34 minutes ago, Liberty City said:

Damn, they steamrolled Caroline's illness. It's almost as if William J. Bell were hoping and praying plans to recast worked out or that Joanna Johnson would change her mind. Damn... what a riveting storyline. I have never seen it play out, and wow... almost to the end of Caroline's life, and I want to just cry.

Joanna Johnson announced her departure in December 1989 and it was to be at the end of her initial contract in March 1990, but it ended up being four months later in July 1990.

I think some soap names thrown around in the soap press as a potential Caroline recast were Genie Francis and Tonja Walker but I could be mistaken.

My theory is that Bill Bell realized he rushed into recasting Y&R Ashley (Eileen Davidson didn't get a proper exit storyline and Brenda Epperson floundered for her first six months) so he decided to kill off Caroline and replace her role on the show with Taylor.

Caroline death was sad but Joanna Johnson was irreplaceable. She was so natural and real in the role. In the grand scheme of things it was probably for the best that she left. I shudder at the thought of Bradley writing for Caroline. It all worked out in the end as Joanna Johnson went on to have success in her post-B&B writing and directing career.

2 hours ago, kalbir said:

Joanna Johnson announced her departure in December 1989 and it was to be at the end of her initial contract in March 1990, but it ended up being four months later in July 1990.

I think some soap names thrown around in the soap press as a potential Caroline recast were Genie Francis and Tonja Walker but I could be mistaken.

My theory is that Bill Bell realized he rushed into recasting Y&R Ashley (Eileen Davidson didn't get a proper exit storyline and Brenda Epperson floundered for her first six months) so he decided to kill off Caroline and replace her role on the show with Taylor.

Caroline death was sad but Joanna Johnson was irreplaceable. She was so natural and real in the role. In the grand scheme of things it was probably for the best that she left. I shudder at the thought of Bradley writing for Caroline. It all worked out in the end as Joanna Johnson went on to have success in her post-B&B writing and directing career.

I get why he killed off Caroline ⏤ the first Caroline, anyway. But it was also a hasty decision, considering Joanna Johnson returned mere months later as Faith Roberts (a.k.a. Karen Spencer). And to think Katherine Kelly Lang at one point auditioned to be Caroline, as well. In [finally] watching the full Caroline arc, I can safely say had Johnson not left the role or Bell not killed the character off, Caroline truly would have been the woman for Ridge. I kind of wish Bell had just allowed Johnson some time-off to pursue other projects, and written Caroline out on assignment for Eye on Fashion, etc.

Genie Francis would have been a suitable recast for Caroline, too. I do think she would have been a reset for the character. But her career took her to the east coast, and back to the warzone of ABC.

4 minutes ago, Liberty City said:

I get why he killed off Caroline ⏤ the first Caroline, anyway. But it was also a hasty decision, considering Joanna Johnson returned mere months later as Faith Roberts (a.k.a. Karen Spencer).

Joanna Johnson return was December 1991, so almost a year and a half later. Her second departure was Spring 1994 (can't remember the exact month off hand).