A 'Bold' Byrne tries her hand at writing

By Carolyn Hinsey

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Friday, April 10th 2009, 4:00 AM

After 23 years as heroine Lily Snyder on "As the World Turns," Martha Byrne exited last year as the result of a contract dispute.

Next week, she bounces back - as a writer on "The Bold and the Beautiful."

"I sent [head writer] Brad Bell some writing samples to get his feedback, and I got an e-mail saying he loved the material and wanted me to write a spec script for 'B&B,'" says Byrne. "Based on that spec, I got a trial deal with the show."

Her first episode airs Tuesday.

"I'll be watching with a copy of the script, a notepad and a pen," she says. "I'm interested to see what changes the actors make to the dialogue. My goal is to give them dialogue that's as close to their character as possible. By watching what they change, I'll get better at writing their voice."

All her years as an actress will help her do that.

"I've been in rehearsal hall when things don't quite click, so I constantly put myself in their shoes and try to give them material they can play with."

Byrne confesses she misses doing that herself.

"I'm just now starting to miss acting, and I'm not sure why it took so long," she says.

Byrne will wade back into performing with a show called "As the Epic Turns" with former "ATWT" co-stars Paolo Seganti (Damian) and Tamara Tunie (ex-Jessica, now on "Law & Order: SVU") on April 17-18 at the Peter J. Sharp Theatre, 416 W. 42nd St.

"It's a 90-minute program of staged readings to benefit the Arts-inEducation programs hard hit by the current economic crisis," says Byrne. (Go to ticketcentral.

com.)

In spite of her move to the other side of the camera, Byrne admits these are tough times for soap operas.

"I am truly saddened by 'Guiding Light's' cancellation," she says. "I know the kind of hard work and sacrifice that goes into making a show like 'GL.'"

As for the rumors that her own former show, "ATWT," may have only one year to get its own ratings up - or face cancellation - Byrne says, "A lot can happen in a year. I can attest to that!"

Comings and goings: Eden Riegel will bring Bianca back to "All My Children" so Bianca can reunite with Reese (Tamara Braun) and take her back to Paris. ... Rick Hearst (Ric) and Megan Ward (Kate) are off contract at "General Hospital." ... Nia Peebles (Karen) is leaving "The Young and the Restless."

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I don't know why I tuned in to watch this episode today. I don't watch regularly to see Patrick Mulcahey's episodes.... But I have a lot of respect for Martha Byrne and would love to see her transition to a successful new career behind the scenes, even though I wasn't expecting to really get into B&B, which I never have before.

I have to admit, I've never given much thought when I have watched to Ridge or Taylor's "voices"...what did people think? Poor Martha, had to get stuck incorporating a product placement for Macy's online bridal registry in her first script... Well, I enjoyed the scenes between Stephanie and her sister from Knot's Landing, but I must confess I was probably projecting somewhat. I kept wondering if MB had been channeling her on-screen ATWT mom Lucinda. Nonetheless, a woman (on a Bell show, no less) wanting to feel needed and find fulfillment through success in her career without pining for a man who cast her aside was lovely to see. I did cringe listening to Taylor talk about the Oedipus complex, which was probably in the breakdown, and I found any scenes with Ridge to be kind of stilted, but I always have whenever I've watched this show. Seriously, B&B has never been my show, and I'm sure Martha had to remain consistent to the kind of heightened dialogue that viewers would expect, not write the kinds of down-to-earth, hyper-realistic conversations she learned by acting out Doug Marland's scripts. It was certainly dramatic and seemed to be building cinematically/theatrically. Not a bad first script at all, I would say. Go Martha!

Edited April 15, 200916 yr by DeliaIrisFan

I'm happy for Martha, but her writing a few scripts here and there won't help this show. It needs a complete overhaul, in almost every way possible. The fact remains, B&B has already made some very respectable scriptwriters look down right amateur. I'll wait until her first episode airs to judge, but my hopes aren't high. The dialogue on this show is dire.

I don't know why I tuned in to watch this episode today. I don't watch regularly to see Patrick Mulcahey's episodes.... But I have a lot of respect for Martha Byrne and would love to see her transition to a successful new career behind the scenes, even though I wasn't expecting to really get into B&B, which I never have before.

I have to admit, I've never given much thought when I have watched to Ridge or Taylor's "voices"...what did people think? Poor Martha, had to get stuck incorporating a product placement for Macy's online bridal registry in her first script... Well, I enjoyed the scenes between Stephanie and her sister from Knot's Landing, but I must confess I was probably projecting somewhat. I kept wondering if MB had been channeling her on-screen ATWT mom Lucinda. Nonetheless, a woman (on a Bell show, no less) wanting to feel needed and find fulfillment through success in her career without pining for a man who cast her aside was lovely to see. I did cringe listening to Taylor talk about the Oedipus complex, which was probably in the breakdown, and I found any scenes with Ridge to be kind of stilted, but I always have whenever I've watched this show. Seriously, B&B has never been my show, and I'm sure Martha had to remain consistent to the kind of heightened dialogue that viewers would expect, not write the kinds of down-to-earth, hyper-realistic conversations she learned by acting out Doug Marland's scripts. It was certainly dramatic and seemed to be building cinematically/theatrically. Not a bad first script at all, I would say. Go Martha!

DeliaIrisFan, Stephanie's sister was the mom on Wonder Years.

What Y&RWorldTurner said is the truth. The script was fine. Actually, better than fine. It picked up specific themes and dialogue from the recent past (e.g., Rick's renewed claims of ownership vis-a-vis Steffy). The Stephanie-Pam conversation was not lyrical, but it was convincing. Jack Wagner was actually fun (and his dialogue was too) in scenes with Stephanie and Bridget. One gets the sense he is delighted to be free of sappy romance for a while. The Taylor stuff was ridiculous. Just godawful ridiculous...Oedipus complex or whatever? But one never knows if that is the actress or her scripts. I love that KKL was given a flip comeback.

But in the end, though this script was fine...Martha will do well if she gets a real deal...Martha was "undone" by the actual storylines...especially the "Sick" tale. Until this story tells stories that do not provoke eyerolls, nobody is going to be writing scripts that smack of artistry. The problem is at the top.