AMC: New Jennifer Bassey Interview

[LoyaltoAMC]

I friggin love Jennifer Bassey. One of the all-time underrated actresses in daytime IMO. Pretty sure that Shapiro/Culliton backburnered Stuart & Marian, but still kept them active. They were used in supporting capacity during the Mia introduction, which was definitely Culliton. It could've been just the usual frontburner/backburner cycle that most characters go through and had nothing to do with ageism. Once Frons/Rayfield came to ABC, Marian pretty much disappeared. Canary/Walker/Knight/Barr were severely backburnered.

[Adam]

Jennifer Bassey was awesome as Marian. I remember being so ecstatic when she was finally given a contract in 1999... its too bad she didn't get more of a role following Stuart's death. What they did to Marian was incredibly bad and unjustified. Marian should be an integral part right now with Liza in such heavy story.... We'll probably never see the character again unless Broderick maybe fixes things.

Great post. Regarding Vanessa, I've started a thread in the Video section with several clips taken during her unraveling as she is exposed as Proteus. Marj is such a class act.... I hated to see her go from AMC, but she really sold Vanessa as a desperate loon. Amazing craft that woman has.

[EricMontreal22]

Yes, the so underused Mary--i want her back! I was even hoping when Barbara returned she'd be used in this role, but it was a wasted opportunity. I know it's cliuche, but it seems to me such a quintessential, and essential soap role, it seems a no brainer not to use these actresses who want to work in the roles.

[EricMontreal22]

Right--my main prob was most of it was so cheap seeming. I think they had one of the Crystal Ball ornaments which I admit I coulda been tempted to buy--otherwise it was fake looking little jewellery with very loose connection to the show, etc

[quartermainefan]

You really think she is underrated? I think everybody knows she was brilliant as Marian, and has always been. I think AMC knew this too, and that's why such a peripheral character lasted 30 years and eventually became part of a major family. Ok, everyone but Frons knew this, but Frons seems to be a bit of a schmuck.

[Adam]

It was simply her age that did her in and her mere connection to the "old" AMC as he saw it.... The show changed so drastically in that first year he was around it became unrecognizable. That's why I always will stand by my belief (at least initially) Megan brought the show's identity back. Yes, she used her tired old rape angle to do it, but it brought Pine Valley together again, had the characters interacting with who they should be interracting with. Of course that all went to hell after a year and a bit, but it was there.

The way Fusion took over around Dec. 2002 and those god awful teens.... and the stupid What Women Want thing.... AMC because Sex and the City lite. I believe Frons actually compared AMC to Sex and the City once in an interview. The man is clueless.

Now they are telling anyone who will liste: "AMC is getting back to its core. AMC of yesteryear is back..... 7 years too late. The damage has been done.

In short, Jennifer Bassey got screwed royally in 2002, and screwed even more so in 2009.

[DaytimeFan]

The only thing I can say for Jennifer's last story was at least she got to do some great work. Her monologue on the stand, screaming at Kendall and Liza was great, her attempting to shoot Kendall and being thwarted by Scott, great, her confrontation with Adam about not giving her comfort, great.

But that's all because of Jennifer Bassey.

As far as I'm concerned, ABC Daytime can drop dead, it's treatment of over 40 performers is atrocious.

[Adam]

Oh I agree, she nailed it. There was never any question on that. It shows just how great she is due to the fact she can rise above the complete and utter crap ending to the Marian character. That ticked me off more so than Stuart's murder.

[EricMontreal22]

Spot on. I've been considered a McTavish defender on here for saying the same--and maybe I am but I want to stress I think the second half of her tenure was awful, and the woman has undeniably done a lot of damage. But I stand by the fact that when she returned--at FIRST anyway--the show suddenly felt like AMC/Pine Valley again, and perhaps if the Rayfield vapidness had been allowed to run a few more years the show would be in even worse state.