Viki leaving?
By Trace86
@Trace86 (5030)
United States
March 3, 2009 4:16pm CST
I just read this on SoapCentral. Do you think she will really leave? I hope not. I think she is an integral part of the show. Who would keep the peace between the girls? Who would fight with Dorian? Nope, she can't go anywhere.
http://www.soapcentral.com/oltl/news/2009/0302-slezak.php
[i]One Life to Live viewers have been stunned by recent reports that Emmy winner Erika Slezak might soon be let go from the ABC soap. Though the talk is very much a rumor at the moment, a recent interview posted on her official web site did little to allay fans' fears. Slezak joined the OLTL cast in 1971.
Fans of One Life to Live are stunned by the latest rumor coming out of Llanview. According to Internet chatter, six-time Daytime Emmy winner, Erika Slezak (Victoria Davidson), may soon be on her way out.
In recent weeks, the 38-year veteran has seen her on-screen airtime shrink. Whereas her iconic character once had groundbreaking "multiple personality" storylines, those jaw-dropping storylines have now been passed on to the next generation of characters. In fact, Slezak's on-screen daughter, Jessica Buchanan, now suffers from a dissociative identity disorder of her own.
"[T]hey are focusing on other stories right now. And that's all I can really say," Slezak said in an interview on her official web site. "I agree that there is not enough of Viki and Charlie right now but hopefully there will be in the future."
Cynics may say that there isn't much left for Viki to do. After all, since 1971, Viki has had six alternate personalities, possibly killed two people, battled breast cancer, received a heart transplant from her former husband, and gone to heaven -- twice.
For her part, Slezak feels that there are many different ways that the show's writers could take her character. She points to the 2007 storyline in which her character fled Llanview for Paris -- Texas -- and attempted to start a new life for herself.
"I loved that story. It was so simple and so sweet, and the characters that [the show] brought in -- Noel and Gigi and Mo -- were so real and so different from everybody else," Slezak told soapcentral.com in a recent interview. "It wasn't just written for me. It was a lovely story."
The dynamics of daytime television have changed in recent years. Soaps can hire two or three newcomers for about the same salary of one established, long-time veteran. NBC's Days of our Lives has made headlines in recent weeks for firing nearly half a dozen performers over the age of 40. If Days of our Lives could fire its "star," Deidre Hall (Marlena Evans), fans fear that ABC could very well ditch one of its top-billed stars, too.
In the meantime, Slezak urges fans to contact Brian Frons, president, Daytime, Disney-ABC Television Group, if they are interested in seeing more of her on their television screens.
"It's Brian Frons who approves and disapproves of stories. Any story that is done has to be green lighted by him," Slezak explains. "It's [head writer] Ron [Carlivati]'s responsibility to come up with the stories but Brian has to green light them."[/i]
1 person likes this
5 responses
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
3 Mar 09
I haven't watched OLTL in years, but Vicki leaving would be like Erica leaving All My Children. I hope it doesn't happen...
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
4 Mar 09
I think the day of the life-long soap character/actor has had its time in the sunlight for a few years...and now they are trying to revamp and accomodate the new viewers more than the old ones - the old ones will stay usually no matter what but to get the new viewers... they have to have characters they will come back to watch for years. Kind of like "out with the old, in with the new!". Sad but true
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@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
4 Mar 09
Seems to be a trend in the soaps these days to get rid of the "oldies" due to high salaries. Thing is...they have no one to replace them! I mean, come on - replace Vicki with Jessica? They are either stupid or think we are,for buying that!
I have never really cared much for the character as she just wins wins wins...never without anything or anyone! But it is a soap world! I like when they sent her to Paris Texas.. they should have done more with that storyline but it was nice they broght those characters to Llanview. Why don't they have her go back to the Banner nad have it out with the Sun!?!? That'd be fun! And yeah, and there goes the comedy her and Dorian give us. Dorian isn't worth the spit she gets without Viki intervening! Kind of like the Dynamic Duo there! What's the point of one without the other.
But it comes down to money as always. Thing is..there is on one to replace the void a major character holds in the show. Who's next...Bo and Dorian are the next long timers...
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@JoyfulOne (6231)
• United States
4 Mar 09
Tell me no...they just can't get rid of her! What are they thinking?! She's been with the show for such a long time, and has developed her character so well over the years. It wouldn't be Llanview with out her there. I remember the multiple personality story line...it kept me watching to see what was going to happen next! It's a shame when a show considers letting go one of it's mainstay characters just for the sake of saving money with unknown actors who will work for a song. I can't imagine the show without her. Hope they realize that the loyal viewers of OLTL are counting on her to stay on as a grand damme of Llanview and remain in her character. I had no idea that they were even thinking of ditching her character.
1 person likes this
@uicbear (1900)
• United States
3 Mar 09
I think Vicki leaving would really hurt the show. It's unfortunate that they have pushed her character to the side. The writing on some of my favorite soaps has gotten me to the point where I really don't even want to watch anymore. Vicki really was the rock and centerpoint of OLTL for so long. She's such a great actress, she can just about pull off anything. Hopefully it's just a rumor and the higher-ups at OLTL will realize what they have, and what their fans want.
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