Ok, so I get that bringing back Kate Howard is supposed to be part of the story arc to bring Sonny back from the brink of insanity, but I'm sorry Kelly Sullivan is not the right person to be playing the role.
From the first scene of her barking on her phone in the elevator, I knew I would not like this recast. She not only over acts constantly, but her facial expressions are just horrid. TPTB really made a mistake when they hired a woman at least 10-years younger than the original actress. They put make-up on her that makes her look all pasty, not older and she does not pull off fashion ice queen the way Megan does.I said today that this NuKate makes me want to gauge my own eyes out and shove something sharp into my ears. Her voice, her facial expressions and her over acting really does not make me want to watch her and considering Sonny is my all-time favorite male lead it's going to be like fingernails on a chalkboard watching this story arc play out.
I'm glad Sonny is going to have someone in his corner finally, but I'm sick of the writers rewriting Sonny's history to suit their needs. Brenda is not and was not a fantasy; Sonny has loved her for most of his life and no woman will ever compare to her in Sonny's eyes.
I wouldn't care if it was Megan in the role, the things Olivia said today about Connie being the only one to talk Sonny down is a complete slap in the face to S&B's history and story. Where were the Falconeris when Sonny was talking about Bensonherst with Lois? Do TPTB really think viewers of GH will simply disregard history because they want something new to happen?
But, I digress, back to the topic. Why did they recast Kate? Was Megan even asked to reprise the role? Why didn't Megan come back? The NuKate is just as horrible as Jennifer Bransford's version of Carly. She just does not do the part justice. People keep saying they're going to give her time, but com'on how long did JB last as Carly? I'm hoping Kelly doesn't last as long as Kate and Megan is brought back. No offense to Kelly, I'm sure she's a sweet person and all, but seriously she needs to change the way she plays Kate because she's not pulling it off. She's making me want to fast forward through all of her scenes.
I just can't, I just can not get into this woman, she's horrible. I can't give her a week or even another day, I just cringe whenever I see her on my TV screen. I haven't felt this way since Tamara Braun was in the role of Carly, at least JB only lasted a short period, TB tortured me for years.
I just want Megan back, she is the one and only Kate Howard. She made me like her even though she was bitchy and snobby because she is that good. I may be a die hard S&ber, but I would welcome Skate 2.0 if Megan was in the role. Kelly just makes me dread the upcoming story arc. Maybe she'll realize that she's playing the role horridly and start making the character her own, if not I'm screwed because I won't be able to enjoy Sonny.
I agree with everything you say. Sonny hasn't even mourned the loss of Brenda yet, and they are going to put him with another woman. However, I am a truSKate fan, and when he was ready to be paired again, I wanted it to be with Kate. I was devastated to learn, that after campaigning for Megan to return as Kate, Brian Frons decided to slap the loyal and faithful viewers int he face by recasting the role. Kelly Sullivan is not right for this role. I'm sure she's a very nice person, but that doesn't mean anything. Megan Ward is one of the most talented and beautiful actresses that ever worked on Daytime, and this woman doesn't come close to filling her shoes.
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone continues to support Megan by calling the comment lines, writing Ms. Sweeney and Ms. Phelps and filling out comment forms asking GH to bring Megan Ward back as Kate.
As you said, this girl is ruining the character and the show. Megan is the only Kate Howard. I'm with you about giving the girl a chance. She's supposed to be a professional. When Megan debuted, she had never worked on a soap before, but she captured the viewers with her first line. . . "I'm Kate Howard." We were hooked.
We need Megan Ward back now or GH's ratings will plummet even more.
BTW, Megan was and is available and was not even contacted by GH. Something's fishy about that.
ReplyDeleteThis is the classic example of the soaps claiming they listen to fans, and fans saying "the hell you do." We see it over and over in every soap, they rewrite history to suit their current whim. I would love for once to be asked if fans want something before they go half cocked.
ReplyDeleteI loved SKate, it was refreshing that they finally gave Sonny back story since he is an older gent, and gave him some teen romance come back to life. But with Kelly, it does not work. Megan smoldered with Maurice, they had such a mutual fire and respect, that kept you glued.
Now, if GH continues on these choices they will be the third and final nail in the cancelled soap coffin. Megan Ward is brilliant. She had never worked on a soap before, and I think that is why she won viewers, people were intrigued by the level above she was and is. Even people who hated Kate, loved her. She has that quiet grace, and class that make you so interested in her, not only as Kate but as Megan.
People need to continue supporting Megan, with class. Now this means we can be mad about the recast but try not to make it about Megan vs Kelly. Make it more nuKate vs REALKate. Kelly maybe the worst actress in the world, but if Megan supporters start attacking her personally, it won't only make us look bad but Megan too.
We need to focus on why GH made such crap decisions when we know Megan was available and willing to come back, but yet she was gracious about her role being given away to someone clearly not right for the part. Let's face it, if it had been Meryl Streep and not Megan I would have been annoyed, but the fact this girls sucks more than a hoover only adds insult to injury.
Give me back the REAL Kate Howard, with Megan Ward at the wheel, or give me nothing.
How many more times the fans has tell Gh, that Megan Ward is the only Kate Howard!!
ReplyDeleteWord!! On every single thing you said!! If its not Megan..it ain't happening ..and for the record..its been a slap to Megan and her fans this whole time! Bring Back Megan!
ReplyDeleteI use to watch Gh and stop watching when Tamara Braun left. Yes, I did like Tamara B. version of Carly. I read a new character was coming on for Sonny, it took me off guard because of what was said, his childhood sweetheart and I had this expression of WTF. I wanted to take a peek and it 2007, her first scene with MB. I was taken back by her entrance, She was elegance a bit of bitchy attitude and love it. I was hook, right back into the soap world, that I gave up on. I'm know at the same crossroad, turn off by the slap in the face to fans, who embrace Megan Ward portrayal of Kate Howard. I don't have nothing against KS, but she doesn't have the present, that Megan Ward had, when she first appeared on my screen. So yeah, BRING BACK MEGAN WARD.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for all of your comments and support of my blog.
ReplyDeleteHopefully TPTB will react the same way they did with JB's Carly and bring Megan back.
Bring back Megan Ward now!!!! Is GeneralHospital stupid!!! I was so excited when I heard Kate was back, only to be pissed off when it was someone else.
ReplyDeleteGreat Blog!It is so sad at the way GH has treated Megan Ward,she has given her heart and soul to the character of Kate Howard and the fans could fill that in her scenes.She is a wonderful actress and GH has disrespected her for last few years.Now to replace her is so wrong!As far as I'm concerned,Kate Howard is still in Paris and I want be watching until "Real Kate Howard Returns"with Megan Ward.Not GH fan anymore until they Bring Back Megan Ward!
ReplyDeleteTPTB at GH do NOT listen to viewers or this dumb recast would never have happened. Fans continued support to get the Kate story revisited & to get Megan back on the show. But look at the lame decision that was made. Stupidity like this will NOT gain GH viewers. In fact, IMO, I think it will continue to lose viewers.
ReplyDeleteWE ALL NEED TO CALL THE ABC COMMENT LINE @ 1-818-460-7477 AND THE GENERAL HOSPITAL COMMENT LINE @ 1-323-671-4583 IF WE WANT TPTB TO BRING MEGAN WARD BACK AS KATE HOWARD ON GENERAL HOSPITAL!!! WE CAN ALSO CALL JILL FARREN PHELPS (GH EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) @ 1-323-671-4588 AND EITHER SPEAK TO HER SECRETARY OR LEAVE A VOICEMAIL MESSAGE. WE ALL NEED TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO GET TPTB SEE THAT THEY NEED TO BRING BACK MEGAN WARD!!! WE ALSO NEED TO SEND LETTERS TO:
ReplyDeleteJILL FARREN PHELPS, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
GENERAL HOSPITAL
C/O ABC TV
4151 PROSPECT AVENUE
HOLLYWOOD, CA 90027
AND~~
ANNE SWEENEY
PRESIDENT, ABC TELEVISION NETWORK
C/O ABC/DISNEY
500 SOUTH BUENA VISTA STREET
BURBANK, CA 91521
***AND WE NEED TO EMAIL ABC @ ABC.COM AND CLICK ON THE LINK THAT SAYS CONTACT ABC AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE!!!***
WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN TO GET TPTB TO BRING MEGAN WARD BACK AS KATE HOWARD ON GENERAL HOSPITAL!!!!!!!!
SINCERELY,
A LONG-TIME FAN & LOYAL VIEWER OF GH
:)
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ReplyDeleteThis Kate Howard is 1000 times better than Megan. Megan could never play a split.
ReplyDeleteSorry, but Sullivan has done a fantastic job.
ReplyDeleteOk I know you have to be kidding me!! This Kate, KELLY SULLIVAN is doing a fantastic job playing this role!! I don't think I'll watch if they took HER off! And replacing Her with te other one would be the WORST thing they could do! Ward sucked!! Awful! She had NO chemistry with Sonny what so ever! I wouldn't even watch her! This Kate, kelly Sullivan Is doing great! As far as acting I'd have to say she's one of, if not THE BEST actresses on the show,she's phenomenal !! This role with a split has to e extremely rough and she's breezing right through it. I love her! Think about it, there was nothing between sonny and the other one! Not one thing in commen she was a dull boring Stick in the butt character! This Kate, Kelly is a spitfire..Ed perfect for sonny and playing the role amazingly ! I have even saying for months "I'm soo glad they got rid o he old te cause he old ver pull THIS OFF...this girl is awesome! What a great job she's doing" and I used to not even like Kate now I Love Kate! Anyway everyone is entitled to their wn opinions but I ever knew this was or would e up for debate ! I'm literally stunned people feel this way..ok vetting is complete.,GH keep KELLY SULLIVAN AS KATE,SHE US WONDERFUL, YOU'd possibly loose more fans by bringing ack M.Ward for Any role nevermind this part of Kate Howard/Connie Falconari. Love it!
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that anyone would actually think Megan Ward could not have played the split personality. One has to remember that Maurice and Megan as Sonny and Kate helped to draw consistently strong ratings during the time Megan was on contract. They had strong chemistry and Megan's Kate was very credible as someone who could have been Sonny's high school sweetheart and a powerful businesswoman/fashionista. When their story was promoted, the episodes often drew the highest ratings of the year. When their story was not promoted, the ratings would hold steady, drop a little on days they were not on, and slightly spike again the days they were on. While one character or one couple is not totally responsible for ratings, the long term analysis shows Megan in her stories with Maurice and with other characters made her a valuable member of the GH acting ensemble.
ReplyDeleteWhen Megan was dropped to recurring and several other pairings and storylines were dropped, the ratings started a downward decline. Many Megan Ward fans let TPTB know they wanted to see more of Megan on screen and saw an opportunity for a deeper storyline when Kate was seen hanging out at a local dive bar, drinking more and dating Coleman. (Please understand, I love Blake Gibbons as Coleman, but the story was not making sense unless there was more to why Kate was behaving in such a way.)
From late 2009-2011, rather than dictating storyline, online and offline Megan Ward fans asked questions in the effort to encourage the writers to write for Megan as Kate. We asked if Kate had been raped and had a child (there were many anvils dropped during 2007) and if it were possible that Kate had DID (suspecting Kate had been molested as a child, causing her to put up those walls that Sonny worked so hard to bring down). We knew if Megan were to play such a story, she would have rocked it. Would she have played it the same way as the current actress? I doubt it. I think Megan would have brought us a very realistic, albeit darker interpretation of DID.
It makes sense that when Brian Frons and ABC were determined to not only cancel OLTL and AMC, but GH as well, they would continue to do things to destabilize the show. Bringing in a 33 year old actress to play a 42 year old character, who could play Sonny's daughter since his child by Olivia is supposed to be 15 years younger than him, already makes the actress less credible in the role. Add to that the changes that were made in the Kate character and Frons' recipe for negatively affecting the storyline of the male lead was complete.
An analysis of ratings from the time the role was recast to present have shown a consistent negative impact on ratings. Again, while one character or couple is not totally responsible for the ratings, long term analysis shows when the current version was promoted in major story, the ratings were often some of the lower or the lowest of the year. Days the recast or the current Sonny and Kate were not on often showed slight spikes and then dropped again when the two were on screen.
The only real break in that consistent pattern was the recent week of the Sonny and Kate wedding/break up/Johnny and Konnie marriage when the ratings spiked. I'm sure many saw people on Twitter stating how happy they were to see the current Sonny and Kate break up and were anxious to see Konnie committed. (One could call it the "Claudia effect." The ratings would spike when Claudia was strapped to the bomb, when Claudia was in the car accident and when Claudia was killed off.) Some enjoy the campiness of the DID story, while others do not enjoy the campiness, feeling it makes fun of mental illness.
Based on ratings patterns, credibility factors and Megan's broad acting range, it is VERY possible bringing Megan Ward back in the role would draw/bring back more viewers, not chase them away.
Kelly Sullivan is a joke playing the characters of Connie/Kate besides the fact she is NOT age appropriate she doesn't have enough experience to handle a DID story she is failing without a doubt and bringing the rest of the cast down with her. Megan Word is a better Kate and has proven she COULD handle this storyline.. If the GH writers wanted to bring Kate back full time they should have stuck with Megan. This rewrite of Sonny's history is doing no favors for Mo and his ESTABLISHED character on the show.. I understand that there is a group of KS fans but in general most people see this storyline isn't working and is insulting to most viewers.. There was a time when GH did wonderful stories that respected the issue and gave valuable information as well as told a great story ( B.J death Monica's Breast cancer, Stone Aids A.J drinking, Robin living with HIV)This DID storyline has most shocked at the joke they are tuning it into and I honestly think MOST of that is because KS can't handle it and is pulling it off as a bad joke that won't end.
ReplyDelete