"One Life to Live" reportedly second show to lose actor over gay storyline.

but from the script you've written I know I'm missing something special.

Excellently funny, Mr Jensen. I laughed a lot. Well done

Although I am not sympathetic to Patricia Mauceri's views, I am curious about what the labor law is on this. If she is being fired for refusing to do something on the grounds of her own objections, it makes me wonder what if a gay actor decided that he refused to be in a conversion storyline would suffer. We must be careful in looking at these things because they can be redirected at us. We can sing ding dong the witch is dead but when the shoe is on the other foot what is our choice, especially when dealing with a job situation and contracts. More food for thought as a devil's advocate rather than an agreement with Mauceri.

even more stupid that CE debacle. That woman doesn't seem to have a notion of what being an actress is.

At least Chris Engen always can alleged that he thinks playing a gay (well Adam wasn't gay, and seeing today's episode this seems to be even more sexless than Nuke during the kiss ban) could damage his career (very questionable, but it seems lot of US actors seem the same, including a good bunch of gay ones). But this case borders the ridicule, i hope she stays without job a good time, so maybe next time she doesn't act brainless

I don't really see how there are two sides.

As an actor, her job is to perform what's written in the script. Period.

She doesn't have to like it or believe it's what her character would do or say or think.  Her job is to try to make it work.

If she had problems with the script and voiced her concerns to the writers/directors and they couldn't come to a compromise, then her job was to perform the scenes as written.

It was a coulple scenes and she's a minor character on the show.  From what I've read, I get why it would be important for the scenes to go as they planned.  It makes sense within the context of Fish and Christian's story.  But it was still a small part and she shouldn't have made such a big deal about it.

On a personal level, I reject the idea that a catholic woman (latina or not) in 2009 couldn't grow and change and develop different ideas about homosexuality.  This idea that her character WOULD NEVER think a certain think defies logic. Human beings change what they think about things all the time.  Being Latina and being Catholic doesn't make the character immune to growth as a person.

At any rate, refusing to do the scene as instructed isn't a "free speech" or "civil rights" or "religious rights" issue. 

Loads of actors talk about being frustrated with particular scenes or lines or storylines with their characters but they don't refuse to work.

This actor refused to do the scenes (it doesn't matter why) and they fired her.  She also didn't have a contract so they were completely within their rights to fire her.

If the actor was black or gay and refused to do a scene because they believed it reflected badly on their character or wasn't in keeping with what they believed their character would do, I'd feel the same way. 

Soaps in particular don't have a lot of time for rewrites and long drawn out debates and back and forths with an actor of scenes.

This actress took it upon herself to refuse to do the job she was hired to do (whether it was her personal objections or she was objecting on behalf of the character doesn't matter)

I don't see the controversy?

"That's our job today: to control the extent to which people can publicly manifest antigay sentiment." (Bayard Rustin)  **   "Heterosexuality is not normal, it's just common" (Dorothy Parker)

She barely ever appears on the show. They would have no reason to provoke her into leaving. Supposedly this happened very suddenly, and because they were close to filming, they had to bring in a replacement quickly.

This is just going to fuel the homophobia out there, and I'm not sure ABC will not cave to pressure. ABC Daytime is not very gay-friendly. I hope they will still see the story out. I'm enjoying it.

He played a nazi (and give me chills doing it) in Apt Pupil. I don't think he has any simpathy for the character, but it was a good character to play, an he did it great.

That is act, plain and simple. The only motivation to an actor to refuse a character, is thinking that he or she won't be able to portray it well. The rest is shit (sorry but i think calling actor or actress to this people is being too much generous)

Reason #753,934,001 I Hope Soap Scribes Read Afterelton

This news makes me kind of sad, because I've enjoyed Mauceri's work for years.  It feels like that moment when you come out to a friend you thought you were close to, and learn that the "gay thing" is a friendship dealbreaker.

But, as Metrosexuality's Max says: "Whateva!"

Cristian 1.0, Gone.  Kamar De Los Reyes, Gone.   Carlotta's Original Diner, Gone. 

I think the writing was on the wall.

or the comedic "mistaken for gay" storyline.  They say she was to have a small part in the Fish/Kyle gay story.  Also, your caps of David Fumero say he's on "All My Children", not "One Life to Live".  I'm a little confused.

In Nelson Branco's latest column (link below), he quotes a close friend of Mauceri's who says that "She's a staunch Christian and is very opposed to homosexuality."

http://tvguide.sympatico.msn.ca/Nelson+Ratings+June+29+2009/Soaps/Nelson_Ratings/Articles/090629_ratings_nelson_NB.htm?isfa=1

If the actor didn't have a long-term contract, then she is re-hired every time they use her with a short-term contract spelling out every last detail of employment.  Even the extras, under-fives and dayplayers get these types of short-term contract.

She has obviously refused a contract for upcoming employment.  She is within her rights.  The producers are within their rights to find someone else who will agree to play the scenes under the terms they specify.

I do find it ridiculous however, that the producers have frequently omitted the character of Carlotta from scenes where it would make sense to have her.  I'd accuse them of pushing this situation in order to save money and find a less expensive actor, but Saundra Santiago has a distinguished resume in theatre, movies, primetime and daytime tv.  She can't be any cheaper to hire than Mauceri.

I can't raise too much sympathy for her, but at the same time, in AE's recent interview with Thom Bierdz, he talked about how he'd do the job for as long as they were incorporating his real-life traits into the character (being cagey about whether he meant being gay or interested in art), and no one batted an eye. No one questioned who he was to dictate plot terms to the producers, or suggested that he should be slapped down.

So I'm not sure these reactions are as politics-free as it's been suggested.  Where is the "he should shut up and do as he's told" when it comes to the gay actor?

She still felt more like a recurring character given that she wasn't/hasn't been given much to do outside the diner. Although i'll miss Patricia,Saundra will do just fine.

I am a big OLTL fan, and I'm kind of sad to hear about this.  I actually liked the Carlotta character as played by Patricia Mauceri.  Still, she has hardly been on screen at all this year. 

If you read the other article though, it makes it more clear that she was unhappy with her character suddenly changing (it would be very out of character for Carlotta to suddenly be very supportive of Cristian being gay.)  I can understand that.  If your character is barely on screen at all, and when you're brought back on you suddenly are playing a whole new character, but with the same name, it would be a little off putting.  So, they are taking Carlotta in a new direction, and they got a new actress (who doesn't look like she is old enough to be Cristian and Antonio's mother). 

Well, maybe now that they have a sexier Carlotta the Vega family will get more screen time.

 

Check out my blog soap at:

soapsudzbybobo.blogspot.com

I don't mean it necessarily has always had the most gay characters, but it's always had the gayest sensibilities (they even had Charles Busch playing a hard-boiled female talent agent in a "New York" sequence), and their best-written times (like now) have always been when the head writer is gay.

So if I had to surmise, I'd suspect that Ms. Mauceri has been a judgey-Christian pain in the ass on that set for some time, and this was the perfect opportunity for the behind-the-scenes fabulous-types to get the un-homo-friendly fly out of the ointment. Or the lube, if you prefer.

 

 

Snarky daily recaps on One Life to Live if you touch me here.

TB does not apply here in that he was not already working for Y&R or under contract when they hired him.  More importantly, he wanted to play a gay man and they wanted him to play a gay man.  There is no comparision between this and the other issues.

I am glad to hear all the comments about the contract parts, and I agree that an actor has the right to choose their roles and decide the direction of their career. I just worry about any religious discrimination claims an employee might have in their contract or state laws. Again, I am not apologizing or expecting tolerence of their views but when teh shoe is on our foot I want to make sure we are protected too.  I love the example though of the bad character person though. Great Point!

Daytime Confidential has received confirmation of the recast and has further details that dispute the conspiracy theories that they wanted to get rid of the actress:

http://www.daytimeconfidential.com/2009/06/29/abc-confirms-carlotta-recast-on-oltl

I was neutral on the reasons for her dismissal, but their point about recurring cast members is pretty convincing.

Also, if she was so outspoken about her views of homosexuality that TPTB would have known it would be an effective lever to get her out, what kind of work environment must that have created for Scott Evans?  Yowsa.

What perflexes me about Patricia Mauceri present anti-gay stand is that it appears to be a bit of a 180 degree turn. I'm surprised that no one seems to mention is that she starred as the bride's mother in the 1997 gay movie "I Think I Do" with her OLTL co-star Tuc Watkins. If she held the same homophobic beliefs then, why did she take the role?