Michael Easton has posted a message on his Facebook page revealing he will not be taping at GENERAL HOSPITAL as John McBain after February 8th. The negotiations between ABC and Prospect Park to keep the former ONE LIFE TO LIVE characters on GH are still unsettled.I heard a rumor of some lovely people who were going to stop by the studio for a certain riff raff's birthday. Some others who wanted to deliver a cake. Even more wonderful folks who wanted to send cards and treats and I want you to know I am incredibly humbled by these gestures but unfortunately I will not be around to enjoy them. I've been informed, that due to some ongoing legal this and that, I cannot be at "General Hospital" after February 8th and since I know many of you go to great trouble to do something special, I just don't want to see anybody's efforts go to waste (especially the lovely person who always sneaks in the fine Irish Whiskey).According to Daytime Confidential, Roger Howarth's Todd Manning and Kristen Alderson's Starr Manning are in the same boat. All three actors are under contract with ABC, but the characters have been licensed by Prospect Park. The scenes the actors tape until February 8th will air throughout the month.
If it's not too bold, may I suggest a donation to The American Cancer Society instead. Then some good will have come out of this...
...Miss you guys already.
Michael
Soap Opera Digest is reporting Prospect Park intends to recast the roles of Starr, John and Todd for its OLTL reboot.
On Twitter Kristen Alderson added, "Thank you for all of your sweet responses to the recent madness. Nothing yet to report! Praying for positive answers."
UPDATE:
Prospect Park has released a statement on this issue.
So if Prospect Park is recasting the roles and the original actors eventually return to GH as those characters that means the characters will exist on two soaps at once but played by different actors.....? A bit confusing but as someone who did not follow the OLTL characters to Port Charles my initial reaction is to think that the actors' loyalties should lie with the soap that launched them, namely OLTL, however unrealistic that may be. In a perfect world Roger, Kristen and Michael could appear as their Llanview characters on both shows, but I won't hold my breath on that one. At least we'll have Viki & Clint, Dorian & David, and Bo & Nora.....and I'm still hoping Ilene Kristen's Roxy will show up!
ReplyDeletemen that is mast up???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
ReplyDeleteEaston could just play Caleb on GH. Will GH create a new character for Howarth to play if this doesn't get settled?
ReplyDeleteThis is a major joke! PP is being ridiculous! And,althouigh I loved OLTL, I will not watch the reboot, if this is the kind of crap they are going to pull!
ReplyDeleteSoap outlets are now reporting that Howarth, Alderson, and Easton will return to GH, but as different characters. Good grief. I hate that all of this has happened. I don't get why PP wants the characters if none of the actors are interested in returning. The cast list that Prospect Park released was pretty strong for OLTL
ReplyDeleteall sounds like a PR stunt if you ask me.
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ReplyDeleteThe idea that GH is going to use all three actors is PURE CONJECTURE on the part of Daytime Confidential. Not the first time they've got everyone riled up by one of their cockamamie ideas. Recasting all three roles for the new OLTL is a terrible idea on top of being just spiteful and nasty to three actors who've all given good years to OLTL.
ReplyDeleteIt's all someone's idea......or speculation. I love that We Love Soaps made no speculation of their own, just reported what the others were saying. Let's give it time; not sure anyone really KNOWS yet.
ReplyDeleteIf the reclaiming and recasting of these characters came to pass, it would be foolish beyond belief on the part of Prospect Park, and would kill a significant amount of goodwill that the return of these shows have earned.
ReplyDeleteI hope cooler heads prevail.
And Prospect Park, if you are thinking about doing this: Listen, you want to give us new and exciting story pathways? Give us new and exciting stewards of the shows, too. People who care about the history and want to give the fans what they want, not kill momentum with some big legal flounce.
We've already had decades of producers, network heads et al that didn't listen or didn't care about the end result. Let's give that a rest, too.
I'm with Doug. This really does sound like a PR stunt, i.e. create a "controversy" where controversy really need not exist, just to get some additional press.
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