I don’t care for LuLu lately.. Instead of separating from Dante she should have stayed together and work things out.. She took the easy way out…

Are you sure you aren’t part of Ron’s writing team? LOL

I don’t like Nathan all that much.. Very pushy and full of himself..

Agree Toby! I loved Julie but I love Emme too! Dominic is right-we need to give the new people a chance! Almost everyone is a replacement at some time & we grow to love them. I was very moved by Dominic’s remarks about Maurice Benard-gosh I remember him as Nico on AMC. He has really grown up-as an actor & a man-what a wonderful generous person.

I love Dante, he is otso hot

It is interesting how people’s reactions can differ. You think that Emme makes Lulu softer and I think she makes her hard and brittle.

He did. How many shows are cancelled in a year? LOL.

Only a yeah huh ? Please, he and JMB had chem from the start and it didn’t take a year to determine that. JuDo Lante forever

Well I was only beginning to watch GH when Julie left show, so I don’t have any history to go on, but just based on the couple of months I was watching– you are so right about the chemistry thing. Often that has nothing to do with the talent of any actress, but certain actors just click as a couple, and others do not, and even I without knowing the history like you do I can tell ER and DZ just don’t fit as well as JB did. And that is sad part of any soap couple when one leaves, and they recast, it is never as good, and ER can be in role for ten years and it still wouldn’t work. It is either there or it isn’t.

Wow!

Lucas and Nathan as a possible couple?

that would smolder and catch my tv on fire

Dante & Sam are too closely related if you ask me. It is all mixed up but remember she was pregnant by Sonny & lost the little girl & she is Kristina’s 1/2 sister & Dante is Kristina’s 1/2 brother. Too much family connection there. What about Dante & Elizabeth or . . . well there aren’t that many available girls on the show for Dante. He should just wait for Lulu!

Let’s face it, nearly every man in Port Charles could potentially be paired with Sam, theoretically speaking! KM has a natural, wonderful chemistry with each guy she plays against….it really is something to behold…witness her recent scenes with Patrick, Dante, Nathan, even Julian (Not suggesting that last one though….LOL.) Not to mention her PC vampire pal, ME!….It’s ever so obvious that the “boys” just love doing their scenes with her! While Kelly may not be the greatest actress on GH, she definitely possesses that special something and it comes through time and time again…truly enjoy her work!

Believe me, like you, I understand Dom’s frustration and concern about the difficulty some have had accepting Emme as a recast Lulu – and I sympathize with his situation here. I am also troubled by some of the excessive negatively comments we have all read, and I see his need to rebut those comments. However, the overall lack of acceptance happens in soaps and can last for a long time. In fact, just yesterday, I saw a preference stated for Tamara Braun’s Carly (and Laura Wright has been on GH since 2005). From time to time, such comments surface re various recast situations – although, admittedly, not to the same degree we have been seeing in the present and newer Lulu scenario. However, perhaps the current strong response speaks to the considerable investment made in the Lante story, characters and actors; and, as importantly, to the strong affection for Lulu as an individual character – as she had been developed since 2005. I think there may have a considerable under-estimation of the support for Lulu as an independent character – and the importance to those supporters of maintaining her character integrity and consistency. So, this reaction definitely goes well beyond “Lante” fans and may well be a good part of the reason the reaction has been sustained.

My puzzle, though, is this: I’m just not sure that “starting a new” can be reconciled with Dom’s references to history and to “Lulu as the love of his life” as an essential Lante quality that is the throughline from Julie to Emme. I talk more about this in another post on this thread.

Oh my, I’m not quite sure you realize how much we agree on many of the points you have mentioned. One important point I shall make clear is that it is still possible to be very interested in what happens to characters and/or a couple even if one does not feel the intense investment you feel. And it’s equally possible to care very much about the actors as well. But, here, I simply meant to remind all of us that recast situations can remain issues for years and to suggest possible reasons why the reaction has been extreme this time. By bringing up various possibilities for this strong reaction, I’m simply trying to understand the scenario better. Who Lulu is as an individual appears to be part of this scenario in that her identity has been so widely mentioned in a variety of on-line sources and discussed by fans and bloggers. I’m not here to debate specifically who she is and has been – I just know that her core identity has been frequently mentioned in months of conversations on this topic (with the understanding that new portrayers of any character will bring their own variations to a role). Nor have I even remotely suggested that I fail to understand that Dom has a job to do. I understand that – and I understand that working with a new actress in a pairing will create new chemistry and nuances and minor changes in the direction of a character. That’s a given! We all get that. My references were just attempts to explain why I think it’s difficult to start anew in this scenario – because, as you and I well know, so much of the foundation – the “love of one’s life” concept – had already been well established. I am NOT saying that this version of Lante can’t or shouldn’t start anew; I’m just attempting to suggest a sympathetic opinion as to why this new start can be difficult. As for Lulu – or any other character NOT being viewed as an independent character, I cannot agree – again for Lulu or for ANY characters. Soap pairings are always subject to change, depending on a writer’s whim. Therefore, in the best interests of all characters and actors, I have always encouraged the integrity and strength of the individual characters even when promoting a pairing and, for me, individual characters have always been more important than pairings, no matter how much I have loved any of these couples. Despite how much WE ALL recognize that Dante and Lulu belong together, relationship permanence can be a fleeting thing in ANY soap pairing. As well, my interest in encouraging support for individual characters and actors has been increased by seeing the adjustments and minefields both Dom Zamprogna and Jason Thompson have had to manage as their long time screen partners left General Hospital. For me, continuing to focus on the individual actors and their characters has become a measure of my respect… Read more »

I wholeheartedly agree with these comments. Due to recent press, I feel that GH is trying to promote ER in the Lulu role and trying to stop the tide of negativity surrounding her casting. It still is not working for me for all the reasons so succinctly stated by BethCP.

You’re not a hater, she’s terrible in the role. Some actors aren’t very good in specific roles and some are just not very good actors. Dominic refers to the actor that plays Nathan as awesome. Awesome at what? The guy is a terrible actor. He’s an underwear model that was cast because he’s handsome, like there are no handsome men who can act? This guy is beyond bad and is an offense to any actor out there with a SAG card trying to make a living.

I’m sorry to read that you are unable to appreciate other’s opinions. A forum such as this comment section is designed for all viewpoints – and welcome the last I read. But most importantly the Mr. Fairman asked for feedback. Specifically in reference to the transition of Julie to Emme as Lulu.

This is very well stated, Rebecca, and couldn’t agree with you more. Rylan is a capable actress (I’ve watched her work on “Guiding Light” and “The Young and the Restless”), which can’t be said for many recasts, particularly when their predecessors’ work was so indelible. However, I think she’s having a better time of it than the actress who now plays her old role on “Y&R”. In time, however, I think she will put her stamp on the role as did many great recasts through the years (ATWT’s Hunt Block, OLTL’s Judith Light, Y&R’s Jess Walton, to name a few).

Excellent points rebecca1. Especially about Julie’s tomboyishness & Emme’s more formal way of speaking! That is a big part of the difference between them, I could never put my finger on it. Julie was more “Luke’s girl” Emme does not seem to “go with” Luke like Julie did. I could see Emme more as a “Laura’s girl” if that makes sense. Either way I love them both & always thought Emme was adorable as Lizzie on GL & Abby on Y&R, now this. She is just precious to watch. Give her a chance everyone!

Interesting responses to your post, Rebecca. Reading some of them I get the impression there is more interest in Emme Rylan, the actress, than in Lulu Spencer Falconeri, the character. And I always wonder if some Emme fans would be quite content to see her play Lulu as an “adorable,” “precious” imitation of Lizzie and Abby. The problem is that the adult Lulu Spencer has never been played as an adorable, precious rich girl, and she has been a very different character from Lizzie and Abby. She has always had an edge (inherited from her father) that made her an interesting, if sometimes controversial, character. Yes, a recast will bring his or her own variations to a role, but the core character should remain the same. The character should not be rewritten to play to the recast’s personality and abilities. So perhaps saying “that eventually Emme will have to have her own persona so ingrained in Lulu that the comparisons will stop” is also backing up the numerous statements I’ve read that, while a capable actress and nice person, she is simply NOT the right recast for the character Lulu. Not if the role has to be adapted as much as you suggest to fit Emme’s personality.

I have been a supporter of Dom Zamprogna since he first aired on my GH screen in June, 2009, and I continue to be his fan regardless of who his romantic screen partner is. Within the context of these interview comments, I have twice expressed my thanks for this heartfelt interview, and I do have great respect for all that Dom shared with us. However, this is also Michael Fairman’s page and, in my other posts here, I have done my best to give my answers to the three questions posed by Mr. Fairman at the end of the interview. I agree that these comment sections can turn into debates – and I’m glad you said “we” because “we’ve” all done it. And I regret pushing open the door I saw ajar in the chain of responses to your thread. Other than that, I have kept my comments as separate as possible from discussion of either actress. But, as you have indicated, the door is open and I’ll join you with an “LOL” and say that a need for clarity pushes me to continue the conversation now started. First, I fully understand what is meant by the “voice” of an actor and I and others hardly mean the specific vocal inflections of Ms Berman in this scenario. As well, I fully understand that all recast actors will add their own tone to a character; however, I still expect to “feel” the essence of that character regardless of portrayer. All three long-term Carlys were different – but I have felt that each one carried the “essence” of Carly and I have enjoyed the performances of all three. That doesn’t always happen and, no matter how talented, sometimes all actors don’t fit all roles. And, yes, these are subjective assessments. Now one last specific – and one that has me very confused. You say that Emme’s Lulu is “not the joyous Ms. Berman because at this point her role doesn’t call for that type of presence.” First, Emme’s Lulu is in a very sad place now, BUT she was able to play mostly a perky, happy Lulu for four months – from the end of the May when she regained her memory to the end of September when Connie’s true parentage was revealed. WE knew the truth, but Lulu didn’t and, for the majority of that time, she was very happy. But that is the lesser part of my confusion. I’m really not sure what you mean by the “joyous Ms. Berman” – especially when some of my most memorable and rewarding scenes with her have been when Lulu was in very dark, sad places. For specifics, let’s look at most of Lulu’s entire year of 2011. The year started with her dealing with two sets of serious lies from Dante about Brenda and two heart-breaking break-ups with him. Her year continued with her reactions to her father’s killing her nephew in a car accident; Luke’s subsequent lapsing into booze and deserting… Read more »

I had thought about not responding – but only because you are so right when you say “we can go round ‘n round.” This is indeed a circular discussion.

However, I thought more about just one short paragraph you wrote – and I think you hit on a very key point here:

“I wasn’t that attached to the Lulu character to begin with. Had it been Sam, or Alexis, Anna…I’d have a more difficult time. But for me…this interpretation works just fine.”

Well and fairly said! Degree of attachment to a character – in this case Lulu – does seem to be one (just one) of the possible determinants of viewer reaction in this scenario. Just as you are saying, this strength of attachment might be a factor in ANY recast situation. In trying to understand why the reaction has been so strong and prolonged this time, I have already mentioned (in another post here) that perhaps the support for Lulu as an independent character was underestimated. Now, some of this is no doubt tied up with affection and respect for Julie as Lulu, but this appears to go beyond Julie and revolves as well on interest in Lulu as an independent character. Again, just theories, of course.

so basically you want to ditch the show…you mentioned about 3/4 of the cast!

I don’t think he will get an Emmy. It will go to either MM, BM on Y&R depending on category. He hasn’t had any good storylines or stellar performances. IMO.

Both posts here are eloquent, well thought out. Excellent. Thank you.