1 hour ago, Contessa Donatella said:

I think I join others here who believe that Russ never really got over Rachel. So, I would have considered him in the wake of Mac's death as a partner for Rachel. I do not even remember Hover, might as well be WHOver?!!! But, Sam Groom & David Bailey each in their own ways were good. Of course, it would have been good to have some more relatives for him & my own strong preference was for Beverly Penberthy. Pat could have functioned as his sister and she could have worked at Cory, too.  But, always open to new talent.

 

David Bailey was the only actor that I remember as Russ. I was too young to remember Sam Groom or Robert Hover. When David Bailey returned in 1989, I thought the powers that be should have recast the part. However, I went back to watch some episodes with Bailey. Actually, Bailey was good. The show missed a great opportunity to keep Bailey on longer than six months. Bailey always great chemistry with Vickie Wyndham, Irene Dailey and Connie Ford. And he was good in scenes with Carmen Duncan. Russ could have been involved with Iris again and possibly Rachel with the return of Carl Hutchins. Charles Keating's reappearance in 1989 with Carl being involved with the Red Swan story.  Beverly Penberthy's return in 1989 would have been a treat. Pat could have played the aunt for Josie to lean on, and good romantic pairing later for Spencer Harrison. Even though Paul Stevens had passed away in 1986. I would have brought back the character Brian Bancroft; this time being played by Donald May or John Gabriel.

Was the intention for David Bailey to return for only short-term purposes.

It would have been interesting to see Sam Groom back in the role of Russ, when the character returned in 1989 (or even in a later return).  David Bailey was acceptable as Russ, but he didn't have much acting range.  And if Russ and Rachel ever reunited, I don't think Bailey would have been the best choice, because Rachel's husband sort of becomes AW's leading man. I don't think Bailey would have risen to that challenge. But Groom could have done that wonderfully.  I would have also been okay with a complete recast -- hopefully with an actor with a good deal of soap opera experience and someone happy with the role long-term.  

And to answer a question: I do not believe Russ's return in 1989 was originally meant to be short-term.  With the reveal that Josie was his daughter, and with Olivia on the canvas, there was lots for Russ to do.  I think Lemay's plan was that Russ return permanently, but Donna Swajeski probably didn't think he was exciting enough and lost interest in Russ.  

Edited May 25May 25 by Tisy-Lish

Oakland Tribune,  23 December 1984

Osburn faces up to lookalike role by Connie Passalacqua

With all due respect to Kim Canes, Julie Osborn of Another World" has Nancy Frangione eyes.  Osburn was cast as Bay City secretary Kathleen McKlnnon, a character with a striking resemblance to the mysteriously vanished Cecile de Poullgnac, in a part especially written for her. Oaburn does look very much like Frangione, and the writers used that similarity in a plot twist which had Kathleen (in a blond wig) impersonate Cecile in a successful attempt to smoke out and capture Cecile's captors.

Do you really think I look like Nancy? Osburn still asks incredulously. I think I look a lot more like Kathleen Layman (the actress who plays Kathleens sister, policewoman MJ.). It''s dear that Osburn is a seriously determined young actress who'd rather be known because of her own talents, rather than any coincidence.

I've been acting since I was 12," said Osburn, who grew up in Arlington, Texas, and took her first acting class there at a children's theater workshop. After leads in high-school plays she studied drama at Trinity University in San Antonio and came to New York City when die was 20, to study with acting coach Uta Hagen. By her own description, the last place she ever thought she'd work was on a soap opera. I was a theater snob," she said. I didn't want to be a soap actress, because it used to have the connotation in show business that you were bad. But that's changed. I see a lot of soap  actors on Broadway now. ' Osburn was set in her place when she went out to Hollywood last year during the pilot season. I worked off-Broadway and on tour and I studied with wonderful people, she recalls. But the casting people out there didn't know who they were and didn't care. I wouldn't be out there if I wasn't good, would I? All they wanted to know was If I had done any TV. Well, I decided to break In somewhere

She had rejected two previous soap offers but became more receptive to the role offered by Another. World. As wltchy Kathleen, Osburn has deliciously taken up the fallen banner of the shows villianess, now that Frangione has left the show. She even likes her Job. The role is well-written and fun to play, she said. '

When was Kathleen ever a villainess?

I also never thought she looked like Nancy Frangione.

4 hours ago, DRW50 said:

When was Kathleen ever a villainess?

I also never thought she looked like Nancy Frangione.

She never was a villainess. At most she clashed a little bit with Cass and Felicia when she first came on only because she didn't just do whatever Cass wanted in his scheme to find Cecile.

I agree she didn't resemble Nancy Frangione and they only got away with the body double storyline because Nancy was nowhere nearby while Kathleen was making decoy appearances in a blonde wig. And I am more grateful than not that they cast Julie Osburn because she was a great sister for Kathleen Layman's MJ and also fit in with Cass and Felicia without being like Cecile.

I agree. Never a villainess, where did that idea even come from?!!! Also did not look  AT ALL like Cecile. Crazy talk, right?

Was Kathleen meant to be a villain and this quickly changed?  I remember finding an article from the early eighties that talked about Iris and Rachel as sisters. If these things were written now, you would accuse the writers of using AI. I imagine some of them were storyline projections the soap columnists got that changed before the stories went to press [obviously not the Iris/Rachel error), but who knows?

 

 

58 minutes ago, chrisml said:

Was Kathleen meant to be a villain and this quickly changed?  I remember finding an article from the early eighties that talked about Iris and Rachel as sisters. If these things were written now, you would accuse the writers of using AI. I imagine some of them were storyline projections the soap columnists got that changed before the stories went to press [obviously not the Iris/Rachel error), but who knows?

 

 

The way that errors in print keep showing up, when you say, who knows, yeah, I get that, it could be anything or nothing & in between.

 

 

I can see why the Sam/Amanda story went downhill so fast. Thomas Gibson was a terrible replacement. I don't remember the circumstances of RKK quitting  (if his contract was over or if the departure was more acrimonious), but Gibson just sucks the energy out of every scene. He has no chemistry with anyone.

I think the husband (with the beard) is David Bailey. The actress is model Pam Huntington who was the first to play Blair's mom on Facts of Life in 1979.

 

On 5/26/2025 at 12:46 AM, DRW50 said:

When was Kathleen ever a villainess?

I also never thought she looked like Nancy Frangione.

Kathleen was not a villainess when she first appeared but she was also not a typical heroine. She was keeping secrets from MJ and Ben about her last job, was ambitious and definitely had an edge.  That’s why she fit so well with Felicia and Cass.  They still had some shades of grey at that point 

Edited May 30May 30 by Efulton

18 hours ago, DRW50 said:

 

David Andrew MacDonald?

26 minutes ago, Efulton said:

Kathleen was not a villainess when she first appeared but she was also not a typical heroine. She was keeping secrets from MJ and Ben about her last job, was ambitious and definitely had an edge.  That’s why she fit so well with Felicia and Cass.  They still had done shades of grey at that point 

Sounds similar to where she was when she returned in 1991, just older and more hardened by life. I do appreciate some aspects of that return, but it's tough to get past all the slanted writing for Frankie/Cass as I have no great interest in that pairing (of course you are going to write for the couple who are actually staying on the show, but I feel how I feel).

18 minutes ago, anthonymolchan said:

David Andrew MacDonald?

That's a good spot. I don't think it's him but there is some resemblance so I may be wrong.

50 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

Sounds similar to where she was when she returned in 1991, just older and more hardened by life. I do appreciate some aspects of that return, but it's tough to get past all the slanted writing for Frankie/Cass as I have no great interest in that pairing (of course you are going to write for the couple who are actually staying on the show, but I feel how I feel).

That's a good spot. I don't think it's him but there is some resemblance so I may be wrong.

Kathleen & Carl’s returns were one the best stories Swajeski told. Yes the writing was slanted in Frankie’s favour but Julie Osburn originally only signed a short contract.  She did extend her stay and was well integrated into the show.  They wanted her to resign again and it looked like they were going to pair Kathleen with Grant but she wanted to return to California. 

Edited May 30May 30 by Efulton