What other instances have there been of an actor taking over a popular role (or even a new role) and tanking so badly that they were ushered off the show quickly (as in, 3 months or less)? My choices would be:

Y&R: Scott Seymour as Billy

B&B: Emily Harrison as Bridget

Edited March 23, 201312 yr by y&r_fan

juniorz1 - I agree with your assessment of JER's 90's Days (never watched his second run, only seen clips) though I did love it and still do, I have to watch it as almost a separate show to the one I grew up on. It's true that characters were sacrificed for story. It amazes me that JER wrote the same show in 93/94 as I think that it was perfect and kept so much in line with what Days and the characters were, then in 1995, especially late 1995 it all changed.

I felt that way more in 1992 and 93, when Sheri Anderson was co-head (92) and probably had mapped out much of 1993. I LOVED Kate Roberts (Deborah Adair), Billie Reid (Lisa Rinna), and Patrick Muldoon (Austin Reid). And while I didn't care for Bryan Datillo's Lucas, I never thought I was supposed to at the time. Laura Horton was properly re-integrated, though I don't think Jaime Lyn Bauer was the right choice for the part. Carly being buried alive was KILLER! Louise Sorel and Crystal Chappell acted their asses off. Even Peggy McCay was given some stuff to do in that storyline. It still felt like Days then- Carly's being buried alive was creepy not campy.

He lost it in 94 with the Posession storyline and PodHope/Gina. It was unforgivable, played for shock value, camp, and laughs, and the Days of our Lives that I once knew and loved had a very different identity that I didn't really care for. I was practically salivating for Kristian Alfonso to come back, yet when she did, I just didn't like how it was written and how she nor the writers never officially made Hope act like Hope again. A good actor rises above bad writing and Kristian was no longer translating as the Hope I grew up with. It was such a disappointment.

I can't believe I didn't include Louise Sorel as an actor that shined during the Reilly era because she did. But Louise is an actor's actor- she's so good, you don't even realize that she's acting. That's my favorite type of acting and she rocked every crazy story she was given.

I don't think Joey was unrecastable. Other than the story with Dorian, I actually can't think of anything Nathan Fillion did in the role that a dozen other OK actors with a little charisma could do. He did nothing with Kelly that I cared about, he did nothing to elevate the boring Cameron/Olivia story, and I had no real connection to his Joey in scenes with his family.

For me, if anyone was the ideal actor for the role, it was Chris McKenna.

I thought BMH was OK and just never had a shot, thanks to terrible writing. The last Joey was the same way.

Joey shouldn't be a difficult role to cast. A little charisma, a big heart, a sincerity. But that is anathema to soaps today. On soaps today, most men have to be assholes or they are seen as boring. That was especially true for OLTL once Todd arrived.

Different strokes, different folks. But the Dorian storyline was and is the story that defined Joey as a character and there was something so effortless and effective about Fillion's acting that is so rare that I just knew lightning wouldn't strike twice. Not after having him as Joey.

I never accepted pornstarbillie.

but i do love Austin Peck's Austin, in large part due to my Sami/Austin love with him in the role.

I still prefer Pat Muldoon's soulful, artistic performance as poor starving pianist Austin. He was amazing and so believable as Lisa Rinna's brother. When Billie was on the stand for Curtis Reid's murder and talking about her sexual abuse, Muldoon was magnificent. He just sat there and cried and his heart bled for his sister. Austin Peck NEVER could have played that material.

And while I'm focusing on the Reids, for me, Kate Roberts began and ended with Deborah Adair. Lauren Koslow was and is pornstarKate imo

I agree with what you said about Austin, the character. Totally. For me, I was so young when I saw it originally that when AP came on as the cute but dumb Austin falling for Samis schemes i had no issue accepting it, his looks sure didnt hurt. Thought I also really enjoyed PM's return recently, much more than most it would seem. I love both of their Austins.

I thought Austin Peck was so awful until his last stint. I think he's improved as an actor in the last decade as Ive enjoyed him on other soaps. The 90s though? Yikes, that was some painful tv watching with him

OLTL's Jessica Morris was absolutely dreadful

Edited March 27, 201312 yr by Cheap21

If Jessica Morris played Jenn Rappaport on OLTL, then I did like her.

Ooooh here's another one for the ATWT fans that hasn't been mentioned yet- How about Glynnis O'Connor as Margo, briefly replacing Ellen Dolan when she left in the 90s after Margo's rape story? Yikes. She was capable enough, but it seemed she was playing MAN-GO, not MAR-GO.

Kyle Brandt was an AWFUL Phillip that lasted much longer than he ever should have.

It's hilarious how the Very Experienced Charity Rahmer vid on YouTube has over 100,000 views! People really do love watching a train wreck!

Other than the story with Dorian, I actually can't think of anything Nathan Fillion did in the role that a dozen other OK actors with a little charisma could do.

Perhaps, I'm just easy that way, but the Dorian love affair was enough for me to garner the highest esteem for his Joey.

Perhaps, I'm just easy that way, but the Dorian love affair was enough for me to garner the highest esteem for his Joey.

It made me love the story, however brief it was, but I just never had any strong interest in anything else he did as Joey, and he was there for three years. A few months out of three years isn't enough for me.

Kyle Brandt was an AWFUL Phillip that lasted much longer than he ever should have.

The best part about this is he totally owns that and admits to it. His twitter is hilarious.

I actually liked KB as Phillip. Not at first but he grew on me and I rooted for him and Belle. I remember hating him iniitally simply bc I didnt like him on RW

Edited March 27, 201312 yr by Cheap21

The best part about this is he totally owns that and admits to it. His twitter is hilarious.

Wow, I may actually have a smidgen of non-hate for him for this (count me as one that hadn't watched him on DAYS, but hated him on The Real World).

It made me love the story, however brief it was, but I just never had any strong interest in anything else he did as Joey, and he was there for three years. A few months out of three years isn't enough for me.

Nathan did make a strong impression on me, personally just cuz I found him appealing, but you're right that they didn't give him much. I liked Jeffcoat fine, he seemed capable and had that Joey sweet personality but awful writing in a messy era. I don't really remember McKenna well enough to comment. I still think BMH was unbearably bad--just no talent for soap acting, but I will grant a lot of it had to do with the writing for new Joey, and it seemed especially hysterical to hire a model for this new Priest Joey (I admit this may be partly superficial, I find him not attractive at all, so...)

Didn't the actor who played Del on AMC (Del number 2) come from that Soap Reality show, too? He certainly didn't seem very good, but to be fair they seemed to never have any, at all, intention of giving him a story (yet kept him around it seemed like for at least a year,) so maybe he could have impoved with material.

Stopped watching Days of Our Lives way back in 1987.

I remember people saying it was the poor man's soap opera and it's Emmy failuries later on proved them right.

I can't answer this question unless I say DAYS OF OUR LIVES to everything.

GH's first Zander, who looked like a thug until they decided to turn Zander into cute boyfriend material.