I'm not an actor, but my son is. I can't imagine him playing one role. Tony would have left Luke after a few years if he could. He wanted to disassociate himself from that role, from that partnership. Unfortunately for him, he was so successful as Luke, he couldn't be accepted as anything else. The rest of his career was a rebellion. He wanted job security. He got that. He wanted a nest egg. He got that. But he smothered his voice as an actor with a singular role.
I think that the people behind the scenes recognized the angst that Tony felt in this role. They wanted to keep him. They couldn't afford to play LnL in a shrinking budget. They only had him half of the year, and that affected story and story partners. Where does that leave Luke?
I have no illusions. Tony is not coming back. I think that they should recast the role. Luke could be very changed after two years. There are probably several attractive 70 year old actors who would give their eye teeth to play that role. Look at the cast. They have recast many of the roles sometimes as many as 3 actors have played a role. Isn't that better than sacrificing the character or writing a story that doesn't fit the character just to accommodate the whims of an actor who is tiring of the role? Case in point...Steve Burton.
Steve was a very popular actor in a successful character on GH. They morphed the character from a medical student to a mob thug with a good heart. Was that due to the changing landscape or the desire of the actor? In any case, he decided to leave. They went through all kinds of contortions to introduce Billy Miller in the role. Why not just announce, "The role of Jason Morgan is now being played by Billy Miller." Billy Miller did a fine job as Jason. It didn't take long for the audience to accept him. Now Steve is back. I understand that they want the actor. But why not create a new role for him? They did that for Tamara. I might add that I'm not a fan of bringing an actor back as another character. It's confusing. It doesn't contribute to my suspension of belief. And I want to believe in that alternative reality when I watch a soap. I used to feel that I could put that show on and have a peek into the life of a real town and its people. It doesn't feel like that any more.
I was one of those people that felt that Laura should have been recast. I know that many here disagree, but if that had happened, the story would not have had to twist itself into a pretzel for so many years. It's the book that really counts on a soap opera...the story. The characters tell the story. It is about them. The actors are important in that they are the messengers. Still, it is the story and the characters that are MOST critical. If you doubt that, think about how much you want to watch your favorite actors when they don't have a story to tell. It gets boring pretty fast.
So, my feeling is that the door should not always remain open for an actor who decides to leave. A judgement should be made about the character. How important is that character to the show? Is it worth recasting the role? Can someone be found to play the role convincingly? Should the role be retired hoping that the original actor will return at some point? I think it should be made clear to an actor that is considering leaving that the role will not wait for them. If it is a good character who is important to the show, let the story roll on with a new actor.
--Previous Message--
: I agree, Rose. It's sad but the fact is that
: the Luke we enjoyed just doesn't exist
: anymore. I wouldn't say he is viable in any
: sense of the word. I am not a Kevin fan by
: any means, but at least he appreciates Laura
: and her love. Luke acted like he couldn't
: wait to get away from her and back to
: groveling in front of Tracy during the exit
: story. It was so bad I turned it off.
:
: DVRed the wedding and look forward to
: watching it later.
:
: --Previous Message--
: It took a lot for me..a lot of watching the
: old Luke, the later Luke and the Tracy Luke.
: Then the fluke stuff..I watched the things
: he said about not wanting kids, cheating,
: Ethan..then she came for him again.. and he
: called her an old out grown sweatshirt..He
: was crazy in a not so pitiful way but a cold
: blooded one..that Tracy liked...He wasn't
: interested in Laura, his kids, his
: grandkids... just Luke and Tracy. I didn't
: want that for my girl. My Luke wouldn't want
: that for her either. Kevin will be fun and
: romantic like Luke but not smother her like
: Scottie, if the writers do theroir part. If
: you doubt this take a look at the picture of
: Luke in the cafe.. and picture Laura
: bringing him back to Port Charles...then
: look at her with Kevin at the hospital or in
: the bar talking about Mary Mae...or with
: Spencer...my Luke doesn't exist any more, I
: think Laura said good bye to him too.
: --Previous Message--
: They were perfect together...just perfect.
: I
: couldn't watch GH today. It breaks my heart
: to think that Laura has moved on while Luke
: is still viable. They should either have
: recast Luke or killed the character off.
: I'm glad for all of you who are happy about
: the story, but I just can't get on board
: with it. I would have liked to see Denise,
: though. I guess it will take more time for
: me....if ever.
:
: --Previous Message--
:
:
:
:
: Wish I could turn back the clock and watch
: this all over again in realtime.
:
:
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