OLTL: why are we waiting on a new opening? lol

[alexisfan07]

So I don't really get it. All the new regulars have all been on at least a month, so they're kind of "settled in." This includes Tea (hopefully), Justin (maybe), Stacy, Kyle, Rachel, and now Greg. And they got rid of Talia, Lola, Michael and Marcie. There's no one we're waiting for I don't think, so what's the deal? Daphnee filmed footage, so let's go guys! Maybe they're waiting for Michael's stint to be over, but that's weird since they changed it while Antonio still had a few appearances to make. Anyone else have any intel/thoughts?

[jcar03]

OLTL fans should be thankful they get a yearly update. GH hasn't added anyone in 2 years and just recently took out 3 people (Ric, Kate, and Jerry) and it looks as awkward as hell.

[alexisfan07]

I agree, but I just want some consistency. OLTL has been fast up until now, where GH has always blew.

[DRW50]

My favorite OLTL opening was the one from the late 70s to the early 80s, the one which had a sunrise. I thought the imagery and music were beautiful. I wish they could go back to this type of opening, since they likely no longer have the budget for an 80s style opening, and I never want to see that Gottlieb opening again.

[Scotty]

Well we have way got our wish last week with one of two versions updated. Hopefully they'll get the other one updated next week.

As for those you mentioned, I doubt they will add Justin to the opening. I think his is a short-term contract like they did for the characters of Bruce Bartlett, Madame Delphina, and others in the past....they need them to help further a particular storyline, so they sign them to a short contract to ensure that they will be available until the storyline wraps up.

As for Tea, I've heard that FL has only signed a series of short contracts so she may or maynot make it into the opening.

They'll need to update again soon when Stacy's friend Amanda arrives and lawyer Elijah Clark debuts. I know that the first role is contract, and I'm pretty sure the second is as well....however all other upcoming new characters are recurring at this point.

But they should add Kyle and Stacy to the other version for sure (too bad Fish and Shaun aren't on contract).

[Scotty]

One thing to add is that I believe they update the opening based upon contract cycles....just because an actor leaves the show, if it is before his/her contract was set to expire, their picture may remain in the opening until the contract expires. I'm no legal expert, but I think sometimes they have something in their contract about it.

Remember that Paul Satterfield remained in the opening for a couple of months (at least) after his character Spencer Truman left the show. I think I read something about his contract not being up yet (meaning his picture would stay until it was).

If you think the OLTL openings are slow about getting updated, you should check out the cast bios. at the OLTL page at ABC MediaNet.

Just look at all the current contract cast members missing from this list....and the OLTL SOAPnet MediaNet website is even worse.

Kristen Alderson

Melissa Archer

Brandon Buddy

Kassie DePaiva

Michael Easton

David Fumero

John-Paul Lavoisier

Erika Slezak

Hillary B. Smith

Trevor St. John

Timothy D. Stickney

Robin Strasser

Tika Sumpter

Brittany Underwood

Jerry verDorn

Bree Williamson

Robert S. Woods

[alexisfan07]

I'm sure they will, they did the same thing in March with a Thursday/Tuesday thing.

Yeah, but Justin's already been on six months. That's not short-term, I don't think. Was Britney short-term, too, or did she just "miss" the opening?

Yea, I really hope Tea makes the opening. My heart will sink if she doesn't. I believe Elijah is recurring, and I'm sure they won't rush to add Amanda.

Yea, I see them adding Kyle and Stacy.

Yea, but then what can be said for people that don't even make the opening? There's got to be legal guidelines that stipulate that one enters the opening, as well as when they are allowed to be removed. But yes, you're right about the contract issues. AMC kept Taylor Gildersleeve, Sydney Penny, Eileen Herlie (RIP) and Sterling Sulieman MONTHS after their last airdate because of contract issues. I don't know why they bothered picking up another 13 weeks on Taylor, Sydney or Sterling, though, when it was obvious that their characters were done.

LOL, yea, the bios are hysterical. Ironically, GH has kept their bios updated but NOT their opening.

[Scotty]

I think that some people are on the show at the wrong time....like Britney was....between updates when they first aired, even though I believe she had a regular contract. As for Justin...think of the guy (name esacpes me at the moment) who portrayed Daniel Colson a few years back. He was on the show for almost a year (I think) and never made it to the opening...I think it is all in their contracts...it may be in some contracts they don't get an opening shot, just like some have episode guarentees in theirs. And Justin is hardly a major character, probably has a contract with episode guarentees for once or twice a month or something. Remember too that the I Wanna Be A Soap Star winner Mikey Jerome also never made the opening, although he had a 13 week contract with OLTL.

As you said...a lot of this has to be legal stuff (at least with OLTL anyway)...Paul Satterfield was a classic example. I think he was in the opening for when Spencer was dead than when he was alive.

One good thing about OLTL is that they appear to update their opening roughly every 13 weeks with contract cycles come round (remember that not everyone's 13 weeks is up at the same time). Updates in January, then again about April (addition of Schuyler and one or two others) and again in July....they will likely update again it again around October or November.

[alexisfan07]

Well, being on the show at the wrong time is hardly an excuse IMO for missing the opening, lol. I can't imagine, if it's against legalities, that they got away with it, unless there was a stipulation like you said or maybe the contracts weren't long-term enough. I didn't think that Mark Dobies was under contract. Soapcentral indicates he was recurring and his official website doesn't indicate a contract, either. As for the 13-week cycles, I don't think they put people in that just have 13 weeks or, if they last, then renew over and over. Maybe that's Justin's deal, too.