Recent Soap Opera Recasts... The Good, The Bad, and The Inspired

[JamesG]

Recent Soap Recasts ...The Good, the Bad and the Inspired
by Allison Waldman
posted May 15th 2010


"General Hospital" – Sonny's sons Michael and Morgan – that could not have been more bungled. It isn't that the new actors aren't good in the roles.

No, it's that the show chose to make the switches at the height of a major storyline involving Sonny being on trial and his children playing a major role in the trial.






Specifically, it was understandable why "GH" recast the original Michael, Dylan Cash, when the character sent into a year-long coma and had to be aged. Actor Drew Garrett not only succeeded making Michael his own creation, he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy.

That's why his sudden replacement with Chad Duell has been such a stunner. Duell's not bad in the role, but they threw him in as Michael just when he was about to confess that he'd killed Claudia. It couldn't have been a worse time for a recast!






On the heels of that bungled switch, comes another one just as startling.

Due to a scheduling conflict, the actor playing Morgan – Aaron Refvem – was replaced with Aaron Sanders. One Aaron for another, but a completely different vibe and once again, during a crucial plot turn when Dante betrayed Morgan's trust and broke the kid's heart.

In soaps, fortunately, there are occasions when recasting is a success.











Take a look at how "The Bold and the Beautiful" have recast the Bill Spencer and Katie Logan characters with two experienced, well-known stars from "The Young and the Restless", Don Diamont and Heather Tom.








And on "One Life to Live", the powers-that-be smartly claimed Gina Tognoni after "Guiding Light" ended, returning her to the role of Kelly. She's far better than any recast would be.







"Days of Our Lives" has been doing some interesting recasting lately.

They picked up big name soap stars like Jessica Tuck for small, potentially integral roles.


And they're also asking back former stars Jamie Lyn Bauer (Laura Horton), Maree Cheatham (Marie Horton), Christie Clark (Carrie Brady), Roark Critchlow (Mike Horton), Bryan Dattilo (Lucas Roberts), Patsy Pease (Kimberly Brady), Melissa Reeves (Jennifer Deveraux), and Lisa Trusel (Melissa Anderson) for a June tribute episode, not to mention Charles Shaughnessy as Shane.







Also included in that "Days" return is Mary Beth Evans as Kayla.


That's just one show return for Evans. She's also returning to "As the World Turns" as Sierra. Evans was one of that show's best recasts ever as Sierra, Lucinda's daughter.









Sometimes recasts are a necessity, as in the case of Christina Bennett Lind who's taking over the role of Bianca Montgomery on "All My Children" in June.

"AMC" would have preferred bring back Eden Riegel in the role (or even Lacey Chabert who played the role as a kid), but Riegel chose a different recast opportunity. She joined "The Young and the Restless" to play Heather, Paul's daughter, and she's been great in the part.





Just like two other "AMC" transplants who've been wonderful recasts on 'Y&R' – Billy Miller as Billy and Elizabeth Hendrickson as Chloe.

In the latter case, it's even inspired because when Hendrickson was on "AMC", she was a romantic love interest for Bianca. Yes, with Eden in the role.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/05/15/re...-the-inspired/

[spunkygirl]

Eden great as Y&R's Heather? Uhm no she's horribly miscast