All My Children Actors Given One Week to Decide on Move

I really don't see Thorsten making the switch to LA, just from this comment. I think we are going to loose a lot of great actors : ( Lets Just Hope it is NOT Susan Lucci, she is All My Children, without her there is NO AMC, period

So ABC Just Told Everyone At AMC about the move on Monday and is only giving contract actors A WEEK to decide if they will be going to LA with the show. WTF!!! FRONS. way to show loyality to your cast . He is mocking this whole thing. Doesnt Frons understand actors have families not just themselves to uproot. BASTARD!!!. I hope the majority of the cast quits. Run Now guys Frons does not have your best intrests at heart.

I really think Thorsten will and should be picked up by OLTL. Marty and John just ain't cutting it and I would love to see Patrick and Todd go at it.

One whole week. I am assuming that this idea came directly from Brian Frons because he wanted to make sure that all of the AMC actors feel that they are indispensible . I really don't understand his thinking. These shows are a brand but you need to give viewers what they expect and need out of a brand. AMC used to be AMC because of a combination of acting, writing and production. These days ABC thinks that AMC can survive on the memory of when it was a great soap. Meanwhile these actors and actresses that he disrespects and makes feel that they are replaceable at the drop of a hat are the ones that are working their ass off to make this shitty writing work. This is just wrong on so many levels. I am so torn because I want success for the show but for the show to succeed ABC will feel that they were right in their actions. They should be very, very ashamed.

I agree with you...I think it is almost a given that TK goes to OLTL.

Susan Lucci was on Regis and Kelly this morning. She made it clear that she has a lot of thinking to do. NYC is her home and she's not so keen on packing up and heading to LA. I think there will be a lot of new faces in Pine Valley starting in January.

How Can ABC legally only give them a week to decide on something so huge BUT if they want to release an actor from contract they have to give them at least 4 weeks notice before their current 13 week cycle expires? Hopefully AFTRA will investigate.

Anyone else think that if TK comes back, he comes back as Ian Thornhart? I think that would be a pretty good stroy, plus they could bring Ian's son, Daniel (he had him with Eve..I believe), age him to Matthew's age and have Nora's son and Marty's nephew become best friends. Good potential I think

Thorsten, if ABC REALLY wanted to save AMC (and the other soaps) they would invest in hiring new talent behind the scenes. But they don't. There will be no soaps on ABC in 5 years. Guaranteed!

one week, that's harsh Frons. Like appleridge said, is that even legal?

I'm betting Susan Lucci gets more than a week though

I Hope Someone called AFTRA & That they are looking into this. Sounds Fishy to me.

So if someone doesnt decide in a week they will automatically have their character written out or recast when the show moves. HARSH!!!

I don't understand the one week thing either, I thought that AMC wasnt fulling moving to LA until December or am I wrong? You would think that would leave more time than just a week for the current cast to decide a major decision.

I don't believe that Thorsten will move to LA either. Especially since his wife is on OLTL. Personally, I don't want to see Thorsten back on OLTL. Never liked his character at all. Actually, I never liked any character he played (OLTL or Port Charles) until he became Zach. So, I guess if Alicia Minshew doesn't go either that would be fine because I don't like one without the other!

I bet there hoping certain actors dont move. But with this one week thing ABC/AMC could shoot themseklves In the ass if the ones they want to stay say there not moving with the show.

I don't believe that Thorsten will move to LA either. Especially since his wife is on OLTL. Personally, I don't want to see Thorsten back on OLTL. Never liked his character at all. Actually, I never liked any character he played (OLTL or Port Charles) until he became Zach. So, I guess if Alicia Minshew doesn't go either that would be fine because I don't like one without the other!

I would bet that ABC has known about this move for quite some time. Why not announce it two months ago and give the cast some time to get their affairs in order. Even if it wasn't all finalized--they could have let them know it would be coming. This is just strong-arm tatic by TPTB to get what they want--- All My Melrose Place daytime

In a semi-defense/explanation on ABC's behalf, moving an entire soap opera is a herculean task. We have seen As the World Turns, Guiding Light, Another World and other soaps change studios with weeks and weeks of increasingly claustrophobic direction, shrinking sets, and cramped looking actors displayed on screen, and those moves were only across town between Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Recently, ABC invested $3 million in upgrading its studio facilities, equipment and sets to broadcast General Hospital for broadcast in HD, with minimal but still noticeable on-screen glitches from several weeks of lighting and color correction (which any video editor will tell you isn't easy) to less-than-smooth camera work in the new digs and they didn't technically move anywhere.

So imagine the complexity that will be involved in relocating a modern soap with 15-20 contract cast members, production staff and maybe some crew a full 3000 miles away. Sets will have to be built or recreated in new environs.  Crew members who do not make the move will have to be replaced; actors who decide not to make the jump to California will be recast or their characters will be dropped. That, in turn, will go a long way in determining who and how much AMC will be able to afford in terms of bringing in those California based ex-AMC actors and actresses that was reported/teased here on DC within the last couple of days. Most of this will determine how characters will be written or written out and which stories will continue or be aborted, a task which has to start happening as soon as possible.

There is also the logistical issue of relocating OLTL fully and permanently to AMC's old studios, which very likely involves issues regarding the old studio space in which OLTL is currently located and the logistical issue of shooting in both the old studio and the new one as the transition moves forward. Keep in mind: AMC's move does not involve just one show, but two.

In the midst of this, AMC will still be taping regular shows and broadcasting on its normal schedule during this process as far as we know. This isn't a situation like Ugly Betty, which had a whole summer hiatus to move from LA to New York for this past season's shows.

Keep in mind something else: this can't be news to all of the cast and crew at AMC. Sure they may be in shock that it actually happened, but the rumors of an impending move somewhere have been out long enough that our own Jamey Giddens broke it in detail a few weeks ago. Now we all know that sometimes actors are the last to know, but this news didn't happen in a vacuum. It would be logical and fair to assume that ABC has been studying this issue for a while now, and that not everybody was out of the loop.

So while a week might seem a short period of time to you and me, in my opinion its understandable given the task ahead. The sooner ABC knows who is going and who isn't, the easier the transition will be for both AMC and OLTL. If ABC should be faulted for anything, it might be that this decision could have been made in, say, June.

Ohh I Agree J Bernard, Earlier The Better. Paert Of Me Feels This was done in part to sort of force certain folks out.

Yeah, but I think it was also economic sense because it is expensive to be in NYC with the union workers than in LA where there are bigger sets and don't have to pay the union that much money. But also I with J Bernard that this is to force some actors out or not to come to LA.

Ohh I Agree J Bernard, Earlier The Better. Paert Of Me Feels This was done in part to sort of force certain folks out.

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Give that ma a gold star!

Well, to be clear, I've never come down one way or the other about whether or not this was a pressure tactic to force certain actors out at AMC. While the sources at DC are generally right on the money (and we've been on a roll recently), keep in mind also that the reporting here has been that everyone on contract can be moved to LA if they want to go. This could very well backfire if some or most of the very people ABC might want to force out pack their bags and are on the first AirTran flight to LAX! I'm more inclined to see the announcements as they happen and what deals might be worked in the interim. For example, I'm much more interested in who will eventually go on recurring (which still is effectively "out"), as opposed who is dropped altogether.

So, yes, it's obvious they are trying to force some folks out, but in this economic environment, there is a possibility ABC might be overplaying its hand.

I was only speaking to the criticisms about the actors being given a week to decide and the logistical, practical reasons why the time frame — while short — is understandable.

If TK, as others stated in this thread, would likely move to OLTL....make it a two-fer and bring AM with him.

The mind boggles at the story possibilities that could come out of it...

J Bernard--I understand what you are saying--but why not give the actors/crew more notice? As I said, even if it wasn't finalized until two weeks ago (which I doubt)--why not let the cast know there was a very strong possibility of moving 2/3/6 months ago? I am sure the cast was aware of the rumour--but it was just a rumour among many. I think they could of sat them down and let them know the move was most likely inevitable. Is it that they didn't want the chance for some of the actors to get other work? Could it be they just wanted to piss people off and get rid of them? Or both?

( I guess that they probably just got rid of the fabulous Jennifer Bassey)

I have been watching this show for 30 years. I don't want an AMC without David C, MEK etc. I am sure this move is fantastic for some of the younger actors. But I want a show with multi-generational storytelling. I have a sad feeling that soon CamMat will be the oldest actor on the show.

 Crustee, read the last line in my first response in this thread.

Thorston Kaye's face in this picture pretty much says it all....

Thanks J Bernard--I just reread it. I am really sad. I started watching this show when I went off to college. I grew up on CBS shows--but at the time everyone at school was watching ABC. I got hooked on this show because of Palmer C (James M) He is 40 years older than me--but I loved watching him--especially in scenes with Myra (housekeeper/Mother-in law)and later Daisy (x-wife). I also LOVED every time Pheobe and Mona got into over Dr. Tyler. I can't understand why TPTB don't get that young people don't just want to watch young characters. It's the sense of family (no matter how screwed up) that viewers grab on to.

It's not that I don't enjoy some of the younger cast. Love Annie! But, I just can't see this show without the vets.

My other soap is ATWT--so I am really screwed

I totally get what you are saying J. You want to make sure you have the crew and actors to be set up for the move. I also agree that they may only want certain actors to move to LA. But I also don't think Thorsten or Alicia will make the move. I really believe they will spin them off to OLTL. Cameron will go for sure, but I don't know about anyone else. We will see in next week.

I hope he comes back to OLTL as Patrick. Sorry, AMC fans.

Does OLTL have the budget to handle the big AMC stars? I don't think so. A sudden influx of Pine Valley refugees who took up a lot of screen time from OLTL cast would cause a backlash. As it is, OLTL vets have to fight for screen time.

ABC should have given folks 2 weeks notice.

OLTL can't afford AMC stars.

By the way, over at SOD they are reporting KeMo is out at GH, the role of Sam McCall is being recast. An insider told a few Liason fans a month ago this was in the works....