She Said: OLTL's Robin Strasser Gives Her Side About Departure
One of soaps original vixens, Robin Strasser, didn't hold back when speaking with TV Guide's Michael Logan about her exit from One Life To Live. In true La Strasser style, she clears up the misnomers regarding leaving the citizens of fair Llanview behind.
TV Guide Magazine: As it turned out, ABC gave you a much earlier exit than you had requested. Let's talk about that. [Note: After my earlier report on Strasser in TV Guide Magazine, an ABC spokesperson contacted me with this statement: "The network did not 'cut her loose.' We planned her exit according to her wishes and timeline she provided." As you will see, the actress disputes that.]
Strasser: I went prepared to a meeting with [OLTL exec producer] Frank Valentini and took notes. I gave him August 19 as the likely last tape date for me before departing for what I expected to be at least eight weeks for surgery and recuperation. I don't go to the well without being respectful of Frank's time so we were talking in shorthand and lo and behold he told me I'd be out by July 1. I said, "That soon? You don't even want to say August 1?" "No," he said. "July 1." This was prior to the announcement that there were a number of other actors also being written out on July 1. He put me into the exiting herd, and that is the situation to the best of my recollection and according to the notes I made at the time. I went in to talk about working through the end of August.
Here's hoping Strasser is one of the first set of actors Prospect Park calls to continue on with OLTL. To find out more on Strasser's meeting with Valentini click here!
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Comments
6 August 2010
21 weeks 6 days
That was an interesting interview. I hope something can be worked out for her to return. The show is not the same without Dorian and I will be upset if she is not back for the finale. Dorian and Viki are OLTL for me.
19 June 2009
4 days 22 hours
Friends and I were speculating if Strasser could end up on another show, and I imagined her coming to B&B in a new role as a Anna Wintour-ish fashion editor who has it in for Forrester, allowing for clashes between Strasser and Susan Flannery. Now that could be interesting!
7 April 2011
10 hours 56 min
Robin Strasser is an unmatched talent and I am grateful for the years of viewing her work. I do believe MOST of her claims in this Logan interview because it has been evident in the treatment Dorian Lord has received on the OLTL canvas over the years (most blatantly during Valentini/Carvialti's run.)
"The depth and breadth of my devotion to daytime speaks for itself, damn it!"
I couldn't agree more! Ms. Strasser has earned her place as daytime royalty and have disagreed with Jamey's statements on podcasts that Robin Strasser (and Kim Zimmer) should accept one poorly written character moment after another because she should be happy to have the work. RS and KZ should not be okay with that drivel in which these women have received. Dorian and Echo are spraying each other with hoses and Echo being subdued by a silly-string- wielding-7-year-old were incredibly low-points. RS and KZ may be 'divas' but they are devoted to daytime, their work and their fans. I think the lack of folks voicing their displeasure and dissension to TPTB has contributed to the state of soaps going off the air, not the other way around.
My other favorite 'Strasserism' - "I admit that the term "high maintenance" might apply to me here, but only in the same way it would apply to a Rolls Royce or fine wines or anything else that retains its value and is worth some extra attention."
Amen to that!
9 April 2009
20 weeks 5 days
Great post soapbaby. If FV didn't ask her to leave two months early, why aren't fans hearing about her return in coming months? She says she'd return. She remains a fan favorite. Mr. Valentini do the right thing.
8 September 2009
19 hours 11 min
Maybe he was looking at things from a purely cost standpoint when he put her into the "exiting herd". I can say though that no matter how well done OLTL is, it really lost me as a fan when they got rid of Kish, Rachel, and Skylar, and dropped Illene Kristen(Roxy) to recurring hell.
And now this move just kind of irks me because like the others, it makes no sense. Of course this is just Robin Strasser's side of the story, but I am inclined to believe the actors quicker that I believe ANY suit(YES, Frank Valentini is still an ABC-Disney SUIT)at ABC says.
I only hope that somehow this can be reversed, and that Dorian is allowed to be on the show's final episode somehow.
4 May 2009
4 days 20 hours
She did say they made the summer budget cuts so they could finish big. That sounds like they will be bringing some people back for the finale.
22 January 2011
4 hours 26 min
I don't know anything more than anyone else but I am 100% sure that we will we see more of Dorian before the show goes off.
22 October 2010
23 min 44 sec
I read the article, and she said she'd go back to Llanview. They should sharpen their pencils and bring her back. I think they (abc) are being hard nosed like they usually are.
6 August 2010
21 weeks 6 days
I was looking for this thread and didn't see it under OLTL. Jillian should retag it for OLTL instead of GH. i hope you guys are right about FV bringing her back.
10 May 2008
12 hours 59 min
First, I hope RS takes the time and allows her body to heal after surgery. Second, there were rumors that ABC cut OLTL's budget right after cancelling the show. Three, I hope to see Dorian back on my TV set before the show ends in January.