Exactly, and how long was she around anyway?

Wow, never heard that about Michael and I do not know WHERE my head has been all these years but I have never even thought about Charlie (let alone old ass Lawford) being her son. His years with Juli, even having watched his scenes with Kelsey and Tad, my mind just didn't make that connection. Maybe the Brent thing and how he called Phoebe Grandmother just threw me off. What always gets played up is the Erica dating three generations thing moreso than her dating the son of her former rival.

I think her Kelsey return was about 2-3 weeks. I'm not sure. I don't want to check at SOC since someone said they had a virus.

I don't think Tara was there for the Charlie/Cecily wedding (although I might be wrong) but she did have one scene with Charlie, and it was jarring.

As much as I liked Lee Meriwether's run as Ruth, the family still lost something without Mary Fickett. I would have brought Tara in more frequently as an adjunct to this, perhaps played up some tension between them, since Ruth had not raised Tara and Tara might have felt she was mishandling Kelsey. Tara could have thrown Tad and his heavy baggage in Ruth's face, as well as Joey basically leaving the family for years and not doing a lot. Ruth would have said Tara had no business talking about the proper way to raise a child. Joe would have looked pained and done some strange squinty smiles.

There was a real wasted opportunity in Kelsey's Martin ties. She was mostly involved in stories with other people and her family interaction was limited to Ruth hectoring her.

Edited June 4, 201114 yr by CarlD2

In late 1977 Karen was basically let go from the role - she said it was fine with her, as she had asked them to change Tara (mature her, I guess) and they wouldn't.

I think the problem with Jeff and Tara is that they were duplicated by other characters - Jeff by Chuck and to some degree Linc. Tara was fairly unique for AMC in the 70's but they burned through a lot of story with her and someone like Nina, or Donna, who sort of fulfilled the same story purpose, came in. Then by the time story was there which should have brought these characters back, AMC had moved into more glamorous territory.

It also seems like a lot of AMC's roles in the 70's and early 80's were unable to catch on after a popular actor left. It doesn't even seem like they really tried with Jeff (just a few short recasts that went nowhere).

IIRC, didn't Peter Bergman initally try out for a Jeff Martin recast?

Yeah, from moment one, LM Ruth had more of an edge (which got softened). I still have her first scene on tape somewhere (*The role of Ruth Martin will now be played by Lee Meriwether*) and she is kinda cold, *almost* bitchy.

Yeah, from moment one, LM Ruth had more of an edge (which got softened). I still have her first scene on tape somewhere (*The role of Ruth Martin will now be played by Lee Meriwether*) and she is kinda cold, *almost* bitchy.

She was definitely very tough - I think there was something of a warmth but also a hard edge. Mary Fickett was also strong but it seems like a quieter, velvet glove strength.

I remember a fan comment that said you could finally believe Joe and Ruth actually had sex. I didn't want to think about that.

Edited June 4, 201114 yr by CarlD2

IIRC, didn't Peter Bergman initally try out for a Jeff Martin recast?

Yes. I always forget about that. I wonder if they were also casting Cliff too and just dropped Jeff or if they initially planned Jeff/Nina.

Clip of Nancy Frangione's Tara about a minute into the clip

I Like Lee As Ruth. I Thought thats how Karen looked in 95 but then i saw her elsewhere and nope. the way they made tara look it looked like she could have been joe's wife not daughter

What was the reaction to Nancy Frangione's Tara? It's hard for me to think of her as a sweet, motherly heroine when she was so absolutely perfect as selfish, amoral Cecile on AW.

Love the green-screen driving scenes -- reminds me of Saturday Night Live's Toonces the Driving Cat skits.

Nice to see Robin Strasser there. The few times I tuned in to AMC to see her, I thought the character was a dud. But she looks good!

Robin would agree with you about her AMC character.

I don't know if there was any strong reaction to Nancy. I think by that time people may have been worn out with Tara. I guess it was her choice to leave? I know Mary Lynn Blanks replaced her.

Ellen Wheeler tested for Dr. Whitney Baker (whoever that was) on DAYS.

That role was played by Claire Yarlett (Bliss The Colbys) Pamela Saunders(Rita Mae LOV) and Deborah Rennard (Sly Dallas). She was a police psychologist.

Thanks so much. Did she ever have anything to do? That's quite the gauntlet of actresses - I didn't even know Yarlett and Saunders were close in age. I didn't know Yarlett ever did any other soap work.

Claire Yarlett was the original Dakota On Rituals. She was replaced By Mary Beth Evans when Yarlett booked The Colbys

Check Recasts Thread For Video Of Dr whitney