ALL: They Almost Became

[P.J.]

It was Betty Rea. I think I read that she was the casting director for GL from the late '70's to the mid-90's. Both JvD and Maeve mention her with their casting.

It's funny, when you want to think of something, you can't. I know I missed most of Mike/Ed and Justin/Ross aren't on together that long. But other than Phillip/AlanMichael, I can't really think of GL's brothers. But other than Billy/Josh, the Snyders from ATWT are my faves, and they only interact as a group for half the time Billy/Josh do.

[Contessa Donatella]

Thanks for that confirmation!

I don't even think of Phillip & Alan-Michael as brothers, even though I know that they are. When we move to ATWT I automatically think of Lila's tribe. Those siblings really meshed. The Snyders, of course were a very special family. Marland created them much as Lemay created the Frames.

[DRW50]

http://www.anotherworldhomepage.com/audition.html

Robin Strasser mentions having auditioned for Dark Shadows and ATWT before being cast as Rachel.

Does anyone know if she has ever spoken about who she auditioned to play? I would have said Angelique but she would have started on AW around February 1967 which was a half a year before Angelique's debut. I suppose she tried for Maggie, Laura, Victoria or Carolyn?

[Vee]

I would kill to know, lol. I wouldn't be shocked if it was Maggie or Carolyn.

[Khan]

As would I, lol!  RS would've had a ball on that show!

[DRW50]

Scott always tapped into the emotions more than Robert did - even when Craig is bad he's an overwrought mess, while Josh as a baddie is slick and smarmy. I think it would have changed paths for both characters very quickly - Josh might have reformer more quickly while Craig may not have ever reformed. So much of what helped Scott as Craig early on was his connection with the other actors in the Montgomery family too. 

[P.J.]

I think it took Robert a little longer to flesh out the role. There's not a lot really asked of him those first two years, and all he had for family was Trish, who enabled him more than challenged him. He spent a lot of time carping about HB and Billy, who were off-screen. Craig, otoh, was always seeking Lyla's approval.

Ironic that Marland wrote for smarmy Josh, then ended up reforming Craig.

[Contessa Donatella]

I've long thought that there is a certain delicious quality to the fact that both the Dobsons & Marland wrote at GL & at ATWT. That they both played in those two specific character sandboxes. And the time periods were close & juxtaposed. 

Of course, yes, I know that so many writers had commonality on not only P&G's soaps, not only the New York soap scene but ALL soaps!

All that said I find the ATWT/GL Marland/Dobsons commonality much more interesting than others. Finding out that Scott Bryce & Robert Newman auditioned for Betty Rea at the same time for the same role/s was quite exciting to me. I've continued to ruminate about it & now I think I can imagine them playing the 'other role', when initially I rebelled against the idea. Although the KZ factor still works against Scott, to me. 

One more thought! Who wouldn't seek Lyla's approval?!!! I KNOW I would. 

 

Edited January 2 by Contessa Donatella
one last thought

[DRW50]

I suppose it helps that there was about a year of reforming Craig before his arrival, although he then made Craig even more of a good guy. 

[P.J.]

It's hard for me to remember that Phillip and Samantha are brother/sister. But i suppose that's because she was on canvas for such a short time.  I really do dig the GA/CTE connection. I wish we'd gotten more of Rick Hearst and GA together, but c'est la vie.

 P&G seemed to really stick with their group. Not only HW, but everyone. I'm watching early 90's GL episodes and see lots of names pop I know...Melissa Salmons (who wrote some of my favorite Carly/Jack scenes a decade later) Jen Pepperman, Susan Dansby. Not to mention the Cullitons, Goutman (at some point, I know, I know...but he's a hell of a director.) etc.

I do get a little fuzzy on when Craig went to prison...'84-ish? But yeah, Craig really became a romantic hero under Marland.

[DRW50]

A December 1996 SOD mentions ATWT casting an upper-class guy in his 20s named Brad. They said Todd McKee was approached but declined. 

(Todd McKee was not in his 20s by that time) 

[John]

[DRW50]

Watching the latest Locher Room and it was mentioned by Suzy Cote that Calista Flockhart tried out for Sam Marler (Guiding Light).

Jocelyn Seagrave recently moved back to Los Angeles and said she ended up getting an audition at B&B. She didn't say which part.

[Chris B]

Very interesting! I would imagine this was Taylor but could've been Poppy as well considering her ethnic background.

Lauren Buglioli from Beyond the Gates mentioned in a podcast that she came very close to getting a role on Guiding Light when she was 18. Looking at the time table it seems like she was up for the role of Lizzie Spaulding when Crystal Hunt left. Of course Emme Rylan got the role. She said she viewed it as a big career disappointment but when she met with the casting director for BTG the casting director remembered her from her Guiding Light audition and said she was great and very close to getting the role.

[Liberty City]

Kelly Monaco (ex-Sam, GH; et al) is launching a new podcast Bad Bunnies with Shanna Moakler.