Prospect Park on OLTL/GH Drama: "We Continue to Be Willing to Equally Share The Characters With General Hospital"

If OLTL recasts Starr, How about Robyn Richards

NYSam, that was totally uncalled for. First, it's juvenile to call my remark stupid and to say that I'm not really a fan and don't deserve "Lucy" in my name simply because we disagree. I didn't say that about anyone else. Second, you interpreted way more in my remark than I actually said. I know that the contract ran for a certain length of time. That was not my point. My point was that when PP didn't go forward with their plans to put OLTL and AMC on the air, it seemed like a done deal. Everyone moved on--actors, writers, producers--because they thought the deal was dead. Therefore, FV didn't bring those three characters over as a "loan" because he thought the deal was dead. Should he have thought that? Maybe not, especially in hindsight. But I do think it seems like PP now wants to seem like the deal was never dead, but simply delayed and that GH/FV knew this and should have expected to have the characters "recalled" if you will. It certainly didn't play out in the public as if PP had any intentions of resurrecting the shows once the original deals fell through. So to me, it looks like PP is playing the pity card.

Now, this "Lucy" (who has several reasons, including personal ones, for using the name, only one of which being Lucy Coe) loves all three soaps. I truly hope PP really goes through with it this time. I cried during the penultimate episode of OLTL. I was making a PB&J sandwich during the commercial break after Viki's on-air speech about Fraternity Row. Her words hit me so hard that I could hardly see the sandwich. And I've only ever cried four other times in my life due to TV shows (one of those times was also due to OLTL many, many years ago). The prospect of One Life, which frankly was my favorite show as a child, being back is wonderful. And I'd love to have Todd and Starr back on the show (I can take or leave John). I am also a GH fan who does not believe that Todd, Starr and John are indispensable to GH. I enjoy them (Todd and John especially) on GH, but it won't break my heart if they leave to go home to Llanview. So where all of your anger at my presumed stupidity comes from I don't. Maybe next time you can just disagree with me in a civil manner and ask me why I have the opinion that I have. Even if my explanation fails to change your mind (and why should it change your mind? It's not my business if you prefer the show one way or another), at least I might convince you that I'm a rational human being who doesn't just pull ideas from the ether while masquerading as a fan of a show I know nothing about while appropriating people's names simply to dishonor them.

PP had a year to get the shows back. ABC knew this & if it happened that Starr, John & Todd could be called back by PP. That was the deal they all agreed to, LEGALLY.

What cant some grasp that?

I can't believe that people are wasting time on this. So the actors have to go back. Big deal. Let's be honest without the soaps they'd be no where. It's not like prime time or the movies are looking for them. They only have the soaps who hire them . It is in their best interest if AMC and OLTL succeed.

I was so happy when I read OLTL was returning but now I'm wondering if it should with all the problems it's causing. I want Roger Howarth and Micheal Easton to stay on GH. They really helped revive the show so much! I like John McBain so much better on GH and Todd, the man is hysterical, I will miss him so much!!! I hope they can somehow resolve the problem, where they can cross over to OLTL when needed but stay on GH.

Doesn't GH have other characters to bring back or concentrate on? The show has existed for 49 yrs. Seriously, if the actors don't want to go to PP, that's fine with me at this point. PP should recast as story dictates. That's not my first choice but when the actors don't want to return, the show must go on. I am thrilled that OLTL and AMC are coming back. The future of soaps will be on the Web and that is the bigger picture. I support PP in making the best soap possible. I don't see that PP is forcing the actors to do anything. It is their choice to say no. It was ABC that caused them to lose their job when they cancelled OLTL--not PP. Everyone involved knew the score with PP loaning the characters. And, the initial PP press release said the efforts were "suspended." Obviously they have been working hard to get these shows back on the Internet in the past year. These deals did not happen overnight. ABC and company just never imagined it would happen and they were wrong.

Let's not forget here that PP let their license on these characters/this show run out, and ABC extended it. So there's been a history of compromise when it benefit the business, and there should compromise this time, too.

It won't be a good PR move to recast all three of these characters.

And there's talk of how many people have computers in their home, yeah, most people, but even more people have televisions. If you want the hard stats, i'll provide links. These soaps on tv get 3,000,000 viewers per ep on a single day. It takes some web videos weeks/months before they get those kind of numbers.

While tv show viewing on the internet is on the rise, it's no where near the numbers of actual tv viewing, so yes, the shows will have smaller viewing audiences.

I refuse to allow this off camera drama taint my excitement about OLTL and AMC returning! I am disappointed that all of this drama has killed the excitement about OLTL returning for some. I will still be watching in the Spring. I do believe roles can be recast, but I am very concerned with the number of recasts both AMC and OLTL are planning to do.

I will be sad to see Starr, McBain, and Todd exit Port Charles. I think the actors and writers have worked hard to establish them as part of the cast. I hope Ron and his writing team had enough time to write them out effectively. While it seems silly to bring the actors back as different characters to me, it won't keep me from watching "General Hospital" either.

So because you want to watch ME and RH on GH, ES, KDP, TW and MA should be out of a job? Not to mention the crew that would need to shoot OLTL. No none of those people matter because 3 characters who mean NOTHING TO GH, and have added very little might have to go back to WHERE THEY BELONG!!!!

OLTL fans are the most disgusting and vile group of people I have ever seen. I mean honest to go really? You have bitched and moaned and attacked other show's fans, you have demanded that your characters appear on another show and then freak and call foul when their history is toyed with but if a GH fan dares to call out if GH's history isn't respected then they aren't a "true fan" and don't understand RC's genius. Please explain to me why AMC fans aren't behaving like out of controlled spoiled children? How about GL fans? Or ATWT fans? But now you are getting your show back and since it isn't 100% perfect you want it not to happen. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

GH will be ending soon, ABC doesn't want soaps and PP being a success is in the best interest of daytime!! It will give these actors a place to work. Which I am willing to bet a lot of soap actors would like a place to work, call me crazy.

Personally I think you OLTL fans should try to show a little gratitude to the only people in the world that care enough about your freaking show to bring it back. The contracts are very clear, FV knew the deal and did not make sure to follow the deals of the contract, now HE has caused this mess and GH the show that he is suppose to care about is all messed up.

Glad to see how much you love the show you have done nothing but whine about for a year. Yuck!

It is just so humorous to read your posts (and a few others that read like they are written by the same person), you come off like a childish brat who has spent the last year stomping your feet in anger that Frank and Ron brought the OLTL characters to GH and now that this PP controversy has happened you are positively gleeful because you think this means you will get "your" GH back.
And your constant talk about contracts as if you have actually read them is just priceless. You don't know what was in those contracts, you just know the bare minimum about them. Just admit you are a slightly off kilter soap watcher who has created a fan war in your head,to the point that you still consider Frank and Ron to be from he enemy camp, and feel you have somehow achieved a measure of victory against your hated enemies, it would make your posts read less like hypocritical ramblings.

It is just so humorous to read your posts (and a few others that read like they are written by the same person), you come off like a childish brat who has spent the last year stomping your feet in anger that Frank and Ron brought the OLTL characters to GH and now that this PP controversy has happened you are positively gleeful because you think this means you will get "your" GH back.
And your constant talk about contracts as if you have actually read them is just priceless. You don't know what was in those contracts, you just know the bare minimum about them. Just admit you are a slightly off kilter soap watcher who has created a fan war in your head,to the point that you still consider Frank and Ron to be from he enemy camp, and feel you have somehow achieved a measure of victory against your hated enemies, it would make your posts read less like hypocritical ramblings.

For the record, I was more then willing to welcome the actors, I thought RH would make an amazing AJ since SK was unavailable (and I admit to not liking BW, not fair I know), I was hoping they'd bring over ME to give JaSam something interesting. Oh and enemy camp? Uh sorry but I have a life, so while I like a lot of RC's idea ie AJ's return I haven't been a huge fan of the execution of stories. I am grateful for the vets, but again its just a TV show, so whatever honestly. But them again like I said I have a life so when any show is cancelled I love I move on and find something else to watch, its called perspective, those of you that can't let go of a show after a year well that makes me worried about your sanity. I also happen to be of the believe that soaps and the fans are in fact not being ignored or attacked but happen to be the most coddled in the entertainment industry, So I have no sympathy for the shows being cancelled because if soaps were treated like primetime shows they would have been gone back in the early 2000s. No primetime show gets to loose the viewers that soaps have and stay on air. If the talent was treated like others in hollywood then the actors in GH's unholy trio would be labeled unbankable and NOT GET WORK. That doesn't happen in daytime, shows have been allowed to bleed viewers for over a decade and they are still on the air, name one primetime show that can say that. Coddled. But then I am not so wacko that I have created this threat against me, shows I watch or the actors on them.

I have never cared about the crossovers, I thought it could cause problems and it has!!! But I didn't care I just wanted a good show. I also love how us who want what Disney, ABCD, and PP have all come out and confirmed was the to be honored are brats but the people who want a boycott or PP to fail or are calling the shady are good fans. Bull!!! OLTL fans are behaving in such a vile manner its disgusting and don't ever call me not a fan because I want this to succeed so that GH, and shows I've never watched like Days, Y&R and BB to have a place to land when they are cancelled.

But you're right Todd might not be on GH, not RH but Todd so fuck Erika Slezak or Kassie and them being able to support their families. You aren't getting exactly what you want so it shouldn't happen. Grow the hell up and seek help for your unhealthy attachment to TV shows.

Why couldn't they just stay on GH, give them new names but basically the same character. There are a few instances where this has happened. One is that the Bauer family were the Baum family for the first few episodes they were on Guiding Light. Another that comes to mind is a show called Lovers and Friends was retooled to become a show called For Richer For Poorer. The lead characters name was Rhett. When the show was retooled he suddenly became John. So the show could simply change the characters names and just keep going with the same stories. They could be from oh say Johnsonville instead of Llanview. Todd could be Chad. Star could be Lisa and John could be Jack.

I think if ABC has to create characters for the actors, Roger would make a great Cassadine. Maybe, Valentin? If they wanted to keep the father/daughter thing with RH & KA, Kristen could be Valentin's daughter. Spencer/Cassadine romances all around!

RH and KA didnt even sign up for the OLTL re-boot when they thought it would happen. They have no interest in going back.

PP's press release is so smug and condescending to soap viewers with its revisionist version of events that it is obvious they themselves are not soap fans at all.

Neither side holds all the cards here but ABC (with the actors under contract and 3 million daily viewers they could drive to PP's reboots) is certainly in a better bargaining position.

There is no reason they should bend over backwards for PP. They should ask the actors to do a few crossover appearances for the reboot and perhaps every once in a blue moon after that and then the characters/actors should stay on GH. If they have to trade KA to make the deal happen then no biggie although she is fine on GH.

What is annoying is PP's press release. A year or so ago they totally threw up their hands and said sorry we failed this is not happening. Since they paid a ton of money for option on the rights they got to make a little oney back by licensing some characters back to ABC. This was good for GH as well - they got some OLTL viewers. Win/win.

OLTL has a good group of actors signed up for 2 hours of shows a week (4 half hours). That's less than half the airtime per week they used to have. Why in their right mind would they think that it is a good idea to try to play this game of chicken when ABC and FV/RC would surely be more than happy to arrange for the actors to crossover for a blockbuster kickoff story like a 2 Todds resolution to launch the reboot? Exactly how is this cluster-f*ck situation be preferable to that?

The guys over at PP really do have rocks for brains and as for everyone defending them - yes they do have the legal right to these characters - we get that. But ABC has the right to the actors and the ability to drive tons of viewers to the reboot. That's a valuable bargaining position and in this case it is truly PP who is being the stupider of the two.

What is now amusing me the most is how the soap fans all around keep talking and talking about this to death, when in reality we get the info little by little and that's it. Nothing more to do but wait.

But the boards and Twitter are ablaze. And that is because secretly, or not so secretly, people LOVE that all this is happening. People WANT this kind of drama. They love to stir up fights and disagree on matters they don't really even have an opinion on, just to achieve even more drama and fights and talk. It is especially funny when people say "Oh Lord what a mess this is!" No it's not. Things like this are quite normal in business life, and things like this are resolved on a weekly basis.

People & companies all want things. Naturally everyone wants what is best for themselves. That is not abnormal. Nor is it abnormal to have meetings and deadlines and stalemates. They just need to resolve these matters and all we need to do is WAIT and see what happens. That's all we can do.

@Really....I like you Let them have it.

I think for the sake of the business everyone needs to be supportive of the Soaps. Let's not give the networks reason to believe we don't want the re-launched aired on them. The new shows are going to be a good thing for a cable outlet.

Whether or not the three will continue or not who cares. If they do great if they don't move on. GH has tons of history and options.

I agree that they should be able to but if that is not the case remember there are three sides to every story. Well in this case four: the actors, ABC, PP and the truth.

ABC should have simply had them from word go come in as new characters. Todd could have been a Cassadine, Liz's Dad Jeff or a Q! Starr could have been Serena Baldwin or hell even an aged Joselynn, John could have been anyone from a new cop to Caleb from PC just without the whole vampire garbage. Personally I wouldn't mind if that came out that he was impersonating that guy Caleb and Sam was impersonating herself as Livvie to con Kevin out of some money or ancient family valuable.

Whether or not they will work as new characters less ME IDK. Claudia didn't work for one reason and one reason only SONNY! Fronz had magic with Sarah and Tyler yet shoved her and Sonny down our throats on the hope that lighting would strike twice and sadly the viewers could not get passed Sarah and Maurice as Carly and Sonny V1.0 Claudia would still be around today had she been an actual counter to Sonny VS someone who was forced to fall for him.

Natalia didn't work because the fans wanted her as Emily. It wasn't that she was bad it was just a horrible storyline and well the whole twin thing would have been cool the lack of having Helena reveal that she was behind Rebecca coming to town and that she herself had Emily was bad. Hopefully that is one return that will happen and one storyline that RC will pen. Naturally with Laura's return it would be perfect timing to get Nik back and have this be the big reveal that Laura knows and gets one over on big bad Granny!

Recasts are recasts and actors can do it if the fans allow it and writing warrants it. Putting the same people together time and time again doesn't always work. Case in point Sonny and Brenda. Brenda should have been with Jason instead when she came back. It would have been great!

Gosh you have to love the few posters who feel the need to ram their opinions down your throat as if it's gospel. If you don't agree with them then you must be stupid.

I think it's beyond childish to slam posters because of how they feel about this or any situation.

I feel bad for these actors because they like everyone else felt that OLTL was done after the first round of BS from PP, they had to put food on the table. I for one was very happy that Cartini kept these characters alive and they have made GH more interesting....

Either way these three actors are now a part of GH whether as the characters they play now or ones with new names.

I can not believe this hostile response I got from just saying I will miss Micheal Easton and Roger Howarth on GH. GH was on the brink of cancellation and when Frank V came on and brought the characters of Todd and McBain on the show they breathed new life into a show that was slowly dieing. I have been a OLTL and GH fan since a kid in the 70's and love both shows. I was devasted when OLTL was cancelled. At times I thought it was so much better then GH. I am thrilled it is getting a new life and I will get to see the great Erika Slezak and Robin Strasser again, and my other favorites, Bo, Clint, Nora and the always funny David Vickers. I hope eventually a Cable station will air the show because I guess I'm old school. I still like to watch my soaps on TV. I just got used to Todd and John being on GH and wish they would stay. I meant no negative thing against OLTL. OLTL I hear will be filming in Conn. so these guys would have to uproot AGAIN!
I really took offense to the hostile remarks I got because I have always been a OLTL and GH fan for years! I wish both shows the best. I am sick of hearing the negative remarks from those who say, "GH will be cancelled". Stop already. Yes, may-be one day it will be cancelled but I'm positive it will last at least another year. Days Of Our Lives was just renewed and their ratings are about the same as GH. I doubt ABC will take the chance right now of cancelling their last soap. Stop the negative attitude and look at the bright side. At least we still have GH to watch and OLTL will soon be back.

OK, if I understand well a lot of those posts, ABC are the good guys trying to keep on their beloved soap GH three talented actors who have saved GH (with the help of Cartini) and should not be forced to go work for a show they don't want to appear in... And PP are the baaad guys because they are trying to reboot two soaps that so many people have cried upon when they were cancelled.

Are we talking about the same ABC that had ZERO problem cancelling not one but TWO soaps at the same time to promote their freakin stupid The Chew and The Revolution? Who gave the 3pm slot to Couric and would have cancelled GH without a tear should the Revolution have succeeded???

Sorry but I don't have short memory and I have not forgiven ABC. Right now they seem to love GH because the ratings are good but I don't trust them one bit should the ratings go down again and should they win another "star" to host one of their new brilliant ideas of talk show (insert ironical tone).

I am very happy to see OLTL (and AMC ... but more OLTL to be honest) alive and kicking again. As a huge fan of Erika Slezak and Robin Strasser, just the idea of seeing those two ladys bantering again is very good news. I understand the PP people wanting RH, ME and KA back. They own the characters, why should they give up on them? However what's the point of having actors on set who clearly don't want to be there?

IMHO the solution would be for the three actors to take part into the launching of the reboot (for 3 to 6 months) willingly and then go back to GH. Perhaps have an agreement allowing ME to come back after 3 months, RH after 4 and KA after 5 or 6 months? RH, ME and KA have been lucky enough to work fully after the cancellation of OLTL. Perhaps they could consider this kind of "sacrifice" to reboot a show that made them who they are today and to help OLTL to reach an audience quickly and thus help their fellow actors/actresses of the show?

I am no fan of RH. Don't like the guy and the way he exited OLTL years ago and I HATE his version of Todd. But I can acknowledge that he has some fans that increased the ratings of GH (even if I truly think that the rating increase was also due to the return of all the vets we love so much, Anna Devane being the best of them!). But I always believe in the fact of remembering where you come from and how you arrived where you stand now. MEMORY and LOYALTY.

I would be disappointed if RH, ME and KA don't show a little solidarity to the OLTL reboot.

I would be disappointed also if PP doesn't understand that they will have to release those three actors back to GH after maximum 6 months or the lack of involvement will, rightly so, show and will not help the OLTL reboot.

Finally, I would be disappointed if the solution is to just to keep the three actors and give them a new identity. And please no Port Charles reboot. I am no vampire fan (except the Bram Stoker book which is the Bible about vampires) and I don't want GH to become about vampires and would rather see the mob back in this case.

TRY TO WORK TOGETHER GUYS TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT WILL SATISFY THE OLTL FANS, THE GH FANS AND THE OLTL/GH FANS.

I have always been more of a GH than a OLTL fans but I am shocked to see some OLTL fans screaming at PP for wanting to get Todd/John and Starr when PP is going to provide them/us with a "second chance at OLTL"... PP is for sure not perfect but if they can revive OLTL and AMC I am personnally all for it. And I am ready to give them a pass for a few things.

And while RH/KA/ME are back at Llanview, please give more screentime and story to Johnny/Brandon Barash. Cartini has thrown Johnny under the bus to pimp Todd, time to redeem Johnny... until Todd is back at least

Just my humble opinion of course

Another example of how some soap fans just don't get it. Of COURSE, if the ratings remain high enough, GH will stay on and if the ratings go down, it will likely be cancelled. How is that NOT understandable? That's true of any show (especially shows that are as expensive to produce as soaps).

Fans of AMC and OLTL will have to accept that reality in about a year from now, when Prospect Park says they haven't recouped the money they invested in the resumption of the soaps and they will be shut down once again.

The show is filming in CT not NYC and if you moved across the country would you be so willing to have to move back?

Hey no need to be condescending dear TVGord

As I said I am fully aware that ABC will have no problem cancelling GH whenever it is convenient to them (OLTL ratings were very good in the end and that didn't change a thing...). So I don't see what I don't understand LOL
I was just illustrating why I am not ready to make ABC the good guys in this and PP the bad guys. I truly don't think that it is black and white, that's all.

And if OLTL is cancelled in a year from now so be it, at least it will be one more year to enjoy Viki and Dorian, Blair and Tea as well as Bo and Clint (I will even be happy to see Natalie and Cutter!). Better that than nothing (in my humble opinion again). But if it works, that's reassuring for GH in case they eventually get the axe...

Finally, living out of the US (so with no access to ABC or Hulu), I will be delighted to have the possibility to pay for a pass on ITunes like for DOOL (if it is as cheap as for DOOL) to get my OLTL season! Would be happy if I could get GH through ITunes too because the day the remaining YouTube channels are closed down, I will be unable to watch GH anymore.

I wasn't being condescending in the least. In fact, I don't think I could have been more direct and straight-on. You paint ABC in the good-guy/bad-guy illustration by suggesting they are bad guys because they'll cancel a show if the ratings are bad. That doesn't make them good or bad guys. That just makes them businesspeople (and good ones, in my opinion...if I held shares in ABC, I sure as hell wouldn't want them sinking money in low-rated shows).

And I can't wait to read your "so be it" philosophy in your posts a year from now.

nysam....I could not agree more!! I am Over the moon that OLTL AND AMC are coming back! What I don't like is ABC FV RC AND GH's FANS acting like they own the characters or actors! PP are more than with in their rights to take back them characters and I think there was a provision when it came to the actors, ME stated that he knew nothing then he was TOLD about going to OLTL, Which common sense and ABC's reputation says that they LIED to the actors when they negotiated the contracts and were possibly made unaware of PP being able to snatch the characters back at anytime, for all we know ABC told the actors that PP had no intention of taking the characters back, we all know how trust worthy ABC is!
Your right RC should have never made them front burner characters I have said that since the get go, they should have been used like Blair and Tea etc. OLTL fans should not be screwed because RC did what he wanted to!
The fans act like we OLTL fans have NO RIGHTS to have what they call "their" characters! And every time I ask them how would you guys like it if we "Borrow" Sonny, Sam, & Robin and then decide well we are going to keep them? I don't ever get a response!
As far as Starr I really don't see any reason for her to return to OLTL unless they are going to bring back Cole and Hope. Another thing I don't think GH fans seem to grasp is even if they "keep" the actors they will not be on GH as those characters!
I completely agree about following characters altho I do not watch GH even tho my fav John is on there because I have no desire to watch the Sonny Mob hour, But I can not wait for John to come HOME to OLTL!

You just need to get a clue and live in reality! MILLIONS OF FANS ARE MORE THAN READY FOR THIS REBOOT AND IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ABC! YOU ABC WORSHIPPERS NEED TO GET A GRIP!

Sorry but ABC does own the actors because they are under contract to them not PP, there is no provision allotted to PP on the actors just the characters.

So while I am happy that AMC & OLTL are back not just for the actors getting a pay check but for the genre...I am loyal to GH and I hope either way that something can be worked out which explains why these characters are not in LLanview or if PP wants to keep the characters then ABC changes their names and run a blurb explaining the issue