about the show. [....] Ellen presented it as my saying, 'thank God, we have no poor people.' But that is not at all what I said.

I love Ellen - she is a wonderful and talented actress and a beautiful woman - but she was very, very bitter, and it got a little crazy when she was let go. And she harbored that for years until she finally wrote the book - looking for anything and anybody to attack - because she was let go. She was extremely bitter and upset - and I think that influenced the whole book.

[...] What I meant by [that comment] - is that it was a TERRIBLE thing! They got rid of everybody who was varied and different and you know, how can you have a town with just rich people? It's stupid. That's how that comment came to be. [...] And the nice thing is that we now have racial diversity again, and we certainly have a working class again.

On NM:

Oh, dear, Nathaniel is a very talented young man who has a lot of straightening out to do in his own life. And we, the entire company, are incredibly supportive of him. It was time for him to get his head straight. I'm delighted that Chris Stack was available [...] I think he is wonderful. Yes, we miss Nathaniel, however, it was the straw that broke the camel's back as far as he was concerned. He really needed to hit bottom before he could fix himself - and I think he is doing that. People have been in touch with him and they say he is doing well. He's getting his act together - which is wonderful! He's a very talented boy - with, you know, a troubled life. But he has his wife and he has her support - we wish him nothing but the best - TRULY.

I think Chris Stack is just adorable and wonderful [...] Oh my God - having to take over at such a key point. I think he did a brilliant job. And is still doing so and I think he is just as cute as the day is long.

Erika also has a lot to say about the current show and the strike as well as about the death of Lee Patterson (Joe Riley), so check it out at her site! I did and I don't even work there!

Edited March 3, 200817 yr by Vee

Can you add a link?

I would but it's a PDF file. Just go to erikaslezak.com and on the front page, the link's right there.

Thanks.

Thanks for sharing Vee.

I like that she cleared the air about Ellen Holly. I wonder what caused the rift between Paul and she. She had just come back to the show in 83, and lasted only until early 85. What was her storyline then?

Carla was brought back by the team before Rauch. I think she was district attorney (randomly, since I think she was a nurse prior to that) at the time and she and Ed were making each other jealous with Roger Hill from the film "The Warriors" and Phylicia Rashad, respectively.

OMG, Erika Slezak said "bulls**t." I don't know why, but that shocks me. Something tells me Niki Smith's back, lol.

who is ellen holly and whats this story?

it sounds juicy...