Somehow I get the feeling that if TPTB were to bring back one of the non-Davidson Ashleys, it would be the other one...

I think BE's Ashley might add some warmth to the show, although that won't happen as long as MAB/Sheffer/Hamner/Sheffer are still around.

Yeah, the show is a hot mess and getting worse. I am surprised BE didnt do some primetime work.

Oh great. Of all the characters -- and actors -- to be let go, this is one I actually care about. And yet a host of others are still stinking up the show?

Bad move, Y&R. Jess Walton away on leave and now this? WTF? Eileen Davidson is amazing.

I've watched this show since day 1. Since this has happened right on the heels of this Victor/Sharon fiasco I don't know how much longer I will watch. I just love ED ...... the show is not the same without her. I did stop watching for a while when LML was at tha helm. I can always do it again.

Edited May 18, 201213 yr by ladyceejay

And I'd call her far more than "serviceable" as Ashley. Just because she softened Ashley's bitchier side some doesn't mean she wasn't Ashley and didn't make the character her own because she did, sometimes with better results and performances than we ever would have gotten out of Davidson as Ashley

She is a solid actress that was serviceable in a role that Eileen made famous.

It was Eileen (in addition to Bill's writing) that made the character popular.

Brenda's tenure as Ashley is inconsistent at best & despite her warmth as an actress most of Ashley's pairings (save Diamont's Brad) were the most universally panned of all of the character's many relationships. Brenda is a B level story romantic heroine which is exactly what she played during her time on the show & Bill wrote the character to her strengths much the way Y&R's written Victoria since Amelia was cast. She's a better actress than Amelia but it's no surprise that it was during her stint that Ashley went from Y&R's 2nd most popular heroine to it's 4th or 5th.

Though I might agree we may not see her lead a story again, but how long has it been since Eileen has actually lead a story as Ash? It didn't happen under LML and it certainly hasn't happened under this regime.

Which is why it's pointless for her to return.

Just as it would be for Donnelly, Rowell, Tom, Williams, Cast or any of the other solid actresses who helped make Y&R number one.

If we had to have a recast, I'd prefer Epperson return, but you know they prefer to recast with non-Y&R actors. They want to stunt cast and that's what they will do.

As I said when she was first fired, I'm certain that Sony (since it own both Y&R and DAYS) is planning to move her in another attempt to "Save Days" - then when that flops, she'll be back to Y&R. This has been handled in a brilliant way - lots of controversy, which creates buzz, then fans getting excited (demanding) that she should go back to DAYS. Frankly, while I love ED, Ashley is just a second-fiddle character (and she shouldn't be). Like when Jack was shot, she was his fill-in. Hello? Ashley she be running Jabot and then fighting off Jack when he tries to get it back. The Tucker pairing was clearly a bad idea for the character and, now, with the exception of Cane, there's no one worth paring her with. I doubt TBTB would dare mess with Lane after last year's fiasco.

That said, Gen and Kevin can high tail it out of town. I actually like DM - now that's she's getting more comfortable with the role (pls don't pair her with KSJ - he sucks the air out of every scene because he's just a lazy actor). DW - Sarge is a minor character - I doubt he's a payroll hog. No commentary on Landon since we haven't seen her yet - plus I'm biased because of ATWT.

Gen and Kevin can high tail it out of town.

And Sharon and Sofia.

Honestly I don't think Ashley was ever popular as a character based on her romances, aside from Victor. I just think she was someone who was understood by Bill Bell and hasn't been understood by anyone since.

I don't think this is a ploy, as it doesn't make Y&R look great and I'm not sure DAYS will hire her.

Honestly I don't think Ashley was ever popular as a character based on her romances, aside from Victor.

Diamont's Brad & Eileen's Ashley were very popular (as was Diamont's Brad & Brenda's Ashley to a lesser extent).

Diamont's Brad & Eileen's Ashley were very popular (as was Diamont's Brad & Brenda's Ashley to a lesser extent).

I know there was some teasing of that relationship in the 80's but I wasn't sure if their 00's relationship, complete with the sperm theft and the affair with Olivia, was as popular.

If we had to have a recast, I'd prefer Epperson return, but you know they prefer to recast with non-Y&R actors. They want to stunt cast and that's what they will do.

Funnily enough, in its own way, casting Epperson is stunt casting. Who knows? Maybe MAB, Sheffer, & Kent will see it that way too, no? I could see Sheffer falling in love with her, which is a scary thought in its own right, actually.

I know there was some teasing of that relationship in the 80's but I wasn't sure if their 00's relationship, complete with the sperm theft and the affair with Olivia, was as popular.

IMO, it was a HUGE disappointment because Diamont didn't have the same chemistry with ED that he did with BE. Period.

Edited May 21, 201213 yr by juniorz1

If you can convince them that Brenda was once on ATWT or an ABC soap then they'll be right on it.

I LOVED Brad and Ashley when they got together under ED

If you can convince them that Brenda was once on ATWT or an ABC soap then they'll be right on it.

Edited May 21, 201213 yr by Cheap21

I know there was some teasing of that relationship in the 80's but I wasn't sure if their 00's relationship, complete with the sperm theft and the affair with Olivia, was as popular.

Brad & Ashley's marriage was very popular (even with the sperm drama) which is one of the big reasons (among many) why so many viewers hated Brad & Olivia's affair (as well as Ashley dumping Brad for Victor later).

Funnily enough, in its own way, casting Epperson is stunt casting. Who knows? Maybe MAB, Sheffer, & Kent will see it that way too, no? I could see Sheffer falling in love with her, which is a scary thought in its own right, actually.

No way, Epperson is a nobody, there's nothing stunt about it.