Wishful Casting/Storytelling: ATWT's Jon Hensley and Michael Park as Kevin and Joey on OLTL
While responding to regular Daytime Confidential reader Erica's Evil Twin in the First Impressions post regarding the returns of Kelly (Gina Tognoni) and Adrianna "Bitchy Bangs" Cramer (Melissa Fumero) to One Life to Live, a thought hit me. No, I didn't hit it back, but that's beside the point. Wouldn't it be gnarly if OLTL snagged Jon Hensley and Michael Park— the two biggest male leads on soon-to-be defunct CBS sudser and OLTL timeslot competitor As The World Turns— to re-create the roles of Kevin and Joey Buchanan, respectively when ATWT ends this coming September?
ATWT's ratings have spiked since just before the cancellation announcement was dropped. Come September, some 2.5 million displaced Oakdale lovers are going to be needing a soap home. Now while I sincerely doubt they would all flock to Llanview simply on the strength of the two actors who portray the Snyder cousins heading over to ABC, a sizeable chunk just might decide to sample OLTL if it meant being able to keep seeing Hensley and Park. Call it the Crystal Chappell Benchmark.
Now granted, Chappell was returning to Days of Our Lives (a soap on which she was wildly popular during her first stint in the early 90's) following Guiding Light's end, so it could be argued that lapsed Carly Manning fans, who had never even watched GL, did as much for the soap's ratings as fans of Chappell's GL character Olivia, but let's face it—we know it was mostly the Otalia fans who tuned into DAYS for Chappell!
Bringing on popular stars from other soap operas in hopes of luring audiences to other shows is always a risky proposition. Sometimes it works, i.e. the Passions gang joining DAYS and Chappell returning. Sometimes it doesn't, i.e. Beth Ehlers on All My Children, but with OLTL's ratings in the basement, it couldn't hurt. Now it goes without saying that the Crystal Chappell Benchmark could be readily applied in luring Roger Howarth back to OLTL, but I think even Chuck Pratt would realize that would be a good idea, so there is really no need to make a separate blog post pointing out the obvious.
Wishful Storytelling: A vengeful Kevin, portrayed by Hensley, hires Tea Delgado (Florenzia Lozano) to help him get custody of Zane when his marriage to Kelly emplodes. Sparks fly between the ex-politico and the Latina legal eagle, much to Kevin's arch nemesis Todd's (Trevor St. John) chargrin. What irks Todd even more, is how quickly his estranged daughter Danielle (Kelley Missil) warms up to to the new man in her madre's life.
Meanwhile, Joey, as played by Park, returns to support Kelly against his brother, picking up with Kelly where they left off before she cheated on him with his big bro. Joey is rocked to his core when he meets his dad Clint's (Jerry Ver Dorn) new fiance, Kimberly Andrews, (Amanda Setton) flashing back to one helluva raunchy night he shared with Kim and some girl named Stacy, following the duo's burlesque performance at a buddy's bachelor party a few years before Joey found Jesus! Kim and Joey agree to keep their clandestine past a secret from Clint, realizing that learning of yet another of his lady friends having bedded a relation might be more than the old cowpoke's ticker can take. Too bad David (Tuc Watkins) is eavesdropping...
Photos by PR Photos
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Comments
12 February 2010
4 days 3 hours
Yes, I agree that Jon Hensley and Michael Park would be great additions to the show, and I hope that they can help improve the ratings. OLTL is not perfect by any means, but it doesn't deserve to be axed....(For that matter, neither did GL or ATWT!!).
I just hope that they don't bring back Dan Gauthier, because he has proven himself to be an arrogant SCHMUCK that doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut!!!! (Hint to all actors on daytime television that wish to remain gainfully employed: Insulting the producers and head writer of your show is NOT the way to keep your job!!!!)
They could bring humor to the show, and both actors have proven to have a wonderful work ethic. Why not cast Kelley Menighan Hensley (Emily, ATWT, and Jon's wife!!) as a character on the show??? How about a recast of Tina??? Or a new character??? I love Kelley!!!
10 January 2009
1 year 19 weeks
I could actually see Jon Hensley as Joey not Kevin. I wonder how Hensley and Strasser would work together?
25 December 2008
1 year 10 weeks
Isn't Gauthier coming back as we speak?
Anyways, I think they are both too old for playing Joey and Kevin.
28 November 2008
3 weeks 3 days
I just want ATWT to become a 30 minute soap that focuses on the Snyder family- give me Holden, Molly, Lily (prefer Martha, but I like Noelle), Jack, Carly, Parker, Lucinda, Emma, Janet, Liberty, Meg and Dusty...Lifetime should give a 30 minute soap a chance for an entire year..2.5 million viewers...oh and have Wendy Riche or Ed Scott as the EP and Claire Labine as the HW! :) PR- Jack & Carly on "The View" with fellow Lifetimer Sherri Shepherd, get Mick Hazen and nuLiberty guest spots on some CW & ABC Family shows, have the show 12 months, 5 days a week, Sunday reruns, - it would work!
22 January 2008
3 hours 20 min
Dan Gauthier is three years older than Jon Hensley. Nathan Fillion is only three years younger than Park.
13 November 2009
6 weeks 5 hours
I think instead of Jon playing Kevin which I don't see happening. But I do see him playing Viki's nephew Daniel Wolek. His parents were Larry Wolek and Viki's little sister Meredith who died when giving birth to him. If I am not mistaken from history. It would be great because he would be connected to the Lord family. As well as the first working class family the woleks as well. He could be the new chief of staff of LH . He was a doctor last time they shown him. Also they could bring on a wife and maybe even a couple of children. I just thought of this idea on Monday thinking which ATWT belong where. I can see Jon Hensley as Daniel Wolek especially him acting with Erika Slezak.
9 December 2009
24 weeks 6 days
I could see Jon Hensley as Kevin. He would fit in well. I like Michael Park, but I don't see him as Joey. Maybe he could play another character. I like the scenarios you worked out for both characters, Jamey.
21 February 2009
1 week 1 day
ATWT has so many good actors. I could see CZP as a relative of Dorian's! I too thought the Snyder boys seem too old for Kevin and Joey, but I like them more than DG as Kevin. But please no sister Meg! And KMH as Blair's long lost sister!
And yes, Roger Howarth's return would be everything to this lapsed fan of OLTL.
13 November 2009
6 weeks 5 hours
ATWT Actors of my wishful casting!
Colleen Zenk Pinter could be Melinda Cramer if she isn't killed off next week.
I can see Terri Colmbino as Sarah Horton on days .
Mick Haizen can be a SORAS Ricky Williams on the young and the restless.
I could see Julie Pinson as Lois Cerullo on GH
I will have more wishful casting ideas in the upcoming months.
10 January 2009
1 year 19 weeks
OLTL has too many characters as it is, the show does not need every actor or actress from ATWT.
15 July 2008
8 hours 15 min
Lilyredd AMEN
Sorry but I want my Dan Gauthier back. And as you mentioned bringing back Roger H would make far more sense and would probably be enough of an attraction for ATWT actors to sample OLTL. If JH is 3 years younger, make him Joey, and keep DG in the role of Kevin.
I also think its a stretch to think that all those ATWT folks are going to look for a new home in that hour....Since the ratings peaked on word of cancellation, couldnt that just be people wanting to see the end of a show that they USE to watch.
11 April 2009
4 hours 37 min
EricasEvilTwin,
ATWT's ratings were rising before the announcement was made and have continued to stay higher that OLTL's.
However, I don't want Roger Howarth back as Todd. Sorry, Trevor St. John is Todd now. We've gone through the journey with St. John for almost a decade.
Gauthier is Kevin Buchanan. I'm happy with him.
OLTL's execs should have hired Jessica Leccia and Crystal Chappell when they had a chance.
25 June 2009
2 years 12 weeks
As long as they bring Roger back to Llanview, I don't care who else comes along.
22 January 2008
3 hours 20 min
I don't want Roger back as Todd. I would love to see him as Todd's twin. As for Dan, I like him too, but reportedly Frons doesn't soooo, yeah.As for the show having too many characters, I agree too. Schuyler can go. Scott would be great back on GH.Stacy is leaving, so bringing back two core characters played by wildly popular A-list soap stars would not overpower the canvas, and if even 200,000 ATWT followed them over it would make a huge difference.
2 January 2008
18 weeks 6 hours
Jamey for me it would be great to see michael park as cordero roberts and he can reignite that spark he had with blair.
25 December 2008
1 year 10 weeks
Then Fillion and Gauthier has great genes. I don't care what year an actor was born, it is how old they look that matter IMO.
Gauthier looks way younger than Hensley, gotta give props to Dan.
15 October 2008
4 weeks 2 days
Not your best WC, but I do like the story of how to bring those characters back on the canvas.
10 November 2008
3 years 10 weeks
i love michael and jon it would be awesome to see them on another soap
i hate when soaps go off many times we never see our favs again
as a passions fan the best thing was galen eric lindsay joining days
21 December 2009
1 year 18 weeks
While it would be nice to see JH and MP on another show, as others have said, these roles are not for them. The idea of JH being a long forgotten Wolek is extremely promising. Michael could be a new character, maybe they can finally get Lindsay out of jail and pair them together. It is ridiculous the length of time she has had to stay in jail for doing the fans and people of Llanview a favor and getting rid of Spencer Truman, but I digress.
However, replacing Trevor St John with Roger Howarth would NOT please me. I have watched both of them, and I strongly prefer Trevor. Not having seen Johnathan Jackson's Lucky on GH, I was disappointed with the firing of Greg Vaughan, but I was defferential to the longer time fans, so I got over it. With the Todds, I know from both, and Trevor is better in every way. You do not have to feel as bad about yourself for liking his Todd, even when he does the wrong thing. I think Roger would give a slight initial bump, but nothing that would sustain.
25 June 2009
2 years 12 weeks
Watchingallday says.."Trevor is better, you don't have to feel as bad about yourself for liking his Todd, even when he does something wrong" HUH??? What does this mean? his Todd is a joke & you don't have to take the character seriously? not really a threat to anyone & is also dull as dishwater? But I think he's HAWT, so he's better(sarcasm) LMFAO!!
I'm just so glad that Frons & ABC don't agree with the posters on THIS board & a certain circle of people & know that there are many long time viewers who would give anything to have Roger back. Actually last time they checked it was an overwhelming 85%..
15 July 2008
8 hours 15 min
My dream story would be for Roger to come back as the real Todd - newly escaped from Mitch's compound and he comes to Llandview to find that Walker Lawrence has assumed his identity. At first theres all this backlash because they think Walker did it purposefully but we find out that he was brainwashed by mitch. Tea stands by the man she loves - Walker and Blair is reunited with Todd. Todd is jealous of Walker's relationship with his family and Walker is jealous that todd has assumed what was his life.
15 July 2008
8 hours 15 min
Jamey forgot to address your statement about DG not being liked by Frons. I am sure Frons has the power to block the rehire but would he? I mean you have said plenty of times that Frons doesnt like Becky Herbst and doesnt think she is pretty enough to be a soap star and yet there she is on GH paired with two leads, lots of air time and huge story. Couldnt Dan survive the whole "not liked by Frons" thing the same way Becky has??? I guess I just have a problem with wishful casting a role that still seems sort of not vacant.
20 February 2009
1 day 10 hours
So here I am again, Kurt McKinney's secret agent, if I can't have him as Ned on GH, then I will take him as Kevin Buchanan. He would need to get rid of the grey though. I don't like Dan Gauthier period.
Joey is more difficult because I love Nathan Fillion. I like Michael Park, I watched ATWT during Sarah Brown's tenure and I liked Jack, Carly not so much. Anyway, I can't picture Michael as Joey or Cord. JL is Cord as AE is Tina. Daniel Cosgrove might work.
As for the large cast at this point, Gigi and Rex could go and take Ford, Langston, Markko, and Sky as well as Kim. I know lots seem to love Kim but for me she is worse than Stacy. Stacy's reasonings may be slim to the point of nonexistence but why is Kim so determined to help her?
22 January 2008
3 hours 20 min
EET, unlike Becky, whom I hear Frons just doesn't think is appealing, reportedly he and Gauthier have an actual beef. I have heard these brief return stints are all Frons will allow. Supposedly Gauthier got really mouthy about ABC in some interview, and it ticked the brass off. I wasn't watching OLTL back then or following it in the press, so I don't recall the interview, but others might. I like Dan a lot personally, but if they aren't going to bring him back fulltime, they need to fill the role with someone, and in my opinion it would be smart to cast popular leading men from a recently cancelled soap. The climate is different. Soap fans know these soaps are it. I bet a lot of Holden and Lily fans would follow Jon—who as I mentioned is three years young than Gauther, and IMO looks it—to Llanview. As for Park, he and Fillion look to be in the exact same age range to me.
21 December 2009
1 year 18 weeks
Vicious, I don't care about TSJ's looks, I think his Todd has more layers. I think Roger is a decent actor, I just think that Trevor is much better. I think Trevor plays Todd more as evolved than Roger did/would. I feel like Roger plays him a little too harsh to be a lead character that I can root for. I enjoy Trevor's scenes with Vikki and pretty much everyone more, even Starr(although I would prefer if she was more like ehr younger self). I do not think that the interactions with Cole and John McBain would play as well. I do not think that the old Todd would not have tried harder to kill or get rid of either of them. My analysis is moreso based on where the character is currently as far as personal development. He is still capable of doing really bad things and being vindictive, but I prefer that with his sarcasm, humor, snobbery, and condescention more than I would/did Roger's villain with issues. Granted, my opinion is based on just a little over 2 years of Roger and over 6 with Trevor. Maybe if I had experienced Roger from the beginning I would feel differently about how I would want him to be played today given all that has happened to the character.
I also forgot to say that I like Dan Gauthier as Kevin. I think maybe Daneil Cosgrove could be a good Joey.
15 July 2008
8 hours 15 min
Jamey I guess I am just going to hold out hope that frons and dg kiss and make up. There was a time when tptb were mad at RS and though it took years, they finally brought her back where she belongs. Dan has been away for some time so hopefully that time has been used wisely. I know he was well liked by the cast, perhaps ES has been working on this. A gal can hope cant she.
25 June 2009
2 years 12 weeks
Watchingallday, What layers? They're all gone. He is a moping, snotty little punk who flirts with any female that he's in scenes with.Todd Manning doesn't exist anymore period. TSJ has made up this air quoting character that's disgusting to watch. He, himself said that he plays Todd as a coward & that he could see Todd being attracted to his daughter. Anyone who watched Todd, knows very well, that Todd would rather kill himself than ever think about doing any such thing to his Shorty(Starr). The best thing for everyone would be to give TSJ a different character. He doesn't want to be Todd, it's obvious. Week after week it only gets worse. If RH does not come back they need to do an impostor story anyway. Many fans are disgusted the way Todd is portrayed. I think the air quotes was the last straw for a lot of folks. If they take away the name then TSJ could do whatever he wanted with his own character, but as long as he wears the name Todd Manning there's going to be controversy with how he handles the character. Doing an impostor story is a win/win for the show & many long time fans who can't stand to watch the so called romantic rapist who thinks he's cute. The only thing he is, is obnoxious. Now Walker was a character TSJ knew how to play.
25 June 2009
2 years 12 weeks
EET, It's going to take a very long time for Todd to forgive Tea, Blair & everyone else who thought this guy was him. It would be him against llanview for a very long time. The look on Todd's face when he finds out that everyone believed this guy was him..LOL Priceless!
22 January 2008
3 hours 20 min
A gal can hope cant she.
***
Of course!
12 February 2010
4 days 3 hours
Julie Pinson as Lois???I hadn't thought of that, but I like it!!!! However, I feel that Olivia is pretty much Guza's equivalent of Lois....she has pretty much the same elements that people liked about Lois (except for those tacky fingernails!!)
She is saucy, spicy, opinionated and she keeps Sonny in his place....SOMEWHAT. I feel that bringing back Lois would be wasted energy!!!
However, I know that someone out there is going to snatch up Julie Pinson eventually. I think she is wonderful!!