Wishful Casting: General Hospital Superstar Vanessa Marcil as Y&R's Victoria Newman
By Jamey Giddens on June 10, 2009
Inspired by Babs and Chris Goutman's recent casting coup, I got to thinking about what the next ultimate casting power move should be for the best soap not currently airing on television —As The Executives Turn. Since I don't see Eric Braeden leaving The Young and the Restless to play a new German mob boss, or Mikkos Cassadine on General Hospital anytime soon, I came up with the next best thing. What if Babs, Auntie Ri Ri and Uncle Paul convinced Bob Guza's muse herself, Vanessa Marcil (ex-Brenda) to join daytime's hottest show in the role of Victoria Newman McNeil Howard Carlton Hellstrom?
Inspired by Babs and Chris Goutman's recent casting coup, I got to thinking about what the next ultimate casting power move should be for the best soap not currently airing on television —As The Executives Turn. Since I don't see Eric Braeden leaving The Young and the Restless to play a new German mob boss, or Mikkos Cassadine on General Hospital anytime soon, I came up with the next best thing. What if Babs, Auntie Ri Ri and Uncle Paul convinced Bob Guza's muse herself, Vanessa Marcil (ex-Brenda) to join daytime's hottest show in the role of Victoria Newman McNeil Howard Carlton Hellstrom?
I'm sorry, licensing fees be damned, I can count six people right off the top of my head who could be shown the door in order for Ms. Marcil to make her way to Genoa City. When she last returned to GH, 800,000 viewers returned with her. Name another soap star who can spike numbers like that? Y&R should get Marcil's people on the horn ASAP!
Just imagine Marcil playing Victor Newman's daughter the way God and the late Bill Bell intended—as a chip off the old billionaire block. She definitely looks the part, with her dark, sexy features, Marcil could easily pass as Braeden's daughter and Joshua Morrow's sister.
Victoria, as played by Heather Tom, was a snobby, businesswoman/occasional Lolita (after she got over that pesky teenage frigidity problem of course!) who wore her heart on her designer sleeves one minute, then froze up, refusing to show weakness the next. Victoria gave as good as she got ,and along with Katherine Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper), was one of the few people Victor would allow to give him a good dressing down when he needed it.
I still get chills when I think of Victoria's final scenes before leaving town a few years ago, as she told her father through gritted teeth, and with twin streams of tears running down her face, how ashamed she was of him for damaging the Newman brand by allowing himself to be caught up in a product placement scandal. Victoria left town shortly after that scene, and in my opinion, she hasn't been seen or heard from since.
No offense to the lovely and just above adequate in the part Amelia Heinle, but this iconic role deserves an iconic actress, and that actress is Vanessa Marcil. Fans of General Hospital, the original Beverly Hills, 90210 and Las Vegas know all-to-well Marcil's penchant for creating love-to-hate antiheroines who have you rooting for them one minute and wishing someone would bitch slap the tar out of them the next! That's what Y&R needs in terms of a viable Victoria Newman, not a wilting, little flower, complete with half smiles and a perennial deer-in-headlights look.
A lot of Y&R fans have been speaking out about the lack of strong, viable female characters—a couple of them on my Facebook page— and while I am admittedly and unashamedly loving this show right now, I have to concede the detractors are beginning to make a strong case. With Phyllis (Michelle Stafford), Sharon (Sharon Case), Chloe (Elizabeth Hendrickson) and Ashley (Eileen Davidson) all existing as some form of victim or another, Y&R needs a strong, rootable female lead who actually drives story and makes things happen, as opposed to standing back and letting men torment them by a.) by proving to be more fickle than Archie Andrews in trying to pick between Betty and Veronica or b.) dressing up in drag and scaring the bejesus out of them while preggars.
Again, don't misunderstand me, I am literally RIVETED by the aforementioned stories, but I understand why the lack of in-control women in Genoa City bothers some fans. Soaps definitely need tragic, tormented heroines and borderline psychotic vixens (although one or two per capita is generally quite enough!), but they also need strong, determined women to balance things out. Right now the only woman in Genoa City fitting that bill is Katherine Chancellor.
I am not saying recasting Victoria Newman with Vanessa Marcil will magically solve Y&R's lack of a Ms. Magazine quality heroine, of course it won't, but if written well (and let's face it, this is Y&R so it would be written well) it could be the biggest thing daytime's seen, since, well, the last big thing Y&R did!
As for the rest of what could be done with the women of my favorite soap town— i.e. Phyllis telling Nick to kick rocks and meaning it, before taking him to court for custody of Summer and his half of the magazine in a "I am Woman" fit of rage; Sharon finding a modicum of self esteem (perhaps at the bottom of a Forrester clutch she steals from Fenmore's?) and deciding to raise her tot on her own, instead of depending one man, or the other to rescue her; Chloe hooking up with Adam or JT or Raul, or all of the above, to show Billy (Billy Miller) two can play his game; Lily (Christel Khalil) ho checking that tramp Tyra (Eva Marcille) for tearing up her family, and starting to catch a clue about her man lying to her; Ashley beginning to slowly sense what is happening to her and turning the tables on Adam (Chris Engen), as opposed to Victor predictably playing the eventual hero thus securing Eric Braeden his 18,000th SOD cover—those are all discussions for another blog post.
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Comments
15 May 2008
9 hours 7 min
CHURCH BABY!!! OH MAN!!! You have me wanting to hop a flight to LA and tell La Dvia Marcil to take her ass on over to Bell studios and drop kick Heinle out the door!!! I don't know what happened with the strong women on Y&R these days, the only ones seems to be Jill and Kay. Ashley has her moments when its Jabot business and going up against Glo-ho. Nikki had it but just lost it and don't get me started on Phyllis....
12 April 2009
15 hours 48 min
I would rather see Heather Tom as Victoria and Vanessa Marcil as a "newly sane" Isabella Brana. That way she can play opposite against any man on the show.
30 April 2009
15 hours 56 min
not sure why u like her so...it isnt just VM showing up on GH that spikes the ratings - it is the possible triangle with her/jax/sonny that drove those spikes. even though i detest sonny...i will admit that is probably the most successful triangles in GH history.
22 August 2007
11 hours 5 min
Vanessa is a ratings dream girl. Genie Francis didn't even bring in the numbers that Vanessa did.
15 May 2008
9 hours 7 min
Vanessa is a ratings dynamite for GH. Its one of the reason's why Guza is always camped out at her door trying to get her to come back.
2 January 2009
37 weeks 11 hours
Admitedly I'm not overly familiar with Vanessa Marcil. Has the actress voiced an interest in returning to daytime? Is there potential for her reprise her role as Brenda on GH?. I'm not familiar with the fate of the character of Brenda.
Also I couldn't agree with you (Jamey) more on the lack of strong women on Y&R. Nina in her own way is a powerhouse though she's not a routine character.
While everyone else is fawning over Cane/Ethan, she actually makes him squerm.
Aside from the occasional snippy scene between Victoria and Adam or Victoria and Colleen (where is Colleen anyway? She needs to snatch JT away from Victoria), Amelia seems to sleep walk in the role of Victoria. I was in love with Heather Tom's portrayal back in the day and in general a fan of Victoria. Unfortunately as of late I find myself disinterested in Victoria. I'm not completely sure she actually ever awoke from that coma.
30 March 2009
1 hour 30 min
I didn't watch GH and never so VM on there, but I did watch Beverly Hills 90210 and I loved how she used to mess with that goody too shoes Kelly. I think she could definitely add some spunk and fire to the role of Victoria. Victoria has lacked that since AH's version of Victoria came back on screen. Gosh what I would do to get a strong willed Victoria Newman back. She is the Victor Jr. She used to be so Bada$$! There are two major casting things Y&R needs to do to really have this show at a 100% instead of a 95%.
1. Victoria Newman
2. Drucilla Barber Winters
I think every fan of Y&R has been begging for these two casting coups since VR and HT left the shows.
2 February 2009
8 hours 12 min
YES YES YES!! That would be so awesome!! It would be great for Y&R and as a cherry on top it would give a big middle finger to Bob Guza!!
I LOVE it Jamey!!
2 February 2009
8 hours 12 min
You are right Smitty. Drucilla needs to come back in a HUGE way. The Winters SL is a complete snoozefest right now, and Neil has turned into a jackass. Dru needs to come back and whoop his ass into shape!
3 February 2009
27 weeks 3 days
Jamey, you're awesome
I would had never thought of Vanessa in the role of Victoria but she would be great. I love Heather Tom and still wished that she would come back but Vanessa is definitely a great choice 
I just want to see her on daytime again...(I hate GH after what they did to her storyline the last time and would rather her not go back to that show)
20 February 2008
52 min 48 sec
ASHRAM! ISLAM! PENTAGON! TEMPLE! But I doubt she'd ever agree to join Y&R — she's so far up GH's butt.
16 August 2007
6 hours 28 min
I say go for it Y&R! VM as Victoria would be hell on wheels. At this point I'd rather see her up Y&R's butt than GH...oh just the thought of VM on Y&R has me in a happy place.
20 February 2008
52 min 48 sec
I agree but you know if Brian nixed Finola they'd probably bomb the Y&R studios if they dared steal Marcil. But great casting suggestion. Heck — I'd be a better Victoria.
15 May 2008
9 hours 7 min
Luke here here! Vanessa can always call GH's bluff. Shit what can they bargain with her? Killing off Brenda for good? Hell they'd be in the GL ratings if they did that mess..
15 October 2008
9 hours 49 min
Poor Amelia! Yall are going to everything in yalls power to get that girl fired lol!
But in all seriousness this Wishful Casting is interesting, but I wouldn't be able to buy Vanessa as Victoria. And I would hope that if they do decide to get rid of Amelia (who is not bad), they would do it around the time Heather is up for contract negotiations at B&B and they get her back as Victoria.
15 May 2008
9 hours 7 min
East.West you better quit! *LOL* We call a spade a spade on DC even if its not with the masses. Amelia is just not bringing it with being Victor's daughter. The way Bill Bell had her was being a female version of Victor in business and with family if you got on her bad side. Heather brought that to the table. Amelia doesn't.
15 October 2008
9 hours 49 min
I totally see where long time fans are coming from and fans who saw Heather in the role, I am just saying that Amelia isn't that bad and that they are worse recast than her. I mean on the recent POW podcast yall brought up the two gold standards of bad recast Christina Chambers & Charity Rahmer and to add another one Jamie Luner.
12 April 2009
15 hours 48 min
AH isn't that bad but she's not Victoria. Someone once suggested having AH and HT switch roles. That would be great. AH is far more suited to play Brooke's drippy sister.
22 January 2008
56 min 50 sec
Heather Tom doesnt want to leave B&B. I've heard Y&R wanted her back, but she is happy at B&B.
15 October 2008
9 hours 49 min
Wow that is just crazy and now knowing that maybe I can get use to Amelia or another actress in the role knowing that Heather would rather stay at B&B.
15 May 2008
9 hours 7 min
ad-girl that was me. I wanted B&B and Y&R to trade. East.West she's not like some folks on that show and elsewhere but, she's a legacy character's child. Bill Bell had her as a female Victor when it came to family and business and AH has NOT brought that to the table.
29 November 2008
10 weeks 3 days
I would have liked Sarah Brown as Victoria before Robert Guza ruined her career. SJB has the fierceness needed to resurrect the real Victoria but ideally Gina Tognoni would be the best recast.
25 December 2008
12 hours 42 min
Guza would commit suicide if he ever saw his precious one on Y&R
2 January 2008
19 min 7 sec
Im an avid gh watcher and ive read vanessa marcil's interviews.Jamey i remember the days when Brenda and robin had sleepovers.Any way i truly believe if vanessa marcil did decide to come back to soaps gh would be her first and only choice.If she did join y/r she wouldnt wanna play an established characther as she said before if they ever recasted brenda she would never play her again.Theyd have to create a new characther for her to play.By the way jamey your doing wishful castings wouldnt of isabella been more realistic
30 March 2009
1 hour 30 min
Heather Tom doesnt want to leave B&B. I've heard Y&R wanted her back, but she is happy at B&B.
***
Damn Heather Tom...WHY???!!!...but if I remember correctly when she left it was because they wanted to decrease her gurantee of episodes. Which from my understanding results in a decrease in pay. Kay Alden/Jack Smith were crazy for letting her get away. Even knowing HT doesn't want to come back I still think they need to recast Victoria Newman. I have watched AH since she took over the role in 2005 and she isn't working. I'm sorry. IF HT isn't coming back then they need to cast a stronger actress in the part. I mean there are many other people out there that can play the role of Victoria Newman. Gina Tognoni, Sarah Brown, Wendy Moniz, I mean come on.
12 April 2009
15 hours 48 min
Now I am curious/confused. WHY doesn't HT want to come back to Y&R? Is it the money? Are there personal issues that made her unhappy at Y&R? I am honestly confused as to why anyone would rather play Katie over Victoria.
22 January 2008
56 min 50 sec
Now I am curious/confused. WHY doesn't HT want to come back to Y&R? Is it the money? Are there personal issues that made her unhappy at Y&R? I am honestly confused as to why anyone would rather play Katie over Victoria.
***
Heather left Y&R because they wanted to reduce her guarantee.
11 April 2009
25 min 30 sec
Do you think that AH is just acting based on the scripts she's given? Where is Victoria written as a tigress?
I'm a fan of Heather Tom's and miss her as Victoria. However, look at how B&B's Katie is written. She's written as drippy just as Victoria is. Both actresses perform as directed.
Most people on this site agree that Chris Engen was BORING as a brick before this story line. Once he was given better material, people on DC became more receptive to him.
11 April 2009
25 min 30 sec
Marcil is an interesting choice. Wouldn't she make more money just continuing with her other work? Given how soap salaries are being sliced, Marcil would probably make as much in two quick project than she would doing a year of Y&R.
On the other hand, I'd love to see a Victoria and Neal pairing. Marcil would look hot with Mr. Winters.
BTW, does any one else notice that the Winters only appear every other week on Y&R. It's a week (or two) off and then they reappear for a couple of days.
Yep, this show definitely needs a big heap of Dru. I do miss a Dru/Phyllis smackdown.
11 November 2008
11 hours 31 min
I must admit...Vanessa Marcil and Megan Tuck were my two fav's! And I'll do anything to get them back on daytime. But for some reason, I can't picture VM as Victoria. Heather Tom has put such a stamp on that role, it's impossible for anyone to compare....Kinda like Gina Tognoni put her stamp on Kelly Cramer (God knows I also love Heather Tom, but she didn't cut it for me as Kelly).
I don't think VM's ego would allow her to play a recast and I'll go into cardiac arrest if I see VM play any other daytime role other than Brenda....
Urghhhhhh just to image her playing opposite Laura W., Sarah B and Kelly M would force me (and a million other people) to watch GH EVERYDAY.