ALL: They Almost Became

[Vee]

I've been wondering that myself. This was in fall '03, deep in Malone's mad second run. Flash/Sarah, possibly? But she would've been aged up slightly from Shanelle Workman.

[Liberty City]

I agree: I honestly could not have seen Kelly Monaco as Babe or as Bobbie Eakes' daughter. At all. According to Soapcentral.com, she was up for the role of Nikki Munson on As the World Turns, but she passed because she wanted to stay on the west coast.

[cassadine1991]

Nikki probably would’ve lasted longer and a major character on the show if KeMo accepted the role. She also looks like Jordana Brewster

Edited October 12, 2023 by cassadine1991

[Huntress]

From the 90210 universe: In 1994, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen auditioned for a role on "Models, Inc." before she landed the part of Valerie Malone on "Beverly Hills, 90210".

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-09-04-tv-34509-story.html

[DRW50]

Watching an old Denise Pence video from a decade ago and I had forgotten she mentioned auditioning as Jackie Marler. They decided she was too young but created Katie for her. 

(this is for Guiding Light, of course)

Edited February 16, 2024 by DRW50

[Chris B]

I was going back and reading this thread and saw this. Personally I think Kirsten Alderson has the spark and experience to make Summer interesting with the writing being the way it is on Y&R. I'm shocked they auditioned experienced soap actors, two Emmy winners and went with a newcomer. The actress in the role is fine, but incredibly bland and as a result the character has gone from a lead to an expendable supporting character.

[soapfan770]

 

I don’t think Lanier is bland at all as an actress rather it is Griffith’s writing that made the character bland. Lanier’s first year completely revitalized a once dead end character and made the character more mature, edgier, and bitchier, but apparently that was too much drama for Griffith to handle so he regressed the character back to a weeping whiner like Hunter King played. 

We were flat out robbed of AL having a rivalry with ZS. 

Lanier is fine in this role, if the show could use her correctly, especially given AL had shown to be formidable towards ZS, SW, and CH while eating Stafford alive. Given Y&R’s track record,  “Experienced Emmy winners” there’s a high chance Alderson and Ainsworth both would have been DOA flops. 

[janea4old]

^ agree 100%

[Liberty City]

I concur, and, at this point, feel Allison Lanier is wasted at The Young and the Restless.

[DRW50]

Hat tip to @Soapsuds

Keith Coulouris auditioned for Chris Hughes on ATWT (that went to Ben Jorgensen). 

[Vee]

I remember people praising this girl to the high heavens a year or two ago. It's a pity she's too young for say, Lulu on GH.

[Liberty City]

Had they not aged Lulu she would've been age appropriate. Lulu was introduced in 1994, and Lanier was born in 1990. And, technically, her birth year was retconned to 1988, so Lanier is only two-years younger than that. Both Berman & Rylan were meant to be playing younger than they are in-real-life.

[DRW50]

Valeka Gray told Daily TV Serials that after How to Survive a Marriage's cancelation, she was auditioning for Edge of Night.

[DRW50]

Thanks to @Contessa Donatella

At the Another World 60th, Barbara Rodell mentioned that after she left ATWT for the last time, she was offered, and turned down, a chance to be a temp recast for a pregnant actress on OLTL. 

Presumably, that would be Viki, which was taken over in that period by Christine Jones. 

[Liberty City]

Tonya Pinkins was due to screen test for the role of Angie Baxter on All My Children; it was canceled due to a call made to Debbi Morgan. (x)