Salem International: Casting Notes: Arrivals & Departures

[swtrgrl]

14 hours ago, Prin Holmes said:

I like Chad, too.  I just think it's unfair to only blame Abigail for Ben going crazy when Chad played just as big a part, if not bigger, in it.

See, this is where I have to say, "please read my post." Because, I didn't say she had to suffer FOR Ben's behavior. I have hated Abby way before Ben showed up. Sanctimonious, cheating, backstabbing little perfect princess...before Ben. I just want her to suffer in general and Ben, being the one who drove her over the edge, is the perfect person to do that.

My wanting her to suffer is separate from Ben and separate from Chad.

[Silver Raven]

Paul Telfer will be back for May sweeps.

[DisneyBoy]

Yay!

[swtrgrl]

18 hours ago, Silver Raven said:

Paul Telfer will be back for May sweeps.

Zander? Ooh, yum

[Silver Raven]

Soapdirt.com is reporting that Stacy Haiduk is joining the cast as Kristen Dimera.

[boes]

13 minutes ago, Silver Raven said:

Soapdirt.com is reporting that Stacy Haiduk is joining the cast as Kristen Dimera.

I like her!  She was terrific as Emily on the Young and the Restless.  She was also on AMC, not so great but by the time she showed up the show was tanking badly and the writing for her character really sucked.

[Prin Holmes]

Stacy Haiduk is a very exceptional actress.  She did a fantastic job as Emily/Patty on Y&R.  Sadly, I don't think I could really accept anyone in the role of Kristen other than Eileen Davidson.  She had better do a very good job in the role to make me change my mind.  If this is real, of course.

Edited May 2, 2018 by Prin Holmes

[boes]

1 hour ago, Prin Holmes said:

Stacy Haiduk is a very exceptional actress.  She did a fantastic job as Emily/Patty on Y&R.  Sadly, I don't think I could really accept anyone in the role of Kristen other than Eileen Davidson.  She had better do a very good job in the role to make me change my mind.  If this is real, of course.

I agree, this is a VERY tough act to follow.  I hope she can.

[swtrgrl]

I think that if anyone can do it, Stacy can. I'm open to it.

[DisneyBoy]

On 02/05/2018 at 2:40 PM, Silver Raven said:

Soapdirt.com is reporting that Stacy Haiduk is joining the cast as Kristen Dimera.

...are they fucking kidding?

[JBC344]

4 hours ago, DisneyBoy said:

...are they fucking kidding?

This seems highly unlikely.  Haven't they been able to get Eileen back when they need her?  Why replace her now?  I would also imagine that there would be an accompanying article about how Eileen isn't coming back anytime in the near future.

[DisneyBoy]

John Aniston is Victor Kiriakis. Joe Mascolo was Stefano. Deidre Hall is Marlena Evans. Allison Sweeney is Sami Brady.

And Eileen Davidson is Kristen Blake DiMera.

There are a handful of actors in the biz who originated a character, made them shine and stayed with them for decades. I cannot believe Ron or Ken Corday would think it would be in any way acceptable to pretend that Kristen could be separated from Eileen. I mean, they didn't touch the character for 15 years until Eileen agreed to come back. But now Ron, a writer with less than a year under his belt, is going to write for the character come hell or high water whether or not Eileen is available?

This would be by far the most stupid thing this show has ever done. I get that some of you are tired of the character and her antics, but this is a matter of professional respect and respect for the audience. We are way past the point where they could bring it in a new actress to make the character more of a regular fixture on the canvas.

Here's a thought: why don't you come up with your own original characters and try to make them compelling? Because you're failing in that regard, buster.

 

I swear if they do this I'm DONE. *rage*

[JBC344]

1 hour ago, DisneyBoy said:

John Aniston is Victor Kiriakis. Joe Mascolo was Stefano. Deidre Hall is Marlena Evans. Allison Sweeney is Sami Brady.

And Eileen Davidson is Kristen Blake DiMera.

There are a handful of actors in the biz who originated a character, made them shine and stayed with them for decades. I cannot believe Ron or Ken Corday would think it would be in any way acceptable to pretend that Kristen could be separated from Eileen. I mean, they didn't touch the character for 15 years until Eileen agreed to come back. But now Ron, a writer with less than a year under his belt, is going to write for the character come hell or high water whether or not Eileen is available?

This would be by far the most stupid thing this show has ever done. I get that some of you are tired of the character and her antics, but this is a matter of professional respect and respect for the audience. We are way past the point where they could bring it in a new actress to make the character more of a regular fixture on the canvas.

Here's a thought: why don't you come up with your own original characters and try to make them compelling? Because you're failing in that regard, buster.

 

I swear if they do this I'm DONE. *rage*

I couldn't agree more.  I think the show would do a huge disservice to recast Eileen at this point in the game.  I'm actually not one who is totally against the idea of "recasts" in general, but I do agree that there are certain roles that should be left alone even from a character standpoint.

One of the great things about the character of Kristen has been her transformation over the years.  I think you will instantly lose the "sympathy/understanding" angle that actually works with Kristen's duality by having another actress come in and play her. I think the news above is actually wrong, or at least I hope it is.

Now if Ron wants to recast someone, bring back Peter. 

[DisneyBoy]

Exactly. Thank you.

[boes]

From what I've read - and so far there has been no official statement - it would be for a short stint only.  Supposedly Eileen has more than enough to do currently with her Y+R character and can't do Kristen too.

I get the feeling about recasts.  I could barely stand to look at Lee Meriweather when she took over for Mary Fickett as Ruth Martin on All My Children, a role Mary had portrayed from inception for 30+ years.  But, eventually, and reluctantly, I grew to be okay with her.  

Take comfort, it might not be so bad, and Eileen might return in the future, and none of it may come to pass.

Edited May 4, 2018 by boes

[DisneyBoy]

The last option is the only one I can stomach.

 

I've watched Lorna shift awkwardly from Alicia Coppola to Robin Christopher, Anne Heche give way to Jensen Buchanan and Timothy Gibbs morph into John Littlefield on Another World. It can refresh a character to have someone new playing them. I can deal.

But Kristen...? Eileen is an icon for pity's sake because she played four lookalikes brilliantly, all spinning out of what she was doing as Kristen. Days owes her big. She won nothing in the 90s for all that work. They got all the ratings and glory and she got burned out. But she carved out a legacy for herself.

If they can't respect that, I can't respect them.

And didn't Ron say he was "relieved they could get" Eileen for the Susan stuff in the fall? Meaning he would have gone ahead with it without her if need be because gosh darn it, he had a story to tell that was more important than her.

I shouldn't be surprised after the shit they put Joe through and the way they botched his exit after several decades of amazing work.

[Silver Raven]

2 hours ago, boes said:

From what I've read - and so far there has been no official statement - it would be for a short stint only.  Supposedly Eileen has more than enough to do currently with her Y+R character and can't do Kristen too.

I get the feeling about recasts.  I could barely stand to look at Lee Meriweather when she took over for Mary Fickett as Ruth Martin on All My Children, a role Mary had portrayed from inception for 30+ years.  But, eventually, and reluctantly, I grew to be okay with her.  

Take comfort, it might not be so bad, and Eileen might return in the future, and none of it may come to pass.

I never did accept Noelle Beck as the Lily recast on As The World Turns.  Martha Byrne is and always was Lily.

[WendyCR72]

This is the same show that recast Bo Brady. And...it actually succeeded. But Peter Reckell's version was part of one of the biggest '80s supercouples...and yet Bo got recast.

This is also the same show that had the recast actor become a new character after 5 years because the original actor wanted to return (only to leave again).

If the show could do that, it can recast Kristen. Whether it would actually work remains to be seen.

[WendyCR72]

Forgot to also add Mickey Horton in terms of nervy recasting. Granted, it failed spectacularly, but the mere fact this show even tried recasting an actor that had been on the show literally since Day 1?

Anything is possible.

[DisneyBoy]

Anything is possible, sure, but that don't mean I'm going to deal well with this. Fans would flip if they recast John or Marlena at this point - will they stand up for Eileen? I wonder.

[boes]

2 hours ago, DisneyBoy said:

Anything is possible, sure, but that don't mean I'm going to deal well with this. Fans would flip if they recast John or Marlena at this point - will they stand up for Eileen? I wonder.

I guess it depends on how folks feel about Kristen and ED in the role.  Some care a lot, others, not so much.  I like ED okay on Y+R but since I was never a fan of Kristen or the other characters she played, I'm open to a new actress.  To be clear, it's Kristen and Co. I never cared much about, not ED particularly.

I'm not crazy about DH or John, but for me he's a more iconic character and actor and he and Marlena have been a more consistent part of the show long-term than Kristen.

JMO.

[Apprentice79]

40 minutes ago, boes said:

I guess it depends on how folks feel about Kristen and ED in the role.  Some care a lot, others, not so much.  I like ED okay on Y+R but since I was never a fan of Kristen or the other characters she played, I'm open to a new actress.  To be clear, it's Kristen and Co. I never cared much about, not ED particularly.

I'm not crazy about DH or John, but for me he's a more iconic character and actor and he and Marlena have been a more consistent part of the show long-term than Kristen.

JMO.

I agree. I like Eileen Davidson and I feel that she is Kristen.

I just feel that the show puts too much emphasis on villainous characters like the Dimeras and not enough on the Hortons and the Bradys.. It is why fans have tuned out.. The heroes should always be front and center and not the villains. 

[nilyank]

26 minutes ago, Apprentice79 said:

I just feel that the show puts too much emphasis on villainous characters like the Dimeras and not enough on the Hortons and the Bradys.. It is why fans have tuned out.. The heroes should always be front and center and not the villains. 

The heroes should be interesting. That is a fault with the writers. From back in the day, characters like Kayla, Jennifer, Carly and Isabella were heroines and were written well.

Writing for villains is easier. Have them act badly a lot of the times and then have them act like a human being with the people that they loved.

[Apprentice79]

7 minutes ago, nilyank said:

The heroes should be interesting. That is a fault with the writers. From back in the day, characters like Kayla, Jennifer, Carly and Isabella were heroines and were written well.

Writing for villains is easier. Have them act badly a lot of the times and then have them act like a human being with the people that they loved.

I agree it is easier to write a bitch and then, give her a sob story to excuse her behavior. It is much harder to write a heroine, without making her boring, saccharine and self-righteous. A skillful writer should be able to do that.. Villains have their place, but, they should never drive story. JMO

[boes]

37 minutes ago, Apprentice79 said:

I agree it is easier to write a bitch and then, give her a sob story to excuse her behavior. It is much harder to write a heroine, without making her boring, saccharine and self-righteous. A skillful writer should be able to do that.. Villains have their place, but, they should never drive story. JMO

Ain't it the truth?  And we can generally see the redemption coming a mile off.  And sometimes it's a pretty weak redemption.  

Take Theresa, for example.  It's almost entirely due to Jen Lilley that I really like the character, not the writing.  Her being so awful was poorly explained (why was she such a miserable cuss??) And her redemption was mostly just a hand wave through.  If not for the actress I wouldn't care but because of her, not the writing, I do.

[Silver Raven]

2 hours ago, Apprentice79 said:

I agree. I like Eileen Davidson and I feel that she is Kristen.

I just feel that the show puts too much emphasis on villainous characters like the Dimeras and not enough on the Hortons and the Bradys.. It is why fans have tuned out.. The heroes should always be front and center and not the villains. 

It's the GH model.

[WendyCR72]

47 minutes ago, Silver Raven said:

It's the GH model.

No, it's the modern soap model overall. None of the writing invests anymore on those soaps that remain. Not for characters, not for couples, not for story. And it's probably why there are only four soaps left.

[Jaded]

20 hours ago, WendyCR72 said:

This is also the same show that had the recast actor become a new character after 5 years because the original actor wanted to return (only to leave again).

I should know this one even though I'm drawing a blank right now.

[WendyCR72]

8 minutes ago, Jaded said:

I should know this one even though I'm drawing a blank right now.

Drake Hogestyn/Wayne Northrop. :-)

[Jaded]

3 minutes ago, WendyCR72 said:

Drake Hogestyn/Wayne Northrop. :-)

Thanks!

That whole kerfuffle happened right before I started watching regularly. I was too young to really realize the full scope of what was going on.

[WendyCR72]

12 minutes ago, Jaded said:

Thanks!

That whole kerfuffle happened right before I started watching regularly. I was too young to really realize the full scope of what was going on.

It was all sorts of convoluted, anyway. At least Hogestyn didn't lose his job out of it!

[Apprentice79]

1 hour ago, WendyCR72 said:

It was all sorts of convoluted, anyway. At least Hogestyn didn't lose his job out of it!

He should have remained as Roman.  

Edited May 6, 2018 by Apprentice79

[WendyCR72]

Just now, Apprentice79 said:

He should have remained as Roman.  

I agree. But it's long too late now, so...

[Apprentice79]

3 minutes ago, WendyCR72 said:

I agree. But it's long too late now, so...

It is too late. Shelle has a kid...lol

Edited May 6, 2018 by Apprentice79

[Silver Raven]

OLTL had the recast Todd turn out to be Todd's brother, and not the real Todd after all, when Roger Howarth came back.  GH just had the recast Jason turn out to be Jason's brother, and not the real Jason after all, when Steve Burton came back.  OLTL also recast Max Holden and explained how the new actor didn't look like Max because of plastic surgery, but then James DePaiva came back as Max and they just ignored that silly plastic surgery.

[Silver Raven]

Yep, Mimi will be back  Farah Fath is returning. I imagine that means Bonnie will also be coming back

I guess JPL won't be back as Philip, if that's the case

[TeeVee329]

UUUUUUUGGGHHHHHH.  I grew to loathe her/Gigi on OLTL.  How was Mimi as a character?

[boes]

51 minutes ago, TeeVee329 said:

UUUUUUUGGGHHHHHH.  I grew to loathe her/Gigi on OLTL.  How was Mimi as a character?

Utterly loathsome.  Utterly.  She makes Ciara seem reasonable.  

Edited May 8, 2018 by boes

[Silver Raven]

I just noticed she's going by Farah Galfond on Twitter.

[boes]

30 minutes ago, Silver Raven said:

I just noticed she's going by Farah Galfond on Twitter.

If only she would go ....... anywhere else.......

[peachmangosteen]

I remember loving Mimi back in the day. Not a FF fan nowadays though. But I'm intrigued.

Edited May 8, 2018 by peachmangosteen

[Prin Holmes]

4 hours ago, Silver Raven said:

I just noticed she's going by Farah Galfond on Twitter.

That's because she dumped John-Paul for a rich Canadian dude and now lives there with him.  They're even married now.  Doesn't even love the guy.  Just wanted to marry into money.

4 hours ago, boes said:

Utterly loathsome.  Utterly.  She makes Ciara seem reasonable.  

I never thought Mimi was loathsome.  Farah, yes, but certainly not Mimi.

[BlackMamba]

Farah Fath is coming to Days

But Marci Miller decided to NOT renew her contract because of other offers she has. 

https://daytimeconfidential.com/.amp/2018/05/09/marci-miller-quits-days-of-our-lives

Edited May 9, 2018 by BlackMamba

[boes]

12 minutes ago, BlackMamba said:

Farah Fath is coming to Days

But Marci Miller decided to renew her contract because of other offers she has. 

https://daytimeconfidential.com/.amp/2018/05/09/marci-miller-quits-days-of-our-lives

 

2 minutes ago, MsTree said:

Did you mean she decided NOT to renew her contract?

OMG, MM has quit!  

[BlackMamba]

UGHHHHHHH WORD IS KM MIGHT BE RETURNING 

 

IF THAT'S THE CASE THE SHOW WILL GO BACK BE WRITTEN AROUND HER AND SHE'S GOING TO EAT THE LIFE OUT OF DAYS LIKE SHE DID FOR FOUR YEARS. 

AHHHHHHHHHH

https://daytimeconfidential.com/2018/05/09/rumor-report-is-kate-mansi-returning-to-days-of-our-lives

Edited May 9, 2018 by BlackMamba

[BlackMamba]

G'damn!!! I hope the writers give Abigail a rest once Marci leaves the show.  

No recast.  Or returns from fuckin show eating KM. 

Just let the character rest. Let Chad explore other women whose names aren't Abigail.  Why not recast or bring back Rachel Melvin as Chelsea Brady!  It would be great timing to do.  If only Days was quick on their toes that could had brought on Liz Hendrickson to be her even. 

Edited May 9, 2018 by BlackMamba

[DisneyBoy]

Oh fuck.

 

Ron NO. NO RON! No.

 

Damnit with this show.

 

And now if Kate comes back to play the character again, she gets to skate past all of the mental health breakdowns she's had and just coast right into her being a "nice" character again? Uuuuuuuuugh!

Marci, regardless of her failure to create three distinct interesting personalities, definitely had the more challenging material. If Kate comes back to play the healthy Abigail, that just means she gets to jump right back to doing what she was doing on the show for years - offering that condescending smile.

The only time I ever wanted to see Kate Mansi acting on a TV screen again was when people were crapping on how unwell and shitty Abigail was the last few months. She can only come back if Gabi and Chad and everyone else in town treat her like a nut bar head case.

No, nevermind. There are no good circumstances for her to return.

[ByaNose]

I actually like Marci Miller and thought she was great as Abigail. For some reason, I'm shocked that she is leaving. I don't know why. Actors do it all the time but I thought she loved working with Billy Flynn and would do the usual 5 years or so on a soap. It seems like she just started on the show. The 6 months taping ahead throws me off though. When did she first start? Usually, contract actors have to sign on for 2 or 3 years, right? Anyway, she has an usual look and isn't your typical blonde. Whatever that means. I've always gotten the Julianne Moore vibe from her. So, will they recast, bring back Kate Mansi or ship off Abigail to boarding school? LOL!!!!

Edited May 9, 2018 by ByaNose

[kitmerlot1213]

7 hours ago, BlackMamba said:

But Marci Miller decided to NOT renew her contract because of other offers she has. 

https://daytimeconfidential.com/.amp/2018/05/09/marci-miller-quits-days-of-our-lives

 

I like Marci Miller and while I'm sad she's decided to leave, I look forward to seeing her play other characters--maybe she's gotten a role on a prime time TV show?

 

7 hours ago, BlackMamba said:

UGHHHHHHH WORD IS KM MIGHT BE RETURNING 

 

IF THAT'S THE CASE THE SHOW WILL GO BACK BE WRITTEN AROUND HER AND SHE'S GOING TO EAT THE LIFE OUT OF DAYS LIKE SHE DID FOR FOUR YEARS. 

AHHHHHHHHHH

https://daytimeconfidential.com/2018/05/09/rumor-report-is-kate-mansi-returning-to-days-of-our-lives

 

So if Mansi's coming back, I guess that means Woody Allen never called to offer her a starring role in his latest project on account of how Streep-esque she is?  At least according to her fans  :):)

Edited May 9, 2018 by kitmerlot1213

[Apprentice79]

1 hour ago, ByaNose said:

I actually like Marci Miller and thought she was great as Abigail. For some reason, I'm shocked that she is leaving. I don't know why. Actors do it all the time but I thought she loved working with Billy Flynn and would do the usual 5 years or so on a soap. It seems like she just started on the show. The 6 months taping ahead throws me off though. When did she first start? Usually, contract actors have to sign on for 2 or 3 years, right? Anyway, she has an usual look and isn't your typical blonde. Whatever that means. I've always gotten the Julianne Moore vibe from her. So, will they recast, bring back Kate Mansi or ship off Abigail to boarding school? LOL!!!!

Apparently, she was not a fan of the rape storyline involving her alter and StefaNO.  The grueling schedule of taping the shows and memorizations exhausted her.  Plus, she is still young enough to  do other roles.  I am exhausted with all things Abby...The role needs to be rested for a while. Ashley Benson was the only Abby that I liked...