HOLIDAY MIRACLE: Prospect Park Back On Track To Revive AMC and OLTL

[jfung79]

I agree that a recast of Kendall would be fine. I don't think she has to be a name though. I also agree they should have Bianca back, whether Eden Riegel, Christina Bennett Lind, or someone else. This is another reason it was crucial for Opal to be in the cast. She can provide some anchor of familiarity interacting with the Kane women. Absent Erica or Tad, Opal fulfills a useful function for a number of younger characters who they could possibly recast or still sign on.

Jackson would also be able to do that to an extent, but he doesn't have the ties to any possible new Jamies, new Damons, new Peteys, or Asher, that Opal would have. I do think they should contact Walt Willey though.

They should contact the younger actors too. I don't understand why they don't have any of the teen/20s generation on board yet, and never even contacted Stephanie Gatschet (although she is a bit older). OLTL has a very good mix of re-signed in terms of age range. What is the thinking at AMC? Are they planning a total recast/clean slate for the younger characters? Because there obviously will be younger characters too, especially given the rumors of how they want to eventually go younger that are out there.

Still, the people they have signed are in family units and work together, so it's not just a random collection of characters. There is logic there. David and Cara have a baby together, the Castillos are a family; the Hubbards are a family; and the Castillos, Angie, and David are all doctors. Opal can float between all these characters to listen, give advice, and be comic relief or quirky, even if she is not needed as the tentpole for any Kanes, Cortlandts, or any of Tad's kids. The odd one out right now is Zach, but he was working with the Castillos toward the end of the show and he can probably fuflfill some kind of hero role. I'm sure there will be more signings though.

[SFK]

Bianca and Kendall are certainly recastable, but their portrayers must hit the appropriate notes. I don't care for Anne Hathaway, but she is a Bianca, for example (and yes, I know that is hardly a possibilty, again, just making an example). You can't just throw rando good actors in those roles, they have to ring true.

[SFK]

I don't see it. Little Laura Cudahy had she lived, but she doesn't strike me as a Kane.

[DRW50]

If you're casting based on what the actress has done in another role, I think it ends up as stunt casting. If they think the actress can work as Kendall, that's another story. Generally that doesn't happen. Y&R cast a ton of actors because they were good on another show, and what a shock, every single one was a big flop.

I don't think Kendall needs a big name, just someone with real talent and star quality. I know it became very fashionable to hate AM but generally I thought she did Kendall justice, big time, up to 2007 or 2008 when they destroyed the character.

[KMan101]

I agree. I liked Alicia most of the time as Kendall and she could bring it, especially when the writing was there (which it often wasn't). McTavish definitely handled the character the best and Kendall has floundered for the most part. I think they really wanted to make her this heroine and Kendall shouldn't be.

I'm also confused as to why they haven't signed Stephanie Gatschet. Madison is still a clean slate. And honestly, what's Daniel Cosgrove even doing these days? I'm sure he'd sign on as Scott again.

The casting is just kinda confusing me for AMC right now. I don't get what their plan is and why they seem to be letting others not signing stop them from signing other people to at least have a workable canvas.

It could also be the HW thing. OLTL has had HWs in place for a few weeks now so I'm sure the cast was easier to shore up with some kind of written game plan.

[DRW50]

I know this will not be popular but I wish they could consult with McTavish, at least. Just ignore any of the bad ideas (like obsession with rape and pregnancy and pointless darkness) and keep the better stuff. She did know how to write some characters very well when she had the opportunity.

I think instead of bringing back people from the end of the show they should comb through the archives looking for some past characters, possibly recast.

I would love to see Mark return, possibly with a recast Julie; I'm sure Julie could have some kids.

[Mr. Vixen]

That's what I said a few pages back, but no one else agreed LOL! I'm glad someone else sees it, too.

[KMan101]

Yeah. AMC has a lot of viable options if they just look for them.

Mark and Julie are high up on my list. Petey should be recast. Jamie should be recast. Even, IMO, Chuck can be viable. Charlie can be viable. Colby is recastable. Trent Garrett and Asher weren't that bad, he can come back.

Didn't Robin Christoper expressinterest? Um, bring Skye back! Even if it is recurring (I don't know if she wants a contract).

Bring back one of the Bianca's, Madison/Scott, hopefully get MEK and CmC (though to be quite honest, I'd be OK if they weren't signed on). Get Julia Barr, David Canary, Jennifer Bassey, Lee Meriwether and Ray McDonnell to recur and you can have a show.

[allmc2008]

Oh, Really??

[DRW50]

(Vee made a joke about actors making up the AMC stories themselves)

So basically, full scale and permanent ruination of one of my favorite characters.

I don't even think AMC could mangle it quite that much, unless Debbi Morgan has Angie garrote Ruth Martin.

[DRW50]

Time to bring back the boarding house. She would flourish in the Myrtle role.

[Jonathan]

She only has 1 good idea for every 20 bad ideas.

[DRW50]

That's still one more than most soap writers in the last 15 years.

I think when she's worked with she does good work, or good-ish, especially in terms of pacing and momentum, which was an issue with AMC in most of its last years, to me.

[KMan101]

Michael Strahan was on GMA this morning and when they did a live chat with Kelly Ripa about it she was showing off that she was reading the latest Soap Opera Digest.

I just found it interesting. She never said anything about it except she pointed out she was reading it. LOL

[Ann_SS]

I cannot imagine that PP can afford to pay even a quarter of these people unless they are willing to work for less than minimum wage and the union is not going for that.