GH: Classic Thread

[depboy]

He chose to leave according to this newspaper column.

[Paul Raven]

Thanks for that. I could see that the 1hr format and new shooting schedule could be a factor in him leaving. We all know Gloria was a hard taskmaster and they worked long hours.

[victorlord75]

I also want to express my appreciation for sharing the article as well as commenting on the article itself.  Mr. Gregory sounds like a very interesting person with a variety of interests.  I liked his version of Rick because his Rick seemed more devoted and faithful to Lesley than Chris Robinson's version.  Of course, to be fair, Mr. Robinson only followed scripts written for him, so the story choices were not his.  As a viewer, I was frustrated by Rick being so wishy-washy regarding Monica.  However, I never got to the point of hating Rick.

[Doc Lesley]

The story I heard (not substantiated by any articles) was that Gloria Monty wanted Chris Robinson for the role of Rick Webber. She actively pursued Chris Robinson. He steadfastly declined stating that he had previously done a soap opera, did not like the experience and did not wish to do another one. Gloria told him that his experience with General Hospital would not like any other soap opera. Ultimately, he consented when she agreed to write into his contract that he could have a break to do a movie. A few months into his stint as Rick Webber, he was offered a movie role. Gloria told him that he was well within his contractual rights to take the break but that doing so would ruin everything she was building on General Hospital. He did not take the break at that time, Spring/Summer of 1978, but instead took the break from 8/29/80 - 10/15/80 (while Luke and Laura are on the run.) Michael Gregory bowed out of the role with class. 

Michael Gregory attended Gina Dante's wedding to Gary Lansing, approx 3/24/78. Per a Jon-Michael Reed article, Chris Robinson was playing Dr. Rick Webber by 4/15/1978. Does anyone remember when in the storyline the change took place. It was before David Hamilton was killed. 

[Forever8]

An episode from 1985 has been uploaded, but I'm not sure if it was online before or not.

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[titan1978]

Fans saved Brad Maule’s job during one of his coma hospital stories when Monty was there. This might be the one! Tony had so many major medical issues.

[j swift]

Also, isn't the myth about Gloria Monty not liking to recast invalidated by one of the Cassadines?  I have a vague memory of one of them being recast in the role early on.

It feels untenable.  Maybe, she said it in an interview, but it would've been difficult to never recast a part during her entire career at GH. Similar to when Claire Labine said it was difficult to write for happy couples on soaps while at RH (paraphrased), and then went on plenty of stories for long term couples.  We can't hold these people to a single quote over their entire lifetime.  

Edited September 6, 2024 by j swift

[Paul Raven]

Facts speak for themselves.

Apart from Rick and Heather I don't believe there was a recast during Monty's time on the show. They either died or left town.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[j swift]

Those are two fairly major recasts, and off the top of my head, she recast Anna during her second tenure at GH.

I'm simply saying, it may not have been her preference, but it happened.

Edited September 6, 2024 by j swift

[Jdee43]

Gloria Monty recast Ned in spring 1991 when the original actor decided to leave.

She also recast Dominique in mid-1991, when the original actress wasn't working out.

Edited September 6, 2024 by Jdee43

[Sapounopera]

 I read Tracey Bregman's interview in the Classic Y&R thread and she mentioned that Gloria Monty wanted her for GH. Do we know which part she was supposed to play?

[Paul Raven]

Thanks for reminding me re those recasts. In Monty's 2nd go round, like the first they were actors she hadn't cast. And the Anna recast was some bts drama I can't recall.

Overall her no recast policy was firm. 

Whereas Y&R had a recast Patty, Jill, Ashley, Jack.

ATWT recast Lily, Tom, Margo, Dee etc

[DRW50]

 

[Franko]

Oh, my good lord ... Stuart Damon was genuinely talented, but this is the sort of stuff that Bill Murray would parody on SNL a few years later.

[Planet Soap]

When GH Shifted from JFP to Frank in 2012-13, there's change in the lighting of the show. I think it was better lit under Phelps and when Frank took over around the 50th anniversary we got this very harshly lit bright show.

2012

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2013

I think today GH has the best sets in soaps, but the harshly bright lighting cheapens the look of the show. HD is more complimentary to the Bold and the Beautiful than GH.