Former All My Children star jumps to The Young & The Restless - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 03-05-2010, 11:18 AM

Former All My Children star Eden Riegel – the fan fave of all fan faves – has struck a deal with The Young and the Restless to take over the role of kick-ass D.A. Heather Stevens. She starts shooting Y&R mid-March and will air mid-April. (Vail Bloom, who has played Heather since 2007, was let go once Riegel was secured). Though this shuts the door on Riegel’s much-hoped for return to Pine Valley as lesbian icon goddess Bianca Montgomery, the move to Genoa City will reteam the actress with her ex- AMC love Elizabeth Hendrickson (Maggie), known to their legions of rabid devotees as BAM. TV Guide Magazine scored an exclusive chat with the Emmy-winning Riegel, who was very open about what went haywire at AMC and why she desperately needs to move on.

This is wild, crazy news!
I know! It is wild. And very unexpected.

The BAM fans are probably having cardiac arrest over this.
I can imagine so. [Laughs] Hey, I’m a big BAM fan and I’m in cardiac arrest over this, too! I’m hoping to get down and dirty with Lizzie Hendrickson again, maybe not sexually…but at least we can go at it somehow. Maybe we can have some catfights. I think all our lesbian fans would approve.

Give us the scoop. How did this happen?
It was really out of the blue and happened really fast. I’m friends with people on Y&R – Lizzie, obviously, and Greg Rikaart [Kevin], and I think it came about because of my personal relationship with them. They were able to [help the show] get in contact with me.

So actors are now casting directors, too?
Hey, you know this business! It’s all about who you know! [Laughs] I’ll have to give Greg a 10 percent cut.

How’d you get so chummy with him, anyway?
I met him at the gym and I thought he was hitting on me.

You thought that? Seriously?
Yes. But he’s actually just a really nice guy. He gave me his number but I never called him because, well, I think the guy should do the calling.

Wait a sec…aren’t you, like, uh…married?
[Laughs] Oh, this all happened before I got married! It was the year we both won Emmys. And then Greg and I met up again on Bob Guiney’s soap cruise. We really hit it off and the relationship was completely sealed. He and Lizzie and I have been very close ever since. He’s such a great actor. Everyone on Y&R is amazing and so are the production values – it’s the number one soap! It’s super, super high quality. I’ m excited to be at a place that’s really excited about me.

Meaning AMC wasn’t excited? When the show relocated to LA, where you now live, we just assumed you guys would work out a deal since it was so geographically convenient.
I understand the timing for this is a little odd, what with AMC moving here. And I do love that show! I grew up there and had an amazing experience but I’m an actress. I like playing different characters, especially somebody who’s a D.A. and sexy and conniving. I’m excited to look at those parts of myself and express them through this character. I couldn’t turn it down.

Did AMC at least make an effort to get you back? Weren’t there conversations?
Oh, we’ve had endless conversations. I was actually speaking with them just six weeks ago and it kept not working out. And I was so very tempted by Y&R and the idea of a whole new experience.

So no regrets about leaving Bianca behind?
I’ve played her for 10 years now and it really hurt me when I felt like I didn’t know my character anymore. I’m a really emotional person and maybe I care too much, you know? I let my emotions get the best of me. It was really difficult to feel like I was losing sight of who Bianca is. She was getting lost in the shuffle.

But they fired the wacko head writer, Chuck Pratt, who did all that shuffling.
[Laughs] Yes, I understand they did. But there are just no guarantees. And at a certain point, it just worries me too much. It just really hurts. There is a lot of hurt. Y&R is a blank slate and a fresh start and there’s so much potential. I love my memories of Bianca, and I want to keep those intact. So that’s where I am. I’m really grateful AMC left the door open for me for so long. I guess I felt they weren’t as dedicated as they once were to seeing the character through. I hate to be so brutally honest about this. My fans have always been the greatest and incredibly supportive no matter what I do. They proved that by following me to Imaginary Bitches. I am sure – at least I hope – that they will understand why it’s important for me to move on, and I can only hope they’ll support me in this next chapter of my life. This is a huge, huge step for me.

http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/soaps...o-yr-4260.html

MickeyMac · 03-05-2010, 02:08 PM

This is an interesting move.

HuntingtonM15 · 03-05-2010, 04:30 PM

This is one of the most bizarre recasts I've ever heard of.

catlover79 · 03-06-2010, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuntingtonM15

This is one of the most bizarre recasts I've ever heard of.

Same here - not to say that Eden is not a talented actress, because she is. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens!

80sTrivia · 03-07-2010, 10:47 AM

It will be interesting to see where Eden takes the character of Heather. The character has been very one-dimensional and unlikeable with Vail Bloom's portrayal, so I'm sure Eden will add many more facets to the role.

applecherry · 03-07-2010, 11:41 AM

This is a strange move...I think we all find it weird because, we as AMC Fans still see Eden as Erica Kane's sweet innocent little girl....I can't see our sweet little Bianca playing hardball with Michael Baldwin....I love Y&R...but they made a terrible decision....I will always see her as bianca...WORST Y&R RECASTING SINCE THEY RECAST MALCOLM & McKINZIE...But I will give Eden A chance to prove she can handle this role. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!

03-05-2010, 11:18 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Former All My Children star jumps to The Young & The Restless Former All My Children star Eden Riegel – the fan fave of all fan faves – has struck a deal with The Young and the Restless to take over the role of kick-ass D.A. Heather Stevens. She starts shooting Y&R mid-March and will air mid-April. (Vail Bloom, who has played Heather since 2007, was let go once Riegel was secured). Though this shuts the door on Riegel’s much-hoped for return to Pine Valley as lesbian icon goddess Bianca Montgomery, the move to Genoa City will reteam the actress with her ex- AMC love Elizabeth Hendrickson (Maggie), known to their legions of rabid devotees as BAM. TV Guide Magazine scored an exclusive chat with the Emmy-winning Riegel, who was very open about what went haywire at AMC and why she desperately needs to move on. This is wild, crazy news! I know! It is wild. And very unexpected. The BAM fans are probably having cardiac arrest over this. I can imagine so. [Laughs] Hey, I’m a big BAM fan and I’m in cardiac arrest over this, too! I’m hoping to get down and dirty with Lizzie Hendrickson again, maybe not sexually…but at least we can go at it somehow. Maybe we can have some catfights. I think all our lesbian fans would approve. Give us the scoop. How did this happen? It was really out of the blue and happened really fast. I’m friends with people on Y&R – Lizzie, obviously, and Greg Rikaart [Kevin], and I think it came about because of my personal relationship with them. They were able to [help the show] get in contact with me. So actors are now casting directors, too? Hey, you know this business! It’s all about who you know! [Laughs] I’ll have to give Greg a 10 percent cut. How’d you get so chummy with him, anyway? I met him at the gym and I thought he was hitting on me. You thought that? Seriously? Yes. But he’s actually just a really nice guy. He gave me his number but I never called him because, well, I think the guy should do the calling. Wait a sec…aren’t you, like, uh…married? [Laughs] Oh, this all happened before I got married! It was the year we both won Emmys. And then Greg and I met up again on Bob Guiney’s soap cruise. We really hit it off and the relationship was completely sealed. He and Lizzie and I have been very close ever since. He’s such a great actor. Everyone on Y&R is amazing and so are the production values – it’s the number one soap! It’s super, super high quality. I’ m excited to be at a place that’s really excited about me. Meaning AMC wasn’t excited? When the show relocated to LA, where you now live, we just assumed you guys would work out a deal since it was so geographically convenient. I understand the timing for this is a little odd, what with AMC moving here. And I do love that show! I grew up there and had an amazing experience but I’m an actress. I like playing different characters, especially somebody who’s a D.A. and sexy and conniving. I’m excited to look at those parts of myself and express them through this character. I couldn’t turn it down. Did AMC at least make an effort to get you back? Weren’t there conversations? Oh, we’ve had endless conversations. I was actually speaking with them just six weeks ago and it kept not working out. And I was so very tempted by Y&R and the idea of a whole new experience. So no regrets about leaving Bianca behind? I’ve played her for 10 years now and it really hurt me when I felt like I didn’t know my character anymore. I’m a really emotional person and maybe I care too much, you know? I let my emotions get the best of me. It was really difficult to feel like I was losing sight of who Bianca is. She was getting lost in the shuffle. But they fired the wacko head writer, Chuck Pratt, who did all that shuffling. [Laughs] Yes, I understand they did. But there are just no guarantees. And at a certain point, it just worries me too much. It just really hurts. There is a lot of hurt. Y&R is a blank slate and a fresh start and there’s so much potential. I love my memories of Bianca, and I want to keep those intact. So that’s where I am. I’m really grateful AMC left the door open for me for so long. I guess I felt they weren’t as dedicated as they once were to seeing the character through. I hate to be so brutally honest about this. My fans have always been the greatest and incredibly supportive no matter what I do. They proved that by following me to Imaginary Bitches. I am sure – at least I hope – that they will understand why it’s important for me to move on, and I can only hope they’ll support me in this next chapter of my life. This is a huge, huge step for me. http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/soaps...o-yr-4260.html
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03-07-2010, 10:47 AM	#5
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,715	It will be interesting to see where Eden takes the character of Heather. The character has been very one-dimensional and unlikeable with Vail Bloom's portrayal, so I'm sure Eden will add many more facets to the role.
	__________________ Perfect Gift Books for Pop Culture Fanatics: Thank You for Being a Friend: A Golden Girls Trivia Book The Bouquet Residence: A Keeping Up Appearances Trivia Book Cooking With the Golden Girls: Fun & Delicious Recipes from a Hilarious Miami Kitchen Love in the Afternoon: The Ultimate Soap Opera Trivia Book The Last Great Decade: The Ultimate 90s Trivia Book Betty White: A Celebration

03-05-2010, 02:08 PM	#2
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,004	This is an interesting move.

03-05-2010, 04:30 PM	#3
HuntingtonM15 That Bothers Me Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jun 20, 2003 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 11,060	This is one of the most bizarre recasts I've ever heard of.

03-07-2010, 11:41 AM	#6
applecherry Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 17, 2005 Posts: 496	This is a strange move...I think we all find it weird because, we as AMC Fans still see Eden as Erica Kane's sweet innocent little girl....I can't see our sweet little Bianca playing hardball with Michael Baldwin....I love Y&R...but they made a terrible decision....I will always see her as bianca...WORST Y&R RECASTING SINCE THEY RECAST MALCOLM & McKINZIE...But I will give Eden A chance to prove she can handle this role. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!