Changing Actors: Originals Vs Replacements

[fused]

I don't know if there has been a discussion on this already, but soaps are well known for switching actors and everyone instantly recognising the replacement despite them looking and acting nothing like they did before.

They change the personality of a soap character at the best of times, even with the same actor, but when the actor leaves usually the replacement has a whole new personality to go with the new actor.

Sometimes it's a change for the better: I remember one of Zoe Tate in Emmerdale's girlfriends, Frankie. The original, butcher version wasn't very good, but I loved the more lively less butch replacement. But more often it's a change for the worst- staying with Emmerdale, the replacement for Nellie Dingle was awful compared to the original one.

The oddest one I saw was 'Home & Away', where for some reason the actress who played Selina wasn't available, and for a few episodes Selina was played by a taller, blonder, bustier actress until the original one came back.

[raspberry]

In Sunset Beach, towards the end, sweet Meg from Kanas was played a much taller Latino actress. It was obvious that this new Meg was not going to be able to tell evil Derek apart from her true love, dull Ben. The original actress came back in time to save the day and wrap up the series.

I've got nothing against cast changes if it aids story continuity or improves the standard of the acting. I think Eastenders really should have found a second Michelle Fowler by now, recasting Sam Mitchell and Janine Butcher did them no harm.

[smellslikesomeghost]

Home and Away have done it a lot, and actually Pippa was fine after a wee while which I was surprised about. The one that broke my heart was when Flynn ( drop dead sexy/surfy long blonde hair, husky voice, knee wibblingly gorgeous) mutated into Flynn (Short, tubby, weird teeth, breathless, gross.) I am still upset and he's dead now!

[pops]

fused said:

The oddest one I saw was 'Home & Away', where for some reason the actress who played Selina wasn't available, and for a few episodes Selina was played by a taller, blonder, bustier actress until the original one came back.

I seem to remember the actress playing Selina had been taken ill and they decided that instead of hastily rewriting the storylines, they'd just use a different actress.

Maybe British soaps should take note. Corrie could have employed a new Lloyd whle Craig Charles was in rehab, instead of simply having the character disappear off the face of the Earth with no explanation. We might also have been spared the whole Ferriera kidney saga on EastEnders - wasn't that only dreamt up at the last minute because the actor playing the dad had work visa issues, meaning they couldn't use the orignal plot?

[georgie]

Home and Away had the recast Hayley as well. I preferred Ella Lynch after a while and wished she'd been there the whole time! Ancient Neighbours had two Cheryls (the woman married to Lou).

Oh and hateful Claire Devine became pyscotic and even more hateful Claire Cunningham with a new face (before the wedding, obviously, as we all know). I remember her going on some girly weekend with Mandy and Becca (or was is that one from the salon?) Anyway back in the days before she just switched on everyone!

[booers]

[/quote]
Maybe British soaps should take note. Corrie could have employed a new Lloyd whle Craig Charles was in rehab, instead of simply having the character disappear off the face of the Earth with no explanation. We might also have been spared the whole Ferriera kidney saga on EastEnders - wasn't that only dreamt up at the last minute because the actor playing the dad had work visa issues, meaning they couldn't use the orignal plot?
[/quote]

I think the original plan was the kidney storline as they'd need someone to be a doner (Tariq) which then meant that it would be revealed he was really part of the family and not just the boyfriend of the daughter (so he was shagging his half sister - yuk), but as the dad was deported it dragged on and on with no real explanation, only to be repaced with the mortgage storyline which was, er, thrilling.

The recent Victoria Sugden change in Emmerdale is a particularly bad one. The character is meant to be about 12. The previous girl playing her looked and sounded about 8. And then she goes away, comes back, is about 16 and ten foot taller and with totally different hair and face etc. It's just a bit crap really.

[Gordon]

raspberry said:

In Sunset Beach, towards the end, sweet Meg from Kanas was played a much taller Latino actress. It was obvious that this new Meg was not going to be able to tell evil Derek apart from her true love, dull Ben. The original actress came back in time to save the day and wrap up the series.

I had no idea about Meg (I'm convinced she's Kelly Clarkson these days), but of course Caitlin - the actress who played Olivia, I remember sat in to do the voiceover and commented "uh, the original Caitlin..." (I just wish I remember, but she never sold anyone out though).

Then there was Becky in Roseanne - I was so happy that the original girl made a 'comeback' on the show and on Scrubs. Roseanne's on-screen "you look different" and "where have you been" were both great.

[jem]

When they changed Toby Mangle in Neighbours my dad and I would chant there's only one toby mangle at the inferior replacement.

[smellslikesomeghost]

I know I'm obsessed with the Flynn thing, but when new ugly Flynn turned up someone said "Oh, you've had your hair cut."

There have been a couple of Lucy Robinson's in Neighbours. Oh, and Cody Willis number 2 was way cooler than the original.

[booers]

smellslikesomeghos said:

I know I'm obsessed with the Flynn thing, but when new ugly Flynn turned up someone said "Oh, you've had your hair cut."

There have been a couple of Lucy Robinson's in Neighbours. Oh, and Cody Willis number 2 was way cooler than the original.

I seem to be able to recall the names of the actors who played all 3 Lucy Robinsons (Kylie Flinker, Sacha Close, Melissa Bell) and the 2 Cody Willises (Amelia Frid, Peta Brady). Neighbours actors used to be one of my specialities.

[jetsetwilly]

If we're talking about ancient Neighbours, surely the greatest/worst replacement was Dr Beverley Robinson? She went away to a conference and came back looking absolutely nothing like the original. We watched it for about five episodes before we realised who she was. We thought Jim was having an affair.

The queen of replacements is Tracy Barlow though. They've all looked more or less the same (long brown hair, skinny) but the personality changes with each actress. I think we're up to number 4 now.

And can I say that I do feel sorry for child actors when they are replaced in soaps for not being sexy enough? That poor lad had played Nicky Tilsley since he was born - literally - and he got replaced by Adam Rickett for not being pretty. Bit of a blow.

[pops]

jetsetwilly said:

The queen of replacements is Tracy Barlow though. They've all looked more or less the same (long brown hair, skinny) but the personality changes with each actress. I think we're up to number 4 now.

And can I say that I do feel sorry for child actors when they are replaced in soaps for not being sexy enough? That poor lad had played Nicky Tilsley since he was born - literally - and he got replaced by Adam Rickett for not being pretty. Bit of a blow.

I saw a Kids From Corrie documentary where they talked to the previous Tracy Barlow. She said when they brought the character back, they asked her if she wanted to audition for it, which she did. She says she now regrets it because obviously if they had wanted her, they would have just asked her to come back without going through the rigmarole of auditioning again. To be fair, Kate Ford is miles better than she ever was, but it still must have been a bit humiliating.

When Ian Beale's oldest 'son' Steven went to New Zealand to meet his real dad Wicksy, I thought the BBC must be gearing up to bring him back as a different actor, but instead they just forgot all about him.

[puppydogstail]

jetsetwilly said:

And can I say that I do feel sorry for child actors when they are replaced in soaps for not being sexy enough? That poor lad had played Nicky Tilsley since he was born - literally - and he got replaced by Adam Rickett for not being pretty. Bit of a blow.

Madam Rickett it not fooling anyone.

[booers]

jetsetwilly said:

If we're talking about ancient Neighbours, surely the greatest/worst replacement was Dr Beverley Robinson? She went away to a conference and came back looking absolutely nothing like the original. We watched it for about five episodes before we realised who she was. We thought Jim was having an affair.

Lisa Armitage to Shauna O'Grady? Why do I know these things!

Doesn't Dawn Acton (the Tracy Barlow before Kate Ford) do some DJ-ing in a club in Manchester which has the best named night - Tracy Barlow plays her tapes, or something?

[klee]

She does: she DJs in a sci-fi themed bar called FAB Cafe. The DJ booth is right next to an Ice Warrior costume from Dr Who.

Surely one of the most amateurish actor swaps was when Cheryl (Lou's former wife who went psycho after being kidnapped) fell ill and was replaced by a significantly shorter actress with bigger hair and a whiny voice.

And going even further back, Joan Crawford stood in for her own daughter, Christina (she of the "NO MORE WIRE HANGERS!" Mommie Dearest fame) in a soap opera while she was in hospital.

[David Hunter]

klee said:

Surely one of the most amateurish actor swaps was when Cheryl (Lou's former wife who went psycho after being kidnapped) fell ill and was replaced by a significantly shorter actress with bigger hair and a whiny voice.

She was replaced by Doreen from Prisoner Cell Block H, minus the teddy.

When Sue Nichols was in Crossroads for many years as a tall Brummie she was replaced by a very small actress with a posh accent.

As for Tracey Barlow, when the Kids from Corrie thing came on I thought previous Tracey, although she couldn't act for nuts, could have passed for Deidre's daughter. They both had the same gravel voice from too many fags.

As for the original Sarah Lou, she was working in Greggs and just looked gawky. Far more suited to be Gail's daughter.

[booers]

[/quote] As for the original Sarah Lou, she was working in Greggs and just looked gawky. Far more suited to be Gail's daughter.[/quote]

She always reminded me of a mini Melanie C. In the video for Mama when there is a picture of all the Spices as children Mel C really looks like the old Sarah-Lou.

The Scott Windsor change in Emmerdale was pretty bad. He went from being a gangly geeky teen with braces to being some buffed up stud. The Donna Windsor swap was quite good though, as was Sarah Sugden.

When Pippa Fletcher/Ross in Home & Away changed I thought she was rubbish but in the end she was far more suited to the mumsy role than the original actress (Vanessa Downing!).

Prisoner Cell Block H did the worst swap with a character who had bleached white hair. I think she was called Lisa. The actress became ill or something so they replaced her with an actress that had brown hair and there was a scene where she had a towel on her head and explained to one of the prisoners that she was fed up with her hair and wanted a change so had dyed it. I remember watching it thinking "who is this woman?" not realising she was meant to be the same character as she was a pretty new character to the series anyway!

[MoondialSlater]

booers said:

I think the original plan was the kidney storline as they'd need someone to be a doner (Tariq) which then meant that it would be revealed he was really part of the family and not just the boyfriend of the daughter (so he was shagging his half sister - yuk), but as the dad was deported it dragged on and on with no real explanation, only to be repaced with the mortgage storyline which was, er, thrilling.

The original plan was that the kids were going to murder thir domineering father and it was the kidney plotline that was hurriedly shoved in. This was the produer's big plan for the family and he's frequently and rather angrily voiced his displeasure at how the whole thing turned out, especially since he's the one that got the blame for it being crap because he's the one that brought the new family in.

[Steven]

junky said:

nah nah nah - The Becky that is in Scrubs was the replacement one (they swapped back several times). in her first episode they are all watching 'Bewitched' at the end- Roseanne says 'jeez they replaced Darren and thought no-one would notice' Becky replies with a smirk 'i like the new one better'

details of original and the replacements are here

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alicia_Goranson

And let's not forget the song at the end of the episode where Original Becky came back!

"They're Beckys! / Almost identical Beckys..."

They did something similar in Game On when Ben Chaplin went off to Hollywood and Neil Stuke took over as Matthew, and they had a little post-credits sequence where they were debating whether to watch Roseanne and wondering who was playing Becky this week, and Samantha Janus said "Don't you just hate it when they keep the same character and change the actor?" and then they both slowly turned to look at Matthew. Lolz.

I realised we've veered away from soaps a little here, but I'm having too much geek fun to care.

[pops]

davidhunter said:

klee said:

As for Tracey Barlow, when the Kids from Corrie thing came on I thought previous Tracey, although she couldn't act for nuts, could have passed for Deidre's daughter. They both had the same gravel voice from too many fags.

The actresses seemed genuinely fond of each other too.

Is it mean to speculate on which soap child will be the next to go on holiday and come back with a different head? My money would be on Ben Mitchell from EastEnders.

[Rad]

tom in hollyoaks. he's had two birthdays in the last year so they're aging him quick.

[MoondialSlater]

pops said:

davidhunter said:

Is it mean to speculate on which soap child will be the next to go on holiday and come back with a different head? My money would be on Ben Mitchell from EastEnders.

Chesney. He's lost the cuteness that won him so many awards but isn't going to be approaching the attractiveness that you need to be a teen in soapland.

As long as they don't change Sophie again. The one they have now is perfect.

[JonSpice]

Sophie Webster is, presently, nothing less than iconic. If they change her it will be a Soap Crime.

[toby3000]

I always thought they should have recast Joe Scully. It seemed so out of character for both him and Lynne to get divorced. Though I guess the Timmens couldn't have moved in then.

[georgie]

toby3000 said:

I always thought they should have recast Joe Scully. It seemed so out of character for both him and Lynne to get divorced. Though I guess the Timmens couldn't have moved in then.

Exactly the reason they SHOULD have re-cast Joe