Actress Adrienne Barbeau will join the cast of ABC's 'General Hospital,' TV Guide reports. Barbeau will play Suzanne Stanwyck, a tough woman who runs an Italian children's charity, and will first appear on the show on August 12. She is scheduled to appear on the show for severAl Weeks or more.

Suzanne will work closely with Brenda (Vanessa Marcil), who is returning to the show; the two will first collaborate in Rome and will then go to Port Charles. TV Guide quotes head writer Bob Guza as saying, "Despite her hard edge, Suzanne has a lot of love for others, including Brenda - she's her confidante, so to speak. As we get to know Suzanne better, she'll have a surprising feminine side."

Adrienne Barbeau originated the role of Rizzo, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award, in GREASE. She has also appeared on Broadway in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Hodel). Barbeau is also known for her role as Carol Traynor on 'Maude.' Her other film credits include 'The Fog,' 'Creepshow,' 'Swamp Thing,' and 'Escape from New York.'

'General Hospital' is a television show that has aired since 1963. It follows the general hospital of the fictional Port Charles, New York. The show airs on weekdays on ABC at 3et/2pt/c on ABC and weeknights at 10pm on SOAPnet; for more information, visit the program's official website.

http://tv.broadwayworld.com/article/Adrienne_Barbeau_to_Join_General_Hospital_812_20100624

Edited June 24, 201015 yr by quartermainefan

Sounds good.

As we get to know Suzanne better, she'll have a surprising feminine side.

We need to make sure we remember she's still a lady just because she speaks her mind and is strong-willed.

More stunt casting -- GH must be getting desperate.

I guess this woman will be killed trying to protect Brenda or will be killed in Brenda's place or something?

With Adrienne and her two friends onscreen I wonder if anyone will remember Vanessa's there...

How strange....A few years ago Soap Central is reported that Bea Arthur was going to check in November in the role of the presumed dead Adella Corinthos Woods, Sonny and Ric's mother and Mike's ex-wife. Adella is presumed dead, and the object of Sonny's near religious devotion. But obviously this never happened.

Edited June 24, 201015 yr by reallyhateskateonlost

How strange....A few years ago Soap Central is reported that Bea Arthur was going to check in November in the role of the presumed dead Adella Corinthos Woods, Sonny and Ric's mother and Mike's ex-wife. Adella is presumed dead, and the object of Sonny's near religious devotion. But obviously this never happened.

There were also ridiculous rumors saying that Bea was gonna be a back from the dead Mona Kane as well. This was around the infamous Burton Armus period.

is John Carpenter still alive? He can come and direct!

That would be cool if they bought Mona back to life

That would be cool if they bought Mona back to life

Nooo! But I'm all for more hitherto unknown love children of Eric's. Or an aunt or uncle for Erica, the woman has like no family after all these years, never a mention of a cousin or anything.

Wow, so this is really happening. Interesting. I love Bea Arthur with all my heart but a soap opera casting item with her name in it is always going to sound like a joke/hoax to me.

I've been away from here for a long time, pop in periodically but I have to wonder which soap is going to win the stunt castint award. GH with Maude's kid or Y&R with Julia Roberts brother.

What's interesting about all this is how we have watched film stars move to the small screen allegedly taking juicy TV roles from TV stars and now we have aging TV stars taking roles from members of the soap community. Call me crazy, but I'd rather see Stuart Damon on GH over any of these recent stunt casts and none of these folks are any better an actor than he is. Or Genie Francis back.

does the soap community believe this is helping them gain credibility? Is that why? Have any of these stunt casts worked? I guess it depends on what the objective behind them is.

As far as this cast decision, Bea Arthur was an incredible talent and had success in many venues, films, 2 wildley popular TV shows, and theatre. Adrienne Barbieu, never have really been impressed with her at all. Hope this works out for Vanessa and I hope they have a better plan for Brenda than they did for Sarah Brown's Claudia.

Edited June 25, 201015 yr by JaneAusten

I think it shows how dated many of those who run soaps are now. Nothing against Adrienne Barbeau but the idea that she is a "name" who will automatically bring up numbers is baffling. And yet the genre is now so decimated that the type of derision GH got almost ten years ago for bringing in Sally Struthers is not likely to be whispered.

The thing is there are good actors who might do a great job in these roles and possibly stay around long term, yet they don't get a look in because they are not famous.

Nooo! But I'm all for more hitherto unknown love children of Eric's. Or an aunt or uncle for Erica, the woman has like no family after all these years, never a mention of a cousin or anything.

Gloria Stuart plays Mona's older sister, the product of one of the earliest unabortions. It's a social issue and a shocking story, who can lose.

I think it shows how dated many of those who run soaps are now. Nothing against Adrienne Barbeau but the idea that she is a "name" who will automatically bring up numbers is baffling. And yet the genre is now so decimated that the type of derision GH got almost ten years ago for bringing in Sally Struthers is not likely to be whispered.

The thing is there are good actors who might do a great job in these roles and possibly stay around long term, yet they don't get a look in because they are not famous.

Well is that why she's joinging GH because she's going to bring viewers in? Exactly who are the soaps trying to attract with these stunt casts. Certainly not lasped GH viewers. They certainly aren't going to care about Adrienne Barbeau. And is it to draw in younger viewers. How many of them know or care about Adrienne Barbeau?

Maybe you're correct and these showrunners are completely out of touch with the audience of today.

As I haven't really watched any of GH over the past 6-7 months, did JJ's return really help the show at all or had it really been a bust? Again, depends on the expecations.

Edited June 25, 201015 yr by JaneAusten

Well is that why she's joinging GH because she's going to bring viewers in? Exactly who are the soaps trying to attract with these stunt casts. Certainly not lasped GH viewers. They certainly aren't going to care about Adrienne Barbeau. And is it to draw in younger viewers. How many of them know or care about Adrienne Barbeau?

Maybe you're correct and these showrunners are completely out of touch with the audience of today.

Guza and Frons were much younger men during the days when Adrienne and her two friends were among some of the most known sights on primetime TV. I think in their mind she is a possible draw for viewers, and if not, at least someone they want to see again to remind them of what they used to be. And I'm sure someone at the show is probably thinking: Bea Arthur was on the Golden Girls which is popular, and Maude, starring Bea Arthur, is on DVD, and might have a few fans, so this might be their way of cashing in on some sort of Golden Girl luster.

I think it's also throwing anything against the wall to see what will stick. Michael Learned, Franco, the return of once big GH names like JJ and Marcil. Anything to try to cover up the stench of what is today's GH. It's the same with Y&R and their stunt casting. They just want to avoid fixing their shows, they don't think their shows are a problem, they just think they need to lure in viewers with some kind of trick.

As I haven't really watched any of GH over the past 6-7 months, did JJ's return really help the show at all or had it really been a bust? Again, depends on the expecations.

As far as I can tell the only people who have enjoyed his return are those who loved him years ago and are still watching. Most newer fans don't seem to care and the ratings did not have any noticeable increase. The show itself has nothing for him to do, it's obvious they don't care about Lucky and just wanted to bring back an actor they loved.

It's sad. All the shows. Days is about the only one I follow and while it has it's moments with returns, I've been disappointing in what I've seen of Crystal Chappell's Carly. Loved her on GL, loved her on Days back in the day, but just not taken with this current run.

AS far as JJ, it's sad. I actually liked the other Lucky's and have always liked the character. JJ was popular but it was his romance with Liz that catapulted him. Sad to hear what they've done there. And while I know Greg Vaughan was not a strong actor, he was wildly popular as Lucky and incredibly good looking. I suspect many of the recent and younger viewers preferred or prefer him to JJ or as you said just don't care.

I do like Vanessa, I won't be watching but I hope her return works out for her and this casting decision is successful in terms of her story. But like many of the lasped soap viewers, I think I've just thrown in the towel. I'm one of those viewers who's given up. Nothing GH or AMC could do or no one they could bring on screen to draw me in barring perhaps Meryl Streep.

Edited June 25, 201015 yr by JaneAusten