Strasser as B&B's Margo? GH's Dominica? DAYS' Anjelica? Y&R's Julia Newman? Relax, Just Wishful Castings
By Jamey Giddens on July 11, 2009
In the comments section of the Wishful Casting poll I posted about Who Should Play One Life to Live's Dorian Lord should ABC and Robin Strasser not come terms, DC reader scoboot requested I do a Wishful Casting about Strasser's possible post-OLTL prospects. Now remember, Strasser is waiting until Fronsie comes back from vacation to make any decisions about her future on OLTL, but here's what I've come up with just the same!
In the comments section of the Wishful Casting poll I posted about Who Should Play One Life to Live's Dorian Lord should ABC and Robin Strasser not come terms, DC reader scoboot requested I do a Wishful Casting about Strasser's possible post-OLTL prospects. Now remember, Strasser is waiting until Fronsie comes back from vacation to make any decisions about her future on OLTL, but here's what I've come up with just the same!
All My Children:
While realistically I don't believe Strasser would go to another ABC soap right away, if she were to leave OLTL, I think it would be a hoot to have her show up in Pine Valley as Delilah Needlemeyer (not a real character from the show's bible, instead derived from my carbohydrate-soaked gray matter), the long lost sister of Susan Lucci's Erica Kane. I know they've already done this scenario with the real and faux Silver Kane characters, but I think it would be fun for Strasser to play against type as a dowdy, twice-divorced, auto industry secretary from Detroit, who has just been laid off when she learns from her adopted mother that her real mom was the late Mona Kane. Mona could have had an affair just out of her teens and have given the baby to her married friend to raise. In a nod and a wink at one of Soap Operadom's most enduring myths, AMC should cast Phyllis Diller as the adoptive mother! How would Erica react to Delilah setting her sights on one Jackson Montgomery (Walt Willey)?
General Hospital:
Maybe Brian Frons would be willing to dig into the cushions of his couch to find a few more extra pennies for Strasser if she were on his favorite soap General Hospital? Strasser could come on like gangbusters (sniggle) as Maria Zacchara, the beautiful, presumed dead mother of Johnny (Brandon Barash). What if Maria didn't die when Anthony shot her during his psychotic fit? Maybe Trevor Lansing had her whisked away to save her life. Claudia (Sarah Brown) would obviously hate Maria's guts, since Maria stole Anthony from Claudia's mother, who then died of a broken heart. Which brings me to my next GH Wishful Casting suggestion for Strasser...
While I sorta feel the characters of Maria and Dominica Zacchara are interchangeable, Strasser could easily pull off being the mother of Brown's Claudia. Imagine Brown adding to her next season's Emmy reel as she learns her mother didn't die of a broken heart, but instead abandoned her to be raised by a maniac. Speaking of maniacs with abandonment issues...
Ah Adela Corinthos, Sonny's (Maurice Benard) sainted mother, you know, the one who let Deke beat the crap out of her kid and lock him in closets, and later allowed her lover Trevor to take her other son, Ric (Rick Hearst) and raise him to loathe Sonny, the brother Adela chose over him. What if instead of bringing on one of the presumed dead Z wives, GH brought Strasser on as the Mother of all Mobsters? Finding out his beloved mother is still alive could trigger a relapse of Sonny's manic depression as he reflects over his effed up relationships with women. Adela coming back from the grave could cause Sonny to question his every life choice. Would he be the man he is today, had his mother not have "died"?
Another option would be for Strasser to come on board as the mother of Olivia Falconeri (Lisa LoCicero). Strasser as a scaled down, traditional Italian matriarch from Bensonhurst would be a nice change from the over-the-top Dorian, although I am sure Ma Falconeri's hatred for Sonny would be quite resemblant to Dorian Lord's feeling about a certain Llanview-based rapemancer.
The Young and the Restless:
Anyone who listens to the CBS/DAYS podcast knows I wouldn't exactly be crushed if Strasser were to join Y&R as a replacement for Judith Chapman as Gloria Baldwell. That being said, I would rather just see Mary Jane (Stacy Haiduk) or Adam (Michael Muhney) simply kill and stuff Glo, so a recast probably wouldn't endear me to the character. The next best bet would be for Strasser to recreate the role of Victor Newman's (Eric Braeden) first wife Julia. With Meg Bennett (the original Julia) busy penning scripts for her hubby Bob Guza at GH, Strasser could gracefully slip into the role of Victor's first wife. Strasser opposite Braeden would be soapgasmic! Just think of the Soap Opera Digest covers (Sorry Roger Newcomb, no Nuke for you!). If you thought the Diva Smackdowns between Dorian and Viki (Erika Slezak) were something, consider the moment when Strasser as Julia locks eyes on Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott)! How would Victor react to the First Mrs. Mustache possibly getting chummy with his arch rival Jack (Peter Bergman)? I tell you, timing really is everything though, because had Jess Walton not resigned as Jill, Strasser would have absolutely killed in that role.
The Bold and the Beautiful:
With Bill Spencer Jr. (Don Diamont) back in town, maybe it's time his father's ex-wife Margo returned to Los Angeles as well? While Days of Our Lives diva Lauren Koslow originated the role of Eric's (John McCook) one time lover and Clarke's (Daniel McVicar) first baby mama, Strasser could add a healthy dose of volume to the role. What if Margo showed up with a codicil to Bill Sr.'s will giving her one-third of the Spencer publishing empire, which she then uses to help her former flame Eric turn the tables on Bill Jr.? What if we learn Margo became pregnant during her affair with Eric all those years ago and gave the baby up for adoption? Wouldn't it be something it that baby grew up to be one Owen Knight (Brandon Beemer)?
As The World Turns:
I was only half joking about Strasser going to ATWT as the mother of Julie Pinson's Janet. I actually do think it would be cool for Janet to have a pushy mom, always trying to get Janet to step up her game to keep Carly (Maura West) out of Jack's life. If not Janet's mom, perhaps the wife of the new mob don character GH's Stuart Damon is slated to play?
Days of Our Lives:
With Justin Kiriakis (Wally Kurth) on his way back to Salem sans his beloved Adrienne (Judi Evans), why not bring on Strasser as Anjelica Deveraux (formerly played by Jane Elliot, Shelley Taylor Morgan and Judith Chapman)? For newer DAYS viewers, Anjelica was the cougarific, former wife of crazed Senator Harper Deveraux—adoptive father of Jack (Matt Ashford)— whose affair with a young Justin produced his first born son Alexander—whom Justin raised with Adrienne. When we last saw Anjelica, she was handing off her son to be returned to Justin. A year earlier, the crafty minx had faked her and Alex's deaths. Alex was reunited with Justin and Adrienne just before the new family left for Texas. What if Anjelica returns to Salem to seek out the son she hasn't seen since he was a baby? What if she teams up with Stefano (Joe Mascolo) against the Kiriakis men, when they deny her access to her son? Strasser, Kurth, Mascolo and John Aniston, count me in!
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Comments
8 May 2008
18 hours 3 min
B&B would be a great fit for Strasser. I think that Stephanie needs a new rival that can go toe to toe with her. So I pick Robin.
But Y&R is having a full cast, I cut Tyra, Ana, Eden, victoria, JT, Gloria, Jeffrey, and Mac to get Robin as Julia Newman or make her Lauren's mother. Tracy needs a s/l and Robin would be great as a bitch who is a scheming witch that the whole town hates and Michael and Lauren can have trouble in the marriage with Lauren's mother and her going after Victor and Paul would be great.
Robin on Days as Vivian Alamaine, unless Louise Sorel don't want to return or they don't get her, I bring Robin as Vivian and she could tear up Salem. Her and Kate rivalry would be reignited and her and Victor or Stefano can be romantic rivals for her affections. Crystal Chappell is coming back and her and Vivian are feuding, so put her in the mix also.
I hope that Robin stays at OLTL and hope that they bring back Gina as Kelly and get Daniel Cosgrove as Joey and reignite the Joey and Dorian relationship again and make Viki mad as hell, LOL. Brian Frons, you better not dismiss Robin or you will wish you didn't get the job at ABC when the fans rally around Robin S. LOL. (Just playing)
2 February 2009
12 hours 49 sec
Jamey, I would give my right arm to watch episodes of GH written by you!! Okay, maybe not my actual arm, but you get my point! In one freaking paragraph you make the hateful and despised mobster Sonny interesting and sympathetic, and you also make the vile Claudia have potential too.
Anyway, I would like to se RS on GH in any of those roles, but for her sake and sanity, she should stay away from the other two ABC shows right now because of the abysmal writing.
I would really love to see her on Y&R because how awesome would she be with Victor, Nikki, Phylis, or Michael even? The first Mrs. Newman certainly has potential, but another poster previously suggested RS as Phylis' mom. She would be incredible with MS, but could still be a love interest for both Victor and Jack, and it would change the dynamic with her daughter if she fell in love with her daughter's ex-husband. I agree with Siomon about the full cast, and bringing on RS would be a great excuse to get rid of some of the weaker cast.
But hell, I'll take RS anywhere. The people in charge need to know that we love our over 40 soap godesses so that maybe they will stop being disrespectful and sexist when it comes down to negotiation time. I hope that the over 40 men have been asked to take such paycuts as well, but it sure doesn't seem like it. All I ever hear about is women and their difficult contract negotiations.
2 February 2009
12 hours 49 sec
Oops! Deleted double post.
19 November 2007
6 weeks 2 days
Jamey, LOVE your choices! Might I add one more . . . if DAYS can't get/doesn't want Louise Sorel . . . how about La Strasser as a recast Vivian Alamain? Just a thought.
22 January 2008
2 hours 18 min
I am about to come off as such a hypocrite to the longtime OLTL fans, as I just did a Wishful Casting for Dorian, but if they hire anyone else to play Aunt Viv other than Louise Sorel, I will put yellow contacts in my eyes and head to Burbanks...
10 May 2008
1 week 2 days
For someone over the age of 60, Frons doesn't seem to value his own age group.
14 March 2009
4 hours 20 min
How about the best of both worlds and a way to justify upping her salary to a more "reasonable" level?
Keep Strasser as Dorian on OLTL and simultaneously have her do a short-term run on GH as Dominica Zacharra.
THAT might be the one thing to salvage Sarah Brown's run as Claudia in particular and the Zacharra family in general.
2 January 2008
1 hour 12 min
Jamey Jamey wasn't you who said that any actor in daytime is recastable during the melody thomas scott contract negotiations
22 January 2008
2 hours 18 min
Jamey Jamey wasn't you who said that any actor in daytime is recastable during the melody thomas scott contract negotiations
***
Yep, any actor except Louise Sorel!
28 November 2008
1 day 1 hour
Yep, any actor except Louise Sorel!
******
and Erika Slezak, Robin Strasser, Jeanne Cooper, Eric Braden, and Melody Thomas Scott.
I think the networks are using the damn recession as an overinflated excuse to cut everyone (needed or not).
It is ironic now that Y&R and OLTL are back to what they do best, all we keeping hearing about is the paycuts. Both shows have stories that are keeping me glued to my set daily, and all I keep worrying about is who is going to be cut next.
We get MTS back, and now Robin may be leaving. Wise up ABC fast, your "famous" daytime is suffering and bleeding out in a big way.
As a 30 year GH viewer, I quit that mess 2 years ago, and nothing will get me back (even Genie Francis). Ditto AMC. OLTL is the only show worth watching.
P.S. Please let Blair grow up and get over Todd, once and for all.
29 November 2008
10 weeks 4 days
If La Strasser is let go from OLTL, then I would love to see her on B&B going toe to toe with Susan Flannery. That would be a master class in acting and it will offset by a significant margin, the lack of talent and bad writing that plagues that show. Who knows it might actually force Bradley notsoBell to actually write for Lesli Kay and Windsor Harmon, probably not but one can dream.
10 January 2009
1 week 1 day
Robin Strasser would be an asset to any show, but she is best as Dorian Lord. I want her as Dorian.
19 January 2009
23 weeks 3 days
Why do all the GH possibilities have to be GH connected? What if:
- Rebecca's adoptive mother. A golddigger who sets her sights on Luke. Ah, never mind, that would just mean we would have to see Rebecca.
- Could she be a long lost Q? Some connection through Jimmy Lee and Cecilia? Lois's mom who returns with Brooklyn? Major clashes with Monica and Tracy. Love interest for Mike?
- Make her a Cassadine. Is she too young to be Alexis's mother?
- Could Diane have a sister? Perhpas a crackerjack detective or news/gossip reporter.
- I am sure Jax must have a slightly looney aunt up in Alaska that he can recruit to come down and run Crimson when Kate decides to stay in Paris.
- Spinelli needs a mom. A loud speaking even louder dressing mom whom Jason and Maxie do not know how to handle.
Even better yet - use Bobbie, Monica, Lesley, Audrey, Anna, Helena, etc.
19 January 2009
23 weeks 3 days
duplicate. sorry.
6 April 2008
10 weeks 3 days
Soapgods can you hear me? Listen not to the ramblings of my brother, Jayme!
Look benevolently down on General Hospital, bless us by casting Robin Strasser as Barbara Jean Spencer.
Send us weary watchers a writing twist that makes Tracy Quartermaine Dominica Zacchara (as prophesied by Karen) to waste not the talent of Sarah Brown.
Although I was unaware she needed a mother on canvas, please send us Sharon Angela (ex Rosalie Aprile, Sopranos) to play Mother Falconeri.
Thy will be done!
30 October 2009
19 weeks 4 days
Robin Strasser as Margo Linley? Um no. She is almost 10 years older than Lauren Koslow and forgive my rudness, looks it. B&B has enough people anyhow. If CBS was smart they should have let the Moustache go and snagged Strasser to play Newman's sister or something.