According to various sources, Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth, General Hospital) has fallen ill with viral meningitis. Martha Madison (ex-Belle, Days of Our Lives) will temporarily replace Herbst in the role. Madison's first airdate will be June 8th.
Hope Becky gets well soon! And good luck to Martha! Wonder if we'll be seeing any Belle (Kirsten Storms), nuBelle (Martha) and Shawn (Jason Cook) interactions??
I'm not much for conspiracy theories, but I have to admit, when it comes to soaps I've got a few. Here are 4 daytime firings that I think we never got the real story about - along with my theories on what really happened. This is a completely irrelevant and silly post, but what the heck. It's a lazy Sunday, I don't feel like doing anything productive, and I haven't posted in forever. So feel free to laugh at me and disagree (I don't think anyone has agreed with me on any of these, lol).
Rebecca Herbst is Fired! Rebecca Herbst is Fired?
When ABC announced that Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth, GH) was being let go, something seemed hinky from the start. Yes, she was the odd woman out in a Love Pentagon (Lucky/Siobhan & Nik/Brook Lyn seemed to be the go-couples) and the character had been written into a corner - alternating between snarky slut, town breeder and professional clipboard holder for years. But from what I've heard from a friend in the know, ReH is also cheap as h*ll, willing to be on the backburner, and has a fanbase. Plus, she's the mother of Saint Jason's baby and Luke and Laura's first grandchild (two paternity secrets that have yet to be fully revealed). Why bother getting rid of her now? And most importantly, Jake's death was coming up. Were they really going to tell a story about a child's death and have the mother leave when the story is just getting started?? So she wouldn't be there for any of the fallout? Does that make any sense? I don't think so... Not to mention the amount of rewriting & reshooting that would have had to be done in such short notice after they 'changed their minds' (it would be a logistical nightmare).
After this news broke, I told some friends that if she didn't have another soap job in a month, then she wasn't really leaving. And sure enough, one month later, she didn't accept another job offer and it was announced she's not leaving (this, despite reports in soap mags/blogs that ReH had been approached by other shows.) The conspiracy theories I usually hear about this 'firing' is of the "Brian Frons hates Becky and wants to destroy Liason!" variety. I don't think so. If TPTB hated ReH, her *ss would have been gone a long time ago. And if Frons really did want to fire her now, he would have done it and no amount of mail would have changed his mind. Believe me, Anne Sweeney doesn't give two sh*ts about a character/actress on a soap. My theory? Becky wasn't going anywhere, at least not now. I suspect they knew the reaction to Jake's death would be hugely negative, perhaps this was a bait and switch type situation. Fire her, then give the fans 'what they want' by rehiring her and when they're feeling happy and empowered, kill little Jake. And the attitude of TPTB? "Yeah, we killed Jake, but at least Elizabeth is still on the show!"
John is Dead! Oh wait, no he's not!
When Drake Hogestyn was 'fired' and John Black was killed on Days of Our Lives in 2007, there was a part of me that was devastated. "How could they kill off such a beloved character!? How could they fire an actor who had been the show's leading man for 20+ years!?" I cried. Then there was the other part of me that though TPTB were just f*cking with their viewers. It had a Salem Stalker/Melaswen stink to it, is what I'm sayin'... And what do you know? 3 or 4 months later, John's Alive and Drake is back! Wow, what a shocker - NOT. Listen, I loved that John was alive and that Drake was back on the show (at least for another year), but I would bet my Marlena barbie doll (if I had one) that TPTB never intended for John to really be dead. Call it a gut feeling, Soap Viewer's Intuition - it seemed like a lot of bull to me. In their defense, I get that TPTB wanted to surprise their viewers (something that's getting harder and harder to do these days), but I have to say that this nonsense and the Melaswen stunt made me feel cheated as a viewer and DAYS was just never the same for me.
3rd Carly's Not the Charm: Jennifer B we hardly knew ye...
Poor Jennifer Bransford - in 2005 she was hired to replace Tamara Braun in the high profile role as Carly Corinthos on General Hospital. Six months later, Bransford was fired and Laura Wright, who just happened to be at the end of her Guiding Light contract (as Cassie "Eating the Show Alive" Layne), was announced as her replacement. Funny how that worked out, huh? Such a coincidence that they let Bransford go at the exact same time Laura Wright was available, huh? I don't think so!!! My Theory: TPTB never intended for Bransford to stay on as Carly - I think they always intended for Wright to take that role. Firstly, casting Bransford was a head scratcher to begin with - it was a classic example of miscasting. But to go even further than that: Carly C is a very high profile role. You do two things when casting a high profile role: you either go with an unknown (like Tamara as Carly, or say...Dominic Z as Dante as a more recent example) or you get a soap star to play the role. You do not hire a D-list soap actress (her turn as OLTL's Georgie didn't exactly set the soap world on fire) who is clearly all wrong for the part. What I'm thinking is that TPTB knew there was going to be backlash over a recast no matter who was hired. They decided to cast Bransford, knowing fans would not accept her in the role, and let her take the brunt of the Recast Backlash, while at the same time keeping the seat warm (so to speak) for Laura Wright, whom TPTB really wanted to hire but who had 6 months left on her contract at GL. Fast Forward 6 months later: Jennifer B is fired (much to many fans' delight) and Laura W is hired. TPTB get who they really wanted and Laura W does not have to deal with Recast Backlash because viewers saw her as an improvement over Bransford. Think I'm crazy? Don't think TPTB at a show would hire someone wrong for the part just to make a recast transition easier? Well get ready for my 4th and final Conspiracy Theory...
Sweet Charity! Charity Rahmer taking over the role of Belle Black from Kirsten Storms on Days of Our Lives in 2004 may go down in Soap History as the Worst Recast Ever. If you never saw Charity in action, believe me, it's as bad as you've heard. We're not exaggerating. My theory? TPTB purposely hired someone they knew would Bomb in the role. Think I'm crazy? Watch these clips and tell me how it's possible they didn't know how horrible she was. (Just to clarify, there's a whole lot of bad acting going on in these clips: Charity is the blonde girl):
My goodness, Charity even makes that guy from The Real World look good! You cannot tell me that anyone in their right mind would watch Charity in action and think "Yes! That's who I want in the role of fan favorite heroine Belle! She'll put Kirsten Storms to shame!" Uhm...no. What really happened? I think TPTB wanted Martha Madison, but knew she'd have trouble replacing Kirsten. To avoid the dreaded Recast Backlash and to give Martha a fighting chance, they hired Charity (for 3 weeks) knowing fans would hate her. Fans would unleash their fury on poor, lovely Charity and then happily embrace Martha when she replaced her. And it worked!
So those are my theories! Think I'm wrong? Possibly. Think I'm crazy? Definitely. Have any conspiracy theories of your own? Please share!
Hey All! Miss Denial Island was nice enough to let me post my thoughts on the Daytime Emmy Pre-Noms. I'd love to read your comments about them too! Oh and if anyone knows which actors declined to submit themselves let me know. I keep hearing conflicting info...
For a complete list of the pre-noms, click here (Michael Fairman's site)
Here we go:
THE GOOD
Nice to see Alicia Minshew and Alison Sweeney in the Lead category, where they belong!
Terri Colombino is a shoe-in for the nod. She kicked ass in ATWT’s Brad’s Death storyline and she even appeared on camera without make-up *gasp* (daytime actresses equivalent to Robert De Niro gaining 500 pounds for Raging Bull.)
Battle of The Carlys (GH): Laura W and Sarah B are two of daytime’s best actresses so I’m glad to see them on the list. The Academy (or whoever the hell judges these things) has been notoriously unkind to Laura over the years and both actresses failed to get nominations last year, but I’m putting my money on Sarah B. Yes, the character of Claudia was a hot mess, but Sarah gave it her all and she’s got some great scenes to submit. How cool would it be for her to win Emmys for two different roles on the same show? (Has that ever been done before?)
Phick vs. Shick Round 575: Thrilled to see Sharon Case on the list! Plus, this gives Phyllis and Sharon fanbases another reason to verbally assault each other – what more could you want?
The Sound of A Million Moss Maidens/Ronnettes Weeping: Not only do I like Don Diamont (he’s come a long way since his beefcake days on Y&R), but his pre-nom is cause for celebration just for the simple fact that it means Ronn Moss doesn’t get a pre-nom.
Next Soap Opera Digest cover: Eric Braeden reacts to not being Pre-Nominated! Eric Braeden and Christian LeBlanc aren’t pre-nominated, but Doug Davidson IS?? Proof that there is a Soap God!
Can we just give the award to Drew Garrett (Michael, GH) now? GH does a lot of things wrong, but they've proven that it's possible to find younger actors that can actually act!
Pleasant surprises: Betty White, Ilene Kristen, Stacy Haiduk, Hilary B Smith get pre-noms.
THE BAD
Memo to Tony Geary: Yes, you are an Icon, but you are not a Leading Man. Stop putting yourself in the running for an award you don’t deserve (even though you’ll probably get it anyway.) Managing to show up to work 6 months out of the year is not a good enough reason to be nominated for anything. Put your ego aside, show some class and submit yourself for Supporting from now on.
Someone please tell me why Rebecca Herbst is on this list? She hasn’t given a pre-nom worthy performance since Liz’s rape story 10+ years ago, yet she continues to pop up on here. Admittedly, she’s perfected the art of the Snarkabrow and the breathy whine over the years, but this spot should be given to someone who deserves it (*cough* Nancy Lee Grahn *cough*)
WTF Pre-Noms: DAYS’ Nadia Bjorlin (I love her but…really?), GH’s Nathan Parsons, AMC’s Daniel Kennedy & JR Martinez, Y&R’s Bryton James (Again?? Seriously??)
THE UGLY
Justin Deas (GL) not being on the pre-nom list is an utter travesty! I don’t know what happened…did he not submit himself or what?? His performance last year during Coop’s death was the best stuff I’ve seen on television (daytime or primetime) in years. How did one of the most praised actors on daytime become one of the most underrated, overlooked actors over the past several years?
No Lead Actor Pre-Noms for Guiding Light. WHAT?? I don’t get it. Am I missing something? Can someone explain this to me??
People are glad Jonathan Jackson is back. I get it. And next year he sooo deserves a nomination. But what did he do in the two months he was on in 2009 that warranted a pre-nom?? Perhaps it was his inappropriate teary-eyed-ness in every scene. Why am I putting this on The Ugly list instead of The Bad? Because this is yet another (and thank goodness final) slap in the face to Greg Vaughan. A team player with a large fanbase, Vaughan was unceremoniously dumped to bring back the original “Cowboy.” Talented and charming Vaughan was wasted on GH for years, yet when he was given the meaty drug addiction storyline he stepped up to the plate and proved to be a worthy leading man. He was rewarded with…no pre-nom (for that year). Yet JJ gets a pre-nom for 5 minutes of screen time? I call bullsh*t!
Making good on his pact with Molly Burnett (Melanie, DAYS), the Devil has arranged for her to be pre-nominated.
More proof that the Devil runs Daytime: Jacqueline Macinnes Wood (B&B), Brittany Allen (AMC), Crystal Hunt, & Farah Fath (OLTL’s not so dynamic duo) all get pre-noms for Outstanding Younger Actress.
**********************
Well that's about it for now. What do you guys think? Are you happy with the pre-noms? Were you surprised? Do you think anyone was unfairly overlooked? Let us know!
-Melanie/daisyclover1938/SoapOperaBabble (and various other aliases)
Nice to see Alicia Minshew and Alison 
Sweeney in the Lead category, where they belong!
Terri Colombino is a shoe-in for the nod. She kicked ass in ATWT’s Brad’s Death storyline and she even appeared on camera without make-up *gasp* (daytime actresses equivalent to Robert De Niro gaining 500 pounds for Raging Bull.)
Battle of The Carlys (GH): Laura W and Sarah B are two of daytime’s best actresses so I’m glad to see them on the list. The Academy (or whoever the hell judges these things) has been notoriously unkind to Laura over the years and both actresses failed to get nominations last year, but I’m putting my money on Sarah B. Yes, the character of Claudia was a hot mess, but Sarah gave it her all and she’s got some great scenes to submit. How cool would it be for her to win Emmys for two different roles on the same show? (Has that ever been done before?)
Phick vs. Shick Round 575: Thrilled to see Sharon Case on the list! Plus, this gives Phyllis and Sharon fanbases another reason to verbally assault each other – what more could you want?
The Sound of A Million Moss Maidens/Ronnettes Weeping: 
Not only do I like Don Diamont (he’s come a long way since his beefcake days on Y&R), but his pre-nom is cause for celebration just for the simple fact that it means Ronn Moss doesn’t get a pre-nom.
Can we just give the award to Drew Garrett (Michael, GH) now? GH does a lot of things wrong, 
but they've proven that it's possible to find younger actors that can actually act!
Memo to Tony Geary: Yes, you are an Icon, but you are not a Leading Man. Stop putting yourself in the running for an award you don’t deserve (even though you’ll probably get it anyway.) Managing to show up to work 6 months out of the year is not a good enough reason to be nominated for anything. Put your ego aside, show some class and submit yourself for Supporting from now on.
Someone please tell me why Rebecca Herbst is on this list? She hasn’t given a pre-nom worthy performance since Liz’s rape story 10+ years ago, yet she continues to pop up on here. Admittedly, she’s perfected the art of the Snarkabrow and the breathy whine over the years, but this spot should be given to someone who deserves it (*cough* Nancy Lee Grahn *cough*)
WTF Pre-Noms: DAYS’ Nadia Bjorlin (I love her but…really?), GH’s Nathan Parsons, AMC’s Daniel Kennedy & JR Martinez, Y&R’s Bryton James (Again?? Seriously??) 
Justin Deas (GL) not being on the pre-nom list is an utter travesty! I don’t know what happened…did he not submit himself or what?? His performance last year during Coop’s death was the best stuff I’ve seen on television (daytime or primetime) in years. How did one of the most praised actors on daytime become one of the most underrated, overlooked actors over the past several years?
No Lead Actor Pre-Noms for Guiding Light. WHAT?? I don’t get it. Am I missing something? Can someone explain this to me??
People are glad Jonathan Jackson is back. I get it. And next year he sooo deserves a nomination. But what did he do in the two months he was on in 2009 that warranted a pre-nom?? Perhaps it was his inappropriate teary-eyed-ness in every scene. Why am I putting this on The Ugly list instead of The Bad? Because this is yet another (and thank goodness final) slap in the face to Greg Vaughan. A team player with a large fanbase, Vaughan was 
unceremoniously dumped to bring back the original “Cowboy.” Talented and charming Vaughan was wasted on GH for years, yet when he was given the meaty drug addiction storyline he stepped up to the plate and proved to be a worthy leading man. He was rewarded with…no pre-nom (for that year). Yet JJ gets a pre-nom for 5 minutes of screen time? I call bullsh*t! 
More proof that the Devil runs Daytime: Jacqueline Macinnes Wood (B&B), Brittany Allen (AMC), Crystal Hunt, & Farah Fath (OLTL’s not so dynamic duo) all get pre-noms for Outstanding Younger Actress.
