Did TeleNext Miss the Opportunity to Spinoff Otalia to ATWT?!
Okay, I was so excited the first time I linked Michael Logan's TV Guide Magazine story, that I had to go back and read the interview again. Am I seeing this right? Did TPTB miss the opportunity to spinoff the most buzzed about couple in soaps from Guiding Light to As The World Turns?!
If there’s no future for GL — and at this point it doesn’t look good — the Otalia fans are going to have mixed feelings about this. Sure, they’ll be able to follow you to Days but I think a lot of them were hoping — hell, so was I — that you two might move over to As The World Turns. Your story brought a lot of new, non-soap viewers to GL, and there’s big value there. Hell, there oughta be a GL spinoff based around Otalia and really give the people what they want — it could be called The G-L Word. Admit it, it’s not a bad idea.
It’s not a bad idea at all. I would gladly have done it. It was definitely something we were rallying for. I mentioned it to all the right people. But it was somebody else’s decision. It’s out of my hands. Otalia has certainly had too short of a life. I so love this storyline. In fact, I’m creating a Web series that has a similar energy to it — different from Otalia but similar. I believe there’s another kind of story to be told in this arena. People are ready and OK — well, for the most part — with watching a woman be who she is, and fall in love with another woman. I’ve gotten so much response from fans all over the world who are grateful that GL has told this story, because they haven’t seen it before with two women. Two men maybe, but not two women. I think we showed that there’s a real niche, a real market for this sort of thing. Clearly, the time has come.
Okay, I'm no soap exec, but the FIRST move I would have made if I were running TeleNext would have been to make a deal to bring Crystal Chappell and Jessica Leccia to Oakdale! Natalia could have been Googling a more gay friendly town to live in, after GL's finale and happened about a story about all the gay activism Luke and Noah accomplish in Oakdale and decide to pay it a vist! Oh well, CARLY IS BACK!
OMFG: Crystal Chappell RETURNS TO DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RELATED: Did TeleNext Miss the Opportunity to Spinoff Otalia to ATWT?! | Paging DAYS' Louise Sorel | When We Last Saw DAYS' Carly...
CALL HOTLINE: Chappell Returns to Days Reaction
Wishful Casting: Tom Pelphrey as Nicholas Alamain
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Comments
7 April 2009
2 years 31 weeks
Crystal mentioned in one of her podcasts that if Otalia were to continue past Sept. 18th it would have to be with the same writers. CC thought the world of Jill Lorie Hurst so if she wasn't going to the ATWT writing team than Otalia wouldn't have worked.
I'm not surprised CBS isn't bringing Otalia to ATWT. I think two gay couples is too much for them to handle.
I have been watching Days for over 25 years so I'm thrilled that CC is coming back as Carly. Congrats to Crystal!
18 April 2009
1 year 34 weeks
Completely agree!
And Jamey - what are your thoughts on the place for Carly on a show that is so youth focused and already dumped so many vets? And a show that didn't pitch her a story to go too.
Odd no... Jamie!
2 April 2009
1 week 1 day
I'm shocked that their not going to ATWT two many gay couples or not they had buzz and a passionate fanbase two things that ATWT needs right now. Not to mention that Crystal has stated she would do it over and over again so whose bright idea was it to not take her up on it?
2 April 2009
1 week 1 day
Oh lord they didn't pitch her a story! Sounds like Crystal wanted a California soap and we'll I only know of two and thats Days and GH (there might be more i'm not sure) and I guess I'd rather see her on Days than having Sonny's kids on GH. But still a story pitch is needed I don't want Carly getting the shaft like Patch and Kayla.
12 February 2008
1 day 16 hours
ATWT wouldn't have known what to do with Otalia. Look at the crappy job that they're doing with Nuke.
2 April 2009
1 week 1 day
To me this means if (and thats a big if) P&G are still in talks with networks they are pushing a young spin off of the show with the younger actors only (blah)
8 February 2009
1 year 44 weeks
ATWT is just stupid. TPTB there would rather continue with the vortex of suck four days a week (with record new low ratings) than actually write original, character driven stories. I would've loved for Otalia to come to ATWT and discover that Olivia is Noah's mom. That would've been great. Plus, why would CBS let a talent like Crystal Chappel (and Jessica Leccia) go? Stupid, stupid, stupid.
10 December 2008
28 weeks 9 hours
See I actually think that could be a good thing lol, I know it won't really be 'Guiding Light' but this industry needs a 'yonger' soap like 'Hollyoaks' , 'Home and Away', and to some extent 'Neighbours', I would be happy if i get to stay in springfield a little while longer, but really I don't think if Otalia were their own show i would watch, Now with Carly coming back to DAYS I have to say i am mighty tempted to return to days, but I think that is because its the 'whole show' that i am returning to and not just for ONE character or ONE storyline.
I do think they missed the boat by not spinning them off into ATWT, yes it wouldn't have been the same, but 'maybe' it could have been better, there is a small chance at least lol, or maybe Otalia will get their very own villian of the week?
23 May 2009
1 year 47 weeks
I think GL is over
2 April 2009
1 week 1 day
The only problem I have with a young guiding light is that alot of the younger actors are very new to daytime and some viewers might need a few vets to bring them to the show. Oh yea I'll be watching Days when Carly comes back to town but I think someone at P&G made a bad call not spinning them off to ATWT I know that a lot of people are saying that maybe P&G weren't going to make Otalia part of the new GL and one couple doesnt make a show but buzz is buzz and they have it.
31 May 2009
2 years 7 weeks
ATWT needs to take on as many Guiding Light characters as possible. I can only imagine how horrendous ATWT will be once Carly leaves. Lizzie, Remy, Bill, Phillip, Natalia (even without Olivia), Shayne and ESPECIALLY Dinah need to jump to the other TeleNext show.
13 February 2009
2 years 14 weeks
I think Reva & Josh are the ones that would work the best on ATWT. I could see them stay at that fancy hotel on ATWT (what's the name?) and socialize with Jack, Lily, Barbara and others. And they could progressively bring on the rest of their family (recasts)
5 April 2009
2 years 20 weeks
i never really thought about it like this, but I guess any Springfield residents could pop into Oakdale at any time, as long as ATWT is on the air. I would love to see Alan Spaulding face to face with Lucinda Walsh. Or not.
27 January 2008
16 weeks 12 hours
I don't think I want GL characters to cross-over. ATWT already has a big cast and so many of them are underused. The last thing ATWT needs is an even bigger cast.
2 April 2009
1 week 1 day
I think ATWT could benefit from some of the cast of GL, get rid of the "dead weight" on ATWT and bring at least two cast members of GL over it might help the ratings at least. But no matter what the writing needs to get better.
2 April 2009
1 week 1 day
Well according to the new suds report, yep they did P&G didnt want Otalia in Oakdale, they have 4 other characters they want to cross over including Dinah. Wow why am I not surprised?
27 January 2009
14 weeks 2 days
If the suds report if correct, then P&G wasted an opportunity to save a buzzed about pairing.