GH In The News: The PC Press Club

[TeeVee329]

Ooh, I misunderstood about the montage.  FV reusing one that was already made is not at all surprising.

 

But still, I don't think any soap writer or producer would look at the scenario - JT leaving, KMc willing to come back to see him off - and wouldn't opt for a HEA ending.

[HeatLifer]

JT quits and goes to a rival soap and Frank doesn't want to recast Patrick? Sorry, that will always shock me. I just don't believe this HEA was something he was passionate about. I think it probs took a lot of discussing...

Edited January 9, 2016 by HeatLifer

[TeeVee329]

*shrug* Like I've said before, I don't think the show cared enough about the character to recast, they certainly don't need him to draaaaaaaaaaag out the Jason/Sam reunion.  And giving him a happy ending with Robin versus having him slink out of town heartbroken at least generates some goodwill AND it gave them an opening to finally tie off all the crap about Robin being in captivity.  I could see the new writers jumping at that.

[HeatLifer]

It's not about the show caring or not caring about his character. It's about what is essentially done 98% of the time on soaps in these circumstances: you either kill off the character or recast or they just leave like they were never there. I don't think Frank and the writers sat down and were like, "Well! I choose HEA!" I think it took a lot of discussing and convincing. Just MO.

Edited January 9, 2016 by HeatLifer

[TeeVee329]

I get what you're saying that HEA exits are pretty rare in soaps these days.  But I think they would recognize the allure of using it on these two characters, because of the goodwill it would generate and especially because it gave them a chance to shut down all the "Robin's STILL in captivity?!?!" complaints.  It's just such obvious soap math to me.

 

But I'll agree to disagree

Edited January 9, 2016 by TeeVee329

[HeatLifer]

Well, they did recognize that it was the right decision, as it happened, lol. I'm just saying I don't believe it was Frank or the writers' first choice. So I'm not disagreeing with you at the end of the day. I just don't believe a HEA was something that was chosen automatically.

[Ambrosefolly]

JT quits and goes to a rival soap and Frank doesn't want to recast Patrick? Sorry, that will always shock me. I just don't believe this HEA was something he was passionate about. I think it probs took a lot of discussing...

I like Patrick and JT, but I think the character needs a bit of a break,plus it gave the Scrubs a happy ending. It wouldn't be such a problem if the show didn't have a weak male cast to pick up the slack, with a formerly supporting player to come into the limelight (not that Patrick was much  in the limelight), like when Tony Geary left, but Tristan Rodgers was able to become even more of a lead. Andre and Curtis were probably hired to shore this up a bit, but both are very green right now and not well integrated into the canvas. I know that someone had a criticism of JT complaining about not being on for 10 straight days while Leslie Charleston hadn't been seen in months, but I thought using LC as an example proved why JT should be in a panic over not being featured; TIIC started to taper of her appearances and finally moved her off contract. The baffling thing is the last few regimes did it to young and old performers, whether the character was popular being immaterial. The last couple decades of over focus on Sonny/Jason (to the point of purposely botching the casting of key legacy characters, like Steve Lars Webber, or trashing character like Lucky, Zander, AJ etc)  and trying to make unworkable characters work like Franco has really hurt the show. Despite the fuck ups of JFP and FV, you could shift out a decent show among the piles of crap and Mark Teschner is so good at casting, but now JT and KMc official leaving, and think it is really hitting home just the shambles this show is in. There is virtually no high school/college cast and the remaining ones are all related and the only family scenes are with the Corinthos family and relative newcomer Jerome family, because they are the only families that are on contract at the moment. 

[ulkis]

I get what you're saying that HEA exits are pretty rare in soaps these days. But I think they would recognize the allure of using it on these two characters, because of the goodwill it would generate and especially because it gave them a chance to shut down all the "Robin's STILL in captivity?!?!" complaints. It's just such obvious soap math to me.

But I'll agree to disagree

This, plus I think a HEA was in a weird way, from Frank's POV, an exit with little fanfare, so I could see him wanting to dp it this way no matter what the actor said.

[peachmangosteen]

Yea, I definitely think FV didn't need any convincing to do a Scrubs HEA. I bet he tried to hedge his bets that JT wouldn't really leave/he could convince him to stay, but once it was 100% clear JT was leaving I feel like FV was like, "Scrubs HEA." Especially since, like TeeVee329 said, it's just obvious and honestly it was actually really easy for them to do and even though it was rushed and horrible in some ways it really did garner them good will anyway just by virtue of a very popular ship getting a HEA and I think FV is smart enough to have seen that coming.

 

Then again this is the same man who won't let go of RH/Franco, so who knows!

Edited January 9, 2016 by peachmangosteen

[HeatLifer]

This, plus I think a HEA was in a weird way, from Frank's POV, an exit with little fanfare, so I could see him wanting to dp it this way no matter what the actor said.

So Frank wanted this ending for Scrubs but gave them a whole 2 days of rushed filming and had Patrick as a purse holder until mid-December? Eh. Something doesn't add up for me. I'll just leave it at that.

[TeeVee329]

So Frank wanted this ending for Scrubs but gave them a whole 2 days of rushed filming and had Patrick as a purse holder until mid-December?

See, that makes sense to me. They pushed the character of Patrick to the sidelines so he could be easily lifted out. And they didn't waste time or money on the actual HEA. That all scream Frank Valentini, IMO.

Edited January 9, 2016 by TeeVee329

[HeatLifer]

See, that makes sense to me. They pushed the character of Patrick to the sidelines so he could be easily lifted out. And they didn't waste time or money on the actual HEA. That all scream Frank Valentini, IMO.

I think we're essentially saying the same thing. Frank did not actually care about Scrubs. As in, he wasn't sitting there going, "I want my favs to exit right and happy and together." He did it for other, more non-solicitous reasons.

[TeeVee329]

And I guess I don't see what's wrong with him approaching giving Scrubs a happy ending as a business decision. That's...kinda his job.

[HeatLifer]

I'm confused? I never said anything was wrong with it. Frank and TPTB can do whatever they want. They're in control of the show. My original comment was about how I wouldn't have been surprised if the montage had been shown before because I don't believe Frank actually cared about Scrubs. And I still think JT/KMc told him what they wanted out of the ending. KMc, at the end of the day, still had to agree to come back.

[TeeVee329]

I guess I'm saying I don't buy a scenario where Frank was dead set against a Scrubs HEA scenario - for all the reasons I already mentioned - and then JT and KMc swooped in like superheroes to defend the 'ship.

I think they both wanted a Scrubs HEA for different reasons and collaborated/met in the middle.

 

But I totally agree that he was probably like, "Eh, dust off an old montage, that'll do."

Edited January 9, 2016 by TeeVee329

[HeatLifer]

I guess I'm saying I don't buy a scenario where Frank was dead set against a Scrubs HEA scenario - for all the reasons I already mentioned - and then JT and KMc swooped in like superheroes to defend the 'ship.

That's not what I'm saying at all. All I said is that I don't think a HEA was Frank's first choice. And I still don't. We're back to agree to disagree. It's all good.

[ulkis]

That's not what I'm saying at all. All I said is that I don't think a HEA was Frank's first choice. And I still don't. We're back to agree to disagree. It's all good.

What do you think would have been his second choice? (Because I do think his first choice would have been JT staying.)

[dubbel zout]

Killing off Patrick doesn't give much story, given that he has no immediate family except Emma in PC. I think the HEA was the most efficient way to end the character's story. It also leaves the door open for a future return, should circumstances ever align for it.

 

Patrick's been somewhat marginalized for a while in terms of story, so his departure dead or alive doesn't give anyone remaining much to play off. 

 

I just realized we never saw Patrick tell Sam goodbye on-screen. (Right?) If that doesn't indicate the lack of interest in that pairing, nothing does. Poor Sam. I hope Patrick at least left her a note. Heh.

Edited January 9, 2016 by dubbel zout

[HeatLifer]

What do you think would have been his second choice? (Because I do think his first choice would have been JT staying.)

A recast. And if there was a good, known actor that was available right now, I believe it would have happened.

[TeeVee329]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it's been a while since any of the soaps have done a one actor today, new actor tomorrow type of recast, right?  

 

So I'm still skeptical they would have felt the need to recast Patrick immediately, especially since, like I mentioned before, they don't need him to push along the "main event" - the Jason/Sam reunion - because they have Liz for that.

Edited January 9, 2016 by TeeVee329

[dubbel zout]

There's little interest in the hospital beyond it giving story to Sonny and Nik, so I'm not surprised they don't want to recast. 

[ulkis]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it's been a while since any of the soaps have done a one actor today, new actor tomorrow type of recast, right?

Kiki, no? It wasn't immediate but I think it was only about a week in terms of screen time.

[HeatLifer]

There's little interest in the hospital beyond it giving story to Sonny and Nik, so I'm not surprised they don't want to recast.

Oh, I don't think they'll recast anymore. I just think it was one of the options they thought about.

[UYI]

A potentially unpopular counterpoint - repairing actors who were a supercouple on another soap never really works.  Let JT embrace a new challenge, KMc her directing career, and me my memories of Robin and Patrick.

 

Case in point, for many: Stefan & Katherine (although I've seen a scant few fans who actually did like them, so, there you go).

[Chairperson Meow]

See, that makes sense to me. They pushed the character of Patrick to the sidelines so he could be easily lifted out. And they didn't waste time or money on the actual HEA. That all scream Frank Valentini, IMO.

He's done it before, with his own pets too. Pet or not, if Frank wants to or needs to, he'll cut screen time. JT actually got off a lot easier imo. Probably because Ron wasn't writing, the male cast is very weak now, the legacy characters are gutted now, and Patrick is a doctor.

[UYI]

Ehhh, Frank Valentini has been in the soap business long enough that I'm sure nobody had to tell him that you exit a couple like Patrick and Robin with a montage.

When James DePaiva (Max) was written off OLTL in 2003, he didn't get a montage, and Frank was EP by then. Neither did Fiona Hutchison (Gabrielle).

But, you know...I'm not bitter.

Erin Torpey (Jessica) at least got one, though.

Back to GH:

It should be noted that the montage when Monica thought about Alan when was killed off was basically the same one used in 1997 for their 20th anniversary. JFP had her lazy moments, too.

Since I haven't watched, how much of Robin's last return/the Scrubs sendoff is actually worth watching? How many episodes should I look for?

[TeeVee329]

My point, UYI, was that if you're writing off a couple like Patrick and Robin with a HEA, you're of course gonna cap it with a montage. Things didn't end quite so happily for poor Gabrielle and Max on OLTL. But considering my favorite OLTL couple exited by walking around a corner while the camera frantically focused on stupid Rex and Gigi, I feel your pain.

Edited January 9, 2016 by TeeVee329

[UYI]

My point, UYI, was that if you're writing off a couple like Patrick and Robin with a HEA, you're of course gonna cap it with a montage. Things didn't end quite so happily for poor Gabrielle and Max on OLTL. But considering my favorite OLTL couple exited by walking around a corner while the camera frantically focused on stupid Rex and Gigi, I feel your pain.

Well, Max at least got to leave town and live with his twins, a fresh new start sort of thing.

And of course, all of us are pretty sure TG made sure Frank didn't give him a montage, doing everything short of putting a gun to this head, I'm sure.

Edited January 9, 2016 by UYI

[Chairperson Meow]

My point, UYI, was that if you're writing off a couple like Patrick and Robin with a HEA, you're of course gonna cap it with a montage. Things didn't end quite so happily for poor Gabrielle and Max on OLTL. But considering my favorite OLTL couple exited by walking around a corner while the camera frantically focused on stupid Rex and Gigi, I feel your pain.

I'm now going to go crazy trying to figure out your favorite couple.

Btw, UYI, watch the Jason/Robin bridge episode, extended wedding remix cut, and um youtube JT saying goodbye to various actors.

[yowsah1]

Is there any chance JT and TR will share scenes? It's probably more likely that it ever was when they were both on GH..

.. playing in-laws...

I just realized we never saw Patrick tell Sam goodbye on-screen.

TIIC probably figured having them break up twice would suffice.

[WendyCR72]

Actually, I believe JT/TR will be playing stepfather/stepson as Rogers' character there is married to Billy's mother.

[GHScorpiosRule]

I may check out how Jason does on The Young & The Restless, just to see how he does. Last time I watched, Billy Miller was Billy Abbot, so i don't really know the character, so I don't know if he will be believable as Billy.

[Oracle42]

http://community.ew.com/2016/01/09/general-hospital-goodbye-scrubs

[jsbt]

I think if FV had his way JT would be there til time immemoriam - he hates to lose vets and to lose them to other shows. He'll string them along forever with promises to get what he wants. But he'd shined JT and others on for long enough, the actor wasn't buying it anymore, and he had to exit the characters. I know he had never wanted Robin dead and I knew he'd give them a happy ending whenever he had to so I credit him with that much, but if it was up to him JT would still be there and the story would still be going, because he knew stringing along the legions of Robin/Scrubs/etc. fans indefinitely is a ratings cachet. I don't believe he would ever have killed Robin or left Scrubs apart for good, though. I don't think anyone had to convince him to do a HEA. I think he had to be convinced to stop trying to keep JT.

As for dismissively rushing a slapped-together HEA, he has done it many times before and far worse, including pissing off both parties enough that one of them, the actress' real-life husband, would not appear (Marty Saybrooke, OLTL).

Edited January 10, 2016 by jsbt

[Tiger]

I hate to defend Uncle Frank, but doesn't TKa have the rep of being a huge prick? He couldn't set aside his differences and problems with the producers and appear in one scene for the fans?

Like let's say Laura decided to leave so they decided Carly too. If Uncle Frank offered Ingo scale for one scene just to smile as Carly & Joss walked through the tiny, gray terminal "Australia" airport terminal, I'd think Ingo would do it for the fans.

[ulkis]

I hate to defend Uncle Frank, but doesn't TKa have the rep of being a huge prick?

Don't think so. He at least got along with co-stars quite well. I mean, I think he has a bit of a stubborn streak but I don't think it reaches Tony Geary levels.

[peachmangosteen]

But considering my favorite OLTL couple exited by walking around a corner while the camera frantically focused on stupid Rex and Gigi, I feel your pain.

Why bring this up dammit?! Why do you wanna hurt me?!

[ulkis]

Bryan Craig posts + listening to Hamilton the musical + previously rainy Sunday afternoon, resulted in this. I'm only kinda sorry:

(All of a sudden, the stage is awash in red light. Fog smoke fills the stage. Alarms blare)

FLIGHT ATTENDANT we're sorry, the volcano is delaying our flight

BRYAN it can't be that dire

Sure there's smoke and some fire

Ever growing higher

But perhaps if you stopped eating pups

Right now we'd be going up

FLIGHT ATTENDANT What?

the rest is here

http://forums.previously.tv/topic/10486-gh-fanworksfanficfanart-we-do-it-better/?p=1858944

I'm gonna run away now that you all know I'm crazy. Although you probably already knew that so nevermind.

Edited January 10, 2016 by ulkis

[HeatLifer]

but if it was up to him JT would still be there and the story would still be going, because he knew stringing along the legions of Robin/Scrubs/etc. fans indefinitely is a ratings cachet.

Yup. And this is why I'll never understand fans who legit blame KMc for her visits and for JT/Patrick not being able to "move on." TPTB were intent on manipulating Robin/Scrubs fans to keep watching because there was always the possibility that she would come back and they would reunite. KMc/Robin could have easily made the same visits as a non-captive and away from Patrick. They were far from being the first soap couple that had to deal with an actor's full-time departure.

[jsbt]

Thorsten Kaye can definitely be opinionated and perhaps difficult. But he didn't go back to OLTL to cap his wife's story because both of them were very pissed at the PTB.

[TeeVee329]

Thorsten Kaye can definitely be opinionated and perhaps difficult. But he didn't go back to OLTL to cap his wife's story because both of them were very pissed at the PTB.

Yup. I'm also pretty sure that Marty's exit - and the ridiculous role they wanted Patrick to play in it - was written and filmed before the show's cancellation.

[Chairperson Meow]

Why bring this up dammit?! Why do you wanna hurt me?!

Omg! Kyle and Fish!!!!!!

[JaneDigby]

I wasn't on Twitter so ya'll need to warn me, and then you might have to hold me back. Please tell me NLG did NOT go off on Taraji P Henson. I like Viola Davis but I love Taraji.

[ulkis]

I haven't seen anything about Nancy and Henson. However, speaking of NLG . . . 

 

https://twitter.com/GeneralHospital

 

ew to the Julexis ear sucking. gah.

[TeeVee329]

Mac and Robert having drinks!

 

And there Maxie goes, hurling boulders in all the glass houses.

[Dandesun]

Thorsten Kaye can definitely be opinionated and perhaps difficult. But he didn't go back to OLTL to cap his wife's story because both of them were very pissed at the PTB.

 

Yeah, there was some very bad blood there and I don't know exactly where it originated. I do remember TKaye giving an interview later where he didn't want to come see Susan off as Marty because it wasn't about her, or her and Patrick... it was about Todd. And then he popped off about thinking that saying that TSJ's Todd wasn't actually Todd was a shitty thing to do the audience.

 

Since it wiped out a bunch of absolutely unforgivable things that TSJ's Todd had done on the show, this particularly audience member was fine with it.

 

This was after Frank and Ron had pretty much pissed all over their relationship with the audience for some time. At least with me... so it didn't surprise me that people were pissed behind the scenes, too. I was never a Marty fan but she got screwed.

[TeeVee329]

In other news, there is some extreme recycling going on in that promo.  It makes the show look cheap as hell.

[Fellaway]

I wasn't on Twitter so ya'll need to warn me, and then you might have to hold me back. Please tell me NLG did NOT go off on Taraji P Henson. I like Viola Davis but I love Taraji.

 

I'm not on Twitter, either, so don't know about Taraji, but with regards to Viola:

 

Nancy Lee Grahn to Do Mea Culpa

[jsbt]

Yeah, there was some very bad blood there and I don't know exactly where it originated. I do remember TKaye giving an interview later where he didn't want to come see Susan off as Marty because it wasn't about her, or her and Patrick... it was about Todd. And then he popped off about thinking that saying that TSJ's Todd wasn't actually Todd was a shitty thing to do the audience.

 

Yeah, IIRC he was friendly with TSJ, but given some of the details Jeff Giles shared online about Susan Haskell's exit that didn't end up in his book ("She gathered everybody around and gave a big speech about how she had never been treated so poorly in her life") I suspect it was more about how his wife had been treated.

[Oracle42]

Damn. I do not understand their attitudes towards soap actors. More than any other medium, soaps allow an actor to build up fan loyalty - I do not understand this obnoxious attitude that insists that they are disposable/easily replaceable