On 9/6/2021 at 6:21 PM, j swift said:

I would suggest that Amandas are a question of taste and everyone has a preference.  Sandy Ferguson made the role popular and played a good romantic heroine.  Her Amanda was well-bred, independent, and (in my opinion) was kind of like what Iris would have been like if Mac paid more attention to her as a child.  I am in the minority that I enjoyed Laura Moss (another redheaded recast like the aforementioned ill-fated Nina).  Her portrayal was nothing special, and the plot of her trying to seduce/betray Carl seemed out of character, but her scenes with Rachel during Victoria Wyndham's anniversary episode made me sympathetic to her as an actress.  Christine Tucci was an odd choice of casting.  She looked like Rachel's daughter, given her dark wavy locks, but her Amanda lacked agency and was stuck playing second fiddle to Vicky.  Amanda was a wealthy, self confident woman, and writing her as a third wheel in a triangle did nothing for the character.  Finally, when Sandy returned, and had to play out the Lumina story, Amanda became a farce.  For years, the image of Amanda in her debutante dress was shown in the opening sequence and now to see Amanda looking older in a hoop skirt and bun was not a good look.

 

As for Ava's, you have to have a memory better than mine to remember Patty Lotz (Ava #1).  After that it is a toss up between the late Roya Megnot and Lisa Peluso.  Roya played young Ava with an urban verve and gave her a balance which kept her from being a true villain who stole her cousin's baby and tried to ruin Jack's marriage.  On the other hand Lisa's southern romantic portrayal of Ava gave routing value for her pairing with Alex.  The character changed so much with the recasting that it more a question of which plot you preferred versus which actress, and I prefer the Clay/Alex story.  I faded out after that so the other plots with Paul and Carly are not as relevant to me.

When I go back and see those episodes from Christine Tucci's time my mind goes to her being a Lorna recast before I remember she is playing Amanda for some reason. 

2 hours ago, sheilaforever said:

Indeed. All three actress had a different take on the character - and it all worked wonderfully. That said, one could argue that Michelle Stafford also played a different Phyllis from 2000-2005 (and was still great at it), before she quit acting and turned to mannerism.

I complete agree with this. Gina Togoni, Michelle Stafford and Sandra Nelson all played three different versions of Phyllis. Though, I would argue Nelson kind of ran with what Stafford did prior to her, and Stafford's last stint was two different works, as you mentioned.

1 hour ago, Forever8 said:

When I go back and see those episodes from Christine Tucci's time my mind goes to her being a Lorna recast before I remember she is playing Amanda for some reason. 

I always thought Christine Tucci and Alicia Coppola could pass for sisters...so much so that I got them confused at first.

I want Sherry Shatticks back as Ashley Abbbot!

On 9/6/2021 at 6:21 PM, j swift said:

Christine Tucci was an odd choice of casting.  She looked like Rachel's daughter, given her dark wavy locks, but her Amanda lacked agency and was stuck playing second fiddle to Vicky.  Amanda was a wealthy, self confident woman, and writing her as a third wheel in a triangle did nothing for the character

Christine Tucci was a much better actor than Sandra Ferguson and much more convincing as an intelligent professional woman. I never thought of Vicky/Grant/Amanda as a love triangle because it was so much about Grant's need for power and control. And as such Amanda wasn't losing to Vicky (or later, Lorna), she was another woman Grant was abusing. I didn't need Amanda to be a romantic heroine.

2 hours ago, Xanthe said:

Christine Tucci was a much better actor than Sandra Ferguson and much more convincing as an intelligent professional woman. I never thought of Vicky/Grant/Amanda as a love triangle because it was so much about Grant's need for power and control. And as such Amanda wasn't losing to Vicky (or later, Lorna), she was another woman Grant was abusing. I didn't need Amanda to be a romantic heroine.

I didn't see SF's Amanda as anything but a romantic heroine. CT's Amanda was much more corporate businesswoman. Laura Moss' Amanda...I couldn't see her as either.

On 9/13/2021 at 11:19 AM, Chris 2 said:

Off topic, but what is it with some of these veteran actresses who get hammier as they get older? Is it just me who has noticed that? Susan Seaforth Hayes, a big star in her day, is so over the top that I find her performances painful. Similar case with Robin Strasser - I found her to be kind of a ham in her old age. And don’t get me started on Jess Walton.

For a non-daytime example, see Florence Henderson.

I think both SSH and Robin came back to their respective shows feeling pressured to compete with either the tone of the show (Hayes) or in Robin's case, the network expectations. I've said for a long time that I think being cut by JFP traumatized Robin and that she came back determined never to be made to leave the show she loved again, and that she'd prove her worth by going hard and going big every single day so the brass would notice her effort. She did good work after returning in 2003, but she too often had about two speeds and rarely calmed down or went quiet. I'll always love Robin, but it hurt her performance.

^ Didn't SSH come back full-time just after JER became headwriter? If so, that's as good an explanation as any.

Edited September 14, 20214 yr by amybrickwallace

I think the best recasts could be Christina/Blake on Guiding Light.  I think all 3 adult Blake's were great.  I also think McKinsey will always be the best Alexandra, but you know Marj Dusay and Joan Collins were really good.  I also liked Peter Simon as Ed, and Ron Raines as Alan.  For recasts, GL did pretty well over the years.  Laura Wright would always be the best Cassie but Forrester did OK.  The Mindy's, ditto - I liked Krista Tesreau but the Kimberly Simms and Barbara Crampton were fine in the role for me.  Ann Hamilton not.  Maureen I thought was Ellen Dolan until Ellen Parker took over the role...EP was better.   Oh and as someone mentioned, Wendy Moniz was Dinah to me...but Gina Tognoni was also very very good.  The previous Dinah...can't remember her name but went on to other shows, but I don't remember her as great as Dinah.   I know a lot of people had issues with Nancy Alban as Michelle but to me I thought she was much closer to the way Rachel Miner would have played an adult Michelle.

Edited September 14, 20214 yr by Fevuh

44 minutes ago, Vee said:

I think both SSH and Robin came back to their respective shows feeling pressured to compete with either the tone of the show (Hayes) or in Robin's case, the network expectations. I've said for a long time that I think being cut by JFP traumatized Robin and that she came back determined never to be made to leave the show she loved again

I think SSH's reason for going OTT is much like Strasser's. Reilly said he couldn't write for SSH -- meaning her character was too intelligent for his dumbed-down plotting -- so when he eventually brought her back she determined she was going to give him the cheap theatrics he adored. And she's never looked back. 

I always thought Strasser's stint as Hecuba on Passions made her realize OTT was the way of the future.  She is capable of subtle work (watch her in the 80s mini series Baby M where she played against type)... and her 80s turn as Dorian.  More subtle and played Dorian more close to the vest.

And regarding Michelle on GL.... I liked Miner the best, followed by Joie Lenz, than Budig and didn't like St Alban at all.

Maybe I am in the minority,but I did not care for the character of Jessica Buchanan til Bree Williamson took over the role.  She brought Jessica to adulthood with sexiness and charm.  Torpey's version was innocent and pure.  Like I said,maybe I am in the minority. 

1 hour ago, teplin said:

I think SSH's reason for going OTT is much like Strasser's. Reilly said he couldn't write for SSH -- meaning her character was too intelligent for his dumbed-down plotting -- so when he eventually brought her back she determined she was going to give him the cheap theatrics he adored. And she's never looked back. 

That's exactly what I was talking about, yes.

2 hours ago, Fevuh said:

The previous Dinah...can't remember her name but went on to other shows, but I don't remember her as great as Dinah.   

Paige Turco?

58 minutes ago, amybrickwallace said:

Paige Turco?

That's her.  I could have googled it...I really don't remember much of her as Dinah, but that's her.  I know she went on to a lot of other things and was popular.