Can B&B Survive without Susan Flannery?

[Andrew]

Discuss if B&B Could at all survive if Susan Flannery chooses to retire.

I say that it of course would survive but really loose a lot of wievers, i was just thinking a big shock for the daytime audience where if Susan leaves the show as Stephanie Forrester on B&B, what about if Days tries to steal her back into the show just for a while, to get more wievers, how would everyone react if Susan Flannery would return as Laura Horton on Days?

She would work again with Joseph Mascolo and they worked so greaty and very good on B&B.

What do you all think about all of these?

[JackPeyton]

yes.

[Ann_SS]

Yes. Brad is already turning Brooke into the new Stephanie as Brooke interjects herself into her children's lives.

[bandbfan]

Why would she go back to Days?

I think they're grooming Jackie and/or Pam to take over Stephanie's role as the grandmother figure. Yeah Brooke can do the meddling, but they need someone older than her too.

[YRBB]

I think the show will be just fine, especially if they develop a character to slowly take her place. But La Flannery will be greatly missed. I just hate that she's leaving. Still, I think that Bell might be able to entice her to come back once or twice a year for a couple of episodes.

[ian]

Flannery carries that show, even Bell's not stupid enough to shut her out like the rest of the cast that isn't Ridge, Brooke or Taylor. Sure, the ratings are good enough that it will SURVIVE but I'm pretty sure as soon as Susan's gone the B&B we know and love will be over because Stephanie was such a HUGE part of that.

[tylerbo20]

not to mention names or anything but the powers that be over at DAYS camp are too stupid to ask someone with talent like Susan Flannery to come back to days look at all the other former stars that they never approached and why would we need Laura back (she was my fav character back in the day) but seriously there are no hortons around anymore. except evil younger mickey and maggie

[UKBoi]

I actually think B&B could benefit from not having Stephanie around...if it meant that the show stopped revolving around the same old characters and actually gave characters like Thorne, Felicia, Storm, Jackie and Clarke half decent storylines then I'd be all for it.

[Cheyenne]

I sure will miss her(!), and yes the show can survive without her. But I agree with you UKBoi.

[Roman]

If a show is written right, any show can not only survive but prosper when an actor/actress leaves.

If it can't, it shouldn't be on the air.

[Sylph]

E.x.c.e.l.l.e.n.t. p.o.s.t. Succinct, to the point, decisive.

Definitely I co-sign.

[JamesF]

That's the problem with the last decade's approach of pandering to fanbases and overexposing pet characters. Not to strike the "foreign is better" debate because I don't mean that at all but UK/Oz shows don't have the problem when people leave.

Sure there's a dent that needs to be written round but unilaterally when key characters quit, the line is "Nobody is bigger than the show." That's why Brian Frons' homogenising is so damaging. People should be fans of a show for the particular flavour it has, not which couples or actors are on the frontburner.

[Roman]

And that's been the problem for the last 15 years. Frons' thinking on that topic works so well......

One show sits 2nd from the bottom, and the other is buried in last place.

These writers and EPs need to stop pandering to fan bases, and write for the show.

But.......with EPs like Ken Corday running things......

[AddictedToSoaps]

It can survive, sure it wouldn't be the same, but the show will go on.

[EastMA2]

Ummm, yeah it will survive.